Are Jews Tarot Believers?

Jewish people believe that Tarot cards and their use are not capable of connecting with spiritual forces, and they do not believe that there are people out there who can do such things. This belief is particularly concerning when it comes to Wicca, as many of the teachers were not pure and holy. Despite this, some Jewish people find ways to make divination using Tarot cards, such as Heather Mendel, a Jewish mystic, author, artist, and speaker.

Jewish magical practices have always existed as a parallel force to normative Jewish ritual and belief. Most Jews interested in these practices today use techniques popular in the general culture, such as horoscopes and Tarot cards. The Torah itself references witchcraft during the story of the Exodus, and in the nineteenth century, the occultist Eliphas Levi developed a correlation between the Tarot’s Major Arcana and Judaism.

However, there is no official connection between tarot and Judaism, as esoteric or occult tarot books often contain Judaic imagery, Hebrew letters, and kabbalah. It is important to note that Tarot did not originate within Judaism, and therefore, it cannot be said that it is at its roots Jewish. In Orthodox strains of Judaism, the usage of tarot cards is impermissible. However, as the spectrum of Judaism goes, it decreases as one becomes more Jewish.

Some Jewish people have extended their mystical journey into the world of tarot, such as Heather Mendel, a Jewish mystic, author, artist, and speaker. Appel is convinced that the artists of the Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille were crypto-Jews who created a tool to preserve Jewish traditions.

Are tarot cards allowed in Judaism?

Tarot cards are a powerful tool for self-understanding, often interpreted by the brain to reveal insights about one’s life. While not considered magic, they can be a powerful way to connect with oneself or others. Some Jewish people find ways to make their divination processes Jewish and spiritually meaningful, with some claiming that tarot originated from the ancient Jewish mystical practices of the Kabbalah.

In Kabbalistic Tarot, Dovid Krafchow suggests that the 22 Major Arcana cards in most basic decks can be interpreted using gematria, Hebrew numerology. Krafchow’s approach views each card as part of the “tree of life”, symbolizing different phases in a person’s life and the challenges and blessings they may encounter.

The Jewitch Collective, a support center for Jews, pagans, and those who love them, uses Earth magick and Jewish traditions to advocate for LGBT rights, address climate change, and address other issues. Their events are generally held in Northern California, though they have members across the United States. Overall, tarot is not the only access point into Jewish mystical traditions, but it is a valuable tool for personal and spiritual growth.

What does Kabbalah say about tarot?

Lévi, a French tarot expert, compared Tarot to a book and believed that it could provide universal wisdom within a few years. He believed that Tarot’s wisdom preceded even the Law of Moses. Lévi continued Gébelin’s line of thought, recognizing the correlation between the 22 Major Arcana cards and Hebrew alphabet letters. He also connected the first ten cards of each suit to Kabbalistic Sefirot and believed that each suit corresponded with a letter of God’s name.

Lévi’s tenets reached England and were further enhanced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society established in 1887 in London. The Hermetic Order’s influence on modern Tarot and Western spiritual movements is significant, as it disbanded and split into various groups.

Is it Haram to get a tattoo in Judaism?

In Christianity, tattooing is a controversial topic, with opinions ranging from discouragement due to the body’s sanctity to acceptance. Judaism traditionally prohibits tattooing as self-mutilation, but modern interpretations have become more lenient. Islam generally discourages tattoos as altering the natural state of the body, but there are differing opinions among scholars. Hinduism has varying acceptance among sects and communities. Buddhism has a varied perspective on tattooing, with a tradition of protective tattoos in Southeast Asia incorporating Buddhist symbols.

These tattoos, known as sak yant or yantra tattoos, are sometimes applied by Buddhist monks or practitioners of indigenous spiritual traditions. Traditionally, tattoos with images of the Buddha or other religious figures were only applied to certain parts of the body and required commitment to observe the Five Precepts. Incorporating images of the Buddha into tattoos that do not comply with traditional norms has been a cause of controversy in traditional Buddhist countries, where the display of these images may be regarded as appropriation and resulted in barred entry or deportation of individuals displaying tattoos. Some Christians uphold the Hebrew prohibition, which prohibits making any cuttings in the flesh for the dead or printing marks upon oneself.

Does the Torah forbid astrology?

The official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism, Etz Hayim, prohibits the use of astrology in Deuteronomy 18:9-12. Conservative rabbi Simchah Roth also criticizes astrology as a form of magic. The Torah emphasizes the prohibition of magicians and practitioners of “witchcraft”, who believe their predictions can influence the world and force God to give them what they want. The idea that if only we could say the right words or take the right actions, God would give us anything we want is nearly idolatrous, turning God into a tool for us to use when we want something, rather than the majestic creator of the world.

Where did tarot originate?

Tarot cards originated in Europe during the mid-15th century, with the earliest known decks being created in Italy for a game called tarocchi. These decks, like the Visconti-Sforza deck, were hand-painted and commissioned by wealthy families as symbols of their status. The Major Arcana, consisting of 22 cards, represents life lessons, spiritual themes, and archetypal energies, with each card having its own unique symbolism.

The Minor Arcana, consisting of four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles) corresponds to the elements of fire, water, air, and earth, focusing on everyday matters, personal experiences, and challenges and opportunities encountered in life.

Are tarot cards against Catholic religion?

Tarot cards and fortunetellers are practices that aim to discover the future, but only God knows the future. The Catholic Church teaches that God can reveal the future to prophets or saints, but a sound Christian attitude involves putting oneself in the hands of Providence and giving up unhealthy curiosity about it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church prohibits all forms of divination, including horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, omen interpretation, clairvoyance, and mediums, which conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other human beings, as well as a desire to conciliate hidden powers. These practices contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear owed to God alone.

People seeking guidance from tarot cards, Ouija boards, and fortunetellers may be dabbling in something forbidden by God, as they may open themselves up to demonic influence. The only way these practices can be “real” is if a demon works through them, giving false guidance about the future. This “real” practice is a real danger and can negatively influence us.

Is palm reading allowed in Judaism?

The Torah prohibits reading palms or believing in their future visions, as it emphasizes the importance of being faithful to Hashem, our G-d. It advises not to worry about what you saw in your palm, as it is simply a guide to your desired path. The text includes references to various sources, such as Faith and Folly, Zohar, Ramban, Chida, Toldot Ha-Arizal, Or HaChama on the Zohar, and Lechem Mishneh.

Are tarot cards mysticism?

Tarot cards, originally used by Italian nobles and aristocrats as playing cards, evolved into a cornerstone of mysticism and spiritual exploration. They were initially used for skill, strategy, and luck in a game called “tarocchi”. However, they also had hidden potential for unraveling life’s mysteries, divining the future, and exploring the human psyche. Italy played a significant role in this transformation, with the Visconti-Sforza deck, created in the mid-15th century for the Duke of Milan, being one of the earliest surviving tarot decks. The deck’s intricate imagery and symbolism hint at a deeper, more mystical purpose, yet to be fully revealed.

Do Japanese use tarot?

This essay examines selected images from tarot decks designed in Japan, which reflect a deliberate adaptation process across cultural and temporal borders. The focus is on the under-analyzed and mostly female-gendered domain, focusing on the substitution of medieval European people and elements with images from Japanese art, history, and popular culture. These substitutions either gloss over gaps between Western and Japanese world views or meld them into a new form, allowing the tarot to enter into a different or hybrid metaphysical culture. Tarot cards are important because of their great economic and cultural impact in contemporary Japan, providing insight into domains of pleasure, spiritual exploration, and fandom.

What cultures use tarot?

Tarot, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarocks, is a pack of playing cards used in Europe since the mid-15th century for card games like Tarocchini. It has evolved into a family of games including German Grosstarok and modern games such as French Tarot and Austrian Königrufen. In the late 18th century, French occultists made elaborate claims about their history and meaning, leading to the emergence of custom decks for divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy. There are two distinct types of tarot packs in circulation: those used for card games and those used for divination.

Tarot has four suits that vary by region: French suits are used in western, central, and eastern Europe, and Latin suits in southern Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten; and four face cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page. Additionally, the tarot has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. These tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games.

The use of tarot playing cards was once widespread across Europe except the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula. However, they later experienced a renaissance in some countries and regions. For example, French Tarot was largely confined to Provence in the 18th century but took off in the 1950s, becoming the second most popular card game in France. Tarock games like Königrufen have experienced significant growth in Austria, with international tournaments held with other nations.

What religion do tarot cards come from?

This literature review examines the relationship between Tarot cards and New Age religion, emphasizing their function in the contemporary study of the New Age movement.