What the Heck is Tarot, Anyway?

The origin of tarot cards and the practice of tarot is widely debated, but it seems most historically accurate that the development and use of tarot began in Europe prior to the Renaissance, sometime in the 15th century. Slate has a great article on it HERE if you are interested in learning more about the origins of the tarot. Most historians will agree that the deck was originally used as a parlour game prior to the 18th century when occult lore became popular. The fact is, there is nothing at all “magical” about a deck of tarot cards. So how the heck are they used as a divination tool, you might be asking? The simple answer to that question is that just about ANYTHING can be used as a divination tool. It is not the cards themselves that hold the key to tapping into the psyche, it is the READER of the cards that has the power. While it is true the framework of the cards is rich with symbolism that helps the reader “see” a story, it is the intention of the tarot reader and the energy exchange between reader and client that ultimately creates the story.  All tarot cards are different, as they all hold within them the style, intention, meaning and mood of the creators - the author and writer. However, how a particular deck resonates with their reader is also of importance. Not all decks resonate with me, so I use about three different versions in my regular rotation. (If you are interested in finding out more about choosing a deck that’s right for you, I cover this in my Beginners Tarot Class, The Art of Intuitive Reading, which you can learn about on my services page!)