The 78 cards of the Tarot have been used for centuries to reveal the mysteries and patterns of the past and the events of the future, although banned by the Church during the Middle Ages. Tarot cards re-appeared in Europe around the 14th Century, during which time a great interest in fortune-telling by cards arose and they became quite popular. Card games became fashionable in France and Italy for entertainment and amusement, and these were all based on the Tarot deck. By the mid 18th Century they were used almost exclusively for fortune telling, and the Marseilles Deck which was standardized in 1750, is still in use today. Since then, Tarot cards have passed through numbers of phases of popularity and banishment, but their revival during the Renaissance period led to increased interest and several new decks appeared. Today there are over 200 Tarot decks available. In 1910 the Rider-Waite deck was established as the definitive Tarot set of the modern era, and a standard against which all other Tarot interpretations were measured. This deck still remains the most popular in use today.However, increasing interest in the Tarot in the late 19th and 20th Centuries led to the creation of many beautiful and varied decks, particularly during the last 40 years. No two decks are alike and each one reflects the unique talents and vision of its creators and their artwork. The cards are used not only for readings, but also for meditations, enlightenment, or religious experiences. Nowadays, due to the worldwide increased interest in the occult, it is quite common to own a pack of Tarot cards and, better still, to be able to use them. The Tarot Deck consists of 78 cards, and is divided into two parts: 1. The Major Arcana (or Trumps) It consists of 22 cards. These have mysterious images, symbols etc. and are likened to the Hebrew Alphabet (22 letters and special numerology – gematria) 2. The Minor Arcana (56 cards) or 4 suits (wands, pentacles, cups, and swords ) Each suit is numbered 1-10 and has 4 court cards (King, Queen, Knight and Page) CLASSICAL DECKS: French Marseilles    This deck was created around 1700. There are a number of clones based on this deck and all are similar in detail. They are distinguishable by the unadorned minor Arcana and flat primitive look. The two most popular decks appeared in the mid 18th Century (One Belgian, the other Italian). However, what is known to us as the Marseilles Deck is essentially a wood-block reduction of hand-painted Renaissance Italian cards, that were for many years printed in Marseilles and distributed throughout the European world. The Marseilles deck is more ornate than many others from the same era, but is limited to the Major Arcana and face cards of the suits. Rider-Waite   One of the "traditional" decks that most people think of when they imagine tarot cards. This deck was developed by Arthur Waite and artist Pamela Colman-Smith for the Order of the Golden Dawn and published in 1910. Waite was a great student of the occult, and this deck is the most famous and popular of all decks, to the point of being considered the definitive deck. Crowley-Thoth Deck   In 1944, the famous occultist Aleister Crowley self-published a book and cards using this Egyptian Title. Crowley spent years working out his own particular Tarot system, and this deck has striking, fascinating artwork. MODERN DECKS. Many “special interest” decks have arisen over the last few decades, and they have become very popular, being used not only for readings, but also for affirmations, contemplations, meditations and other esoteric practices. A wide variety of themes abound, and some examples are: - Astrology, the Moon, Witches, Greek Mythology, Angels, Cats, Fairies, Dragons unicorns etc. The very latest theme decks allow popular culture, such as the ”Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” decks.. Some interesting examples of modern decks are: Robin Wood   This deck is strongly influenced by natural elements, Pagan, and Celtic artwork and symbolism. The colours are very vibrant, and the artwork is elegant and almost crystalline. Morgan-Greer Tarot Deck   This is a vivid and exciting interpretation of the Waite deck with intensely colourful medieval scenes. Daughters of the Moon   In this deck, the cards are circular in shape. Designed specifically for women, it contains only female images and archetypes and the art is gorgeously coloured, vibrant, uplifting and positive. Osho Zen   This deck is based on the transcendental game of Zen. It has 79 cards with four suits of fire, clouds, water, and rainbows. Most of the cards are inspiring and stunningly beautiful, but there are a few (like the 3 of Cups) that just don't fit with the rest. Tarot of the Cat People   Cats of all varieties, including lions and leopards, accompany the colourful Cat People in this deck for all cat lovers out there. The artwork is beautifully done. It blends tarot symbolism with the imagery of science fiction and fantasy. Mythic Tarot   This deck features dramatic pictures of gods, heroes and heroines from Ancient Greek mythology and legends. Ancient Egyptian Tarot  w Tarot structure and Egyptology have been blended seamlessly in this authentic and lifelike - looking deck. The author has drawn on Egyptian history, mythology and daily life to produce a deck that excels in both theme and artwork. Sacred Rose Tarot   This is a standard Tarot deck inspired by medieval stained glass artwork. It draws on the Kaballah Tree of Life, and the symbolic rose of the western world. It is recommended for Tarot beginners and students. Arthurian Tarot Deck   In this deck, exquisitely rendered watercolour paintings illustrate characters, places and tales from the legends. Each card represents the Arthurian counterpart to the tarot's traditional figures, such as Merlin as the Magician, Morgan le Fay as the Moon, Mordred as the King of Swords and Arthur as the Emperor. Tarot decks are today so popular that collecting them has become a passion for people who are inclined to esoteric ideas, thoughts and practices. Some folk can boast substantial collections.