| Tarot cards have existed in one form or another | | | | habit of consulting the Tarot to determine the most |
| since early medieval times. Most historians will tell you | | | | opportune day to preview his collections, as well as |
| that Tarot decks first appeared in northern Italy | | | | the best time to sneak away for a little vacation. |
| sometime between 1410 and 1430, that they most | | | | Ronald Reagan's tenure as President of the United |
| likely began as extensions of the four-suit playing | | | | States was haunted by whispers of tarot cards being |
| card decks already in existence, and that they were | | | | slipped into the White House through the back door. |
| originally referred to as "carte da trionfi" or "triumph | | | | When Donald Regan, Reagan's chief of staff, wrote |
| cards." | | | | a book detailing his time in the White House, it |
| The oldest extant Tarot card decks, painted by | | | | confirmed these speculations, revealing that Nancy |
| mid-15th century artists, were probably commissioned | | | | Reagan had an almost obsessive interest in astrology |
| by the Visconti-Sforza family which ruled Milan at the | | | | and, in fact, had been known to schedule some of |
| time. Almost from the beginning, and certainly by | | | | the President's official activities based on input from |
| 1540, Tarot cards were being used to predict the | | | | Tarot cards. |
| future. Divination, however, may actually have | | | | In June of 2000, during the height of a controversial |
| preceded the invention of the Tarot; a book known | | | | U.S. Presidential campaign, well-known astrologer |
| as The Oracles of Francesco Marcolino da Forli spells | | | | Claudia D. Dikinis came forward with the revelation |
| out a simple system of divination utilizing the coin suit | | | | that, according to her Tarot cards, George W. Bush |
| of common playing cards. | | | | would win the presidency--this in spite of her personal |
| Although not everyone believes in the power of the | | | | preference for Al Gore. |
| Tarot, it has clearly established itself as one of the | | | | In July of 2007, Sanjay Dutt, a Bollywood actor, was |
| most popular (if not THE most popular) method of | | | | convicted of illegal possession of firearms and |
| divination. Formerly conjuring up images of nomadic | | | | sentenced to six years of jail time. Undaunted by his |
| gypsies and dirty carnival booths, today's Tarot | | | | sentence, famed Tarot reader Mita Bahn quickly |
| practitioners are mainstream business men and | | | | pronounced, after studying her Tarot cards, that |
| women with attractive storefronts, nifty websites, | | | | Dutt would be set free. She was right. Just two |
| and in some cases highly profitable corporations | | | | weeks later, Dutt was granted interim bail. |
| employing hundreds of psychics. Tarot is big business. | | | | If it seems all of these odd occurrences involve the |
| But is Tarot a legitimate form of divination? Can it | | | | rich and famous, it is perhaps only because they are |
| really be used to predict the future--or is it all just | | | | more in the public eye. In 1986, Theresa Jackson, a |
| "entertainment" as most phone psychics are required | | | | Florida woman, sat at a table and read the Tarot |
| to tell you when you call their hotlines. | | | | with her daughter Tina Mancini, 17. Mrs. Jackson later |
| In the Netherlands, at least, Tarot seems to be | | | | told authorities that "The cards told me a blond child |
| taken fairly seriously. In August of 2007, the Dutch | | | | of mine was going to die." Four days later, on March |
| government began funding Tarot card readings for | | | | 24, 1986, Tina put a .357-caliber Magnum pistol in her |
| the jobless. That's right, as part of the | | | | mouth and pulled the trigger. |
| unemployment system you can get a free Tarot | | | | While such anecdotes seem to suggest a real power |
| reading to help get you back on your feet. And they | | | | behind the Tarot, it is admittedly circumstantial |
| may be headed in the same direction in New York | | | | evidence--they may merely be unusual events that |
| City which offers, among its institutions of higher | | | | happened to coincide with previous readings. Or |
| learning, a Tarot school where anyone can enroll to | | | | perhaps the readings themselves were a self-fulfilling |
| earn a degree in tarot card reading. | | | | prophecy. We won't ever know for sure. Unless, of |
| If you think it's just the poor, uneducated, and bored | | | | course, you're willing to dig out those old Tarot cards |
| who go in for Tarot readings, think again. The rich, | | | | gathering dust in your closet ... and ask them yourself. |
| powerful, and well-educated are not immune to the | | | | Do you dare? |
| lure of the Tarot. Christian Dior was reportedly in the | | | | |