Tarot cards form a symbolic 78-card system used today for readings, reflection and spiritual practice. A standard deck contains 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards.

Where did tarot come from?

Tarot’s documented European history reaches back to 15th-century Italy, where the cards were first used for games. Their later association with divination developed centuries afterward.

For historical context, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s history of tarot explains that tarot developed from card games and describes the familiar 78-card structure.

Major and Minor Arcana

The Major Arcana contains 22 archetypal cards such as The Fool, The Magician, Death and The World. The Minor Arcana contains four suits: Cups, Swords, Wands and Pentacles.

What are tarot readings used for?

Modern readers use tarot to explore relationships, decisions, work, personal patterns and possible directions. A useful reading considers both the symbolism of the cards and the real circumstances around the question.

Can tarot predict the future?

Tarot is most useful as a way to explore possibilities and patterns rather than treating every card as a fixed event that must happen.

Start with your own deck

Browse Tarot & Oracle Cards or explore Kuutaro Tarot Card Readings.