Psychic Tarot Chapter 1: The Tarot Deck

The Tarot is a complete and powerful system of communication in picture form. It is an inspired arrangement of images, symbols, words, and numbers which portray the general meaning of the cards as well as house the esoteric symbols. The Tarot cards deal with every facet of human existence and teach us about the nonphysical aspects of our universe. They make available to us a universal wisdom which can be instrumental in awakening our psychic senses and in the transmission of divinatory messages.
The wisdom embodied in the cards is on many levels. As you develop and are ready to understand a deeper level of knowledge, the cards will seem to speak in a new way. You may look at a familiar card and be surprised by your new perception. Sometimes cards almost seem alive in their ability to give you timely information and insight equivalent to your need and depth of understanding.
The origin of the Tarot is a mystery, and its history only dimly known, though many speculative theories about it have been publicized. Before the time of European kings and queens and the traveling bands of gypsies who were said to have brought the Tarot to Europe, the Tarot's history is a void. Is the Tarot a teaching system brought from the ancient civilization of Atlantis? Did the great teachers from that continent preserve and carry with them these seeds of wisdom to plant in the new epoch? Were the halls of the initiatory chamber of the great pyramid of Egypt lined with the 22 pictures of the Major Arcana to carry on the traditional teachings from antediluvian times? These questions can be answered only speculatively at the present time, but they add to the mystery and the appeal of the Tarot.
The various Tarot decks created over the past few centuries gave rise to many artistic interpretations. Each artist drew from the ancient system to illustrate a newly styled deck. Many of the drawings and paintings were done by artists who worked according to the specifications of a sponsor. Kings and queens, occultists, and independent publishers sponsored, and therefore influenced, the creation of new Tarot decks. However varied the artistic interpretations of the Tarot, the basic teachings were woven into each deck.
The Aquarian Tarot, which illustrates this text, was chosen because of its emotional and spiritual impact and its relevancy to the present time period. The deck blends ancient symbolism and art deco design elements within a framework and background of medieval artistry.
The Tarot deck contains 78 cards and is divided into two sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana (arcana is Latin for "secrets"). The Major Arcana has 22 cards and represents the cosmic forces that affect human and spiritual development. The Minor Arcana has 56 cards that portray the myriad of human conditions and life situations. Together, they express the interactions between the spiritual world and the temporal human being on his journey through time on earth.