Soraya

Mention the word tarot and you will have a variety of reactions. Some people will react with fear because they are afraid of what they might hear. Others will react with horror as it is against their religious beliefs. Some will show mild interest whilst others will be enthusiastic in their interest. But what is it about Tarot that can cause such a variety of reactions.
Most people think that Tarot is dabbling in the occult; well it is, because the occult is really a collective word for the “Mysteries” however Tarot is a series of instruction originally handed down verbally until around the fourteenth century when the first illustrations began to appear.
In times gone by anyone who was found with Tarot cards could have been regarded as dabbling with witchcraft and they would have been imprisoned, tortured and often put to death so it was important that knowledge and possession of this discipline was kept secret.
Tarot is made up of seventy eight cards. Twenty two of these cards are known as Major Arcana leaving fifty six Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana shows the cause of changes and the minor shows the possible reactions to these changes. Among the fifty six minor cards are four knights. When you remove the four knights and the twenty two Major cards you are left with fifty two cards and it is theses fifty two cards that form our traditional playing cards today. This is how “Gypsies” were and still are able to “read” ordinary playing cards and it was this method that saved the lives of more than a few in days gone by. Hiding the Majors and the four nights allowed the adepts to advise their querants but if they were disturbed, well, they were only playing a card game. Tarot cards are still registered as games. Unfortunately reading ordinary cards only shows the possible reactions to any given situation and not the cause of the change in the first place.
The truth of the matter is that Tarot is a science. With proper study and understanding the adept will be able to use this discipline correctly and show the querants opportunities that lie ahead so that they can take advantage of them and show any obstacles so that pitfalls can be avoided. With the correct advice even the worst situation can be embraced and handled with courage and direction.