08/08/2025
In the 18th century, Tarot cards underwent a significant transformation when Antoine Court de Gébelin, a Swiss clergyman and Freemason, became captivated by their mysterious allure. Court de Gébelin was convinced that Tarot cards were not merely a game but held the key to ancient Egyptian wisdom. In his influential work, "Le Monde Primitif," he proposed that the imagery and symbolism within the Tarot deck were remnants of the enigmatic Book of Thoth, a legendary text ascribed to the Egyptian god of wisdom. This theory, despite lacking historical evidence, sparked a wave of fascination in the esoteric and occult communities, cementing the Tarot's reputation as a tool for divination and mystical insight. His work laid the foundation for the Tarot's enduring association with mysticism and the occult, influences that persist to this day.