ABOUT
There are as many opinions and views on tarot and playing cards as there are roads leading to Rome. And they are all equally interesting and valuable (the roads as well as the multitude of opinions). It goes without saying that Cesar’s horses always have priority (on these roads), but until today, endless theories have been maintained whether the roots of tarot originally can be found in ancient Egypt (Comte Court de Gebelin), renaissance Italy (Visconti) or elsewhere. To this day nobody really knows the truth about their origin, meaning and what not. Many theories seem just, many really are (insofar as can be verified), others are less accurate.
Yet, though much about the history of tarot and playing cards has been unveiled, a lot of ambiguities and contradictions remain. It seems hardly possible that all answers will ever be found, but every contribution helps, whether its content is just or not. Ultimately, all helps supporting the afore mentioned discussion and in so doing, keeping it lively. That way, new insights will always find their way onto this endless path of in-depth visual symbolism.
Tarocks is a ‘grouplet’ of enthusiasts which aspires, or rather hopes, to put tarot and ‘working’ with playing cards in a context less often treated. Our goal is trying to place the development of the ‘playing with cards’, regardless of what type of cards are concerned, in a historically correct social time setting and in doing so, illustrate at which moment their usage changes from being ordinary playing cards into divinatory tools (there is Court de Gebelin again...).
The design of the cards, especially those from midst 18th until the first decades of the 19th century, often reflect the social climate of the relevant historical period. For instance, the cards of the Papus deck show somewhat the same style (straight lines, the use of primary colours), that can be seen at posters, playbills and now and then can even be recognized in architecture of that period in time. And sometimes, centuries earlier, one is left in alone in discovering which elements were relevant, as the use of certain symbols was simply forbidden by law (the clergy).
The larger spiritual part of the cards and their use, will not profoundly be discussed on these pages. There already exist many great websites that offer extensive descriptions of the esoteric meaning, interpretation and use of the cards. Our modest additions would not be more than a scant contribution, so we leave that to the more scholarly initiated occultists. However, in some cases, we might deviate a little of the afore mentioned…
That being said, we like to conclude with the wish that everybody who visits these pages might find its contents worthwhile. Have you any thoughts, views or reflections related to what can be read and seen on these pages, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by going to our Contact page.
Yet, though much about the history of tarot and playing cards has been unveiled, a lot of ambiguities and contradictions remain. It seems hardly possible that all answers will ever be found, but every contribution helps, whether its content is just or not. Ultimately, all helps supporting the afore mentioned discussion and in so doing, keeping it lively. That way, new insights will always find their way onto this endless path of in-depth visual symbolism.
Tarocks is a ‘grouplet’ of enthusiasts which aspires, or rather hopes, to put tarot and ‘working’ with playing cards in a context less often treated. Our goal is trying to place the development of the ‘playing with cards’, regardless of what type of cards are concerned, in a historically correct social time setting and in doing so, illustrate at which moment their usage changes from being ordinary playing cards into divinatory tools (there is Court de Gebelin again...).
The design of the cards, especially those from midst 18th until the first decades of the 19th century, often reflect the social climate of the relevant historical period. For instance, the cards of the Papus deck show somewhat the same style (straight lines, the use of primary colours), that can be seen at posters, playbills and now and then can even be recognized in architecture of that period in time. And sometimes, centuries earlier, one is left in alone in discovering which elements were relevant, as the use of certain symbols was simply forbidden by law (the clergy).
The larger spiritual part of the cards and their use, will not profoundly be discussed on these pages. There already exist many great websites that offer extensive descriptions of the esoteric meaning, interpretation and use of the cards. Our modest additions would not be more than a scant contribution, so we leave that to the more scholarly initiated occultists. However, in some cases, we might deviate a little of the afore mentioned…
That being said, we like to conclude with the wish that everybody who visits these pages might find its contents worthwhile. Have you any thoughts, views or reflections related to what can be read and seen on these pages, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by going to our Contact page.