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Greetings, tarot folks! Whether you are just beginning your adventure with the cards and came across this article out of sheer curiosity, or have been into card readings for a long time, tarot must surely have seduced you with its mysterious aura.
The cards has long captivated those in search of guidance and understanding. Today, we’re delving into the history of tarot, tracing the enigmatic beginnings to its present-day popularity. We will also learn about its extraordinary message to the world, which is always worth remembering.
The Origins of Tarot and Card Readings
The exact origins of tarot are still debated, but it likely emerged in the Mediterranean region during the 14th century. Originally, tarot cards were probably used as playing cards and gradually took on a role in divination. The first recorded use of tarot for a psychic reading appeared in the 18th century, with French occultist Antoine Court de Gébelin, initiating the interpretation of the tarot cards and a fortune-teller Etteilla, publishing books on tarot meanings and on a technique for doing tarot readings. They both believed the cards held hidden knowledge and therefore shared the observations in their writings.
Understanding the Tarot Deck: Major and Minor Arcana
A tarot deck is made up of 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, each representing significant life themes and archetypal energies. Cards like The Fool, Death, and The World each carry unique symbolism and insights into life's deeper aspects. The message of these cards is quite complex. On one hand, they symbolize the various stages of development of an individual in society, on the other - they present the development of our civilization itself.
According to this message, everything around us (literally everything) is relative and changeable, because everything.... is man's invention. And if man has invented something, it is obvious that he can also replace it with something else. This simple, yet quite brilliant message leaves no illusions: All authority in this world is questionable, or at least should not be taken as a benchmark for any standards.
The Minor Arcana include 56 cards across four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. These suits correspond to different elements and areas of daily life, offering practical guidance on everyday situations. The Minor Arcana cards are numbered from Ace to Ten and you can also find Court Cards here (Page, Knight, Queen, and King).
Tarot's Evolution and Popularity
As tarot spread in Europe, it was assimilated by different cultures, and thus different interpretations and artistic styles were developed. Finally, in the 19th century, French occultist Eliphas Levi combined tarot with astrology, numerology and kabbalah, making tarot a significant source of esoteric wisdom as we know it today.
The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
In 1909, British occultist Arthur Edward Waite teamed up with artist Pamela Colman Smith to develop the famous Rider-Waite tarot deck. Waite, deeply involved in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, wanted to create a tarot deck that would be suitable for more than just card games or divination. He undertook a project that would explore the spiritual and psychological potential of tarot, making it accessible to everyone, whether or not they were new to the subject.
Although Smith had no actual knowledge of tarot, her artistic talent and understanding of mystical symbolism contributed much to the project. She illustrated all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana, which were usually depicted with basic suit patterns. Instead of following tradition, Smith enhanced each card with a detailed, narrative image, or rather, a scene that revealed both its literal and symbolic meaning.
This approach inevitably made tarot more understandable to the general public. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck has quickly become one of the most widely used and respected decks in the world. Because of its simplicity, it is probably the number one tarot deck for all tarot beginners.
The Thoth Tarot
The famous occultist Aleister Crowley by no means shared the admiration for the mastery of the Rider-Waite deck. Therefore, between 1938 and 1943, he and artist Lady Frieda Harris created another significant deck known as the Thoth Tarot. Published in 1969, the Thoth Tarot combines elements of astrology, Kabbalah, Crowley's teachings, and western and eastern symbolism.
Lady Frieda Harris, like Pamela Colman Smith, was not exactly an expert on the subject of tarot, but she was certainly considered an experienced artist with esoteric interests. Crowley provided detailed instructions and interpretations of each card. Harris' involvement in the project was immense; she studied Crowley's work extensively to ensure that each card reflected the ideas he wanted to portray. She repeatedly painted the images until they fully reflected his vision, sometimes adding nuances and details to increase symbolic depth. The Thoth Tarot took nearly five years to complete, and Harris painted more than 200 versions of the cards before Crowley was satisfied.
It is worth mentioning that Lady Frieda Harris was also financially involved in the project. Had it not been for her money, the project probably would not have seen the light of day.
Controversies and Misconceptions About Tarot
Despite its widespread use, tarot has been met with controversy and misunderstanding. Some people see tarot as superstition or associate it with dark practices. However, tarot itself is just a tool, much like a hammer, and can be used in different ways, depending on the holder.
There are many reasons for hostility toward tarot. In fact, some simply fear the message of the tarot as depicted in the Major Arcana and its influence on people's perceptions of the world, particularly questioning the authority of particular social groups. Their power or beliefs - nay, the entire system on which our civilization is based - could be threatened. It is, after all, far easier to live in a world of controlled order and privilege for the few, even if that order means that the whole of humanity is stuck in total illusion.
The message goes further, tarot questions itself as an authority, in favor of man being the free and sole creator of his own world, trusting his gut and possessing an element of the divine, but that's a topic for a separate article.
Another common misconception is that tarot predicts the future with certainty. In fact, card readings test certain possibilities and offer guidance based on current circumstances. The future, except for certain external events, can change depending on our choices. The accuracy of card readings is based largely on the personality of the questioner and the likelihood of his reaction to certain life situations. If we always reacted against our own personality, beliefs or feelings, tarot cards would only show the inevitable, and would be much less useful. Most often, however, this is not the case.
There are also disputes over the origin of tarot. Although it is widely believed that tarot originated in 14th-century Europe, some theories suggest that it has older roots.
One of the most popular alternative theories, popularized in the 18th century by Antoine Court de Gébelin, is that tarot has its origin in ancient Egypt. He claimed tarot was derived from the ancient Book of Thoth, a sacred text associated with the egyptian god of wisdom and magic. According to this theory, the tarot cards were a way to preserve the wisdom of ancient Egypt through symbolic images. However, there is no historical evidence to support this thesis, and it is generally regarded as more of a romantic notion than reality.
Other theories assume Kabbalistic origins (22 cards of the Major Arcana would correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the 22 paths on the Tree of Life in Kabbalah), Chinese origins, Celtic or Druidic origins, or even Indian and Romani connections.
Tarot for Personal Growth and Insight
The true power of tarot lies in its ability to offer insight and guidance for personal growth. Tarot readings help people better understand themselves, revealing motivations and guiding their life paths. The cards act like a mirror, reflecting aspects of our psyche and offering new perspectives.
Many use tarot for self-reflection. By examining the cards, we can discover our patterns, beliefs, and emotions that influence our thoughts and actions. Tarot can also help us make informed choices and deal with life's challenges.
How Tarot Works
Tarot works by using a deck of cards with symbolic images and meanings. The reader shuffles the deck, focusing on a question, then lays out the cards in a spread and interprets them based on their position, symbolism, and intuition.
At a deeper level, tarot refers to the Jungian theory of the collective unconscious and universal wisdom. The cards reflect patterns of human reaction and thinking and explain an individual's behavior in terms of archetypal reactions, thereby explaining the causes of problems and suggesting possible actions.
Learning to Read Tarot Cards
Learning to read tarot is a skill that develops with practice. Here are some tips that may be helpful as you begin to learn:
Pick a tarot deck: Choose a deck that resonates with you. There are many different decks available, each with its own unique artwork and symbolism. The Advanced Tarot Online app provides free images of some amazing decks for your convenience.
Become familiar with the cards: Study the images, symbolism and meaning of each card. Pay attention to how the cards affect your mood and what thoughts or emotions they evoke.
Learn the meanings: Use the resources to learn traditional card meanings. Follow the interpretations of Advanced Tarot Online app and compile a complete story.
Practice, practice, practice: The key to becoming a skilled tarot reader is practice. Start by reading for yourself and friends to develop your skills.
Trust your intuition: Let your inner voice guide your interpretations. Intuition often provides insights and messages that cannot be found in any book or guidebook.
Embrace the Magic of Tarot Readings
Tarot’s history is rich in mystery and symbolism. The message conveyed by the cards challenges all authority, the way our civilization (government, law, religions) is established, and undermines approaches to life's truths that seem unassailable to many. At the same time, by studying tarot, we can unlock its secrets and use our intuition and wisdom, finding new ways to perceive reality, our problems and other people's attitudes.
Tarot is a remarkable journey of self-discovery and personal growth, offering insights into our thoughts, fears, hopes, and desires. It teaches that there is no single, indisputable truth. Let the cards guide you on this journey, at the end of which you become... the best version of yourself.
We wish you good cards!
