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Cards of The Tarot

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Cards of The Tarot

Understanding...cards, layouts, and history of

Location: Where the Cards Lay
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Latest Activity: Nov 17, 2014

The tarot (first known as tarocchi, also tarock and similar names), pronounced /ˈtæroʊ/, is a pack of cards (most commonly numbering 78), used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot. From the late 18th century until the present time the tarot has also found use by mystics and occultists in efforts at divination or as a map of mental and spiritual pathways.

The tarot has four suits corresponding to the suits of conventional playing cards. Each of these suits has pip cards numbering from ace to ten and four face cards for a total of 14 cards. In addition, the tarot is distinguished by a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit.

François Rabelais gives tarau as the name of one of the games played by Gargantua in his Gargantua and Pantagruel; this is likely the earliest attestation of the French form of the name. Tarot cards are used throughout much of Europe to play card games. In English-speaking countries, where these games are largely unknown, tarot cards are now used primarily for divinatory purposes. Occultists call the trump cards and the Fool "the major arcana" while the ten pip and four court cards in each suit are called minor arcana. The cards are traced by some occult writers to ancient Egypt or the Kabbalah but there is no documented evidence of such origins or of the usage of tarot for divination before the 18th century

The English and French word tarot derives from the Italian tarocchi, which has no known origin or etymology. One theory relates the name "tarot" to the Taro River in northern Italy, near Parma; the game seems to have originated in northern Italy, in Milan or Bologna. Other writers believe it comes from the Arabic word طرق turuq, which means 'pathways'. Alternatively, it may be from the Arabic ترك taraka, 'to leave, abandon, omit, leave behind'. According to a French etymology, the Italian tarocco derived from Arabic طرح ṭarḥ, 'rejection; subtraction, deduction, discount'.

Playing cards first entered Europe in the late 14th century, probably from Mamluk Egypt, with suits very similar to the tarot suits of Swords, Staves, Cups and Coins (also known as disks, and pentacles) and those still used in traditional Italian, Spanish and Portuguese decks. The first documentary evidence is a ban on their use in 1367, Bern, Switzerland. Wide use of playing cards in Europe can, with some certainty, be traced from 1377 onwards.

The first known tarot cards were created between 1430 and 1450 in Milan, Ferrara and Bologna in northern Italy when additional trump cards with allegorical illustrations were added to the common four-suit pack. These new decks were originally called carte da trionfi, triumph cards, and the additional cards known simply as trionfi, which became "trumps" in English. The first literary evidence of the existence of carte da trionfi is a written statement in the court records in Ferrara, in 1442. The oldest surviving tarot cards are from fifteen fragmented decks painted in the mid 15th century for the Visconti-Sforza family, the rulers of Milan.

Divination using playing cards is in evidence as early as 1540 in a book entitled The Oracles of Francesco Marcolino da Forli which allows a simple method of divination, though the cards are used only to select a random oracle and have no meaning in themselves. But manuscripts from 1735 (The Square of Sevens) and 1750 (Pratesi Cartomancer) document rudimentary divinatory meanings for the cards of the tarot as well as a system for laying out the cards. Giacomo Casanova wrote in his diary that in 1765 his Russian mistress frequently used a deck of playing cards for divination.

The original purpose of tarot cards was for playing games, the first basic rules appearing in the manuscript of Martiano da Tortona before 1425. The game of tarot is known in many variations (mostly cultural); the first basic rules for the game of Tarocco appear in the manuscript of Martiano da Tortona (before 1425; translated text), and the next are known from the year 1637. In Italy the game has become less popular; one version named Tarocco Bolognese: Ottocento has still survived and there are still others played in Piedmont, but the number of games outside of Italy is much higher. The French tarot game is the most popular in its native country and there are regional tarot games often known as tarock,tarok,or tarokk widely played in central Europe.

Although the Icehouse games Gnostica and Zarcana are played using tarot cards, they have no relation to traditional tarot play

Tarot cards would later become associated with mysticism and magic. Tarot was not widely adopted by mystics, occultists and secret societies until the 18th and 19th centuries. The tradition began in 1781, when Antoine Court de Gébelin, a Swiss clergyman, published Le Monde Primitif, a speculative study which included religious symbolism and its survivals in the modern world. De Gébelin first asserted that symbolism of the Tarot de Marseille represented the mysteries of Isis and Thoth. Gébelin further claimed that the name "tarot" came from the Egyptian words tar, meaning "royal", and ro, meaning "road", and that the Tarot therefore represented a "royal road" to wisdom. De Gébelin also asserted that the Romanies (Gypsies), who were among the first to use cards for divination, were descendants of the Ancient Egyptians (hence their common name; though by this time it was more popularly used as a stereotype for any nomadic tribe) and had introduced the cards to Europe. De Gébelin wrote this treatise before Jean-François Champollion had deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs, or indeed before the Rosetta Stone had been discovered, and later Egyptologists found nothing in the Egyptian language to support de Gébelin's fanciful etymologies. Despite this, the identification of the tarot cards with the Egyptian Book of Thoth was already firmly established in occult practice and continues in modern urban legend to the present day.

Discussion Forum

LAY OUTS OF CARDS 6 Replies

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Started by Rev. Allen M. Drago ~ Traveler. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 12, 2014.

A Tarot Spell to Increase Psychic Visions by Shayne Magistas

You need 3 tarot cards. The Star, The High Priestess, and The Hermit.Crystals (corresponding)will enhances this."I call upon the Source of All things to send me power.I call upon the God to send strength to my spell.I call upon the Goddess to give…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Feb 12, 2014.

Common Deck Tarot Adapted from Madame LeNormands Cards of Fortune. 1 Reply

Common Deck Tarot Adapted from Madame LeNormands Cards of Fortune.Explanations and Directions.After having shuffled the 36 cards and cut them with the left hand, divide them into 5 heaps; 4 of them containing each 8 cards, which we place in 4 frows…Continue

Started by Rev. Allen M. Drago ~ Traveler. Last reply by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 19, 2014.

21 Ways of Looking at the Tarot by Mary K. Greer

Forget those long, complicated spreads; try spending an hour or more with just one…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

Goddess Archetype Tarot Spread by Llewellyn

his is a fun way of exploring the feminine archetypes in the Tarot, world mythology, and within yourself—regardless of your gender. I encourage you to do this spread even if you are still shy of interpreting the cards: the sooner you begin to get…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

Tarot: A Daily Spread by Ciro Marchetti

Draw one to three cards in the morning for guidance for the day. Draw one card for focused guidance. Draw two cards to compare and contrast. Look for differences to see where challenges may arrive. Draw three cards to look at synthesis and…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

The Dollhouse Oracle by Janina Renée

Miniature objects play a role in the material culture of magic and…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

The Art of Creating and Using Tarot Spreads by James Ricklef

I can still remember doing my first Tarot reading. I had just bought a Tarot deck, and after carefully studying the little white book that came with it, I figured I was ready to do a…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

Revitalizing Your Tarot Practice, Part II: Spreads by Barbara Moore

In "Revitalizing Your Tarot Practice, Part I—Decks," we looked at ways of recovering from…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

Personalize Your Tarot Readings Through Spreadcrafting by Tierney Sadler

A good tarot reading is often like a story, reconstructing, constructing, and forecasting relevant pieces of a person's life to bring understanding about a particular topic. While our…Continue

Started by Dept of PMM Artists & things Jan 9, 2014.

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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on February 1, 2014 at 6:25pm
Dancing Willow Tree

The tarot card I pulled today is DISOLVING INTO ONENESS, the 1 of cups from my Tarot of Transformation deck. “Ones sometimes represent the sense of wholeness and perfection, and in the 1 of Cups, we find this on the emotional plane. We use this card to reflect the state of consciousness related to being in utero. It represents the merged state where one’s needs are automatically met and one is completely nurtured. It is a state of rest and satisfaction. This oceanic state is graphically represented here by the confluence of womb and ocean. This initial state of contentment and unity may be disrupted by what has been called the “toxic womb.” This may be the result of physical influences on the fetus such as cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol, or the mother’s negativity. This disruption may lead to the psychological strategy referred to in Hakomi as “sensitive withdrawn,” where one does not fully inhabit the body or engage with others. The good news is that this deficit can be made up later.” Ok, I have to confess, there are times when I have been “sensitive and withdrawn”, and many of my clients struggle with this as well. In fact, I specialize in helping “sensitives” get into their body and learn to deal with this intense world we live in!

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 31, 2014 at 8:11pm
ace of cups..........................card speaks of much luv over flowing

card wispers of....................a successful conclusion to whatever is being asked about

ful meaning......... Root of ,the powers of water, the powers of love, and the gifts of creativity and being able to profit off of that creativity bounty, my cup overflowed, joy abundance, perfection, fertility, fulfillment, good things overflowing fullness, favorable outlook, faithfulness a new way of feeling beginning of emotion intuition inspiration, fidelity, conception, or a birth, love, a new love affair, or a milestone such as an engagement or marriage , the successful conclusion to any question being asked about, though it favors those things ruled by Venus love marriage, perfumery, sex art and theater
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 31, 2014 at 4:37pm
The Underworld, reversed. (Sacred Circle) This card is a warning of someone (check to be sure it isn't ourselves!) willing to do anything to get their own way. Doesn't matter who gets hurt in the long run as long as we get there...Be aware of this person or be aware of becoming this person. This card reminds us that any situation that may seem to be trapping us is an illusion; we always have options, help is always available. This card is a hint to look deeper at a situation and not necessarily go with the surface appearance. Things may not be as bad as they seem. Life can change in a moments notice, and sometimes those changes can be positive. Our attitude and positive mindset is very important! We need to consider who we surround ourselves with - is it positive people, or critical, fault-finding people who complain? Take stock, then take action. Life is short, and attitudes are catching! No matter what it looks like on the surface, we are not trapped! Others cannot constrain our spirit, our soul, or our mind! We have to use the freedom that we have.
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 5:17pm
The King of Swords.
Imbues us with domain, persistence, wit and inner decision in each correct command or our own mistakes. We will be at the apex of our intellectual energy, conscious of our ability to control and trusting our decisions. However, there will be a biased arbitrariness that will provide situations of extreme coldness and intransigence. Be fair and humane!
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 2:10pm
The High Priestess, Reversed. (Sacred Circle) We may be finding it difficult to “hear” what our intuition is telling us. If that’s the case, it’s a clear signal to quiet down, spend some time in meditation, and spend some time alone. The information we seek is there, we just have to trust ourselves and our instincts. When the High Priestess appears in reverse, it can be telling us that spirit has been sending us messages – both in our waking and sleeping life – which we may have overlooked. Consider any synchronicities or odd occurrences that have happened lately, or very vivid dreams that have stuck with you. What might they be telling us? We need to give ourselves some time and space to meditate and we may well find that we’ll understand the message.
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 2:57pm
10 of Swords (Tarot of Pagan Cats) "Surrender to unpleasant of unfortunate circumstances." The general feeling of this card is sadness and loss. We might be feeling betrayed, or confronted with a life-changing decision. It doesn't feel like the greatest card, but it is telling us that an inevitable ending is taking place, because it wasn't right for us. It really is better that it is over, however painful it was. Just let go and move on. Now, we need to look to what self-deceit or wishful thinking brought us to that place and learn to be more truthful with ourselves in the future. We should accept both the light and dark sides of ourselves. At times like this, it is necessary to be quiet and let things happen. There is little we can do about it but remember that when one door closes, another will open. But if we don't walk through and close that door, we can't enter the new one.
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 25, 2014 at 1:51pm
The Chariot. (Mythic Tarot) Here we meet the war-god Ares, who revels in fighting. Unlike the goddess Athene, who as a war-deity represents cool strategy and foresight, Ares is in love with the heat and glory of battle itself, and with the unleashing of his strength to challenge the foe. On an inner level, Ares, the driver of the Chariot, is an image of the aggressive instincts guided and directed by our will of consciousness. The horses are portrayals of the conflicting animal urges within ourselves, full of vitality yet unwilling to work in harmony. They must be handled with strength and firmness, yet not held down or broken, or we lose the power and potency to survive and make our way in life. This card shows conflict and struggle which can result in a stronger personality. Our own aggressive drives need to be faced with strength and containment. This card is a sign that we should move forward with whatever we have in mind (and in our hearts) and give it our best shot. We must remember, though, that we need to use both our intellect and our heart, in order to be truly successful. We can achieve our goal if we just keep trying! We should shut out what is keeping us from reaching our goals. To achieve anything we must somehow harness the extremes of opposites within us. It's time for us to gain control of the situation and act. Hard times like these will make us stronger.
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 25, 2014 at 12:32pm
Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 23, 2014 at 6:04pm

Six of swords
This is not a time to just go with the flow, stagnation is starting to rear its' ugly head so go ahead and stir things up. Listen to your inner wisdom and pay attention to your dreams and look for advice from your spiritual source.http://www.shadowscapes.com/picts_images/93.jpg

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 23, 2014 at 1:50pm
The Shaman, Reversed. (Sacred Circle) This card is telling us that we have not been paying attention to our inner self. This a reminder that we need to slow down and take some time to do that. In other cases though, we may be feeling isolated and lonely. It’s important to remember to connect with those we care about. Our own fear may be getting in the way of our personal growth and willingness to go within. We have to be careful of becoming so consumed with doing things our own way that we have passed up good advice from a wise person. We also have to be careful that we haven't been so wrapped up in finding out "the truth" about something when we might do better to just let it go and move forward with our lives. We should remember that as much as personal and private contemplation are important, fellowship with like-minded people is also important. We need to reach out sometimes....we will be glad that we did!
 

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Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries had its humble beginnings as an idea of a few artisans and craftsmen who enjoy performing with live steel fighting. As well as a patchwork quilt tent canvas. Most had prior military experience hence the name.

 

Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries.

 

Vendertainers that brought many things to a show and are know for helping out where ever they can.

As well as being a place where the older hand made items could be found made by them and enjoyed by all.

We expanded over the years to become well known at what we do. Now we represent over 100 artisans and craftsman that are well known in their venues and some just starting out. Some of their works have been premiered in TV, stage and movies on a regular basis.

Specializing in Medieval, Goth , Stage Film, BDFSM and Practitioner.

Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries a Dept of, Ask For IT was started by artists and former military veterans, and sword fighters, representing over 100 artisans, one who made his living traveling from fair to festival vending medieval wares. The majority of his customers are re-enactors, SCAdians and the like, looking to build their kit with period clothing, feast gear, adornments, etc.

Likewise, it is typical for these history-lovers to peruse the tent (aka mobile store front) and, upon finding something that pleases the eye, ask "Is this period?"

A deceitful query!! This is not a yes or no question. One must have a damn good understanding of European history (at least) from the fall of Rome to the mid-1600's to properly answer. Taking into account, also, the culture in which the querent is dressed is vitally important. You see, though it may be well within medieval period, it would be strange to see a Viking wearing a Caftan...or is it?

After a festival's time of answering weighty questions such as these, I'd sleep like a log! Only a mad man could possibly remember the place and time for each piece of kitchen ware, weaponry, cloth, and chain within a span of 1,000 years!! Surely there must be an easier way, a place where he could post all this knowledge...

Traveling Within The World is meant to be such a place. A place for all of these artists to keep in touch and directly interact with their fellow geeks and re-enactment hobbyists, their clientele.

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