TAROT CARDS HISTORY

What Does The Future Hold?

Since time immemorial, humanity has longed to know the answer to his future. In the old days there were always famines to overcome, the fall of kings and queens to rectify, new crops to grow, bad weather conditions to handle. In ancient days, humans probably used stones or pebbles to read the future. Or they consulted oracles, enlightened magical folk who lived in caves or temples and spoke with Spirit’s voice. In fact, we could indeed consider our channelers and empaths as the “sooth sayers” of today.

Sarah Bartlett

However, if we want to delve into one of the most popular modes of modern sooth saying, the Tarot, we would do well to read the fascinating “Tarot Bible” by Sarah Bartlett. She tells us that “the 78 cards of the tarot deck are made up of the Major Arcane and the Minor Arcane which basically mean “big” and “little secrets”. Sarah goes on to explain to us very succinctly the tarot cards history, as well as inspiring us with her book’s beautiful illustrations.

Be that as it may, it is known that tarot cards history has much to do with ancient initiations and magical rituals, Egyptian priests and priestesses. The Knights Templers, the Holy Land, the Far East and Renaissance Italy are also some of the more original sources.

Egypt

Certainly, the ancient Egyptians were into the numinous, therefore it would not be that odd to think they had a hand in the tarot’s initial creation, may be also because they were a poetic, artistic and spiritual people. Yet even though some of us intuit the Egyptians could have created the first tarot cards, others believe that the more original tarot sets were brought to Europe by wandering Magi into “Zoroastrianism. A Persian mystical creed”, as stated in Sarah Bartlett’s book.

The fact is Tarot is a magical word in of itself and perhaps it is wise therefore to pay heed to historians who also believe it could have connection to the God Thoth, an Egyptian deity of Magic and Words.

The Egyptians worshipped life everlasting, the stars, the heavens and the soul as well as shamanic mysteries and the magic of Spirit. They lived precious lives, their wondrous pyramids an awesome healing legacy left to humanity. So if we take it as “said and done” that at least a part of tarot cards history began in Ancient Egypt, we will not be that surprised if the deeper meanings of today’s tarot speak to us of our own soul path and our evolution into spirit in this life time.

The Anubis Oracle

Cards called “The Journey into the Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt – the Anubis Oracle”; created by Nicki Scully and Linda StarWold with illustrations by Kris Wadherr would perhaps help us understand the depth and primeval force of the Egyptian influence on tarot cards history.

The Anubis Oracle itself will inspire and move us. Its creators say, “The Anubis Oracle is a guide to the inner workings of the soul”…….and it contains “the shamanic mysteries of Egypt that live within us.”

If we seek to be like the Egyptians and acknowledge our Spirit Consciousness, we will love these cards. After all, within us also resides light and peace, wisdom and love, compassion and sensitivity, even if our civilization is lost in the pain of the material world and we are all suffering because of it. Wars, disease and man’s inhumanity to man has escalated as a result.

The Egyptians and their Gods understood human suffering, death was therefore seen as impossible and their rituals connected to an infinite divine, which is so beautifully reflected in the Anubis Oracle.

One of the more beautiful cards from the Oracle helps us heal any suffering condition. The card itself is based on the 17th card in the major tarot arcane, the Star and is called “Sothis – Star Consciousness and the Generosity of the Bodhisattva”

We quote its prediction “You are being asked to embody your star consciousness..You have something wonderful to share. Sothis is the stellar manifestation of Isis; like Isis, she is a pure channel for divine love and wisdom.” A wisdom that we can always find in that fascinating tarot cards history.

Perhaps we all “know” the tarot within us anyway. Perhaps we can sense it, feel it, intuit it and that is why it never ceases to fascinate us!