| Tarot cards consist of twenty-one trump cards, the | | | | Face to face tarot readings are interactive in a sense |
| fool and extra face card for every suit. Several parts | | | | that the reader allows the person to determine which |
| of Europe use the deck to play games, but this is | | | | face down card is interpreted by the reader. Face to |
| less popular in English countries where the deck is | | | | face readings are commonly found in the streets of |
| commonly used for divination. | | | | many different places in the English-speaking world. In |
| Tarot cards find their history back in the dawn of | | | | England, there is a going rate of £12.50 per person, |
| cards in the 14th century. Speculation denotes that | | | | but the price drastically decreases depending on the |
| they were founded in Islamic countries, but the first | | | | number of people paying for the service. Some offer |
| historical news of them is their banning in the | | | | the service in the comfort of one’s own home, |
| dominantly Christian area of Bern, Switzerland. Early | | | | while some offer it on the street for cheaper rates |
| tarot decks, however, featured only sixteen trump | | | | as well. |
| cards, as compared to the twenty-one that are | | | | There is a purist belief that face to face readings are |
| featured in modern decks. | | | | significantly more accurate than other types of |
| The modern tarot deck is separated into what is | | | | readings such as e-mail readings or phone readings, |
| commonly called the major arcana or trump cards | | | | but of course the general destiny of these beliefs is |
| and minor arcane or suits of cards. The trump cards | | | | to be completely unfounded like all other astrological |
| or major arcana consist of twenty two cards, all | | | | arguments. |
| without suits. These include the Fool, the Magician, | | | | Alternative tarot card reading methods include phone |
| the Empress, Justice, the Wheel of Fortune and | | | | and online readings. While there are free Internet |
| others. The minor arcana consists of four suits of | | | | sites to read your fortunes, they are only for show |
| cards; swords, staves, cups and coins. Today, staves | | | | or offered as a gimmick. On the other hand, |
| are often called wands, but rods or batons are seen | | | | professional tarot card readers offering their services |
| as well. Coins may be called disks or pentacles in | | | | over the phone can cost about £5.00 per reading. |
| some tarot decks. | | | | Card reading over the phone offers a different |
| Every card has a different meaning, depending upon | | | | approach to commercial tarot card reading, since the |
| what the card’s suit is, and if it is part of the | | | | customer can have a hotline to know his fortunes on |
| Minor or Major Arcana. All of the Tarot cards are | | | | demand. Card reading allows people to have their |
| numbered, so each card serves a reader with a | | | | fortunes checked every morning, which is both |
| specific numerological value which can be interpreted | | | | convenient and lifestyle altering. |
| during divination practices. Furthermore, the meanings | | | | Tarot card reading is seen as a trivial activity today, |
| of the cards evolve depending upon where the cards | | | | but many still hold extreme opinions about these |
| appear in a reading, as well as what kind of card | | | | cards. Either these cards come from the devil or are |
| layout is used. The cards are read both singularly and | | | | legit guide to your fortunes. Whatever value we |
| together to get a complete reading. The most | | | | afford to these cards, there is no question that they |
| popular layouts are the three card spread and the | | | | reflect a peculiar angle to our history and culture. |
| Celtic Cross. | | | | |