THE DECK OF 78 CARDS

The Tarot was originally a deck of 78 cards, divided into 4 suits of 14 cards (the standard ace-10, then page, knight, queen, and king) and 22 un-numbered 'triumphs' or 'trumps'. Over the years, the trumps got numbered 1 to 21, with one card (the fool, originally the youth) remaining un-numbered or sometimes being 0.

The Youth (called also the Beggar – because of his torn clothes) is an interesting card, it is a key of 0 and yet a key of 22 as well. There are 22 cards to the Major Arcana, starting with number 1-21…the number 22 would seem to be missing if we just called it 0. The 0 key, represents the god force, the force before entering into manifestation, but in the same right, this card completes the cycle as number 22. Life continues on and on in a cycle and the number 22 is an ancient symbol for a circle representing god and infinity, because a circle has no starting point or end. The Fool represents the Super conscious in which he has yet one more step ahead of him, symbolic of the fact that we never come to our limit in potential.

The bright sun over head represents the life energy that is forever rising. The mountains in the distance, even though bleak and cold rising high in the sky bring forth water when the sun melts the peaks, bringing life and nourishment to the ones below. His bag represents the memories of the past, with the eagle (garuda) on it representing an awaked view towards aspirations. The five petalled white rose in his hand represents the pure desire and untainted goals, while the dog at his feet is symbolic of the lower incarnations that are elevated by evolution. The wreath surrounding the head of the Fool, is symbolic of a zero which is the symbol of god and from which all things emerge.

For a long period of time of major arcana in Italy, we can still notice until now the Roman numerals assign to each card. Even number ‘0’ an Indian numeral was late to be put in this card. By this, it’s clear that the Tarot was not Arabian in origin, because if they are the originator of this card, why we can’t find Arabic numerals in old Tarot. Except, in a long period of Tarot history, The Fool was remained blank and the 1 – 21 was written in Roman numerals.

It was happen, for the reason that number 22 is assigned only in God, but we can’t see an image of God in the whole major arcana, even in minor arcana. For God is formless and no images can be compared to Him, He is the infinite and nothing can change Him.

According to numerology:

The number 22 represent supreme consciousness that rules the heart and the spirit. It is occasionally found in national leaders and spiritual heads. The true leaders are often simple people who shun the limelight, and willing to lower their standards to reach the top.

“Did you know that the manifestation of Thoth is number 22!”

If we observe the images in major arcana, we can see the combination of Egyptian, Gnosticism, Mithraism, Christian pictures. Proof that it is not originally from Italy or Arabia, but, those pictures have been modified as time goes by. Those illustrator who paint this cards without real knowledge and by imposing self – motive, we can notice that by the intentions of those commentarist hold this, the meaning of this has been modified and change.    

In more recent times, the Tarot which first appeared in the houses of Italian Aristocrats as a game known as tarocchi (some even say that the cards were invented by medieval Italian artists). They were originally very expensive hand painted cards and were only available to the noble and wealthy. With the invention of the printing press, however, the cards became more widely available and started spreading quickly throughout Europe. Even the modern version of playing cards are derived from the Tarot deck, with the Major Arcana dropped except for the Fool (now called the Joker).