Different Types and Use of Tarot Cards

Life has different phases and so do tarot cards. Yes, it’s true. There are more than a thousand types of tarot card decks present in the world. Each deck is for a specific purpose. However, all the tarot decks comprise the same reading layout.

Every Tarot deck comprises 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. With a slight difference in interpretations, all the decks offer the same accuracy and divination in predictions. They help you to connect with your intuitions and enable you to find the answers you are seeking. The only difference they exhibit is their images and name of arcana. Though it sounds overwhelming, the different deck images are inquisitive and share a unique method to communicate with the Universe.

Types Of Tarot Cards

Let’s Take a Look at the Different Type of Tarot Cards, Tarot Decks and Its Use in Reading Tarot Cards:
A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards formed of two sets – Major and Minor Arcana cards. There are 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana.

Here, is the quick handy chart for both of the sets:

The Major Arcana

Major Arcana are the main cards of the deck that shares the breakthroughs, lessons, challenges, possibilities, and all the events of the past, present, and future of an individual’s life.

The 22 cards are:

Table1: Major Arcana Tarot Cards and Their Meanings

No. | Tarot Cards | Keywords of Tarot Card Meanings
1 | The Fool | New beginnings, free-spirit, Novice
2 | The Magician | Manifestation, Inventive, Powerful
3 | The High Priestess | Mystic, Divine lady, Intuition
4 | The Empress | Feminism, Nurturing, Generous
5 | The Emperor | Order, Stability, Fatherly Figure, Authority
6 | The Hierophant | Higher Wisdom, Spirituality, Tradition
7 | The Lovers | Love, Mutual relationships, Choices, Passion
8 | The Chariot | Control, Dominance, Progress
9 | Strength | Courage, Power, Affection, Impression
10 | The Hermit | Solitude, Self- Introspection, Inner calling
11 | The Wheel of Fortune | Good luck, Destiny, Breakthrough
12 | Justice | Fairness, Balance, Law, Justice
13 | The Hanged Man | New perspective, Surrender, Pause
14 | Death | End of phase, Change, Transformation
15 | Temperance | Patience, Motive, Balance, Moderation
16 | The Devil | Destruction, Obsession, Addiction, Power loss
17 | The Tower | Demolition, Release, Sudden change
18 | The Star | Hope, Goals, Renewal, Faith
19 | The Moon | Deceit, Subconscious, Intuition, Dreams
20 | The Sun | Success, Joy, Happiness, Wellness
21 | Judgment | Inner voice, Absolution, New phase, Revival
22 | The World | Celebration, Joy, Fulfillment, Travel

The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana are the supplementary cards that represent the day to day life turmoils and events. The 56 cards are divided into 4 sets- each with 14 cards.

They are:

1. Suit of Swords | 2. Suit of Cups | 3. Suit of Wands | 4. Suit of Pentacles
King of Swords | King of Cups | King of Wands | King of Pentacles
Queen of Swords | Queen of Cups | Queen of Wands | Queen of Pentacles
Knight of Swords | Knight of Cups | Knight of Wands | Knight of Pentacles
Page of Swords | Page of Cups | Page of Wands | Page of Pentacles
Ace of Swords | Ace of Cups | Ace of Wands | Ace of Pentacles
Two of Swords | Two of Cups | Two of Wands | Two of Pentacles
Three of Swords | Three of Cups | Three of Wands | Three of Pentacles
Four of Swords | Four of Cups | Four of Wands | Four of Pentacles
Five of Swords | Five of cups | Five of Wands | Five of Pentacles
Six of Swords | Six of Cups | Six of Wands | Six of Pentacles
Seven of Swords | Seven of Cups | Seven of Wands | Seven of Pentacles
Eight of Swords | Eight of Cups | Eight of Wands | Eight of Pentacles
Nine of Swords | Nine of Cups | Nine of Wands | Nine of Pentacles
Ten of Swords | Ten of Cups | Ten of Wands | Ten of Pentacles

By understanding the above layout, you may learn how to read tarot cards and interpret them with accuracy.

Types of Tarot Card Decks

Since the origin, tarot cards have evolved drastically with different images, artwork, symbols, vibrations, and mythology. However, out of these only a few became popular and are used persistently by the tarot readers.

Here, is the list of tarot cards that are “must have” for insightful tarot predictions as a beginner and beyond. All these decks have different energies and speak differently to their readers.

The 7 common and most popular decks of all time are:

#1. The Rider-Waite Deck

This is the most common and popular deck used for tarot card readings in the United States. The deck was formulated by Arthur Edward Waite, a distinguished member of “The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” with the help of artist Pamela Colman Smith.

Published by Rider and Company, the deck is an easy approach to everyone who wants to learn tarot. The deck shares easy details of the imageries with well- detailed scenes. Its symbols are easy to interpret and can make an instant connection with your intuition. The brilliance in design makes it one of the most preferred decks among the list.

#2. The Angel Oracle Deck

As the name suggests, this type of deck is engraved with the imagery of an Angel. The deck is known for its inspiring messages that makes them quickly connect with their intuitions. This easy to pick beginners deck is a wonderful choice for the tarot card readers who want to explore the tarot world with some quick guidance.

The cards of the deck give quick access to readings with its soulful symbols. The Oracle Deck has 36 angel cards distributed into three major divisions: form, creation, and paradise. These yellow-brown colored cards uplift your soul and help you to seek divine guidance with angelic forms.

#3. The Universal Marseille Tarot

Based on a Swiss deck, created by Claude Burdel in 1751, the Universal Marseille tarot has a woodcut look. The cards are derived from the old Marseille decks with its black and brown tones. The characters and symbols are colored in the palette of red, blue, and yellow colors while the background has been kept with pastel water textures.

If you are a connoisseur of ancient texts and things, you would surely like this amazing set. The deck is said to be older with its origin states before 200 years. The cards share the mystic feeling of tarot evolution and offer new vibrations to the old images. The deck is mainly used for the purpose of divination and meditation.

#4. Druid Craft Tarot Deck

Druid Craft Tarot Deck is the deck for those who love to seek their readings with the natural world. The deck is based on the theme of the earth and its pleasant rhythm with seasons. The card can be seen as a combination of Western as well as Wicca and Druidry, a Pagan tradition.

The imagery on the cards are powerful and share the old numbers theory. It is more a sort of storytelling art that helps you to read people and their life stories. These large sized cards are created by well known Druids Philp and Stephanie Carr-Gomm along with Will Worthington.

#5. Renaissance Tarot Deck

Created by Brian Williams, the Renaissance Tarot deck comprises the figures of God and Goddess of Greek. The cards beautifully showcase the symbols with mythological scenes. For instance, Swords is associated with Achilles, Cups with Cupid, Coins with Persephone, and Staves to Hercules.
Cards are designed from subtle colors with a historical touch of art which gives you the feeling of the renaissance period. The ecstatic golden look allows the reader to embrace the readings with ancient mythological stories. This mythic tarot deck from Greek and Roman classics is a treasure for readers who love ancient tales.

#6. Wild Unknown Tarot

Wild unknown Tarot is one of the most popular tarot decks of all time. Designed by Kim Krans, these black and white cards are beautifully illustrated with rainbow colors. The imagery on the deck is inspired by animals and nature with no human figures on them.

The minor arcana court cards are named as Father, Mother, Daughter, and Son replacing the archetype titles- King, Queen, Page, and Knight respectively. The cards allow you to focus on the traditional meanings with easy interpretations. Though the tarot deck is a little complex in terms of RW cards, it makes a great deck for tarot aficionado.

#7. The Legacy Of The Divine

Unique as name, the deck is engraved with powerful images with a modern outlook. The cards are a visual treat and a great pick for both beginners and tarot collectors. The deck is the design-child of Ciro Marchetti, the well-known tarot artist of “Gilded Tarot” and “Tarot of Dreams deck”.

The cards of the deck have a vibrant and colorful outlook which attracts the readers and helps them to enhance their vision. The cards divine look gives immediate access to intuitions with few changes like changing of titles (The hanged man to Hanging man, Hierophant to Faith, Wheel of Fortune to The Wheel) and changing the imageries (bird of prey in 9 of coins to Bird of paradise). The Legacy of the Divine is an intuitive and easy to interpret deck that can be read by anyone.

Although all these decks are different in their formation, their reading layout is common.

For now, let’s read how you can use different tarot decks and make accurate tarot predictions.

How To Use Different Types of Tarot Card Deck In Your Tarot readings?

Tarot reading is an intriguing art of connecting intuitions and making future predictions. Thus, you may use one or as many decks as per your concern. The different decks can be employed to get in-depth readings for interpreting the same cards. There are ways through which you can use your tarot decks. Here is a glimpse of it.

You can use one deck for major arcana readings and mix others to get the minor arcana interpretations.

You can create specific spreads to gain deep insight into specific or multiple concerns.

One deck can be used for a period of months and then you can switch to another for the rest. The timings can be different and completely depends upon your inner conscious.

You can use one deck which resonates with you best and use the rest of the others to support your readings.

Some decks can be used for specific clients or knowing lineage of time. However, which one will work for what purpose is completely dependent upon your inner voice.

Tarot cards are an intuitive tool to connect with your higher wisdom and predict life events. All these different decks are just a medium to communicate with divine and make interpretations the way your inner voice recommends. Remember to be a wonderful tarot reader you do not need to learn a lot of decks. Choose the one that appeals to you and resonates the most. Walk towards the wisdom and you will see the divine aura following.