Modern playing cards were derived from Tarot cards and are also used to predict the future and give information. Each suit of a deck of playing cards corresponds to the suits in the Tarot but without the Knight cards. 52 cards instead of the full 78.
Hearts signify emotional situations and correspond with Cups in Tarot
Spades signify conflicts and resolutions – corresponding with Swords
Clubs signify work and day to day activities – corresponding with Wands
Diamonds signify good fortune, money and abundance – corresponding with Pentacles.
The only nod to the Major Arcana is to The Fool, who is now the Joker in a deck of playing cards.
Just like Tarot they were originally meant to be viewed and read in the upright position only, but double headed playing cards were designed in the late 19th century. Reading reversed Tarot cards only became popular around the 1950’s to add a little more spice to readings, however many Tarot Readers do not worry about reversed card meanings and read the cards as they were originally meant to be read.
