What is Tarot?
The tarot
is a deck of seventy-eight cards that has stirred great
historical and intellectual debate. We do not know its
exact origin, the complete code, nor the mystery that
ties its symbolic imagery together. We do know, however,
that the tarot deck is the ancestor to our modern playing
cards and throughout history, this pictorial masterpiece
has been described as a game, a fortune telling device,
a work of art, a secret doctrine, and of course, as a
portrayal of human unconsciousness. The tarot surfaced
in our modern culture during the 1960's when music and
art struck a psychological chord within the inner fabric
of social reformation. Its imagery and symbolic implications
appeared on rock star's album covers, in psychology books,
and many artists, poets, and musicians were inspired by
its intrigue and mysticism. Historians studied its artistic
lineage and the spiritually inclined used the tarot as
a medium to enhance self reflection and personal inquiry.
The Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, broke open a new field
of exploration when he introduced the study of alchemy
as a means to understand the transformation and metamorphosis
of the human soul with what is coined today as Jungian
Psychology. With his interest and use of ancient symbolism,
including tarot, Jung's work opened the door to new dimensions
of thought and human growth.
Powerful Work Of Art And Script
The tarot is a powerful work of art and script. We might
compare it to an "old growth" tree for its far
reaching branches of diversity serve as a canopy, or motherly
shelter, protecting the many influences it has faced throughout
time. This ancient body of knowledge, when researched
and understood, offers a sound perspective of 'the evolutionary
path of human consciousness through the ages. It can be
viewed as a sequence of images portraying the passage
of the soul as it passes through the cyclical stages of
birth, death, and rebirth. The seventy-eight card deck
serves as one of humanity's sacred texts as it is an anthology
of alchemy, kabala, number magic, astrology, art, religion,
and mysticism. In its own right, it stands as a school,
a secret doctrine, or an open field of study, void of
dogma and hypocrisy. The seventy-eight card tarot deck
is a balanced, non- dualistic representation of the school
of life.
Archetypes
  
The archetypes depicted in the twenty-two Major Arcana
cards portray imagery and symbolism that mirror the many
faces and feelings of humanity. Images such as the Magician,
The Empress, The Hermit, or The Fool enable us to examine
the forces that live deep within us and invoke a mood,
a need, or a greater understanding of our personality
or 'soul life.' At periodic intervals, the same cards
will appear over and over again for an individual. These
cards serve as a constant reminder that the changes and
opportunities available at any given time are worth investigating.
The cards mirror an individual's inner authority, power,
freedom, strength, and transformational cycles, and offer
clues and suggestions toward the mastery of life goals
and ambitions. Through the wisdom of the tarot, we illumine
an aspect of our True Self, otherwise hidden by the external
ramifications of a material World. The tarot offers insight
and solutions to life's complex issues and serves as a
tool, helping us to solve our personal problems and universal
questions.
Forty Numerical Cards
  
The forty numerical cards, numbered Ace to Ten- historically
called the "Pip" cards or the 'Minor Arcana
– these are related to the mystery of numerology
and the magical power of numbers. Each number carries
a force that is supported and anchored within the universal
codes of nature, the galaxies, music, language, and human
experiences. The minor arcana cards reveal the actions,
suggestions, and everyday implications that we face each
day. They support the body of the Major Arcana, or Greater
Mysteries, by offering us practical guidelines, mirrors,
and solutions to our life.
Sixteen Court Cards
  
The sixteen court cards are represented by the four principal
authorities governing our life. These authorities can
be identified as The Page: our inner muse, The Knight:
our adventurer, The Queen: our wisdom, and The King: our
true power. These four authorities are also represented
by the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical aspects
living within the individual. In early decks, when the
royal courts ruled the "common people,'these cards
were realistically depicted as the Page, Knight, Queen,
and King. Over the centuries, and through the changing
paradigms within cultures, these roles have shifted. We
no longer have a 'Ruling Court that presides over the
'Kingdom.'One may choose to continue working with the
royal courts and their traditional imagery. However, in
our modern world, these historical images are archetypal
in nature, and serve as symbolic food for the soul.
Modern decks may portray
a King as a Shaman, a Statesman, or a Guardian. We may
find the Queen transformed into a Wise Woman, a Guide,
a Teacher, or a Goddess. In any event, it is entirely
up to the individual, and to the creator of new and innovative
decks, to discover within him or her self the images most
suitable to their own inner world. This is one example
of the personal relationship and diversity one encounters
when using the tarot.
Landscape Of The Soul
Much like the mysterious and imaginative expression of
our dream life, the tarot is a panoramic view of the landscape
of the soul. It can be studied as an intellectual pursuit,
void of the hype and superstitions that cloud its integrity.
Unfortunately, it can also remain misunderstood and feared
by those who do not wish to explore its deeper implications,
symbols, and wisdom. If an individual feels inclined to
study tarot, I suggest one begin with a historical research
and background of the tarot through the ages. I also suggest
one take seriously the study of alchemy, the laws of nature,
numerology, the poets, astrological and planetary correlations,
archetypes, psychology, art, and other forms of symbol
and imagery found throughout different periods of religious,
political, and social significance.
Everything goes, everything
returns, eternally rolls the wheel of being ... Crooked
is the path of eternity. ~~Nietzsche
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