The Origins of Tarot: From Playing Cards to Mystical Tool

Today, tarot is one of the most widely recognized tools of divination. Used for guidance, self-reflection, and spiritual insight, tarot decks are often assumed to be ancient mystical artifacts passed down from lost civilizations. The truth, however, is far more interesting.

Tarot did not begin as a magical system. It evolved—slowly and organically—from a simple card game into a symbolic language for the soul. Its transformation reflects humanity’s enduring desire to find meaning in chance, images, and archetypes.

This article explores where tarot truly came from, how it changed over time, and how a deck of playing cards became a powerful mystical tool.

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Before Tarot: The Arrival of Playing Cards in Europe

Playing cards originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (9th century) and traveled west through Islamic trade routes. By the late 14th century, cards had reached Europe, where they quickly became popular among all social classes.

Early European decks consisted of four suits and numbered cards—used purely for entertainment.

The Birth of Tarot in Renaissance Italy

The First Tarot Decks

Tarot emerged in 15th-century Italy, where it was known as tarocchi. These decks were commissioned by wealthy families and used for a trick-taking game similar to modern bridge.

What set tarot apart was the addition of a series of illustrated cards known as triumphs, later called the Major Arcana.

The Major Arcana as Social Allegory

The triumph cards depicted familiar medieval figures:

• The Emperor

• The Pope

• Death

• The Wheel of Fortune

• Justice

These images reflected the moral and social order of Renaissance Europe, not hidden esoteric teachings.

At this stage, tarot had no mystical purpose.

The Structure of the Tarot Deck

By the late 1400s, tarot decks had stabilized into a familiar format:

• 78 cards total

• 56 Minor Arcana (four suits)

• 22 Major Arcana (triumph cards)

The imagery was symbolic, but symbolic does not mean mystical—yet.

How Tarot Became Magical

18th-Century Occult Revival

Tarot’s spiritual transformation began in 18th-century France, when occult scholars reinterpreted the cards.

Antoine Court de Gébelin

In 1781, de Gébelin claimed tarot was a lost Egyptian book of wisdom encoded in symbols. While historically inaccurate, his idea reshaped tarot forever.

He introduced the notion that:

• tarot held secret esoteric knowledge

• the images encoded universal truths

• the deck was a spiritual system

Etteilla and Divinatory Tarot

Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla, was the first to use tarot specifically for divination.

He:

• assigned meanings to individual cards

• developed spreads

• published tarot manuals

• linked cards to astrology and elements

This marked tarot’s true entry into occult practice.

Tarot and the Golden Dawn

In the late 19th century, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn standardized tarot’s mystical framework.

They connected tarot to:

• Kabbalah

• astrology

• alchemy

• ceremonial magic

Many modern interpretations still rely on Golden Dawn correspondences.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck

Published in 1909, the Rider-Waite-Smith deck revolutionized tarot by illustrating all 78 cards.

Artist Pamela Colman Smith infused symbolic depth into each image, making intuitive reading accessible to everyone.

This deck remains the foundation of modern tarot practice.

Tarot as a Psychological Tool

In the 20th century, tarot expanded beyond divination.

Psychologists like Carl Jung viewed tarot as a system of archetypes representing universal human experiences.

Tarot became a mirror for the subconscious.

Why Tarot Endures

Tarot survives because it:

• adapts across cultures

• speaks in symbols

• offers structure to uncertainty

• blends chance with meaning

It does not predict fate—it reveals patterns.

Debunking Common Tarot Myths

• Tarot is not ancient Egyptian.

• Tarot was not originally mystical.

• Tarot does not summon spirits.

• Tarot does not control destiny.

Its power lies in interpretation, symbolism, and self-awareness.

Modern Tarot Practice

Today, tarot is used for:

• spiritual guidance

• personal growth

• creativity

• meditation

• storytelling

Its flexibility keeps it relevant.

Final Thoughts

Tarot’s journey from a Renaissance card game to a mystical tool is a testament to humanity’s ability to find meaning in symbols. What began as entertainment evolved into a language for the soul—one shaped by history, imagination, and human insight.

Tarot is not magic because it predicts the future.
It is magic because it helps us understand ourselves.

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.