Tarot is the language of the soul. It describes a process of life we all go through, no matter what culture, and mirrors for us where we are on the path.
It addresses such questions as, where are we going and where have we been? What lessons am I learning? What am I likely to be confronted with today? How does a particular person feel about me? What’s our past life connection? What’s our future together? How is my business doing? What is my money situation…?
It provides guidance on the path, and a means of bringing our unconscious life to light so that we may live it more consciously. Carl Jung said “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Tarot brings us into the realm of the unconscious, and to whatever extent we can stand it, allows us to live there.
No one knows the exact origin of the Tarot. Is it from France, Egypt, Italy, China? There’s indication that it may be from any of these countries. Most documentation goes back to the 14th century though it may actually be 1000 years older. We can trace back a European card game called “Tarocchi” or “Tarock.”
Tarot is an ancient occult and philosophical system consisting of 78 cards divided into Major and Minor Arcana (secrets). The 22 cards of the major arcana represent the journey of a soul that each of us takes. It’s the story of the soul as it confronts life, develops consciousness and ultimately finds enlightenment. It deals with archetypal forces.
The remaining 56 cards (forerunners of modern playing cards) deal with the changing situations we encounter. It consists of 16 court cards and 40 numbered cards divided into four suits: Wands (clubs) represent the fire element/spirit (some decks have it represent air), Cups (hearts) represent water/emotion, Swords (spades) represent air/mind/thinking, Pentacles (diamonds) represent earth/physical/sensation, money and business.
Classically, each suit has a King, Queen, Knight, Page (or Princess). Cards are numbered Ace through 10.
Divination is the process of establishing communication with the gods of the collective unconscious. It may be translated to mean “divine power,” or “of the gods,” and thus indicates the process is to “make divine.” Initially it was a method by which one could communicate with the gods and comprehend their will.
It’s a spiritual science that deals with discovering the divine significance behind “chance” events.
