Which Religion Is The Source Of Tarot Cards?

Tarot cards, originally known as trionfi and later tarocchi or tarocks, are a pack of playing cards used in Europe since the mid-15th century for card games like Tarocchini. The exact origins of tarot cards are shrouded in mystery, with several theories attempting to unravel their beginnings. One popular belief is that tarot cards originated in ancient times, with the adaptation of tarots to occult and fortune-telling purposes first occurring in France around 1780. Each tarot card is ascribed a meaning for fortune-telling.

One of the most distinctive features of tarot cards is the presence of the Major Arcana, which represents significant life lessons, spiritual themes, and archetypal energies. Tarot cards are commonly associated with New Age religion, specifically Catholicism, and are heavily influenced by Christian imagery. The original Tarot was a religious game based on the Roman Catholic faith.

The Egyptian theory for Tarot cards undoubtedly comes from the association with Gypsies and the Roma. The Bible warns against sorceresses, divination, soothsaying, fortunetelling, mediums, and spiritists. Tarot can be used for divination and fortunetelling from various religious perspectives.

In summary, tarot cards have been used in various ways by different cultures and have been influenced by a multitude of spiritual perspectives over time.

What country is tarot 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 religions use tarot?

The advent of esoteric or mystical religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Taoism, has markedly shaped the religious landscape.

What religion is tarot linked to?

This literature review examines the concept of New Age religion, with a particular focus on the use of Tarot cards as a tool for studying the movement in the twenty-first century and the religious aspects of their use and interpretation by practitioners.

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.

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 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.

Is tarot related to Judaism?

Tarot, a traditional Jewish mystical practice, has been attributed to the Kabbalah, an ancient Jewish mystical practice focused on understanding the universe’s mysteries and gaining power in the world. Dovid Krafchow’s Kabbalistic Tarot interprets the 78 cards of a deck as part of a “tree of life”, symbolizing different phases in a person’s life and the challenges and blessings they may encounter. Other Jewish mystical traditions include the Jewitch Collective, a support center for Jews, pagans, and those who love them, which uses Earth magick and Jewish traditions to advocate for LGBT rights, address climate change, and address other issues.

The Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute, headquartered in New York, combines traditional Jewish ritual with mystical practices of connecting with the self and the Earth. Priestesses ordained through the Institute experiment with new rituals deeply rooted in Jewish practice. Sarah Chandler, an ordained Kohenet since 2015, shares her experience with incorporating divination practices like tarot into Kohenet practices.

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.

Do tarot cards come from Hinduism?

The origin of the word tarot remains unknown, but various theories have been proposed. Some believe it may be derived from the Taro River in northern Italy, which may have powered early paper mills for cardmaking. Others associate the word with the occult, such as the name “Tara”, a goddess in Hinduism and Tibetan Tantrism. The Hill of Tara, the seat of ancient kings of Ireland, shares a pronunciation with the Roman word for earth, “terra”.

Other theories suggest a connection with the Hebrew word “Torah”, the first five books of the Old Testament, the word rota, Tariqa, or Tao, meaning “the Way”, or the ancient Egyptian phrase Ta-Rosh, translated to “the royal way”, or the goddess Ator.

What is the belief of the tarot cards?

The tarot, a divinatory tool, has been associated with occult properties, a belief prevalent in early modern Europe. Originating in 18th-century France, the tarot has been used in various practices, including hermeneutic, magical, mystical, semiotic, and psychological aspects. Romani people used it to tell fortunes, while Jungian psychologists used it to tap into “absolute knowledge in the unconscious”, for archetypal analysis, and to facilitate the Jungian process of individuation.

Many occult and divinatory practitioners trace the tarot to ancient Egypt, divine hermetic wisdom, and the mysteries of Isis. Many believe that the tarot’s divinatory meaning is closely linked to its occult properties.

Is tarot a spiritual practice?

This spiritual practice encourages the individual to engage in introspective reflection, focusing on the self.