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Article #109: Meditation Tips - Meditation Secrets - Meditation Advice

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Most of what I'm going to lecture from there was an aura of romance about them
come from Cynthia Giles' book: The Tarot, that caught the imagination of Europeans
History, Mystery and Lore and some other in the 1800's. A book was published
resources. towards the end of the century called
The origins of the Tarot have been "The Tarot of the Bohemians," attributing
attributed a wide range of wacky sources the Tarot to the Gypsies (who Europeans
- paleolithic cave paintings, gypsy folk commonly believed came from Egypt).
lore, Moroccan mystics and even gifts Interestingly, Gypsies used regular
from space aliens to Egyptian priests!. playing cards for divination - not the
Most of these stories are, of course, Tarot.
speculation of the wildest, most In the 19th century, the famed mystic
ridiculous kind, and only serve to muddy Eliphas Levi Zahed (whose real name was
the waters when it comes to understanding Alphonse Louis Constant) connected the
the Tarot. If you're going to use the Taror with Hebrew mysticism - the
cards, it's important to understand where Kabbalah. He saw the Tarot as a key to
they come from - so that you know their life, a tool that man can use to develop
rich history, their potential and their himself as a human being, as a way to
value - and not put faith in silly urban grow so that he might find heaven. His
legends. work outlined 22 connections to the tarot
Tarot on parade major arcana, making it a tool to be used
The first mention of the cards was in on the path to enlightenment.
Italy in the 14th century, called The modern Tarot deck was most influenced
"Tarocco" and used for games - and by the cards used in the late 1800's by
already, authorities were lecturing the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
against its use. The first known deck was The order was founded in England by three
made for the Vicsconzi-Sforza family of men who, according to lore, found an old
Milan, designed by the artist Bembo. secret manuscript written in code,
According to Tarot expert Gertrude deciphered it as the by-laws of a secret
Moakley, the various characters German society, and received permission
illustrated in the major arcana to start their own group in England.
represented the triomfi, or parade, that Years later, the woman who gave them
accompanied Italian celebrations. permission died, and the German members
Historians believe that there may have disavowed the British branch, saying they
been other cards that existed to never got permission after all.
represent other characters but have The modern Tarot is born
disappeared over time. Few decks of Tarot Despite its contentious beginnings, the
cards exist for those early days, but Golden Dawn became a very influential
there's enough similarity in artwork to group, with two members in particular
make it clear that the deck was in common doing a great deal to spread the
use in that time. Some historians believe popularity of occultism - Aleister
that the Tarot was originally only used Crowley and Arthur Edward Waite. Crowley,
as a gaming deck - to play a game called a protégé of the Golden Dawn founders
tarocchi - until occultists began using in England, created a Tarot called the
them for divination. Book of Thoth. Waite created the Tarot
Taking Europe by storm deck that's most familiar to modern
The next big milestone in Tarot's history users. Working with an American artist
came in the late 1700's when Court de named Pamela Coleman Smith, Waite used a
Gebelen, a member of a secret society of storytelling theme, utilizing characters
occultists, came across the a game of from myth, legend and religion,
tarocchi and became obsessed with the allocating a group of symbols to each
cards. He believed them to be imbued with card that gives them unique meaning. His
important symbolism which he attributed Tarot formed the foundation on which most
to ancient Egyptian lore. De Geblen wrote decks that followed were based.
a nine-volume treatise titled "Le Monde The next milestone in the Tarot's history
Primitif" in which he discussed the came in the 1920's, when a Golden Dawn
meanings of the Tarot. That he attributed member named Paul Foster Case started a
the Tarot's symbolism to the Egyptian's group in Los Angeles called Builders of
was based less on any real fact than on the Adytum (BOTA). The BOTA deck is in
the fascination that Europeans had with black and white, created so that the
Egypt at that time, believing it to be owner could color the drawings themselves
the center of all of man's early wisdom. (it was a tradition in the Golden Dawn
Use of the cards for divination spread that each member had to make their own
during that time, with a book by a man deck as part of their training). The
named Etteilla in 1783, in which he group offers Tarot training to this day,
offered his interpretations of the cards. although their interpretations of the
In fact, professional mystics began using cards are disputed by many divination
the Tarot throughout Europe, although experts.
there was no consensus of what the cards Today, there are countless versions of
actually meant. the Crowley/Waite Tarot available, some
The mystical background of the Tarot with magnificent artwork, others less
Card readings have long been associated impressive. Whatever your choice of deck,
with Gypsies, although they certainly using the Tarot as a divination tool is a
weren't responsible for their creation. personal experience, one that's origins
For hundreds of years, Gypsies made their reach far back in history. Hopefully,
way across the world, living by their knowing the background of this ancient
wits and earning a living by any skills art will enhance your connection to the
that they could market. Gypsies were cards, and to your own readings.
exotic, feared and looked down on, but






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