The Etteilla tarot represents a pivotal moment in the history of cartomancy, marking the transition of tarot from a game of chance to a structured system of divination. Developed by Jean-Baptiste Alliette, who published under the pseudonym "Etteilla," this deck was the first to be explicitly designed for the purpose of spiritual reading. Unlike earlier decks such as the Visconti-Sforza or the Marseille, which were primarily used for gaming, the Etteilla deck was created with fixed meanings printed directly on the cards. It introduced a complex system that integrated astrology, alchemy, numerology, and Egyptian symbology, aiming to provide a precise and consistent method for interpreting the cards.
Etteilla's work emerged during a period of intense interest in Egyptian mysticism, known as Egyptomania. He capitalized on this cultural fixation by building a tarot system that claimed authority through ancient Egyptian roots. While historical accuracy regarding these origins was secondary to the narrative, the deck's structure and symbolism profoundly influenced later esoteric traditions, including the Golden Dawn and the Thoth tarot. By establishing a rigid framework for interpretation and introducing the concept of reversed card meanings, Etteilla laid the groundwork for modern tarot practices. This article explores the origins, unique structure, and enduring legacy of the Etteilla tarot, drawing exclusively from the provided source materials.
The Historical Context of Etteilla's Tarot
The late 18th century was a time of significant occult interest in Europe. Antoine Court de Gébelin, a French clergyman and Freemason, contributed to this atmosphere by suggesting in his work Le Monde Primitif that tarot contained hidden wisdom from ancient Egypt. This theory sparked what is often called "Egyptomania," a cultural fixation that viewed anything vaguely Egyptian as exotic, magical, and spiritually superior. Etteilla seized upon this narrative, constructing his entire tarot system around Egyptian motifs, alchemical symbols, and astrological correspondences.
Jean-Baptiste Alliette, born in Paris in 1738, worked initially as a seed merchant before dedicating himself to the occult. He adopted the pseudonym "Etteilla," a reversal of his surname, to publish his works. His first book, Etteilla, ou maniere de se récréer avec un jeu de cartes (1770), discussed the use of regular playing cards for divination, introducing the concept of the "spread" and assigning strict meanings to each card, including reversed positions. This publication marked the beginning of his career as the first professional tarot occultist. He later published Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommées tarots (1783-1785), which became a standard reference for tarot cartomancy. In 1789, he released his own tarot deck, which differed significantly from traditional tarots in structure and design.
Unique Structure and Design of the Etteilla Deck
The Etteilla deck was not merely an adaptation of existing tarot structures; it was a radical reimagining designed specifically for divination. The Major Arcana began with a card called "Chaos," representing the beginning of all things, and many other trump cards were renamed or reinterpreted to reflect Etteilla's philosophical system. The Minor Arcana retained the traditional suits of cups, swords, coins, and batons but included additional cards that had no precedent in earlier decks. Some pip cards received entirely new imagery and roles, moving away from the familiar scenes found in the Marseille deck.
One of the most distinctive features of the Etteilla deck was the inclusion of upright and reversed meanings printed directly on the card faces. This innovation was not just a novelty; it was a reflection of Etteilla’s desire for tarot to function as a precise and consistent system. He sought to eliminate ambiguity, ensuring that the cards could speak clearly regardless of their orientation. This approach was formulaic and structured, contrasting sharply with the intuitive or storytelling methods often associated with modern tarot reading. The imagery was rich with esoteric symbols, including alchemical references and astrological glyphs, designed to be "cracked" like a code rather than interpreted as a narrative.
Etteilla's Interpretive System and Methodology
Etteilla’s approach to tarot reading was heavily reliant on systems. He drew from the four humors, astrology, numerology, and later, Kabbalah, to assign fixed meanings to each card. Every card had a specific job and meaning that remained relatively constant, regardless of the context of the reading. This methodical approach provided a rigid interpretive structure where each card and spread placement carried its own significance.
His writings, particularly the Cahier de Thot, outlined the symbolism and correspondences assigned to each card. This work detailed card meanings, astrological connections, card orders, and techniques for drawing and interpreting spreads. Etteilla founded the Société des Interprètes du Livre de Thot to teach his system and ensure its continuity. His followers kept the tradition alive through reprints and further writings. Although the Etteilla system eventually fell out of widespread use, its core principles—such as the use of fixed meanings, reversals, and correspondences—became foundational for later esoteric schools, including the Golden Dawn and the creators of the Rider-Waite-Smith and Thoth decks.
Legacy and Influence on Modern Tarot
The Etteilla tarot is often described as messy, weird, and chaotic, yet its influence on the development of tarot is undeniable. It was the deck that turned tarot into a metaphysical language. By providing a structured system with printed meanings, Etteilla made tarot accessible as a divination tool to a wider audience. His work bridged the gap between folk cartomancy and high occultism.
While the deck itself is rarely used today, its legacy persists. The concept of reversed meanings, now common in many tarot decks, was formalized by Etteilla. His integration of astrology, numerology, and elemental correspondences set a precedent for the symbolic depth found in modern esoteric tarot. Furthermore, his claim of Egyptian origins, though historically dubious, established a mythic authority for tarot that resonated with the spiritual seekers of his time and continues to influence how tarot is perceived as an ancient wisdom tradition.
Conclusion
The Etteilla tarot stands as a testament to the power of narrative and structure in the evolution of spiritual practices. Jean-Baptiste Alliette, through his pseudonym, transformed tarot from a parlor game into a rigorous system of divination. By embedding meanings directly onto the cards and integrating complex esoteric systems, he created a deck that was designed to be read, not played. His embrace of Egyptian mythology, while historically inaccurate, provided the tarot with a sense of ancient authority that helped cement its place in the occult landscape. Today, while the specific imagery and rigid system of the Etteilla deck may not be in common use, its innovations—particularly the formalization of reversed meanings and the systematic approach to interpretation—continue to shape the practice of tarot reading. The Etteilla tarot remains a crucial chapter in the history of cartomancy, illustrating the moment when the cards began to speak with a mystical voice.