We regard Tarot as being a traditionally western pursuit, but in reality it evolved, from the far east! All card games and tile games originated from the east with one or two exceptions so it is said. Dominoes, a regular pack of playing cards, all were Chinese in origin. The five suit cards that well know and love are no different. As the idea of a portable game that can be played for fun and money moved from the East tot he West, it picked up different cultural associations through communication, trade and conflict. Then different meanings were added to it and it started to develop a life of its own. Different cultures claimed it as their own. The cards then didn't just travel in space, but also travelled, so to speak, in time. Over time they gained a new meaning and new mythologies started to be developed for what the true meanings of the cards were. After that, popular media and fan fiction started to edge into the world of tarot. Even kids TV shows and more abstract designs developed inspired by works of art.
“Tarot” itself mimics the cultural melting pot in which it has been put. It is not one thing. Descendants of the original game are out there, including French Tarot which can be played online.
However you get into Tarot, you are getting into a moving and growing art form.
Tarot Reading is only a small part of what Tarot is.