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tarot
Ancient cards used in divination of the future, and sometimes purely for
entertainment.
Tarot History
Although researchers have tried for years to pinpoint the true origin
of the Tarot, they are still unsure who created the first deck. Some
believe they were in use as long ago as the early 1300's in Italy.
During the late 1700's and into the early 1800's Eliphas Levi, a
Catholic Priest, writer, and teacher, created the basis for the most
popular Tarot cards still in use today. Although Levi was born and
trained for the Catholic Priesthood, he studied many other religions and
subjects as well. He studied the Jewish, Hindu, Polish and Masonic
religions and Cabalism. Levi was also a student of astronomy,
astrology, and the metaphysics. When he created his first Tarot
deck, he incorporated his knowledge of religions, the elements in nature
(fire, water, earth, air), and what were believed to be powerful
astrological events and symbols (most of which are still popular today).
There are even references to scriptures from The Bible shown in some of
the cards. Levi claimed he created the cards as a tool to aid his
students in the art of spiritual enlightenment, self improvement, and self
awareness.
It wasn't until the late 1800's that A.E. Waite realized that the cards
could be used to predict possible future events. Waite created the
Rider-Waite deck based on the works of Eliphas Levi, and published the
cards in 1896. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is the most widely used
version currently in existence.
The Tarot was then introduced into the Western culture in the early
1900's, and were extremely popular during World War I.
In the 1990's more people are opening up to the idea of Tarot readers,
Astrologers, and Psychics, yet there are still some who believe the cards
are evil, or hold some kind of evil power. This is simply not true
at all. The cards do not possess any mysterious powers, nor can they
harm anyone if they are read in the proper perspective. The
Tarot cards reflect thoughts and actions in our subconscious and conscious
mind. Mind over matter to use the term loosely. They can and
should be used only for positive reasons. As with anything else, if
used with negative or malicious intent, the negativity (evil if you will)
that is created will only come back on the invoker.
The Tarot are best suited for learning about oneself, and one's
reactions to life's seemingly never ending struggles, to increase self
awareness, and possibly to obtain a new point of view of life itself.
They can help to clarify past events, understand why the events took
place, and possibly give some insight into how to avoid making the same
mistakes again, or even how to make the good events happen again.
The cards can also predict possible future events. Sometimes, just
knowing ahead of time an event may occur, is enough to change the person's
path and future outcome.
The Tarot cards were not meant to be feared or evil; but it is human
nature to fear the unknown or the unexplained. Today, Tarot readers
have made themselves available almost everywhere in the United States as
well as some other countries, and are helping millions of people every day
to cope with life's uncertainties. Who are we to discount something
that benefits so many people so often?
For those who believe that Tarot are evil, and that anyone who
acknowledges the existence of Tarot will surely burn in hell:
Almost every religion states in one fashion or another that if you do not
believe in my God, you shall be rejected on your day of judgment (you'll
go to hell). Doesn't anyone stop to think that we are all going to
hell in someone else's eyes?
President Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only limit to our
realizations of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."
Personal Experience
I have been reading Tarot cards
since 1970, when I received my first Tarot deck as a gift. In the 30
years I have studied and read the Tarot, I have never once had a wrong
prediction. I have several repeat customers who not only believe
that the readings help, but would fall apart at the seams if readers were
no longer available. The cards have guided myself and others through
many tough situations. They have also helped me to better understand
who I am, and more importantly how to improve myself and my reactions to
others. - Penny J. Ward
More about the
Rider-Waite Tarot Deck |
