The origins of tarot cards remain shrouded in mystery, but their development has been deeply influenced by various mystical and esoteric traditions. Among the most significant influences are Kabbalah and other mystical practices, which have shaped the way tarot cards are interpreted and used. While tarot decks were initially created in the 15th century for playing games, by the 18th century, they had become associated with fortune-telling and mysticism, thanks in part to these ancient traditions.
Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism, played a crucial role in this transformation. Its teachings about the nature of the universe, the soul, and divine wisdom began to intertwine with tarot symbolism. One key influence is the concept of the Tree of Life, a central symbol in Kabbalah. The Tree of Life consists of ten spheres, or sephirot, representing different attributes of God and the universe. Tarot enthusiasts and mystics linked the sephirot with the 22 major arcana cards, creating a correspondential system that connects each card to a specific spiritual path or divine attribute.
The relationship between the tarot and the Tree of Life became an essential component of many mystical systems. The number 22, for example, corresponds to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, which were also assigned to the major arcana cards. These connections deepened the tarot’s association with Kabbalah, making it not just a tool for divination but also a key to spiritual insight.
Additionally, the broader tradition of Western mysticism, including Hermeticism, alchemy, and the Rosicrucians, further enriched tarot’s symbolic system. Mystical schools believed that tarot cards could be used to unlock hidden knowledge about the universe and the human psyche, aligning with broader esoteric goals of enlightenment and spiritual awakening.
Through these influences, tarot moved from its origins as a game to a tool for mystical reflection, personal transformation, and divination. Today, many tarot readers continue to draw on Kabbalistic teachings and other mystical traditions to interpret the cards, emphasizing their deeper, spiritual meanings rather than their surface-level symbolism. The legacy of Kabbalah and mysticism remains embedded in the tarot’s historical development, shaping its use as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds.