When I mentioned readings I let you guys know that pretty much anything can be read. Still, the most common especially among beginners is to read tarot cards. So I figured that for both the anxious and the curious we’ll talk about the history of tarot.
Read more: History Of Tarot
Regular Playing Cards
In this day and age most of us associate Tarot Cards with cult shit but it actually started out as a regular deck of playing cards. Also, fun fact, the playing cards we know and love best can be read just like tarot cards ! As is the case with playing cards, tarot got its start in 15th century Europe. It was an elitist game mainly reserved for the Italian wealthy.
For example, hearts are associated with cups. Jacks would be pages. So a Jack of Hearts would be the same definition as the Page of Cups in the deck. Jokers can be used as Blank Cards which pretty much means that hennything can happen so just follow your intuition.
Tarocchi Cards
Yes, tarot’s full name is Tarocchi. No, it’s not English. The Italian deck had suits, trump cards and even pips. Pips are the numeral cards. In the late 1700s is when the cards started really being used for divination after Frenchman Jean-Baptise Alliette published the first definitive guide to tarot card reading. According to Bicycle, “He gave meaning to each of the cards, incorporating beliefs about astronomy and the four elements. He claimed to have borrowed heavily from the Book of Thoth, an Egyptian text supposedly written by Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.
He gave meaning to each of the cards, incorporating beliefs about astronomy and the four elements. Etteilla was also the first to assign a specific order and spread to the cards, both frontwards and backward—a system still used today. His works took off and he published a revised edition of his guide in 1791, becoming the first person to be a professional tarot reader.”
Modern Day Tarot
In 1909 the deck got a major facelift, birthing the Rider-Waite deck that most of us know best. They also updated the guide that came with it and added artwork to each card. This popular deck was last updated in the 1970s and since then, many other decks have been born !
I personally used the African American Tarot Deck and the Rider-Waite deck to clarify. With specialty decks, sometimes the meanings can be slightly different. Those nuances do matter, though. For example, in the African American Tarot Deck instead of the Hanged Man, the card is called The Observer. The Hanged Man is a result of the Fool making many mistakes on their journey and finally pausing to analyze what the feck is even going on.
The Observer can be found on the cliff of an aloof mountain, alone, eyes covered but many esoteric eyes surrounding him. It eludes to having blind faith, trusting that others can see for you and guide you correctly if you just listen closely. So the two represent a different loci of control.
Oracle Cards
Often in Tarot readings, you’ll see readers pull oracle cards as well. Oracle cards are like Tarot’s cool cousin. A lot more laid back with less left up to interpretation. They also come with guides but also pretty straightforward messages. They can be used alone or to supplement tarot and are used a lot as self-reflection tools.
At the time of writing this, I have 4 different Oracle decks. One is full of Major Arcana messages so it let’s you get more info on God’s Plan for you. I also have a Unicorn Deck that gives messages from spirit guides. A deck for the soul that’s full of ancestor messages. My moon deck is an intuitive deck that harnesses world energy, things many of us have in common at the time because of the celestial bodies doing their thing. Then I have an affirmation deck that’s great for self care.
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As the weeks go on I’ll be giving more information on tarot and what to do with them and what the different cards mean ! Make sure you’re subscribed to the blog so that you don’t miss it !