Is Tarot dying?

[Annabelle]

If it's psychology and therapy I'm out of it.

Don't want none of that.

Whole idea makes me want to puke.

Don't want none of it from doctors, counsellors, inkblot tests, any of it.

Certainly don't want it from tarot.

Just give me the pharmaceutical option and get the hell out my head.

Lillie, I think I love you. And I heartily agree with you.

But as for the original question -- "Is tarot dying?" I'd have to answer No. Do we have any evidence that it's dying?

 

[RiccardoLS]

Well... it's dying because it's alive.
It's dying because it's printed.
It's dying because younger generations uses Tarot less than previous generations.
It's simple a gorgeous Autumn. We are enjoyng the last summer fruit, and still have not being thinking about winter.

 

[Aerin]

Wow. That is sad. It seems to be rampantly alive in Spain.

Maybe in France as well - one of my ex-pupils always played it with his family in France. His mother offered to teach me - or at least translate the instructions in my Asterix deck.

We do seem to be in a bit of a tarot bubble here, maybe some consolidation next?

There is a lot coming out of Japan from what I've seen.

 

[Rosanne]

Has anyone seen the game played with any of the myriad of Tarot decks available- for example Tarot played with the RWS? The Victorian Romantic? The Thoth? Or even a pips deck like the Tarot de la Rea?
Tarot is played with a narrow range of decks like The Marseille. There is very good reasons for that...instant recognition.

Our attention span is much reduced as commercialism encourages new angles all the time. Fads come and go and while they are popular, commercialism drives an expression into multi packages of the same thing.
The images appear on fabric, fashion, make-up etc. The complete package with a Tarot pack using those motifs will be included. 'Thin Lizzy' Make-up, handbags, hats, sport labels,luchboxes, drink bottles, Tarot packs.......

So I see Tarot as the esoteric and fortune telling tool decreasing and the collecting increasing. Although in one sense Tarot is a fortune telling game, like Fortune cookies etc. No one seriously believes that machine at Fairs with the gypsy spitting out a card after you put your money in is one's fate? it is fun to do nevertheless. As the historical artifact is de- mystified- the magic goes. The same thing has happened to the Masonic Lodges.
No mystery- no fun.
~Rosanne

 

[Yygdrasilian]

Eadem mutata resurgo

Juxtaposing archetypes is always a helpful means of heightening One’s awareness, but fortune-telling & gambling were ever a blind to the true purpose of this cipher. What dies is the skin to be shed, naught the light of wisdom which gave it life.

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=133148

 

[philebus]

Has anyone seen the game played with any of the myriad of Tarot decks available- for example Tarot played with the RWS? The Victorian Romantic? The Thoth? Or even a pips deck like the Tarot de la Rea?
Tarot is played with a narrow range of decks like The Marseille. There is very good reasons for that...instant recognition.

I've played with a range of cards - anything that uses non-scenic pips (Indeces are not that important, nor that widespread in game packs). The only real problem with scenic pips is that they are not quickly distinguished from trumps and courts. Having said that, I prefer not to use those obviously designed by occultists as it is hard enough to get people to play without making it harder on myself.

A very good modern pack for game play is the Favole. The Cruel Thing tarot looks like it might be suitable as well, I've only recently learnt of it and placed an order.

 

[Debra]

I think that popularity and diffusion are important, because tarot is not a single organism or entity. As a cultural artifact and practice, it may go downhill or die "here" and yet thrive "there."

I also think that the "tarot for personal insight" approach is already well established, at least as reflected here on AT and other forums.

I don't know what comes "after" insight into self and others. Contemplation and illumination of the Grand Order of Things? This occultist approach seems mostly "past" in tarot history.

To me, if tarot can be used to overcome time, there's nothing after.

 

[kwaw]

I'm afraid it might degrade into a toy, and trivialized.

It is precisely because it is a mere bagatelle, that I take it so serious

 

[Liralen]

If it's psychology and therapy I'm out of it.

Don't want none of that.

Whole idea makes me want to puke.

Don't want none of it from doctors, counsellors, inkblot tests, any of it.

Certainly don't want it from tarot.

Just give me the pharmaceutical option and get the hell out my head.

Oh, Lillie, don't be so harsh! I think psychology is going through a transformation, too.

 

[gregory]

Oh, Lillie, don't be so harsh! I think psychology is going through a transformation, too.

True. BUT - it seems to be going through a "let's turn everyone into people the society we want to mould will accept."

Which SUCKS. the sessions have a nasty way of suggesting aiming for a sort of success I don't like or want and a peculiar kind of selfishness. And before anyone says how do I know, what am I on about - I've been in the nuthouse and under years of professional therapy - and have professionally qualified friends and relatives in the field, who agree.....