Did you know tarot cards have a history dating back centuries?

When you picture tarot cards, most people would imagine a velvet-draped table, flickering candlelight and somebody mysteriously turning over cards, whilst you anxiously await your fate. However, the story of tarot is much more layered and far older than most people realise. Long before they became a staple of mystical readings, tarot cards had an entirely different purpose. 

A Noble Pastime

The Origin of Tarot traces back to early 15th Century Europe, with some of the first known decks appearing in Italy. Back then, they weren’t considered magical, they were actually a luxury playing cards, created for a game called tarocchi. The tarot decks were extremely impressive works of art, often painted by hand and embellished with gold, commissioned by wealthy families as a symbol of status. It was like the cross between a set of chess and a luxury watch, only in the form of cards.

From Parlours to the Occult

The shift from the game to mythical practice happened centuries later, in the 18th century. French occultists who were intrigued by the cards’ elaborate imagery, decided to begin interpreting them as repositories of wisdom. They connected tarot to Egyptian mythology, astrology, alchemy and the Kabbalah - connections that modern historians see as more imaginative than factual. Still, these associations gave tarot a new identity. It was no longer a game, but it was a tool for exploring fate, destiny and the human psyche.

The Symbolic Language

A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana cards like The Fool, The Tower, and The World, are often seen as reflecting life’s major themes and turning points. The Minor Arcana, organised into suits much like a regular deck of cards, deals with everyday matters. Together, they create a symbolic language rich enough to spark deep reflection and insight. The images aren’t meant to dictate the future in a fixed manner, they’re more like a mirror of your thoughts, fears and hopes. 

Tarot in the Modern World

Today, tarot is enjoying a renaissance. Artists and designers have reimagined the cards in countless styles, from minimalist black and white, to whimsical pop culture decks. Many people use them all over the world, not only for spiritual readings, but for personal growth, creative brainstorming, or simply for peace of mind. Whether you see the cards as a mystical compass or simply as a beautiful piece of art, their enduring appeal lies in the way they connect us to something timeless. 

So, the next time you hold a deck of tarot cards, remember - you’re holding more than just a set of illustrations, you’re touching a centuries-old tradition that began as a noble pastime, transformed into a mythical practice, and continues to reinvent itself in the modern world. 

Writing by: Holly Maguire

Editing by: Ieva Dambrauskaite