The Tarot reveals what’s really happening below the surface of events around us. The Tarot is a visual medium; those of you who love pictures, art, music, design—anything picture-related—can appreciate all the rich colors, symbols, numbers, and archetypes present in the Tarot cards. It doesn’t take a degree in math or science to work with this wonderful medium of enlightenment and personal awareness. It’s easy!
The 78 Tarot cards represent every element of life, every emotion we will experience, every lesson that needs to be learned, and every condition possible to know. The story the Tarot tells every time you receive a reading allows you to know more and gives you the decision-making edge extra knowledge can provide.

We’ll be your Magician: a teacher and guide to the Tarot.
Oracles are sacred objects or altars used by many cultures throughout history
for the reception of divine guiding messages and holy truths. The site of the oracle is considered a holy place, and often only priests or shamans can visit it. Shamans or high priestesses were believed to have had divine connections. Therefore, they became the “speakers” of the messages. Many ancient sites, such as the ruins at Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico, contain structures archaeologists believe were used by priestastronomers to interpret divine meanings for everyday events.

The Tarot opens your intuitive sense. Its pictures stimulate your gut feelings. Do you already have a Tarot deck? Start shuffling. The Tarot cards absorb the thoughts, ideas, and curiosity of the person who shuffles the deck. By shuffling and concentrating on the question at hand, it’s your energy that’s being reflected through the deck of the Tarot. Your subconscious wisdom is shuffled into the cards. When the cards are thrown into different patterns, or spreads, the relationships between the cards reveal your personal wisdom as you infused it into the deck. The 78 cards of the Tarot deck are divided into
22 Major Arcana cards, which lead us through the archetypal passages in life’s journey, and 56 Minor Arcana cards, which illustrate the various things
that happen to each of us from day to day. We’ll look at the Major Arcana in Part 3 and the Minor Arcana in Part 4, but you can sneak a peek at
them now.

The first difference you’ll notice is that the Major Arcana seem to represent mythological motifs, while the Minor Arcana show more everyday events. That’s exactly the case: The Major Arcana cover the big stuff, while the Minor Arcana are the everyday cards. The Minor Arcana are further divided into four suits:

◆ Wands
◆ Cups
◆ Swords
◆ Pentacles