I recently listened to a podcast about witches and got interested in tarot reading from there. I could hear how a lot of the readers were using the cards more as a form of psychotherapy than fortune telling. I'm a counsellor so I got really interested at this point. I really enjoy the somewhat complete feeling range of human experience encapsulated by the Rider Waite Smith deck. I find that drawing random cards whilst thinking of a particular situation can help me to examine it in new ways, and ways that are outside of my comfort zone that I would otherwise avoid. I think this is developing me as a person, and I think it's fun. The proposed path of awakening told in the fools journey through the major arcana bears striking resemblance to certain Buddhist maps of enlightenment such as the 10 ox herding pictures. I think there is a very pragmatic wisdom to be found in cartomancy as a tool for personal growth, but not for fortune telling. I really love your videos ❤
The most fun modern usage of the tarot deck that I know of is a game called His Majesty the Worm. It's a full tabletop RPG that use the tarot deck instead of dice.
Thank you. Lots of research, I need to find the time to go back and compile all the bits. Some great starting points, off the top of my head, tarot-heritage.com, wopc, tarot.com, but there were many more nuggets to be found during the deep dive. Translating the older source material was really surprising, like for the earliest Visconti decks and the surrounding stories. The translation tools we now have make teasing out hidden history worth the effort.
Great video, well put together. Worth noting though that Freemasonry doesn't actually relate itself to the tarot, and the connect mostly comes from Crowley being a Mason himself and putting the two together. Also, it was more of a business/social club for the social elite, not a cult. Still a fantastic watch
Thank you! I do have to disagree that the connection stems mostly from Crowley, as the influence of the much earlier Antoine Court de Gébelin and Count Cagliostro (a Freemason) was supremely significant in shaping both tarot and Freemasonry. Their contributions laid the foundation for the made-up link between Freemasonry and ancient Egyptian wisdom-especially within French Freemasonry, which maintained close ties with American lodges at the time. Egyptian lore and tarot symbols persist in public facing Freemasonry. It goes both ways as their influence is seen in popular tarot decks today, which contain Masonic symbols and references. As Freemasonry exists now, it seems like you are correct that it functions more as a social club, but with aspects of initiation cults like the Mithrics of old. However as I’m not in any elite clubs, other than the Sierra club, my reference is strictly what history has already written.
If you are going to do a video on tarot games, please do Grosstarock! It is such a great game and deserves a great video. Great vid once again. Keep it up!
I recently listened to a podcast about witches and got interested in tarot reading from there. I could hear how a lot of the readers were using the cards more as a form of psychotherapy than fortune telling.
I'm a counsellor so I got really interested at this point. I really enjoy the somewhat complete feeling range of human experience encapsulated by the Rider Waite Smith deck.
I find that drawing random cards whilst thinking of a particular situation can help me to examine it in new ways, and ways that are outside of my comfort zone that I would otherwise avoid. I think this is developing me as a person, and I think it's fun.
The proposed path of awakening told in the fools journey through the major arcana bears striking resemblance to certain Buddhist maps of enlightenment such as the 10 ox herding pictures.
I think there is a very pragmatic wisdom to be found in cartomancy as a tool for personal growth, but not for fortune telling.
I really love your videos ❤
Thanks! You have a very healthy outlook on the cards. Keep at it!
The most fun modern usage of the tarot deck that I know of is a game called His Majesty the Worm. It's a full tabletop RPG that use the tarot deck instead of dice.
I just checked it out, what a novel idea! Do you know the developer?
@Play-In-Games no, I just like to look for ttrpg with unique systems, presentations and/or settings.
Another great video, thanks Chris !
You rock Chris, great work as always!!! :)
Thanks, much appreciated!
This channel needs to blow up! Quality stuff and fun to watch. One thing - How did you go about researching this?
Thank you. Lots of research, I need to find the time to go back and compile all the bits. Some great starting points, off the top of my head, tarot-heritage.com, wopc, tarot.com, but there were many more nuggets to be found during the deep dive. Translating the older source material was really surprising, like for the earliest Visconti decks and the surrounding stories. The translation tools we now have make teasing out hidden history worth the effort.
A good example of tarot influence is in the Mexican bingo game Loteria!
Indeed, that's a great example. I love the artwork on those cards. Thanks!
Great video, well put together. Worth noting though that Freemasonry doesn't actually relate itself to the tarot, and the connect mostly comes from Crowley being a Mason himself and putting the two together. Also, it was more of a business/social club for the social elite, not a cult.
Still a fantastic watch
Thank you! I do have to disagree that the connection stems mostly from Crowley, as the influence of the much earlier Antoine Court de Gébelin and Count Cagliostro (a Freemason) was supremely significant in shaping both tarot and Freemasonry.
Their contributions laid the foundation for the made-up link between Freemasonry and ancient Egyptian wisdom-especially within French Freemasonry, which maintained close ties with American lodges at the time. Egyptian lore and tarot symbols persist in public facing Freemasonry. It goes both ways as their influence is seen in popular tarot decks today, which contain Masonic symbols and references.
As Freemasonry exists now, it seems like you are correct that it functions more as a social club, but with aspects of initiation cults like the Mithrics of old. However as I’m not in any elite clubs, other than the Sierra club, my reference is strictly what history has already written.
If you are going to do a video on tarot games, please do Grosstarock! It is such a great game and deserves a great video.
Great vid once again. Keep it up!
Thanks! I hope to get around to some Tarot games in the new year, I'll definitely look into it.
There are some Romani peoples who do call themselves gypsy, however it is better to just use the term Romani, like you said.
Do a let's play on the French Tarot game! it's not complicated just the scoring takes a bit of time. Or belote too!
I hope to do it soon. Thanks for watching!
"It was a different time entirely..." 😂