Tarot cards are an ancient form of
divination, which combine card laying and
meditation in order to answer a personal question. The actual way in which the question is answered is still debated - whether it's the subconcious or actual supernatural
spirits that order the cards, but it
does work.
The card decks we are normally exposed to are actually derivatives of this age-old tool. The traditional
Cups,
Swords,
Wands and
Pentagrams correspond with the more modern playing card suits of Hearts, Spades, Clubs and Diamonds, respectively.
These suits also correspond to the four traditional elements of magic, the four cardinal directions and the four major tools used in witchraft.
- Cups (hearts) - Water, the West and the chalice
- Swords (spades) - Air, the East, and the athame or ritual dagger
- Wands (clubs) - Fire, the South and the staff or wand
- Pentagrams (diamonds) - the Earth, the North and the pentacle