As of today, no one can accurately describe the origins of Tarot.
Some claim that cards were found in the tombs of pharaohs and Chinese ancestors. Traces of the first hand-painted tarot decks date back to the
mid-fifteenth century when the first cards were found in Florence. It seems that they have been used by Marsile Ficin (1433-1499), a Florentine scholar
and priest close to Lorenzo de’ Medici (also called Lorenzo the Magnificent). Ficin would have introduced the cards within his academy, while feeding
on the works of Botticelli, Plato, and Dante. Between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, Tarot cards
circulated between Italy and Marseille where they were printed, hence the origin of the name “Tarot of Marseille”. Since then, many versions of the
“Tarot de Marseille” cards have been printed. One can find the “Tarot de Grimaud”, the “Tarot de Camoin & Jodorowsky”, or the “Great Universal
Tarot” of Bruno de Nys for example, but no Tarot is known to have been created in Arabic.
As all tarot decks, Tarot Beirut is about 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.
As you can see in the picture, Major Arcana represent our life and soul path. All 22 cards are disposed in a
three level cycle: the “Material level”, the “Initiatory level” and the “Spiritual level”.
The “Material level”
Represents our beginnings in life, birth, studies, love, relationships, family, and money.
The “Initiatory level”
Represents a stage in our lives where we have fulfilled our “duties” and where we start questioning the
meaning of our lives and our real purpose.
The “Spiritual level”
Represents the final phase that every human can reach, but that not all do. At this stage, we
understand the spiritual meaning of our existence and raise our awareness on what the universe
offers us and the way to give back.
As you can see, all characters of the “Material level” are mainly sitting and are heavily dressed, while the
characters of the “Initiatory level” start standing up with lighter clothes. In the “Spiritual level”, the
characters are very lightly dressed and celestial bodies such as “The Star”, “The Moon”, “The Sun”, and
“The World” are represented.
THE CUPS
THE PENTACLES
THE SWORDS
THE WANDS
