Which Societies Employ Tarot Cards?

This article explores the rich tapestry of tarot cards in different cultures, shedding light on their significance in Eastern philosophies, indigenous traditions, and contemporary contexts. Tarot cards have evolved over centuries to become a tool for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual growth. The Death Card, Moon Card, and Sun Card are examples of cards with diverse interpretations across cultures.

The art of tarot reading and its interpretations are deeply ingrained in many European cultures, particularly in Italy. The adaptation of tarots to occult and fortune-telling purposes first occurred in France about 1780. For fortune-telling, each tarot card is ascribed a meaning. The story of tarot begins in Europe during the mid-15th century, with the earliest known tarot-like cards created in Italy.

Tarot cards have made their way to the Triangle through local readers and teaching groups. French-suited playing cards can also be used, as can any card system with suits assigned to identifiable elements (e.g., air, earth, fire, water).

Originally used as recreational playing cards by the Italian nobility in the Renaissance, tarot cards encode ancient wisdom, chiefly ancient Egyptian (but incorporating influences from Kabbalah to Celtic). Some tarotologists identify the Major and Minor Arcana as symbols of the cycle or transformation, and how to find one’s own interpretations.

In conclusion, tarot cards have a profound impact on various cultures, including Eastern philosophies, indigenous traditions, and contemporary contexts. Their rich symbolism, archetypal meanings, and diverse interpretations offer a rich tapestry of cultural significance.

Did tarot originate in Egypt?

The popular belief that tarot originated in ancient Egypt is, in fact, a myth. Tarot decks were utilized for card games for centuries prior to the late 1700s, when French pastor Antoine Court de Gebelin became the first documented professional tarot reader. He employed the cards for divination purposes.

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 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”.

Is tarot ok for Christians?

The notion that tarot cards can exert control over one’s life is a pervasive one, yet there is a paucity of empirical evidence to substantiate this claim.

Is tarot popular in Italy?

Tarot cards were originally designed for playing games, with the first known rules for a tarot-like deck given in a manuscript by Martiano da Tortona before 1425. The game has numerous regional variations, with Tarocchini still played in Bologna and Piedmont and Sicily. The 18th century saw a significant revival of tarot, making it one of the most popular card games in Europe, except Ireland, Britain, the Iberian peninsula, and the Ottoman Balkans.

French tarot experienced another revival in the 1970s, with France having the strongest tarot gaming community. Regional tarot games, also known as tarock, tarok, or tarokk, are widely played in central Europe. Italian-suited decks were first devised in the 15th century in northern Italy, with three decks still used for certain games.

Do Japanese use tarot cards?

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.

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 is the true origin of tarot cards?

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.

What country is tarot from?

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.

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.