Tarot in 15th-Century Italy
The earliest tarot decks appeared in Northern Italy during the 1400s. These decks were called “tarocchi” and were used for trick-taking card games similar to modern bridge.
They included:
Four suits
Court cards
A series of trump cards
These trump cards later evolved into what we now call the Major Arcana.
At this stage, tarot had no documented connection to divination.
The French Occult Reinterpretation
In the 18th century, French occultists such as Antoine Court de Gébelin began claiming tarot contained hidden ancient wisdom — linking it (without evidence) to Egyptian mysticism.
Although historically inaccurate, these reinterpretations marked a turning point.
Tarot was reframed as:
A symbolic code
A spiritual system
A divinatory tool
This reinterpretation sparked the trajectory that would eventually lead to modern tarot practice.
The Victorian Occult Revival
In the 19th century, groups such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn integrated tarot into broader esoteric systems.
They layered tarot with:
Astrology
Kabbalah
Elemental philosophy
This formalised tarot as a symbolic system rather than a card game.
The Rider-Waite deck emerged directly from this environment.
Tarot in the Modern Era
Today, tarot serves multiple roles:
Psychological reflection tool
Spiritual guidance system
Creative storytelling framework
Personal development aid
Modern readers often blend intuition, symbolism and psychology.
Tarot’s evolution shows that meaning is not fixed — it develops through culture and interpretation.
Practical Application
How to work with this
Understanding tarot’s historical development prevents myth distortion and exaggerated claims.
It allows you to appreciate tarot as:
A cultural artefact
A symbolic system
A living practice
Rather than a mysterious relic with a single origin.
Grounded knowledge strengthens confident practice.
Related Links
Card
I The Magician
Card
XXI The World
Suits
Pentacles
Suits
Wands
Suits
Swords
Suits
Cups
Spreads
