Although often considered just a divination device, Tarot cards are actually part of a much larger, centuries-old spiritual movement dedicated to the discovery of the Higher Self. This movement, called the Western Mystery Tradition, encompasses and explores the many deep spiritual paths that lie outside of established Western religious institutions; the treasure sought is an ever deeper perception of our own humanity and relationship with the Divine, achieved through the process of understanding and transforming ourselves. Because of this approach, the Western Mystery Tradition is inclusive, rather than exclusive; sees all religious systems, including the Tarot, as symbols and metaphors for the same Truth. His wisdom is taught primarily through books and private meditation, and in small mystery schools around the world.

As with most esoteric spiritual systems, the goal of the Western Mystery Tradition is to take us to higher levels of consciousness, culminating in awakening or enlightenment or, to use the Western Mystery Tradition term, “Initiation”. The Tarot, therefore, as part of the Western Mystery Tradition, is more than a divination device: it is a legitimate spiritual path to Initiation.

The early history of Tarot cards is not well documented, which has given rise to many interesting but erroneous Tarot myths. One such myth claims that the deck was created by a group of adepts who met periodically in some undisclosed location to discuss philosophy, magic, natural science, etc. Hampered by the lack of a common language, they created the Tarot deck to serve as a means of communication. Other myths place the origin of the cards in Egypt, India, China, Morocco or Mount Sinai. The word “Tarot” is believed to be Egyptian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew or, best of all, a mysterious anagram whose meaning has yet to be discovered.

The unromantic truth is that Tarot probably began as a simple card game played in Northern Italy in the early 15th century. The oldest Tarot cards still in existence are lavishly hand-painted decks employing familiar images from medieval and Renaissance European court life: kings, knights, fools, jugglers, etc. The word “Tarot” probably comes from the Italian Carte da Trionfi (Cards of Triumphs), later called Tarocchi. The German form of the word is Tarock and the French form is Tarot.

Tarot’s role in spirituality began in the 18th century, when the Comte de Mellet linked the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot cards with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Hebrew letters play an important role in the ancient Jewish mystical system called Kabbalah, which uses the Tree of Life as its main symbol. The Tree of Life is a metaphorical diagram that maps everything from the maturation of the self, our journeys from birth to death, and our souls’ progress toward Divinity. The Tree of Life has been studied for centuries; the oldest known reference is in the Sefer Yetzirah, an ancient kabbalistic text that may be almost two thousand years old.

This connection between the Tarot, the Hebrew letters and the Tree of Life was pursued by other students of the mysteries such as Eliphas Lévi in ​​the 19th century. In 1909, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Coleman-Smith, both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and practicing Kabbalists, published the now classic Rider-Waite Tarot deck, which remains the most popular Tarot deck in the world. Eventually, each Tarot card in the deck was assigned a place on the Tree of Life.

As a result of the classical education, research, study, and devotion of esoteric scholars such as Levi, Waite, and Coleman-Smith, the Tarot deck grew from a simple toy to a highly condensed symbolic learning device. Synthesizing a variety of traditions such as Kabbalah, astrology, alchemy, and mythology, Tarot images express spiritual truths that underlie much of Western culture. These spiritual truths, expressed through iconic images and symbols, help build bridges between our conscious, subconscious, and higher selves. The secret of the Tarot’s enduring popularity in recent centuries is the way these simple archetypal images communicate deep truths and meanings to all aspects of the self in such direct ways.

The spiritual path of the Tarot involves taking steps to incorporate the deeply felt meaning of each card into our daily lives. Reading books about the cards is a good first step in understanding these meanings more consciously. You can also select a card to be your companion for a week, keeping it with you as you go about your daily routine. Meditating on images is also important. If this card could talk, what would it tell you? What aspect of yourself is reflected in the image? What events in your daily life could be understood differently with the card’s message in mind? It’s a good idea to keep a journal of your personal thoughts, perceptions, and problems as they come up throughout the week.

In addition to studying the cards themselves, understanding the sequence of the cards teaches us much about the joys and sorrows of the spiritual path. For example, the Major Arcana traces a path that begins with The Fool, which represents the beginning of the descent of the Divine into physical reality. The following cards teach us about the process by which man creates his world. Surprisingly, The Devil is the beginning of the path to Initiation, because he helps us to see through the mask that the physical world wears. The next step is The Tower, which graphically demonstrates the pain and fear we experience in giving up strongly held opinions and worldviews. The cards that follow symbolize later stages on the path to full enlightenment or Initiation, symbolized by The World.

The Court Cards of the Tarot represent aspects of our own personality that help us and hinder us in our paths. The Minor Arcana represent aspects of the Tree of Life, ranging between positive and negative, masculine and feminine.

The depth and relevance of the wisdom and personal insights available through the Tarot are amazing. Once the symbolic bridge has been built, these cards really do seem to speak to us; the more we study them, the more they reveal. Because the hidden symbols in these cards are derived from the history, myths, meaning, and structure of Western culture, Tarot is a powerful and appropriate practice for anyone on a Western spiritual path.