Tarot cards, originally just regular playing cards in Europe, have been criticized for cultural appropriation. Some argue that these cards are used to gain followers and make a profit, while others believe they are a tool of spirituality. However, it is important to recognize the historical and cultural context of tarot cards and engage with them respectfully.
Tarot cards were popularized by European aristocracy during the Middle Ages and gained occult traditions during that time. Cultural appropriation in divination occurs when individuals adopt and interpret tarot symbolism without understanding or honoring its cultural roots. This undermines the integrity of the practice.
This article discusses the controversy surrounding the use of tarot cards and whether it is considered a closed practice or open for all. It explores the history of tarot and emphasizes the importance of avoiding perpetuating stereotypes about Romani culture and instead focusing on the spiritual content and personal insight they can provide.
While some people continue to practice tarot, advocacy for equality and historical research is crucial. Tarot decks are associated with one’s personality, and owning a deck of cards is not cultural appropriation. Unequal gender, racial, and class power relations are innate to tarot cards, but this is often overlooked or romanticized.
In conclusion, tarot cards are not cultural appropriation and should be used respectfully to honor their rich heritage and cultural significance.
📹 The History of Tarot: Is it Cultural Appropriation?
Is Tarot a closed practice? The history of the cards is long and mysterious, but historical evidence seems to give a pretty good idea …
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.
What is the true origin of tarot cards?
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 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.
Is it OK to pull tarot cards for yourself?
Tarot readings can be done by beginners, providing insight into current situations, honoring intuition, and forecasting potential outcomes. To begin, clean the energy of your space by burning herbs, ringing bells or chimes, taking a bath, or using crystals. A Selenite wand is a popular energy refresher that aids clarity.
Sit comfortably and close your eyes, focusing on the protective energy surrounding you. Take deep breaths, think about your question or needing guidance, and keep your mind and heart open to the answers that may come through the cards. Shuffle the deck, focusing on your desired query, and shuffle the cards in front of you. The pattern laid out is called a “spread”, and the meaning of each card in combinations builds up to the overall answer to your query.
Before beginning to shuffle, know which spread you will be working with. As answers come through, it’s important to draw additional cards for further clarity or start with a new question from a different perspective. Tarot readings can be a powerful tool for personal growth and understanding.
What do tarot cards represent?
Tarot cards represent the universe, with each card representing a person, place, or event. The Major Arcana cards speak to greater secrets, while the Minor Arcana cards speak to lesser secrets. Some readers believe that the first deck should be gifted to the reader, as it is valuable for divination. The most important factor is the reader’s unique connection to the cards. When shopping for a tarot deck, observe emotions, trust intuition, explore imagery, and note the symbols.
There is no hierarchy of decks, so choose whichever one truly tantalizes your soul. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is a great first deck, as many future decks are based on its iconic illustrations. Tarot books like 78 Degrees of Wisdom use the deck as a reference. Start with the Rider-Waite deck and expand your collection with decks that resonate with you. It is available online or in-person at occult stores.
What culture are tarot cards from?
In English-speaking countries, cartomantic tarot cards are available for novelty and divination. Early French occultists claimed tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, Kabbalah, the Indic Tantra, or I Ching. However, scholarly research shows that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the mid-15th century and no significant use of tarot cards for divination until the late 18th century. Historians describe western views of the Tarot pack as a “successful propaganda campaign”.
The earliest evidence of a tarot deck used for cartomancy comes from an anonymous manuscript from around 1750. The popularization of esoteric tarot started with Antoine Court and Jean-Baptiste Alliette (Etteilla) in Paris during the 1780s, using the Tarot of Marseilles. French tarot players abandoned the Marseilles tarot in favor of the Tarot Nouveau around 1900, and the Marseilles pattern is now mostly used by cartomancers. Etteilla was the first to produce a bespoke tarot deck specifically designed for occult purposes around 1789, containing themes related to ancient Egypt.
Can anyone use tarot cards?
Tarot is a popular and accessible tool for anyone, according to author Michelle Tea. She believes that learning tarot involves becoming comfortable with the imagery, learning them by heart, and understanding how the cards interact. Tea’s book, Modern Tarot: Connecting with Your Higher Self through the Wisdom of the Cards, provides a beginner’s guide to tarot, guiding readers through each card in a deck, sharing reading tips, and ways to incorporate tarot into self-care practices. Tea emphasizes that anyone can learn tarot, as long as they are comfortable with the imagery and understand how they flow into a story.
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.
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.
Are tarot cards symbolic?
Tarot cards are a symbolic language that reflects the energies, experiences, and emotions that shape our lives. They offer insights into our subconscious mind and guide us through the mysteries of the universe. Each zodiac sign can be seen in the Major Arcana cards, with each sign having its own unique meaning. Some of the most accurate discoveries in professional readings include Aries as the Emperor, The Fool, Taurus as the Hierophant, Gemini as the Lovers, Cancer as Temperance, Leo as Strength, Virgo as the Hermit, Libra as Justice, Scorpio as Death, Sagittarius as Judgment, Capricorn as The Devil, Aquarius as The Star, and Pisces as the Moon.
Are tarot cards against Christianity?
The Bible offers counsel against the practice of sorcery, divination, soothsaying, fortunetelling, and the use of mediums and spiritists. While tarot cards may be employed for the purposes of divination and fortunetelling, it is meditation and archetype exploration that offer a more suitable avenue for such pursuits.
📹 Tarot Is Being Culturally Appropriated From Romani People So I’m Placing The Practice Down
UPDATE: I recently found a patreon article that echo the teachings I received from my peer about year ago. In my video I was very …
(I apologize if I use terminology incorrectly!) Someone (who isn’t Romani) told me that it was CA to use tarot cards. I said that I needed more information before I would stop reading tarot. I looked into what Roma ppl today think about it, mostly on Reddit and Facebook. I want to say that like 95-99% of the people talking about it said that it isn’t, and that many Romani ppl don’t want to be associated w tarot like that in the first place. I haven’t watched the article in full, but there are absolutely wrong ways to use tarot, like you said, pretending to be Roma and using that to make money. Especially since in many countries, Romani tarot readers have their income stripped from them due to anti-fortune telling laws but white people (even ones posing as Romani!!) won’t face the same policing. I’m also part of a group online that focused on Slavic witchcraft. The group creator is an academic and studies EXTENSIVELY the history of these practices in Europe, especially in Slavic and Baltic regions. Some people responded saying that academic journals that talk about the history of anything are completely whitewashed and hegemonic and therefore cannot possibly have any truth to the research. It’s one thing to care about social justice. It’s another to believe something just because a handful of people are making these kinds of claims.
divination has been in my family for years, my mother is from India, we both lived in europe and faced so much discrimination, after moving to america, there was no less discrimination unfortunatly. we made our living out of divination when we lived in europe prior to moving to america. I had a middle class white women who was also a tarot reader say, ‘just being you look the way you do doesnt mean you can read tarot’ implying because I look as she said ‘exotic’, means im being a fraud. Needless to say the racism in america didnt stop, even my mother was bullied for being an indian yoga instructor….we have now moved back to Europe and prefer to be slandered as gypsies here than live in the west again…its not different either way
This cultural appropriation thing feels like it’s gotten too far. Humanity has, since its beginnings, learned and integrated the cultures of its neighbors. The Silk Road is a great example of how card games traveled between China, India, Eastern Europe, Rome and into the Celtic lands. All languages of Europe and many Asian countries are based on the Proto Indo European root language…. Language, art, religion, philosophy, technology, medicine, fashion, food…. All of it has been inspired and carried around the world since humans began. This is what makes us human. And it will never change
I am Romani, and have struggled with feelings of sadness for my people. Because, we have for thousands of years, been persecuted and seen as tramps and thieves. Misunderstood and you said it best, fetishized. However, I am at the same time deeply proud of our past and where we come from and who we are. With that being said, I myself am a tarot reader, and can only speak for myself as a romani tarot reader. I have found solace in the many non romani people who respect tarot and use it for the highest good. My only request as a person of romani decent is if the thought arises, think of us with love whenever you use your cards, and extend thanks, peace and love to the romani people, our struggles and our people who continue to face discrimination.
I think that there’s a problem if the symbols, form of rites, ritual practices and the esoteric are considered sacred within the religious and cultural context of their origins, then using these things by those to whom they are not sacred and applied in another profane way, then that is blasphemous appropriation to that culture/religion. I know some Catholics are offended by Goths and others wearing crucifixes in their ears etc. with no understanding of how scared that symbol is, you may agree or not, but some are offended. That isn’t the only kind of cultural appropriation though, it can be art forms too, but that is not the scope of this discussion.
In the 1400s there was a mass genocide in northern India and the Roma were removed and forced to travel, many kings and consorts embraced Roma for spiritual reading, Roma are all around the globe mainly Europe and mainly Egypt. Hence the slur term gypsies! gyp! Our cultural and sacred cards were appropriated, our history is passed down like Darma oral stories from the 1400s much like the aboriginal, the west only declare history only if it’s written. Please learn Roma history, so much of this documentary was inflammatory 🤦🏻♀️
Thank you so much! Cultural misappropriation is something we have to discuss, and we all have to do our part and educate ourselves. More often than not, these discussions are difficult but really important to have. But lately, these topics sometimes end in arrogance and willful ignorance. When I heard there was fuss about tarot and CA, my jaw dropped. I even saw someone really angry on reddit proclaim, in all seriousness, that tarot imagery was very obviously romani because it depicted very obvious references to romani culture? The Visconti/Marseilles tarots that has been going around since the middle ages are all extremely catholic references. The pope? The popess Jeanne? I mean, how is monarchy(a colonial institution nonetheless) related specifically to romani culture in any way? The Rider-Waite is so young in the history of cartomancy, and is not used in the vast majority of Europe. And even there, the Rider-Waite’s imagery is drawn from the Kabbalah and christian(catholic and orthodox) imagery. The Ace of Cups, for example, clearly represents the Eucharist (and it’s even admitted by Waite himself in the book…) I was raised in a french speaking catholic family and most people have a relative that likes to read cards (with traditional french-suited cards).The core problem of all this, I think, is that it’s a typical instance of “when white people do it it’s okay, when marginalized people do it’s not”.
I believe the definition of “cultural appropriation” is vague and lends itself to a myriad of interpretations by each individual. Where some have claimed it – I state flatley they are wrong. Should a musician only play the music from his community, or a dancer only perform that limited and narrow an example of dance from their town? What if some of the great painters did not travel to study in a particular school? We grow and learn to appreciate and accept one another by sharing – knowledge, art, faith. I refuse to feel guilty, or ashamed or to stop doing something that gives me such joy and connection to the maker. Art, spirit, connection – these things cannot and should-not ever be fenced in. I do believe there are legitimate cases of cultural appropriation – as no-one but the appointed and appropriate individual should wear a Native Headdress, but the Tarot is FOR EVERYONE.
Hey Romani here, this actually isn’t cultural appropriation, we don’t mind that others use tarot. This stereotype of magic/tarot cards actually hurts us more then helps. Tarot is for everyone, u can keep using it. The credit to us is nice tho because we never get credit for anything. Some of us Roma don’t mind if others use it (me) and others want it as a closed practice so it’s honestly up to u if u want to continue using it or not
I hope you don’t let this detour you from Tarot. Most Romani dislike the assumption that they are all fortune tellers. Tarot came out of Italy and the practice has many influences. The system it’s self is not a closed culture as long as you do not claim to be romani or use the title “Gypsy” which is a slur. The practice of tarot is so wide spread it does not belong to a single culture/
There is no solid evidence that the Romani’s invented tarot. The French first began using four-suit cards as games, and in the 1400’s it was the Italians who added cards (like the Majors) to that deck to create the nearest first example of tarot. Romani’s arrived in England in the 1500s and brought tarot reading with them. However, it is now known through DNA studies that the Romani’s originated from India. My grandad was Romani and his offspring (over 40 of us…they were a big family) have DNA in common from India, Egypt, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Basically, wherever they traveled there was inter-breeding with non-Romani people. You could call me a quarter Romani…maybe. But NO race/culture should be telling any other race /culture or (or mixed races) what they are allowed to do or not do, because of their race/culture.
What total nonsense! I’m Greek professional card reader and I have 2 Romani friends who also read. We’re pals. They’re totally supportive. Also, learn history. Cards came from China and then the Mamluks. Tarocchi was invented in Italy 1490s. Romani people didn’t invent Tarot cards. Just like all of us … the cards we use descend from Italian Tarochhi cards. Why make a YouTube when you know nothing?