Tracing the Threads: A Deep Dive into the Mysterious Origins and Evolution of Tarot

In our introductory exploration, we touched upon the fascinating journey of Tarot from ancient whispers to modern decks. Now, as we venture into “Phase Five: Beyond the Surface,” it’s time to pull back the veil further and embark on a more comprehensive deep dive into the true, complex, and often misunderstood origins and evolution of Tarot. This journey reveals less of an unbroken ancient lineage and more of a captivating story of cultural shifts, artistic innovation, and the human impulse to find meaning.

The Italian Renaissance: Where Tarot Truly Begins (15th Century)

Despite persistent romantic myths connecting Tarot to ancient Egypt, Atlantis, or even the Knights Templar, historical evidence firmly points to Northern Italy during the Renaissance (specifically the 15th century) as the birthplace of Tarot.

“Carte da Trionfi” (Cards of Triumphs): The earliest known Tarot decks weren’t called “Tarot” but “Carte da Trionfi,” or “Triumph Cards.” They were luxury playing cards, hand-painted for aristocratic families like the Visconti-Sforza. These were expensive, custom-made works of art, reflecting the opulence and intellectual curiosity of the era.
Structure of Early Decks: These decks already featured the two main divisions we recognize today:
- Four Suits: Similar to modern playing cards, these included Swords, Batons (Wands), Cups, and Coins (Pentacles).
- Trump Cards: A series of allegorical, unsuited cards (typically 21, plus a Fool card) depicting virtues, social classes, astrological bodies, and Christian allegories. These are the precursors to our Major Arcana.
Purpose: Their primary use was for gaming, a sophisticated parlor game popular among the nobility. There’s no historical evidence from this period to suggest they were used for divination.

The Shift to “Tarocco” and Spread Across Europe (16th - 17th Centuries)

As the game spread, particularly into France, the name evolved. The Italian “Tarocchi” became the French “Tarot.” Decks began to be mass-produced using woodblock printing, making them more accessible to a wider population beyond the elite. However, their function remained predominantly for card games.

The Occult Explosion: Tarot’s Metamorphosis into a Divinatory Tool (18th Century)

The late 18th century marked the pivotal moment when Tarot transitioned from a popular game to a tool of esoteric wisdom and divination. This shift was largely driven by two key French figures:

Antoine Court de Gébelin (1781): A French Protestant pastor and Freemason, de Gébelin published Le Monde Primitif, in which he (incorrectly) posited that Tarot originated from ancient Egypt, preserving the secret wisdom of the Egyptian god Thoth. While historically inaccurate, this grand narrative infused the Tarot with a profound mystical aura, attracting the attention of esotericists.
Etteilla (Jean-Baptiste Alliette - 1785): A professional diviner, Etteilla was the first to publish a Tarot deck specifically designed for fortune-telling, along with a book of divinatory meanings for each card. He was instrumental in codifying the practice of using Tarot for readings, and his deck, the Grand Etteilla Tarot, was highly popular in its time.

These figures, along with others like Marie Anne Lenormand (though she used a different kind of divinatory deck, her popularity influenced the interest in card reading), solidified Tarot’s association with the occult.

The Esoteric Codification: Modern Tarot Takes Shape (19th - Early 20th Centuries)

The 19th century saw a flourishing of occult societies and a more systematic approach to esoteric studies, profoundly impacting Tarot.

Eliphas Lévi (1850s): A highly influential French occultist, Lévi connected the Tarot to the Kabbalah, astrology, and alchemy. His writings, particularly Dogma and Ritual of High Magic, provided a complex framework for interpreting the Major Arcana as symbolic of the Tree of Life’s paths. His work deeply influenced later esoteric Tarot traditions.
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (late 19th century): This influential secret society in Britain adopted Lévi’s ideas and developed an intricate system of correspondences for the Tarot, linking cards to astrological signs, Hebrew letters, and Kabbalistic paths. They meticulously integrated Tarot into their magical and spiritual practices.
The Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot (1909): Commissioned by A.E. Waite (a prominent Golden Dawn member) and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith (also a Golden Dawn member), the RWS deck revolutionized Tarot.
- Full Scenes on Minor Arcana: Unlike earlier decks (like the Tarot de Marseille), Smith illustrated all 78 cards with symbolic scenes, not just the Major Arcana and Court Cards. This innovation made the Minor Arcana far more intuitive and accessible for interpretive readings, rather than simply counting symbols.
- Esoteric Symbolism: Waite ensured the imagery was imbued with Golden Dawn esoteric symbolism, subtly guiding the interpretation towards archetypal and spiritual meanings. The RWS deck became the definitive standard for modern Tarot, directly influencing the design and interpretation of countless decks that followed.

Other Notable Decks and Traditions:

Tarot de Marseille: This older, simplified deck (often used as a template for early printed decks) is characterized by its iconic, often block-printed imagery. Crucially, its Minor Arcana pip cards (numbered cards) depict only the number of suit symbols, not elaborate scenes. This requires a different, more numerological and elemental approach to interpretation, often favored by traditionalists.
Thoth Tarot: Created by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris, this deck (published posthumously in 1969) is a complex esoteric system rooted in Crowley’s Thelema, Kabbalah, and astrology. Its artwork and symbolism are highly intricate and philosophical, making it a challenging but rewarding deck for advanced students.

The Enduring Legacy: Tarot in the Modern Age

Today, Tarot continues to evolve. While its historical journey is fascinating, its enduring power lies in its adaptability. From its origins as a game to its adoption by occultists and its codification by esoteric orders, Tarot has continually transformed.

In the 21st century, Tarot is widely embraced as a powerful tool for self-discovery, psychological insight, and intuitive guidance. It’s used by therapists, life coaches, spiritual seekers, and everyday individuals to explore consciousness, navigate challenges, and connect with inner wisdom. The myths of its ancient origins persist, yet the true story of its European evolution and its pivotal shift in the 18th century highlight the remarkable journey of a deck of cards that became a mirror to the human soul.