Episode 178: From Royal Game to Modern Magic: The Hidden History of Tarot

Before tarot became a tool for fortune-telling and self-reflection, it was a luxury pastime enjoyed by nobles in Renaissance Italy. In this episode, we trace tarot’s surprising journey from hand-painted trionfi decks in the courts of Milan and Ferrara, to its transformation during the French occult revival, and finally to its modern role as a guide for intuition, psychology, and personal growth. Along the way, we meet poets, mystics, rebels, and artists who reshaped the cards into a mirror for the human experience. This is the story of how a courtly card game became a global language of symbolism and self-discovery, and why The Fool’s journey still resonates with us today.