Tarot Journey Options

Greetings to you all,

Tarot cards are much more than a tool of divination.... There seems to be a linear feel to them, a story of a journey through life maybe? In entomology, insects are shown to go through different stages in life, rather physical changes called instars, ie. dragon flies start off in water then after some growth stages end up in the air. OR butterlfies with the metamorphosis from earth to air. Most if not all species have these growth periods. Humans have growth stages too, but they are more subtle than insects, probably because of the carapaces on insects, we grow from child to adult in stages. But this is just the physical stages, what about the metaphysical stages of growth? Does the tarot outline the different stages of growth of humans on the metaphysical side? Does everybody go through this or is it the journey of a select few? Astrology seems to be related to the cards as well, with some birth dates relating to some of the cards, i.e Aries with emperor. Am I completely off the wall with this? probably...but what do you all think?

Any input is appreciated, maybe a book can be recommended.

This post has been edited by scoobs: Aug 7 2010, 11:26 AM

As far as I know, what you've described is actually quite a common belief! It's one that I believe and I also believe that passing through all the stages the Tarot show us is bringing yourself one step closer to enlightenment.

If I remember correctly, Hermeticism contains beliefs that cover this, so it may be worth looking into!

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/egypt1.gif)

I think this is a great way to use the Tarot, as a kind of map you can use on a spiritual journey. Memorizing the cards and the meanings (of at least the trumps) helps, I think, in using the Tarot this way. The Tarot is a journey, a cosmic journey a spiritual journey. The Triumphs (ceremonial parades) of Renaissance Italy were based on the Triumphs of ancient Rome, and some think that these inspired the Trumps of the tarot, possibly through Petrarch. The origin and source of the Tarot is a mystery and you could read two self-assured well researched books with quite different facts in each. The symbols, as Waite says in the Pictoral Key, are universal types. "The Pictoral Key" is a great read if you haven't checked it out yet.

Any input is appreciated, maybe a book can be recommended.

I'm really impressed with your conclusions and thoughts about the Tarot-- you've essentially got it. They ARE much more than a tool for divination, and are the cosmic DNA of the universe, especially insofar as they correspond to the paths to the sephiroth on the tree of life.

I'd recommend studying Qabalah, i.e. the Tree of Life, because it will show you the dynamic relationships between the cards in a more holistic sense. Qabalah is the underlying structure of much of hermeticism, to which the Tarot is intimately connected.

From beginning to advanced...
The Chicken Qabalah by Lon Milo Duquette
A Garden of Pomegranates, by Israel Regardie and the Ciceros
The Book of Thoth, by Aleister Crowley

Good luck!

I have moved a way for tarot but I can offer a book. Good luck finding it though, its been out of print for the better part of 40 years.

==edit==
I just searched amazon and you can get it for six bucks.
==end edit==


The ancient tarot and its symbolism, by David LeMieux is by far the most insightful history and treatise on tarot I have ever read. It also covers just such a progression that scoobs has hit on. It relates the major arcana to the Jewish alphabet and in doing so provides a perspective on what he calls "a complete system of tarot magic." Even if you just read it for the lengthy essays on tarot symbolism and history you'll be much more informed the next time you do a reading.

This post has been edited by fatherjhon: Sep 2 2010, 09:53 PM

I'm really impressed with your conclusions and thoughts about the Tarot-- you've essentially got it. They ARE much more than a tool for divination, and are the cosmic DNA of the universe, especially insofar as they correspond to the paths to the sephiroth on the tree of life.

I'd recommend studying Qabalah, i.e. the Tree of Life, because it will show you the dynamic relationships between the cards in a more holistic sense. Qabalah is the underlying structure of much of hermeticism, to which the Tarot is intimately connected.

From beginning to advanced...
The Chicken Qabalah by Lon Milo Duquette
A Garden of Pomegranates, by Israel Regardie and the Ciceros
The Book of Thoth, by Aleister Crowley

Good luck!

Wonderful, this is just the type of study that I was about to recommend