To make the story brief, the tarot cards were used as playing cards, still being used is in some countries as a game. But in the late 1700s, Etteilla (pseudonym of Jean-Baptiste Alliette) popularize the playing cards into divination. Etteilla was a French occultist and documented and of the first person who made a living by card divination. In addition, he added meanings to the cards with elements, astrology and symbols.
If you are wondering what is the difference between the major and minor arcanas, here are your answers:
The way I interpret the Arcanas, the major arcanas deals with major issues, while the minors with everyday life occurrences. Although I have heard of occultist to solely use the 22 Major Arcanas.
Here is a the composition of the 78 Tarot Deck:
- Major Arcanas are composed of 21 cards + 0 The Fool = 22 cards
- Minor Arcanas are composed of 56 cards:
- 4 Aces
- 4 court cards for each suit = 16 cards
- 9 numerical cards per suit = 36 cards
Each suit is related to an element:
- Cups - water
- Swords - wind
- Wands - fire
- Coins - earth
To add further meaning, between the Court Cards and Numerical Cards there is a total of 52; the meaning of 52 weeks a year. But as if that is not enough, the cards also correlates with seasons, body and colors as well:
Races, gender and ages have been associated with tarots too.
- Kings are middle aged to older adult male
- Queens are middle aged to older adult female
- Pages are kids, both genders
- Knights are teens to Young adults
Races:
- Cups - fair skin, green, hazel eyes, light brown to dark blonde hair
- Wands - fair skin, blue eyes, blonde or red hair
- Swords - olive skin or medium skin tone, hazel or brown eyes, brown or black hair
- Coins - dark skin, brown eyes and dark hair
Personalities:
- Cups - cool and collective, instinctive, emotional, family gatherer
- Wands - hot headed, creative, outdoors (i.e., camping and biking)
- Swords - logical, reason and swift acting
- Coins - welcoming, patient and idle, home parties