Perspectives on the History of Tarot
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game from Italy, has evolved into a form of personal mysticism and spiritual exploration, offering new visions of expanding awareness.
ITALY is said to be the birthplace of the tarot, along with Italian-suited playing cards. This is why most tarot decks have Italian suit symbols. According to playing-card historians tarot was originally a card game invented in the fifteenth century whose principal innovation was the introduction of trumps into card games. Helen Farley (2009) reckons that Duke Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan is “the most likely candidate for inventor of that first deck, sometime early in the fifteenth century”. Thus the game of tarot uses an augmented deck of early Italian playing cards, born in a particular cultural milieu; southern Europe during the Middle Ages.
That is the straightforward, exoteric explanation which is easy to understand. There is also an esoteric side to Tarot, for those whose interest goes deeper. This involves all the varieties of philosophy and occult science, ranging from astrology and cabbala to hermeticism, mysticism and eastern religions... the wisdom of ancestors. Some of these are touched upon below.
In the earliest surviving examples the order of the trump cards as well as their iconography and symbolism varies, reflecting the unfolding worldview of the Renaissance. (If tarot had been invented somewhere else, say in South America, then it might have been Inca or Mayan world view). The trump figures were understood as analogies of universal principles, depicting man's place in the cosmos and the divine order of things in the world of that time. Their imagery was not an integral part of how the game was played, but merely decorative, although there was an instructive or moralizing aspect to the imagery, perhaps aligned with the philosophical or spiritual yearnings of the Duke of Milan's élite circle. This made Tarot a form of cultural expression in itself: an identity statement.
Although the divinatory aspect of tarot didn't became popular until the 18th century, alchemical, astrological and hermetic imagery did appear in some earlier tarocchi decks because it was a part of the imaginary repertoire of the time. It is rewarding to investigate these mysteries for their own sake, but they were not necessarily intended to be part of the original game.
But there are some interesting examples in which the symbolism may constitute a metaphysical system. The Guildhall Library Tarocchi cards (shown below) believed to have been painted during the 15th century contain curious symbols and iconography. The knave of clubs shows a hunting scene, and in Platonic philosophy hunting was reckoned to develop moral strength and virility. The World card shows the New Jerusalem centered on the rebuilt Holy Temple. The black and white chequered floor tiles on the ace of cups, like in Masonic lodges, suggests the dualistic nature of the material realm upon which we must rebuild the spiritual life through practising higher moral virtues. The ace of swords (or Sun) suggests the idea that the endless cycles of birth and rebirth can be penetrated by spiritual wisdom. And we can also observe that the suit symbols were batons, cups, swords… and probably coins…
-
From its early beginnings, it had the potential to serve as a tool for expressing identity politics and the philosophical yearnings of those who engaged with it, rather than being limited to ordinary playing cards.
The Sola Busca tarot could have constituted an alchemical guide to esoteric initiation for a secret society more →
-
Tarot de Marseille
The game spread in Europe from Ferrara, Bologna and Milan towards Germany, Switzerland and France, where the Swiss Tarot and Tarot de Marseille were eventually born. The French word ‘tarot’ derives from the Italian ‘tarocco’. The Tarot de Marseille derives from the Milanese style of tarot, with the names of the court cards and trumps added at the bottom. It first began appearing in the mid 1600s. Speaking of the Tarot de Marseille, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa (2009) see the tarot as sacred art, like a Mandala (Yantra in Hinduism), in which all the individual symbols are part of the whole. Its meanings gradually reveal themselves to us, intuitively.
-
Animal and Mythological Tarots
By the mid 18th century Tarot packs with French suit signs were being produced in France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany with trumps displaying exotic animals, popular imagery, dancing, folklore, historical scenes - see examples. These were for playing the game of Tarock (not cartomancy or divination).
-
Egyptian Tarot
-
1750-1800: the occult and divinatory origin of Tarot - Antoine Court de Gébelin (1725-1784)
D
uring the later eighteenth century the Tarot was imbued with mystery by Antoine Court de Gébelin in vol.8 of his encyclopaedic work Monde Primitif, (1781). A theory is put forward of the philosophical and divinatory origins of the tarot including an association with ancient Egypt, and the idea of a past, idyllic or utopian civilisation. At this point the history of Tarot merges with the much older history of esoteric ideas, and interestingly, this confluence has evolved into the growing range of self-identity and multi-cultural tarots being published today. -
Etteilla - Jean-Baptiste Alliette
The first pack specifically intended for cartomantic use was that designed by Etteilla, engraved by Pierre-François Basan , hand-coloured and published in 1788 in the form of a tableau. It was a fantasy deck, radically different from the Tarot de Marseille published until then. There are basically three versions of this deck published subsequently. Grand Etteilla 1, most resembling the original, one of the earliest by Pierre Mongie L'Aine in 1826; Grand Etteilla 2 by Simon Blocquel in 1838 and Grand Etteilla 3 by De La Rue in 1867.
Etteilla was an algebra teacher. He also published a series of monographs on cartomancy and the Egyptian Book of Thoth from 1788 onwards, in which he attempted to clarify his ideas.
-
Eliphas Lévi
Éliphas Lévi was another 19th-century French occultist who significantly influenced the development of modern Tarot through his esoteric writings. He linked the Tarot to the Kabbalah and the Hebrew alphabet (in addition to the Egyptian origin), proposing that the cards were not merely games or tools for divination, but a pictorial representation of the mysteries of human life and the universe. His work "Transcendental Magic" elaborates these ideas, which are foundational in shaping the mystical and symbolic interpretations of the Tarot that are popular today.
-
Papus
Papus, the pseudonym of Gérard Encausse, was a pivotal figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the field of Tarot and its esoteric study. He expanded on Éliphas Lévi's theories, further connecting Tarot cards with the Kabbalah and other mystical and occult traditions. His work, "The Tarot of the Bohemians", considered a seminal text on Tarot symbolism and its uses in divination, provided a comprehensive analysis of the Tarot, offering detailed interpretations of the cards and methods for using them in divination.
To summarize: the 16th century had witnessed a renewed interest by scholars in classical history, along with the study of archaeology, philosophy, ancient religions, etc. This was accompanied by the publication of new treatises on all sorts of emerging scientific (and pseudo-science) subjects. The Romantic Movement gave rise during the 17th century to renewed interest in antiquarian topics (stonehenge, druids, etc) and has exercised a strange power over popular imagination ever since. The Occult Revivals and New Age Movement provided new cultural environments in which the tarot has evolved from its origins in medieval Italy into a vehicle for almost any form of philosophy or spiritual ideas. English occultists such as Aleister Crowley and A.E. Waite took all these developments in hand. Waite's tarot deck with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith includes illustrated numeral cards suitable for divination and this has become a template for many New Age tarot decks.
"The tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind..." A.E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1910.
-
Multidisciplinary Approach
Inspired by these early speculations, modern tarot packs now draw upon the teachings of a tremendous range of traditions, from Western esotericism and alchemy, Buddhism, Sufism and Egyptian initiations, to mystical Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Celtic mythology, Druidism… and so on (suggesting a common unity between them all). People have mapped whichever belief system or philosophy they fancy onto the tarot deck and then find they can quickly realise and develop an affinity with the symbolic images which become a source of meaning or guidance. It is now enjoying immense popularity in Far Eastern countries very distant from Western heritage (although many are following the Rider-Waite template).
For instance Thai tarot often features animist religious beliefs intermixed with Buddhism. Thai people believe that tarot can be used as a form of entertainment - they have a lot of fun with it. People think that's perfectly fine, they are using it in a positive way and not harming anyone. In Thai language people say they would "play tarot" the same way they "play Facebook".
Today's Tarot Studies come under a broad range of disciplines, the History of Art, Literature, Humanities and Cultural Studies headings. Many scholarly works are being produced. Topics range from historical studies and perspectives to practical interpretations of the cards, their images and symbolism. It has clearly become a multidisciplinary field.
-
Personal Mysticism and Spirituality
Tarot's widespread appeal stems from a desire to comprehend our role in the world without relying on religious institutions. Its imagery encompasses both ordinary life experiences and broader concepts of universal truth. By engaging with tarot symbolically, one can unlock fresh perspectives, gain new insights and spiritual clarity. It serves as a powerful tool for expanding understanding and delving deeper into the mysteries of existence.
A lot of pop culture tarot decks are appearing, based on video games, Disney or popular literature; Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dungeons & Dragons. It seems that reading tarot has also become a party trick. Licensed tarot decks are often tie-in merchandise for films, TV series or brands which you might just buy because you’re a fan, for fun, and try them. Branded decks are popular with young people who can connect more easily with the messages which are given by these brands (Disney, Games of Thrones, Cyberpunk 2077, etc), they are easier to interpret when compared to the traditional symbolism.
-
Identity Politics
Identity politics became a noticeable trend in the middle of the 20th century and gained attention within different social and political movements. Throughout history, these movements have advocated for civil rights, racial justice, feminism, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, Native American rights, etc. They all worked towards securing rights and acknowledgment for their respective communities. In line with these movements, tarot has been reimagined and modified to align with the goals and interests of various groups. It has evolved to become a tool for exploring and expressing these new identities.
We might surmise that many contemporary tarot packs are a sort of compendium of living experience, based on the artist’s creative and spiritual perspective of life. Modern tarot has also become part of the Western esoteric tradition and an effective divination technique that has roots in much older occult systems. [See Lewis Keizer,
]. Ultimately it is a question of what you want to believe…
There has also been a distinguished output of ENGLISH TAROT CARDS. By the 1870s a number of English occultists had begun taking an interest in the tarot more…
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.
Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.
Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.
Il Tarocco Mitologico
Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.
The Millenium Tarot: Tarot of the Four Worlds
First Australian Tarot, designed by Mary Susan Chamberlain, with artwork by Ziba Vilmanis-Westenberg...
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.
Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais
An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...
Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)
Colourful version of a standard French (‘Bourgeois’) Tarot.
Paris 2024 Olympics 2
A standard French Tarot game pack with passing references to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India
Indian playing cards, known as Ganjifa, feature intricate designs with twelve suits and are traditio...
Tarot – Images du Pays Basque
Seventy-eight photographic images of the French Basque Country on a pack for playing the game of Tar...
The Henry Hart Puzzle
Explore the intricate history and unique design variations of Henry Hart's playing cards, tracing th...
A Million Dollar Tarot: The Alleyman’s Tarot
The Alleyman’s Tarot successfully raised $1,404,172 on Kickstarter. This unique 133-card deck includ...
Sevilla 1647 reproduction
Facsimile of Spanish-suited pack produced in Sevilla, Spain, 1647.
Quên Tarot
A mystical voyage of love and self-discovery created by Duy Khánh Võ.
Why our playing-cards look the way they do
Analysis of early playing card designs: origins, suit differences, standardization, technological ad...