1500s - tarot of marseilles:: The name "Tarot of Marseilles" is a modern one that is used to describe a pattern of tarot cards that was developed in the 16th century and remained virtually unchanged over hundreds of years. Tarot cards are now used primarily for divination, but early decks were also used for game playing and in many parts of eastern Europe, Tarock decks are still used in this manner.

It is clear that the (on average) 78 card deck was developed from early playing cards, because of the 56 cards that make up the "minor arcana". These cards are divided into four suits that are identical to the Spanish and Italian decks; swords, cups, coins (or pentacles) and clubs (or wands). They comprise of ten numbered cards and four court cards, the king, queen, knight and knave/page. Sound familiar?

The tarot deck's minor arcana, therefore, is a cross between original playing cards, which had three male court cards, and more contemporary ones, which introduced a female card, the queen, around the same time as the chess queen appeared, reflecting a change in the power of women at this time. Like the original playing cards, the male cards are identifiable by the king's crown, the knight's horse, and the knave/page which is simply standing.

The major arcana are the distinctive cards like the Lovers, Death and the Hanging Man that we associate most readily with tarot cards.

1910 - rider waite tarot deck:: This deck is likely the most widely used tarot deck for divination throughout the world. The Rider Waite deck is significant because of the rich symbolism that adorns all of the cards in both the major and minor arcana. This makes divination easier for card readers to understand, because the meanings to the cards are more clearly illustrated.

The swords suit is represented by air and is a suit of conflict, hardship and energy. The sword court cards are represented by people who are intelligent, yet can be cold and aloof. The cups are represented by water and are the cards of emotions, both good and bad... love, the arts, poetry, tragedy. The cup court cards are romantics, artistic, dramatic and passionate. The pentacles (coins) are the earth cards and signify wealth, industry and commerce. These pentacle court cards are wealthy and occasionally proud, but are good-natured and hard-working. The wands (clubs) are fire cards and are in tune with nature. The wand court cards tend to be simple and countrified, yet love people, travel and communication.