What do the cards have in store for you? Learn all about the mysterious art of tarot in this complete guide.
Book of Tarot
HISTORY • The story behind the fateful cards and their use today
THE HISTORY OF TAROT • Tarot cards have been around for centuries, in a variety of guises. From ancient Egypt to today, they continue to evolve
A TAROT TIMELINE
From trionfi to tarot • The decks of tarot cards that we know today weren’t always used for divination. In fact, they came out of the world of gaming
ICONOGRAPHY AND SUITS
Reading the cards • For centuries thought of as just a card game, the tarot cards seemed to some to offer a doorway to the divine
ÉLIPHAS LÉVI
Into the occult • By the end of the 19th century, tarot cards had been adopted by those who sought to practice magic instead
THE FORGOTTEN WOMAN
THE CLASSIC DECKS • Though innumerable tarot decks are available today, the legendary Tarot of Marseilles, Rider-Waite and Book of Thoth cards remain popular choices
THE VISCONTI-SFORZA TAROT
THE CARDS • Exploring tarot’s unique imagery and the meanings of the cards
THE MAJOR ARCANA • The tarot’s trump cards are symbolic archetypes and divinatory devices that contain mystical meanings and express a philosophical journey when laid out sequentially
THE FOOL A FREE SPIRIT • There is an innocence embodied by The Fool, but there can be dangers to ignoring hard realities
THE MAGICIAN POWER AND POTENTIAL • The Magician is the master of the esoteric arts who is able to get what he wants, but also the master of illusions
THE HIGH PRIESTESS INTUITION • The High Priestess signifies that sometimes you need to listen to what your intuition is telling you
THE EMPRESS CARD OF NURTURE • The Empress is not only beautiful – she holds all the power of nature in her hands
THE EMPEROR AUTHORITY • The Emperor is a strategic thinker who represents strength and stability
THE HIEROPHANT TRADITION AND BELIEFS • The spiritual guidance offered by the Hierophant helps us know when to conform and when to break free
THE LOVERS A DUALITY • The Lovers is not just a card about romance – it can signify any number of relationships that are important
THE CHARIOT DETERMINATION • The seventh card of the Major Arcana is an active card that suggests victory through perseverance and mastering control
STRENGTH CONTROLLED POWER • The Strength card denotes strength of conviction through tamed reaction and influence without aggression
THE HERMIT LIGHTING THE WAY • Pause for reflection and contemplation and you will shine brighter and as a guiding light
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE THE CYCLE OF FATE • What goes around comes around with the Wheel Of Fortune. Your destiny is already in motion
JUSTICE TRUTH AND VIRTUE • An eye for an eye. You reap what you sow with the Justice card
THE HANGED MAN SACRIFICE • A key figure in the soul’s journey to enlightenment, with great sacrifice comes even greater insight
DEATH NEW BEGINNINGS • The great equaliser trumps all in the physical realm, but despite its negative connotations the 13th card is a card of significant positivity
TEMPERANCE ACHIEVING HARMONY • Tempering and harmonising your states of being is essential to achieving the goal of the tarot: eternal life
THE DEVIL TEMPTATION • A hero’s quest is not complete without a final challenge. The Devil represents the greatest temptation yet – your own vices
THE TOWER DESTRUCTION • Destruction is necessary for recreation, and The Tower purges the soul with purifying fire, ready for you to emerge as your most evolved self yet!
THE STAR NEW HOPES...
