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?Paul Huson brings to his quest for the origins of tarot the insight of an accomplished practitioner and the scholarship of a dedicated historical detective. The result is a fascinating ?biography? of the tarot images, tracking their shifting forms and attributions from their earliest appearances. Mystical Origins of the Tarot will undoubtedly be a classic in the field of tarot studies.?
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The origins of the tarot have been lost in the mists of time. Most scholars have guessed that its origins were in China, Egypt or India. In Mystical Origins Of The Tarot, Paul Huson has expertly tracked each symbol of the Minor Arcana to roots in ancient Persia and the Major Arcana Trump card images to the medieval world of mystery, miracle and morality plays. A number of tarot historians have questioned the use of the tarot as a divination tool prior to the 17th century. But the author demonstrates that the symbolic meaning of the Major Arcana were evident from the time they were first employed in the mid-15th century in the popular divination practice of sortilege. He, also, reveals how the identities of the court cards in the Minor Arcana were derived from a blend of pagan and medieval sources that strongly influenced Renaissance and medieval magic practice. Mystical Origins Of The Tarot provides a thorough examination of the original historical source for each card and how the card's divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols.
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Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fine survey of the origins and history of the tarot, both the cards and the practice of divination. The detailed quotations of the interpretations of Etteilla, Mathers, and Waite are particularly useful. If you've ever wondered why the 6 of swords shows a boat when it's called Earned Success, here's the answer: the name comes from the Golden Dawn, but the image comes from Eteilla. Huson is the first writer I've read who's considered the influence of Medieval drama. The Easter mystery plays finally explain why the Tower was first called the House of the Devil, and why it could be represented by Orpheus and Eurydice.
This book will be particularly useful for use with Huson's Dame Fortune's Wheel Tarot.
There are a few errors. He accepts Etteilla's equation of the coins and wands with the later clubs and diamonds, rather than the other way around. The English name clubs should have put him right. He also ignores the use of the Tree of Life by the Golden Dawn in interpreting the minors, assuming them to have relied purely on the decan interpretations from the Picatrix. This leads him to assume that the decans were accidentally transposed in places. In fact, Mathers would have considered he was correcting transpositions in the Picatrix: the 6 of wands couldn't be "quarreling" because the cabbala made all 6s good!
This book will be particularly useful for use with Huson's Dame Fortune's Wheel Tarot.
There are a few errors. He accepts Etteilla's equation of the coins and wands with the later clubs and diamonds, rather than the other way around. The English name clubs should have put him right. He also ignores the use of the Tree of Life by the Golden Dawn in interpreting the minors, assuming them to have relied purely on the decan interpretations from the Picatrix. This leads him to assume that the decans were accidentally transposed in places. In fact, Mathers would have considered he was correcting transpositions in the Picatrix: the 6 of wands couldn't be "quarreling" because the cabbala made all 6s good!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
56 of 58 people found the following review helpful
The definitive study of Tarot symbolism
25 Aug 2004
Format:Paperback
Where Paul Huson's 1972 work `The Devil's Picture Book' presented a rich melange of broad speculations regarding the emblems of Tarot, his new book `Mystical Origins of the Tarot' approaches the subject along entirely different and decidedly radical lines, challenging preconceptions and removing layers of fanciful superimposition which have hitherto obscured Tarot's roots. He subjects the images of traditional Tarot to a penetrating and rigorous process of historical analysis and thematic elucidation employing an approach which can best be described as `symbolic archaeology' - the results are quite remarkable. The research brought to bear on the origins of the enigmatic cards is impressive, thorough and original: for instance the four suits signs of the Minor Arcana are painstakingly traced via the surviving decks of Mamluk Egypt to the heraldic symbols denoting the Four Virtues and the four Mazdean castes of ancient Persia. An important paradigm-shift in understanding is achieved via the author firmly locating each of the figures of the Major Arcana in the beguiling world of popular religious dramas, mysteries and miracle-plays in the High Middle Ages - he even provides examples of their speeches from the original dramas. The chapter on the Major Arcana in this context is as illuminating as it is convincing.
Furthermore Paul Huson goes deeply into the traditions underpinning the cartomantic significance of each card, giving the divinatory rundown from Pratesi's Cartomancer of 1750 to A.E. Waite in 1910 along with his own suggested keywords for readings. One surprising turn-up for the books transpires when the author locates the direct source of the Golden Dawn Decanic system of the Minor Cards in the section on the 36 Decan images in Book II of the Arab grimoire called the Picatrix. The 16 legendary personages identified with the court cards likewise opens up fascinating points of symbolic comprehension.
The sections on practical cartomancy will be found invaluable by both beginners and seasoned users of the cards: a great deal of utile information and insight is imparted which will facilitate practise. I especially like the techniques for `linking' the cards.
The above gives but an indication of some of the absorbing contents of this inspiring book. In its own way the research it unfolds is as compelling to follow as a detective story as the author indefatigably tracks down the emblematic minutiae of Tarot symbolism to their archaic and mediaeval originals.
Ranging with great erudition from Shia, Sufi and Magian symbologies, to Neoplatonic doctrines, mediaeval mystery-plays, 18th century cartomancers and scholarly art history this packed study delivers such a veritable feast of fresh information and insight on the subject of Tarot that beginners and veteran tarotists alike will find it a real treat to read and an indispensable resource for reference. It is illustrated throughout with a wealth of examples of card-images, allegorical emblems and images skilfully executed by the author. This is very likely the definitive study on the subject. Highly recommended.
Furthermore Paul Huson goes deeply into the traditions underpinning the cartomantic significance of each card, giving the divinatory rundown from Pratesi's Cartomancer of 1750 to A.E. Waite in 1910 along with his own suggested keywords for readings. One surprising turn-up for the books transpires when the author locates the direct source of the Golden Dawn Decanic system of the Minor Cards in the section on the 36 Decan images in Book II of the Arab grimoire called the Picatrix. The 16 legendary personages identified with the court cards likewise opens up fascinating points of symbolic comprehension.
The sections on practical cartomancy will be found invaluable by both beginners and seasoned users of the cards: a great deal of utile information and insight is imparted which will facilitate practise. I especially like the techniques for `linking' the cards.
The above gives but an indication of some of the absorbing contents of this inspiring book. In its own way the research it unfolds is as compelling to follow as a detective story as the author indefatigably tracks down the emblematic minutiae of Tarot symbolism to their archaic and mediaeval originals.
Ranging with great erudition from Shia, Sufi and Magian symbologies, to Neoplatonic doctrines, mediaeval mystery-plays, 18th century cartomancers and scholarly art history this packed study delivers such a veritable feast of fresh information and insight on the subject of Tarot that beginners and veteran tarotists alike will find it a real treat to read and an indispensable resource for reference. It is illustrated throughout with a wealth of examples of card-images, allegorical emblems and images skilfully executed by the author. This is very likely the definitive study on the subject. Highly recommended.
23 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Paul Huson has done it again!
26 Jun 2004
Format:Paperback
Mystical Origins of the Tarot is a wonderfully researched history of the Tarot. Mr. Huson gives the reader a fascinating look into this ancient science and for the novice it is a "must have" volume. Beautifully illustrated, the cards are presented and defined with colourful historical facts. The various"spreads" are explained with clarity and simple easy to follow directions. In my first attempt at a "layout" the divination which appeared made perfect sense to me. This is a very special gift for anyone interestd in the Tarot.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Really interesting
11 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Paul Huson explores the roots of the symbolism of the tarot in this excellent volume. From Mamluk cards, to triumphal parades to medieval dramas, he shows how the symbols in the tarot grew out of visual images that would have been familiar to all in their time and place. In his sections on card meanings, he cites interpretations from Etteilla, Mathers, Waite, and the Golden Dawn, which are fascinating to compare. This is a very valuable book for anyone interested in the history of tarot.
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