Mystic, magic, the unknown, the…misconceptions. There are so many myths surrounding tarot cards that it’s no wonder a lot of card fans feel confused and stuck at times. Where did the tarot come from? What came first – Tarot or playing cards? Many questions and theories exist; however, one thing remains unchanged in all domains – from ancient times to today’s gadgetized world, the cards have always been artworks. But to get a better idea of their mystery and power, it is crucial to explore the origins of this ancient practice and how exactly the cards’ interpretations have transformed throughout all time. Let us explore some truths about the origins of the cards, their evolution from a game to a spiritual tool, and the great potential of the deck.
Without much ado…
The Origin of the Name
We know a lot about the origin of tarot cards, yet unanswered questions are still open. Let’s say the etymology of the very name of the cards – tarot – remains unknown. Many fans consider it a word that comes from the French language, and that should be pronounced like ‘tare-oh,’ while the other camp prefers the word ‘Tarocco’ (Italian). Nonetheless, people began to use the term ‘Tarocco’ a century after the first deck was ever used. Initially, the cards were called ‘cartes da trionfi.’All in all, the exact roots of the word ‘Tarot’ are unknown.
The Introduction of Playing Cards to Europe
According to popular belief, the first cards to be identified as tarot were crafted in the 1420s, somewhere in northern Italy. However, the oldest deck that still exists today includes 271 cards. All these ‘survivors’ come from 15 different (incomplete) decks that the reps of the Visconti-Sforza family commissioned in the 1450s. Each card is hand-painted to be used by rich rulers of Milan (so it’s no wonder that they still exist today – the quality is top-notch!).
Early cards were most likely brought to Europe by travelers and traders coming from Islamic countries. While today, experts like TarotAtlas and many other online tarot reading platforms use cards for introspection and (self)reflection, early predecessors of the cards that we know today were used as a source of entertainment. They included suits and court cards called ‘carte da gioco’ in Italian and were similar to the decks used nowadays.
The Game Is On!
As we’ve mentioned above, the artists in Italy started handcrafting ‘Tarocchi’ by the early 15th century. These ornate decks served as symbols of a wealthy status for rich families and games. One of the well-known Tarocchi games – a trick-taking card game – included a unique fifth suit of trump cards called ‘trionfi.’ The trumps had beautiful and visually appealing imageries full of allegories and featuring figures like The Death, The Fool, and The Magician. It’s exactly the addition of all these trumps that prepared the solid ground for the inevitable transformation of the deck into a divinatory instrument.
The Mysticism Kicks in
In the 18th century, the transition from a source of entertainment to a mystical tool started. It was exactly when a French occultist, Antoine Court de Gébelin, published his ‘Le Monde Primitif’ – a work on tarot cards that mentioned the fact that cards had roots in ancient Egypt. According to ‘Le Monde Primitif,’ tarot cards are a source of esoteric knowledge that is directly related to the ‘Book of Thoth and the Kabbalah’ from Egypt. The truth is that all the claims made by the French occultist have zero historical evidence. However, they still hooked the interest of the occultist’s contemporaries. By the late 18th century, the cards from the tarot deck had become instruments used to tell and divine fortune. The very first tarot deck for divination exclusively was published by Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla. The deck was available with a detailed instruction manual to make the reading session simpler and more effective.
Tarot in the Modern Days
During the 19th – 20th centuries, the popularity of tarot cards grew as esoteric traditions from the West began to seep into them. The reps of the groups known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn presented unique complex systems for effective reading sessions. As a result, they integrated ceremonial magic, alchemy, and astrology into the process.
As for the most influential deck in the modern days, it’s the Rider-Waite Tarot that was created by Arthur Edward Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Every card in a deck has rich symbolism and vibrant imagery that standardized imagery for the cards from the Minor Arcana. Thus, tarot readers from vast backgrounds have an opportunity to benefit from the cards.
Now What?
OK, what do we have in the 21st century? Today, tarot cards are seen as an effective divinatory instrument. In what way is it different from predicting the future? First of all, divination is about focusing on the unconscious. What querents now need is getting more clarity and knowledge about their inner selves. In other words, the aspect known as the ‘fortune-telling’ fades into the background while tarot fans are more into interpreting the energies, signs, and patterns that together shape their choices, moves, lives, etc. Using tarot, we can get a better idea of all the forces that operate now and can have an impact on our tomorrow. Today, the cards are more accessible than ever before. The variety of decks is pretty amazing, from printed works of art to online tarot reading platforms, where experts do pro-reading in the cyber mode. Tarot fans from all over the globe have a chance to get together on social networks like TikTok or Instagram. There are entire communities where like-minded individuals can study and practice tarot, share readings and urgent pieces of advice, as well as support each other on their spiritual paths.
