The Complete Tarot Card Guide

Ancient Tarot Cards

This deck includes 78 cards and can be identified thanks to the “Middle Age” design and symbol of important secrets. Ancient Tarot cards have a white background and use very simple colors such as blue, red, black, beige, green, and yellow. The major cards all have a title and a number except Arcane number 13 (Death) and the Fool, who isn’t usually numbered. As for the minor cards, they consist of Champagne Glasses, Coins, Staffs, and Swords.

Among this type of game, we will note:

• The old Tarot de Marseille by Paul Marteau
• Jean Noblet's Tarot
• Nicolas Conver's Tarot

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Modern Tarot Cards

Much like classic Tarot cards, Modern Tarot also count 78 cards, but their design is noticeably different and doesn’t always comply with the same code. The designation for the major cards is sometimes different to those used with the classic tarot, and the Fool is sometimes numbered. The minor cards are generally the same except that the Coins take the name of Disc.

The Thoth tarot (Aleister Crowley), Licorne tarot, and the tarots of Maddonni perfectly illustrate the modern Tarot cards, though there are a lot more decks that are a good example, too.

The 78 Atypical Cards:

There’s one deck with 78 classical cards which is inspired by the traditional tarot cards and is equally different in how it’s played. The 78 cards are numbered 1-78 and the major and minor cards are mixed up with each other.

The best example of this tarot would be the Egyptian Tarot.    

Classic Playing Cards

Classic Playing Cards are decks that consist of 32 or 52 cards which are used in games like Belote, War, Bridge, etc. The Ace to the King (52 cards), the 7 to the King (32 cards) and the 4 symbols (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs) are what distinguishes these cards. The King, Queen, and Jack are prominent and play an important role in every game.

Decks related to Cartomancy

Inspired by classic playing cards, the appearance of these cards is modified to facilitate the use of cards when used by a clairvoyant. They’re made up of 32, 36, or 56 cards and are divided up in 4 series of colors (by Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs).

You’ll find the Petit Lenormand among these decks.

Atypical Cards

The Oracle of Belline could be a perfect example of this type of card. The oracle doesn’t follow the Tarot nor does it have the same structure of classical tarot or card games.

Examples include: Hindu tarots, Persian tarots.

Tarots or clairvoyant practices on paper

Some clairvoyant practices have been written and transposed on paper and are also called tarots, even though they don’t have any cards. Among the collection of written tarots, you’ll find the famous Yi-King, the oriental tarot of Paul Iki.

If you've enjoyed this articles, check out:

• Tarot Marseille - The meaning of each card
• Yearly Tarot card predictions
• How to choose your Tarot deck