Definition of Tarot in 25 words or less?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	18 Apr 2003
A few days ago Umbrae was looking for a definition of Tarot in 25 words or less, and asked if I had one. I came up with "78 cards with paint on them", which strangely enough didn't satisfy him, so here goes, try number two: "Seventy-eight cards with paint on them to which any system of philosophy may be applied, no matter how contrived". But during a long train trip, the following came to mind: "A book of seventy-eight detachable pages which may be read in any order or manner one wishes" Do I win? Or can you come up with something better?

Umbrae	18 Apr 2003
That's freaking Brilliant!

raeanne	18 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden "A book of seventy-eight detachable pages which may be read in any order or manner one wishes" Firemaiden, If it was up to me: YOU WIN!

skytwig	18 Apr 2003
A picture book of the soul?

Diana	18 Apr 2003
One door, 78 keys. Behind the door, the Answer.

divinerguy	18 Apr 2003
A method of divination or meditation, using playing cards, upon which are illustrations, which are organized into four suits and a set of trumps.

Cerulean	18 Apr 2003
Of course I concede that Firemaiden's new definition is right. I like this taken title: Forest of souls (taking visual form). The classic for me: 78 Degrees of Wisdom. This gets the other angles in for me and allows for those who sing or live their 78 archetypes in other forms.

skytwig	18 Apr 2003
How 'bout this one? Pretty pictures to boggle the mind & stir the soul. :)

jmd	18 Apr 2003
How about combining some of the suggestions so far: A peculiar hieratic wisdom book of seventy-eight detachable illustrated pages which is imaginatively unlocked and read in any divined order or manner inspired or intuited.

firemaiden	19 Apr 2003
Wow!!!!!!!!! jmd! 25 exactly - Chapeau!!

Cerulean	19 Apr 2003
That's great--did Firemaiden say "Hats-off'' ? A bow to both JMD and Firemaiden, my boating cap on my shoulder... Mari H>

Alissa	19 Apr 2003
mon chapeau aussi~! that rocked jmd!! good work leading him up to it firemaiden ;)!

allibee	20 Apr 2003
A personal jigsaw which, depending on how you put it together, shows a different picture every time. Allison

Moongold	20 Apr 2003
The Tarot is a book disguised as a pack of cards Paul Foster Case as quoted in Tarot Handbook: Initiation into the Key Elements of the Tarot by Naomi Ozaniec. Now the real questions: Is Firemaiden Paul Foster Case reincarnated? Or is she simply more brilliant? Moongold

The Definition of Tarot in 25 words or less? thread was originally posted on 18 Apr 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.