Tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards used for reflection and divination. A reader lays out cards in a spread and describes what each is traditionally taken to mean. There is no scientific evidence that tarot can predict the future.
What it is
Each card has traditional associations that vary between decks and readers. In a reflective reading the cards act as prompts for talking about your own situation.
Treat a card as a question to think about, not a verdict.
The deck
A standard deck has 22 Major Arcana cards, such as The Fool and The Star, and 56 Minor Arcana cards in four suits. Names and imagery differ between decks.
History
Tarot began as a playing-card game in fifteenth-century Italy. Its use for divination grew later, mostly from the eighteenth century onward. Dates and attributions are confirmed before this page goes live [ADD SOURCES].
What a reading is
A reading starts from a question, uses a spread, and ends with your own reflection. We treat what is said as interpretation, not fact.
What the evidence shows
We know of no reliable evidence that cards foretell events. Many people still find a reading useful for thinking, and that is respected. Read the full evidence page before deciding.