Sharing the terms that are to be frequently used when you become a professional tarot card reader.

*Deck*

A deck of cards is the whole set. This term can refer to individual packs of cards, i.e I have a deck of
Tarot cards. The word deck can also be used to describe as specific brand or edition of Tarot cards – for
example, I have a Rider Waite Tarot deck, an Osho Zen Tarot deck, and an Oracle Tarot deck.

Please don't get confused with the names of tarot decks mentioned. Please be focused on rider waite
tarot deck only because this is the best card for the beginners and we will be learning this only.

*Pip*

Pip cards are the cards numbered two to ten, in each suit. Some people count the Aces or the ones as a
pip card, but this is not usual. Only those cards besides the ace, page, knight, queen and king are the
*Pip*

*Aces*

The ‘ones’ of each suit. These have special importance in Tarot, each one being a certain ‘beginning’.
The beginning could be in any field - emotional, romance, financial, social. The significance depends on
the question asked and the type of suit withdrawn.

*Court*

Court cards are the ‘Royal’ or ‘Knightly’ cards. In playing cards these are Jacks, Queens and Kings. In
most Tarot, there are four classes, normally Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings. Sometimes they are
labelled Princess, Princes, Queens and Kings.

*Arcana

Arcana means ‘secret’. Tarot is split into two main groups of cards, the Minor and Major Arcanas. Where
Major Arcana reveals the major secrets Minor Arcana reveals the minor secrets.

*Minor Arcana*

The pips, the aces and the court cards all make up the Minor Arcana. These cards are concerned with
smaller affairs, human problems, timing, and physical happenings.

*Major Arcana*

Most Tarot decks have 22 Major Arcana cards, normally ranging from the Fool, usually numbered 0, to
the World, normally numbered 21. Each Tarot deck calls each card something different. The Major
Arcana cards are concerned with large affairs, spiritual and personal development, supernatural and
divine shenanigans, and life changing events – births, deaths, marriages, and really important decisions.

*Spread* - *V-Important term**

The way or pattern in which you lay out your Tarot cards to answer a question. The spread may pose a
question, and have certain places to lay cards. The card’s meaning will differ as to where it is placed in
the spread.Cards spread is very important in order to draw accurate readings of the person's question.
We will be covering this in next class.

*Draw*

You can draw Tarot cards in several ways. You can draw them from the top like you would ‘deal’ a
regular deck of playing cards. You can fan them out or sit with them in your hands and choose the ones
that ‘feel right’. Or, you can sort through the deck until you find a certain card – like the Lovers – and the
two cards on either side will give you your answer.

*Jumper*

A jumper, or faller is a card that ‘jumps’ or falls out of the deck whilst it is being shuffled, or when
another card is being drawn. These cards should not be placed in the spread but outside of it, and given
special consideration.

*Suits*

The suits of a traditional Tarot deck tend to be Swords, Wands, Pentacles and Cups. Wands can often be
Batons or Sticks, and Pentacles can often be Coins or Discs.

*Elements*

Very important aspect of tarot card reading.Tarot decks have a number of ways where they relate to the
Four Elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Traditionally, the suits are thus: Fire – Wands, Earth –
Pentacles, Air – Swords, Water – Cups.

*Number*

The number on the cards can be used with numerology to add more detail to your Tarot reading. The
number of a card is either the number of the Major Arcana, like 13 – Death, or the number of its place in
the suit, like the Nine of Pentacles.

*Trumps*

Another name for the Major Arcana

These are all the basic terminologies that we need to know and understand. However, we will be
learning more terms as we proceed with the course.