Can tarot cards predict the future?

Tarot cards or tarot card reading is one of the most famous forms of divination in the world. Its use has spread throughout the planet as an effective tool for understanding more about what surrounds us and what our future can bring us in various areas such as work, love or health.

But does the tarot work? Can we rely on cards for answers to decide questions that can change our lives, such as choosing a partner, making a career change, moving to another city, and other life-changing decisions?

Before we deep dive into this, let us give you an overview of tarot.

What’s the origin of the tarot?

Tarot is believed to have its origin in the 14th century in Europe. Over time, many religions, sects and ethnic groups (Egyptians, Gypsies, Christians, Muslims, alchemists) claimed authorship of the Tarot, but its origin remains a mystery. Nobody knows for sure who created the first deck and on whose orders. Even the origin of the word tarot is unclear. Different sources say that the word “Tarot” has an Egyptian, Hebrew, Latin, Chinese origin.

The first complete tarot deck as we know today was commissioned in 1440 by the Duke of Milan, Filippo María Visconti, and his successor, Francesco Sforza, who married his daughter. The deck is called Visconti Tarot or Visconti-Sforza Tarot. It is believed that many of the faces in the deck were relatives of the Duke of Milan.

What are the early uses of the tarot?

The use of the tarot usually varies according to the source and time in history. The first European versions of the tarot are believed to be used as a playing card during social gatherings. Participants will pick a card and interpret its meaning or attribute it to themselves or to someone present at the gathering.

It is believed that this worked in some cases for underhanded courtship, where they take advantage of what is illustrated in the cards to insinuate their liking for some other participant in the game, all in such a metaphorical way.

Others claim that the tarot was used to discreetly circumvent political or religious restrictions of the time. One belief is that tarot reading was used by some groups to pass on pagan myths and traditions. Others say they were used to relay Christian events and stories that were not recorded in the gospels or allowed to be shared openly.

Today, tarot cards are used primarily as a psychic divination tool. Psychics use it in combination with their gifts to offer insights and guidance.

What is the tarot?

There are several types of Tarot, but the vast majority of them follow the same structure. There are 78 cards divided into:

• 56 Minor Arcana; and
• 22 Major Arcana

The word “arcana” means mystery, enigma, that which is hidden.

The Minor Arcana is divided into 4 suits, which represent the 4 elements: Water, Fire, Earth and Air.

• Hearts or cups (Water)
• Diamonds or pentacles or coins (Earth)
• Clubs or rods or wands (Fire)
• Spades or swords (Air)

Consequently, the cards speak of the main aspect that the different elements represent:

• The Hearts represents the Water element and talks about our emotional side
• The Diamond represents the Earth element and talks about our material side
• The Clubs represents the Fire element and talks about our sexual and creative side
• The Spades represents the element of Air and speaks about our mind and intelligence

Each suit has 14 cards (from Ace to 10) and has 4 figures – Kings, Queens, Jacks and Knights.

The Major Arcana are the trump cards of the Tarot and represent the fifth element, the ether. Major arcana cards talk about our soul’s journey, the journey we take to enlightenment.

They represent the archetypal journey that every human being follows. It goes through the 21 evolutionary stages represented by the other 21 cards until reaching the letter of the World which is the full realization or the end of the journey.

How do tarot cards work? 

The Tarot is believed to communicate to us through symbols. Tarot cards are filled with symbols with archetypal information, which are believed to have a high power over our personal unconscious and the collective unconscious.

The primary use of the tarot is not to guess the future, but to see which paths we are choosing to follow and why. The Tarot works as a guide that helps us to think, make decisions and understand our inclinations. The tarot communicates with our unconscious through symbols. It carries meanings that indicate paths for our life, reveal our motivations, interests, characteristics, susceptibilities, hurts and problems and interests. Because they mirror our life, they can awaken feelings that exist within us during reading. These feelings can offer psychological healing, closure, or clarity, allowing us to perceive what we really want to do.