The history of tarot readings: what is tarot? Can it tell the future?

TAROT DECK: MAJOR ARCANA CARDS EXPLAINED If you’ve been feeling a bit lost recently, you may be attracted to astrology and other spiritual practises. Tarot is an ancient system of fortune

telling that has been around for centuries and is still widely used today. Express.co.uk chatted to tarot queen Kerry King to find out everything you need to know about tarot. WHAT IS TAROT

READING? If you’re thinking about having your cards read, you probably already know that tarot is a bit like fortune telling. The system first came about in the late fourteenth century,

tarot expert Kerry King explained. She said: “European artists developed playing cards, for games, which featured four different suits: staves or wands, discs or coins, cups, and swords. “By

the mid-1400s, Italian artists started drawing extra cards, more sumptuously illustrated, to add into the existing deck. “They were called trump, or triumph, cards. Wealthy, noble families

commissioned artists to create their own decks, featuring family members and friends as the triumph cards. “At this point in time, there were no printing presses, and very few people could

afford to hire a painter to craft their own personal decks so, for a few centuries, customised cards were something of a privileged rarity.” READ MORE-  PRINCE CHARLES TAROT READING:

'STRESS' COULD TAKE ITS 'TOLL' ON HEALTH The history of tarot readings: Tarot cards are a popular way to read your future (Image: Getty) The history of tarot readings:

Tarot can be used alongside astrology and palm readings (Image: Getty) Tarot was initially intended to be a parlour game in both France and Italy, but in the late sixteenth and early

seventeenth century it was used as a fortune telling tool. It wasn’t until the late 1700s that what we know as tarot today began to take form. Kerry said: “By the eighteenth century, people

were beginning to attribute specific meanings to each card, and even offer suggestions as to how they could be laid out for fortune telling purposes.” The first deck of cards for fortune

telling purposes was produced in 1781 by French occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette. Kerry added: “By the end of the Victorian era, occultism and spiritualism were booming, and many rich people

would throw parties where there’d be a séance, or a fortune teller. “It was an accepted form of entertainment and titillation for the upper classes, and tarot was a part of this trend.” The

history of tarot readings: Psychic tarot readers will be able to see the furthest into the future (Image: Getty) CAN TAROT CARDS PREDICT THE FUTURE? Since the 1700s, then, tarot has been

asked to predict the future. Kerry said that tarot readers who are also psychic can give you an even more accurate prediction than those who aren’t. She explained: “Some psychics use tarot

cards simply as a prompt, as an intuitive visual stimulant to their powerful clairvoyance, rather learning and using all of the card's pre-determined meanings. “My own personal

experience is that my readings work best in the short to medium term future.” Tarot readers will have their limitations, but Kerry herself can see things unfolding that are already underway

or about six months to a year off. Some people are skeptical about tarot because, of course, we all have free will. Doubters will argue that no one can possibly know what you are going to

choose to do in a year’s time. To this, Kerry said: “I don't think anything is set in stone, so the further out you want your tarot to go, the riskier the validity of those answers

becomes.” DON'T MISS... DECEMBER 2020 HOROSCOPE: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR DECEMBER? [INFORMER] DECEMBER HOROSCOPE: HOROSCOPES FOR ALL 12 STAR SIGNS BY RUSSELL GRANT  [INSIGHT] STAR SIGN

DATES: WHAT ARE THE ZODIAC SIGNS DATES FOR 2020 AND 2021 [EXPLAINER] RELATED ARTICLES HOW DOES TAROT WORK? Tarot isn’t just about fortune telling though, Kerry is a firm believer that tarot

can improve your life through helping you to reflect and gain insight. She said: “Tarot is a lens to look at your life through, an objective one because the card meanings are pre-determined.

“You simply ask questions (about the past, present or future), draw cards to answer them, and interpret those meanings in relation to your question or situation. “That's the magic bit

really; creating the interpretation. “Any system which helps people reflect, consider their options, gain insight, and make informed decisions has got to be positive. “Tarot isn't dark,

dangerous, evil, supernatural, or occult. It's a system of wisdom, developed over centuries, that can be used to answer any question.” The history of tarot readings: There are 78 cards

in a deck (Image: Getty) HOW MANY TAROT CARDS ARE THERE? There are always 78 cards in a tarot deck, with 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards. Kerry explained: “There are 22

major arcana cards in a tarot deck, numbered from 0 – 21. “The major arcana are the ‘power cards’ of the tarot, representing the soul’s journey towards enlightenment, fulfilment and

completion. “The minor arcana cards are divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins or Pentacles). “The minor arcana are concerned with the everyday events, opportunities and

challenges of life which are in our own control and influence. “The major arcana are like ‘power cards’, revealing messages or unseen forces from the Universe). “As such, the minor arcana

cards have more narrow and specific meanings.” RELATED ARTICLES CAN A TAROT READING BE NEGATIVE? We’re all terrified that what lies ahead of us is dark and daunting, especially if it is

predetermined. However, what the cards reveal isn’t necessarily set in stone. Kerry said: “There are some cards which have a negative edge, because they talk of hardships or unexpected

setbacks or painful events. “The truth is, however, in life, that it's from hardship and failure that we learn most. “And they are usually the first agents of positive change, they

provoke us to be different, to grow, to strengthen, and to live and learn. “So, nothing in itself is negative, it's how you handle it. And tarot is very good at advising on how to

handle the hard times, and come better and stronger.”