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Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage
A profusely illustrated history of the occult nature of the tarot from its origins in ancient Persia
• Thoroughly examines the original historical source for each tarot card and how the cards’ divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols
• Provides authentic 18th- and 19th-century spreads and divination techniques
• Reveals the divinatory meanings of the cards as understood by diviners in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
The origins of the tarot have been lost in the mists of time. Most scholars have guessed that its origins were in China, Egypt, or India. In Mystical Origins of the Tarot, Paul Huson has expertly tracked each symbol of the Minor Arcana to roots in ancient Persia and the Major Arcana Trump card images to the medieval world of mystery, miracle, and morality plays. A number of tarot historians have questioned the use of the tarot as a divination tool prior to the 18th century. But the author demonstrates that the symbolic meanings of the Major Arcana were evident from the time they were first employed in the mid-15th century in the popular divination practice of sortilege. He also reveals how the identities of the court cards in the Minor Arcana were derived from a blend of pagan and medieval sources that strongly influenced their interpretation in tarot divination.
Mystical Origins of the Tarot provides a thorough examination of the original historical source for each card and how the cards’ divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols. Huson also provides concise and practical card-reading methods designed by the cartomancers of the 18th and 19th centuries and reveals the origins of the card interpretations promoted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite.
335 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 11, 2024
Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage by Paul Huson
Rating: 4 stars
Date read: 26/05/2024
There is one chapter on the traditional manner of reading the tarot cards, but other than that, this is a scholarly examination of the original historical source for each tarot card and how the cards’ divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols. Huson discusses the origin and influences of Chinese, Persian and Mamlûk Card games on the creation and naming of the pip and court cards, and the influence of Medieval myths, legends, as well as mystery, miracle, and morality plays on the development of the trump cards. Sorry, no Atlantis or Ancient Egypt here unless you count Egyptology-obsessed occult secret societies. He follows the development of the various types of tarot cards in Europe through the 14th century and onwards. I found this development of the graphics and symbology on the cards, as well as the shift from game cards to divinatory cards, to be particularly interesting. Huson also includes a few pages on how he thinks tarot cards work that is all psychology and quantum physics. A nice, scholarly book on the history of tarot cards that includes many illustrations and limited mystical stuff.
Rating: 4 stars
Date read: 26/05/2024
There is one chapter on the traditional manner of reading the tarot cards, but other than that, this is a scholarly examination of the original historical source for each tarot card and how the cards’ divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols. Huson discusses the origin and influences of Chinese, Persian and Mamlûk Card games on the creation and naming of the pip and court cards, and the influence of Medieval myths, legends, as well as mystery, miracle, and morality plays on the development of the trump cards. Sorry, no Atlantis or Ancient Egypt here unless you count Egyptology-obsessed occult secret societies. He follows the development of the various types of tarot cards in Europe through the 14th century and onwards. I found this development of the graphics and symbology on the cards, as well as the shift from game cards to divinatory cards, to be particularly interesting. Huson also includes a few pages on how he thinks tarot cards work that is all psychology and quantum physics. A nice, scholarly book on the history of tarot cards that includes many illustrations and limited mystical stuff.
March 1, 2020
Don't be thrown off by the use of "mystical" in the title - this is a great, lucid comparison of the historical origins of the symbols in tarot.
I got this book because I'm fascinated by Etteilla and it's strangely difficult to find resources on him in English. Huson places Etteilla in cartomancy's history, provides complete translations of his word lists (for the minor arcana only), and also explains two big Etteilla spreads, all of which is very useful.
Now, Etteilla was a complete nutcase, I still think this book is a little hard on him. I mean, he complains about Etteilla's wacky reordering of the trumps, but then doesn't even get it right. Card No. 1 in Etteilla, "Etteilla" or "Chaos," is the card corresponding to the Pope, not Judgement. I also think that even though he does not mention Etteilla as a source in the major arcana descriptions, many of his suggested meanings are very similar to Etteilla's - particularly for the Devil and the World.
While I'm getting my complaints out of the way, there were some parts that I thought were sketchily sourced and justified. One is Huson's association of the suits to four Persian castes. While he explains the connection between priests and batons, the rest are completely mysterious. The second was throwing out that early decks call "The House of God" instead "The House of the Devil" - he does not say which decks, and all of the early decks he previously mentioned have no titles.
That said, this is the best tarot book I've read because he actually discusses the concrete, real-life significance of the major arcana symbols, instead of referring to some mysterious magical origin! Even being familiar with tarot I learned new ways to think of the trumps. For example, I love Arlecchino but I never thought to connect him to the Juggler! I always saw the connection to the Devil very clearly, but this is even more fun. Another is thinking of the Pope in modern day terms as a research scientist!
For the minor arcana, he lists the interpretations of each card from oldest to newest, leading up to RWS, and it really gives a lot of insight into why Waite chose these weird pictures for his deck.
Another cool suggestion that was new to me is doing minor-arcana-only spreads. I've heard of using only major arcana, but Huson suggests using even specific limited suits to tailor the readings to the content of the question.
Overall it was a very fun and clear read and I'd suggest it for anyone who is interested in the historic aspects of tarot cards.
I got this book because I'm fascinated by Etteilla and it's strangely difficult to find resources on him in English. Huson places Etteilla in cartomancy's history, provides complete translations of his word lists (for the minor arcana only), and also explains two big Etteilla spreads, all of which is very useful.
Now, Etteilla was a complete nutcase, I still think this book is a little hard on him. I mean, he complains about Etteilla's wacky reordering of the trumps, but then doesn't even get it right. Card No. 1 in Etteilla, "Etteilla" or "Chaos," is the card corresponding to the Pope, not Judgement. I also think that even though he does not mention Etteilla as a source in the major arcana descriptions, many of his suggested meanings are very similar to Etteilla's - particularly for the Devil and the World.
While I'm getting my complaints out of the way, there were some parts that I thought were sketchily sourced and justified. One is Huson's association of the suits to four Persian castes. While he explains the connection between priests and batons, the rest are completely mysterious. The second was throwing out that early decks call "The House of God" instead "The House of the Devil" - he does not say which decks, and all of the early decks he previously mentioned have no titles.
That said, this is the best tarot book I've read because he actually discusses the concrete, real-life significance of the major arcana symbols, instead of referring to some mysterious magical origin! Even being familiar with tarot I learned new ways to think of the trumps. For example, I love Arlecchino but I never thought to connect him to the Juggler! I always saw the connection to the Devil very clearly, but this is even more fun. Another is thinking of the Pope in modern day terms as a research scientist!
For the minor arcana, he lists the interpretations of each card from oldest to newest, leading up to RWS, and it really gives a lot of insight into why Waite chose these weird pictures for his deck.
Another cool suggestion that was new to me is doing minor-arcana-only spreads. I've heard of using only major arcana, but Huson suggests using even specific limited suits to tailor the readings to the content of the question.
Overall it was a very fun and clear read and I'd suggest it for anyone who is interested in the historic aspects of tarot cards.
July 17, 2014
In a field full of so many volumes of unmitigated horse crap, it is refreshing to read a book about the Tarot which has a fairly clear-eyed historical approach. No, the playing cards that came to be used by fortune tellers, spiritualists and hokum-peddlers were apparently not written in Egypt, nor by the authors of the Kabbalah, nor reptiles from outer space for that matter. And yet the (apparent) historical truth is just as fascinating.
Nonetheless, if you are so inclined, so mote it be: between this and Bill Butler's Dictionary of the Tarot, then you pretty much have a good overview of what all the major occultists give as the actual divinatory meanings of the individual cards.
So this book is a win-win.
Nonetheless, if you are so inclined, so mote it be: between this and Bill Butler's Dictionary of the Tarot, then you pretty much have a good overview of what all the major occultists give as the actual divinatory meanings of the individual cards.
So this book is a win-win.
June 14, 2014
How times have moved on... in some ways! When I first began an interest in the Tarot there were only a few reliable books, and the small number of decks created were hard to find. We now have a plethora of both but choosing the good ones isn't easy. Paul Huson's book is definitely in the top league. He's not only passionate and thorough about the tarot's history but a fine writer and artist to boot.
First off, he makes it clear that the origins are not to be found in Ancient Egypt, Atlantis from Gypsies or the Kabbala. He includes Astrological influences in his history, but I suspect he also thinks that is another unneccessary complication. That rather undermines much of the Tarot designs and writings of the last hundred years or so and and may explain why decks influenced by those theories can be a bit far-fetched. He cuts through the nonsense around the tarot and demonstrates why the energy expended on all these theories are superfluous and have led tarot designs and theories in other directions. That works for some people I suppose.
What he does attempt - convincingly - is to trace the cards to two sources: Persia for the 4 suits and probably the Medieval Mystery Plays for the trumps. He's helped in this by some recent findings and good research on his part. That may seem a little prosaic to those who want fantastical explanations. Personally, I think this is probably correct and despite new age advocate's wishes, we can state categorically that the early images and names are very Christian. I also agree with his view that they were probably used for divination right from the start - even if they weren't created to be used in that way. The rest of the book is a useful set of descriptions of the meanings and origins of the individual cards from a different angle to most Tarot books.
My slight criticisms are for the following:
I would've liked a closer link to his own Tarot pack's designs and explanations for colour choices, but perhaps that's for another book.
Also, as he has such a good understanding of the original imagery and symbolism; I would've liked much more of this for every card.
He gives a lot of information on Cartomancy and gives one of the most interesting and plausible theories I've read (psychological projection and the archetypes theory basically) for how it could work. It's still a poor logic though and I feel that he is just unable to follow Dummett in dropping the advocacy of divination. Interestingly, much of the history of tarot is filled with leading figures who were sniffy about fortune telling, but still give the tools to carry it out. I suppose that's interesting in itself and there is a history to be described, so it should be included at least.
An enjoyable book for tarot scholars and also for students of mediavel and christian symbolism.
First off, he makes it clear that the origins are not to be found in Ancient Egypt, Atlantis from Gypsies or the Kabbala. He includes Astrological influences in his history, but I suspect he also thinks that is another unneccessary complication. That rather undermines much of the Tarot designs and writings of the last hundred years or so and and may explain why decks influenced by those theories can be a bit far-fetched. He cuts through the nonsense around the tarot and demonstrates why the energy expended on all these theories are superfluous and have led tarot designs and theories in other directions. That works for some people I suppose.
What he does attempt - convincingly - is to trace the cards to two sources: Persia for the 4 suits and probably the Medieval Mystery Plays for the trumps. He's helped in this by some recent findings and good research on his part. That may seem a little prosaic to those who want fantastical explanations. Personally, I think this is probably correct and despite new age advocate's wishes, we can state categorically that the early images and names are very Christian. I also agree with his view that they were probably used for divination right from the start - even if they weren't created to be used in that way. The rest of the book is a useful set of descriptions of the meanings and origins of the individual cards from a different angle to most Tarot books.
My slight criticisms are for the following:
I would've liked a closer link to his own Tarot pack's designs and explanations for colour choices, but perhaps that's for another book.
Also, as he has such a good understanding of the original imagery and symbolism; I would've liked much more of this for every card.
He gives a lot of information on Cartomancy and gives one of the most interesting and plausible theories I've read (psychological projection and the archetypes theory basically) for how it could work. It's still a poor logic though and I feel that he is just unable to follow Dummett in dropping the advocacy of divination. Interestingly, much of the history of tarot is filled with leading figures who were sniffy about fortune telling, but still give the tools to carry it out. I suppose that's interesting in itself and there is a history to be described, so it should be included at least.
An enjoyable book for tarot scholars and also for students of mediavel and christian symbolism.
December 14, 2014
Excellent book on tarot history and with explanation on cards and symbolism. My one reservation is that while the minors are illustrated with both TdM and RWS I am missing Thoth.
May 27, 2023
Mystical Origins of the Tarot is an excellent all round book on Tarot. Huson covers the history of the Tarot, their use, interpretation and common spreads. The book has a section on history, origin of the suits, origin of the Trumps, cartomancy, Trump meanings, minor arcana meanings and reading the cards using some common spreads; 3 cards, celtic cross, hexagram, horoscope and complex. What made this book stand out to me, is the list for of all the historical interpretations on each card, from Pratesi 1750, Etteila 1800´s, Golden Dawn late 1800´s, Waite 1910 and others. 3 pages on each of the major arcanas, court cards 1.5 pages and 1 page for the minors. Reversed historical readings are also included. This book it is very practical for people who want to compare the different historical interpretations of each card, side by side. All cards are illustrated by a black and white card depictions. Major Arcanas have a TdM image (I am guessing Grimaud Conver) and some other historical deck image. The minors a TdM image and and the corresponding RWS image. I would recommend this book for the beginner as well as the advanced reader of the Tarot de Marseille deck as well as the Rider Waite deck. This is a reference book to be sure.
This book can be purchased on Amazon; https://amzn.to/3WGibgi
This book can be purchased on Amazon; https://amzn.to/3WGibgi
December 15, 2011
This book is very concise and well organized. Also, despite the sheer number of names and the amount of history involved, the author has managed to make everything really entertaining and engaging.
February 29, 2012
Everything from Huson is a must read for the serious student, whether about Tarot, craft or herbalism.
September 28, 2024
Paul Huson’s Mystical Origins of the Tarot is one of those books that offers both an insightful history lesson and practical Tarot knowledge all at once. For anyone curious about the deeper historical roots of the cards, this is a must-read. Huson takes the mystery out of the Tarot’s origins and replaces it with well-researched connections to ancient Persia, medieval Europe, and Renaissance imagery. The level of detail he provides makes the Tarot feel not only magical but also a product of centuries of symbolism and tradition.
What sets this book apart is how Huson traces each card’s symbolism back to its historical source, especially in the Minor Arcana. His approach is academic but never dry, which I appreciated, especially when diving into the origins of the court cards. Huson shows how these figures evolved from a blend of pagan and medieval influences, which gave me a much clearer understanding of why they carry the meanings we associate with them today. It felt like I was peeling back layers of time to see how these symbols were shaped by history.
Huson doesn’t stop at just exploring the origins—he also shows how the divinatory meanings of the cards evolved, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries. His breakdown of how the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite influenced modern Tarot interpretations was fascinating. It made me reconsider how much of what I’ve taken for granted in card meanings comes from relatively recent sources. The practical card-reading methods he includes, drawn from historical cartomancy, are also a great bonus for anyone looking to incorporate traditional techniques into their practice.
I will say that the book leans more heavily on history than divination, so if you’re hoping for an in-depth focus on card spreads or modern usage, it might feel a bit academic. But if you’re fascinated by the origins and want to better understand how the Tarot came to be the tool we use today, Huson delivers a treasure trove of information. His writing brings the history to life without getting bogged down in jargon, which is a rare balance in books like this.
Mystical Origins of the Tarot is an illuminating read for Tarot enthusiasts who want to ground their practice in historical context. Huson’s ability to weave together the evolution of Tarot symbolism with practical advice for divination makes this book a valuable resource for readers at any level. It’s a deep dive into the Tarot’s past that will leave you with a richer appreciation for the cards you work with today.
What sets this book apart is how Huson traces each card’s symbolism back to its historical source, especially in the Minor Arcana. His approach is academic but never dry, which I appreciated, especially when diving into the origins of the court cards. Huson shows how these figures evolved from a blend of pagan and medieval influences, which gave me a much clearer understanding of why they carry the meanings we associate with them today. It felt like I was peeling back layers of time to see how these symbols were shaped by history.
Huson doesn’t stop at just exploring the origins—he also shows how the divinatory meanings of the cards evolved, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries. His breakdown of how the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite influenced modern Tarot interpretations was fascinating. It made me reconsider how much of what I’ve taken for granted in card meanings comes from relatively recent sources. The practical card-reading methods he includes, drawn from historical cartomancy, are also a great bonus for anyone looking to incorporate traditional techniques into their practice.
I will say that the book leans more heavily on history than divination, so if you’re hoping for an in-depth focus on card spreads or modern usage, it might feel a bit academic. But if you’re fascinated by the origins and want to better understand how the Tarot came to be the tool we use today, Huson delivers a treasure trove of information. His writing brings the history to life without getting bogged down in jargon, which is a rare balance in books like this.
Mystical Origins of the Tarot is an illuminating read for Tarot enthusiasts who want to ground their practice in historical context. Huson’s ability to weave together the evolution of Tarot symbolism with practical advice for divination makes this book a valuable resource for readers at any level. It’s a deep dive into the Tarot’s past that will leave you with a richer appreciation for the cards you work with today.
June 22, 2020
I found this book highly informative and easy to read. It's not a guide that how to read Tarot, even though it has a complete chapter about the theme plus a wide selection of spreads from simple to complex that I bet would be the delight of any Tarot aficionado (like me). If one is more history oriented or curious about the origin of the Tarot decks, well, this is the book. It was written in a way that is interesting and informative without being so deep or heavy in mysticism, I could say the author it's being honest and objective in his approach and that's why I'll be keeping this one close to me, it's simple a must read. Love it.
July 20, 2024
This was a very well researched and detailed history on tarot as a card game as well as a form of divination. Some might find the read “boring” or “dry” but in my humble opinion it’s because it’s not full of fluff.
The highlight for me was being able to see the intricate illustrations of different decks and the explanations of how different regions interpreted the suits, as well as how Trump/Major Arcana cards came to be.
This book did a fantastic job with remaining unbiased as it laid out the authors research on the subject.
If you are new or just generally wanting to dig deeper on the subject of Cartomancy, I believe this is a must have book for your personal library.
The highlight for me was being able to see the intricate illustrations of different decks and the explanations of how different regions interpreted the suits, as well as how Trump/Major Arcana cards came to be.
This book did a fantastic job with remaining unbiased as it laid out the authors research on the subject.
If you are new or just generally wanting to dig deeper on the subject of Cartomancy, I believe this is a must have book for your personal library.
July 29, 2018
The first part of this book was my favourite. It covered the history of playing cards and tarot. The second half of the book covers meanings for each card. The variety of meanings, and the details of how each of the key players might have developed their systems, were very interesting, but they also seemed so arbitrary that it was less useful for me in a direct way. However, it was useful to see how random most of the classic sources are. It makes me more comfortable with my card reading style because I worry less that I’m missing out on something.
June 18, 2019
So over the years I have been told tarot is pagan, wiccan, jewish , blah blah .... I have been reprimanded when I said tarot has christian roots. This book explains it all.
I loved all the new things I learned. Especially about the christian mystery plays and the four
last things., and eteilla and levy and, and, so much more. . Recommended when you want to learn about the history of tarot. Well written. Not a dry, scholarly read.
I loved all the new things I learned. Especially about the christian mystery plays and the four
last things., and eteilla and levy and, and, so much more. . Recommended when you want to learn about the history of tarot. Well written. Not a dry, scholarly read.
April 4, 2022
Lots of other books that include tarot history are either written in a manner that's hard for me to understand, and/or too info-dumpy that make my eyes glaze over.
This book, on the other hand, goes over the history in an easy-to-digest and scholarly fashion that was fascinating and hard to put down.
Highly recommended.
This book, on the other hand, goes over the history in an easy-to-digest and scholarly fashion that was fascinating and hard to put down.
Highly recommended.
May 1, 2024
An excellent supplement to Place's similar text that provides both complimentary and divergent theories of the cards' origins and best interpretations. Like Place's book, it occasionally makes somewhat dubious truth claims based on the author's own spiritual leanings, but these are easy to set aside for readers interested solely in history.
September 28, 2024
Super interesting read - honestly more of a niche art history book than anything, with some advice on doing actual readings if you’re into that. Great book even if you’re not. I really appreciated the appendix of museums that hold some of the original decks. -1 star only because it really could’ve used some better editing on the grammar/spelling front, but nothing too bad.
January 31, 2018
Connects the Tarot images with Medieval Mystery plays, which is the first book I have read to make these interpretations explicit. Huson writing style is lively and informative. I read the Kindle edition on check out from the local library and I enjoyed the book enough to order the print edition.
April 8, 2021
Pretty darn dry for such an intricate and interesting topic. It has solid and researched information, which makes it a great reference book to have on hand. Perhaps if you're not quite tired reading it will aid in falling asleep...
February 18, 2017
This takes a look at the decks of the Tarot de Marseille, side by side to the basic images of the Rider Waite Smith deck. Really insightful for comparing and contrasting.
May 7, 2012
This book was packed with information, but for the most part, it was clearly presented and well referenced. I liked how the tarot meanings were itemized by the develop that introduced them. It was also the most usable description of tarot spreads that I have seen.
August 11, 2013
a re-read, still pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews