The Universal Tarot

This is just an idea, a pattern of tarot that would be suitable to play all tarot games. This would mean a few extra trump cards that the player will have to retain or remove depending upon the game to be played.

First of all, all cards should have indices, showing a number and/or a symbol to indicate its identity. We should have the four Latin suits but employing the Spanish pattern rather than the latticed Italian Swords and Batons, which frequently confuse new players.

The trumps should employ the traditional themes but interpreted in different ways, excluding religious and later occult iconography. The trumps should be numbered from I to XVI with the Moon, Sun, Angel, and World un-numbered. This is necessary for playing the Bolognese games and will save some confusion due to the variable ranking of the World and the Angel.

There should be five additional trumps, being The Beggar and The Four Moors. The latter could be four of anything with a common theme.

I make no claim to this pattern and hope that others may use it.

Just as an amusement for myself, I have begun creating such a pack with a view to getting it printed through a Print On Demand service. I have no idea how long it will take to complete but will post the images here.