Traditionally, since the 1400s, Tarot was a deck of cards much like playing cards. There were 78 cards in the deck. And originally people would play card games with the deck. The original tarot was a lot like the modern day playing cards, which all have specific suits that dictate the way the game is played. Each card of the tarot symbolizes something and based on the symbol drawn the game unfolds in a specific way.

But the tarot’s purpose extended far beyond a card game. Symbols are used to represent entire concepts such a spiritual principals, philosophical ideas and societal archetypes. And each card in the tarot does just that. It represents an entire concept. And as such, it is used as a tool of divination.

Kuan Yin's Mantra (c) 2002 Lisa Thiel