Nobody is sure of where the tarot originated.  Some say ancient Egypt; others say ancient Babylon or Tibet, and yet others say Atlantis (the lost city). The first recorded appearance was in medieval France in 1390. The cards evolved and came to Europe with the Gypsies.

There are two divisions of the deck, the Major and Minor Arcanas. There are four suits to the Minor Arcana. The Suits do change with the different decks but have basically held the same meanings.

It is said that, modern day playing cards were derived from the tarot deck’s Minor Arcana; replacing the Knight & Page or Prince & Princess with the Jack. Also, the Fool, from the Major Arcana, was included.

The Magician: Master of self; readiness to put plans into action; great power and energy at your disposal; time to use your skills.

The Priestess: Awareness of planes of existence; hidden forces with new solutions; feminine balance and occult learning; utilize leardership potential; matriarchal thought.

The Empress: Financial and emotional security; motherly or womanly love; good fortune and happiness; epitome of a female partner; pregnancy.

The Emperor: Reason over emotion; government; politics, system; command and authority; patriarcal thought; the need to be famous.

The Priest (Hierophant): Conformity and tradition; going with the flow because everyone else is; dealing in a facade; Karma.

The Lovers: A choice between opposites; a decision that will affect several people; second sight; lover versus practicality.

The Chariot: Balance through movement; bringing two opposing points under control; self control; vehicular movement.

Strength: Victory over difficulty; succesful end to a tiresome event; spiritual strength; sharp and incisive mental action.

The Wheel of Fortune: Rotation of any situation of life event; tidal movement; steady and even turns of events; upward mobility.

The Hermit: Introspection and spiritual enlightenment; planning and evaluating the next move; seeking a higher intelligence; meeting a physical teacher.

Justice: Legalities, contracts, agreements; what you sow so shall ye reap; think before you act; the Goddess will balance the situation.

The Hanged Man: Thoughts, ideas or projects in suspension; stuck between a rock and a hard place; obtaining second sight.

Death: Radical, unplanned change; old ripped away to prepare for the new; illusions swept instantly away; a new life path.

Temperance: Ability to adapt to new circumstances; action as a result of higher self or guide information; mature love; control through wisdom; the art of miing and matching.

The Devil/Pan: Binding by thought, word, or deed; unbridled lust or deep passion; charismatic but untrustworthy person; fate through human frailties.

The Tower: A breakdown in a situation; seeing a situation as it really is; unexpected setbacks or repercussions; danger; fate.

The Star: Faith, confidence and hope; positive influences; ability to cut through illusion; new life with wider choices.

The Moon: Dreams, intuition, vision questing; imagination; emotionally charged circumstances; being pulled in two different directions; psychic work or magickal work; possibility of deception.

The Sun: Joy and happiness; well earned rewards; new and creative environood news on its way.

Judgment: Project or situation nearing completion; final decision has yet to be made; awakening at the end of a long process; ending may not be what is expected; the past comes back to haunt you.

The World: End of a cycle in a situation; scenario has played itself completely out; no loose ends left; satisfactory conclusion; possibility to explore new avenues.