From the 'lovers' to 'death'
Tarot is a deck of 70 or 80 cards, divided into two sections, Major Arcana and Minor Arcana (arcana means hidden/secret/mysterious knowledge).
The "secrets" are hidden in the images pictured on the cards. Some tarot images have often caused fear due to superstitious fears or beliefs and to this day remain highly misunderstood.
Many people feel distinctly uneasy when they see card XIII known as "Death", which shows the angel of death in many tarot decks. Some also find card XV or "The Devil" creepy.
Major Arcana is a section of 22 cards, also called the Trumps, numbered from zero to 21 and with names like "The Empress", "The Lovers", "Justice" and "Wheel of Fortune".
Meanwhile, the Minor Arcana is a section of 56 cards, similar to our regular deck of 52 playing cards, with four suits, made up of cards from one to ten plus four Court Cards (King, Queen, Knight and Page).
Minor Arcana is also called the Suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles (Disks or Coins). These suits may have various names, depending on the deck you choose but the interpretation is similar.
Looking for your first tarot deck? On the Internet, you may find 1001 sites featuring tarot decks, its images and reviews as well, such as: http://www.aeclectic.net/decks.html. You can also get some free, automated on line reading there.
Prediction Tarot, Wayang Tarot, Feng Shui Tarot, Star Trek Tarot, Osho Zen Tarot, African Tarot, Halloween Tarot, Russian Tarot, Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot, black & white Victoria Regina Tarot, Vampire Tarot, Sailor Tarot and even Hello Kitty Tarot are among tarot decks that have been produced.
Speaking about cards, these days they are produced to suit all tastes, from the elegant, beautiful fine art to pure cheese.
If you who want a deck with hair-rising yet funny images, pick the Tarot of the Death. Want something sexy or the so-called "adults only tarot deck"? Tarot of Casanova is the perfect choice.
If you dislike cheerful color decks, the dark Gothic Tarot may be for you. It is just a matter of personal taste.
One of my favorites is Stick Figures deck, because the "Death" looks quite funny somehow: the grim reaper is replaced by a humorous "angel of death stick figure" riding a steed.
Many people admire Goddess Tarot thanks to its beauty. A lot of tarot decks are so intricate and colorful that they are pieces of art.
One reason for choosing tarot cards is the user-friendliness. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck (and its "sisters" such as Albano- Waite as well as Universal Rider-Waite Tarot) is suitable for a beginner. It is the most widely used version.
Lots of people find Rider-Waite Tarot is easier to interpret than any of the others. While artsy cards can be complicated because they have been greatly developed from the original designs. They may be too confusing, particularly for beginners.
The Rider-Waite deck's designs are quite simple; they stick closely to the original symbols for lucid interpretation. Also, as written in the Rider-Waite booklet, pictorial images on its cards allow for interpretation based on conscious and subconscious readings of the scene without the need to check explanatory texts.
Tarot cards are available at several bookstores in Jakarta, such as Kinokuniya in Sogo department stores. -- Susana Tjokro