Tarot has a surprisingly recent history, and it is far more interesting than you might expect. Long before anyone laid out three cards to ask about love, work or what the future might hold, tarot was a game played in the courts of northern Italy. Its history stretches back to the 1440s, and much of the story is written down.
The journey from a card game to a tool for reflection and divination is full of unexpected turns, imaginative ideas and one artist whose work changed how we read tarot forever.
If you are curious about tarot, thinking about buying your first deck or simply wondering why these particular pictures have captured people's imaginations for centuries, this is a good place to start. By the end, you will know where tarot came from, how its familiar imagery developed and what to look for when choosing a deck of your own.
Tarot began as a card game
The earliest tarot cards appeared in northern Italy during the 1440s. They were created for a game that became known as trionfi, an Italian word associated with triumphs. Over time, the game took on the name tarocchi, which eventually gave us the word tarot.
The original purpose of these cards was straightforward. You played a trick-taking game, using a special set of trump cards alongside the ordinary suits. The trumps had a higher rank than the other cards, giving the game an extra layer of strategy.
Think of it as a card game with an illustrated cast of characters, rather than a collection of mysterious objects intended to reveal your destiny. The cards were part of the entertainment and culture of their time.
And what a cast of characters they were.
The trump cards featured recognisable figures and ideas from the late medieval world. You might encounter the Emperor, the Pope, the Lovers, Death or the Wheel of Fortune. These were not random images plucked from thin air. They belonged to a shared visual language that people of the period already understood.
The same kinds of allegorical figures appeared in church frescoes and other artwork. They represented familiar ideas about power, morality, human experience and the changing fortunes of life.
A picture of Death, for example, belonged to a much wider tradition of representing mortality. The Wheel of Fortune expressed the idea that circumstances change and that no position in life is necessarily permanent. The Emperor represented authority and worldly power.
These images were meaningful long before tarot became associated with divination.
That is one of the most interesting things about tarot. Its imagery did not spring from a single mysterious source. It grew out of the visual culture of the world that created it, carrying familiar symbols into a card game that would eventually take on an entirely different life.
And the game never disappeared.
Tarot is still played as a card game in France, Italy and Austria. For some people, that remains its main attraction. For others, the cards are a way to explore symbolism, ask questions and reflect on the patterns in their lives.
The same deck has room for both.
Tarot took a new direction in eighteenth-century Paris
For roughly three centuries, tarot's story was primarily a story about playing cards. Then, in the late eighteenth century, people began interpreting the deck in a new way.
A key moment came in Paris during the 1780s, when a print-seller known as Etteilla published methods for reading tarot as a tool for divination. He also produced the first deck designed specifically for that purpose.
Etteilla was not working in isolation. A few years earlier, Antoine Court de Gébelin had put forward the idea that tarot contained ancient Egyptian wisdom. He believed the cards preserved a body of hidden knowledge from the distant past.
That claim caught the imagination of the period. Interest in esoteric ideas was growing, and tarot offered something wonderfully suited to the moment: a set of images that invited interpretation, with a structure that could be used to tell a story.
The idea that tarot held ancient Egyptian knowledge became part of its mythology. It helped shape how people understood the cards, even though the documented history of tarot begins much later, in Renaissance Italy.
Etteilla turned this growing interest into a practical method. Instead of simply playing with the cards, people could lay them out, consider their meanings and use them to explore questions about their lives.
That change was enormously influential.
Once tarot became associated with divination, its pictures took on additional layers of meaning. The same symbols that had once belonged to a card game became prompts for interpreting relationships, choices, challenges and possibilities.
This is the tradition that modern tarot readers inherited.
For more than two centuries, readers have developed different approaches to the cards, from structured interpretations to intuitive readings that begin with the images themselves. There is no single style that everyone follows, and that variety is part of what makes tarot so interesting to explore.
The deck that changed how people read tarot
If you have ever looked at a modern tarot deck, there is a good chance you have encountered the influence of Pamela Colman Smith.
In 1909, Smith illustrated a deck commissioned by Arthur Edward Waite, an influential figure in the world of esoteric traditions. The deck became one of the most recognisable tarot designs in the world.
Today, it is usually called the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, a name that acknowledges the artist whose work helped make it so distinctive.
Smith's most important contribution was the way she illustrated the minor arcana.
A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards. The 22 major arcana feature distinctive figures and archetypes, while the 56 minor arcana are divided into four suits. The minor cards traditionally numbered from Ace to Ten, along with the court cards, often used much simpler illustrations than the major cards.
Before Smith's deck appeared in 1909, a numbered card such as the Five of Cups usually showed five cups arranged on the card. You could learn its traditional meaning, but the picture itself offered relatively little to interpret.
Smith changed that.
Her Five of Cups shows a cloaked figure standing beside three spilled cups, with two cups still upright. A bridge stretches into the distance.
Suddenly, you have a scene.
The figure's posture, the spilled cups, the remaining cups and the bridge all give you something to notice. You might see disappointment in the figure's stance, loss in the cups on the ground and the possibility of moving forward in the bridge beyond.
You have a picture to respond to before you even open a guidebook.
That was a significant shift. Rather than relying entirely on memorised meanings, a reader could look at each card and begin to build an interpretation from the scene in front of them.
This is one of the reasons the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition remains such a popular starting point for beginners. Its pictures offer a visual language that you can learn through observation as well as study.
There is also an important story behind the deck's creation.
Smith was paid a flat fee for her illustrations, with no royalties. Her name did not appear on the box for decades, despite the lasting influence of her artwork. She died in Cornwall in 1951.
Today, her contribution receives much greater recognition, and the name Rider-Waite-Smith reflects the role she played in creating one of tarot's most influential modern decks.
The next time you look at a tarot card, take a moment to look beyond its title. Notice the people, the objects, the landscape and the details in the background. Smith's great gift was to make those details part of the reading.
How to start reading tarot
You do not have to memorise 78 meanings before you begin. In fact, starting with the pictures is one of the most enjoyable ways to get to know a deck.
Choose a card, look at it carefully and describe what you see.
Who is in the picture? What are they doing? What stands out first? Does the scene feel calm, tense, hopeful or uncertain? What might be happening just outside the frame?
Say your observations out loud, even if they sound simple. You might notice that a figure is looking away from something, that a path leads into the distance or that one object seems more important than everything around it.
Then check your guidebook.
The traditional meaning gives your observations a starting point. The picture gives that meaning texture and context. With practice, you will begin to recognise how the two work together.
Get to know the four suits
The minor arcana are divided into four suits, each associated with a different area of everyday experience. A useful way to begin is to think of them as four moods.
Cups are about feeling. They invite you to consider emotions, relationships, connection and the inner life. When Cups appear in a reading, pay attention to how people feel and how they relate to one another.
Wands are about doing. They relate to energy, creativity, ambition and taking action. Wands encourage you to look at what is growing, what motivates you and where your enthusiasm is going.
Swords are about thinking. They bring attention to ideas, decisions, communication and conflict. When Swords appear, consider the thoughts shaping a situation and the words being spoken or left unsaid.
Pentacles are about having. They relate to material life, practical matters, resources, work and the tangible things you build over time. Pentacles bring you back to the everyday world and what you do with what you have.
These associations give you a helpful framework, but the illustrations add another layer. A cheerful scene on a card will feel different from a troubled one, even when both belong to the same suit.
Make one card a day your ritual
One of the simplest ways to build confidence is to draw a single card each day.
Keep a notebook beside your deck. Write down the date, the card's name and your first impressions. Then note the traditional meaning from your guidebook and any thoughts or questions it raises for you.
You might draw the Eight of Pentacles and think about practising a skill. You might draw the Four of Swords and reflect on how you spend your quiet time. The point is to develop a relationship with the imagery and the ideas behind it.
Look back through your notes after a few weeks. You will begin to see which symbols you recognise immediately, which cards keep you curious and how your interpretations develop.
And what about reversed cards, the ones that appear upside down?
Some readers give them separate meanings, while others use different approaches. When you are starting out, upright meanings offer plenty to explore. Add reversals when you feel ready, rather than turning your first reading into an examination with 156 answers to memorise.
Tarot is a practice you build over time. Every card you turn over gives you another opportunity to learn.
Choosing a tarot deck that feels right for you
Once you start looking at tarot decks, you will discover just how varied they are. Some follow traditional illustrations closely, while others reinterpret the cards through mythology, witchcraft, celestial imagery or darker artistic styles.
Your choice matters because you will spend time looking at these pictures. A deck that interests you visually gives you another reason to pick it up, study its details and keep practising.
At Harmony Elements, we have selected decks that offer different ways into tarot, from classic symbolism for learning the foundations to richly illustrated designs that bring their own atmosphere to a reading.
Here is where to start, with every deck in our tarot range that we'd point a beginner towards.
Traditional Arcana for learning the symbols
Traditional Arcana is an excellent starting point if you want to learn tarot through classic symbolism. Its crisp, vibrant illustrations keep the traditional imagery clear, making it easier to recognise the figures and details that appear across the deck.
It comes with a guidebook explaining each card, all housed in a silver-grey box.
Choose this deck if you want to build a solid understanding of the familiar tarot symbols and learn how the cards relate to one another. It gives you a straightforward foundation for daily draws, simple spreads and the gradual process of becoming comfortable with all 78 cards.
Requiem Arcana for a darker aesthetic
If you are drawn to gothic artwork, fine ink illustration and a dark Victorian palette, Requiem Arcana offers a distinctive take on traditional tarot.
Illustrated by Vera Petruk, every figure in the deck is a skeleton. The Empress sits on her throne, while the Hanged Man hangs by his foot, bringing familiar archetypes into a striking visual world.
The deck follows the standard Rider-Waite structure, so the traditional meanings you learn from other tarot guides still apply. Its guidebook includes both upright and reversed meanings.
Choose Requiem Arcana if you want a deck with a strong artistic identity that still follows the established tarot framework. It is a reminder that learning the cards does not mean settling for imagery that fails to inspire you.
Goddess Arcana for celestial imagery
Goddess Arcana reimagines every tarot archetype as a goddess, bringing celestial artwork and feminine mythic figures into the familiar 78-card structure.
The deck includes 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana, along with a guidebook. Its royal blue box adds to the presentation.
This is a lovely direction to explore if you feel drawn to goddess imagery, celestial themes and a more mythological approach to tarot. The established structure gives you a familiar framework while the artwork offers a fresh way to connect with the cards.
Golden Tarot for a touch of shine
Golden Tarot combines the standard tarot structure with gold-foil details, giving the deck a bright, decorative finish. The cards are plastic and come in a gold box.
If you love a little sparkle in your spiritual practice, this deck brings that visual appeal to your readings. Its familiar 78-card structure also makes it a straightforward option for exploring the traditional system.
Premium Gold Foil Tarot for a classic black-and-gold look
For a more dramatic presentation, Premium Gold Foil Tarot pairs classic symbolism with black and gold foil.
The deck features smooth, durable cardstock and comes with a full-colour guidebook in a black textured gift box.
It is a strong choice if you want traditional imagery presented with a luxurious finish. The guidebook supports your learning, while the black-and-gold artwork gives the cards a distinctive look when you lay them out.
Witch Tarot for modern witchcraft imagery
Witch Tarot takes the classic tarot structure and redraws it with modern witchcraft imagery. Cauldrons, familiars, herbs and moons bring a recognisable magical atmosphere to the cards.
Made from PET plastic, the deck includes a full guidebook with spreads and comes in a gift box.
Choose this one if witchcraft is part of what draws you to tarot and you want the artwork to reflect that interest. The familiar structure helps you learn traditional card meanings while the imagery makes the deck feel connected to your own practice.
Kesulu Mythology foil deck for folklore lovers
The Kesulu Mythology foil deck features dense, richly illustrated folklore artwork, with foil accents set against deep greens. It comes with an illustrated guidebook written in plain language, and the cards are plastic.
This deck suits you if you enjoy exploring mythic worlds and discovering details in elaborate illustrations. Its artwork gives you plenty to look at during a reading, while the guidebook helps you connect those images with the meanings of the cards.
Moon Face for moonlit readings
Moon Face features a night-sky ground decorated with moons and constellations in blue foil. The cards are made from PET plastic, and the deck includes a booklet with card meanings and spreads.
Its celestial design gives the deck a distinctive atmosphere, particularly if you love lunar imagery and star-filled skies. The accompanying booklet provides a practical introduction to working with the cards and laying out readings.
Let the Magic Begin for a complete first kit
If you are buying for someone who is ready to explore tarot, Let the Magic Begin brings several useful pieces together in one set.
It includes a 78-card deck with gold accents, a companion book, a printed pouch, a celestial reading cloth, a small bell and divination stones.
The set makes a thoughtful gift because it gives the recipient a collection of items to begin building their own reading ritual. Rather than choosing each accessory separately, you have a coordinated kit ready to introduce someone to the world of tarot.
Which deck should you choose first?
If you want one simple recommendation, start with a classic deck such as Traditional Arcana, or the Premium Gold Foil deck if you want it to look special on the table, and learn the symbols properly. Once you know which imagery you enjoy, add a second deck that reflects your own taste, whether that means skeletons, goddesses, folklore or celestial artwork.
If you are buying for someone else, Let the Magic Begin is the complete first kit, with a deck, book and accessories in one gift set.
You might also enjoy using a tarot reading cloth. We stock reading cloths from £5, giving you a dedicated surface for laying out your cards and creating a little space for your practice.
The best deck for you is one that invites you back to the cards. Let the artwork catch your eye, let the guidebook support your learning and give yourself time to discover what each card means to you.
Start tonight with one card
Tarot has travelled a remarkable distance, from a card game in fifteenth-century Italy to the illustrated decks and reading traditions we know today. Along the way, its familiar symbols have gathered new meanings, and artists have found fresh ways to bring them to life.
You do not have to know the whole history to begin. Choose a deck that speaks to you, find a quiet moment and draw one card.
Look at the picture. Notice what catches your attention. Say what you see, then open the guidebook and explore the traditional meaning.
That is your first step into a practice that has inspired curiosity for generations. When one card feels easy, try a three-card spread, or lay one out on our free tarot reading. And tomorrow, there will be another card waiting for you.
Your questions, answered
Where did tarot originate?
Tarot originated in northern Italy during the 1440s as a card game. Known first as trionfi and later as tarocchi, it used special trump cards alongside ordinary suits. Tarot became associated with divination much later, in eighteenth-century France.
Who created the Rider-Waite-Smith deck?
The deck was commissioned by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Smith's illustrated scenes on the minor arcana helped make the cards more accessible to readers who wanted to interpret the pictures as well as learn traditional meanings. The deck is now widely known as Rider-Waite-Smith.
Is tarot older than playing cards?
No. Ordinary playing cards came first. Tarot developed later by adding a fifth suit of trump cards to the existing card-game structure. Those trumps featured distinctive allegorical figures that eventually became central to tarot's identity.
Which tarot deck is best for beginners?
Traditional Arcana is a good choice if you want to learn classic tarot symbolism, with 78 cards, clear illustrations and a guidebook explaining each card. Our guide to choosing your first tarot deck goes further. If you prefer a particular artistic style, Requiem Arcana, Goddess Arcana and the other themed decks offer different ways to explore the standard tarot structure. For a gift that includes several reading accessories, Let the Magic Begin brings a deck, companion book, pouch, reading cloth, bell and divination stones together in one set.
