Where Does Tarot Come From?

A brief history of Tarot! From origins, to dispelled myths, come check out where Tarot comes from! Follow the links and resources below to get started on your own deeper history of Tarot journey.

EDIT: I no longer podcast, so I am not recording new information, but as my learning has grown regarding the History of Tarot I want to share that on to you.

"Tarot’s cultural roots are centered in Romani history and practices in Cartomancy which was and is a survival based trade for many vitsas. Cartomancy is the interpretation of playing cards through divination. Playing cards are the origin of the tarot, as we see in the minor arcana in the playing cards we know today. The Major Arcana came later through tarot’s journey into mainstream culture and integration into mystical and magical practices through colonialism, appropriation, and forced assimilation. We encourage folks who are creating businesses, events, and practices centered in the tarot to acknowledge the history of this practice."

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uodWydDaEpc_YJ2F7sikk0ChT2R8Vbg4ucBvpM5wf7Q/edit


Webpages

Mary K Greer “Origins of Cartomancy”, “Pamela Coleman Smith”

Tom Waters The TarotL Information Sheet, The Evolution of the Tarot

Simon Wintle The History of Playing Cards

Robert Chambers “The Folklore of Playing Cards”

trionfi.com “The Oldest Tarot Cards”

Aeclectic Tarot Forum

Books
(Full disclosure, I did not read these- but they came recommended or cited from multiple sources I did read, so I'm passing them along to you. A couple are clearly out of print and very expensive; but that's interesting too! )

Greer, Mary K.
Pamela Coleman Smith: The Untold Story
2018
ISBN 157281912X

Place, Robert
Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination
2005 
ISBN 1585423491

Huson, Paul
Mystical Origins of the Tarot
2004 
ISBN 0892811900

Decker, Ronald, Thierry Depaulis, & Michael Dummett
Wicked Pack of Cards
1996 
ISBN 0715627139 or ISBN 0312162944

Bob O'Neill
Tarot Symbolism
1986
ISBN 0895369362

Dummett, Micheal
The Game of Tarot
1980
ISBN 0715610147