Question by Dani: How do you play with tarot cards? And, is the tarot card deck at barnes and nobles any good?
I mean, i’m really interested in this predicting the future stuff and i’m thinking about buying this tarot deck at barnes and nobles store. Can anyone teach me how to play it?
Best answer:
Answer by philebus
Well, I’m not sure that fortune tellers would describe what they do as playing tarot – that phrase is usually used with reference to the games of tarot. Tarot cards were originally created for playing card games – which are still played throughout continental Europe today. Fortune telling with tarot didn’t really start until the end of the 18th century, gaining popularity in France during the 19th century and then spreading to English speakers in the 20th century.
If you want to learn how to play tarot then you can check these sites:
http://www.tarocchino.com
http://www.pagat.com
If you want to learn about fortune telling, well you could look here:
http://www.aeclectic.net
If you want cards to play the games, then you will want at least a Tarocco Piedmontese and a French suited pack (Jeu de Tarot). They can be purchased here:
in the US:
http://www.tarobearslair.com
in Europe:
http://www.playingcardsales.com
If you want cards for fortune telling, there doesn’t seem to be any best pack. The cards usually sold for this have been heavily redesigned to both reflect a multitude of occult and spiritual beliefs as well as to aid fortune tellers. Just pick the pack that looks nice to you.
Personally, I don’t believe that the future can be known, much less from a pack of playing cards. The games on the other hand, I can recommend as some of the best in the world. But, however you use the cards, I hope you enjoy them.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
You don’t really “play” Tarot when wanting to find out the future–the term is divination. I don’t know what particular deck you are looking at at Barnes and Noble, but I suggest the “Rider Tarot Deck” (aka Rider-Waite-Smith deck, aka Rider-Waite deck) as your first deck as there are pictures on all of the cards which can help you learn how to read them. My favorite version is the one in a yellow box with the Magician on the front as that an “The Original Rider Waite Tarot Pack” are the only two of the Rider-Waite-Smith versions that I pay attention to as I find the others to be complete clones–and many are. However, you must connect with the artistry of the cards. Secondly, I suggest a decent book, and I often suggest the book “Power Tarot” for those just starting out as it puts definitions in different categories (i.e. romance, work, finances, etc.). However, you’ll soon grow out of that book, and you’ll probably find out you have different or expanded meanings for the cards, but that book is meant to help you start out. Also know that Tarot is something that is studied, and I’ve been reading cards for 15+ years and I learn new things all the time, and any reader that tells you otherwise is either lying to you or isn’t a good reader in the first place. So know it’s a life long practice–or will be if you continue to persue it. Hope that helps…
Hello Dani
You do not ‘play’ Tarot, you consult, meditate upon & study Tarot.
It can take many years to fully grasp them.
Any deck which you feel drawn to will be ideal.
Sadhara
WHICH deck? They carry a lot of different ones.
The best one I have is the Robin Wood tarot, and my second favorite is the Animal Lords Tarot. Both are easy to read.
There are lessons over at http://www.learntarot.com