Tarot History

Origin of Tarot has not been clarified. Without any doubt, it is one of the oldest card games, making use of a whole world of symbols. There can be no doubt that it has been conveyed in an esoteric manner, more or less as a secret, through the centuries. The question of its origin is very difficult, if not impossible, to resolve.

Be as it may, whether it originated from China, India, or Egypt, conveyed by alchemists, cabalists, or by a wizard greatest of all, such suppositions having been tried to prove, the Tarot reached us bearing an expressed Christian symbolics and medieval iconography. The complex of the Tarot’s symbolics was definitely framed after the adoption of patriarchal relations, which obviously derives from the meanings attached to two adjacent cards – the Moon and the Sun; the Moon, symbol of the Great Mother, bears an expressly unfavorable connotation, while the Sun, symbol of male supreme deities, holds an expressly positive meaning. The horror attached to the Moon corresponds to the medieval Christian fears of witches, that were protagonists of the remaining symbols of the power of female deities.

The oldest known decks date from XIV century, with numerous different decks appearing through the centuries, out of which only a small number to be preserved, at least partially. The first decks were created by painters; they were extremely expensive, and thus not for broad public, as they were produced per order and for the needs of individual ruling families. It is usually accepted that the first deck appeared in Germany in 1325, although that still not being the Tarot in full sense, rather a presentation of scenes from hunt, and portrayal of persons from the courts.

During the course of XIV century several decks originated in France and in Italy, however only 17 cards having being preserved out of the deck produced in 1392 for King Charles VI. The oldest relatively well-preserved deck is the one produced for the duke family Visconti-Sforza of Milan, about the middle of XV century, out of which 74 cards have been preserved to this day. Although these decks already feature a recognizable structure of the Tarot, symbolism thereof is connected with the symbolics and heraldic signs of the ruling families, and thus they still do not correspond fully with the modern-type Tarot.

It might be supposed that Minor Arcana had existed long before the Trumps, which were added in medieval times as conveyors of metaphysical realizations not advisable to write down. Syncretism, visible in every deck, points to the influence of the Templars. Gnostics, cabalists, and alchemists, who introduced into the basic Christian iconography of the Major Arcana the astrological and alchemist symbols, as well as pictures of old deities. This is how the Tarot that we know today has been created – that language encompassing the symbolic tradition of the whole Euro-Asian history of Mankind.

Basic of Tarot

So Tarot is an ancient form of divination that uses a deck of 78 cards to gain insight into various aspects of a person’s life. Each card in the tarot deck has

a unique meaning and interpretation, and by using the cards to form spreads, you can gain a deeper understanding of your past, present, and future. Whether you want to use tarot as a tool for personal growth or as a means of helping others, learning tarot can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
The first step in learning tarot is to purchase a tarot deck. There are many different decks available, each with its own unique art style and symbolism. Some popular tarot decks include Rider-Waite, Crowley-Harris Thoth, and Golden Dawn. When choosing a deck, it’s important to choose one that resonates with you and speaks to your intuition.

Tarot Language

In its original form Tarot is a universal language knowing of no boundaries. People coming from different environments and belonging to different civilizations, persons who do not speak or read one and the same language can possibly establish communication using the symbolic language of Tarot.

Tarot Cards

Once you have your deck, it’s time to start getting familiar with the cards. Each card has a traditional meaning and interpretation that can be found in a tarot handbook or online. As you study the cards, you may find that your personal interpretations of the cards differ from the traditional meanings, and that’s okay. The beauty of tarot is that it is an open and intuitive tool, and your own interpretations and experiences with the cards are just as valid as anyone else’s.

The standard tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards). Here is a list of the cards in

the Major Arcana, in order:

The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
The Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged Man
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Judgement
The World

The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits, similar to traditional playing cards. Here are the names of the cards in each suit:

Minor Arcana

Wands:

Ace of Wands
Two of Wands
Three of Wands
Four of Wands
Five of Wands
Six of Wands
Seven of Wands
Eight of Wands
Nine of Wands
Ten of Wands
Page of Wands
Knight of Wands
Queen of Wands
King of Wands

Cups:

Ace of Cups
Two of Cups
Three of Cups
Four of Cups
Five of Cups
Six of Cups
Seven of Cups
Eight of Cups
Nine of Cups
Ten of Cups
Page of Cups
Knight of Cups
Queen of Cups
King of Cups

Swords:

Ace of Swords
Two of Swords
Three of Swords
Four of Swords
Five of Swords
Six of Swords
Seven of Swords
Eight of Swords
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords
King of Swords

Pentacles (or Coins):

Ace of Pentacles
Two of Pentacles
Three of Pentacles
Four of Pentacles
Five of Pentacles
Six of Pentacles
Seven of Pentacles
Eight of Pentacles
Nine of Pentacles
Ten of Pentacles
Page of Pentacles
Knight of Pentacles
Queen of Pentacles
King of Pentacles

Tarot Spreads

To start using tarot for divination, you will need to learn how to do spreads. A spread is simply a pattern in which you arrange the cards, each representing a different aspect of a situation or issue. There are many different spreads to choose from, ranging from simple three-card spreads to more complex spreads of ten cards or more. Some popular spreads include the past-present-future three-card spread, the Celtic cross spread, and the horseshoe spread.

Each card in the spread is assigned a specific meaning and interpretation, based on its position in the spread. There are many different tarot spreads available, ranging from simple one-card spreads to complex spreads with multiple positions. Some of the most popular tarot spreads include:

The Three-Card Spread: This is a simple and straightforward spread that uses three cards to provide a quick snapshot of the past, present, and future.

The Celtic Cross Spread: This is a classic tarot spread that uses 10 cards to provide a detailed overview of a person’s current situation, challenges, and future prospects.

The Horseshoe Spread: This spread uses seven cards to provide a snapshot of the key aspects of a person’s life, including their current situation, future prospects, and any obstacles they may face.

The Relationship Spread: This spread uses seven cards to provide insight into the dynamics of a specific relationship, including communication, emotional connection, and future prospects.

The Decision-Making Spread: This spread uses five cards to help a person make a difficult decision by exploring their options and weighing the pros and cons of each.

The Mandala Spread: This spread uses nine cards to provide a holistic view of a person’s life, including their spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects.

The Past-Present-Future Spread: This spread uses three cards to provide insight into the key events, influences, and outcomes in a person’s past, present, and future.

The Five-Card Spread: This spread uses five cards to provide a snapshot of a person’s current situation, their future prospects, and any obstacles they may face.

The Astrological Spread: This spread uses 12 cards, each corresponding to a different astrological sign, to provide a comprehensive overview of a person’s life.

The Birth Spread: This spread uses nine cards to provide insight into a person’s life journey, including their strengths, weaknesses, and potential outcomes.

The above spreads are just a few examples of the many tarot spreads available. The choice of spread will depend on the individual’s specific question or situation, and their personal preferences.

Once you’ve learned the spread, you’re ready to start using tarot for divination. When doing a tarot reading, it is important to clear your mind and focus on your question or situation. You can light a candle, burn some incense, or use other tools to help you enter a meditative state. When you’re ready, shuffle your deck and focus on your question or situation as you arrange the cards in your chosen spread.

As you study the cards in your spread, take time to consider their individual meanings and how they relate to each other. Cards can reveal unexpected insights or challenges, and can also offer guidance and encouragement. You can use your intuition and knowledge of the cards to form a consistent interpretation of the spread, and you can use that interpretation to gain a deeper understanding of your question or situation.

It is important to remember that tarot is not a magical solution to all of life’s problems. The cards can provide guidance and insight, but it’s up to you to take action and make the changes you need to improve your life. Tarot is a tool and it is up to you to use it in a way that is meaningful and helpful to you.

Tarot and Zodiac

Tarot is closely connected with the Zodiac and the planets. Astrological attributions are very precise, however also allowing establishment of an exceptionally broad range of relations between individual cards. Cabalistic interpretation of the Tarot is linked to the value of letters in Hebrew Alphabet, and to interpretation of the Tree of Life as the overall picture of relations in the Universe. This interpretation understands in itself a chain of levels of essence, everything in the same being linked by means of magic.

In conclusion, studying tarot can be a very rewarding experience that can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your life. Whether you are looking to use tarot as a tool for personal growth or as a means of helping others, the key to success is to be open, intuitive, and approach tarot with a sense of curiosity and respect. With time and practice, you will be able to use tarot to gain insights, make positive changes, and find the answers you seek.