The History of Tarot Cards: How They Came to Be Used for Divination
The History of Tarot Cards: How They Came to Be Used for Divination
Tarot cards, shrouded in mystery and captivating symbolism, have long fascinated those seeking guidance and insight. Their journey from playing cards to essential divination tools is a tale that spans centuries. This article explores the intriguing history of tarot cards and their gradual evolution into instruments for divination.
The roots of tarot cards can be traced back to 14th-century Europe, specifically Italy, where the first known tarot deck, known as "carte da trionfi" or "cards of triumph," emerged [1]. Initially used for a game called "tarocchi," these cards bore no association with divination.
Comprising 78 cards, early tarot decks shared a similar structure to their modern counterparts, featuring 22 trump cards, or Major Arcana, and 56 suit cards, or Minor Arcana [2]. The four suits—cups, coins, swords, and batons—resembled those found in standard playing card decks.
As tarot cards gained popularity throughout Europe, their imagery underwent significant transformations. French and British decks, for example, adapted the Italian designs, substituting batons and coins with wands and pentacles. In the late 18th century, French occultist Jean-Baptiste Alliette, also known as Etteilla, published the first guide to using tarot cards for divination. This groundbreaking work marked a turning point in the perception and use of tarot cards.
The 19th century witnessed an increasing association between tarot cards and esoteric wisdom, largely due to the influential French occultist Eliphas Lévi. Lévi connected tarot symbolism to ancient Egyptian and Hebrew mysticism, laying the groundwork for contemporary tarot as a tool for divination and self-discovery.
In the 20th century, the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, designed by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, revolutionized tarot with its fully illustrated Minor Arcana cards [3]. This groundbreaking innovation not only rendered the cards more accessible, but also expanded interpretive possibilities.
By the mid-20th century, tarot had firmly entrenched itself in popular culture. Psychologist Carl Jung explored the connection between tarot and the collective unconscious, while the New Age movement further popularized tarot as a means of personal growth and spiritual exploration.
Today, tarot cards are cherished for their capacity to provide guidance, insights, and even glimpses into the future. But how did tarot cards evolve from simple playing cards to powerful divination tools?
The allure of tarot cards lies in their rich symbolism and intricate relationships between the cards. Visual cues give rise to countless interpretations, allowing for diverse applications in divination. Over time, intuitive readers, psychics, and occultists developed various techniques to harness the cards' energies, such as employing spreads or layouts assigning specific meanings to card positions.
The growing interest in tarot for divination was undoubtedly fueled by the spiritual and occult movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. As esoteric wisdom, astrology, and ancient symbolism gained traction, so too did the appeal of tarot cards as a means of accessing hidden knowledge and personal insights.
To better understand the structure and meanings of the tarot deck, one can delve into the differences between the Major and Minor Arcana [4] and explore the interpretations of the Minor Arcana cards [5]. By incorporating tarot into one's daily routine, it is possible to achieve greater self-awareness, spiritual growth, and a deeper connection to the universe [6].
References:
[1] https://www.oraclesofsouls.com/blog/difference-between-major-arcana-minor
2. https://www.oraclesofsouls.com/blog/how-changing-your-morning-routine-zelgl
3. https://www.oraclesofsouls.com/blog/the-minor-arcana-meaning-and-interpretation