The Tarot as a Game
There is a school of thought which deems this use of the Tarot to be irreverent and frivolous, yet, without doubt, there is evidence the cards were used for precisely this purpose in previous centuries and our modern playing cards are certainly derived from the Tarot, the only Major Arcana card remaining being the Joker or Fool.
The cards were shuffled and up to seven each dealt to the players, who then proceeded in turn to interpret their hand, in the order in which they were dealt, applying this reading to one of the others present. Fines and rewards were involved in the game, described in some detail by Papus in ‘The Tarot of the Bohemians’ (Senate Books - translation by A.P.Morton).
Such a diversion may not only amuse some readers but can also provide a useful form of practical exercise in combining cards in a reading for the complete beginner.
