Tarot Readers: The New Oracle at Delphi?

By Katie Morrissey

“There is a humility that comes with perpetually submitting yourself to the unknown and finding that the unknown knows far more than you” – Tina Hyland, A History of Tarot

I have been a tarot reader for 5 years now. When I tell people that I am a tarot reader I get one of two responses; either their eyes widen with interest, and they quickly ask me if I can read their future for them, or they taunt me and pass it off as a ridiculous notion. I understand both approaches. I see both the magic in tarot and simultaneously how much of a facade it can appear when all you see on social media is videos that ‘find you for a reason’.

A lot is unknown to us about tarot. It is a relatively modern development with the earliest known usage being 1391. It was a card game which historians have argued may be similar to games such as bridge. It is most likely that they originated in Italy either in Milan or Florence. These obscure origins do little to appease people of its craft.

However, as someone who is studying classics, I find myself frequently drawing links between my deck and the ancient world. While Tarot as a practice only really emerged in the 14th century, ultimately its use of earlier traditions and beliefs is very apparent. The links between tarot and the ancient world have often been dismissed by scholars especially after the response to 18th century occultist Antoine Court de Gebelin who theorised that tarot may have originated from Egypt, was strongly critical. However, while tarot is not directly associated with the beliefs and practices of the ancient world, it inevitably draws from it just as it draws from moral lessons and human experience.

In antiquity, oracular shrines held significant authority. Some of the greatest figures in history are believed to have consulted oracles - such as Alexander the Great who desired to know if his expedition against the Persians would be successful. However, how do oracular shrines link to tarot? Oracular shrines varied depending on their place and the divinity that they worshipped, however what was typically common amongst them all was having to interpret messages from the shrine. For example, the Pythia (oracle of Delphi) gave messages that were interpreted through a priest. This idea of learning the future through interpreting vague, abstract concepts is one that parallels the practice of tarot. In tarot, while the cards drawn may appear to be ambiguous, it is down to the reader to interpret this in a manner which fits the person being read.

Additionally, it is not just in the way that tarot is read that allows us to draw parallels to the ancient world but also the concepts on the cards themselves. If you are familiar with tarot, you will be aware that in a deck there are 78 cards, 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. The major arcana is full of figures that resemble ones familiar to us. The similarities between imagery and iconography of how Zeus is depicted is undoubtedly like that of the formidable card of The Emperor (IV). Similarities between Hera/Aphrodite can also be easily drawn with The Empress (III).

Tarot also utilises concepts that have foundation in classical thought. The division of the minor arcana into four suits that correspond with four elements matches that of the pre-socratic philosopher Empedocles who saw the world as being constituted solely of these four elements: fire (suit of wands), water (suit of cups), air (suit of swords) and earth (suit of

pentacles). Additionally, Greek myths such as that of Eros and Psyche or Helen and Paris have been associated with that of cards like The Lovers (VI).

Therefore, there are clearly elements of the practice of Tarot that have strong links with the beliefs of the ancient world. Though we are in an age of religious scepticism, we can still learn from these cards which embody so many traditions and concepts.

If you want to learn tarot in the situation that a figure like Alexander the Great may ask you to interpret vague messages for him, or you desire to learn more about the history of it, here is some reading I would recommend:

• ‘Divining Literature: A History of Tarot’ – Tina Hyland, University of California San Diego

• A History of the Occult Tarot – Ronald Decker

• The Tales behind Tarot – Lindsay Squire