For many long years, people thought of tarot cards as something closely linked with spiritual guidance and mysticism of all kinds. But do you know that it wasn’t always like that? That’s right! All those beautifully crafted cards that people use now for readings and fortune-telling were…a source of entertainment. Playing cards that people used to have fun with. The question is – when did things change? When did tarot cards shift from a kind of table game to a mystical instrument? Let’s do some exploration, guys. Below, we’ll focus on the wonderful transformation of cards into a divination instrument.
Back to the 15th Century: Tarot Cards Used as a Card Game
When it comes to the earliest deck ever, it appeared somewhere in the fifteenth century. In Italy, the reps of wealthy families – Viscontis and Sforzas – were the first to order the cards for themselves. While today you can approach experts at TarotAtlas and enjoy a quick and meaningful reading séance, things were different centuries ago. The cards were like works of art, hand-painted and beautiful, like the famous Visconti-Sforza Tarot. They had nothing to do with mystical tools, but were pretty expensive and nicely looking playing cards. People used these gorgeous items to engage in a game called “tarocchi.”
The first decks comprised four suits (pretty similar to modern playing cards). At the same time, they also included an additional set of 22 illustrated cards. The latter were known as trionfi or triumphs. These “trump” cards were adorned with symbolic imagery. It’s this attention-grabbing imagery that later became the cornerstone of various divination sessions. Just take a look at the Magician, the Fool, and the Death cards! Those are 100% the best examples that actually inspired users for the mystical practices. However, as we’ve already said above, at first, there was no spiritual or occult significance in tarot cards.
The 18th Century: The Great Shift from Cards to Mysticism!
People began to associate tarot cards with the occult much later, in the 18th century. It was Antoine Court de Gébelin, a clergyman and Freemason from France, who published essays about tarot cards. In his works, he talked about the hidden wisdom of ancient Egypt and its links with the tarot. In 1781, the author claimed the cards were a source of esoteric knowledge. However, he provided zero evidence to support this.
Then came Jean-Baptiste Alliette (pretty much around the same time). Tarot fans know this guy as Etteilla. He was the very first expert in tarot readings. Plus, he even wrote a real guide on how to use cards for divination. And guess what else? Jean-Baptiste created the first tarot deck as an occult instrument. His work included loads of astrological and alchemical associations. Thus, his guide became a clear signal that it was time to stop using tarot as a card game and start using it to fortune-tell and explore esoteric worlds.
19th to 20th Century: Welcome the Occult Tradition!
When the 19th century kicked in, tarot cards became the cornerstone for the occultism of the West that was growing with the speed of light. Various secret societies like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn linked tarot cards to things like astrology, alchemy, Kabbalah, etc. Thanks to this, the cards were provided with more symbolic and spiritual meanings.
If we talk about the most influential deck during those days, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot rocked. Its story started in 1909 when mystic A.E. Waite first published it. All the illustrations were created by Pamela Colman Smith, so people of those times had a bag of gorgeous images and narratives that captivated. Thus, both beginners and diviners had a great tool for different purposes, from self-introspection to divination. Voilà!
How About Today?
In the 21st century, the role of tarot has changed drastically. All the things like mysticism and fortune-telling are gone, while more and more people are using the decks for different purposes. Who are they? Well, in addition to spiritual seekers, we see life coaches, therapists, artists, and, well, even mere mortals who turn to cards for various reasons. Of course, conventional divination is still there; however, the ways people use tarot today have gone far beyond the good old fortune-telling.
- First of all, people do tarot reading sessions for self-reflection and personal growth. They use cards to understand their behaviors, emotions, and all their life patterns, and become better selves. If you make sure to do daily or weekly tarot pulls, you’re sure to learn to set better intentions, clarify your unique goals, or/and navigate the toughest periods of life change.
- At the same time, life coaches and mental health experts tend to make tarot cards part of their sessions. According to professionals, cards serve as a creative way to explore the inner world of every client and encourage them to share their personal stories and change perspectives. In other words, good old tarots become effective instruments for mindfulness that help experts deal with clients’ thoughts and feelings in a space that is non-judgmental.
- Guess what? Tarot cards are an essential element in a bunch of various creative areas! For example, a lot of writers choose cards as their personal writing assistants. They use reading sessions to come up with the best possible plot twists and develop characters that fit those storylines. Visual artists, in turn, find the archetypal imagery highly inspirational. Finally, entrepreneurs use cards to brainstorm or set the best possible business goals.
And let’s not forget about the social media fever, guys! Thanks to tons of web platforms, tarot cards are more and more accessible. Today, you have a chance to take part in live online readings and get in touch with influencers directly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and so on. All you need is a mobile phone or laptop, a stable internet connection, and…the never-ending world of cyber tarots is just a click away!
As you can see, now tarot is not about finding out what the future is going to bring. Today, it’s more about getting clarity, empowerment, and connection with inner wisdom. Whether you choose to use cards to explore your spiritual self, for a quick self-care time, or just as part of your routine rituals, cards are a great and highly flexible practice.
To Divine or not to Divine?
While at first tarot cards were just a fun card game in 15th-century Italy, the divination-style use didn’t start until the late 18th century. Ever since then, a huge transformation has happened. A tandem of mystics, occultists, and spiritual seekers stands behind the reputation of the intuitive tools that tarots have today. Whether you use cards as your personal method to explore your subconscious, spiritual guide, or just a cute daily ritual, their history is diverse and symbolic. Well, just like the cards themselves, right?