The History of the Tarot: A Mystical Journey of the Soul

The Tarot is not just a deck of cards; it's a tool for personal growth and self-discovery. For centuries, people have turned to the Tarot to gain insight into their lives, to connect with their higher selves, and to understand the universe around them.

As a tarot reader, I firmly believe that the Tarot is a powerful tool that can help us navigate our spiritual journey and unlock the potential for growth and development of the soul. Every card in the Tarot deck represents an archetype, an energy, or an aspect of our lives. By tapping into these energies and archetypes, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

The history of the Tarot is a fascinating one, filled with mystery, intrigue, and a touch of the divine. Many people believe that the Tarot has its origins in ancient Egypt, where the priests used the cards as a tool for divination and spiritual guidance. Others believe that the Tarot was brought to Europe by the Romani and was adapted to reflect European cultures and traditions.

The origins of tarot can be traced back to the 14th century, when playing cards first became popular in Europe. These cards were used for games and had no mystical or spiritual significance. It wasn't until the 15th century that tarot began to take on a more spiritual role. In Italy, a special set of cards known as tarocchi or tarot were created. These cards were designed for a new type of game, which involved players taking on the roles of characters from medieval literature.

The tarot decks used in these games were different from modern tarot decks. They had four suits, similar to playing cards, but also had an additional set of trump cards. These trump cards were called "trionfi" or "triumphs" and featured allegorical images that represented various virtues, vices, and celestial bodies. Some historians believe that these trump cards may have been used for divination, but there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.

It wasn't until the 18th century that tarot began to be associated with divination and the occult. French occultists such as Jean-Baptiste Alliette, who wrote under the pseudonym "Etteilla", began to publish books on the tarot, in which they claimed that the cards held secret mystical and spiritual meanings. This was the beginning of the modern tarot as we know it today.

The tarot deck used by Alliette and other occultists was the Tarot de Marseille, which was based on the Italian tarot decks of the 15th century. This deck featured 22 major arcana cards, which depicted allegorical images such as The Fool, The Magician, and The High Priestess, as well as 56 minor arcana cards, which were divided into four suits: cups, swords, wands, and pentacles.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the tarot underwent a revival in popularity, thanks in part to the efforts of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society of occultists in England. The Golden Dawn created a new deck, known as the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which became the most popular tarot deck in the English-speaking world. This deck featured the same 22 major arcana cards as the Tarot de Marseille, but the minor arcana cards had detailed illustrations that made them easier to interpret.

Today, there are hundreds of different tarot decks available, each with their own unique interpretations and styles. Some tarot readers prefer to use traditional decks, such as the Tarot de Marseille or Rider-Waite-Smith deck, while others prefer newer decks that incorporate contemporary themes or artwork.

Regardless of the deck used, the basic principles of tarot remain the same. The cards are used to gain insight and understanding into various aspects of the querent's life, such as love, career, or spirituality. Each card has its own meaning and interpretation, but the true power of tarot lies in the reader's ability to intuitively interpret the cards and provide guidance and clarity to the querent.

Regardless of its origins, the Tarot has remained a powerful tool for personal growth and spiritual development throughout the centuries. In the early days, the Tarot was primarily used for divination, with readers interpreting the cards to gain insight into the future. But over time, people began to realize that the Tarot was much more than just a tool for fortune-telling.

In the hands of a skilled reader, the Tarot can help us to connect with our intuition, to gain clarity and insight into our lives, and to unlock the potential for growth and transformation. Each card in the deck represents a different aspect of our lives, from the major arcana cards that represent major life events and spiritual lessons, to the minor arcana cards that represent the day-to-day aspects of our lives.

The Tarot is not just a tool for personal growth; it's also a tool for spiritual connection and communion. When we work with the Tarot, we tap into the divine energies and archetypes that exist within us and around us. We connect with our higher selves, with the universe, and with the divine.

As a tarot reader, I believe that the Tarot has the power to transform lives. It can help us to gain clarity and insight, to find meaning and purpose, and to unlock the potential for growth and development of the soul. Whether you are a seasoned tarot enthusiast or a curious beginner, the Tarot has something to offer everyone.

Ready to Learn More about the Tarot? Check out this Discussion about how to utilize the Magick of the Tarot with Jeremy on Apple Podcasts or Spotify