A History of Tarot Readings: From Tarocchi to Tarot

Tarot Started as a Game

Long before the cards were shuffled on velvet tablecloths under candlelight, they were part of a card game enjoyed by the elite. Originating in 15th-century Italy, tarot, then called tarocch, was essentially a sophisticated version of a trick-taking game. Wealthy families like the Viscontis of Milan commissioned hand-painted decks that were as much about status and aesthetics as they were about gameplay.

The original decks featured the four familiar suits, Cups, Swords, Batons (now Wands), and Coins (now Pentacles,) plus a set of 22 allegorical cards known as “triumphs.” These images, which included figures like the Fool, the Magician, and the Lovers, weren’t mystical. They were cultural commentary, morality lessons, social archetypes, and symbolic snapshots of Renaissance life.

So when did tarot take that sharp turn into the mystical? That shift happened in the late 1700s, thanks to a French writer and clergyman named Antoine Court de Gébelin. He floated this bold theory that tarot wasn’t just a card game—it was actually a hidden trove of ancient Egyptian wisdom. Totally speculative, but it hit all the right notes for an era obsessed with secret knowledge and the occult.

Not long after, a guy named Jean-Baptiste Alliette—who went by the pen name Etteilla—took things even further. He assigned specific meanings to each card and designed an entirely new deck made for fortune-telling. Just like that, the cards stepped fully into the world of divination.

A Modern Tool for Meaning and Self-Discovery

In 2025, tarot isn’t just a mystical curiosity, it’s a mainstream cultural force. Part of that can be credited to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, first published in 1909. Unlike older decks, which used simple suit icons, this one featured vivid, narrative scenes even on the numbered Minor Arcana cards. It made the cards more accessible, intuitive, and deeply personal.

Today’s resurgence is powered by a mix of social media, spiritual curiosity, and mental health awareness. Tarot readers now span every corner of the internet, from seasoned occultists to lifestyle influencers offering daily “energy checks.” For many, this isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about asking questions, sitting with uncertainty, and making space for reflection.

These days, the cards are more accessible than ever. Apps and digital decks have made it super easy to pull a few cards on your lunch break, and even therapists and life coaches are using it as a way to spark reflection and storytelling. At the same time, tarot’s dreamy aesthetic is everywhere—showing up in music videos, fashion editorials, and brand campaigns that mix a little mysticism with a lot of style.

So what’s next? It’s not slowing down. Expect things to get even more interactive—think AI-generated spreads, gamified readings, and decks that adapt to your birth chart or personality. In a world that feels more chaotic by the day, tarot offers something surprisingly grounding: a quiet moment to check in with yourself and see what your gut’s been trying to tell you.