Tarot is a divination tool that can be utilized for various reasons. The most important reason one should study the tarot is to become more aware of the influences surrounding them. The cards depict these various influences, seen and unseen that may affect an individual's life in various aspects. Although nothing is written in stone, the tarot provides a means to find understanding in what is occurring within one's life.

It can be utilized as a guideline for determining what course of action would best benefit our individual path. Each card represents multiple symbols pertaining to the various aspects we encounter in our lives. It deals with our emotions, ideas, actions and what we are currently manifesting on many levels of our beingness. It provides a synopsis of how our thoughts and actions are influencing and manifesting our reality.

The tarot itself, is made of three categories: Major Arcana, Minor Arcana and Court Arcana. The Major Arcana represent major life issues. Whereas, the Minor Arcana and Court Arcana pertain to more mundane everyday aspects. There are 22 Major Arcana cards which are the most powerful and outweigh all other cards in both their impact and effect.

There are 40 Minor Arcana cards are broken down into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. The Wands represent our ambitions and ideas. Cups represent our emotions and desires. Swords represent our actions and struggles. And the Pentacles represent the fruit's of our labor and prosperity that is manifesting in our lives.

The Court Arcana consisting of 16 cards are represented by the King, Queen, Knight and Page. These cards are utilized as the Significator Card sometimes to determine what type of people we may be influenced by based upon their astrological signs. They also represent the seasons of the year as a guide for determining time frames for when events are likely to occur.

Through learning how to accurately read and apply the principles of tarot one can get a thorough overview of what is occurring at the given time. As well as, what to expect as the probable outcome in regards to whatever situation we are inquiring about. There is a ton of symbolism associated with each card which also provides us with a means to determine the best course of action we should take to positively overcome any difficulties we may be experiencing at the time we consult the tarot.

The more familiar we become with the tarot, the better prepared we are to recognize patterns that occur in our lives. It truly does teach us how to become more aware of our inner most thoughts and desires. Tarot provides us with a glimpse of how our lives are unfolding both physically (mundane) and spiritually (esoteric). As a result, utilizing this tool can provide us with the ability to understand the world around us better and how it influences our lives on many levels.

So, in short, this wonderful tool has been used throughout the world for centuries to help provide clarification and guidance to the seeker in a way that doesn't condemn the querent to a set outcome, but rather to enlighten them and provide a means to explore themselves more fully.

To Your Divinatory Success!

Leslie Fulger
Tarot Site Editor
BellaOnline.com