Ronald Decker

Ronald Decker's writings explore the history of tarot cards, particularly their evolution from playing cards to tools for divination and esoteric study. Originating in 15th-century Italy as 'triumph packs,' tarot cards were initially used for games. It wasn't until the late 18th century, significantly influenced by figures like Antoine Court de Gébelin and Etteilla, that tarot began to be widely associated with fortune-telling and occultism. Early claims linked the tarot to ancient Egypt and mystical traditions, though scholarly research often finds no historical basis for these connections. Decker's work examines how these esoteric interpretations, particularly those involving Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and Egyptian theology, were developed and propagated by occultists, shaping the modern understanding of the tarot.

The history of tarot cards traces back to 15th-century northern Italy, where they emerged as 'carte da trionfi' or triumph packs, an addition to standard playing cards. These packs were initially used for games, with no evidence of divinatory use until the 1780s. The association with esoteric practices began in the late 18th century, notably with Antoine Court de Gébelin. He proposed an ancient Egyptian origin for the tarot, linking its symbolism to Egyptian theology and Qabalistic import, though modern Egyptology disputes his etymologies. Despite the lack of historical evidence, these theories profoundly influenced the occult understanding of tarot, leading to its widespread adoption for divination and mystical pursuits.

The transformation of tarot into an esoteric tool was significantly advanced by figures like Etteilla (Jean-Baptiste Alliette) and Éliphas Lévi. Etteilla established the first society dedicated to tarot cartomancy and published treatises assigning divinatory meanings, promoting the 'Grand Etteilla' deck as a corrected version. He also linked the tarot to the Book of Thoth and Hermes Trismegistus. Éliphas Lévi, a key figure in modern occultism, viewed the tarot as a universal key to ancient doctrines and philosophies. He integrated Kabbalistic concepts, associating the Major Arcana with the Hebrew alphabet and the ten sefiroth, and proposed symbolic connections for the suits and court cards, further solidifying its role in magical and mystical practices.

Following its establishment as a divinatory instrument, the tarot found application in various hermeneutic, magical, mystical, semiotic, and psychological contexts. It was adopted by Romani people for fortune-telling, though historical evidence for this predates the 20th century. In psychological circles, the tarot was utilized as an apparatus for accessing the unconscious, as a tool for archetypal analysis, and for facilitating the Jungian process of individuation. Marie Anne Lenormand, a prominent 19th-century cartomancer, gained influence among notable figures, developing her own decks, further expanding the practical use of cards for divination.