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 fourteenth century, probably in Italy, either as a complete seventy-eight card deck or two smaller decks that were...

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 alongside. But early cards show a Fool who is sometimes a miserable wretch, and more often a jester. The...

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.

One of the most important traditional uses of the Tarot is in meditation. In fact, some scholars consider this its greatest value and believe that the Tarot was designed for this purpose and only later was applied to fortunetelling. As focal points for meditation, the cards’ images can help you think about paths to spiritual self-improvement, broaden your understanding of the human conditions...

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.

Although tarot readers emphasize the positive aspects of the cards in a reading, there is no getting around the fact that the appearance of certain cards is alarming because of their potential predictions of bad things to come. Here, let me interject that, as someone who has written four books on tarot, I am certainly interested in prediction; however, I do not believe in such a thing as...