HISTORY OF TAROT

 Where do I begin  ... There are so many myths and legends re how Tarot started that it is so important to do some research yourself before making blanket statements that are incorrect  in relation to Tarot History ... 

This is what I have discovered on my years of working with Tarot ....  

Tarot began has a game in Europe now through many cultures there are variations of  card games that have now become used for Divination and Tarot is one of them ... There were many card games,  using cards called -Trionfi,  some were tarocchi , tarock, konigrufen as well as the French Tarot  throughout Europe.  

Playing cards first entered Europe through the 14th Century and  and during the 15th Century Tarot packs were created for example The Visconti-Sforza was handpainted, commissioned for the family ... 

There were other older styled decks created  

You can find out more info by clicking Here 

Next look  into Tarot de Marseille ..

This style deck like the Visconti-Sforza was at first handpainted then when the printing presses were created the market for these decks grew.. Now there were many stories re the Tarot needing to be hidden because of the Church ... There are many variants of  TdM  styled  decks from within Europe with their own particular style .. To learn about the different styles  please CLICK HERE

These are the Variant of TdM  styled decks  I have at this time ... 

THE SPANISH TAROT  18th Century 

THE ANCIENT ITALIAN TAROT  1880 

CONVER - LO SCARABEO LIMITED EDITION ANTIQUE .1760

CLAUDE BURDEL -1751 LO SCARABEO TdM

 

From there  1908 approx  and published by 1909 created  by Arthur E Waite and Pamela Colman- Smith together  the Rider Waite Smith or variations of that name  a deck that added scenes to the Minor Arcana  instead of like the pips of the TdM styled decks. ..

These are some  of my current decks of this style ... 

Smith-Waite  Borderless Edition Tarot 

Universal Tarot 

Waterfall Tarot 

Indie Deck Handpainted watercolor by TarotOracle 

Find him on YouTube.. 

This show the Smith-Waite Tarot with the Before  Tarot 

The Before Tarot 

After Tarot 

ViceVersa Tarot  

As you can see there are some real variations on the RWS type decks .. some of course are more modern in their approach to  looking at The images from a different perspective .   To learn more about the History of RWS Click Here.. 

 

Next Thoth Tarot designed and created  by Aleister Crowley and Lady Freida Harris ...  Click Here for more details re this creation ... This was created  in approx 1948 and published after they had passed in 1968 approx.  This deck is quite unique in its approach to Tarot , including aspects of Astrology and Kabballah.   Over the years with different publishers you will find different sizes, cardstock of this deck, you may find colours may also differ due to the printers at the time ..  

Decks in my Collection include a pocket size and a larger sized deck ... 

Thoth tarot .. 

You can also find many decks based on Thoth in many ways or may include Thoth meanings in their Guidebooks in some way  ...  

Some of my other decks based on Thoth include 

Native American Tarot 

With keywords on the Minor Arcana it was my first Tarot deck that allowed me to read easily .. 

(Approx first published in 1988 - I have had to replace my deck with the Newer US Games cardstock ) 

Mary-El tarot (1st Edition -OOP)  

This deck combines many aspects of Tarot within it's creation. The Guidebook is in depth and takes some time to work through and understand .. 

First published by  Schiffer in 2012. 

There are so many decks created which include a variety of themes and media styles. There are so many to choose from whether you decide on using one deck  or using many decks, whether you are a user of tarot or maybe also a collector, there is no one perfect deck for everyone ..  We as readers are all so different and have different tastes, different reading styles - this is what I love about Tarot ... 

Now as we approach towards the end of 2021 ready for 2022  we find ourselves maybe feeling overwhelmed by the variety of decks being published, rereleased and created whether they are decks put out there as Mass market or Indie decks self-published or by being printed on Print-on-demand sites , the choices are many.. And only YOU can decide what deck or decks you wish to purchase... 

Do not let anyone make you feel guilty for your Choices .. Is that One deck  or is that Thousands of decks .. Your Choice ... 

MY COLLECTION 

Top-Decks I am working with at this time Tarot, Oracle (This changes ) 

Rest of Shelves- Oracle decks 

Tarot Decks  

Top baskets Left- Tarot, Right- Oracle 

Middle - Tarot  bagged 

Bottom - Rest of Oracle Bagged 

there is a basket with some other Cartomancy cards 

and a box with my creations in it and Lenormand 

Waiting for New Space to be done - This is Temporary at this time .. ... 

This only gives you a general timeline of Tarot , please do your own research to discover so much more about the layers of Tarot and how Tarot is open to all cultures, all beliefs, to all people Worldwide .. 

It is not a closed practice ...