Research

In this 21st Century, Tarot comes in a myriad of shapes, forms and traditions, built upon the mysterious assumption that these collections of cards can prognosticate our futures or ease our minds. But where do these assumptions come from, and who purveys these meanings and ascriptions to The Cards? As I mention in other places on this website, there is a huge provenance for Tarot from all over the world and for many centuries past, where researchers have diligently built their theories about why a collection of what were once ordinary, everyday playing cards have become such an essential part of the lives of literally millions of devotees around this Earth. These theories all add to what I, at 5,45 PM EST on July 17, 2025 have termed The Occult Body of Knowledge, or #OcBoK for short.

On this page I list some of the major contributions to Tarot and Occult Lore from all over the World, and from distant Past to the Present Day. These are the books, manifestoes, grimoires and the like that creators both old and modern pull their inspirations from, so that symbolic and esoteric consistency can be applied across the Tarot-verse.

Court de Gebelin and The Game of Tarots

Initiator of the assumption that Tarot originated in Ancient Egypt under the tutelage of Hermes Trismegistus, thereby creating the foundation of the Thoth tradition.