Question:
Where did Tarot come from?
Where did the Tarot Begin?
The history of the Tarot has been more or less lost in the mists of time. Even experts can't agree on so much as when exactly the first Tarot deck saw its first light. The first Tarot deck's origin is placed somewhere between teh 14th and 15th centuries. It is however generally agreed that the first Tarot deck was created in Italy.
It is said that the original purpose of the Tarot was simply to play games. Indeed, the Tarot is the ancestor of our playing cards today. The first Tarot was based upon the playing cards of the time, with number cards and court cards. The difference was that a Queen was added to each court suite, and 22 cards not belonging to any of the suites were also added.
At the time, the Tarot was most popularly used in a card game that was similar to bridge, called the Game of Triumphs. Of t he 22 added cards, 21 were used as permanent trumps in this game, and they outranked all the other cards, much like they do in Tarot readings today. The Game of Triumphs and the Tarot cards became very popular throughout Italy, and later spread to France, Sicily, Austria, Germany, and the rest of Europe.
It was only centuries later that occultists in France and England began to see deeper meanings in the Tarot images. This led to the use of the cards as divination tool and its general use in the occult arts.
For more on the fascinating history of the Tarot, feel free to visit "The Hermitage" at http://www.tarothermit.com/. This is an excellent site that explores the history of the Tarot, and how the cards relate to our playing cards, as well as how the Tarot itself is used today.
Tarot Frequently Asked Questions
What is the least I need to know about Justice?
What should I know about being too dependant on the Tarot?
How can i learn about my life lessons?
What is the least I need to know about the suit of swords?
What is the least I need to know about The Hermit?
What is the least I need to know about Death?
What is the least I need to know about The Tower?
What supplies should I have before beginning a Tarot reading?
What state of mind should I be in before beginning a Tarot reading?
What should I do before I receive a Tarot reading?
How can I receive a Tarot reading?
What studies should an intermediate level reader focus on?
What is the least I need to know about Temperance?
What does the beginner reader need to know?
What should I know about starting to make my own Tarot deck?
What studies should an advancedl reader focus on?
What should I know before buying a Tarot deck?
What is the meaning of card nine in the celtic cross spread?
What is the debate about timing and the Tarot?
How do I use the seasons to predict timing?
What is the suit of cups associated with?
What if a reading has a lot of reversals?
What can I do to prepare for a Tarot reading?
What can I do to prepare for a Tarot reading?
How can I receive a Tarot reading?
What is a generalization in a Tarot reading?
What is the meaning of card two in the celtic cross spread?
What is the meaning of card three in the celtic cross spread?
What is the meaning of card four in the celtic cross spread?
What is the meaning of card five in the celtic cross spread?
What is the meaning of card six in the celtic cross spread?
What is the least I need to know about The Hanged Man?
What is the least I need to know about The High Priestess?
What is the least I need to know about The Star?
What do I need to know about phone readings?
What should I know about receiving a Tarot reading in person?
What are the pros and cons of a computer generated tarot reading?
What kinds of spreads should an intermediate level reader use?
What does the beginner reader need to know?
What does the beginner reader need to know?
What is the Cletic cross spread?
What is the least I need to know about the suit of pentacles?
What is the least I need to know about The Fool?
What is the least I need to know about The Lovers?
How can I use meditation to memorize Tarot card meanings?
How do I use a Tarot journal to memorize card meanings?
How can doing regular Tarot readings help my memory of card meanings?
What does upright mean when applied to the Tarot?
What does depth mean when applied to the Tarot?
What is the least I need to know about The World?
What is the least I need to know about The Emperor?
What is the least I need to know about Strength?
What is the least I need to know about The Wheel of Fortune?
What is the least I need to know about The Sun?
What is the least I need to know about Judgement?
What is the least I need to know about The Moon?
What is the least I need to know about The Empress?
What is the least I need to know about The Heirophant?
What is the least I need to know about The Chariot?
What is the least I need to know about The Devil?
Can I use regular playing cards as Tarot cards?
How do I choose a significator?
What is the suit of wands associated with?
How does numerology apply to the Tarot?
What does reversal mean when applied to the Tarot?
