There are numerous theories as to where the Tarot cards originally came from. Some believe they originated in Egypt, others say India and there have also been well-argued theories that the Tarot were used by the Templars. The first playing cards that we know about are in fact from China, and date from the ninth century, while the earliest evidence we have for Tarot cards as they appear today stems from Northern Italy in the fourteenth century.

The Tarot cards comprise two parts: the Minor Arcana which, as explained above, corresponds to modern playing decks; and the Major Arcana, which is made up of 22 cards that feature the feared images of the Devil, Death and the Tower. It is thought that the Major Arcana was added to the main deck of playing cards during either the fourteenth or fifteenth century.

While we cannot be sure exactly where the Tarot came from, we do know that the images that they contain can historically be found throughout the world. The Fool of the Tarot deck is the same fool that you see in Morris Dances and court Jesters, while the image of Justice is seen from the Egyptian Pyramids to the Old Bailey in the City of London.

You can of course read more about the Tarot in my books which you can buy online below

Using the classic three-card spread (a spread is a pattern in which the tarot cards are laid out) this book does away with the need for a deck of tarot cards. Instead of shuffling and cutting as you would with a conventional card pack, you simply let your hand hover over the spiral-bound split pages before selecting sections at random from past, present and future.