What is Tarot and What is a Tarot Reading
Tarot is a means of divination - that is, the art of ‘reading’ the future or uncovering the unknown. The tarot consists of a set of playing cards which are dealt into a particular lay-out according to what your question is. When dealing the cards you should focus on a particular problem you may be experiencing or think about an aspect of your life about which you’d like more clarity.
Traditionally the tarot has been interpreted by a ‘tarot-reader’ - either professional or amateur. More recently, however, computers have been used more often to give readings online or on CD Roms etc. This site, for instance, is designed to provide you with online readings and their interpretations. There is a common theory that only face-to-face readings with a professional tarot reader can give you an accurate interpretation of your situation.
Many people are sceptical or fearful of the ‘fortune-telling’ aspect of tarot and do not want to become involved in its use. However, there is evidence in the history of tarot to suggest that tarot has been used as much for reading the unconscious and understanding aspects of our psyches as it has for fortune-telling purposes, and in fact the first account of its divinatory use was over 350 years after the tarot’s inception. We believe that, provided you approach this site with good intentions and with no aim to harm anyone, you will be assisted in applying its wisdom to improve your life.
Origins
There is much mystery surrounding the history of the tarot and myths about its origins abound. Some cynics say that this mystery has been perpetuated as a marketing tool for tarot card salesmen! However, by just looking at the evidence available we can estimate that the earliest surviving full deck was painted in 1422 by Italian artist Bonifacio Bembo. This is known as the Visconti deck, named after the Duke of Milan, who commissioned them. Although accounts of Ancient Egyptian, Celtic, Indian and earlier Italian links have been suggested, there is no evidence to support claims of earlier decks than the Visconti. It is possible that these more exotic links were drawn as a result of the Moorish and other cultural influences on Italian society at the time.
The tarot’s use by the Upper Classes probably saved the game from being banned by the Church (though some accounts state that tarot was considered heretical and outlawed by the Church). Indeed in the latter half of the fifteenth century some church sermons labelled tarot as the work of the Devil. But in fact the Church concerned itself more with the use of ordinary playing cards, which were considered gambling. Some cards from the tarot deck - such as the Devil, the Tower and the Death card - were on occasions omitted from the pack, as they were feared by many people, but little harm was actually done to the use of the cards until centuries later.
Evolution
The tarot has undergone many permutations in its use, design and interpretation over the centuries. There is early evidence, for instance, to suggest that one of the first permutations was in using the cards as inspiration for poetry - possibly the first use in describing aspects of the human psyche and personality traits. The cards have since evolved according to the prevailing culture of the times and attitudes within them.
Rebirth and Occult Connections
The first evidence of tarot being used as a divinatory tool came in the early eighteenth century in Bologna. In 1781 a clergyman, Antoine Court de Gebelin, revitalised and raised awareness of the tarot in his book, which drew links between the imagery in the Major Arcana and the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. This was later picked up by occult practitioners (occult means “hidden”) such as Alistair Crowley and Waite of the Rider-Waite deck. The imagery on this deck is the one with which we are most familiar today as this was the deck introduced into America in the twentieth century and the only one readily available to generations of Americans. We therefore tend to associate the tarot with more esoteric connections, rather than the lighter use which defined its origins in fifteenth century Italy, over 500 years before.
A ‘Game of Triumphs’
The cards were originally used for a game called Tarocchi or ‘Game of Triumphs’ which was similar to Bridge. The game was played mainly by the Upper Classes and has continued in some circles (mainly in Italy and France) to be played to this day.
How to use a Tarot reading
Keep an open mind
When you receive your reading try to look at the advice and look at it from different perspectives. This way you won’t close your mind off to interpretations you may not have thought of otherwise.
Treat the tarot like a friend.
Like all good friends the tarot may be telling you something about where you may be going wrong which is difficult to hear but needs to be said. Remember also that friends can give us insight and information, but it is up to us to do the interpreting.
Coincidences
As we change and grow so will our tarot readings. Look out for cards which keep appearing in your readings at different times in your life. Remembering these coincidences will help you to look back over the past with a broad overview of different stages of your journey and the lessons you were learning at these times.
