Where Do Readings From Tarot Cards Originate?

Tarot cards are a powerful divination tool that offers valuable advice to help us face the future, understand our past, and unravel the tangle of a complicated present. The history of tarot dates back to Europe during the mid-15th century, with the term tarocchi, an Italian word meaning “foolishness”, first appearing in Ferrara and Milan in northern Italy. The ancestors of what we today know as Tarot cards can be traced back to around the late fourteenth century.

The symbolism found in Tarot cards can be traced back to the wisdom of ancient Egyptians, who were known for their deep understanding of the spiritual. The roots of playing cards can be traced back to ancient Asia, specifically 9th century China during the Tang Dynasty. These early cards, fashioned from materials like wood, bone, and paper, showcased a variety of symbols.

Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy where practitioners use tarot cards to gain insight into the past, present, or future. The oldest surviving set, known as the Visconti, originated in Italy around 1441. The playing game of tarot originated from around 1441, Italy, and the cards were used in divination around 1781. Although most tangible evidence points to tarot cards having originated in Europe, some theories suggest a connection between tarot symbolism and the origins of the game.

Tarot cards first appeared in Europe in the late 15th century, with artists developing the first deck of cards to depict archetypes of the times and characters. The idea that tarot came from Egypt and was transmitted to Europe by wandering Romani people can be attributed to a French author named Jean-Jacques Rousseau. From their Italian roots, tarot-playing cards spread to most of Europe, evolving into a family of games that includes German Grosstarok and modern games such as the Tarot deck.

How did tarot become spiritual?

Tarot cards, originally used for playing games and status symbols, gained popularity in the late 18th century with the publication of Etteilla’s definitive guide to tarot card reading. This laid the foundation for using tarot as a tool for spiritual and personal growth. In recent years, tarot has experienced a resurgence due to accessibility of decks and the rise of online communities. Tarot reading is an art form that requires a combination of interpretation and intuition.

Each card in a spread interacts with others, creating a narrative reflecting the querent’s life and circumstances. Skilled readers use their knowledge of the cards’ symbolism, intuition, and connection with the querent to provide meaningful insights and guidance.

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.

Do tarot cards really work?

Tarot readings can be an empowering and insightful tool for self-discovery and future direction. A professional tarot reader can help you understand your goals and desires, providing insight into your situation and guiding you towards the best actions for your love life, career, or other questions. They can also reveal the motivations of others and predict potential outcomes of decisions. A good tarot reading can provide clarity and help heal anxiety.

However, it is crucial to prepare thoroughly for your first reading to fully benefit from the experience. A good tarot reading can provide valuable insights into your future and help you make informed decisions.

What is the science behind tarot cards?

Tarot cards have been found to have psychological influences, but they can still have beneficial effects on a person’s mental health when used in a therapeutic context. A 2009 study found that regular users of Tarot cards used them as a tool for self-reflection, providing insight into their current life situations and providing comfort during difficult times. They also used Tarot cards as a tool for positive reinforcement, drawing cards intentionally and randomly to provide insights about their own lives.

Some co-researchers kept a card with them until their goals were resolved, claiming that Tarot does not reveal new information but can provide a new perspective on an issue that can influence a plan for a possible course of action.

This study highlights the potential of Tarot as an effective therapeutic tool, despite the foundational psychological effects behind its mainstream use. Further research on the beneficial impacts of Tarot in a therapeutic setting would involve examining a larger number of participants from a wider variety of backgrounds. Regardless of the reason behind a person’s use of Tarot cards, they have maintained a strong presence in society and have the potential to do more than just predict the future.

What is the trick behind tarot cards?

Tarot cards are not magic tricks or fortune telling machines, but a sacred mirror that removes the disconnect between inner and outer self through synchronicity. A standard deck of Tarot cards consists of 78 cards, including 22 Major Arcana cards (numbered 0-21) and 56 Minor Arcana cards (numbered 0-21). Major Arcana cards represent key milestones in life and often feature archetypal illustrations like The High Priestess, The Devil, and The Death Card.

What culture are tarot cards from?

Tarot decks were invented in Italy in the 1430s, adding a fifth suit of 21 specially illustrated cards called trionfi (“triumphs”) and an odd card called il matto (“the fool”). These cards bore Italian suitmarks and belonged to an experimental period of card design when queens were often added to the series of court cards previously consisting of only a king and two male figures. In standard cards, the four figures were subsequently reduced to three again by suppressing the queen, except in French cards, which suppressed the cavalier (knight).

The trionfi each bore a different allegorical illustration instead of a common suitmark, possibly representing characters in medieval reenactments of Roman triumphal processions. They were originally unnumbered, so it was necessary to remember their order. When added to the pack, trionfi functioned as a suit superior in power to the other four, acting as a suit of triumphs or “trumps”.

What is tarot card reading based on?

Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy where practitioners use tarot cards to gain insight into the past, present, or future. A traditional tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. French-suited playing cards and any card system with suits assigned to identifiable elements can also be used. The first written references to tarot packs occurred between 1440 and 1450 in northern Italy, where additional cards with allegorical illustrations were added to the common four-suit pack.

These new packs were called carte da trionfi, triumph packs, and the additional cards known simply as trionfi, which became “trumps” in English. References to tarot triumphs continue throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, but there are no indications that the cards were used for anything but games. It was only in the 1780s, when fortune-telling with regular playing cards had been well established for at least two decades, that anyone began to use the tarot pack for cartomancy.

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 origin of tarot card reading?

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.

Is it safe to read tarot cards?

Tarot cards, like other metaphysical tools, are as safe or dangerous as the messages they deliver. They provide clues into the subconscious and are not harmful themselves. The Tarot is often linked to witchcraft, as many practicing witches use it. However, not all witches use the Tarot. The Tarot is a divination tool used by witches to derive more symbolism and understanding for specific questions. Witchcraft and Tarot can co-exist separately, and reading Tarot does not necessarily mean practicing witchcraft. Both practices involve active engagement with intuition.

What religion do tarot cards come from?

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