Elentarri's Reviews > Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage

Mystical Origins of the Tarot by Paul Huson
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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.
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Reading Progress

May 17, 2024 – Started Reading
May 17, 2024 – Shelved
May 17, 2024 –
21.0%
May 18, 2024 –
35.0%
May 26, 2024 – Finished Reading

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Elentarri Travelin wrote: "So he believes they "work". And what, politically speaking, is a medieval "trump" card?"
One of the major arcana - the Fool, Empress, Emperor, Magician, Hermit, The Star, The Sun etc etc.


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