Conversation with Merlin [email protected] · Mon Dec 11 2023

Why should tarot be more widely accepted?

Tarot should be more widely accepted because it can be a valuable tool for mental and emotional support and healing. Many people have found comfort and guidance through the use of tarot cards during challenging times. Tarot provides an opportunity to get in touch with one's highest self can serve as a reflective source of information. It has been used for centuries to help individuals understand their internal thoughts and emotions, as well as to gain insight into their desires and aspirations.

Furthermore, tarot can offer a sense of hope and empowerment, helping individuals to make sense of their situations and find inner strength during difficult times. It can other mental health practices such as therapy and medication, providing a unique and personal approach to self-care. Additionally, as more individuals seek solace in tarot, it has the potential to a sense of community and connectedness among those who find comfort in its practice.

Despite historical misconceptions and misunderstandings, the practice of tarot has proven beneficial to many individuals, offering a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being. As such, widespread acceptance of tarot can contribute to a more inclusive and diverse understanding of coping mechanisms and self-care practices.

We all have our coping mechanisms during difficult times, the things we turn to for comfort and distraction. For most of my life, my coping mechanisms have been varied. Sometimes Ive coped by having a dance party, painting, writing, cooking, and baking or, one of my favorites, practicing tarot cards.Tarot is so important to me that I even have a tattoo of three tarot cards on my right arm: The Sun (for hope, positivity, warmth, and success), The Moon (for intuition and release of fear), and the Queen of Wands (for courage, confidence, independence, determination and finding a strong sense of self). The practice has a really rich history, having been used for hundreds of years to help people figure out whats happening internally, and what they want externally. Share on PinterestIllustration by Brittany EnglandSomewhere in between then and now though, tarot cards have become mistaken for having your future told, like a crystal ball or getting your palm read. But in all actuality, it actually acts as a reflective source of information.In other words, its an opportunity to get in touch with your highest self. While popular mystic activities like tarot and astrology feel mainstream and widely accepted today, they werent always this normalized. When I was growing up and practicing regularly in the early 2000s, folks around me considered these as occult activities, things that people on the margins, or woo-woo people, practiced.And thanks to religious rejection, specifically from Christianity, tarot cards have gotten a bad reputation for being opaque, confusing, or negative. Images like the Hanged Man, The Devil, Death, or the Three of Swords are often shown in movies, like the 1973 James Bond film, Live and Let Die, to predict a characters death, a ruinous relationship or affair, or a tragic accident.So I can understand why tarot cards might be received with worry or fear but, as mentioned earlier, tarot is not about predicting the future at all. (Also literally nothing can predict the future, because the future is always changing based on our actions.) Tarot, if you take a closer look at the symbolism and backstory of the cards, is a way of providing us the power. It reminds us that our lives are complex, that the solutions to our dilemmas and desires are within reach.Many times, Ive drawn the Ten of Swords card. From the outside, the depiction might seem pretty ominous theres a person lying down with ten swords being thrust into them. While the symbolism might initially trigger fear, I get reminded that drawing this card doesnt literally mean someone is going to thrust swords into me it symbolizes a painful ending, deep wounds, a loss, or a crisis.And ultimately, readings like this prepare me for upcoming loss and pain by reminding me that life is more complex than just getting wounded. Being wounded also means theres an opportunity for me to grow as a person. So in the end, the Ten of Swords reminds me to use these situations to my advantage and grow into my higher self.For Meg Jones Wall, a professional tarot reader who has been practicing daily for months, reading tarot has also helped her get through the stress of the current pandemic.I found tarot during a very dark time in my life, when I was struggling with depression and loneliness and a general sense of uncertainty about my place in the world, says Jones Wall. She bought her first deck in the summer of 2016, a time where she was dealing with chronic illness and coming to terms with her queer identity.I learned to read tarot in the midst of all that stress, fear, and anger. To use the cards as a tool for both reflection and awareness. It became a very grounding, daily ritual for me that Ive come to love deeply. This spiritual expression can be positive for us. Research about spirituality shows that when the spiritual paths we follow affirm and promote hope, forgiveness, and purpose, our mental health benefits. Jones Wall grew up deeply entrenched in an intense, fire-and

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Share on PinterestLaura O. Photography/Getty ImagesIn October 2020, Jude Hinson lost her job, her home, and her grandfather. Then her fianc left her all in the space of 1 week.I felt completely out of control and entirely responsible for the situation I was in, Hinson recalls. One thing I found to be incredibly helpful was using tarot as a way for me to more objectively look at my situation. It gave me some hope.Tinson had been reading tarot cards for more than a decade. When things got tough, they helped her make sense of her situation. In addition to reading cards every day, she continued to see a therapist once per week and take medication for depression and anxiety. Now that shes doing better, she still pulls cards about once per week.Tinson isnt alone in seeking solace in tarot. And tarot card readers have (at least anecdotally) reported seeing an uptick in business during the pandemic as people grapple with uncertainty. People were looking for the bigger messages, says Fahrusha, who goes by a single name. Shes worked as a tarot card reader for more than 35 years.Tarot may be becoming more mainstream, but not everyone is familiar with the practice. Though its historical origins arent certain, tarot cards likely emerged in the 14th century, brought to Western Europe from Turkey.Tarot is a deck of cards with culturally derived meanings that you can use for spirituality, art, and storytelling reasons, says trauma-focused therapist Aida Manduley, LCSW, who uses they/them pronouns. Manduley sometimes pulls cards for clients in sessions and says its a helpful tool. Still, they admit it isnt for everyone. Read on for what professional tarot readers think about the pros and cons of using tarot for mental health.There are several positives to using tarot cards for mental and emotional support and healing.It turns self-care into soul careFor generations, people turned to organized religion to find purpose in their lives and strength in troubled times. More than a quarter of U.S. adults said they considered themselves spiritual but not religious, the Pew Research Center reported in 2017. Thats an 8 percent increase from 2012. Tarot cards fit into this trend. Cindi Sansone-Braff, a New York-based author and tarot reader, calls tarot a spiritual practice that helps people better understand themselves.Sometimes, when people are anxious and depressed, its a sign that their soul needs nurturing, says Sansone-Braff. Tarot connects deeply with the soul. Its a really good vortex for opening the subconscious mind and collective unconscious mind and for figuring out whats going on below the surface.It can complement therapyYou dont have to choose between seeing a therapist, taking medication, and reading tarot. Like Hinson, many find that tarot is a valuable component of a holistic approach to mental health. Tarot isnt a one-size-fits-all cure-all for your mental health but for me, its a big part of my mental hygiene regimen, Hinson says.Sansone-Braff sees clients who are taking similar approaches. For example, she would refer a client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to a therapist. Still, she says she often can play a role in helping the person, too.I can help them deal with some of the lessons they may have learned [in therapy], Sansone-Braff says.Tarot can open dialogue Sometimes, Manduleys clients have trouble opening up. Tarot can help get the conversation going. If a person pulls out the death card and their understanding of the death card is different than mine, thats a perfect moment for us to talk about how the same situation can bring about different stories and interpretations, they say. [The death card] doesnt have to be a negative thing, and we can use that to talk about life changes.This dialogue can help Manduley talk with clients about solutions. For example, perhaps the person will pull out a tower card next, which symbolizes abrupt change.It may open the door for you to think about changing a relationship, and m

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16 thg 10, 2022 Tarot readings can help you immensely in understanding the bigger picture of your situation. It help you see more options, gives an opportunity...3 cu tr li 82 bnh chn:I read tarot professionally to a select clientele. I am answering from my experience of 20 ...30 thg 11, 2022 One of the most important benefits of getting a tarot reading is that you will gain meaning and purpose in your life. By understanding the cards...22 thg 5, 2022 Benefit of Using Tarot Cards: They Have Healing Properties. There's something very healing about physically manifesting your thoughts. It's...4 thg 6, 2021 Tarot connects deeply with the soul. It's a really good vortex for opening the subconscious mind and collective unconscious mind and for...29 thg 10, 2020 Benefit #2. Tarot Helps You to Reconnect to Your Intuition. Learning Tarot was a gateway for me to reconnect to my intuition. There are many...13 thg 4, 2020 Research about spirituality shows that when the spiritual paths we follow affirm and promote hope, forgiveness, and purpose, our mental health...7 thg 7, 2017 It helps you find inner peace by overcoming feelings of anxiousness, fear and worry. It also helps overcome struggles thereby achieving peace.5 thg 7, 2023 There are multiple benefits to getting a tarot reading, says astrologer Stina Garbis. ... You may accept or manage your choices by clicking...A daily Tarot reading helps you clear out the clutter of your daily life so you see what lies before you with greater clarity. Start your OWN daily ritual now...You can advance by receiving love, support, and encouragement from the Tarot. ... benefits through Kundalini Yoga. Everyone and everything we come into contact...

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give me argue against the idea that tarot should be more widely accepted

One argument against the idea of widespread acceptance of tarot is rooted in the potential for individuals to become overly reliant on external guidance rather than cultivating their own inner strength and decision-making abilities. There is a concern that promoting tarot as a widely accepted practice could contribute to a culture of dependency on external sources for emotional support and decision-making, potentially hindering personal growth and self-reliance.

Another argument is that tarot readings are often based on subjective interpretations of the cards, which can vary widely depending on the reader. This subjectivity raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of the guidance provided especially in circumstances where individuals may be seeking definitive answers to important life decisions.

Additionally, critics argue that the acceptance of tarot could perpetuate superstition and pseudoscience, potentially leading to the disregard of evidence-based for mental and emotional well-being. This could result in individuals turning away from established psychological and therapeutic interventions in favor of mystical, which may not always be conducive to their overall mental health.

There are also concerns about the potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals unscrupulous practitioners who may use tarot readings to manipulate or profit from their clients' emotional vulnerabilities. This ethical considerations and the need for regulation within the field of tarot practice.

In conclusion, the arguments against the widespread acceptance tarot highlight concerns related to individual reliance on external guidance, the subjective nature of tarot readings, the potential reinforcement of superst, and ethical considerations regarding the practice. These arguments underscore the importance of approaching the acceptance of tarot with critical thinking and consideration of its impact on individuals and society.

In this opinion piece, I discuss the uses, misuses, and possibilities of tarot readings as a tool for comfort and clarity in the context of personal and global crises. Discover the world's research25+ million members160+ million publication pages2.3+ billion citationsJoin for free 113Carl Lorenz G. CervantesAteneo de Manila [email protected] Limitations and Potentialsof Tarot Readings in Times of UncertaintyA collective interest in tarot readers might be considered as ameasure of social anxiety (Macdonald, 2021). A rise in this interest has beenobserved in the present pandemic, and many practitioners have reported anincrease in inquiries (Sachdeva, 2020). Usual questions seek definitive answerspertaining to love and career prospects, but during the pandemic, there havebeen more questions about when this crisis would end, and whether thequerents would be safe from it (Woods, 2020). As a guide for those who mightbe inclined to seek comfort through the tarot, this article explores itslimitations and potentials.Individuals who could not find clarity in science nor comfort inreligion often turn to the occult (Sosteric, 2014). The modern use of ancientoccult tools and systems in order to assist personal transformation is knownas new age (Melton, 2016). Here, spiritual wisdom is individualized: whatis considered true is what one experiences to be true. For some people, theabsence of a strict religious doctrine allows for more authentic and dynamicinsight (Lockhart, 2020). It is believed that new age followers are mostlywomen, and an inclination towards alternative forms of spirituality may bea way to challenge the limiting, patriarchal tones of traditional religion (Rose,1998). Furthermore, Blcourt & Usborne (1999) have observed that womenare more likely to consult fortune tellers for issues of well-being as a moreapproachable alternative to male-dominated fields of academia and medicine. 114CERVANTES | The Limitations and Potentials of Tarot Readings in Times of UncertaintyHowever, a study by Possama (2000) has implied that both men and womenare likely to enter into new age practices following the same pattern: a spiritualcrisis happens, and, having been exposed to new age symbolism, they begintheir seeking. Hllinger (2004) identified two kinds of new age followers.Those who belong to the first type are more focused in perfecting themselvesthrough spiritual exercises, psychotherapy, and a disciplined lifestyle.Individuals belonging to the second type are more focused on understandingthemselves. These new age followers are more likely to use esoteric methods.Among these methods is the tarot.Despite its sociological relevance and continuing popularity, seriousstudy of the tarot seems to have been pushed aside (Sosteric, 2014). A possiblereason for this is that belief in the supernatural is often associated with lowerintelligence (Yilmaz, 2021). This immediately stigmatizes new age followers,and, by association, anyone who attempts any serious study on their practices.This skepticism is not new with regard to a study of a psychology of theoccult. Mason (1879) wrote in Telepathy and the Subliminal Self that:The outlying fields of psychology, which are now the subject ofpsychical research, are comparatively a new and unexplored region,and until within a few years it has been considered a barren andunproductive one, into which it was silly, disreputable, and evendangerous to enter; the region was infested with dream-mongers,spiritualists, clairvoyants, mesmerists, and cranks, and the morevigorously it was shunned the safer would he be who had a reputationof any kind to lose (p. 4).Ironically, it is probably because of this bias that there is a lack ofevidence in the practicality of occult practices. All things considered, perhapsa balanced approach to a study of the tarot is not concerned with its esotericsignificance and metaphysical implications, but instead in its psychologicalviability. After all, many people

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When Jessica Dore was growing up, her mother had a tarot deck from which shed pull cards much to the mounting mortification of her daughter. As a child, Dore went along with it as fortune-telling fun. But as an adolescent, it was sort of like Mind your own business, she says wryly.It meant Dore was at least familiar with tarot. The deck of 78 cards, split between major arcana and minor arcana (greater and lesser secrets), is used with varying degrees of sincerity to divine past, present and future. But I never had any sense that it could be something that would be of value for me in my life, Dore says.Then, a decade later, Dore threw a dinner party to which two friends brought along a tarot deck. They gave her an amazing reading, she says, that cast new light on a hard time she was going through. The cards made me feel seen and understood in a way that I wasnt used to. The experience opened her mind to the potential of tarot to shift perspectives and illuminate possibility. She acquired a deck of her own, and started pulling cards after work each night.Jessica Dore holds tarot cards at her home in Pennsylvania. Youre not predicting the future youre really just exploring. Photograph: Caroline Gutman/The GuardianAt the time Dore was in her early 20s, a poet with a communications degree working as a publicist at a publisher of self-help and psychology textbooks. She had been struck by how the research she encountered through her job could help people to gain new insight into their thoughts, feelings and behaviours if only they knew to seek it out.Tarot, she thought, could be a similar conduit to awareness and introspection. These two strands barriers to self-help, and tarot as a path to it travelled together in Dores mind, culminating in a strange and unlikely marriage: she became a licensed social worker and full-time tarot reader.On Twitter, more than 130,000 people (along with 52,000 on Instagram) follow Dores daily draw of a card, which she then connects to psychological concepts, legends, myths and miscellanea as a prompt for introspection.She links the five of cups, for example, to cognitive flexibility training, proposing expanding ones thinking as a path away from triggering thoughts; while the sun card could illuminate healthy responses to rejection.Today's card. Sometimes it's helpful to reframe difficult experiences in a more "positive" light, but it's tricky to do so w/o treating painful thoughts & feelings as wrong or inferior, or trying to avoid them. What if u could know there are many ways to see it & feel how u feel. pic.twitter.com/60mD60ABOL Jessica Dore (@thejessicadore) October 23, 2021 Now Dore has expanded on her cerebral writing on the human experience through tarot in a book, Tarot For Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance and Growth. With this practical, carefully referenced guide, Dore brings together the scientific and the arcane, two spheres long believed to be antithetical but increasingly less so.Tarot is among a range of mystic practices to have seen a mainstream resurgence in recent years. Most obvious is astrology, now almost adjacent to psychoanalysis in our shared lexicon but theres also psychics, reincarnation, supportive spiritual energies (such as with manifesting), and even witchcraft.In 2018, the Pew Research Centre found that six in 10 Americans (both with religious affiliations and not) held at least one new age belief. Among the explanations given have been the internet connecting subcultures and people with alternative views, fashion houses bringing their imagery to the fore, and the decline in Christianity and community in the west.Above all, this new dawn of the new age has been framed as a response to widespread anxiety and sociopolitical instability; as an attempt to find meaning in an impervious, chaotic world.It is now possible to book tarot readings directly over Instagram @thehoodwitch Bri Luna (who has 470,000 followers) and @thelionnessoracle Alejandra Lui

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Photo credit: Katie Buckleitner"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."There are no set-in-stone rules about if or when you should get a tarot reading. Many people like to get one to mark significant events (Think: birthdays, breakups, New Year's Eve, etc.). However, Ive been a tarot reader for over 25 years, and I've found the following points are perfect for letting you know when it's a good time to consult the cards...and when I DONT think tarot is the answer (because yes, tarot is not always the answer!).Try a tarot reading if...You're Making A DecisionTarot works wonders when you have several options and no clear winner. For example, you can pull a card to represent each option, and then reflect on how this new info makes you feel about the potential choices. Another option: Pull a tarot card to represent the principle you should use to navigate this crossroads. Just be clear on what your decision is about and what your options are before your reading beginsand if you're getting a reading from a pro, you can tell your tarot reader all about it for specific clarity and direction.You Feel StuckTarot can be a guiding light in the fog of confusion when you cant see your next step clearly. Get a tarot reading to clarify specific steps that will take you out of this mess and get you back onto the right path. Ask your tarot reader to draw a card to focus on the root cause of ~why you're stuck~, and ask what action you should take next.You're Making a Big Life ChangeGetting as much information about what might lie ahead (the opportunities, obstacles, and surprises) is always a good idea. Informed = prepared. When you're getting a tarot reading, always ask for guidance about your own mindset and approach. Let the tarot inform you about not just what's coming, but how you can handle whats ahead.You're Feeling ~Reflective~Tarot can provide an illuminating mirror to reveal who you were, are, and are becoming. It can put your story into a greater context and extract life lessons, wisdom, and self-awareness. One of my most popular readings is my "Life Story Tarot Reading"people love, love, love having their life told like a story.You Need InspirationWe all need a little help sometimes when thinking up ideas. Whatever you're considering, tarot will bring an external lens to your situation. Ask your reader to use the cards to give you new ideas wherever you feel stagnant. Tarot always has ideas!You *Just* Had a Tarot ReadingI advise leaving a gap of at least three months between professional tarot readings, UNLESS the reading is about a totally different and specific question. Let things change and progress before going back to the cards.You Want a Re-DoI see a lot of people trying to ~chase the right answer~. People will go to multiple tarot readers, or ask the same tarot reader the same question multiple times, until they get the answer they want to hear (which, by the law of averages, does happen eventually). This is kinda pointless!Your Question Is About Someone ElseIf your entire line of questioning is about another person and their thoughts and behaviors (like what your ex is up to), then a tarot reading is not the answer. Tarot is supposed to give you insight about *yourself*, not other people. (A better idea: Reflect and revise your questionlike, seeking for advice on how you can move on from your breakup.)You're Looking for Medical AdviceSimply put, the cards are not suitable as a diagnostic or treatment tool for either physical or mental health issues. Some things are best left to MEDICAL professionals, not tarot professionals!You Might Also LikeA Cleaning Expert Explains the Best Way to Clean Cloth Face Masks After You Wear Them Good Housekeeping35 Delicious Pantry Recipes That Use What's Already in Your Cabinets and Freezer Good HousekeepingThe Amish keep to themselves. And theyre hiding a horrifying secret. Cosmopolitan

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more specific about some critics argue that the acceptance of tarot could perpetuate superstition and pseudoscience, potentially leading to the disregard of evidence-based practices for mental and emotional well-being

It can certainly be argued that the acceptance of tarot could perpetuate superstition and pseudoscience, potentially leading to the disregard of evidence-based practices for mental and emotional well-being. Critics of tarot often express concerns about the subjective nature of tarot readings and the lack of scientific evidence to support its claims. This raises questions about its potential to encourage belief in supernatural forces or magical thinking, which could detract from the promotion of evidence-based psychological interventions and therapies.

The worry is that the widespread acceptance of tarot could inadvertently undermine the importance of seeking professional help and following evidence-based practices for mental and emotional well-being. Instead of encouraging individuals to turn to established counseling, therapy, and other proven methods, the embrace of tarot might lead to a preference for mystical or pseudoscientific approaches, potentially compromising individuals' access to effective mental health support.

Furthermore, the concern involves the potential spread of misinformation and the reinforcement of unfounded beliefs. Critics worry that by promoting tarot as a widely accepted practice, it may overshadow the importance of critical thinking and skepticism, thereby perpetuating beliefs in unverified supernatural phenomena. This can lead to a broader cultural acceptance of pseudoscientific practices, which can have far-reaching implications for societal attitudes towards mental health, decision-making, and personal well-being.

In conclusion, the argument against the acceptance of tarot revolves around the possibility of perpetuating superstition and pseudoscience, which in turn may lead to the neglect of evidence-based practices for mental and emotional well-being. Critics highlight these concerns as significant factors that warrant careful consideration when discussing the widespread acceptance of tarot.

background of tarot

The history of tarot dates back to at least the mid-15th century in Europe, initially used for playing card games like Tarocchini. The early tarot cards were part of a family of games, including French Tarot and Austrian Königrufen, with Italian roots. It wasn't until the late 18th century that French occultists made elaborate but unsubstantiated claims about the history and meaning of tarot, leading to the emergence of custom decks for divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy.

Today, tarot is widely used as a tool for divination and spiritual guidance. It has evolved into a diverse array of decks, available in various designs related to different interests and themes, catering to a broad range of practitioners. While reading methods and interpretations have evolved over time, the fundamental structure of the cards has remained relatively consistent.

The tarot's origins can be traced back to the late 14th century when artists in Europe created the first playing cards, featuring four suits similar to those found in contemporary playing cards. Over time, tarot has become one of the most popular tools of divination, captivating people with its enduring mystique and symbolism.

Card player with Austrian tarot cards (Industrie und Glck pattern) Trumps of the Tarot de Marseilles, a standard 18th-century playing card pack, later also used for divination Tarot (, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarocks) is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, tarot-playing cards spread to most of Europe, evolving into a family of games that includes German Grosstarok and modern games such as French Tarot and Austrian Knigrufen. In the late 18th century French occultists made elaborate, but unsubstantiated, claims about their history and meaning, leading to the emergence of custom decks for use in divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy.[1] Thus, there are two distinct types of tarot packs in circulation today: those used for card games and those used for divination. However, some older patterns, such as the Tarot de Marseille, originally intended for playing card games, are occasionally used for cartomancy. Like the common playing cards, tarot has four suits that vary by region: French suits are used in western, central and eastern Europe, and Latin suits in southern Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten; and four face cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page. In addition, and unlike standard packs, the tarot also has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit.[2] These tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games. In English-speaking countries where these games are not widely played, only specially designed cartomantic tarot cards, used primarily for novelty and divination, are readily available.[2] The early French occultists claimed that tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, Kabbalah, the Indic Tantra, or I Ching, claims that have been frequently repeated by authors on card divination. However, scholarly research demonstrated that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the mid-15th century and confirmed that there is no historical evidence of any significant use of tarot cards for divination until the late 18th century.[2][3] Historians have described western views of the Tarot pack as "the subject of the most successful propaganda campaign ever launched... An entire false history and false interpretation of the Tarot pack was concocted by the occultists and it is all but universally believed."[4] In the occult tradition, tarot cards are referred to as "arcana", with the Fool and 21 trumps being termed the Major Arcana and the suit cards the Minor Arcana,[5] terms not used by players of tarot card games. Tarot cards, then known as tarocchi, first appeared in Ferrara and Milan in northern Italy, with the Fool and 21 trumps (then called trionfi) being added to the standard Italian pack of four suits: batons, coins, cups and swords.[6] Scholarship has established that the early European cards were probably based on the Egyptian Mamluk deck invented in or before the 14th century, which followed the invention of paper from Asia into Western Europe.[7] By the late 1300s, Europeans were producing their own cards, the earliest patterns being based on the Mamluk deck but with variations to the suit symbols and court cards.[7] Geographic distribution[edit] The use of tarot playing cards was at one time widespread across the whole of Europe except the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula. Having fallen into decline by the 20th century, they later experienced a renaissance in some countries and regions. For example, French Tarot was largely confined to Provence in the 18th century, but took off in the 1950s to such an extent that, in 1973, the French Tarot Association (Fdration Franaise de Tarot) was formed and French Tarot itself is now the second most pop

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The Tarot is probably one of the most popularly used tools of divination in the world today. While not as simple as some other methods, like pendulums or tea leaves, the Tarot has drawn people into its magic for centuries. Today, cards are available to purchase in hundreds of different designs. There is a Tarot deck for just about any practitioner, no matter where his or her interests may lie. Whether youre a fan of Lord of the Rings or baseball, whether you love zombies or are interested in the writings of Jane Austen, you name it, theres probably a deck out there for you to choose. Although methods of reading the Tarot have changed over the years, and many readers adopt their own unique style to the traditional meanings of a layout, in general, the cards themselves havent changed much. Lets look at some of the early decks of Tarot cards, and the history of how these came to be used as more than just a parlor game. French & Italian Tarot The ancestors of what we today know as Tarot cards can be traced back to around the late fourteenth century. Artists in Europe created the first playing cards, which were used for games, and featured four different suits. These suits were similar to what we still use today staves or wands, discs or coins, cups, and swords. After a decade or two of using these, in the mid-1400s, Italian artists began painting additional cards, heavily illustrated, to add into the existing suits. These trump, or triumph, cards were often painted for wealthy families. Members of the nobility would commission artists to create for them their own set of cards, featuring family members and friends as the triumph cards. A number of sets, some of which still exist today, were created for the Visconti family of Milan, which counted several dukes and barons among its numbers. Because not everyone could afford to hire a painter to create a set of cards for them, for a few centuries, customized cards were something only a privileged few could own. It wasnt until the printing press came along that playing card decks could be mass-produced for the average game-player. Tarot as Divination In both France and Italy, the original purpose of Tarot was as a parlor game, not as a divinatory tool. It appears that divination with playing cards started to become popular in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, although at that time, it was far more simple than the way we use Tarot today. By the eighteenth century, however, people were beginning to assign specific meanings to each card, and even offer suggestions as to how they could be laid out for divinatory purposes. Tarot and the Kabbalah In 1781, a French Freemason (and former Protestant minister) named Antoine Court de Gebelin published a complex analysis of the Tarot, in which he revealed that the symbolism in the Tarot was in fact derived from the esoteric secrets of Egyptian priests. De Gebelin went on to explain that this ancient occult knowledge had been carried to Rome and revealed to the Catholic Church and the popes, who desperately wanted to keep this arcane knowledge secret. In his essay, the chapter on Tarot meanings explains the detailed symbolism of Tarot artwork and connects it to the legends of Isis, Osiris and other Egyptian gods. The biggest problem with de Gebelins work is that there was really no historical evidence to support it. However, that didnt stop wealthy Europeans from jumping onto the esoteric knowledge bandwagon, and by the early nineteenth century, playing card decks like the Marseille Tarot were being produced with artwork specifically based on deGebelins analysis. In 1791, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, a French occultist, released the first Tarot deck designed specifically for divinatory purposes, rather than as a parlor game or entertainment. A few years earlier, he had responded to de Gebelins work with a treatise of his own, a book explaining how one could use the Tarot for divination. As occult interest in the Tarot expanded, it becam

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What is tarot? Tarot has a reputation as a tool of fortune-telling, and indeed often was used as such, but in recent years Tarot professionals and enthusiasts have become more sophisticated in how they use this deck of 78 illustrated cards. Nowadays, as well as a tool of intuition, the Tarot is recognised as being an impressive means of personal growth. What Is Tarot: The History Tarot as we know it first appeared in the late medieval period, in Europe. Cards were decorated by archetypes of the times, a procession of attitudes and characters very much influenced by folk beliefs and practices, many of which have ancient roots. We know that the cards were used in occult practice which was very common at the time and also as a game. Modern Tarot owes a lot to the Order of the Golden Dawn, a London based esoteric group active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Arthur Edward Waite commissioned the drawings for the cards, to his specifications, from fellow Golden Dawn member Pamela Colman Smith, a gifted artist. In a superb piece of injustice, Pamela Smith was not celebrated and the deck was known for many years as the Rider-Waite (after Rider, the publisher, and A. E. Waite). These days we might be more likely to acknowledge Smiths instrumental role in the creation of the deck, and call it the Smith Waite, or Rider Waite Smith. The Smith Waite deck has become a classic of our time and the majority of modern decks are based in some way on these beautiful and richly symbolic illustrations. Other classic decks include the Tarot of Marseille and Aleister Crowleys Thoth Tarot. So, what actually happens in a Tarot reading? Well, that very much depends on the reader. My advice to anyone thinking of getting a reading is to contact the reader first, to discover more about their style. For example, I personally dont do fortune telling, nor do I do making decisions for my clients. What I can do is help them to formulate their question to the cards in a way that allows them the space to acknowledge whats happening for them, and sometimes what they want their outcome to be as well. Then the reading itself looking at the cards and how they influence each other works best as a collaborative affair. My skill is in using the cards as prompts to help the querent (Tarot client) to discover their own, sometimes hidden, motivations and behaviour patterns, and to understand how the elements of their situation relate to one another. Often there will be little or no new information in a reading, but the cards re-present it to the querent in a way that enables them to know how to unstick. Sometimes, it just helps them to acknowledge something they knew already, but needed a little confirmation on. Read more: In another article, Keziah shares five tips about tarot for beginners from the right way of shuffling the cards to setting the right intentions. The Right Cards Come To The Right People It would be easy to say that its a kind of Barnum effect the querent could be presented with any card or set of cards, and would apply it to their own situation. Experience tells me that this is not quite the case. I dont know how it happens, but I do know it to be true, that the right cards always come out for the right person. I have encountered this many times over the years. The most dramatic example was a woman that I read for when I was first practicing this skill. We did a six card reading, but she didnt like what she got. So, we each shuffled the cards and we read again four of the same six cards. We tried again, a third time, again, each of us shuffling before the reading, only to draw the same six cards, this time reversed. That only happened once, but I have discovered that readings could not be interchangeable. When I used to read at fairs, and have several people come through my booth one after another, I witnessed how each reading was very specific to that persons set of circumstances. I dont know how it works, I just know that it

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what is tarot

Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy where practitioners use tarot cards to purportedly gain insight into the past, present, or future. It involves formulating a question and drawing cards to interpret them for this purpose. A traditional tarot deck consists of 78 cards, which can be split into two groups: the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Majorana consists of 22 cards, which are often seen as representing significant life events and lessons. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards, divided into four suits (similar regular playing cards) representing everyday events.

The history of tarot can be traced back to at least the mid-15th century in Europe, where it was initially used for playing card games such as Tarocchini. Over time, tarot evolved into a popular tool for divination and spiritual guidance. In the late 18th century, French occultists made elaborate, but unsubstantiated, claims about the history and meaning of tarot, leading to emergence of custom decks for use in divination via tarot card reading and cartom.

It's important to note that there are two distinct types of tarot packs in circulation today: those used for card games and those used for divination. The cards are often interpreted based on their symbolism, imagery, and the intuition of the reader, serving as a catalyst for reflection and insight into one's life situations.

Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy whereby practitioners use tarot cards to purportedly gain insight into the past, present or future. They formulate a question, then draw cards to interpret them for this end. A traditional tarot deck consists of 78 cards, which can be split into two groups, the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. 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). History[edit] The first written references to tarot packs occurred between 1440 and 1450 in northern Italy, for example in Milan and Ferrara, when additional cards with allegorical illustrations were added to the common four-suit pack. These new packs were called carte da trionfi, triumph packs, and the additional cards known simply as trionfi, which became "trumps" in English.[1][2] One of the earliest references to tarot triumphs is given c. 14501470 by a Dominican preacher in a sermon against dice, playing cards and 'triumphs'.[3] References to the tarot as a social plague or indeed as exempt from the bans that affected other games, continue throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, but there are no indications that the cards were used for anything but games.[4] As philosopher and tarot historian Michael Dummett noted, "it was only in the 1780s, when the practice of fortune-telling with regular playing cards had been well established for at least two decades, that anyone began to use the tarot pack for cartomancy."[5] Claims by the early French occultists that tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, the Kabbalah, Indic Tantra, or the I Ching have been frequently repeated by authors on card divination. However, scholarly research reveals that, having been invented in Italy in the early 15th century for playing games, there is no evidence of any significant use of tarot cards for divination until the late 18th century.[6] In fact, historians have described western views of the Tarot pack as "the subject of the most successful propaganda campaign ever launched... An entire false history and false interpretation of the Tarot pack was concocted by the occultists; and it is all but universally believed".[7] The belief in the divinatory meaning of the cards is closely associated with a belief in their occult properties, a commonly held belief in early modern Europe propagated by prominent Protestant Christian clerics and Freemasons.[5] One of them was Court de Gbelin (see below). From its uptake as an instrument of divination in 18th-century France, the tarot went on to be used in hermeneutic, magical, mystical,[8] semiotic,[9] and psychological practices. It was used by Romani people when telling fortunes,[10] as a Jungian psychological apparatus capable of tapping into "absolute knowledge in the unconscious",[11] a tool for archetypal analysis,[12] and even a tool for facilitating the Jungian process of individuation.[13][14] Court de Gbelin[edit] Court de Gbelin Many involved in occult and divinatory practices attempt to trace the tarot to ancient Egypt, divine hermetic wisdom,[15] and the mysteries of Isis. The first was Antoine Court de Gbelin, a French clergyman, who wrote that after seeing a group of women playing cards he had the idea that tarot was not merely a game of cards but was in fact of ancient Egyptian origin, of mystical Qabalistic import, and of deep divine significance. Court de Gbelin published a dissertation on the origins of the symbolism in the tarot in volume VIII of work Le Monde primitif in 1781. He thought the tarot represented ancient Egyptian Theology, including Isis, Osiris and Typhon. For example, he thought the card he knew as the Papesse and known in occult circles today as the High Priestess represented Isis.[16] He also related four tarot cards to the four Christian Cardinal virtues: Temperance, Justice, Strength and Prudence.[17] He relates The Tower to a Greek fable about avarice.[18] Although the ancient Egypti

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Card player with Austrian tarot cards (Industrie und Glck pattern) Trumps of the Tarot de Marseilles, a standard 18th-century playing card pack, later also used for divination Tarot (, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarocks) is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, tarot-playing cards spread to most of Europe, evolving into a family of games that includes German Grosstarok and modern games such as French Tarot and Austrian Knigrufen. In the late 18th century French occultists made elaborate, but unsubstantiated, claims about their history and meaning, leading to the emergence of custom decks for use in divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy.[1] Thus, there are two distinct types of tarot packs in circulation today: those used for card games and those used for divination. However, some older patterns, such as the Tarot de Marseille, originally intended for playing card games, are occasionally used for cartomancy. Like the common playing cards, tarot has four suits that vary by region: French suits are used in western, central and eastern Europe, and Latin suits in southern Europe. Each suit has 14 cards: ten pip cards numbering from one (or Ace) to ten; and four face cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page. In addition, and unlike standard packs, the tarot also has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit.[2] These tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games. In English-speaking countries where these games are not widely played, only specially designed cartomantic tarot cards, used primarily for novelty and divination, are readily available.[2] The early French occultists claimed that tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, Kabbalah, the Indic Tantra, or I Ching, claims that have been frequently repeated by authors on card divination. However, scholarly research demonstrated that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the mid-15th century and confirmed that there is no historical evidence of any significant use of tarot cards for divination until the late 18th century.[2][3] Historians have described western views of the Tarot pack as "the subject of the most successful propaganda campaign ever launched... An entire false history and false interpretation of the Tarot pack was concocted by the occultists and it is all but universally believed."[4] In the occult tradition, tarot cards are referred to as "arcana", with the Fool and 21 trumps being termed the Major Arcana and the suit cards the Minor Arcana,[5] terms not used by players of tarot card games. Tarot cards, then known as tarocchi, first appeared in Ferrara and Milan in northern Italy, with the Fool and 21 trumps (then called trionfi) being added to the standard Italian pack of four suits: batons, coins, cups and swords.[6] Scholarship has established that the early European cards were probably based on the Egyptian Mamluk deck invented in or before the 14th century, which followed the invention of paper from Asia into Western Europe.[7] By the late 1300s, Europeans were producing their own cards, the earliest patterns being based on the Mamluk deck but with variations to the suit symbols and court cards.[7] Geographic distribution[edit] The use of tarot playing cards was at one time widespread across the whole of Europe except the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula. Having fallen into decline by the 20th century, they later experienced a renaissance in some countries and regions. For example, French Tarot was largely confined to Provence in the 18th century, but took off in the 1950s to such an extent that, in 1973, the French Tarot Association (Fdration Franaise de Tarot) was formed and French Tarot itself is now the second most pop

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What is the Tarot? The Tarot is a symbolic map of consciousness that encompasses our journey through life, both spiritually and practically. Tarot reading is the practice of divining wisdom and guidance through a specific spread (or layout) of Tarot cards. However, contrary to popular belief, the cards do not simply tell your fortune, and one does not have to be a psychic to give Tarot readings. The cards are meant to provide insight into the innermost truths of your higher self. In other words, the cards provide an evolved awareness of what you already know deep within.The origin of the Tarot is unknown, but we do have documented references of Tarot card use back to fourteenth century Europe. The Tarot has been used as an oracle, in the basic form we know today, since the beginning of the seventeenth century. The Meaning of the Tarot There are 22 cards of the Major Arcana, which divulge greater secrets, and 56 cards of the Minor Arcana, which divulge lesser secrets and are further divided into four suits. The suits of the Minor Arcana include Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. The fourteen cards in each suit are numbered Ace through Ten, plus the Court Cards: Page (Princess), Knight (Prince), Queen, and King. Decks can vary some in naming. The suits and the individual cards are not always called the same thing, but their core meaningsare fairly universal. For example, in some decks, the Knight equates to the King and not the Prince. Most decks come with a booklet you can use to get familiar with its specifics. The Minor Arcana of the Tarot symbolize daily aspects of life, giving insight into our challenges, talents, opportunities, and experience of ups and downs. Each suit represents an element: Wands are Fire, Swords are Air, Cups are Water, and Pentacles are Earth. The suits can reflect attitude and temperament, such as a fiery person or someone who is up in the air or down to earth. Determining a cards significance is dependent upon the question, the reader, the person receiving the reading, and the placement of other cards in the spread. The Major Arcana are numbered 0 through 21, starting with The Fool, and ending with The World. These cards align with the milestones of lifes story or The Heros Journey which can be explored further with Joseph Campbells book The Hero With a Thousand Faces. In this sense, the cards of the Major Arcana represent the 22 inevitable phases or passages of every journey, which well all encounter during our lives (not necessarily in this order). Its also possible for these phases to repeat themselves, and recur multiple times throughout ones life, creating a cyclical nature in which there is no true beginning or end. Types of Tarot Spreads There are manytypes of Tarot spreads. Perhaps the most classic is an eleven-card layout called The Celtic Cross (11 cards including the Significator). There is also a Tree of Life spread, a Planetary spread, the Tetraktys spread, and the Pentagram spread, among many, many others.Some readers like to do simpler, smaller spreads using only three cards. A three-card spread can have many interpretations in and of itself, such as Past-Present-Future, Mind-Body-Spirit, or Situation-Action-Outcome. The variation of three-card spreads is virtually endless. Reversed Tarot Cards Tarot card illustrations are generally a single image in an upright position, unlike common playing cards that display a dual image facing both right-side-up and upside-down. When Tarot cards are collected andshuffled or moved about, they can show up upside-down in a reading.The reversed Tarot card can be interpretedin various ways. Many believe this simply means the significance of the card is present in your life, but its powers are weakened or blocked by something. Others believe it means youre unwilling to work with the energy the card signifies. And yet others interpret a reversed Tarot card to mean that the opposite or inverse of that cards significance is present. Some deck booklets (su

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