Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Welcome back to Part II of our Tarot history series! In this episode, we uncover how the Tarot transformed from a game for the elite into one of the world’s most iconic divination tools. From the late 18th-century shift led by influential figures like Antoine Court de Gébelin to the rise of the occult Tarot decks designed by Aleister Crowley, we track the journey of Tarot as it crossed from gaming into mysticism, folklore, and pop culture. We also explore the critical influence of the Romani on Tarot’s spread as a tool for fortune telling and the Catholic Church’s response to its growing use in the occult.
This deep dive sheds light on how Tarot became entwined with occult traditions, secret societies, and even Freemasonry, and how decks like the Rider-Waite-Smith and Thoth Tarot have cemented their place in popular culture and New Age practices. If you’re curious about Tarot’s rich history or just love a good story of how a simple deck of cards became a cultural phenomenon, this video is for you.
Watch Part II now and discover the mystique behind each Tarot card, the influence of early esoteric societies, and why Tarot continues to intrigue us today. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more deep dives into game history, and let us know in the comments if you’re a Tarot enthusiast or a curious newcomer!
Here are some of the many resources used in the making of this series. If you've read these or have others to add, please leave a comment:
trionfi.com
archive.org/details/itrionfidelpetra00petr/page/n57/mode/2up
pre-gebelin.blogspot.com/2016
tarot-heritage.com
publicdomainreview.org/collection/etteilla-thot
waitesmith.org/index.php/decks/rider-1910-a-deck
TikTok: tiktok.com/@play_in.games?_t=8lg0eVCK0OQ&_r=1
Instagram: instagram.com/playin_games_offical
Inquiries: play.in.games.lets.go@gmail.com
Help keep these going by giving a “Special Thanks” digital donation
or
Donate Bitcoin: 1CzvYXTk2tqP5odozGzDn7qMHxtDsyoH2Z
Donate Ethereum: 0x62BFA77289775CB6E137107adcAba64a63D0cDe4
By Christopher Cannucciari
cannucciari.com
dynmcrange.com
All Rights: Dynamic Range
Welcome back to Part II of our Tarot history series! In this episode, we uncover how the Tarot transformed from a game for the elite into one of the world’s most iconic divination tools. From the late 18th-century shift led by influential figures like Antoine Court de Gébelin to the rise of the occult Tarot decks designed by Aleister Crowley, we track the journey of Tarot as it crossed from gaming into mysticism, folklore, and pop culture. We also explore the critical influence of the Romani on Tarot’s spread as a tool for fortune telling and the Catholic Church’s response to its growing use in the occult.
This deep dive sheds light on how Tarot became entwined with occult traditions, secret societies, and even Freemasonry, and how decks like the Rider-Waite-Smith and Thoth Tarot have cemented their place in popular culture and New Age practices. If you’re curious about Tarot’s rich history or just love a good story of how a simple deck of cards became a cultural phenomenon, this video is for you.
Watch Part II now and discover the mystique behind each Tarot card, the influence of early esoteric societies, and why Tarot continues to intrigue us today. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more deep dives into game history, and let us know in the comments if you’re a Tarot enthusiast or a curious newcomer!
Here are some of the many resources used in the making of this series. If you've read these or have others to add, please leave a comment:
trionfi.com
archive.org/details/itrionfidelpetra00petr/page/n57/mode/2up
pre-gebelin.blogspot.com/2016
tarot-heritage.com
publicdomainreview.org/collection/etteilla-thot
waitesmith.org/index.php/decks/rider-1910-a-deck
TikTok: tiktok.com/@play_in.games?_t=8lg0eVCK0OQ&_r=1
Instagram: instagram.com/playin_games_offical
Inquiries: play.in.games.lets.go@gmail.com
Help keep these going by giving a “Special Thanks” digital donation
or
Donate Bitcoin: 1CzvYXTk2tqP5odozGzDn7qMHxtDsyoH2Z
Donate Ethereum: 0x62BFA77289775CB6E137107adcAba64a63D0cDe4
By Christopher Cannucciari
cannucciari.com
dynmcrange.com
All Rights: Dynamic Range
