I bought my first Tarot deck in my late teens sometime in the late 1980’s, yes I’m that old. I don’t remember exactly when or what prompted me to do so but I do remember the little book shop with the cards in a glass cabinet by the register. The person behind the counter asked what I was looking for and of course I had no idea. They pointed me towards the mini Rider Tarot deck I still have in my bedside table today, saying it was the one most people started with. It would be another 20 years before I bought my next oracle deck and my love of card reading really began and another 10 years before I really let go of the guide books and started trusting myself to read the cards intuitively.
Many of you will know what Tarot cards are and most of those who do, will be familiar with what is now known as the Waite Smith or Smith Waite Tarot. This deck was first published by William Rider and Son of London in 1909. Originally called the Rider Tarot it becoming known as the Rider Waite Tarot later in the century but it was not until the 1990’s that Smiths name was added to the decks name and Rider removed. It is the most well known and used deck today and the deck most modern Tarot decks are based on.
Tarot goes back further than the Waite Smith deck though, it is believed to the 1300’s. There is some debate as to where it originated the most common school of thought is Italy but others say Egypt or India. The truth seems to be that various cultures had their own versions of cards that have been merged over the centuries to what we have now. The evolution of cards has been influenced by different countries, religions and cultures over the years. Some say that culturally historical symbolism and designs from the middle east were stolen by Europeans and claimed as their own, in which case perhaps the history goes back even further. General consensus is that the decks had 4 suits consisting of 10 pip cards and 4 court cards and some also had 22 trump cards and were used as playing cards.
The late 1700’s was when the first deck specifically for divination appeared. However it is thought that cards had been used in divination for some time before that. During the 1800’s cards started to turn into 3 different types of decks. The Tarot cards – a structured 78 card deck with 4 suits of the Minor Arcana and the 22 Major Arcana cards, used for divination today (like the decks from centuries ago). Playing cards – a 52 card deck of 4 suits used for games today (similar to the Minor Arcana of the Tarot) and the Oracle deck (similar to the Major Arcana of the Tarot) which has no structure or specific number of cards but also used for divination and has a theme or story to the cards.
The publishing of the Rider Tarot deck in 1909 defined Tarot and has become the basis for the modern Tarot. A.E. Waite (Arthur Edward Waite) was an author, poet and mystic who had an interest in history and the occult. In 1909 he commissioned Pamela Colman Smith, who also had an interest in the occult, to illustrate a 78 card deck of Tarot. Pamela Colman Smith was an illustrator, artist and author in her own right. While Smiths artwork is what is most commonly associated as Tarot today it wasn’t until the commemorative centenary edition in 2009 that Smith received the acknowledgment she deserved for producing the pictures. This 100 year celebratory edition was called the Smith Waite Tarot. Under Waites direction Smith had produced the 78 cards that are now so well known and was paid a flat fee for her work. Waite wrote the accompanying book, Key to the Tarot, describing the symbolism of the cards, the divination meanings and the history and traditions behind the Tarot. As the author, and a male, the deck was accredited to Waite. In producing this deck Waite chose to switch 2 cards of the Major Arcana. The Strength #8 and Justice #11 cards in the Waite Smith deck were more commonly found in previous decks to be the other way around with Justice #8 and Strength #11. Some decks produced since the Waite Smith deck follow his order but you will find other authors have returned to the traditional order as they believe this is correct for the flow of the Major Arcana. Personally I feel the number on the card doesn’t really matter, your intent when reading the cards is more important. When you are doing a reading that requires the Strength card to come up, whether it is numbered 8 or 11 doesn’t make a difference. The Strength card still has the same meaning according to the deck and your intention.
The popularity of divination and Tarot increased in the 1970’s with the start of the New Age movement. The Waite Smith deck was still called the Rider Tarot in the 1971 edition with Waite and Smith acknowledged in the small print. By the late 1900’s many books on understanding and working with the Tarot had been published and with its popularity growing, different versions of Tarot and Oracle cards were beginning to be produced.
It is now possible to find many different Tarot decks but they follow the same structure of 78 cards, 4 Minor Arcana suits and 22 Major Arcana, that is the Waite Smith deck and most still include some of the historical symbolism that is now hundreds of years old. One of the transformations modern Tarot decks have made is to take out the sometime violent, gory and negative card meanings and pictures to focus on the positive. Some authors have changed the look completely of the pictures using fairies, animals and angels to give a more positive feeling. Oracle cards are also more positive than the traditional Tarot. They are theme based and can have any number of cards in the deck. They usually have a story that is told through the cards, similar to the Major Arcana in the Tarot where you are following a travelers journey through life. Some Oracle cards are designed to be used in specific types of readings such as your health or job. Others are quiet light hearted and funny and some are aimed at younger audiences. Really I think there is probably a deck out there to suit everyone these days and many people have a deck that they play with for their own enjoyment.
One thing most modern decks have that started with the Waite Smith deck is the guide book. While this is very helpful in learning about the cards the true reason for using the cards is to convey messages from your intuition and your Guides/Angels/The Universe (whatever your beliefs are) by being prompted by the symbolism and pictures on the card and what they mean to you. I believe there is no right way to read the cards, especially once you have gotten to know your deck and each card has special meanings to you. I have also found that while it is nice to have a designed spread to use it is just as easy to make a spread that suits you and how you read. If you are not confident in your intuitive messages then there is nothing wrong with using the guide book. Which ever way you choose to read the cards is perfect for you, you just need to make a clear decision before you start so the Universe, Angels, Guides, whatever you are comfortable with, knows how you wish to communicate with them.
So how do you learn to read cards I hear you ask? That is a very personal thing. Divination, whether it be with Tarot, Oracle or any of the many other tools used to communicate with your higher self and/or the “other side”, is very much an personal process. How you ask questions, the type of questions you ask, how you receive answers or messages, who you believe you are communicating with, the do’s and don’ts all are only relevant to you. Its not about how others do it, its about how you do it. If it feels right then you are on the right path.
There are many teachers out there with loads of wonderful information and inspirational ideas for you to learn from. Not all of them agree, in fact some are complete opposites. Some of it may make you feel uncomfortable. Not all of it will be right for you. Some will be confusing and some will go against your beliefs. Other things will feel amazing. Some will make your understanding of the cards a breeze and some will have you saying “now I get it”. The best thing you can do is sift through any information you come across, take on what feels right and discard the rest. You may find through time that this changes as well, something that worked for you once, no longer feels right. We all grow and change is growth, never feel like you have been or are doing it wrong, we do what is right for us at the time and change is the way we evolve. Again I say, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING when it comes to card reading or divination of any kind is you MUST go with what feels right to you. The cards are merely a tool. You can see in the many versions there are these days of Tarot and Oracle cards, its all about interpretation. There is no right way, no best way, no good way, there is only your way. How you interpret the cards, whether with the guide book, symbolism or your intuition will not be the same as others interpret them. But when you are the one doing the reading and your intent is to read the cards in a certain way, that is the way the cards will talk you.
There is a long history of cards through generations and across continents that have lead us to the huge variety we have available to us today. There are also lots of traditions and superstitions that also surround card reading. Unless these are significant to you through your culture or if they feel true to you and your reading journey, I do not believe you need to take them all on board. As I said before there are some completely opposite ideas out there, we can’t do everything everyone says. As long as you are reading with pure intentions you cannot go wrong.
The journey that cards have taken to reach the modern Tarot and Oracle decks of today has been a long and arguable one. One that you can choose to be relevant to how you use them or not. During my reading journey I have enjoyed the growth and expansion of this form of divination over the last 30 years especially. It has given me a wide variety of Tarot and Oracle decks to play with that always allows me the perfect way to convey messages during my readings. The positive feel of the decks I use help me to bring clarity and peace into people’s lives. If this post has you curious and you would like to experience an Intuitive Card Reading for yourself, feel free to contact me to book a session.
Enjoy your journey
💜 Donna