Whether you are just beginning to search for your first Tarot deck, or you are an established collector of card decks of every description, it is important to know that not all decks labeled "Tarot" are alike. If you are familiar with the differences between various decks you may more easily find a deck style that is best suited to you. You may spare yourself disappointment if you intend to invest in only one deck. As your studies deepen, you'll become better able to grasp stylistic differences in use, and you will be better able to enjoy the amazing variety of interpretations if you decide you enjoy cards well enough to collect them. Broadly, most decks may be classified into Classic Tarot, neo-Tarot, or non-Tarot styles.

Classic Tarot

Classic decks contain 78 cards divided into 22 Major Arcana cards, 40 Minor Arcana Cards, and 16 Suit cards. Classic Tarot may be further categorized into two parts - one school of thought led by Arthur Edward Waite and another led by Aleister Crowley. The "Rider-Waite" deck was popularized by Waite, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, and published by William Rider and Son in 1911. There are many differences between the Waite and Crowley decks. Here we will touch only upon differences in the Major Arcana. In Waite's deck, the order of the twenty-two Major Arcana cards is:

I. Magician, II. High Priestess, III. Empress, IV. Emperor, V. Hierophant, VI. Lovers, VII. Chariot, VIII. Fortitude (Strength), IX. Hermit, X. Wheel of Fortune, XI. Justice, XII. Hanged Man, XIII. Death, XIV. Temperance, XV. The Devil, XVI. The Tower, XVII. The Star, XVIII. The Moon, XIX. The Sun, XX. Last Judgement, 0. The Fool, XXI. The World. A later variant of this deck (attributed to Court de Gebelin) placed the Fool card before the Magician, because it is numbered with a "zero" and is easier to remember when it is placed before the I. card.

Crowley was a contemporary of Waite who vehemently disagreed with his system. After years of research and some personal inspiration, Crowley derived his own interpretation of Tarot. Dame Frieda Harris illustrated his cards. His changes included re-naming several cards and placing them in a different sequence. His system was published by Samuel Weiser and Sons in 1944 and is now also considered to be "Classical." His alternative system suggests:

0. The Fool, I. Magician, II. High Priestess, III. Empress, IV. Emperor, V. Hierophant, VI. Lovers, VII. Chariot, VIII. Adjustment (No longer Justice), IX. Hermit, X. Fortune, XI. Lust (No longer Strength), XII. Hanged Man, XIII. Death, XIV. Art (No longer Temperance), XV. The Devil, XVI. The Tower, XVII. The Star, XVIII. The Moon, XIX. The Sun, XX. The Aeon (No Longer Judgement), XXI. The Universe (No longer World). Please note that he transposed the places of "Justice" and "Strength." Paying attention to details such as these can reveal a lot about the "lineage" of more modern decks.

While specific details about the (deeply contested) numeration of the cards are beyond the scope of this article, it is sufficient to say that personally arriving at the "correct sequence" of these cards is part of the enormous mystery tradition that surrounds the Tarot. Serious scholars of Tarot do not always agree with one another, there are several schools of thought, and each of them has subtle reasons for the interpretations they use.

Neo-Tarot Decks

Neo-Tarot decks are those that still call themselves Tarot decks and acknowledge a modest (usually divinatory) debt from Classic Tarot decks, but sometimes step beyond the traditional structural limits of exactly 78 cards. They may be round shaped, to eliminate the possibility of "reversed" or "aspected" interpretations. They may dramatically shift the focus of their imagery to emphasize specific frames of reference such as classical European (Arthurian) mythology, classical Norse mythology, Egyptian mythology, American feminist ideology, Caribbean Voudoun, Astrology, or Modern Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Non-Tarot Systems

Non-Tarot Systems step entirely away from Tarot structure and may step entirely away from the Western Mystery Tradition. Examples include "Animal Medicine cards"--which focus on American Indian spiritual tradition, Russian Gypsy Fortune Telling cards--which emphasize ambiguous life-style layouts that fit together like inter-locking puzzle pieces, or even complete alternative divinatory systems such as a 64 card deck of I-Ching hexagrams.

Also included under this heading are elements that are Western European in orientation, but which do not readily lend themselves to the Tarot structure. These include Goddess Cards, which focus on the study of feminine aspects of deity, and Angel Cards--which focus on regaining connection to spiritual guardians, and Morgan's "Tarot" - a playful deck that emphasizes experience and insight over formal instruction. Like Tarot, these cards retain the concept of being a "book without bindings" and benefit from their lack of linear structure. They may be thought of as study cards, or "flash" cards for mystical insight.

As you can see, there are many card-based symbol systems that can assist you in strengthening your personal insights about a spiritual path. They vary in size, complexity, and frame of reference. To help decide which cards might be best for you, first ask yourself "Which type of person am I?" Are you an unstructured person that follows your intuitive "gut" feelings? Or, do you prefer a more formal approach to learning new things? Both types can use Tarot cards.

The more highly structured approach of Classic Tarot has an associated body of literature that offers considerable guidance, but demands a great deal of formal study. Some books are written for specific decks. They lead you through the learning process step by step. Some people find this structured approach very comforting. Others find it complex, confusing, loaded with conflicting information or just too restrictive.

Less structured approaches demand less investment in formal study time, but require a greater use of personal intuitive gifts. This can lead to intense, highly personal, vivid, and occasionally unsettling encounters with deeply private emotional material, and a lack of human guidance can be troubling. For this reason "Shamanistic" approaches to the intuitive arts often include the recommendation that you find a trustworthy guide with whom you can share and discuss your insights.

For fun and further study, U.S. Games publishes the largest variety of collectable and playing card games in the U.S. For those with access to the World Wide Web, the U.S. Games Tarot card catalog is available at: www.usgamesinc.com.

References:

• The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A. E. Waite
  
• The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley
  

* Go To: * Part I * Part II * Index *