[Holiday]

I found this on one of the many tarot sites of the internet:

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The main character of the Major Arcana is The Fool. His card is numbered zero, and among scholars of the tarot there is constant debate whether he is the beginning of the story, or should appear in the middle, or at the end. This is because the fool is eternal. He is the spirit in us that questions, he is the adventure in us that leaves safe places to find new things, he is the part of us that is hungry enough to want more and silly enough to take the risks to find what we need. In each card, The Fool has come to a new resting place on his journey. He meets lots of different people on his travels through the Tarot: kings, queens, priests, merchants, warriors and scholars all have something to tell him about the benefits of their place in the universe. Each has wisdom and blindspots - some recognize that the Fool's Walk will go on, some believe there is nothing beyond the place they have reached, or at least not anything worthwhile.

http://www.tattoosymbol.com/tarot/large/rw_00.jpg





What other stories of the Tarot do you know, have you heard, can you find?

Does each card tell a story? Is it just the Major Arcana? Just the Fool?

[Nightblade]

What are Tarot cards used for? This is like to predict the future or something, right?

[8LKPHX]

People make the mistake of thinking the tarot is a tool only for divination; i.e. predicting the future. But we must understand that the future is never cast in stone because we have free will and the future is formed based on our choices we make in the present and choices made in the past.

Although to some extent, the tarot can give some feeling or indication of what may occur, it is used most effectively as a tool of introspection. The symbols and characters in both the major and minor arcana are archetypes and linked to specific 'chords' if you like, in our sub-conscious.

Using the tarot we can discover those parts of us we have hidden away; and bringing these parts to the fore, we can then work on ourselves, our inconsistencies and flaws and so develop and improve ourselves.

[hate999]

tarot gives an outward view of the situation in question. then you shape your own future due to insight and/or choice.

[Innanna]

http://www.heartofth....php?f=35&t=298

First we will learn what the cards mean and what the symbols mean.
The first 22 cards in a Tarot (pronounced Tare-oh) deck are known collectively as the Major Arcana. They represent our journey from life to death and the lessons we learn along the way.
These are "extra" cards that, unlike the Minor Arcana, do not have any similarities to a deck of ordinary playing cards.

Major Arcana cards are loaded with secret symbolism. The information below will help you to understand the different elements that make up these cards and what kinds of things they are telling you.

Number
Each card in the Major Arcana was its own number. On most decks, this is displayed on the card itself.
22 cards
The 22nd card is the Fool which sometimes does not have a number shown. If you pick any card but the Fool card and it has no number, it is probably a Minor Arcana card such as an Ace, King or Queen.

Fool Card
The Fool card is sometimes not numbered because it can be used at the beginning or the end of a sequence (Zero or XXII)- just as the Major Arcana as a whole represents the cycle of life. We are created from nothing and to nothing we return.

Numerology
As well as helping to put the cards in order, the numbers also have magical meanings of their own through their associations with the mystical art of numerology.

Card Name
Different Decks
The names of the cards differ slightly from one deck to another but their meaning is the same. Jupiter will be the Heirophant or the Pope in some decks but always represents a male authority/father figure.

Names
The name only effects what the card is called, not what it means-just as teacher, mentor, instructor or tutor are all people that do the same job. The image is more important than the words.

Individuality
How the cards are named tends to identify the deck with one particular culture or belief system. Some decks use the Ancient Roman and Greek gods to depict characters in the Major Arcana while a Celtic themed deck would use Celtic gods.

The History of the Major Arcana
The first known decks date back to the 14th century. Artist Bonifacio Bembo designed a game called Tarocchi by adding extra cards to a playing deck. The 22 additional cards called trionfi, or trumps, depicted images of medieval social types or qualities-which we now know as the Major Arcana. He also designed four sets of 14 "pip" or numbered cards, now known as the Minor Arcana.
The cards, known as Tarot in France, were first linked to mysticism in the 18th century, at this time, occultists believed that the Tarot originated in Ancient Egypt.

Tarot: The Major Arcana
The Fool- Innocence, exploration, optimism, naivete; rushing in where angels fear to tread but probably getting away with it.
I: The Magician- Growing independence. The ability to make use of what you have learned, bringing all aspects together. Self reliance. Confidence.
II: Junon (Juno)-Intuition, Confidence. Learn to make your own decisions or share your intuition with others. Look more to your heart than to logic.
III: The Empress-Caring Authority. Comfort, safety and security combined with a caring instinct and true affection. Can indicate fertility.
IV: The Emperor:Discilpined authority. This represents the establishment; a person or organization that has long term influence and respect.
V: Jupiter-Safety in tradition. Gaining comfort from established ritual or professional advice. A need to maintain and respect convention.
VI: The Lovers-Two become one. Love and partnership. Accept that decisions need to involve more than one person.
VII: The Chariot-Difficult situations. The status quo is hard to handle; work is needed to ensure victory over the odds.
VIII: Justice-Is the world fair? Do you think the current situation is fair and right-both morally and legally?
IX: The Hermit-What can change? A need to withdraw inward, to center yourself and decide what you can do.
X: Wheel of Fortune-Go with the flow. Change the things you can and accept the things you can't, You may have to let things roll.
XI: Strength-Fortify yourself. Deal with the current situation as best as you can-emotionally as well as physically.
XII: The Hanged Man-Take a step back. Suspension and sacrifice. Things seem to be standing still but sometimes you need perspective.
XIII: Death-Moving on, change. An end to the current situation; a dramatic change. Once the past is behind you, you can move on.
XIV: Temperance-Moderation. Learn to accept things as they are. Explore the current situation cautiously and be wary of excess.
XV: The Devil-Temptation. We are tempted with new experiences and are full of energy and enthusiasm to act on them.
XVI: The Tower-Upheaval. Apparent safety and security is challenged. It may be time to cut your losses and abandon past ties.
XVII: The Star-Dreams and wishes. Your dreams come true like a wish on a star. Hope and faith; something to look forward to.
XVIII: The Moon-Hidden depths. Be aware that not everything in life is visible-some things are obscured and hidden from us.
XIX: The Sun-Life, vitality and light. The Sun is shining and everything is wonderful. A time for growth, mental, physical or spiritual.
XX: Judgement-The outcome. Conclusions to the current situation; a sense of closure. An opportunity to move forward unhindered.
XXI: The World-The Complete Picture. The end of one phase and the beginning of another; the bigger picture coming into focus.

[Holiday]

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We begin with the Fool (0), a card of beginnings. The Fool stands for each of us as we begin our journey of life. He is a fool because only a simple soul has the innocent faith to undertake such a journey with all its hazards and pain.

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On setting out, the Fool immediately encounters the Magician (1) and the High Priestess (2)
The Magician is the positive side. He represents the active, masculine power of creative impulse. He is also our conscious awareness. The Magician is the force that allows us to impact the world through a concentration of individual will and power. The High Priestess is the negative side. She is the mysterious unconscious. She provides the fertile ground in which creative events occur. The High Priestess is our unrealized potential waiting for an active principle to bring it to expression.

The terms positive and negative do not imply "good" and "bad." These are human distinctions that do not apply in the tarot. The Magician and the High Priestess are absolutely equal in value and importance. Each is necessary for balance. We may view the negative as our Shadow, but without shadows, we cannot see the light, and without a ground of potential, we cannot create.

There's a whole bunch more. And I read somewhere that "The Fool travels all through the world of the Tarot and returns exactly where he began, never losing his faith and innocence."