I am not sure of when exactly I first became familiar with the Tarot. But my fascination with the metaphysical world began very early around six or so. I particularly loved anything pertaining to Gypsies and/or Witches.
I read the “Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum when I was about eight. I wanted a pair of ruby slippers too – particularly ones formerly worn by a witch. In summers, I would visit my cousin Betsy and we would play King of the Gypsies. This caused some resentment by Betsy that I discovered we were grown as I was always the King. But I digress.
I was a voracious reader and had an adult library card by the time I was ten years old. By 11 years old I had read the complete works of Shakespeare and I particularly was fond of the witches in MacBeth who, as they were making their stew, said: “Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.” Witches were always seeing the future – although in a rather grim and dire fashion.
I read all books supernatural that I could lay my hands on. I read about the amazing abilities of the great American seer Edgar Cayce. I watched movies where the lead character would have their cards read by a Gypsy or Witch or a Witch disguised as a Gypsy. The reading seemed to always take place at night only lit by a candle or the moon. Ominous music would play; and the cards would reveal dire events. Sometimes the reading recipient would hold their throat and scream, sometimes not. At the time, that was part of the thrill for me. Intuition was always part of my life. Though my intuition and rational mind would argue endlessly.
When I was in college, I used the I Ching, an ancient Chinese divination tool. The I Ching is a form of “cleromancy” or casting of lots. I got so I was pretty good at it too.
Tarot was always on the periphery of my vision. But it became much more in focus one day as I was sitting in the student union at Western Illinois University. There were about ten of my friends at our usual table. One of the guys was in distress. He had been given a Tarot reading by this girl. She laid out the cards (cue the ominous music) and stated he was going to die in an auto accident in two weeks. I said I didn’t believe it. Well, he didn’t die in two weeks. Turns out this girl was “punishing him” because he wasn’t interested in her. But out of this was born my determination to learn Tarot – not to make dire predictions but to use the deck for insight and enlightenment.
The exact moment and time I bought my first deck is lost in the annals of time and my foggy memory. I do know that my first deck was the Rider-Waite. I studied and used this deck just about every day. I read the Tarot books by Eden Gray. I have always loved the language of symbols; so, Tarot really spoke to me. And we haven’t stopped speaking ever since. I did group study with Dr. Fran Pellici for eight years, who in turn studied under Manly Hall – mystic, astrologer, and founder of the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles.
What I have gotten out of all this reading and studies – I just love Tarot and we’ve been having an affair for years and years.
The Tarot deck is comprised of the Major and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards and the Minor Arcana of 56 for a total of 78 cards. No one really knows where these cards came from. The first deck appeared in Italy in the 1400’s. Some feel the Major Arcana predates the Minor Arcana and hales from Ancient Egypt. The Major Arcana are also called the Wisdom cards as they contain deeper esoteric meanings than the Minor Arcana.
The Minor Arcana speaks of more mundane, everyday life. It is where the modern-day deck of cards derives from. The Minor Arcana is divided into: Swords (air/thoughts), Pentacles (Earth/work/money), Cups (Water/love/creativity/intuition) and Wands (Fire/spirit/action).
You can study the Tarot for 100 years, and still not know everything there is to know. I would like to share my love of Tarot with you. I will gather/write a series of articles on the Tarot starting with The Fool, the first in a series of articles regarding the Major Arcana. There are twenty-two cards so there will be twenty-two articles.
About The Author
I am originally from the Chicago area. I believe I still retain much of my midwestern sensibilities. Midwesterners are direct and honest.
My Intuitive abilities have always been there for me. I remember being in my bed when I was about three. The room was dark and still. Laying there, I just knew that I could make toys appear. I tried and tried but alas that didn’t happen. And I couldn’t understand why. I understood a certain principle that didn’t seem to work in this physical world. I always knew I was different, even then – out of place, out of time.