Tarot is the system of using 78 picture cards for predicting the future and/or experiencing spiritual awareness. Attempting to understand Tarot, for a beginner, could be overwhelming, as there is a lot of new terminology to comprehend before continuing further.
The following Tarot dictionary should help demystify some of the more commonly used terms.
Arcana
Literally means matters which are hidden, sacred. Alludes to the occult significance of symbols. The 78 tarot cards are split into Major Arcana containing 22 cards and Minor Arcana containing 56 cards.
Archetype
The image or model existing in the collective unconscious for similar type of material manifestations. Each of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana, represents an archetype. Some examples are Magician, High Priestess, Hanged Man, Devil, Fool.
Cartomancy
The practice of reading the future and one's personality through the use of cards.
Celtic Cross
One of the most popular 10 card Tarot layouts. It involves arranging six cards in a cross, and another four cards arranged vertically to the side of the cross.
Court Cards
King, Queen, Knight, Page; in some decks, King, Queen, Prince and Princess, which in a reading can represent identifiable individuals, or specific traits ascribed to the client.
Cross
A type of card layout where two lines meet. The center of the two lines is considered as the point where the old meets the new.
Crown
Crown is a symbol of royalty. Cards featuring an archetype wearing a crown indicates his/her authority and command.
Cups
One of the four suits identified with the water element, symbolizing emotions, love and other strong feelings.
Discs
One of the four suits identified with the earth element, symbolizing material possessions, practicality, physical body, determination. The disc is also known as the pentacle.
Divination
The art of foretelling the future with intuition or psychic abilities. Divination is one of the uses of Tarot.
King
One of the four court cards of the Minor Arcana. King of Wands represents leadership. King of Pentacles represents sound financial wisdom. King of Swords represents Authority and command. King of Cups represents wise counsel.
Knight
One of the four court cards of the Minor Arcana, generally symbolizing younger, impulsive nature.
Major Arcana
This is the heart of the Tarot. The 22 cards of the Tarot known as The Greater Secrets. Each Major Arcanum shows a scene with a person or several people with many symbolic elements.
Minor Arcana
The 56 cards of the Tarot known as The Lesser Secrets. These are divided into 4 suits, closely resembling the modern card deck of 52 playing cards.
Page
One of the four court cards representing youth, news or communications.
Pentacles
One of the suits of the Minor Arcana symbolizing the earth element. Other names for Pentacles are Discs, Coins, Gold or Diamonds. This suit is grounded in the physical world and is used to identify with issues of practicality.
Pip Card
Pip refers to numbered cards of all four suits, from Ace to 10.
Prince
One of the four court cards of the Minor Arcana. In more modern decks the Prince takes the place of the Knight.
Princess
One of the four court cards of the Minor Arcana. In more modern decks the Princess takes the place of the Page.
Queen
One of the four court cards of the Minor Arcana. Represents the feminine personality. Queen of Wands represents a career woman. Queen of Pentacles represents a practical manager. Queen of Swords represents intelligence. Queen of Cups represents deep feeling and intuition.
Rune
A letter in the writing script of Germanic tribes. Runes (cards with inscriptions of the runic alphabet), similar to tarot cards, are used for divination. Runes are said to have originated about a thousand years before Tarot.
Sage
Represents wisdom, sound judgment and understanding. Sage symbolism is one of the qualities of the Hermit card of the Major Arcana.
Spread
The pattern or the layout of the cards in a reading.
Suit
Group of Cards that all use the same symbol. The four symbols are Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles.
Swords
One of the four suits, identified with the air element, symbolizing energy, action, intellect.
Trumps
22 cards of the Major Arcana are also called Trumps.
Wands
One of the four suits, associated with fire, symbolizing work and career.
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