Why does Tarot work?

Recently, after one of my readings I was asked a great question; “so why do you think tarot works?”

It’s definitely a loaded question! And it really depends upon how someone approaches the reading and the Tarot itself.

Tarot has been around for centuries, and although there is mixed opinions and speculations about its origins, it wasn’t actually used for divination until about the 18th Century. It was originally designed as a game; Tarocchi was played as a parlour game reserved for Royals and the wealthy. It originated in Italy and France, and quickly spread around Europe and other parts of the world like Egypt, by the gypsies and mystics who adapted it for fortune telling purposes.

When the invention of the printed press came to be, it allowed mass production of the cards. The first to mass produce a deck was In Marseilles France, and this gave birth to the Marseilles Tarot Deck which is still in production and popular today.

So back to the question; Why does it work?

Well, in my opinion it works for many reasons. Starting with its ‘Egregore’.

An egregore is when a symbol, place, or thing has been charged with the same intention or meaning by the Collective: hundreds if not thousands of people who have focused on it’s one particular meaning or a result there of. As a result, it takes on a life or personality of its own, having been brought to existence by the united thoughts and intents of its users.

So, given that the Tarot has had pretty much the same cards and same meanings for those cards, for at least the last 200 years, it has an Egregore. Given to it by the millions of people who have used the symbols for divination purposes.