Tarot: what it is, types of spreads, card meanings and more!

Tarot is a divinatory oracle that uses 78 cards, divided into major arcana (the first 22 and major arcana (the rest). As one of the best-known oracles, the Tarot has thousands of variations.

To study Tarot it is necessary to have time, as each of the cards has different details and different interpretations, depending on the drawing method and even its position. To understand how to unravel the mysteries present in each letter and learn about drawing techniques, read here!

Since the most ancient civilizations, predicting the future is something that instigates humanity. For this, different oracles were created, which underwent improvement and modifications over time. With Tarot, it was no different. The reading of the cards and their interpretations have evolved since its creation.

The origin of the Tarot does not have a dated record. However, in the fourteenth century cards with the suits of hearts, sticks or sticks, swords and diamonds or coins, were successful in the French and Italian courts. Over time, other suits also began to appear, created by famous artists who responded to orders from noble families.

In the period, wealthy families ordered the so-called “letters of triumph”, artistically representing the members of the family group. At that time, the deck had no divinatory sense, but between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century this possibility began to emerge.

Prior to that, there is only record of the use of decks for divination purposes referring to the Mamluk deck. The card game also known as “Mamluk” was taken from Turkey to Western Europe and its name is a reference to the Mamluk sultanate of Cairo, Egypt.

The “Mamluk” deck featured the suits of kings and deputies who would be the king’s servants, something that can be compared to the knight in the current deck. The Mamluk also had the aforementioned suits (cup/cups, staff/sticks, coins/diamonds and spades).

From the moment that Tarot began to be used for divination purposes, other esoteric possibilities were attributed to the purpose of the game, which in previous forms was purely focused on entertainment. In the 18th century, it was already an existing practice to attribute mystical and interpretive meanings to cards.

Nowadays, Tarot can be used both as a tool within a journey of esoteric studies, and as an instrument aimed at a form of self-knowledge. One of the most famous decks, the Rider Waite deck, was created using a book that attributed esoteric meanings to the symbols on the cards.

Used to this day, the Rider Waite deck makes use of colors and elements present in the images to convey messages that are present in the collective unconscious. The use of the instrument can be interpretative, analyzing the question experienced with the answers presented by the symbols, even more, generating an internal reflection.

Reading cards like Tarot can bring countless benefits. Each blade has multiple symbology, allowing it to be interpreted appropriately for each situation. All tarot symbology is an invitation to contact with oneself, as the cards reflect aspects present in individuals that are often denied by them.

Tarot teaches about the need to see one’s own shadows and their weaknesses, as well as it also reflects the positive aspects, whether behavioral or intellectual, which may not have been seen until then. Every journey proposed by Tarot provides an internal experience of reflection.

In addition to issues related to predicting future possibilities, the reading should also delve into the deep meanings of the cards, which can be reflected in the people themselves. However, its use for divination purposes can also calm anxieties and lessen anxieties regarding matters that are not controllable.

Just as there are several Tarot decks, there are different types of cards. This expression refers to the way the deck is consulted, either by the arrangement of the cards or the order in which they are interpreted. The method can also interfere with the amount of cards played. Learn about the printing methods below:

Starting with a letter, the single-run method is self-explanatory. The technique consists of interpreting only one card per question or advice, and is often used by beginners in Tarot, because in this way only one card will have its meaning revealed. The simplest method of all does not require the interpretation of relationships between cards

However, in the drawing of a letter it is the profound knowledge of one of them. To do so, it is necessary to choose a card from the full deck and ask an objective question, as clear as possible. From the result, the interpretation is made, which is given in a simple way, taking into account the meaning of the arcane in question.

When the question is related to a challenge, karma or guidance, the arcana of result will be the expression of what is not being done by the querent. Following this logic, the advice represents the characteristics and postures that should be assumed by him according to the Tarot advice.

One of the most common drawing techniques is the three-card linear. That’s because in this strip, only three arcana are used, as the name suggests. The three cards can reflect the past, present and future as well as the situation, problem and advice. In this method, the cards are read from left to right.

Past (reflects a situation that has already occurred) – Present (shows something that is not being observed at the current moment) – Future (is advice on how to deal with the present in a way that achieves goals in the future).

Situation (represents what you want or the situation you are in) – Problem (is the obstacle to be faced on the journey) – Advice (what to do to overcome the obstacle and get out of the situation or achieve what you want.

There are also variations of this method, such as the possibility to analyze a relationship. In this case, card 1 would represent the person, card 2 would be the one you want and card 3 would be the outcome or prediction for the relationship.

The three-card variant drawing method resembles the three-card linear method, however, it does not follow a chronological line. This technique is recommended for situations where there is some doubt between two options. Putting it into practice, the variant spread of three cards is presented in the form of a triangle, which must be read from the bottom left.

Some reading options using the three-card variant spread:

Bottom left card (represents the negative aspect) – Bottom right card (shows the positive aspect) – Top card (advice for choosing).
Bottom left letter (talks about aspects of the first option in the question) – Bottom right letter (addresses details of the second option mentioned) – Top letter (explains how to choose between the two options).

In the cross-drawing of three cards, a process is used to interpret situations that are complex and challenging. For this, three cards are arranged so that one of them is on top of the other, but the third is far away. The reading starts from the letter that was below, going to the one on top of it and finally the external one.

Some options for readings using the three-card cross-draw method:

First card (it is the card that is found under the second and represents the situation asked in the question) – Second card (it is rested on top of the first and shows the impediment or obstacle of the situation) – Third card (it is the card that is lying next to it) others. Reflects advice for the situation.

First card (below the second; in this case it shows the opportunity present in the question) – Second card (it is on top of the first, it shows the challenge) – Third card (it is far from the first two and shows the possible outcome of the situation).

The five-card cross spread is also called the diamond spread. This Tarot method is commonly used to understand in a deeper way an issue that is being experienced, showing aspects that are not seen until now and offering a possible solution. In the drawing all arcana are used.

After shuffling, the cards are arranged in the form of a cross, the central card being the first to be analyzed, moving to the left, next to it, in sequence the third is taken, which is positioned at the right end of the cross, finally the lower and upper tip are read.

Reading method using the five-card cross method:

First card (situation you want to understand) – Second card (influence you cannot see) – Third card (influence already observed) – Fourth card (signals what must be done to solve the problem) – Fifth card (solution of the issue) .

Created by the French Josephin Peladan, also founder of the Rosicrucian esoteric order, the Tarot drawing method that bears the name of its creator is directed towards temporal objective questions. The cards are arranged in the form of a cross and explore the present situation, the possible future and the vision of the person to whom the circulation is directed.

Arrangement of the cards in the five-card Péladan draw method:

First card – located on the left side, it shows the positive aspects of the situation.

Second card – is opposite the first, on the right side of the cross and shows what is not favoring the situation.

Third card – stands at the top end of the cross and shows how the issue will develop.

Fourth card – is the card that is at the bottom of the cross and shows the result. However, it is necessary to analyze it with caution, taking into account the previous letters when interpreting the answer.

Fifth card – it is in the center of the cross, it expresses how the person is faced with the question.

To learn more about the Péladan method of tarot reading, see
What is the Peladan Method? In tarot, reading, interpretation and more!

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