History of Tarot Cards: A 600-Year Journey
Tarot cards are among the most widely known divination tools today, but their origin is surprisingly rooted in aristocratic card games. Born in 15th-century Italy, these cards transformed over centuries from playing cards to mystical tools to modern psychological self-reflection instruments. Understanding tarot history helps you appreciate the rich symbolism and cultural context behind each card.
Tarot History Timeline
15th Century: Birth in Italy
Tarot history begins in the 1440s in northern Italy, particularly Milan, Ferrara, and Bologna. The card game 'Tarocchi,' popular among aristocrats, is the ancestor of modern tarot. The oldest known tarot deck, the Visconti-Sforza deck, was commissioned by the Duke of Milan's family — ornate artworks decorated with gold leaf and intricate paintings.
Early tarot decks consisted of 22 trump cards (today's Major Arcana) and 56 pip cards (today's Minor Arcana). These cards were purely for gaming, with no connection to divination.
18th Century: Tool of Mysticism
Tarot began being used for divination in 18th-century France. In 1781, Antoine Court de Gebelin claimed in his writings that tarot cards contained secret knowledge from ancient Egypt. While historically unfounded, this claim greatly influenced the mystical image of tarot.
Subsequently, Etteilla (born Jean-Baptiste Alliette) designed the first tarot deck specifically for divination and published systematic divination methodologies. This marked tarot's definitive transition from playing cards to divination tools.
19th Century: Occult and Secret Societies
The 19th century was when tarot became a core tool of Western occult tradition. Eliphas Levi connected the 22 Major Arcana to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and established correspondences with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. These connections formed the foundation of modern tarot interpretation.
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn further advanced tarot study, systematically incorporating astrological, alchemical, and numerological symbolism into the cards. Arthur Edward Waite, a member of this secret society, would later create the most famous tarot deck.
1909: Birth of the Rider-Waite-Smith Deck
1909 is the most significant year in tarot history. The Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, conceived by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, was published. Its innovation was adding illustrated scenes to Minor Arcana cards, which previously only showed suit symbols. This change made intuitive interpretation much easier.
Today, the majority of tarot readers worldwide use the RWS deck or variations based on it. Mystic Tarot also uses 78 cards based on the RWS tradition.
20th Century: Popularization and Psychological Approach
In the mid-20th century, tarot spread to a wider public alongside the New Age movement. Carl Jung's archetype theory added new dimensions to tarot interpretation. Jung saw tarot card imagery as reflecting archetypal patterns existing in humanity's collective unconscious, opening perspectives of tarot as a psychological tool rather than superstition.
Eden Gray's 'Complete Guide to the Tarot,' published in 1969, became the pioneering popular tarot introduction, followed by thousands of diverse tarot deck designs.
21st Century: Tarot in the Digital Age
With the spread of the internet and smartphones, tarot thrives in the digital world. Online tarot reading services, tarot apps, and AI-based interpretations have made tarot accessible to everyone. Simultaneously, tarot has naturally integrated into mainstream culture as part of self-care and mindfulness trends.
Mystic Tarot is part of this modern movement, using AI technology to make traditional tarot wisdom accessible to everyone. The combination of 78 authentic card images and AI's deep interpretation provides meaningful self-reflection experiences.
Interesting Tarot Facts
The oldest surviving tarot cards are the Visconti-Sforza deck from around 1451, now scattered across various museums worldwide.
The etymology of 'Tarot' is uncertain. Theories include Italian 'tarocchi,' French 'tarot,' and other origins.
The number 78 is numerologically significant. 7+8=15, 1+5=6 — the number 6 represents The Lovers card, symbolizing harmony and choice.
Pamela Colman Smith completed all 78 illustrations for the RWS deck in just 6 months, yet went unrecognized for decades.
In France, tarot is still enjoyed as a card game called 'Tarot francais,' which remains popular to this day.
Experience centuries of tarot history with AI.
Start Free Tarot Reading