Mystical Origins of the Tarot : From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage

A profusely illustrated history of the occult nature of the tarot from its origins in ancient Persia • Thoroughly examines the original historical source for each tarot card and how the cards' divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols • Provides authentic 18th- and 19th-century spreads and divination techniques • Reveals the divinatory meanings of the cards as understood by diviners in the Middle Ages and Renaissance The origins of the tarot have been lost in the mists of time. Most scholars have guessed that its origins were in China, Egypt, or India. In Mystical Origins of the Tarot , Paul Huson has expertly tracked each symbol of the Minor Arcana to roots in ancient Persia and the Major Arcana Trump card images to the medieval world of mystery, miracle, and morality plays. A number of tarot historians have questioned the use of the tarot as a divination tool prior to the 18th century. But the author demonstrates that the symbolic meanings of the Major Arcana were evident from the time they were first employed in the mid-15th century in the popular divination practice of sortilege. He also reveals how the identities of the court cards in the Minor Arcana were derived from a blend of pagan and medieval sources that strongly influenced their interpretation in tarot divination. Mystical Origins of the Tarot provides a thorough examination of the original historical source for each card and how the cards' divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols. Huson also provides concise and practical card-reading methods designed by the cartomancers of the 18th and 19th centuries and reveals the origins of the card interpretations promoted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite.

a Profusely Illustrated History Of The Occult Nature Of The Tarot From Its Origins In Ancient Persia

• Thoroughly Examines The Original Historical Source For Each Tarot Card And How The Cards’ Divinatory Meanings Evolved From These Symbols

• Provides Authentic 18th- And 19th-century Spreads And Divination Techniques

• Reveals The Divinatory Meanings Of The Cards As Understood By Diviners In The Middle Ages And Renaissance

the Origins Of The Tarot Have Been Lost In The Mists Of Time. Most Scholars Have Guessed That Its Origins Were In China, Egypt, Or India. In mystical Origins Of The Tarot, Paul Huson Has Expertly Tracked Each Symbol Of The Minor Arcana To Roots In Ancient Persia And The Major Arcana Trump Card Images To The Medieval World Of Mystery, Miracle, And Morality Plays. A Number Of Tarot Historians Have Questioned The Use Of The Tarot As A Divination Tool Prior To The 18th Century. But The Author Demonstrates That The Symbolic Meanings Of The Major Arcana Were Evident From The Time They Were First Employed In The Mid-15th Century In The Popular Divination Practice Of Sortilege. He Also Reveals How The Identities Of The Court Cards In The Minor Arcana Were Derived From A Blend Of Pagan And Medieval Sources That Strongly Influenced Their Interpretation In Tarot Divination.

mystical Origins Of The Tarot Provides A Thorough Examination Of The Original Historical Source For Each Card And How The Cards’ Divinatory Meanings Evolved From These Symbols. Huson Also Provides Concise And Practical Card-reading Methods Designed By The Cartomancers Of The 18th And 19th Centuries And Reveals The Origins Of The Card Interpretations Promoted By The Hermetic Order Of The Golden Dawn And A. E. Waite.

Intro Title Page Dedication Acknowledgments Contents About the Illustrations Preface Introduction: Of Playing Cards and Tarot Decks The Mamlûk Cards The Creation of the Court Cards The Naming of the Court Cards The Creation of the Tarot Trumps Tarot in the Sixteenth Century Further Developments 1. The Origin of the Suit Signs Sufis and the Suit Signs The Four Cardinal Virtues The Four Castes of Ancient Persia 2. The Origin of the Trumps Petrarch's I Trionfi Medieval Drama The Four Last Things The Tale the Trumps Tell 3. Of Cartomancy and the Tarot The Ancient Art of SortilegeEgyptian Magic and the Book of Thoth Etteilla's System The Kabbala and Éliphas Lévi The Golden Dawn Attributions Papus and His "Bohemian" Tarot 4. The Meanings of the Trump Cards: The Major Arcana 0 The Fool I The Juggler II The Female Pope III The Empress IV The Emperor V The Pope VI The Lovers VII The Chariot VIII Justice IX The Hermit X The Wheel of Fortune XI Fortitude XII The Hanged Man XIII Death XIV Temperance XV The Devil XVI The Tower XVII The Star XVIII The Moon XIX The Sun XX The Judgment XXI The World 5. The Meanings of the Suit Cards: The Minor ArcanaThe Suit of Coins or Pentacles The Suit of Cups or Chalices The Suit of Swords The Suit of Batons or Wands 6. Reading the Tarot Selecting a Tarot Deck Getting in Touch with Your Cards Preparing for Divination General Rules of Cartomancy Simple Tarot Spreads Advanced Cartomancy-Linking the Cards Complex Systems Last Words of Advice Appendix 1. Historical Tarot Decks Appendix 2. Where to Buy Your Cards Appendix 3. Where to See the Originals Bibliography Other Books by this Author About the Author About Inner Traditions The origins of the tarot have been lost in the mists of time. Most scholars have guessed that its origins were in China, Egypt, or India. In _Mystical Origins of the Tarot_, Paul Huson traces each symbol of the Minor Arcana to roots in ancient Persia and the Major Arcana Trump card images to the medieval world of mystery, miracle, and morality plays. A thorough examination of each card is given, and how the cards' divinatory meanings evolved. Huson also provides concise and practical card-reading methods of the 18th and 19th centuries and reveals the origins of the card interpretations promoted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite. "Thirty years ago, at the very start of the modern tarot renaissance, Paul Huson showed us how to uncover the mythical images and truths of the tarot. Now he has returned to incorporate modern scholarship into a visionary new concept for deciphering the mystery of the tarot's origins and meaning."—(Rachel Pollack,... Thoroughly examines the original historical source of each tarot card, how the card's divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols, and provides authentic spreads and divination techniques from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Original.