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The traditional Tarot consists of 78 cards divided into 22 major arcana cards (greater secrets) and 56 minor arcana cards (lesser secrets). The major arcana cards depict 22 spiritual lessons in allegorical fashion. The 56 minor arcana cards are similar to a modern deck of 52 playing cards and consist of four suits containing ten pip or numbered cards plus four court cards in each suit. The most influential tarot deck of the past century, is this Rider-Waite-Smith deck. It was conceived by Arthur Waite, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and published by Rider in 1910.

The Tarot deck is really two decks in one. There are 22 Major Arcana or Trump cards and 56 Minor Arcana or Pips/suit cards. The Pips are thought to be inspired by the various types of playing cards that existed throughout Asia and a uniquely European version of them was produced early in the 14th century. The Trumps are suspected to have been introduced in Europe later as a separate game deck, some time in the 15th century. The archetypal images and symbols used for the cards are believed to have been inspired by the popular mystical interests of the European Renaissance: Ars Memoria, Gnosticism, Neoplatism, & Magia.

Even though it is likely that the Tarot originated in the European Renaissance and not in Ancient Egypt or Atlantis, it does not mean they have no special significance. There is much symbolic power in these decks and the essential iconography has changed very little in the traditional decks for over five centuries. Over time the two decks have been put together, the images refined, and interesting systems developed by which to interpret the symbols within these decks for use in divination.

There are many types of Tarot decks, but they can all work on the same principle of evoking the collective unconsciousness from the images that depict the stages in a process of psychological deepening and maturation. Thereby very useful as a personal growth tool transcending ethnicity, gender and religion, providing insight to universal principles and laws.

The above is a brief summation, for the purpose of introduction to the Tarot, from the in-depth works on the topic of Tarot origins and use by Stuart Kaplan, Michael Dummett, Cynthia Giles, and Robert V. O'Neil. This brief history was provided to me by Albia.

U.S.Games Egyptian Tarot Cards Reproduction of the Tarot deck in the book Practical Astrology by Comte C. de Saint-Germain. The symbolism of each card draws heavily from Egyptian mythology and culture. Click on the link below to get a FREE Tarot Reading and to view or purchase hundreds of Tarot Decks available.
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The Romanies, or Gypsies as we know them, were a tribe of nomads who originated in Kashmir and Afghanistan and began wandering west more than one thousand years ago. They first appeared in Western Europe six hundred years ago and became known as skillful story-tellers, musicians and fortune-tellers. They were gifted practitioners of palmistry, crystals and Tarot and other forms of divination, and eventually incorporated Christianity into their cultural traditions. Today the West is reexamining the value of these customs and has seen a rebirth of palmistry, crystallomancy and Tarot, as well as the other kinds mystic arts practiced by the Romanies for promoting health, love, wealth and luck.  Click here to learn more about Tarot, Numerology & Astrology