The Elfin Diary Archives

Published in both the 1996 and 1999 Elfin Diaries. Author unknown

Origins of the Tarot

No one really knows for sure where the Tarot came from originally, or when. There is much speculation as to its origins; some people like to connect the cards with the ancient Egyptians or the Persians, Arthurian mythology, the Romanies… What we do know for certain is that in the mid – 1400’s the Italian nobility of the Renaissance played a picture-card game of chance known as Tarocchi (which is still played in some countries), and it is quite likely that this game was the forerunner of the divinatory Tarot. Several decks were painted by the Italian artists of the day, and two of these, the Charles VI and the Visconti-Sforza, still survive.

By 1527 the Tarot was definitely used for fortune telling (and of course, may well have been so used much earlier) since we have as evidence a poem by the Italian poet Teofilo Folengo written in that year. But the Tarot didn’t become widely popular in Europe as an occult tool until the late 1700’s, when many secret societies sprung up in the revolutionary climate. Then, in the 19th century, writers and occultists as Eliphas Levi, Gérard Encausse, SL MacGregor Mathers, AE Waite and Alister Crowley wrote about the Tarot, popularising it even more.

Though treated with suspicion and superstition by orthodox religion, the Tarot also survived in another form, this being the playing cards. The Fool became the Joker; the rest of the Major Arcana forming the now obsolete suit of trumps. The Minor Arcana survived in its entirety save for the knight and Page being combined as the Jack, although different names are commonly used for the suits; these being Clubs (Wands), Spades (Swords), Hearts (Cups) and Diamonds (Pentacles or Coins). When we look at the corresponding elements of these suits this symbolism becomes clearer; Cups represent the element of Water which deals with the emotions and Coins represents the element of earth which concerns money, riches etc

The most commonly used deck today is the Rider-Waite, first published in 1910, but hundreds of designs now exist. Some of these are based to a greater or lesser extent on the Rider-Waite which is generally held to be accurate; others digress greatly from it but are none the less valuable for their point of view. This is because a good Tarot reader will use their deck as a tool, blending established meanings with their intuition. If you’re not really happy with the Rider-Waite cards, then by all means look for a deck that ‘calls’ for you.

Beginning a reading

Generally, a Tarot reading starts with the reader choosing a Significator card, representing the enquirer. Some people prefer not to use a significator at all, but to lay the first card on the empty table. If you do want to use a significator to represent the enquirer, how will you know which card to use? One method is to use the astrological sign; ask the enquirer his or her date of birth or sun sign. The tarot card to use as follows:

• Young male or female, Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius: Page of Wands
• Young male, Gemini, Libra or Aquarius: Knight of Wands
• Mature female, Gemini, Libra or Aquarius: Queen of Wands
• Mature male, Gemini, Libra or Aquarius: King of Wands
• Young male or female, Aries, Leo or Sagittarius: Page of Swords
• Young male, Aries, Leo or Sagittarius: Knight of Swords
• Mature female, Aries, Leo or Sagittarius: Queen of Swords
• Mature male, Aries, Leo or Sagittarius: King of Swords
• Young male or female, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces: Page of Cups
• Young male, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces: Knight of Cups
• Mature female, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces: Queen of Cups
• Mature male, Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces: King of Cups
• Young male or female, Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn: Page of Pentacles
• Young male or female, Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn: Knight of Pentacles
• Mature female, Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn: Queen of Pentacles
• Mature male, Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn: King of Pentacles

Another method is to rely on your intuition or that of th enquirer; either choose on their behalf or have them look through the deck until they find a card that “feels” like them. This will generally be a court card but if you find they have chosen a number card or even one form the Major Arcana, don’t worry. Lay the chosen card on the table, then lay the first card of the spread to cover it.

Choosing a Spread

Two of the most popular spreads are the Celtic Cross and the Mirror Spread

The Celtic Cross

In general, the time span of this spread can be taken as the twelve months ahead, when an overall picture is required. However, if specified in the question (such as, What will happen to me in the next fortnight? or What will happen when I take my exams next month?) the duration of the spread will be different . Numbers on cards can sometimes mean a number of years, months, weeks or days and these can be taken into account.

The Mirror Spread

This is a simpler spread than the Celtic Cross (above); it’s just five cards laid out in a line and requires less interpretation. It often gives a simple answer to a specific question, including those requiring yes/no answers. Note that no significator is needed, though one can be used if preferred.

• 1. Mirror (depicts the present, and the question asked)
• 2. Mirror Past (what has led to the point of questioning)
• 3. Mirror Future (what will happen next, or action needed)
• 4. Mirror Below (root cause, or obstacle; often hidden)
• 5. Mirror Above (the answer or outcome)

The Meanings of the Cards

The Major Arcana

The Minor Arcana

The Suit of Pentacles

(Sometimes called Coins or Discs, these represent the element of Earth)

The Suit of Wands

(called “Batons” or “Rods” in some decks; these usually represent the element of Fire, but in some decks may represent Air being interchanged with Swords. It is usually possible to tell by examining the cards.)

The Suit of Cups

(These represent the element of Water)

The Suit of Swords

(These usually represent the element of Air, but in some decks may represent Fire being interchanged with Wands. It is usually possible to tell by examining the cards.)