"If our minds are glorious mansions, and our spirits are the surrounding landscape, then the Tarot is a doorway revealing a wide realm of ever-increasing beauty, insight, and mystical experience." --A.Venefica
There has been much discussion over the origins of the tarot deck; with claims of it dating as far back as Ancient Egypt or China or having it’s origins within the Cabbala; however the first recorded set seems to be around the late 1700s, created by Eliphi Levi. This set has been used as the basis for the packs used to today and was created originally to aid spiritual enlightenment and meditation, drawing on Levi’s studies of religion, astronomy and astrology and the elements.
In the 1800s A.E Waite discovered the pack could be used for predation as well as self awareness and the Rider- Waite Tarot, which is still the most popular pack used today, was created.
The oldest surviving tarot cards are three early- to mid-15th century sets, made for members of the Visconti family in Italy.

A typical set consists of two parts, the major and minor arcana. The major arcana (or great secrets) is made up of 22 pictorial images, following a journey or a path. Starting at the fool with at a value of zero and ending at the World at 21.
The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgment are the cards in between.

The major arcana (lesser secrets) is made up of four suits of 10 numbered cards and four court cards.
WANDS: This suit covers intellectual activities and career, they can also represent creativity. CUPS: Represents emotions, love, pleasure and sensitivity. These are the feelings cards. SWORDS: Involves struggles, difficulties and illness, also overcoming of these. COINS or DISCS: Deal with the material world, finances and property.

Tarot Cards are used most frequently now for of predicting future events and meditation as well as receiving guidance.
It should be noted at this point that although many ‘fortune tellers’ use tarot cards in their readings that you do not necessarily have to be psychic to use the cards, the literal meanings can be obtained from a book or guide accompanying the cards to perform a reading.
However Psychics can use the cards as a focus for the conscious and unconscious of the questioner. As the cards are handled they pick up the energy of the person and form a pattern or story which can then be recognised more easily, the brain being able to process images and metaphors.
It is often recommended that the reader bonds with their cards by various meditation techniques and between readings the card should be ‘cleansed’ and kept away from being used as playing cards where possible.
A typical reading is performed after the quitrent has shuffled the cards. Different spreads, of varying numbers of cards can be used to provide information and guidance.
One of the most popular spreads is the Celtic cross, consisting of 10 cards in a circle (cross) and line (stave) layout.
The Circle/Cross section is made up of two crosses - a central one (two cards) nested within a larger cross (six cards). The smaller cross represents the heart of the matter - what is most central at the time of the reading. The stave shows is affecting the immediate situation of the quaint.
Other spreads can be used depending on the reader’s preference or the type of query as certain spreads are more suitable to a ‘yes or no’ answer, while others can provide insight or guidance into a situation.
What ever their origin, Tarot cards have been popular for many years with psychics and non psychic alike. Their imagery and the various styles available continue to make them one of the most used tools in prediction the future.