Tarot: Busting the Myth

The truth behind the cards — no crystal ball required.

When you hear the word tarot, what comes to mind?

A cloaked woman in a candlelit room whispering warnings? A mysterious deck steeped in ancient Egyptian magic?

It’s time to clear the fog. Tarot’s real history is far more grounded (and fascinating) than most people realize — and knowing it can free us to use the cards in the empowering, insightful way they were always meant to be.

🎭 Tarot Began as a Parlor Game

Surprised? In the 15th century, tarot cards were created as a trick-taking card game for wealthy nobles in Europe — particularly in Italy and France. These early decks were beautifully illustrated, they didn’t include the “scary” imagery often associated with tarot today.

Traditional tarot games (known as Tarocchi or Tarot de Marseille) are still played in parts of Europe. They had no mystical purpose at the time — just fun, strategy, and style.

🎨 The Major Arcana Was a Later Addition

The now-famous “Major Arcana” — cards like The Fool, Death, or The High Priestess — didn’t appear until later. And they weren’t originally filled with dark symbolism.

The imagery? Surprisingly practical: many designs were inspired by parade floats, festivals, and civic theater of the time. Think of them as medieval Instagram stories — reflecting social roles and human experiences.

🏺 Myth: Tarot Comes from Ancient Egypt

This myth has persisted, but there’s no historical evidence to support the claim that tarot has Egyptian origins.

So where did the rumor come from?

Enter Antoine Court de Gébelin, an 18th-century French writer and Freemason. He claimed tarot was a secret survival of Egyptian mystical wisdom in his book Le Monde Primitif. He meant well — but he didn’t have a shred of proof.

His claim was based on a personal interpretation, not actual historical events. Still, it caught on — and the Egyptian myth was born.

✍️ The First Professional Readers

In 18th-century Paris, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, better known as Etteilla (his name reversed), became the first known person to read tarot for money. He created his deck and created the practice of linking the cards to astrology and esoteric systems.

Next came Papus (Dr. Gérard Encausse), a 19th-century French physician and occultist who served Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. He further popularized tarot with his book The Tarot of the Bohemians, continuing the Egyptian origin story — even though it remained unproven.

⛪ Waite, Christianity & The Shift Toward Symbolism

The biggest shake-up in tarot history came from Arthur Edward Waite, co-creator of the now-famous Rider-Waite-Smith deck. A scholar and mystic, Waite stripped away much of the Egyptian influence and layered in Christian and Hermetic symbolism instead.

He also emphasized personal spiritual growth, helping tarot take on a deeper, more reflective tone.

🎥 Cue Hollywood: The Rise of the Fortune-Teller Stereotype

By the 20th century, Hollywood had stepped in. Movies and TV began portraying tarot readers as mysterious “gypsy” women dealing in dark predictions and doomed fates.

It made for great drama — but it completely distorted the truth.

🌟 Tarot Today: Archetypes for Growth

So what is tarot?

At its core, tarot is a deck of universal archetypes — reflections of human experiences, emotions, and choices. Today, it’s widely used by therapists, coaches, and spiritual practitioners as a counseling tool to support clarity, emotional insight, and self-reflection.

Tarot doesn’t tell your future — it helps you shape it, by offering new perspectives on your present.

💬 Final Thoughts

Tarot’s journey from a noble pastime to a counseling tool is full of myth, mystery, and misunderstanding. But in stripping away the fantasy, we uncover something even more powerful:

A tool for growth.

A mirror for the soul.

A conversation with your inner wisdom.

And that? That’s real magic.

Curious about how trusted tools from the 15th Century can help and support you in your life?  

Let’s connect at CathyEnergyHealing.com