There are seventy-eight types of different tarot card, but Tarot cards have developed and changed over the centuries, and some of the earliest packs had more than this. The order of the cards has also changed several times.
It is interesting that some people believe that the person, who is going to read the cards, must have them given to them as a gift. They believe this makes the cards more effectual, and so they never buy a Tarot pack themselves. Also tarot card readers do not like others touching their cards. This is because they feel they will lose the special symbolic relationship they have with their cards.
In the late twentieth century, as people became fascinated by New Age practices, Tarot became more popular. The Tarot pack is divided into two parts, the Major and the Minor Arcana. There are twenty- two types of different tarot card in the Major Arcana and fifty-six types in the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana are considered more significant than the Minor Arcana, as they symbolize significant changes in the querent’s life. Querent is the name given to the person who seeks advice from the Tarot cards. Each different tarot card in the Major Arcana is numbered from naught to twenty-one.
The Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana in divided into four different tarot card suits. These suits are considered to have associations with the playing cards of today:
Wands –> Diamonds
Cups –> Hearts
Swords –> Clubs
Coins –> Spades
Minor Arcana cards symbolize the feeling, thoughts, desires and actions that allow changes to happen in the querent’s life. Each different tarot card suit has its own meaning and symbolism.
The court cards can dominate the numbered cards. The explanation of a reading will also be influenced, if one different tarot card suit is more prominent than the others. Here is an example of this. If you had three cards from the suit of Cups in a Celtic Cross, this would show the importance of the querent’s emotional circumstances.
Pentacles
Each different tarot card in the Pentacles, or coins is linked with the achievement of goals, rewards for hard work, and material well-being. The Pentacles indicate prosperity. However it is also important to remember that material and spiritual wealth don’t always go hand in hand.
Cups
This suit, as mentioned in the example above is linked to feelings, emotions and spiritual experiences. Centering on being rather than doing. The person will be concerned about relationships and things of a spiritual nature.
Wands
Each different tarot card in the suit of Wands is associated with inspirations, identifying goals, desires and thoughts. Wands point to the person having thoughts and ambitions, which may make a change in the future. Wands are the most favored suits, as it captures the essence of spiritual and magical power.
Swords
Swords are linked to conflict, struggle and action. They can point to the querent being involved in disputes and arguments. This initially may look negative, but can also be extremely positive, as each different tarot card in the swords suit can also indicate ill feelings being aired, and stagnant situations changing.