Place, Robert M. (2005). The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin. p.129. The Fool: Symbolizes new beginnings, spontaneity, and stepping into the unknown. It encourages a leap of faith and the embracing of change.

The 78 cards are divided into three main groups, Major Arcana, Minor Arcana and Court cards. The Aces are separate from these groups, but I have put them with the Court Cards. The precise origin of Tarot cards in antiquity remains obscure. Court de Gebelin writing in Le Monde Primitif in 1781 advances the theory that Tarot cards derived from an ancient Egyptian book, The Book of Thoth. Thoth was the Egyptian Mercury, said to be one of the early Kings and the inventor of the hieroglyphic system. Gebelin asserts that it is from the Egyptians and Gypsies that Tarot cards were dispersed throughout Europe.

Waite and Smith shared the Rosicrucian understanding of correspondences, an idea she used to paint pictures that came to mind, whenever she heard music (an ability known as synaesthesia). This, together with her theatrical involvements and travels to Jamaica, may all have contributed to the liveliness and broad range of imagery on the Rider Waite cards. Smith’s colour palette has its own system of correspondences; some of the Rider Waite ‘clones’, such as the Universal Waite, feature alternative colour schemes. The Magician: Represents manifestation, resourcefulness, and power. It suggests the potential to turn ideas into reality.

The Tower: Symbolizes sudden upheaval, chaos, and revelation. It represents a transformative crisis, a “breaking down” to make way for the new. People new to Tarot are often surprised to find they can immediately start applying basic interpretation skills with the Rider Waite. As an example, the Six of Cups depicts two children in a garden, with pots filled with white flowers around them. The boy smells the flowers in a pot that he offers to the girl, whose hand is outstretched, ready to receive them. Already, rather like in a captured moment in a photo, we can see some sort of ‘story’ here, one of innocence, gifts, love, kindness and growth. Robert Mazlo: A la recherche du Tarot perdu. Les tablettes d'Hermès, ISBN 2-910401-86-3, Ramuel Ed. (1998) The World: Represents completion, accomplishment, and travel. It signifies the end of a cycle or journey, heralding the beginning of a new one.Step 10 – Once you start speaking, don’t doubt yourself. Just go with that flow and continue to describe the flow of consciousness. Maybe random words and phrases will pop into your head. Say them out loud several times, even though it doesn’t make much sense. That is because the Tarot cards sometimes communicate with us through puns and punchlines. For example, you could say “Sun” (The Sun Tarot card), but the querent may hear “son”, and this would make the perfect message. At any level of meaning, expressing your impressions will help you evaluate each card, and you will even surprise yourself with the accuracy of your perception and intuition. Waite, Arthur Edward, 1857-1942. (2005). The pictorial key to the tarot (PDF). Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-44255-1. OCLC 57549699. {{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link)