Five Tarot Myths

These are going to be well known to any reader with more than a passing interest in the Tarot, but they probably bear repeating being as these falsities have been so repeated over the course the past three hundred years.  You'll still find them being forwarded for the newer generations in your New Age and Alt Reality genres.

I think I can just knock these out in what I believe is my very first listicle.

Myth One: Playing cards, and by extension, Tarot cards, were brought to Europe by "The Gypsies."

The idea that Tarot cards were brought to Europe by "Gypsies" is a myth that has been perpetuated for a long time. While it's true that the Tarot deck has a long and fascinating history, its origins are not tied to any specific culture or group of people.

The Tarot deck, as we know it today, originated in Italy during the 15th century as a card game. The earliest known Tarot decks were created for wealthy Italian families to play a popular game called "Tarocchi." It wasn't until later that people began to use the Tarot cards for divination and other spiritual purposes.

There is no evidence to support the idea that "Gypsies" brought the Tarot to Europe. In fact, the Romani people, who are commonly referred to as "Gypsies," appeared in Europe after the first trump decks with a special trump suit as found in the Tarot had already been developed locally in northern Italy, and the arrival of ethnically Romani people was something like fifty years after the first mention of playing cards.

The myth about the Tarot being brought to Europe by "Gypsies" likely stems from the fact that Tarot cards have been associated with fortune-telling and divination for a long time, and the Romani people have been historically marginalized and associated with mystical practices.  The idea that Tarot cards were brought to Europe by "Gypsies" is a myth that lacks historical evidence. The Tarot deck has a complex history and we will discuss in more detail later how the trump suit was developed locally in Italy.

Myth Two: Tarot cards come down to us from ancient Egypt

The myth that Tarot cards come from ancient Egypt is not supported by historical evidence. While it is true that some have associated Tarot with ancient Egyptian symbolism and mythology, there is no evidence to suggest that the Tarot was directly influenced by ancient Egyptian culture.

The earliest known Tarot decks date back to the 15th century in Italy, where they were used primarily for playing games. It wasn't until the 18th century that the Tarot began to be used for divination, and it was during this time that many Tarot decks began to incorporate esoteric and mystical symbolism, including references to ancient Egypt.

It's worth noting that during the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a great deal of interest in ancient Egypt among scholars and the general public, and many mystical and spiritual traditions incorporated Egyptian symbolism and mythology into their practices. It is possible that this interest in ancient Egypt may have influenced the development of Tarot decks that incorporated Egyptian imagery.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that the Tarot was directly descended from or influenced by ancient Egyptian divination practices. The Tarot has a complex and fascinating history that has been shaped by many different cultures and traditions, but its origins are firmly rooted in 15th century Italy.

Myth Three: Tarot cards have their origin in the Kabbalah

The idea that Tarot cards have their origin in the Kabbalah is a myth that has been popularized by some modern esoteric and occult traditions. However, there is no historical evidence to support this claim.

The Kabbalah is a Jewish mystical tradition that emerged in medieval Europe, and it is known for its complex system of cosmology and symbolism. While there are certainly some similarities between the Tarot and the Kabbalah, such as their use of symbols and correspondences, there is no evidence to suggest that the Tarot was directly inspired by the Kabbalah.

Again, the earliest known Tarot decks, which date back to 15th century Italy, were primarily used for playing games and did not have any overt mystical or spiritual significance. It wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries that the Tarot began to be associated with mysticism and esotericism, and it was during this time that many Tarot decks began to incorporate Kabbalistic symbolism.

It's worth noting that during the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a great deal of interest in esoteric and mystical traditions, including the Kabbalah, among intellectuals and spiritual seekers. It is possible that this interest in the Kabbalah may have influenced the development of Tarot decks that incorporated Kabbalistic symbolism.

Again, we see that a mystical tradition has been added to the Tarot in later centuries and was not originally in evidence in the first two to three hundred years of Tarot cards.

Myth Four: The original Tarot cards contained secrets of Hermetic magic

The idea that the original Tarot cards contained secrets of Hermetic magic is a myth that has been perpetuated in some occult circles. While it is true that the Tarot has been associated with mystical and esoteric practices throughout its history, there is no evidence to suggest that the original Tarot cards were specifically designed as a tool for Hermetic magic.  Occult and mystical traditions were not in evidence with early Tarot decks but were superimposed in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Myth Five: Tarot cards were invented for divination

At least we can say, there is no evidence for this.  We do know that Tarot cards were used for gaming and gambling as with any playing cards.  Any direct historical mentions of Tarot as tools of cartomancy occur well after the invention of the Tarot.

I have elsewhere discussed where tools of gambling and tools of divination overlap and sometimes the divination tool has been ported over to the world of gambling.  The Tarot have gone the other direction, starting as a tool for gaming and later became way of seeing beyond the veil, so to speak.