Opening a curious picture book of symbolism, that is believed to
cross the boundaries of time.
I make no apology that I am an ardent believer in the power of the Tarot! But this has not always been the case. If someone had said to me years back that I would become a Tarot reader, I would have said “you are completely off your rocker”. Today ‘I eat my words’.
My personal ‘slant’ - Much more than ‘meets the eye’.
When I first encountered the Tarot (Cards) I was certainly a non-believer.
Brought up as a Christian I must confess at
first I was also a little scared of them, thinking of them as ‘sinful’. Although hesitant, having a somewhat dare
devilish character, my curiosity got the better of me.
This is how it all began…
One day, when a friend was visiting with her workmate, out of the blue, my partner agreed to read for their friend who appeared to need comfort. It was my first encounter and I was fascinated…I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. From that moment I was a ‘gonner’. Excuse the slang but it expresses my feelings so fittingly at the time and still to this very day…little did I know where it was going to lead.
In the early days, I began to play with the cards for a bit of fun. Looking back, in saying this, truth be told, there was an undercurrent that I wanted to know more, to acquire the talent of reading the cards. Which I could only describe, as seen at the time of my initiation (very simply put), unbelievably, ‘picking up on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences’ - someone you don’t know…and that stranger thanking you for your help.
Self-taught
Although my partner and I parted ways I couldn’t stop playing with
the cards trying to learn how to read them, expecting something miraculous to
happen, although I wasn’t sure what. It did
transpire but it wasn’t anything like what I had imagined it was so very
ordinary I nearly missed it! One day,
when on was on the verge of giving up, feeling disillusioned and frustrated, a
friend visiting said why don’t you read for me. Feeling I wasn’t ready, I thought to myself
what I have I got to lose, what the hell why not give it a shot. Plucking up
the courage I went for it. I don’t remember much of what I said at the time all
I know is she was over the moon. Grace, she said ‘you were so spot on, I can’t
believe it’.
That’s all it took, thirty-plus years later here I am, advocate. As the years passed the Tarot Cards have time and time again proved themselves to me to be incredible. The more I came to trust and believe the more I wanted to know, to understand the deck of cards. I was compelled to find out everything that I could and ‘boy’ has it been one long endless learning curve - a journey that has led to boundless knowledge. A journey I wish to share. It is not my intention to push my beliefs. But I do hope that I will help to dispel much of the enigma surrounding the Tarot Cards, that they become less misunderstood and respected.
When I first looked to study the Tarot Deck a million and one questions reeled through my mind, some listed hereunder. I feel these questions present a great ‘springboard’, base to start from. In various articles to come, I shall give it my utmost best to answer these questions and more as I explore and impart the knowledge I have gained around the Tarot Deck: Its structure (foundation); body (the individual cards); and system of use (the inner and outer primary principles and systematic procedures adopted).
- Where did the Tarot come from?
- What is a Tarot deck?
- What is a Tarot Card Reading?
- How does the Tarot work?
- What is a Tarot Reader? (Fraudster, gifted individual or just a normal human being who has mastered a skill!)
- Why is the Tarot classed as fortune-telling?
- Is the Tarot a way to open up the Sixth Sense?
- Could reading the Tarot be an ability that is naturally inherent in everyone?
- Can the Tarot lead to a pathway to greater learning…self-awareness and about the world we live in?
According to the many books found on Tarot today, the Tarot has
survived through the ages from so distant a past that no one can accurately
trace their origin. Whilst their origin
is obscure, authors seem to agree that they have been known to the West since
around 1392 A.D.
Whilst there is no documented evidence, some authors claim to have traced the Tarot cards to ancient Egypt or the Kabbalah, the Jewish system of mysticism. Many are convinced that the symbolism contained within the tarot is the lost knowledge of Egyptian mysticism and or theology.
Scholars believe, on the other hand, that these cards have been
passed down from generation to generation by an elite few who carefully
preserved the mystical symbols, signs, letters, and numbers.
Another wide belief is that when the Romani people (gypsies) travelled
from Europe they brought the tarot with them. Some also go as far as saying
that the gypsies were the descendants of ancient Egyptians.
When the cards first appeared, they were supposedly used purely as playing cards. As their popularity grew, they soon became a popular game with the nobles.
As far as various literary sources can tell, the first real Tarot deck appeared between 1430 and 1450 and it was only around the 16th century when the tarot became connected to divination. Literature sources can be found from both 1735 and 1750 that describe a simple divinatory system for Tarot cards.
Today, this conviction lies at the heart of the Hermetic Qabalah,
a Western mystical tradition founded upon disciplines from Alchemy, Astrology,
Jewish Kabbalah, and other religions and belief systems.
A Body of Knowledge! Crossing the Boundaries of Time?
There is a wide belief that the Tarot is made up of archetypical
symbolism that crosses the boundaries of time.
Perhaps this is the reason why many groups recognise the Tarot as a
universal body of knowledge. One
simplistic description given for the Tarot is an esoteric doctrine based on a
picture book of symbols within an ancient system that is presented in the form
of a deck of cards.
Records show that, through the ages, the cards have been used as a divination tool to aid and inspire intuition, and or insight, to reveal hidden knowledge and or tell events. Hence, Tarot is often referred to by literary sources and Tarot readers as the ancient art of laying out cards and interpreting symbolism to help explore life’s questions. To date, it seems this belief has yet to be truly proven!
One popular hypothesis that may have a logical foundation is a common belief that Tarot card images trigger
a subconscious emotional response, meaning, at the core, it’s all about channeling
energy that is communicated and transferred psychically through the
subconscious.
Explained in another way the cards are seen as tools to aid the
development of intuitive ability, inherent in all mankind. This hypothesis,
belief system, explains that such an experience triggers one to reach the
higher plane of communication and expression where: inhibition, limitation, and boundaries cease
to exist, where one is more in touch with one’s intuitive side, and free will
rules.
Taking this one step further, in principle, under this
proposition, the belief is the Tarot works because when a question is asked of
a problem, the answer is already present in the one asking the question (in the
subconscious mind.)
At the root of this theory is the foundation that, when concentrating on a question, an individual’s subconscious brings that knowledge to the surface. In practical terms, the subconscious takes over and leads to the drawing of certain Tarot cards. It pushes the individual to see everything; confront certain issues that one may be choosing to ignore, and or see things that they may not necessarily be taking into consideration that could alter the situation.
Following the hypothesis to its conclusion, it is through this process the bigger picture is revealed, things become clearer as everything is put into context. This position helps an individual to make the right decision and so take correct action.
If we are to believe this theory, in essence, the cards are conduits only, nothing more, and nothing to do with magic, instead, the Tarot’s purpose is to help one to release the higher self. Some could say that it’s magic!
A further point that should be mentioned at this time is: The Tarot is considered by many believers to be a blend of philosophy, psychology, and science (channeled through symbolism and one’s subconscious) and where ritual can also play a role.
Whatever their origin and true purpose, today, the Tarot is growing in popularity and an interesting talking point with much controversy surrounding them as to the validity of claims made by tarot readers.
Advocates of the Tarot cards believe the main reasons why the
Tarot has gained in popularity are:
- Through the experience of a Tarot reading, it is possible to obtain an understanding of certain events being experienced. This can help a person to work through the negative moments and aspects of the event.
- A Tarot reading, through confirmation, can help to underpin what a person already knows, thus provide them with the confidence required to move forward.
- Within the process of a Tarot reading, a person can often be offered clarity, guidance, and or direction. Hence, a Tarot experience can assist in a person’s decision-making process when they are feeling confused or unsure of what to do.
- A doorway to information about situations a person encounters.
- They provide information but they do not and should not rule a person’s life.
- The Tarot offers a person a path for change, through free will, the only one area they can control – themselves.
- The Tarot Cards are an invaluable guide to help facilitate a person’s emotional, mental and physical well being.
Indeed powerful thoughts and beliefs worthy of contemplation.
Stay tuned…In my next post on Tarot I will take a look at what the Tarot is founded upon - its makeup...The Tarot Deck Composition (An Intricate and Fascinating Communication System)
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