The Divinatory Tarot: The Key to Reading the Cards and the Fates - Softcover

Having 'The Divinatory Tarot' in English represents a great leap forward for Tarot users and theorists. In this summary of the main movements in popular Tarot up to 1880, Papus reveals the interpretive matrix from which virtually all modern Tarot interpretations are derived. Under the title of 'Astrological Onomancy', Papus makes a definitive exposition of the 'Minor Arcana' tradition built up over the previous century by Etteilla, d'Odoucet, Mlle Lenormand, Paul Christian and Eliphas Levi. The illustrations by Gabriel Goulinat show us Papus own Tarot in its charming original form. I was especially glad to see the full roster of correspondences given for each card - astrological values, letters, numbers, dates, hours, lunar quarters, angel seals and so on. A full array of card layouts is included, plus tips for the interpretation of the results. The reader is also treated to liberal quotes from the most respected practitioners of the 32-card method (using only the kings, queens, pages, aces, 10, 9, 8, and 7 of each suit). In this book Papus focuses almost exclusively upon the parlor-sibyl tradition that was so popular with the ladies of his era. Nevertheless, the apt student of occultism will see a wealth of hints and links to the larger world of metaphysics and esoterica in which Papus was personally immersed. 'The Divinatory Tarot' grants us a bird's eye view on cartomancy at the end of the 19th century, written by a person uniquely positioned to comment upon it. I'm so grateful to put this on my shelf with the rest of the classic Tarot resources! --Christine PAyne-Towler author of 'The Underground Stream: Esoteric Tarot Revealed

This represents the culmination of Papus’ work on the Tarot. This book represents a chance to fully understand this master of the occult’s mature thinking on the philosophy of the Tarot and his system of reading the cards.

The book is devoted to a practical, detailed discussion of divination by Tarot, including reproduction of a lengthy compendium of divinatory meanings which depend from the eighteenth century French Tarotist Etteilla and his followers.

Additionally, a significant portion of the book is devoted to drawings for an entire Tarot deck by Gabriel Goulinat. They include Egyptianized figures and numerous correspondences with other metaphysical systems, e.g., alphabets and astrology, and carry key words or phrases to facilitate divination and discussion of esoteric philosophy.