| Though it is often considered just a fortune-telling | | | | Coleman-Smith, both members of the Hermetic Order |
| device, Tarot cards are actually part of a much | | | | of the Golden Dawn and practicing Kabbalists, |
| larger, centuries-old spiritual movement devoted to | | | | published the now-classic Rider-Waite Tarot deck, |
| the discovery of the Higher Self. This movement, | | | | which is still the most popular Tarot deck in the |
| called the Western Mystery Tradition, encompasses | | | | world. Eventually, each Tarot card in the deck was |
| and explores the many deep spiritual pathways found | | | | assigned a place on the Tree of Life. |
| outside established western religious institutions; the | | | | As a result of the classical education, research, study |
| treasure sought is an ever-deepening perception of | | | | and devotion of esoteric scholars such as Levi, |
| our own humanity and relationship with the Divine, | | | | Waite, and Coleman-Smith, the Tarot deck was |
| achieved by the process of understanding and | | | | elevated from a simple plaything to a highly |
| transforming our own selves. Because of this | | | | condensed symbolic learning device. By synthesizing a |
| approach, the Western Mystery Tradition is inclusive, | | | | variety of traditions such as Kabbalah, astrology, |
| rather than exclusive; it views all religious systems, | | | | alchemy and mythology, the Tarot images express |
| including Tarot, as symbols and metaphors for the | | | | spiritual truths that underlie much of western culture. |
| same Truth. Its wisdom is taught mainly through | | | | These spiritual truths, expressed via iconic symbol |
| books and private meditation, and in small mystery | | | | and imagery, help build bridges between our |
| schools around the world. | | | | conscious, subconscious and Higher Self. The secret |
| As with most esoteric spiritual systems, the goal of | | | | of Tarot's enduring popularity over the past several |
| the Western Mystery Tradition is to lead us to higher | | | | centuries is the way these simple, archetypal images |
| levels of awareness, culminating in awakening or | | | | communicate truths and deep meanings to all aspects |
| enlightenment, or, to use the Western Mystery | | | | of the self so directly. |
| Tradition term, "Initiation." Tarot, therefore, as part | | | | The spiritual path of Tarot involves taking steps to |
| of the Western Mystery Tradition, is more than a | | | | incorporate the deeply felt meaning of each card into |
| fortune-telling device - it is a legitimate spiritual path | | | | our everyday lives. Reading books about the cards is |
| toward Initiation. | | | | a good first step toward understanding these |
| The early history of Tarot cards is not | | | | meanings more consciously. You might also select one |
| well-documented, which has given rise to many | | | | card to be your companion for a week, keeping it |
| interesting but erroneous Tarot myths. One such | | | | with you as you go about your daily routine. |
| myth claims the deck was created by a group of | | | | Meditating on the images is also important. If this |
| adepts who met periodically at some undisclosed | | | | card could speak, what would it say to you? What |
| location to discuss philosophy, magic, natural science, | | | | aspect of your self is reflected in the image? What |
| etc. Hampered by the lack of a common language, | | | | events in your daily life might be understood |
| they created the Tarot deck to serve as their | | | | differently with the card's message in mind? It's a |
| means of communication. Other myths place the | | | | good idea to keep a journal of your thoughts, |
| origin of the cards in Egypt, India, China, Morocco or | | | | insights and personal issues as they arise throughout |
| Mount Sinai. The word "Tarot" is thought to be | | | | the week. |
| Egyptian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew or, best of all, a | | | | In addition to studying the cards themselves, |
| mysterious anagram whose meaning has yet to be | | | | understanding the sequence of the cards teaches us |
| discovered. | | | | a great deal about the joys and sorrows of the |
| The unromantic truth is that Tarot probably started | | | | spiritual path. For example, the Major Arcana chart a |
| out as a simple card game played in northern Italy | | | | path that begins with The Fool, which represents the |
| during the early 15th century. The oldest Tarot cards | | | | beginning of the Divine's descent into physical reality. |
| still in existence are lavishly hand-painted decks that | | | | The next several cards teach us about the process |
| employ images familiar to Medieval and Renaissance | | | | by which man creates his world. Surprisingly, The |
| European court life - kings, knights, fools, jugglers, | | | | Devil is the beginning of the path to Initiation, |
| etc. The word "Tarot" probably comes from the | | | | because it helps us see through the mask worn by |
| Italian Carte da Trionfi (Cards of the Triumphs), later | | | | the physical world. The next step is The Tower, |
| called Tarocchi. The German form of the word is | | | | which graphically demonstrates the pain and fear we |
| Tarock and the French form is Tarot. | | | | experience by relinquishing strongly held opinions and |
| The role of Tarot in spirituality began in the 18th | | | | worldviews. The cards that follow symbolize further |
| century, when Comte de Mellet linked the 22 Major | | | | stages on the path to full enlightenment or Initiation, |
| Arcana of the Tarot cards to the 22 letters of the | | | | symbolized by The World. |
| Hebrew alphabet. Hebrew letters play an important | | | | The Tarot's Court Cards represent aspects of our |
| role in the ancient Jewish mystical system called | | | | own personalities that help and hinder us on our |
| Kabbalah, which uses the Tree of Life as its main | | | | paths. The Minor Arcana represent aspects of the |
| symbol. The Tree of Life is a metaphoric diagram | | | | Tree of Life, which swing back and forth between |
| that maps everything from the maturation of the | | | | positive and negative, male and female. |
| self, our journeys from birth to death, and the | | | | The depth and relevance of the wisdom and personal |
| progress of our souls toward Divinity. The Tree of | | | | insights available through the Tarot is surprising. Once |
| Life has been studied for centuries; the earliest | | | | the symbolic bridge has been built, these cards |
| known reference to it is found in the Sefer Yetzirah, | | | | actually seem to speak to us; the more we study |
| an ancient Kabbalistic text which may be almost two | | | | them, the more they reveal. Because the symbols |
| thousand years old. | | | | hidden in these cards derive from the history, myths, |
| This connection between Tarot, Hebrew letters and | | | | meaning and structure of western culture, Tarot is a |
| the Tree of Life was pursued by other students of | | | | powerful and appropriate practice for anyone on a |
| the mysteries such as Eliphas Lévi in the 19th | | | | western spiritual path. |
| century. In 1909, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela | | | | |