The earliest cards of which we have any definite knowledge were called “Tarots,” which are supposed to have been the invention of a Jewish astrologer and cabalist. Various explanations are given as to the name. The science and divination by means of these cards were supposed to be found in the Egyptian “Book of Thoth,” which Moses learned in the Egyptian temples and of which he guarded the secret jealously. Outside of a few packs in some of the museums, there are no tarot cards to be found. The pictures on them represented priests, popes, jugglers, emperors, devils and other characters. Later on numerals were added to the symbolic cards so that games could be played with them. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Venice had games of cards composed of 78 cards, 22 containing symbols and 56 numerals. Later the size of the pack was reduced to 52 cards. Suits and Symbols There have always been four suits in use, but the symbols used had varied in different countries. Originally they were cups, money, swords and clubs. These are still retained in Italian and Spanish cards. Old German cards have acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. The French cards used spades and clubs, hearts and diamonds. The word “spade” comes from the Italian word meaning a sword. The club sign was adopted from the three-leaf clover. Many of the packs used last century were very costly and artistic. They were painted by hand to represent historic characters. Mystic Meaning To many people a pack of cards comes next in importance to the Bible. To others they are supposed to be the devil’s own handbooks of destruction. They have exercised an irresistible fascination over the minds of men and women of all ages. A great interest attaches to the many possible combinations to be made from the cards in a pack. It has been pointed out that— The fifty-two cards represent the 52 weeks in the year. Thirteen cards in each suit represent the 13 lunar months, and the 13 weeks in each quarter. The four suits represent the four seasons of the year. The twelve court cards represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac. Number of pips on all the plain cards = 220 Number of pips on the court cards = 12 Counting each of the court cards as 10 = 120 Number of cards in each suit 13 ——- Total equals the number of days in the year 365 The Charm and Power of Cards