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THE HISTORY OF TAROT The history of Tarot stems back to medieval 15 th century in Italy, where royalty used the cards as a court game. It wasn't until the late 18th century in France and Germany, when Tarot cards were re-interpreted and through the visual symbols, became considered a magical art form for divination, clarity and prediction. Tarot Readers were consulted for guidance around political issues, social issues and personal issues. Today, Tarot is affiliated with the healing arts. The cards are most often used as a psychological tool for accessing the unconscious . Practitioners interpret the rich metaphorical imagery and text to offer guidance to those seeking insight into their lives. The art of Tarot card reading involves both intellectual interpretation of images and numbers and intuitive knowledge. Today there are thousands of decks available, catering to many diverse interests and belief, ranging from baseball to voodoo. Traditionally it was considered most important that a Tarot deck be given as a gift to the practitioner for the true magic of the cards to be fully realized. However, there are now differing opinions on this matter. Gifting oneself with a special healing Tarot deck seems to be acceptable, and in many ways offers an opportunity for a more powerful creative, magical link to be formed between reader and Tarot deck. Once the deck is chosen, it is suggested that it be wrapped in special fabric and placed under the pillow of the reader for the night, further enhancing the magical link. Once this link is formed, the reader must never allow anyone else to read with them. Whether playful, therapeutic, or spiritual, the reading of Tarot cards is based on a tradition of understanding life and its mysteries through a combination of artistic, psychological and often times psychic means. It is truly a Healing Art Form.
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