Tarot: The Differences Between Cartomancy and Tarology

Tarot: The Differences Between Cartomancy and Tarology

You may have come across the word “ cartomancy ” quite often, but perhaps you have never heard of the word “tarology,” yet both concern the multifaceted and mysterious world of Tarot.

A Tarot deck, as you should know, is much more than just a deck of playing cards. In fact, the Tarot they house the Arcana, major and minor, and very particular energies are hidden within them.

Tarot has always been used as a method of divination, of connection with the past and the future, and in fact its origins date back to Ancient Egypt and the book of God Thoth .

There are other hypotheses on the origin of the Tarot: one of the most fascinating is the one linked to Mary Magdalene who, according to some sources, is the keeper of Jesus' secrets and who created the deck by adding her own knowledge.

However, this fascinating world can be looked at in different ways and in fact scholars such as the director and shaman Alejandro Jodorowski they traced the origins of the Tarot back to much more recent times.

Beyond the origins of the Tarot, which are shrouded in the deepest mystery, what distinction is there between a tarot reader And a fortune teller? Both use Tarot cards, but what's the difference in their approach? Let's explore that below.

What is Cartomancy?

“Cartomancy” is a very interesting word that is made up of two derivations: “carta”, which needs no further elaboration, and “ manteia ” which means “divination”.

The name itself already expresses the action of using the cards as Divination tool . This type of divination is interpretative and requires the fortune teller to have extensive knowledge, considerable experience, and a particular sensitivity.

There are traces of this practice over the centuries and in fact some have established themselves static interpretation models which serve as a point of reference for every fortune teller.

Even though reading the cards is purely subjective, there are some basic concepts which are now established in the Tarot deck. The fortune teller's sensitivity comes into play in the interpretation of the spread rather than the meaning of the individual cards.

It must be said that over the centuries this type of divination has undergone a development and improvement also linked to very different cultures and philosophies among themselves. This makes cartomancy an even richer and more fascinating field.

What is Tarology?

The word "tarology" also derives from two words fused together: "taro," meaning "tarot," and " logos ," one of the most well-known Greek words, meaning "discourse." Tarology can therefore be translated as "discourse on the Tarot."

Tarot reading and cartomancy are therefore two totally different practices. Both have as their protagonist the Tarot deck , but the approach is completely different.

Tarot studies consider the Arcana to be translations of archetypes that come from the dawn of time: Tarot reading in this case is no longer based on ancient traditions, but on the interaction between archetypes.

In short, and without claiming to be exhaustive on this topic, we could say that in the Tarot reading done by a tarot reader a “theatrical representation of the Arcana” is reconstructed.

When the consultant asks a question, the tarot reader, analyzing the interactions between archetypes that have come out, will be able to reconstruct the answer.

The invention of Tarology

The tarot approach The Tarot deck doesn't have a long history, nor does it have a mysterious origin. The word was actually coined by Alejandro Jodorowsky, director, actor, and playwright.

Always a scholar of the Tarot of Marseille , Alejandro has the merit of having faithfully reconstructed very ancient decks and, through the study of the ancient figures, having brought them back to light.

His work was immense. On the one hand he carried out a historical research truly impressive on the origins of the Tarot and the oldest decks still preserved.

On the other hand, he proposed and promoted a new interpretation linked to the archetypes and their interactions. The two activities complemented each other perfectly, as reconstructing ancient figures led to representations closer to the original archetype.

The interpretation of the Tarot through the study of archetypes was something that had already fascinated Carl Gustav Jung , but Jodorowsky's research will become a true point of reference for all tarot readers in the world.

According to the research of the Chilean director, the birth of the Tarot game dates back to 1400 in the very Italian Bologna . The game spread rapidly, but secretly. Card games were considered "not very elegant."

Tarology vs. Cartomancy

There Cartomancy , as we have seen, is a traditional discipline that uses the Tarot deck to achieve divination through very specific codes.

Each card has its own meaning linked to tradition and the fortune teller will be able to use his sensitivity and knowledge to divine in the most correct way.

It's important to point out that cartomancy and tarot reading are not in conflict: there is no ongoing war, there are no epochal clashes. They are two different ways of reading Tarot , but both recognize the power of the deck.

In fact, following Jodorowsky's indications, one should concentrate more on the deck figures , which represent archetypes and therefore contain teachings, keys to interpretation and hidden meanings.

Subjective interpretation does not have much space in tarot reading. consultant you will still have to ask a question, because it is only through the question that the archetypes are activated.

But when reading the spread, the tarot reader must maintain an objective interpretative key. Everything is already present in the Tarot deck: destiny, past, present, future, universal laws … there is no need to add anything else with your own subjectivity.

To perform a reading of this type, however, requires a great deal of knowledge, preparation and continuous study of the decks. In fact, in depiction of the Arcanum All the necessary messages are contained, but they must be read correctly.

Even the smallest details of the figure have a significant importance: the position of the hands, the posture of the body, the direction of the gaze, the clothes, the color relationship , any symbols…

According to tarot readers, everything is already contained in the image. Obviously, it will be necessary to investigate the interactions between the various elements. Arcane came out in the same place.

For example, if a figure if he is looking at someone else, it will be read differently than when the same two figures are facing each other.

With tarot reading the graphic representation of the card is absolutely central, for this reason the rediscovery of the ancient decks , closer to the original archetype, is so important