A Deeper Look at the History of Tarot: Mystics, Charlatans, and Everything in Between

Tarot cards: They’re a staple of any self-respecting fortune teller’s toolkit, popping up in countless movies, TV shows, and the occasional party when someone’s had just enough wine to declare themselves “a bit witchy.” But what’s the real deal with these mysterious cards? Are they ancient tools of divination, or just a fancy deck of playing cards that got a bit too big for their boots?

In this deep dive into the history of Tarot, we’re going to separate the myths from the facts, trace the winding journey of the Tarot from its obscure beginnings to its current status as the go-to tool for anyone wanting to peek into the future—or at least impress their friends. So shuffle your deck, light some incense (or don’t, if you’re sensitive to strong smells), and let’s take a trip through time!

A Game of Cards: The Early Days of Tarot

Before Tarot became the esoteric wonder it’s known as today, it was just a humble deck of cards. That’s right, before people were using the Tarot to predict which of their plants would die next (pro tip: it’s always the fern), folks were just using it to pass the time in much the same way we use a deck of playing cards today.

The origins of Tarot are shrouded in mystery and intrigue—well, mostly mystery with a healthy dose of Italian history. The earliest Tarot cards, known as Tarocchi, date back to the mid-15th century in Italy. At this point, the cards weren’t being used for divination at all. They were simply a more elaborate version of the playing cards we all know, featuring fancy illustrations of kings, queens, knights, and the like.

The Tarot deck as we recognize it today, with its 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, started as a game called “Tarocchi appropriati” or “tarot games”—a pastime for the Italian aristocracy. These games were a bit like the modern-day equivalent of bridge, only with a lot more pomp and artistry involved. If you’ve ever thought Tarot cards looked like tiny Renaissance paintings, that’s because they are. Many were hand-painted, and owning a deck was a bit of a status symbol, much like owning the latest iPhone is today (though a bit more colorful and a lot less prone to cracking).

The Birth of the Major Arcana: When Things Got Weird

Fast forward a bit to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and something interesting happens. People start adding additional trump cards to the decks, which over time become the Major Arcana—the 22 cards featuring figures like The Fool, The Magician, and Death (everyone’s favorite). While we’d like to think this was when Tarot took its first steps toward mysticism, it was likely just another evolution in the game, with the trump cards being used for their intended purpose: trumping other cards in the game.

But here’s where it gets juicy. Around this time, people start to notice that these extra cards are a bit…strange. Unlike the other cards, which feature fairly standard medieval imagery, the Major Arcana cards are loaded with symbolic, almost surrealistic images. You’ve got The Hanged Man, who is literally hanging upside down by one foot, and The Tower, which shows a building being struck by lightning and people plummeting to their doom. Why? Nobody knows for sure. Maybe the artists were having an off day, or maybe the patrons wanted something that looked more impressive and mysterious. Whatever the reason, these images start to take on lives of their own.

Mystical Makeover: The Tarot Gets Spiritual

The Tarot as a divination tool didn’t really take off until much later, despite what some enthusiastic New Age books might tell you. For centuries, Tarot was just an obscure card game that occasionally popped up in various European courts. It wasn’t until the 18th century that people really began to associate Tarot with the occult.

Enter Antoine Court de Gébelin, a French clergyman with a knack for turning the mundane into the mystical. In 1781, Court de Gébelin published a multi-volume work called “Le Monde Primitif” (The Primitive World), in which he claimed that Tarot cards were remnants of an ancient Egyptian book of wisdom. According to Gébelin, the Tarot was a key to understanding the secrets of the universe, and each card was a symbolic representation of ancient Egyptian deities. Of course, Gébelin had no actual evidence to support these claims—Egyptian hieroglyphs hadn’t even been deciphered yet—but why let facts get in the way of a good story?

Gébelin’s ideas caught on like wildfire, especially among the burgeoning occult scene in Europe. People began using Tarot cards for divination, believing they could reveal hidden truths about the past, present, and future. The Major Arcana, with its strange and evocative imagery, became the perfect canvas for all sorts of mystical interpretations. The Tarot was no longer just a game—it was a spiritual tool, a mirror reflecting the mysteries of the soul.

Etteilla: The First Professional Tarot Reader

Soon after Gébelin’s works were published, a man named Jean-Baptiste Alliette—better known by his pseudonym, Etteilla (his last name reversed, because why not?)—became the first person to make a living reading Tarot cards. Etteilla was a French occultist who was as much a showman as he was a mystic. He published several books on Tarot, created his own deck specifically designed for divination, and even opened a Tarot school.

Etteilla’s Tarot deck was different from the traditional Italian decks in a few ways. For one, he shuffled the order of the cards and added astrological and alchemical symbols. He also insisted that Tarot was originally designed for divination, not as a game, and that he was simply rediscovering the true purpose of the cards. Whether he believed this or not, he was undoubtedly a savvy businessman who knew how to capitalize on the mystical allure that Gébelin had helped create.

Tarot Crosses the Channel: The British Invasion

The next big development in Tarot’s history happened across the English Channel in the late 19th century. The Victorian era was a golden age of occultism, with secret societies, séances, and spiritualism all the rage. Among the various groups that popped up during this time was the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society dedicated to the study of the occult, alchemy, and magic. And wouldn’t you know it, they were big fans of Tarot.

The Golden Dawn developed an intricate system of Tarot symbolism, linking the cards to astrology, Kabbalah, and even the four classical elements (earth, air, fire, water). They saw the Tarot as a book of life, a journey of the soul from ignorance (The Fool) to enlightenment (The World). Many of the interpretations and attributions we associate with Tarot today come from the Golden Dawn’s work. They took the vague mystical ideas that had been floating around and gave them structure, turning Tarot into a full-blown esoteric system.

The Rider-Waite Deck: Tarot Goes Mainstream

In 1909, one member of the Golden Dawn, Arthur Edward Waite, teamed up with artist Pamela Colman Smith to create what would become the most famous Tarot deck of all time: the Rider-Waite Tarot. If you’ve ever seen a Tarot deck, chances are it was a Rider-Waite or a variation of it.

Waite’s goal was to create a deck that was rich in symbolism but easy to read, even for beginners. He simplified the images of the Major Arcana, adding his own interpretations and meanings, while Colman Smith illustrated the deck with a style that was both evocative and accessible. One of the major innovations of the Rider-Waite deck was that all 56 cards of the Minor Arcana were fully illustrated, not just the Major Arcana. This made the deck much more engaging and easier to use for divination.

The Rider-Waite deck became wildly popular and set the standard for Tarot cards in the English-speaking world. Today, nearly every Tarot deck you’ll find is either a direct descendant of the Rider-Waite or heavily influenced by it. Waite and Colman Smith might not have been the first to use Tarot for divination, but they were the ones who made it mainstream.

Modern Tarot: From Occult to Instagram

As we move into the 20th and 21st centuries, Tarot has undergone yet another transformation. What was once the preserve of aristocrats, mystics, and secret societies has become something much more mainstream and—dare we say it?—trendy.

Today, Tarot has been embraced by a new generation of enthusiasts who are just as likely to share their Tarot spreads on Instagram as they are to keep a leather-bound journal of readings. The focus has shifted from strict fortune-telling to self-reflection, mindfulness, and personal growth. In this context, the Tarot is seen less as a magical tool and more as a psychological one. Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist, once said that the Tarot represents archetypes of the human experience, and many modern Tarot readers approach the cards from a similar perspective. Instead of predicting the future, they use the cards to explore the subconscious mind, identify patterns in their lives, and gain insight into their personal journeys.

Tarot for the Masses: The Decks of Today

One of the most striking things about modern Tarot is the sheer variety of decks available. Gone are the days when your only options were a Rider-Waite or a dusty old Marseilles deck.

Now, there’s a Tarot deck for every taste, interest, and aesthetic. Want a Tarot deck that features cats? There’s one for that. Prefer a deck that’s all about cosmic, psychedelic art? You’re covered. How about a feminist deck, a deck that draws from indigenous cultures, or even a deck inspired by your favorite TV show? Yep, those exist too.

This explosion of creativity reflects the fact that Tarot has become a personal tool, something that individuals can adapt and interpret in ways that resonate with them. While traditional decks are still popular, many modern readers are drawn to decks that reflect their own identities, interests, and values.

Tarot in Pop Culture: From the Occult to the Everyday

It’s impossible to talk about the modern Tarot without mentioning its presence in pop culture. Tarot cards have become a familiar motif in movies, TV shows, music videos, and literature. Whether they’re being used to foreshadow doom in a horror film or as a quirky character trait in a romantic comedy, Tarot cards have cemented their place in the cultural imagination.

One of the most interesting aspects of Tarot’s pop culture presence is how it often strips away the more esoteric, mystical aspects of the cards. In many portrayals, the cards are less about actual divination and more about adding an air of mystery or depth to a scene. This reflects how Tarot has become a symbol of the unknown, the mystical, and the introspective, even for those who don’t believe in its divinatory powers.

Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Tarot

The history of Tarot is a story of transformation. What began as a simple card game has evolved into a complex tool for self-discovery and spiritual exploration. Along the way, it’s picked up layers of meaning, symbolism, and cultural significance that make it much more than just a deck of cards.

In today’s world, Tarot continues to evolve, embracing new forms, new interpretations, and new audiences. Whether you’re a hardcore mystic, a casual dabbler, or just someone who enjoys pretty pictures on pieces of cardboard, there’s a place for you in the world of Tarot. So the next time you pick up a deck, remember—you’re not just shuffling cards; you’re shuffling through centuries of history, mystery, and magic.

The Elemental Mind

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