Table Of ContentT he earliest known decks of tarot cards created in Italy in the late 15th century were used as a game. The tarot’s association with fortune telling and gypsis did not come about until the late 1700s. The first decks were handpainted for wealthy families who had the money to commission the decks as well as the time to play with them. After the advent of
lithography, the easy replication through printing made tarot decks much more accessible to the everyday man and woman.
In today’s world, the tarot has numerous uses, most of which have the purpose of encouraging self-knowledge and reflection. The beauty and lyricism of hundreds, and even thousands, of tarot decks illustrated throughout the last 600 years, as well as those currently in circulation and those yet to be designed and published, make them a unique art form. This book
celebrates that art form.
T
Isabella Alston was born in Los Angeles. A T he earliest known decks of tarot cards
a
citizen of the United States and Switzerland, created in Italy in the late 15th century
she considers both Europe and America home. r were used as a game. The tarot’s
Isabella is a free-lance writer and artist. She o association with fortune telling and gypsis did
lives on the coast of North Carolina with her not come about until the late 1700s. The first
t
husband, a U.S. Marine, and their dog, Archer. decks were handpainted for wealthy families
who had the money to commission the decks
C
Kathryn Dixon was born and raised in South as well as the time to play with them. After
a
Carolina. She has lived in New York City, Los the advent of lithography, the easy replication
Angeles, Barcelona, Geneva, and beautifully r through printing made tarot decks much more
bucolic Charlottesville, Virginia, although d accessible to the everyday man and woman.
Charlotte, North Carolina, is currently home.
s
Travel is a favorite pasttime that she indulges In today’s world, the tarot has numerous
in the company of her loving and generous uses, most of which have the purpose of
husband. encouraging self-knowledge and reflection.
TAROT CARDS
The beauty and lyricism of hundreds, and
I
KS even thousands, of tarot decks illustrated
A
ATB throughout the last 600 years, as well as those
HE currently in circulation and those yet to be
L
RL designed and published, make them a unique
YA
N A art form. This book celebrates that art form.
L
DS
IT
XO
O
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&
ISBN 978-1-84406-338-3
9 781844 063383 >
ISABELLA ALSTON & KATHRYN DIXON
Ta r o t C a r d s
Published by TAJ Books International LLC 2014
5501 Kincross Lane
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
28277
www.tajbooks.com
www.tajminibooks.com
Copyright © 2014 TAJ Books International LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the Publisher and copyright holders.
All notations of errors or omissions (author inquiries, permissions)
concerning the content of this book should be addressed to
[email protected]. The Publisher believes the use of the tarot card images
at the size depicted qualifes as fair use under United States copyright law.
ISBN 978-1-84406-338-3
978-1-62732-015-3 Paperback
Printed in China
1 2 3 4 5 18 17 16 15 14
Ta r o t C a r d s
I s a b e l l a A l s t o n & K a t h r y n D i x o n
Introduction
The first-known documented playing cards system, which cemented the connection
in Europe are believed to have originated between the tarot and magic.
in the 14th century, most likely in Egypt. It The very first official tarot deck was
remains a mystery whether tarot cards came created in Milan, Italy, between 1428 and
before or after the invention of playing cards 1447. The set depicted both the Visconti and
although it is generally presumed that the Sforza families, at the time the ruling families
tarot was developed second. The earliest of this region of Italy. Historians are certain
Middle Eastern playing cards consisted of of this deck’s existence due to a court record
four suits: Swords, Staves, Cups, and Coins. from Ferrara, Italy, in 1442 that references the
This organization shows a clear connection deck. Some cards belonging to the original
between the two types of cards—playing cards Visconti-Sforza deck remain today. The very
and tarot cards. Tarot decks generally refer, popular deck has been replicated in numerous
however, to the Staves suit as Wands or Clubs additions over the years. The original Visconti-
and the Coins suit as Pentacles. Sforza deck was not only beautiful in design,
Many historians believe the tarot is directly it was produced using precious metals such
connected to both the Ancient Mysteries and as gold, which only adds to the value of the
the Egyptian Initiations, the latter likely being remains of the original deck.
connected to the ancient Hermetic (magical) The Visconti-Sforza deck differed from
use of symbolism. In the 14th and 15th playing card decks because, in addition to the
centuries, a great amount of cultural exchange four card suits, what we now call the major
was occurring between the Middle East and arcana was added to the deck. The four suits
Europe, particularly in Spain with the Moorish of cards became the minor arcana. The major
invasion. In more modern times, the tarot has arcana is the primary feature that sets the
often been associated with gypsies, and the tarot apart from decks of playing cards. Each
earliest gypsies, those who lived in Europe card in the major arcana represents a specific
during the medieval years, were associated allegorical story, each one in turn meant to
with peoples of mixed ancestry who lived in represent a specific part of life’s journey. In
Spain. Thus, the gypsy connection appears to the 15th century in northern Italy, the tarot
have some historical justification. The French deck was referred to as carte de trionfi, which
19th-century magician and occultist Eliphas translates as “triumph cards.” A derivative or
Levi incorporated tarot cards into his magical bastardization of “triumph” gave us today’s
4
A young woman having her cards read. The reader is using a
regular playing card deck, however, not a brightly illustrated
deck of the tarot.
5
English word “trump” card as referred to in The major arcana consists of 22. In total,
modern card games and the major arcana 78 cards make the deck. Both arcanas
cards. have significance in the divinatory art of
As the tarot gained popularity, numerous numerology. The number of cards, 56, in the
variations were created, often using the minor arcana equates to the master number
local noble families as subjects, as did the 11 (5 + 6). Likewise, the master number 22 is
Visconti-Sforza deck. Until the origin of the the total number of cards in the major arcana.
printing press, tarot decks were almost always Numerology plays a key role in the meaning
hand-painted, making them very expensive, and interpretation of the tarot. Delving further
accessible only to the upper classes. Once the into the numerological meaning of the tarot,
printing press allowed for mass production, the deck can be divided into three categories:
however, the popularity and use of the tarot the first is 21 numbered cards; the second is
spread widely throughout all walks of society. the single Fool card, which is ascribed the
The earliest tarot was still only used as a number 0; and the last is the 56 cards that
game. The tarot’s use in fortune telling did not make up the four suits of the minor arcana.
come about until the late 1700s. Nevertheless, The Fool links the two parts of the deck
whether due to a reputed gambling connection together by representing both the beginning
as pure playing cards or a mystical use as and the end.
in divining the future, the tarot has a long Lending even greater meaning to the trinity
history of being viewed by the Christian of the tarot, it can be viewed as representing
church as representing evil. the relationship between and among God,
From a modern perspective, the tarot Man, and the Universe, or in other words, the
has numerous uses, most of which have relationship between and among the world of
the purpose of encouraging self-knowledge intangible consciousness, the world of tangible
and reflection. The beauty and lyricism of ideas, and the literalness of the physical and
hundreds, and even thousands, of tarot decks material world. This triad can be further
illustrated throughout the last 600 years, as interpreted as a metaphorical representation
well as those currently in circulation and those of the human soul as every individual
yet to be designed and published, make them a encompasses each of the three elements,
unique art form. This book celebrates that art regardless of the individual’s awareness of this
form. reality. The complexity of the tarot therefore
The minor arcana consists of 56 cards. suggests its use is not as trivial as many
6
have made it out to be; instead, the tarot awakened. Everyone has the innate power
offers a means of communicating between of intuition, but for some this sixth sense
the physical and the spiritual worlds, both of may not be well developed. Meditation also
which humans incorporate yet may not always enhances the intuitive sense and tends to
understand. heighten the ability to read the tarot.
The tarot is ultimately an amalgamation Studying the tarot takes time. Each card on
of myriads of esoteric beliefs built upon over its own provides a wealth of information in
the centuries. The Hermetic sciences include the form of symbols, numbers, and astrological
Kabbalah (Judaic mysticism), Alchemy, references, and there is no single correct
Astrology, and Magic. These “sciences” all seek interpretation of any card. Neither is there
to investigate the true nature of man and his a single correct reading of a spread, which
relationship to the noumenal (spiritual) world requires not only interpreting the meaning of
as well as to the phenomenal world (i.e., what the individual cards, but also the meaning of
we can physically and visibly experience) the entirety of the spread and how each card is
through the analysis and divination of read in combination with the rest. This is why
different mediums. increasing and improving intuitive power is
Astrology, for example, uses the galaxy a key to unlocking the meaning of the tarot.
and constellations, whereas Alchemy Keeping a journal of tarot readings is a good
relies on the metals and elements. Each of way to preserve and process past readings.
these sciences, arts, or practices (however The Rider-Waite deck is the best-known
characterized) shares the belief that the deck in the English-speaking world. The
sources of insight and enlightenment to images on the cards are very straightforward
which it uniquely subscribes hold the ultimate in terms of the symbols and archetypes used.
“truth” for mankind. This truth is hidden to The deck was originally published in 1910 by
the uninitiated. Each aims to “initiate” the the London publisher William Rider & Son,
uninitiated by shedding light on the ultimate with the art contracted from the artist Pamela
truth about life and death and the implications Coleman Smith. Soon thereafter, a guide to
for the soul of Man, both individually and as the tarot written by A.E. Waite was included
a single whole, in relationship to God and the with the deck, hence, the deck’s name. It is
universe. sometimes referred to as the Rider-Smith-
For most people, the tarot is a medium Waite deck.
through which the intuitive sense can be Cards from the Rider-Waite deck have
7
appeared in numerous unexpected places, the Christian symbolism that its predecessors
such as in the video backdrop for the song embraced. For example, the Pope became the
“Hollywood” in Madonna’s 2004 Re-Invention Hierophant and the Papess became the High
World Tour and in the Bond movie “Live and Priestess. The cards in the major arcana are
Let Die.” typically the Fool, Magician, High Priestess,
So many different tarot decks exist Empress, Emperor, Heirophant, Lovers, Chariot,
however, with each expressing the artist’s Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice,
unique vision, that choosing the deck or Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower,
decks that speak to the reader should not be Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, and World. Other
a difficult task. At least one tarot reader we decks, both pre and post the Rider-Waite deck,
know lets the person she is reading for choose may have different names for some or even all
the one deck out of about 50 in her collection of the trump cards.
that most appeals to them in order to enhance The numerological association of the cards
and improve the reading. goes from 0 for the Fool through 22 for the
Twenty-two cards compose the World. The four suits in the minor arcana in
major arcana. The Rider-Waite deck was the Rider-Waite deck are Wands, Pentacles,
groundbreaking in that it moved away from Cups, and Swords.
8
Rider-Waite Major Arcana
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Description:The earliest known decks of tarot cards created in Italy in the late 15th Century were used as a game. The tarot's association with fortune telling did not come about until the late 1700s. The first decks were handpainted for wealthy families who had the money to commission the decks as well as the
