The Tarot of Etteilla
The Tarot of Etteilla, a pioneering esoteric deck, stands as a significant milestone in the evolution of tarot cards for divination and occult purposes. Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known by his pseudonym Etteilla, was instrumental in transforming tarot from a mere game to a tool of prophecy in the late 1700s.
Comprising 78 cards, the deck is split into the Major and Minor Arcana, with each card bearing dual-language titles that reflect its Franco-English heritage. The imagery ranges from the straightforward to the ornate, capturing the cultural and spiritual zeitgeist of the time.
Etteilla’s revolutionary approach included assigning specific divinatory meanings to each card and their configurations within a spread. He ingeniously integrated astrology into tarot by associating zodiacal symbols with the cards, thus forging a novel tarot reading methodology.
More than just a divinatory device, Etteilla’s Tarot is a work of art steeped in historical and mystical significance. It appeals to enthusiasts of tarot, history, and the arcane alike, representing a harmonious blend of artistic expression, astrological knowledge, and spiritual insight. This deck invites us to peer into the enigmatic cosmos through the lens of tarot.