Exploring the art, mystery, and meaning behind the cards
Tarot cards have long been associated with mystery, magic, and self-discovery. Today, they’re used for guidance, reflection, and even as beautiful art — inspiring everything from jewellery designs to home décor. But tarot wasn’t always about fortune-telling. In fact, the cards have a rich, fascinating history that stretches back centuries and crosses cultures.
Let’s take a journey into the origins of tarot and uncover how it evolved into the symbolic deck we know and love today.
🕰️ The Origins: A Game of Nobles
While tarot is often linked to mysticism, it actually began as a card game in 15th-century Europe. The earliest known tarot decks appeared in northern Italy, created for wealthy families who commissioned artists to hand-paint elaborate playing cards.
These early decks — known as “tarocchi” — weren’t used for divination at all. They were part of a trick-taking card game, similar to modern-day bridge. The suits (Cups, Coins, Swords, and Wands) and court cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page) reflected medieval society and values.
🎨 From Art to Symbolism
As tarot spread through Europe, the cards became a reflection of culture and spirituality. By the 16th and 17th centuries, artists began to add symbolic imagery — allegories of virtue, fate, love, and mortality — that gave the decks a deeper meaning.
It wasn’t until the 18th century, particularly in France, that tarot began to take on a mystical and divinatory role. Scholars and occultists, such as Antoine Court de Gébelin, claimed the cards held ancient wisdom — even linking them (incorrectly) to Egyptian lore. Around the same time, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known by his pseudonym Etteilla, became one of the first to popularise tarot specifically for fortune-telling. He published detailed guides on how to read the cards, created one of the earliest decks designed explicitly for divination, and helped establish many of the symbolic interpretations that still influence tarot practices today. This period marked the beginning of tarot as a tool for insight and self-reflection rather than mere entertainment.
🔮 The Birth of the Modern Tarot
The tarot deck as we recognise it today — with 78 cards split into the Major and Minor Arcana — took shape in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Rider–Waite–Smith deck, created in 1909 by artist Pamela Colman Smith and mystic A.E. Waite, became the most influential tarot deck of all time.
Smith’s expressive illustrations gave each card rich symbolism and emotion, making the tarot more accessible to readers and artists alike. Her designs inspired generations of creatives — from spiritual practitioners to designers who still draw from her imagery today.
🌙 Tarot in Modern Culture
Today, tarot has found its place far beyond divination. It’s a source of artistic inspiration, self-reflection, and personal empowerment. The archetypes of the cards — like The Lovers, The Sun, and Justice — resonate deeply with people exploring identity, growth, and meaning.
That’s why tarot-inspired designs continue to appear in everything from fashion to tattoos, and yes. Each card tells a story, holding its own message about life, balance, and transformation.
💫 More Than a Deck of Cards
The beauty of tarot lies in its versatility. Whether you use it for meditation, creative inspiration, or simply admire its art, tarot connects us to centuries of human storytelling and symbolism. It reminds us that life — like the cards — is full of cycles, lessons, and opportunities for renewal.
We celebrate that artistry and meaning through our tarot-inspired gifts and jewellery. Each piece captures the essence of the cards: strength, love, transformation, and light — designed to inspire you to carry their energy wherever you go.
By WAB - creative, bold, and meaningful gifts online
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