The relationship between Tarot cards and the Christian Church is a subject marked by historical conflict, evolving interpretations, and a modern resurgence of interest in Tarot as a tool for spiritual reflection rather than forbidden divination. While the Church has historically condemned the use of Tarot for predicting the future, contemporary perspectives—often drawing on mystical traditions—suggest that Tarot can be a valid aid for contemplation and prayer. This article explores the historical roots of this tension, the theological arguments against Tarot, and the emerging view of Tarot as a symbolic language compatible with a spiritual life.
The Origins of Tarot: From Game to Divination
To understand the conflict, it is essential to recognize the humble origins of Tarot. Contrary to popular belief, Tarot cards were not created as a mystical tool. They first appeared in 15th-century Italy primarily for playing a game called "tarocchi." Early decks, such as the Visconti-Sforza Tarot, were commissioned by nobility for entertainment and featured allegorical imagery, but there is no historical evidence suggesting they were intended for religious or mystical purposes initially. They were essentially playing cards, similar to modern decks used for bridge or poker, though distinguished by a set of "trump" cards.
It was only centuries later that Tarot began to accumulate spiritual significance. As the cards moved through Europe, they became associated with various esoteric systems. By the 16th and 17th centuries, during a time when magic and alchemy were gaining popularity, Tarot shifted from a mere game to a tool for "dangerous divinatory practices." This transition marked the beginning of its uneasy relationship with the Church.
Historical Conflict and Church Condemnation
The Church’s reaction to Tarot was not immediate but grew as the practice of reading cards for the future became more widespread. The conservative church of the time viewed the democratization of future-prediction as a threat to its authority. If anyone could predict the future using cards, the need for priests and church ceremonies for guidance might diminish. This fear of losing control over spiritual guidance fueled the Church's condemnation.
During the Inquisition, the Church actively sought out witches, sorcerers, and those who looked into the future, viewing such actions as deceiving God. Tarot cards, particularly those with ominous symbols like Death or The Devil, could not go unnoticed. These symbols were interpreted as flirtations with dark forces, potentially leading believers astray from the divine plan. Consequently, Tarot became the subject of investigation and persecution, labeled as a form of witchcraft directly linked to the supernatural. The Church feared that reliance on cards would cause people to lose their minds and abandon God.
Theological Arguments Against Tarot
The primary theological argument against Tarot stems from Biblical prohibitions against divination. The scripture advises against checking the secrets of the future using supernatural powers. While Tarot cards are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the Church associates Tarot readers with modern-day spiritual mediums. The Bible warns against different forms of divination, viewing them as attempts to bypass God's sovereignty.
The core issue for the Church is the question of trust. It advises against trying to find out the future and encourages believers to trust in God, who holds the future. The central question posed by the Church is whether one trusts in a sovereign God to determine their life. From this perspective, seeking guidance from Tarot cards is seen as a lack of faith in God's words and plan. The fact that the Church acknowledges that Tarot cards can create a connection between the spiritual realm and the real world lends credibility to the practice in the eyes of some, but for the Church, this connection is precisely what makes it dangerous and sinful.
A Mystical Perspective: Tarot as a Christian Tool
Despite the historical and theological conflicts, a growing number of spiritual seekers, including self-identified "Christian Tarot Mystics," argue that Tarot belongs within the Christian faith. This perspective suggests that the fear of Tarot in traditional Christian circles is largely the product of historical shifts driven by power rather than purity. They point to the early Church, which was far more fluid and mystical than the later dogmatic institutions.
Mystics like Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross described the soul's ascent through symbols, visions, and dreams. These mystics received guidance through divine patterns, a practice that proponents of Christian Tarot view as parallel to using Tarot for contemplation. In this view, Tarot is not a tool for seeking forbidden knowledge but a reclamation of a sacred tradition of symbolic contemplation.
Tarot divina is presented as a means of prayerful inquiry, divine play, and spiritual reflection. It is a method for listening to the heart and to divine patterns through symbols, much like lectio divina invites listening to scripture with the heart. When approached prayerfully and reverently, Tarot can serve as a tool for listening to the same Spirit that inspired the prophets, sibyls, and saints. This perspective emphasizes that the mystics of both testaments received guidance through symbols, visions, and signs, placing Tarot in the company of these spiritual traditions.
Tarot as a Spiritual Tool, Not a Religion
It is important to clarify that Tarot is not a religion in itself. It lacks a founder, a sacred text, a system of worship, or a prescribed set of beliefs that all adherents must follow. Instead, Tarot is better understood as a symbolic language and a spiritual tool that can be adapted to many different religious and philosophical systems.
For some, Tarot reading is purely psychological—a method for accessing the subconscious mind. For others, it is mystical, a way of tapping into divine wisdom or the collective unconscious. Its versatility allows it to thrive across cultures and centuries, serving as a bridge between the sacred and the secular. It offers seekers a way to explore their inner worlds, connect with universal energies, and pursue spiritual insight without demanding adherence to a specific religious framework.
Many Wiccans view Tarot as a living system of symbols that reflect natural and spiritual truths, but the tool itself is neutral. It is the intention of the user and the theological framework in which it is used that defines its spiritual significance. In the context of a Christian life, the argument is that Tarot can be used for contemplation and prophetic insight—not in the predictive sense, but in the revelatory sense.
Conclusion
The relationship between Tarot and the Church is complex, defined by a history of persecution and a modern re-evaluation of the cards' spiritual potential. Historically, the Church condemned Tarot as a form of divination that threatened its authority and contradicted Biblical teachings on trusting God's sovereignty. However, a mystical perspective argues that the early Church embraced symbolic contemplation and divine visions, practices that Tarot can facilitate when used as a tool for prayerful reflection rather than fortune-telling.
Ultimately, Tarot remains a tool—a symbolic language that can be adapted to various spiritual paths. Whether viewed as a forbidden occult practice or a valid aid for spiritual growth, its role in the lives of believers depends on the intention behind its use and the theological lens through which it is viewed.