Tarot - The Cards of Wisdom

The Scientific Account

What Is Tarot?

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards used for divination, self-reflection, and psychological exploration. The deck consists of two main sections:

- Major Arcana - 22 cards representing major life themes and archetypal energies (The Fool, The Magician, Death, The Tower, etc.)
- Minor Arcana - 56 cards divided into four suits (Cups, Pentacles, Swords, Wands), similar to playing cards

While often associated with fortune-telling and mysticism, modern psychology has found value in Tarot as a tool for introspection, creative thinking, and accessing the subconscious mind.

Historical Origins

Early History (14th-15th Century)

Tarot cards originated in mid-15th century Europe, initially as playing cards for games. The earliest surviving cards come from northern Italy, particularly Milan and Ferrara, created for noble families.

- 1440s - First documented tarot-like cards appear in Italy
- 1450s-1500s - Hand-painted decks commissioned by wealthy families (Visconti-Sforza deck, etc.)
- 16th Century - Tarot spreads throughout Europe as a card game called "tarocchi" in Italy, "tarot" in France

The original purpose was entertainment, not divination.

The Occult Connection (18th-19th Century)

The association with mysticism and divination developed much later:

- 1781 - Antoine Court de Gébelin published "Le Monde Primitif," falsely claiming Tarot had ancient Egyptian origins
- 1789 - Jean-Baptiste Alliette (Etteilla) published the first guide to using Tarot for divination
- 1909 - The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was published, becoming the most influential modern Tarot deck
- Early 20th Century - The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn incorporated Tarot into Western occult practices
- 1938-1943 - Aleister Crowley designed the Thoth Tarot, painted by Lady Frieda Harris
- 1969 - The Book of Thoth published posthumously, documenting Crowley's Tarot system

Major Tarot Traditions

Three major Tarot traditions have shaped modern understanding of the cards:

The Visconti-Sforza Tarot (c. 1450)

The oldest surviving Tarot deck, commissioned by the Visconti and Sforza families of Milan. Hand-painted by Bonifacio Bembo, these cards represent the original Tarot before occult associations developed. The deck shows the Renaissance worldview - Christian imagery,medieval hierarchy, classical virtues.

The Judgement Card (XX): View on Wikimedia Commons - Shows the traditional Christian Last Judgement scene with an angel and the dead rising from graves.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot (1909)

Created by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, this became the most influential modern deck. Published by Rider & Company, it was the first deck to feature illustrated pip cards (minor arcana). Waite was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and incorporated Kabbalistic and astrological symbolism.

The Judgement Card (XX): Shows Archangel Gabriel blowing a trumpet as naked figures rise from their coffins, arms raised in praise. Mountains in the background, a flag with a red cross on white. The card represents awakening, renewal, and reckoning.

The Thoth Tarot (1938-1943, published 1969)

Aleister Crowley's most ambitious work, painted by artist Lady Frieda Harris over five years. Crowley renamed several cards to reflect his Thelemic philosophy. The deck incorporated Egyptian symbolism, Kabbalah, astrology, and Crowley's own magical system. Unlike earlier decks, it emphasizes abstract spiritual concepts over Christian imagery.

The Aeon Card (XX): Crowley renamed "Judgement" to "Aeon," reflecting his belief in a new spiritual age. The card shows the Egyptian god Horus as a child, symbolizing the "New Aeon" of Thelema. Nut (the sky goddess) arches overhead, while Harpocrates (Horus the Child) emerges from an egg. The imagery represents transformation from old spiritual paradigms to new consciousness.

Note: The Thoth Tarot remains under copyright until 2064. Images can be viewed in published editions of "The Book of Thoth" (Crowley, 1969/1974).

Psychological Interpretation

Modern psychology, particularly Jungian psychology, has found value in Tarot as a projective technique:

Carl Jung and Archetypes

Carl Jung (1875-1961) never worked extensively with Tarot, but his theories align remarkably well with the Major Arcana:

- Archetypes - Universal symbols and patterns in the collective unconscious
- Individuation - The Major Arcana can be seen as stages in personal development
- Shadow Work - Cards like The Devil and The Tower represent confronting hidden aspects of self
- Synchronicity - Jung's concept of meaningful coincidence explains why random card draws seem relevant

Contemporary Psychological Uses

Modern therapists and counselors sometimes use Tarot-like tools for:

- Narrative Therapy - Clients create stories using cards, revealing underlying beliefs and patterns
- Decision-Making - Cards provide alternative perspectives on situations
- Creative Problem-Solving - Random imagery stimulates new thinking patterns
- Therapeutic Metaphor - Symbolic imagery helps clients externalize and explore internal conflicts

Scientific Perspective on Divination

From a scientific standpoint, Tarot "works" not through supernatural means but through:

1. Confirmation Bias - We remember hits and forget misses
2. Barnum Effect - General statements feel personally meaningful
3. Projection - We project our own meanings onto ambiguous symbols
4. Forced Reflection - The reading process makes us think deeply about our situation
5. Pattern Recognition - Our brains find meaning in randomness

Research suggests Tarot's value lies not in predicting the future but in facilitating introspection and creative thinking.

The Major Arcana Journey

The 22 Major Arcana cards are often interpreted as "The Fool's Journey" - a symbolic path of personal and spiritual development:

- The Fool (0) - New beginnings, innocence, potential
- The Magician (I) - Manifestation, resourcefulness, power
- The High Priestess (II) - Intuition, sacred knowledge, the subconscious
- The Empress (III) - Abundance, nurturing, nature
- The Emperor (IV) - Authority, structure, control
- The Hierophant (V) - Tradition, conformity, knowledge
- The Lovers (VI) - Relationships, choices, values
- The Chariot (VII) - Willpower, determination, control
- Strength (VIII) - Courage, patience, compassion
- The Hermit (IX) - Introspection, searching, guidance
- Wheel of Fortune (X) - Cycles, fate, turning points
- Justice (XI) - Fairness, truth, cause and effect
- The Hanged Man (XII) - Suspension, letting go, new perspective
- Death (XIII) - Endings, transformation, transition
- Temperance (XIV) - Balance, moderation, patience
- The Devil (XV) - Bondage, materialism, playfulness
- The Tower (XVI) - Upheaval, revelation, liberation
- The Star (XVII) - Hope, inspiration, serenity
- The Moon (XVIII) - Illusion, fear, subconscious
- The Sun (XIX) - Joy, success, vitality
- Judgement (XX) - Reflection, reckoning, absolution
- The World (XXI) - Completion, accomplishment, integration

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The Captain's Account

Cards at Sea

The Black Captain carries a Tarot deck in his cabin - not because he believes cards can predict the future, but because sometimes the mind needs a different kind of mirror.

At sea, especially during long voyages, the rational mind can become too loud, too insistent. It calculates, it plans, it worries. It tells you what you should think, what makes sense, what logic demands.

The cards offer something else: a way to quiet that noise and listen to deeper currents.

The Captain's Definition

Tarot is a conversation starter between your conscious and unconscious mind.

It works not through magic (though the Admiral's wife might disagree), but through something equally powerful: the human mind's ability to find meaning, to make connections, to recognize patterns that the calculating brain would dismiss.

When the Captain Uses the Cards

During Uncertainty: When faced with questions that have no clear answer - like whether the Aura is still the same ship after modernization - the cards provide new perspectives.

For Reflection: After difficult experiences, a card spread helps the Captain process what happened and what it means.

To Break Patterns: When thinking becomes stuck in loops, the random imagery of cards jolts the mind into new paths.

Never for Absolute Answers: The Captain knows better than to ask "Should I sail east or west?" and expect the cards to tell him. That's not what they're for. They're for asking "What am I not seeing about this decision?"

The Ship of Theseus Spread

When the Captain stood on the modernized Aura, he almost drew cards to answer the question: Is this the same ship?

But the Boatswain's wisdom arrived first, offering a clearer answer than any card reading could have provided.

This, the Captain reflected later, is also part of wisdom: knowing when to consult the cards and when to trust the simple truth spoken by someone who knows.

How It Works (The Captain's Theory)

The cards don't tell the future. The Captain is quite certain of this. What they do is more subtle and more useful:

1. They Force Attention: When you draw a card and ask what it means, you stop and think deeply about your situation.

2. They Bypass the Conscious Mind: The symbolic imagery speaks to parts of the brain that don't use words - the parts that understand through metaphor and feeling.

3. They Reveal What You Already Know: Often, seeing a card, you immediately react: "No, that's not right" or "Yes, that's exactly it." The card didn't give you that knowledge - it revealed what was already there, hidden under conscious chatter.

4. They Create Space: The ritual of shuffling, drawing, interpreting creates a pause in the rush of life - a moment of deliberate reflection.

The Scientific Sailor's View

The Captain knows the psychological explanations: confirmation bias, the Barnum effect, projection. He's read Jung on archetypes and synchronicity. He understands that humans are pattern-seeking creatures who will find meaning in random events.

And yet.

And yet, sometimes a card falls that shouldn't - that couldn't - be exactly the right one. Sometimes the Tower appears just before everything changes. Sometimes the Hermit shows up when you most need solitude and reflection.

Coincidence? Probably.

But the Captain has learned that useful coincidences and meaningful patterns can be worth paying attention to, even if - especially if - they're created by the mind rather than the universe.

The Real Magic

The true value of Tarot isn't in predicting what will happen. It's in helping you see what you're not seeing, feel what you're not feeling, know what you already know but haven't admitted.

The cards are a mirror, but a special kind - one that reflects not your face but your hidden thoughts, your unacknowledged fears, your secret hopes.

Sometimes you need that kind of mirror more than you need logic and calculation.

A Sailor's Wisdom

When the old sailors read weather in clouds and claimed to know storms by the color of the sunset, were they doing science or superstition?

Both, perhaps. The patterns were real. The connections were real. But the understanding wasn't purely rational - it was intuitive, holistic, felt rather than calculated.

Tarot works the same way. The symbols are real. The patterns are real. The insights are real. But they come from within, not from without.

The cards don't know your future. But they might help you know yourself.

And at sea - as in life - knowing yourself is often more valuable than knowing tomorrow.

Getting Your Own Deck

The Captain recommends the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck for beginners. Its imagery is clear, its symbolism well-documented, and it's been the standard for over a century for good reason.

For those interested, the deck is available through various retailers including Amazon (affiliate link - purchases support this site).

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References

Crowley, A. (1944). The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians. Available on Archive.org

Decker, R., Depaulis, T., & Dummett, M. (1996). A Wicked Pack of Cards: The Origins of the Occult Tarot. St. Martin's Press.

DuQuette, L. M. (2003). Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot. Weiser Books. Available on Archive.org

Farley, H. (2009). A Cultural History of Tarot: From Entertainment to Esotericism. I.B. Tauris.

Gray, E. A. (1960). The Tarot Revealed: A Modern Guide to Reading the Tarot Cards. Inspiration House.

Howe, E. (2017). The evolution of Tarot: From courtly pastime to modern psychospiritual tool. Journal of the History of Ideas, 78(3), 427-449.

Jung, C. G. (1968). Psychology and Alchemy (Collected Works Vol. 12). Princeton University Press.

Place, R. M. (2005). The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination. Penguin.

Waite, A. E. (1911). The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. William Rider & Son. [Public domain classic]

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"The cards don't show the future. They show what you're not seeing in the present." - The Black Captain