Divination is a term used for the techniques enabled for looking into the
future, or for getting a better grasp of a situation or problem. There are
many forms of divination, including mirror scrying, crystal gazing, reading
tarot cards, palm reading, runes, lithomancy, and geomancy.

The Tarot
The Tarot is a system of 78 cards separated into two categories: The Major
Arcana, of which there are 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana, of which there
are 56 cards separated into four suits. The Major Arcana represent very
broad archetypes and include such cards as The Fool, The Magician, Death,
The Lovers, The Tower, and The Star. The Minor Arcana is split up into four
symbols that correspond to the four elements. Most commonly they are called
Swords, Cups, Wands, and Pentacles. These cards represent details, people,
and specific situations and ideas. The origins of the Tarot are clouded in
mystery and point to a variety of sources, with the oldest intact deck
dating to the 13th century.

I prefer to read the Tarot, since I am a visually oriented person. I enjoy
the complexity of having 78 illustrated cards to work with. I use a
threefold spread, laying the cards out in successive rows of three, for
past, present, and future. I do this for 3-5 rows, and then pull one card
at the end to "talk" about the entire spread. I find this a very simple,
but powerful spread. My favorite deck is Legend: The Arthurian Tarot. I
have studied the Arthurian Romances in great detail, so I am very
comfortable with the stories associated with it.

In order to find the deck that suits you best, try to find a store near you
that carries a selection of decks, and look through them all (most stores
carry sample decks for you to handle). The imagery should appeal to you and
you should feel comfortable with it. In order to learn it, shuffle the
cards, lay them out in a spread, and before consulting the accompanying
book, interpret the cards for yourself, then compare the book's meanings.
Also, to get used to the deck, and to have it possess your own personal
energy, carry it around with you. Wrap it in a cloth special to you, and
keep the cards well-protected.

The following sites either are major sources for purchasing Tarot decks or
provide information on the Tarot:

Tarots Lo Scarabeo -gorgeous Italian decks

David's Tarot Emporium

US Games Decks -the largest distributor of decks in the US

Tarot Deck Reviews

Scrying
Scrying is the divination art that encompasses gazing into a reflective or
dark object, such as a crystal, black mirror, etc. One can use a
crystal/glass ball, a black reflective surface, a dark bowl filled with
water, or anything else that will that allow the mind to gently shift.
Basically, one becomes comfortable in posture and stares into the surface.
Eventually onešs eyesight begins to shift and images or visions may appear.
It is very hard to tell who would be a good scryer, and who would not, so
itšs worth a try.

Donald Tyson has several excellent books on both crystal and mirror gazing.