Healing Light

Jean-Baptiste Alliette – Daring to be Different

In our previous post, Mysterious Origins, we met Jean-Baptiste Alliette, the historical figure known as Etteilla (Alliette spelled backwards). Today, we go back in time to explore his lasting impact on tarot reading as we know it.

Etteilla wasn’t just another name on the list. He was a true revolutionary. While tarot decks existed before him, their use primarily focused on trick-taking games. Daring to be different, Etteilla saw tarot as a powerful tool for divination, imbuing each card with symbolic meaning and crafting a system for interpreting them.

Here’s what made Etteilla’s contribution so groundbreaking:

• The Birth of Divinatory Meanings: Etteilla assigned specific meanings to each card, paving the way for modern tarot interpretation.
• Astrological Influence: He wasn’t satisfied with just the cards themselves. Etteilla ingeniously weaved #astrology into his system, creating a layered and comprehensive approach to readings.
• Hermetic and Kabbalistic Connections: Etteilla may be the first to link tarot with these ancient mystical systems, adding depth and philosophical weight to the practice.

While Etteilla’s influence wasn’t as widespread as some later figures like Eliphas Levi, his ideas resonated with others. The famous French fortune-teller Marie Anne Lenormand is believed to have been inspired by his work.

However, Etteilla wasn’t without his quirks. His tarot deck differed significantly from the traditional decks used today. Some might say his system was even a bit complex. Despite this, Etteilla’s core contribution – establishing tarot as a viable divination tool – stands as a testament to his visionary thinking.

Intrigued by Etteilla’s methods? In the next post, we’ll delve into his unique tarot deck and explore how it compared to the decks we use today. Stay tuned for a fascinating glimpse into the early days of tarot divination!

#tarot #etteilla #tarotdeck #divination #historyoftarot #riderwaite #waite #tarotreaders #tarotcards #occult #cartomancy #mythology #symbolism #tarotreadersofinstagram #tarotcommunity #astrology #kabala #hermeticorder #mystical #mysticism #fortuneteller