Tarot

(Revision as of 12:45, 24 Sep 2004)

Working on it :-) Frater C.U.G.

Tarot (Tar-oh) is a system of symbolism and philosophy consisting of a set of 78 images, normally embodied in a deck of cards similar to a regular set of game-playing cards (see playing card). In the English speaking world, they are most often encountered as a form of cartomancy.

There also exist in France a card game known as Tarot played with a 78-card set with similarities both to usual card sets and to cartomancy Tarot card sets. This is the most usual acception of the word tarot in France. See Tarot (card game).

The earliest extant examples of Tarot decks are of Italian origin and roughly date back to the 15th century, when they were used to play the game of Tarocchi. In the course of its development it became connected to cartomancy and thence to occult studies. The set of 78 images, rich with symbolic meaning, is considered by students of this "occult" or "esoteric" Tarot (tarotists practising tarotism) to be independent of the particular representation as a deck of cards; consequently they focus on the study of the images (and their symbolic meanings) as distinct from any particular instance.

In addition to its philosophical and divinatory uses, Tarot is also used as an aid to meditation.

The occult associations of Tarot are considered taboo in some competing philosophical circles. Strict forms of Christianity, for example, may be incompatible with Tarot or any other occult studies.

Table of contents

1 The Tarot Deck

1.1 Differences between decks

2 Symbolism

3 Psychology

4 Storytelling and Art

5 Divination

5.1 Layouts

5.1.1 The Great Cross ("Celtic Cross") Layout
5.1.2 Golden Dawn "Opening the Key"

6 Origin and History

6.1 Tarocchi
6.2 Egyptology

7 Further reading