Tarot.

In a lot of modern circles, Tarot is the Witch’s Trademark, right next to pointy hats, cauldrons, and brooms. Usually comprised of 78 cards divided into two groups, the Major and Minor Arcana, this divination tool is just one method a witch may use to access the energies of the Universe.

But what is Tarot?

No one is certain where or when Tarot cards were first used. One prevailing theory is that they originated in Egypt and were derived from illustrations from the Book of Thoth. Discovered in the Library of Alexandria, the Book of Thoth contained many mystical teachings about magic and divination methods.

The oldest known Tarot cards are from decks painted in the 15th century for the Visconti-Sforza family, commissioned by the Duke of Milan, his son-in-law, and his successor.

The images in Tarot are mysteriously linked to many ancient beliefs, mythologies and religions. During the Middle Ages, the Catholic church banned them and called Tarot the “Devil’s Picture Book” (which honestly sounds WAY cooler).

The most widely-known deck is undoubtedly the Rider-Waite Tarot, introduced in 1909. It was illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith with guidance from Arthur Edward Waite.

Tarot decks are split into 2 different parts: the Major Arcana, consisting of 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana, which contains 56 cards. I won’t get too much into the different parts of the deck in this particular article, but it’s best to familiarize yourself with these components and what they look like in your deck.

Now that Tarot is becoming more mainstream, there are several different Tarot decks to choose from. Artists have produced their own visualizations of the classic art, so when it comes time to choose that perfect deck for you, the choices are (almost) endless. I personally favor either The Wild Unknown tarot, with art by Kris Krans or True Black tarot by Arthur Wang. However, the choice is yours. Pick a deck that resonates with your energies. For example, my girlfriend prefers the Mystic Mondays set by Grace Duong. It’s also entirely possible that you may find a deck that you think is gorgeous, but when you sit down to use it, your energy doesn’t work with that particular deck. There’s unfortunately no way to know this until after you can touch and meditate on your own set of Tarot cards.

One last disclaimer: Tarot isn’t for every Witch. Empaths and those with a modicum of psychic abilities will find Tarot easiest to manipulate, as they are already more in tune with receiving the energies around them. If this isn’t you, don’t be discouraged! Everybody has magic, and you will find your specialty. If you’re absolutely determined to learn Tarot (looking at you, Taurus signs) I strongly recommend looking up YouTube tutorials, buying books and asking your local witch(es) for advice.

Blessed be and Good Vibes!