Tarot reading, or tarot card reading, is a practice of using cards from a deck of tarot cards, to obtain information about a person’s past, present and future. It is a subset of fortune telling. Until the 18th century, tarot cards were used like a normal deck, to play card games. It was only in the 18th century, that Protestant clergymen and Freemasons began to apply some divinatory meaning to all the cards.

They suggested that the cards and pictorial representation were indicative of the past, present, and future of the person selecting them. Thus began the process of finding a hidden meaning within the cards.

The deck of Tarot cards had 78 cards. These include 14 cards of each suit (clubs, spades, diamonds, and hearts), along with 22 trump cards. Trump’s cards include the Madman or the Wizard, among others. These were the original game deck.

Let us now understand the distribution of these tarot cards, for divinatory purposes.

Tarot Cards: Suits and Other Specifications

• The modern deck is divided into four suits. Like a playing deck, it has aces, clubs, diamonds, and hearts; the reading cards are divided into 4 suits, namely: Coins, Swords, Cups and Wands.
• Each suit had 14 cards and the numbering is put on the card to represent the objects in numerical form.
• So if there is a card with the number X and the image is that of Wands, it will be called ‘The Ten of Wands’. Similarly you have the ‘Four of Pentacles’ and ‘The Nine of Swords’, etc.
• Along with these you have the 22 trump cards. These trump cards are important, as most of the time they are read as cards that talk about events or circumstances, past, present, or future.
• The most famous trump cards are; The fool, the wizard, the tower, the high priestess, the lovers, etc.
• Each card represents a certain meaning or has some connection to the life of the individual who draws it.

Tarot card spreads

Tarot cards are arranged in different ways, to form different shapes, depending on the type of reading or the purpose of the reading. Although it is not mandatory, it was traditionally done that way.

1. Tetraktys Spread

Here, 10 cards are laid out to form a pyramid. 4 cards at the bottom, 3 in the top row, then two at the top, and finally the last card at the top. This spread is used to predict a person’s general condition and well-being. Covers basic physical elements and spiritual elements.

2. Cross and triangular extension

This spread is formed by placing three cards on the bottom, followed by 3 cards placed on top of the center card, one on top of the other, then two cards on the side and a last card on top. It represents a cross and is used to measure a general sense of a person’s life direction.

3. Extension of the Celtic cross

The best known diffusion of the whole process, the Celtic cross aims to give an idea about the general life and expectations of the person. People choose this reading mainly because it covers many aspects of a person’s life and provides an overview.

4. Propagation of the relationship

As its name suggests, this extension aims to answer all questions related to relationships. Not necessarily love relationships, but any relationship. The spread uses 9 cards, where the first 5 are placed one on top of the other and then three are dealt in front of the fourth card.

5. Propagation of past lives

This is also known as reverse propagation. It is in the shape of an inverted triangle, the exact reverse of the Tetrakyts spread, and speaks of past life effects. Tarot card reading is done all over the world and is followed in great numbers. Although there have been reports of many hoaxes, it is an occult science that has attracted worldwide attention for years.

They say that in life you have to play the hand that is dealt to you. Tarot can show you your cards. Even if only for pleasure!