I hear it said time and again that the tarot are just another tool for psychic readings, and yes that is totally true. But for me the Tarot is the most amazing key to unlock a deeper wisdom to understanding the Secrets of the Universe and the meaning of life itself.
One of the many theories of the origins of Tarot is that the Tarot was created by Thoth, the Egyptian God.
Listed below are some of the others

Torah (Hebrew), "The Law - Law Giver"
Tarosh (Egyptian), "The royal way"
Torah -Torus in Sacred Geometry
Taurus Astrology
Rota (Latin), "Wheel" - Wheel of karma - Wheels Within Wheels
Taro River in Northern Italy
Taru (Hindu), "Cards"
Troa (Hebrew), "Gate"
Tares, meaning the dot border on old cards
Tarotee, meaning a pattern on the backs

Here's a good site describing universal tarot laws: http://tarotinstitute.com/law/law0.html