Spanisches Tarot

The Spanish Tarot uses the traditional Spanish deck of 40 or 48 cards in four suits — oros (coins), copas (cups), espadas (swords), bastos (clubs) — already documented in Spain in the 15th century and probably introduced by Moorish merchants. It is not properly a tarot in the technical sense (no Major Arcana), but a cartomantic system parallel to the Italian-French tarot.

Structure of the deck

The standard Spanish deck has:

Numerical 1-7 in each suit.
Court cards: Sota (Page), Caballo (Knight), Rey (King).
Total of 40 cards (no 8 or 9, no Queen).
The 48-card version includes 8 and 9.

Symbolic meaning of the suits

Oros — money, work, material achievement.
Copas — love, emotions, family.
Espadas — conflict, decisions, intellect.
Bastos — energy, ambitions, beginnings.

Frequently asked questions

Difference from the Marseille tarot?

The 78-card Marseille has 22 Major Arcana; the Spanish deck does not. The Spanish reading is more "everyday", less archetypal.

Did the Spanish deck come from the Moors?

Yes, plausibly: cards arrived in Europe through Islamic Spain in the 14th-15th centuries.

Spanisches Tarot

Wähle 3 Karten, die dich ansprechen

Deine Lesung

Structure of the deck

Symbolic meaning of the suits

Frequently asked questions

You might also like