From Llewellyn's 2001 Tarot Calendar. For more Llewellyn tarot books and decks, click here. It is not known exactly where and when the tarot came into existence. Some believe that it originated in ancient Egypt and was brought to Europe by the Rom, or “Gypsies,” as they traveled to Europe from India. The oracle’s first appearance in Europe appears to have been in the late...

From Llewellyn's 2001 Tarot Calendar. For more of Llewellyn's tarot decks and books, click here. We tend to think of the tarot as a timeless icon, passed down to us unaltered through the ages, but historical research shows us that the tarot is fluid, changing with time as human culture changes. We may think of the Fool as a young traveler, fresh-faced, carefree, a friendly dog springing...

Tarot communicates through symbols and through images. By doing so, it creates a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind. In this way, by manifesting this world between worlds, tarot allows a unique divinatory experience, accessing our subconscious. Often, however, our consciousness plays just a big a role in how we interpret the cards. Acclaimed tarot writer Barbara Moore explains how the representation of gender and age in tarot decks can affect a reading.

Tarot is a tool useful in many ways for many things, from meditation and spiritual insight to divination and fortunetelling. Yet, everytime we consult the tarot, we are in search of some sort of answer. Tarot expert Barbara Moore explains how the questions we ask in hopes of an answer are just as important as the answer itself.

Tarot is a useful tool and can be used in many ways for many things: meditation, brainstorming, creativity, divination, problem-solving, spiritual insight. What they all have in common, though, is the search for an answer of some sort. We ask things like: What is the best way to approach this project? What should I do about this situation? How can I resolve this disagreement? How can I improve my...