The Ancient system of Tarot comes to us from origins shrouded in mystery. Some scholars say that it can be traced back to the Egyptians and was later popularised throughout Europe during the Renaissance. Others say that it was at this time that it was born. It has links with Astrology, Numerology and the Kabbalah and has been used throughout its existence as an interpretive tool, including by the likes of the great Carl Jung. Even now the Tarot attracts Seekers from all walks of life to "consult the cards".

The traditional Tarot is comprised of the Minor Arcana the "suits" (Wands, Pentacles, Swords & Cups) from which our modern-day playing cards were derived (Clubs, Diamonds, Spades and Hearts), and a separate deck of 22 richly-detailed picture cards known as the Major Arcana, composed of strongly archetypal images that resonate with us all on some level, depicting the journey of man through life. Jung developed a theory that the archetypal imagery of the Tarot is in fact contained within the ancient "memories" of all humans, allowing our subconscious to recognize the images and even to know where in the Tarot deck certain cards may be located at any one time as they are shuffled thus creating the intuitive mechanism by which the "right" cards are drawn by the Seeker.

Cards from the Major Arcana show the events and issues surrounding the Seeker at the time of their reading. The Minor Arcana gives nuance and highlights individual people relevant to the Querent's question. The cards in the Minor Arcana are also representative of areas of life in the same way that a "House" in an astrological chart denotes an area of life and resonate with a particular elemental energy, just like the signs of the Zodiac . So Wands (also known as "Rods" or "Batons") represent our creativity and hence our work and vibrate to the Fire element Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; Pentacles (also known as "Coins") represent the material world, finances, long-term goals, foundations and the element of Earth Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn; Swords represent the mental and intellectual part of life, science, the law and conflict and relate to the element of Air Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; Cups are the emotional world, perception, intuition, happiness, love, children and "births" of all kinds, connecting to the Water element Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Shauna has been reading Tarot for more than 26 years and believes that it shows the energies surrounding the Seeker at the time of asking their question, providing "signposts" and timing markers and this information can be used together with an individual's free will to create awareness, connect with messages from within and move towards the best possible outcome in a situation. Remember: "the future is not set" just as in Astrology, Thomas Aquinas allowed: "The stars incline but they do not impel."