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Tarot reading is an astrology-related system that basically uses tarot cards. Generally, it is used for some fortune-telling and divination activities.

History

The history of tarot reading has many versions and are typically long. Well, at present, the most widely recognized history of tarot reading is the one considering Italy as the place of origin. Basically, the roots of the Tarot deck can actually be traced back in Italy during the 15th century.

Historically, there were some other early tarot-like sequences of portable art that have survived but later on were not given of paramount importance. There was the occult decks and other similar decks which have created confusion and disarray and at the same have changed the underlying Christian allegory significantly.

As documented, Tarot cards were not extensively accepted and adopted at first by mystics, occultists and even by secret societies. However, later on, during the 18th and 19th century, they were widely accepted and were then associated with mysticism and magic.

In history, it was believed that the tradition began in 1781, when a Swiss clergyman and Freemason named Antoine Court de Gébelin has published Le Monde Primitif, a theoretical study with religious symbolism and modern world survivals.

Aside from publishing a study, De Gébelin has also verified the true symbol of Tarot de Marseille. He was also the prominent man who believed that because the name “tarot” was derived from the Egyptian words tar and ro which mean “royal” and “road” respectively, Tarot, therefore, basically depicts “royal road” to wisdom.

However, these assumptions were not considered valid because of lack of clear factual evidence.

De Gébelin is a very prominent man in the history of Tarot. Aside from the study and assumptions, he was also the one to be associated with Egyptian hieroglyphs and some fanciful etymologies. However, just like his assumptions, his etymologies were not also reasonable.

Unfortunately, this was not discovered early on and so association of the Tarot cards with the Egyptian “Book of Thoth” was already practiced in occult tradition.

During the 1700s on the other hand, a French occultist, seer and card diviner named Alliette, or also called “Etteilla” has moved the image of tarot cards, from being purely used for fortune telling to being purely used for some divination activities. Through also Etteilla, the first esoteric Tarot deck was born.

At present, Etteilla decks, though shadowed by Smith and Waite’s fully-illustrated deck and Aleister Crowley’s “Thoth” deck are still made available in some places.

Tarot for Divination

Historically, the interest of some other occultists in tarot for divination came during the Hermetic Revival of the 1840s. Basically, the idea of the cards that were used was originally pointed to Eliphas Lévi and was just passed later on to the English-speaking world by the well-known The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

After which, through the efforts of Lévi, and not actually of Etteilla, various schools of Tarot were established. Aside from the various schools of Tarot, Levi is also the one accountable for the system which related the Tarot, especially the Tarot de Marseille, to the Kabbalah and at the same time to the four alchemy elements.

In 1910, after so many innovations, Tarot divination became very famous. And consequently, in the 20th century, various decks came into being. Some were traditional while some were really indifferent.

The historical Rider-Waite-Smith deck on the other hand, was believed to conquer the English-speaking world only during the 1970s.

Tarot Reading Types

There are many areas associated with Tarot reading. There is the divination, psychology, and mnemonic field.

Divination

Tarot reading as a form of divination is typically associated to some significant insights into the present and possible future situations of the subject or querent. Basically, the querent is the person who asks a question or questions.
Tarot reading as a form of divination was believed by some people as something that is well-guided by a spiritual force, like Gaia. At times, even as something that taps collective unconscious or otherwise the subconscious.

Psychology

Tarot reading was beforehand associated with psychology. In fact, Carl Jung, a psychologist, believed that tarot cards represent archetypes: basic types of person or situation found in all human beings’ subconscious.

Basically, the idea on archetypes serves a lot of purposes. One of which is to provide means for some imagination stuff in terms of the archetypal ideas associated. Like for an instance, the one mentioned by Dr Timothy Leary, in which Tarot Trump cards are said to depict entire human development, The Fool represents the new born infant, and The Magician represents the stage where infants have their first learnings.

Mnemonic Field

Tarot and its cards are considered mnemonic devices for teachings by some occult-related schools like Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. It is also a textbook according to those schools, mainly because of arcana which is a common word associated with the two sections of the tarot deck.

Typical Card Interpretations

Every card in all types of tarot card deck has basic meanings. Of all the types, the custom or themed tarot decks are the ones with the many meanings implied. The minor arcana cards on the other hand, though with a few significant meanings, have astrological attributions instead that can be used as indicators for the right timings during the year.

The more modern or later decks imply meanings based by what their creators have assigned. Like for an instance, in the Rider-Waite-Smith Strength card, there a many symbolic intentions and meanings by the designer; usually occult by nature.

Swiss-style deck on the other hand, particularly its Deux de Deniéres, implies broad meanings, at times contradicting because of a preserved design derived from other decks.

While, tarot cards for divination imply meanings typically associated with the four elements: Swords with air, Wands with fire, Cups with water and Pentacles with earth and some numerology.

Tarot with Other Systems

Historically, Tarot conforms to other systems like astrology, Pythagorean numerology, the Kabbalah of the Kabbalistic astrology, the I Ching, Christianity, Aura-Soma and the like. So as a result, Tarot at times may become complexed because of the many influences.

The Spreads

To be able to start the Tarot reading, it is important to secure first a subject or in some rare cases a third party reader who will typically shuffle a Tarot deck. Then, to the subject or a third-party reader, a variety of patterns or “spreads” should be laid out. Interpretations should then follow. Typically, interpretations include thoughts and desires, known and unknown, and past, present, and future events of the subject in particular.

In terms of the spreads, well, there are many positions involved and every position has an assigned number and corresponding interpretations. In terms of cards, well there are sometimes many cards also involved, depending on the kind of spread used. Basically, the cards should be contemplated or interpreted objectively and one by one. At times, the initial card should be intentionally chosen and will be called as the significator.

Common Spreads

There are some common spreads at present and actually go as follows:

• Celtic Cross – the most common spread. Basically, there are ten cards in this spread, with five arranged in a cross and four placed vertically beside the cross. Typically, another card is placed horizontally across the central card of the cross.

  For the record, the significator is the central card of the cross and the obstacles (present, past or future) are represented by the crossing card.

• Horse-shoe – a common spread in which seven cards are arranged in a semi-circle or something like in “V” shape. Basically, the cards from left to right, depict obstacles, expectations, influences, actions and outcomes (past and present,). In some other variations, the expectations and inspiration cards are normally swapped.
• 3-card spread – a spread in which three cards are used. The first card depicting the past, the second one the present, and finally, the third one the future.
• Astrological spread – a spread in which twelve cards are spread in a circle, to eventually depict the twelve signs of the zodiac. Typically, there’s a thirteenth card and it is placed in the middle and at the same time considered as the significator.
• 1-card spread – common spread with of course one card.
• Tetractys – spread in which ten cards are arranged in a four-rowed pyramid. Basically, every row depicts earth, air, fire or water and certain meanings as well. The significator is the single card found in the top row.

The Reversed Cards

Sometimes cards are interpreted based on how they appear, whether upright or reversed. Typically, a reversed card is interpreted to signify the opposite of its upright meaning. But, on the flip side, not all types of Tarot reading value how the cards appear. At times, some card readers will interpret a reversed card differently, at times more intense and at times, more objectively.

Various Decks and Their Symbolism

• Rider-Waite deck – very detailed with symbols and considers color significant.
• Aleister Crowley’s Book of Thoth deck – detailed with Astrological, Zodiacal, Elemental and Qabalistic symbols, all relating to every card. Like in Rider-Waite deck, colors are also considered significant and used symbolically, particularly if related to the Spirit, Fire, Water, Air and Earth – the five elements.
• Mythic Tarot – relates to the classical Greek Myths