Online Class: Tarot Cards 101

This self-paced course will teach you the basics of the Tarot (78 picture cards used to reveal hidden truths).  Learn how to do readings for yourself, friends and relatives. Developed for the beginner, the class provides structural meanings and interpretations of each suit and spread and shows you how to perform readings.  Along with the basics, you'll also learn about different types of decks, the history and the tips and tricks to help you become a ‘master reader'.

Reading Tarot Cards gives you access to spiritual knowledge revealing new insights and options. Readings can provide hope in re-envisioning life's journey, plus support and reaffirmation of what is already known. Readings can help us to answer some of life's biggest questions, and so much more. You do not need to have a well developed spiritual connection or ‘psychic power' in order to get valuable information from the Tarot.

• Tarot Cards: An Introduction
• Tarot Cards for Beginners
• Structure of the Tarot Deck
• Court Cards
• Major Arcana Cards
• Minor Arcana cards
• Reading Tarot Cards
• Classic Example Spreads
• Additional Reading and Resources

If you are intrigued by this method of reading the future, you'll find that Tarot cards are not difficult to learn.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Reiki 1st and 2nd Degree

Chakras 101

Auras: Viewing, Identifying, and Understanding

Course Motivation

Tarot Cards Definition

Tarot cards are a traditional deck of 78 cards with definite symbols used for divination or spell work. The 78 Tarot cards are divided into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. These cards are considered to be in use for centuries and can disclose the hidden truths when read. Tarot card decks come in different images and pictures. The main aim of tarot cards is to develop a communication skill between the sub-conscious and the conscious mind of people. Tarot cards are made of symbols or pictures that portray a definite concept and these pictures are considered the representation of the subconscious mind.

Since different people will consciously or subconsciously see a different meaning to each card, assigning a universal meaning is difficult. However, the more that one uses and works with the tarot decks, the chances of finding the accurate readings increase.  Moreover, most people will see a similar meaning to each card.  Regular practice in using tarot cards will help you in understanding the meaning of the individual cards and combinations of cards. As you get more familiar with tarot cards, you will develop a deeper connection with the subconscious and the conscious mind.

The tarot cards primarily were used for divination purposes, spell work, and sometimes as an initiation before doing a crucial job.

History of the Tarot Cards

Though the real history of the tarot cards is still not clear, it is believed that the tarot cards originated during the 15th century in northern Italy. Initially, the tarot card was considered a popular card game with beautiful decks. In fact, one of the most popular decks of that period, Visconti-Sforza, is still preserved.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in France and England, the devotees of the occult arts discovered some of the magical and mystical meanings from the pictorial symbol of the cards. They also created some of the pictorial representations for the cards by connecting the characteristics of Egyptian mysteries, Hermetic, Heretical, and Kabbalah philosophies.

The word Tarot is in fact derived from the word Triumph or Trump. Since the cards originated in Italy, all of its names were in Italian. The deck of cards that was invented first was called carte da trionfi, meaning cards of triumphs. After 100 years of first inventing the deck of cards, a new set of cards was introduced and named Tarocchi. The German form of this word is Tarock and the French form is Tarot.

Even though the Tarot cards were invented centuries ago, they were widely used and became very popular only in the past two decades. Now, many new decks of tarot cards were created with respect to the interests of the region. Some of the examples of newly created decks are Native American Tarot Deck, Herbal Tarot Deck, Dragon Tarot Deck, Celestial Tarot Deck, Golden Tarot, Da Vinci Tarot, Tarot of Prague, Lenormand Tarot, Robin Wood Tarot, Rider-Waite Tarot, and so forth.

Popular Tarot Card Decks

So far, more than 800 decks of Tarot cards are in use! Their popularity may vary year by year, but some decks of cards are considered to be all time popular Tarot Decks. The following list is some of these more popular decks.

• Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot.
• Rider-Waite Tarot.
• Gilded Tarot.
• Robin Wood Tarot.
• DruidCraft Tarot.
• Golden Tarot.
• Tarot of Dreams.
• Tarot of Prague.
• Universal Waite Tarot.