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A Cultural History of Tarot: From Entertainment to Esotericism
The enigmatic and richly illustrative tarot deck reveals a host of strange and iconic mages, such as The Tower, The Wheel of Fortune, The Hanged Man and The Fool: over which loom the terrifying figures of Death and The Devil. The 21 numbered playing cards of tarot have always exerted strong fascination, way beyond their original purpose, and the multiple resonances of the deck are ubiquitous. From T S Eliot and his 'wicked pack of cards' in "The Waste Land" to the psychic divination of Solitaire in Ian Fleming's "Live and Let Die"; and from the satanic novels of Dennis Wheatley to the deck's adoption by New Age practitioners, the cards have in modern times become inseparably connected to the occult. They are now viewed as arguably the foremost medium of prophesying and foretelling. Yet, as the author shows, originally the tarot were used as recreational playing cards by the Italian nobility in the Renaissance. It was only much later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, that the deck became associated with esotericism before evolving finally into a diagnostic tool for mind, body and spirit.
This is the first book to explore the remarkably varied ways in which tarot has influenced culture. Tracing the changing patterns of the deck's use, from game to mysterious oracular device, Helen Farley examines tarot's emergence in 15th century Milan and discusses its later associations with astrology, kabbalah and the Age of Aquarius.
"A Cultural History of Tarot: From Entertainment to Esotericism" is a book that explores the history and evolution of the tarot, from its origins as a card game in the late Middle Ages to its modern-day use as a tool for divination and self-discovery. The book covers the cultural and historical contexts in which the tarot has been used, as well as the ways in which the meanings and interpretations of the cards have changed over time. It also examines the various schools of thought and techniques that have developed around the tarot, including both traditional and contemporary approaches. Overall the book is discussing the way Tarot transformed through time and its cultural significance.
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