The Art Of Tarot

the art of tarot

Intro

Cartomancy is divination using cards.

Tarot, Oracle, Lenormand, and traditional playing cards are all examples of tools for cartomancy.

Tarot & Divination

Starting out as a card game, eventually, occultists began to link tarot to ancient wisdom. As tarot began to be associated with witchcraft, it was forced underground. In England, for example, the Witchcraft Act didn't end until 1950. This means that simply using tarot could mean jail time or death.

Tarot Fact: The superstition stating one has to be gifted their first deck is rooted in the secrecy associated with learning tarot. If you were gifted a deck, your teacher trusted you, and you could progress to learning.

As time progressed, tarot became acceptable within various occult groups. Their true meanings stayed hidden.

After many of these spiritual societies disbanded tarot became more of a individual practice. It grew to be more friendly and accessible.

Today we are considered to be in the golden age of tarot.

Cards

the start

The earliest known card games are linked to the Tang Dynasty in China. Playing cards in the Mamluk style (Mumluk Sultanate in Egypt 1250) was brought to Europe in the late 14th century. It is debated as to who brought the cards to Europe. It could have been due to the Romani people, traders, or the Crusaders via North Africa and Spain.

We see early cards from China, India, Persia, and Egypt all use the same four-suit style associated with traditional playing cards. However, the style and names of the suits have evolved over time.

1412-1425

Italy

Michelino da Besozzo

Marziano Tarot

The oldest known “Trump-style” tarot. Originally, conceived by Marziano da Tortona and created by Michelino da Besozzo in Malan between. The original deck is no longer in existence. The artist Robert M. Place reimagined the deck based on a 1449 letter by Jacopo Antonio Marcello to Queen Isabelle of Lorraine. The deck consists of 64 cards associated with the Roman gods.

Eagles: the life goal virtue, Jove, Apollo, Mercury, and Hercules.

Phoenixes: the desire for riches, Juno, Neptune, Mars, and Aeolus.

Turtledoves: the goal of chastity, Pallas, Diana, Vesta, and Daphne.

Doves: the desire for sensuality, Venus, Bacchus, Ceres, and Cupid.

(Visconti Tarot)

Note: Tarot decks consist of 78 cards. Twenty-two are considered the Major Arcana and denote major life experiences. There are 56 Minor Arcana cards. They represent everyday life events.

1451-1466

Italy

Bonifacio Bembo

Visconti

Tarot

This deck was not originally made for divination. It was associated with games like Tarocchini. First known as tarocchi or tarocks.

This deck was commissioned for a wedding. Decks from this era are interesting because the art shows stories of political and general life struggles. History through art.

The artwork in this deck has transcended time, and its influence is still seen in art today. Notably the 2017 House of Dior Autumn/Winter Show.

Modern Visconti Deck - IJJ Swiss Deck (1960's)

Sola - Busca

1490

Italy

Nicola Di Maestro Antonio

Owned by the Busca-Serbelloni family as a private heirloom for over 400 years. The original version was first shown to the public in 2009. Photos of black and white prints of the originals were only ever shown at the British Museum in 1907.

Achievements:

The oldest tarot deck completely intact
First known deck created via printing methods
First deck to have illustrated minor cards
First deck to have names and Arabic numbers on the cards themselves
First to have allegorical minor cards
First known deck to deliberately celebrate esoteric traditions (Hermetic and Alchemical philosophy)

It is said this deck heavily influenced the Rider-Smith-Waite deck and without it we wouldn't have the alchemical symbolism we have on tarot cards today. Pixie visited the 1907 Sola-Busca exhibition when seeking inspiration for her deck

17th & 18th Century

France

Multiple Artists

Tarot De Marseille

By the 18th century, Marseille emerged as a prominent place for printing playing cards. Any deck printed in this area was called "Tarot de Marseille".

Achievements:

First mass-printed deck
Extremely popular deck style even before divinatory use
Changed the names of the trump cards to be more accessible. For example: "Tower" from "The House of The Devil"

In 1650, Jean Noblet made the first deck considered to be the "true" Tarot De Marseille.

Modern Decks: Marshmallow Marseille, Tarot Siren, and Tattoo Tarot

1909

England

Rider-Waite-Smith

Arthur Waite & Pamela Coleman Smith (Pixie)

Also known as Rider-Waite and Waite-Smith deck. This deck is probably the MOST known and influential deck discussed on this site.

The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was published by William Rider & Son, the idea and finances from Waite, and created by Pixie. Until recent years, she was completely removed from being credited for her massive contribution to this work.

Pamela Coleman Smith was an artist and writer. She was born in to a wealthy American family in London, developed her artistic style while living in Jamaica, and eventually moved back to London. Pixie had synesthesia and it is said this contributed to her beautiful flowing style of art. Claude Debussy called her art made from his music "Dreams made visible".

Her prominent supporter, WB Yeats first introduced her to the esoteric world. In 1901, she joined The Order of The Golden Dawn.

Due to her extensive knowledge of the occult and artistic background, Waite commissioned her to craft a tarot deck. Consumed with the major arcana cards (22) properly conveying his esoteric beliefs, he gave more freedom to Pixie for the minor.

She slid in details that Waite had not noticed. The World card is an illustration of her close friend, Florence Farr. The Queen of Wands is said to depict one of her lovers (however it is debated as to whether it is Ellen Terry or Edith Craig)

A keynote of importance to this deck is the attention to the symbolism on every card. It was extremely important to Waite "a marriage of art and symbolism for the production of true Tarot".

The Pictorial Key To The Tarot is the companion book to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. It is intended originally for use with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck in particular.

N/A

England

BOTA Deck

Paul Foster Case & Jessie Burns Parke

The BOTA tarot deck was created shortly after the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. The author of the deck was Paul Foster Case. He was the founder of the Builders of The Adytum.

The BOTA is often considered a clone of the Rider-Smith-Waite deck. The changes Case made were to fix "blinds" in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

Some minor differences include:

Using Hebrew letters on the trump cards
Death and Sun cards based on Tarot De Marseille deck
Minor artistic and symbolic tweaks
Black and White prints - Case believed the individual should color in the cards themselves

1944

England

THOTH

Aleister Crowley & Lady Frieda Harris

The THOTH deck is considered the second most popular tarot tradition after Rider-Waite-Smith. It has heavy esoteric influences from Thelema and the Kabbalah. It weaves together elemental, numerological, and astrological motifs. Often considered darker and more intense.

The deck reflects Crowley's philosophies. However, Frieda is considered the driving force and soul behind the project.

The artwork is very detailed and uses Projective Synthetic Geometry. (A way to have shapes intersect and coexist with each other). Synthetic Geometry also has spiritual significance, part of a philosophy that there is an objective spiritual plane accessible by humans.

Upon its creation, the deck was part of an exhibit and lecture, running limited prints in 1944.

It was widely printed for the public in 1969.

Modern Decks: The Modern Tarot & Wayward Dark Tarot

1968

Aquarian

David Palladini

Unlike the previous artists mentioned, David was not well-versed in occult knowledge and symbolism. This deck is more of a product of the time. It is a generation inspired by images associated with spirituality and the new age movement.

The deck's art is a blend of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and psychedelic design.

Modern Decks: Mucha Tarot & Ethereal Visions (an Aquarian ad Rider-Waite-Smith hybrid)

1979

Morgan-Greer

Lloyd Morgan & Bill Greer

This deck channels the 1960/70's anti-war and counter culture style. It is another clone of the Rider-Waite-Smith in meaning and symbolism. The goal of the project was to craft a refreshed and modern version of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

The most iconic card in the deck is the 9 of Pentacles because it is often considered the first depiction in the tarot of a black woman.

In addition, it has many references to pop culture at the time. Stevie Nicks, for example, is the Empress card.

1981

Motherpeace

Karen Vogel & Vicki Noble

In 1978, after a life-changing vision, Keren Vogel and Vicki Noble set out to make what they called "The First Feminist Tarot Deck". Vogel claims she received a transmission of ancient wisdom for the deck.

It depicted spiritual imagery based on goddess religions oracles from the early world. They removed patriarical and masculine traditions within the tarot (popes, kings, emperors, and so on). We see Shaman, Priestess, Daughter, and Son instead of the traditional court cards.

It is considered an expression of 2nd wave feminism and emerged during the non-centralized goddess movement.

This deck carries themes of healing the planet and bringing in matriarical consciousness.

Additional Feminist Decks:

Daughters of The Moon and Thea's Tarot (rare)

1988

Germany

Cosmic Tarot

Norbert Losche

Developed by a German-based spiritual seeker. He was actually at one point a follower of Osho (Wild Wild Country). The goal was to readapt sacred tarot knowledge for modern times.

It is closely inspired by the THOTH deck and blends pop culture with Art Deco.

Modern Decks: Fountain Tarot & Textured Tarot

Contemporary Tarot

Tarot today explores art and fine art. It crafts unique traditions and revamps old ones. It combines diverse spiritual traditions and includes a variety of cultures. It can be whimsical, beautiful, filled with modern references, funny, serious- it explores what can truly be done with tarot.

Modern Classics

The Robin Wood Tarot

1991 - US

Robin Wood

Celtic, Wiccan, and Arthurian motifs

Druidcraft

2005 - US

Philip & Stephanie Carr-Gomm and Will Worthington

Centers around Druidry

Deviant Moon

2002 - US

Patrick Valenza

Dark, mechanical, surrealism

The Wild Unknown

2012 - US

Kim Krans

Recognized for it's popularity as a modern tarot tradition like THOTH and Rider-Waite-Smith.

Tarot Deck Differences

Every tarot deck is marked by the illustrations deeming them their own deck, philosophy, and spin on spiritual meanings. The tarot artwork (or lack of it) is vital because it dictates the energy, message, and interpretation.

All tarot decks are tarot. Think of it as the family name. The different types of decks make for siblings, cousins, and so on.

Tarot Traditions

There are many different tarot traditions. These traditions dictate the meaning of the cards and the symbolism used. To be within a tradition, your deck adheres to the meaning of the cards within the tradition. The artwork can be your own BUT it maintains the symbolism in some form to the original symbolism of the tarot tradition.