History of the Occult Tarot - Ronald Decker, Michael Dummett

After tracing the metamorphosis of the tarot from its origin as a simple card game in 15th-century Italy to the esoteric practice it became in 18th-century France, this scholarly study assesses the decks modern status as a guide to life. Along the way, the authors investigate the arcane sects and occultist practitioners, from the Theosophical Society to Aleister Crowley, that have used the tarot, while 99 illustrations chart the evolution of the cards.