History of Tarot | Tarot Cards - YouTube. Tarot are believed to have their origin in simple playing cards of the 13th century, and were no more than elaborate parlour games, probably based on the Islamic “Mamluk” cards. The Minor Arcana of today's Tarot card deck (similar in structure to our modern-day playing card decks) likely came into being sometime during the 12th Century. History of Tarot | Tarot Cards. Share. The symbolism, changes in patterns of use and theories of tarot origin become entirely comprehensible when viewed in conjunction with the cultural contexts in which they occurred. In 1781, a French Freemason (and former Protestant minister) named Antoine Court de Gebelin published a complex analysis of the Tarot, in which he revealed that the symbolism in the Tarot was in fact derived from the esoteric secrets of Egyptian priests. It wasn’t until the late 1700s that what we know as tarot today began to take form. If you've ever thought you might like to learn the Tarot but didn't know how to get started, this study guide is designed for you! All About Tarot: Everything You Need to Get Started Reading Cards, Pictorial of John Holland's The Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck. The ancestors of what we today know as Tarot cards can be traced back to around the late fourteenth century. British occultist Arthur Waite was a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn – and apparently a longtime nemesis of Aleister Crowley, who was also involved in the group and its various offshoots. Wigington, Patti. Artists in Europe created the first playing cards, which were used for games, and featured four different suits. The history of tarot cards is ancient and fascinating. The word “Tarot” is said to be derived from an Italian word “Tarocchi” which depicts playing cards. French occultist Jean Baptiste Alliette, first publicly used the cards for occult purposes in 1785. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. At Waite's suggestion, Smith used the Sola Busca artwork for inspiration, and there are many similarities in the symbolism between Sola Busca and Smith's final result. The ancestors of what we today know as Tarot cards can be traced back to around the late... Tarot as Divination. Because not everyone could afford to hire a painter to create a set of cards for them, for a few centuries, customized cards were something only a privileged few could own. Today, many people refer to this deck as the Waite-Smith deck, in acknowledgement of Smith’s enduring artwork. The biggest problem with de Gebelin’s work is that there was really no historical evidence to support it. Count Boiardo of Ferrara designed a tarot deck based on love with a poem for each card. Oldest example of Italian playing cards. There is a Tarot deck for just about any practitioner, no matter where his or her interests may lie. Members of the nobility would commission artists to create for them their own set of cards, featuring family members and friends as the triumph cards. The history of the Tarot is a mystery since its origin hasn’t been 100% verified, its divinatory and predictive use is one of the most interesting functions of a deck of cards. Every lesson includes a Tarot exercise for you to work on before moving ahead. In 1791, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, a French occultist, released the first Tarot deck designed specifically for divinatory purposes, rather than as a parlor game or entertainment. A number of sets, some of which still exist today, were created for the Visconti family of Milan, which counted several dukes and barons among its numbers. Check out our own Christine Payne-Towler’s take on The History of Tarot. In both France and Italy, the original purpose of Tarot was as a parlor game, not as a divinatory tool. As occult interest in the Tarot expanded, it became more associated with the Kabbalah and the secrets of hermetic mysticism. Building on Court de Gébelin’s Egyptian connection, Etteilla claimed that tarot cards originated with the legendary Book of Thoth, which supposedly belonged to the Egyptian god of wisdom. Playing cards first entered Europe in the late 14th century, most likely from Mamluk Egypt. The rune stones, they date from about 1200 to 1500 years before Christ. Tarot was initially intended to be a parlour game in both France and Italy, but in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century it was used as a fortune telling tool. There are so many things we don’t know about the Tarot, for example, we are not sure what the word ‘Tarot’ means. 1466. According to ancient texts, Tarot cards shows its first presence as playing cards in northern Italy in the 1440 century. Tarot de Marseille became the standard deck built by French and Swiss card manufacturers from around 1700 and probably took its definitive form near the beginning of the seventeenth century. Now, over a hundred years since the release of the Rider-Waite deck, Tarot cards are available in a practically endless selection of designs. While not as simple as some other methods, like pendulums or tea leaves, the Tarot has drawn people into its magic for centuries. The origin … Playing cards were invented by China in the late 1300s, and this could be why there are those who feel that this is where the history of tarot cards began. The pack of cards, known as the Tarocco, is made up of 22 major enigmas, whose figures represent a synthesis of the mysteries of life; and 56 minor images incorporating 14 figures in four series (gold, clubs, swords and goblets). After a decade or two of using these, in the mid-1400s, Italian artists began painting additional cards, heavily illustrated, to add into the existing suits. Far from being a psychic fortune-telling game, it was actually about art and poetry. "A Brief History of Tarot." We embrace and support all Tarot enthusiasts because we know the symbolism of Tarot crosses all cultural and spiritual boundaries to create a uniquely personal experience. The tarot an example that magic is alive and well. The game that was played with these cards was called Tarocchi. We all know the best bits of history start with a mystery and the history of the Tarot is truly mysterious. cultural history of the tarot deck and its imagery. History of the Tarot Deck Decks that resemble modern playing cards have been found in Europe since the late 1300’s, and are thought to have been brought there from an area in Egypt known as Mamluk. This was the original purpose of the tarot cards and it has many regional variations. Political and religious forces in the1400 and1500's forced Tarot into a situation where it had to be camouflaged to obscure its radical Tarot cards are thought to be a result of the first gaming cards that came from China, first gaining popularity in Europe. These trump, or triumph, cards were often painted for wealthy families. History of Tarot Cards. The other oracles that we know and love, say the etching. A few decades before the Tarot was born… Instead of showing merely a cluster of cups, coins, wands or swords, Smith incorporated human figures into the artwork, and the result is the iconic deck that every reader knows today. Tarot is part and parcel of the hermetic tradition and it's still growing, still alive. A Brief History of Tarot French & Italian Tarot. The history of Tarot is almost as magical as the cards themselves. It wasn’t until the printing press came along that playing card decks could be mass-produced for the average game-player. There are many theories concerning the origins of the tarot. From gaming to the mystical, the history of Tarot is as colorful as its cards. History of Tarot. Tarot has a rich history and following in many cultures, from its origins in 14th Century Europe to its modern worldwide incarnation online. By the end of the Victorian era, occultism and spiritualism had become popular pastimes for bored upper class families. An uncut sheet found in the binding of books published in 1466 and 1469 has suits of coins and cups, and fragments of court cards. In his essay, the chapter on Tarot meanings explains the detailed symbolism of Tarot artwork and connects it to the legends of Isis, Osiris and other Egyptian gods. The earliest Tarot card decks were beautiful, hand-painted works of art, while the latest decks can be as flashy, colorful or cartoonish as we can imagine. The Tarot is probably one of the most popularly used tools of divination in the world today. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. A Brief History of Tarot by Patti Wigington. The Italian Aristocracy in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries were great fans of card games. Composed by enigmatic figures, their combinations have aroused human curiosity since ancient times. "A Brief History of Tarot." In general, many of these follow the format and style of Rider-Waite, although each adapts the cards to suit their own motif. In both France and Italy, the original purpose of Tarot was as a parlor game, not as a divinatory... Tarot and the … The original tarot cards date back as far as the 14th century and are the precursor for the modern playing cards, used for poker. In the 'History' section, she reviews what was known about the Tarot cards as of the early 1990s. The first records date to 1367 in Berne and they appear to have spread very rapidly across the whole of Europe, as may be seen from the records, mainly of card games being banned. (2021, March 4). Historical records are limited, but it appears that divinatory use of tarot did not become common until the 18th century, well after the cards were introduced. No one knows the history of Tarot with certainty. Shopping. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/a-brief-history-of-tarot-2562770. The History of Tarot. First developed in the 14th century, tarot cards were originally created as games, and were thought to have been brought to Europe and other western countries via way of Egypt. A History of the Occult Tarot 1870-1970 By Ronald Decker and Michael Dummett Duckworth 2002 ISBN 0 7156 3122 5. Watch later. Tarot cards were initially used as a deck of cards for entertainment purposes during mid 15 th century Europe, starting Egypt. A few years earlier, he had responded to de Gebelin’s work with a treatise of his own, a book explaining how one could use the Tarot for divination. Whether you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings or baseball, whether you love zombies or are interested in the writings of Jane Austen, you name it, there’s probably a deck out there for you to choose. It appears that divination with playing cards started to become popular in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, although at that time, it was far more simple than the way we use Tarot today. Wigington, Patti. No longer just the domain of the wealthy and upper class, Tarot is available for anyone who wishes to take the time to learn it. These suits were similar to what we still use today – staves or wands, discs or coins, cups, and swords. Facts and fiction have been oft-repeated until the two have co-mingled creating a "history" that is neither fact nor fiction. Soon after they were used for divination purposes. Contrary to what many have claimed, there is absolutely no proof of the Tarot having originated in any other time or place. However, that didn’t stop wealthy Europeans from jumping onto the esoteric knowledge bandwagon, and by the early nineteenth century, playing card decks like the Marseille Tarot were being produced with artwork specifically based on deGebelin’s analysis. Smith was the first artist to use characters as representative images in the lower cards. And from here the history of tarot cards began. Tarot Gaming Decks. The Spellbinding History of Tarot Cards, From a Mainstream Card Game to a Magical Ritual by Kelly Richman-Abdou. Waite got together with artist Pamela Colman Smith, also a Golden Dawn member, and created the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, which was first published in 1909. It was only in the 18th century that tarot cards began to be used for divination purposes, with special decks being created for … This free six-step study guide will help you learn the basics of Tarot reading, and give you a good start on your way to becoming an accomplished reader. These decks had many recognizable features, including four suits of the same size, which are similar to the suited cards in a tarot deck. What is the history of Tarot? Some Tarot deck, known as the Visconti-Sforiza and Tarocchi Deck, dating back to the 15th century, is still available for purchase and use today. History of tarot cards as we know it. Although methods of reading the Tarot have changed over the years, and many readers adopt their own unique style to the traditional meanings of a layout, in general, the cards themselves haven’t changed much. Lets look at some of the early decks of Tarot cards, and the history of how these came to be used as more than just a parlor game. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/a-brief-history-of-tarot-2562770. The Mystical History of Tarot Cards (History of Game Design) by Caleb Compton. Learn Religions. The history of tarot cards goes back as far as the 1500s where it was a fun game played by Italian aristocrats. The earliest Tarot card decks were beautiful, hand-painted works of art, while the latest decks … If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Tarot has a rich history and following in many cultures, from its origins in 14th Century Europe to its modern worldwide incarnation online. By the 1780s, people in France were assigning divine meanings to their decks as well, predominantly with the Tarot of Marseilles, then the country's most popular playing cards. Wigington, Patti. Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World's Most Misunderstood Cards by Hunter Oatman-Standford A Brief History of Tarot. This book picks up the story where the last one left off, showing how the occult tarot spread beyond France and throughout the English speaking world until all English speakers know by tarot was the occult and fortune telling. Tap to unmute. The history of the Tarot, how it is believed to have come into existence, how it was used and a bit of the political history surrounding the deck. Copy link. Tarot cards probably originated in Italy in the 14th century since the earliest known explanation of their usage dates to 1391. Info. it first appeared in Europe in the early 1400s in the form of cards, the early evidence is understandably altered and fragmented. Work at your own pace! Today, cards are available to purchase in hundreds of different designs. Learn Religions, Mar. It wasn’t uncommon to attend a house party and find a séance taking place, or someone reading palms or tea leaves in the corner. Trace the hidden history of Tarot in the first volume from TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica, a series documenting the creative ways we strive to connect to the divine.Artfully arranged according to the sequencing of the Major and Minor Arcana, this visual compendium gathers more than 500 cards and works of original art from around the world in the ultimate exploration of a centuries-old art form. The History of Tarot . The History of Tarot Reading Starting with the name, it was actually called as Trionfi earlier. Four significant periods in tarot’s history are considered, beginning https://www.learnreligions.com/a-brief-history-of-tarot-2562770 (accessed May 17, 2021). According to a manuscript written by an unknown source in 1750, the 62-card Tarocco Bolognese from the 15th-century was among the first decks to be used as a means of fortune-telling. The occult history of tarot cards is completely fabricated. De Gebelin went on to explain that this ancient occult knowledge had been carried to Rome and revealed to the Catholic Church and the popes, who desperately wanted to keep this arcane knowledge secret. Tarot remained popular throughout the 19th century and became deeply associated with magic, the occult, spirits, and everything esoteric, and that … The imagery is heavy on Kabbalistic symbolism, and because of this, is typically used as the default deck in nearly all instructional books on Tarot. By the eighteenth century, however, people were beginning to assign specific meanings to each card, and even offer suggestions as to how they could be laid out for divinatory purposes. The Italian-suited game is the oldest one and the occult tarot … Little is known about the appearance and number of these cards; the only significant information being provided by a text by John of Rheinfelden in 1377 from Freiburg im Breisgau, who, in addition to other versions describes the basic …