Types of Tarot: Know the most famous decks and the differences

Each year, over 100 new Tarot decks hit stores around the world. They are versions of old decks, artistic creations from Tarot cards from known decks or even an oracle totally different from the one we know as Tarot. But have you ever wondered why there are so many types of Tarot? What is the difference between them? Or are there the best and the worst on this never-ending list?

Come and we’ll explain everything to you. And if you want to consult the oracle, see the Tarot advice of the Day for you here.

Tarot Cards: Every Tarot has 78 Arcana

By the way, what should be very clear is that Tarot is a whole set of 78 cards that is divided into two groups: the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana, 16 of which are the four cards of the four Courts – Clubs, Hearts, Swords and Diamonds.

This is the structure considered traditional, since since the Middle Ages the packs were marketed with this specific number of cards.

• 22 Major Arcana – Cards 1 to 21 + Unnumbered Arcana, “The Fool”
• 56 Minor Arcana – Four suits: Clubs, Hearts, Spades and Diamonds
• 40 numbered cards of each suit – From 1 (Ace) to 10
• 4 Court Cards of each suit – Page (or Princess), Knight (Prince), Queen and King

In the course of time, with the massive dissemination of the Tarot as a prediction tool, several introductory and formative courses were and still are offered. Most of these activities adopt only the 22 Major Arcana and leave out the 56 Minor Arcana, as if this nomenclature diminishes their importance.

Regardless of whether the Minors are used or not, according to the difficulty of memorization or combination that may arise, for the oracle to be considered Tarot, it must necessarily have these 78 cards – neither one more nor one less.

Discover the most famous types of Tarot in the world

The first Tarot decks we know of date back to the 14th century, when production was quite simple, as technology from the Renaissance period onwards, until the 18th century, allowed printing with just a few colors.

In the 19th century, with the advancement of graphic processes, new versions of old decks were developed, published and popularized. New artists, new impressions and new possibilities of interpretation that opened the doors of the publishing market.

However, despite so many decks available on the market, it is important to note that the classic structure remains in most of them.

Among the most varied types of Tarot available on the market, we cite four of the most important in esoteric literature and most used of all times.

Marseille Tarot

Known throughout the world, the Tarot de Marseille is one of the oldest and still used decks today.

Although there are no documents attesting to its existence before the 14th century, it is said that the probable birthplace of Tarot de Marseille is northern Italy.

Soon after, it was introduced in France, specifically in the south, where it began to be copied and marketed as a playful instrument.

His images are medieval, as are his primary colors, due to the graphic resources of the time.

Being a classic, structural and conceptual deck, most Tarot decks released since the 18th century derive from it. The Personare Tarot (try it here) is a version of the traditional Marseilles.

Rider-Waite Tarot

The best-selling Tarot on the entire planet was conceived by English occultist Arthur Edward Waite and executed by Pamela Colman Smith, a prolific English writer and illustrator.

The complete deck was published in 1910, the same year as his book, “The Pictorial Key to the Tarot”, published by “Rider&Son” in London.

Among all the changes that its creators made to the traditional structure (such as changing the number of arcana 8, “The Justice” and 11, “The Force”), the great practical effect of this deck is in the 40 illustrations of the numbered Minor Arcana.

Where only three cups were seen in the arcane “Three of Cups” of traditional decks, in the Waite Tarot we see a scene of celebration between three maidens who toast with their respective cups.

Due to this innovation, with several clones being developed and commercialized, most of the decks released so far receive their influences.

Thoth Tarot

One of the most controversial personalities in the esoteric universe who created his own Tarot was the English writer and magician Aleister Crowley.

Between 1938 and 1943, he joined forces with artist Frieda Harris to compose the 78 cards of his Tarot deck, considered by scholars to be the legacy of all Crowley’s knowledge.

The Thoth Tarot, also the title of a book published in 1944, brought descriptions and correspondences of the arcana with Astrology, poems and hymns related to each of the cards and some suggestions for use.

The deck is attributed to Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge, who is said to have left a book with all his knowledge. Although many esotericists to this day believe that this book gave rise to the Tarot, historical research has ruled out this hypothesis.

The redesign designed by Crowley and executed by Harris impresses collectors and Tarot readers around the world for its associations between traditional images and mythological figures (such as “The Priestess”, represented as the Roman goddess Diana, protector of virgins and great hunting lady).

The arcana nomenclature undergoes some considerable changes, but the most striking is the exchange of Pages for Princesses, Knights for Princes and Kings for Knights.

These changes meant that many decks influenced by Crowley’s associations were designed and released with these changes, although almost always swapping the King for the Knight doesn’t hold up.

Decks derived from Waite and Crowley commonly feature Kings, Queens, Princes (or Knights) and Princesses (Pages).

In addition to the aesthetic alterations that Crowley and Harris successfully undertook, the Minor Arcana, with the exception of the four Aces, received titles in tune with their respective oracular attributes. Examples: The “Two of Cups” is called “Love” and the “Five of Swords” is called “Defeat”.

IMPORTANT: In the Personare Tarot, we call the Page Princess, but this in no way interferes with the meanings of the arcane. For the other figures (Knight, Queen and King), we keep the original nomenclature.

Mythological Tarot

The Mythological Tarot was developed by the American astrologer Liz Greene in partnership with the tarologist Juliette Sharman-Burke and conceived by the plastic artist Tricia Newell.

Since its release by Fireside publisher in 1986, the deck is also one of the most translated and sold in the world.

Adapting medieval images to the various characters and passages of Greek mythology, the misconception that this is the “easiest” Tarot to learn is still propagated.

What are the differences between the types of Taort?

Although it is a relevant contribution to the artistic universe of Tarot, no professional who researches the history and symbology of the oracle suggests following the associations offered to the letter.

Keeping together the symbolic framework of the Tarot and the depth of a myth ends up confusing laymen and limiting both the oracle and the Greek narrative. It is a sales phenomenon that deserves attention and care.

Despite the rich symbolism and innovations of these decks that deserve equally long and arduous study, little changes in a reading, since in essence they preserve the traditional structure of the Marseille pattern.

Both Waite and Crowley, in their own ways, were true to the classic attributes of the cards. What really matters is the use made of a particular deck.

The only condition, as we have seen, is that a Tarot is only really a Tarot if it has the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana. Today, with the market growing more and more, it is possible to choose the Tarot that best adapts to the visual taste of the interpreter.

After all, which type of Tarot is the best?

The constant remodeling of the Tarot must be seen as a technological advance, an artistic advent and also an editorial vein, since the possibilities of creation from the traditional structure are practically infinite.

What is difficult is resisting the most varied themes and styles, as some offer strong colors and nicer features than others.

However, regardless of the beauty or sophistication of the images, the truth is that every Tarot works quite successfully if there is a long and arduous study of its symbols and true respect for its images.

The prudent thing is to always choose a professional who follows the traditional structure, as is the case with the Tarot used in Personare. The best Tarot will always depend on who interprets it..

The post Types of Tarot: Discover the Most Famous Decks and the Differences appeared first on Personare.

Leo Chioda (l.chioda@personare.com.br)

– Leo Chioda is a writer and one of the main tarologists working in Brazil. Graduated in Letters from UNESP, he is currently developing a thesis on poetry and alchemy at USP. He has subscribed to the Café Tarot blog and social networks since 2006, where he publishes associations between the arcana and popular culture, literature, music and cinema.