Tarot
Tarot is a 78-card deck divided into the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards, split into 4 suits). It began as a card game in 15th-century Italy and only acquired divinatory and esoteric use starting in the late 18th century.
- Major ArcanaThe 22 numbered cards, from the Fool to the World.
- Minor Arcana56 cards across 4 suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
- Tarot SpreadsFixed reading layouts, from the 1-card draw to the Celtic Cross.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many cards are in a Tarot deck?
- 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, split into 4 suits of 14 cards each.
- What's the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana?
- The Major Arcana (0 through 21) represent larger archetypal themes and forces. The Minor Arcana, organized into 4 suits, deal with everyday situations and nuance — similar in structure to an ordinary playing card deck, from which they historically descend.