The Oldest Recorded Tarot Reading Method in History - Reviving the Works of Court de Gébelin and Comte de Mellet
I’ve been thinking a lot on the concept of ancestry lately, especially as it relates to my Tarot practice and spiritual worldview.
Just as we have ancestors by blood—our familial lineage and our progenitors, and ancestors by land—those who occupied and cared for the same spaces we now inhabit; we also have ancestors by tradition and philosophy—our spiritual and cultural predecessors, those who shaped our understanding of the world and of the human experience.
Tarot has a rich ancestry of its own, having been shaped by countless hands and minds over the years. The foundational scholars of the Tarot, De Gébelin, Etteilla, Eliphas Levi, Mathers, Crowley and Waite, to name a few, are the spiritual ancestors of the modern Tarot. These early tarot scholars laid the foundations of how we approach the Tarot today.
Engraved portrait of Antoine Court de Gébelin.
Recently, I’ve been delving into the earliest tarot manuscripts in existence to figure out where the meanings of Tarot cards come from. In the earliest of these texts, De Gébelin’s "The Primeval World, Analyzed and Compared to the Modern World" he writes a chapter on the Tarot, describing it as a secret a repository of ancient Egyptian and Kabbalistic wisdom.
Within this chapter, Gébelin’s cohort, Comte de Mellet, describes what is now the earliest recorded tarot reading method in history.
This technique was believed by Gébelin and Mallet to have been used by Egyptian priests to divine Pharaoh’s dreams and predict the future of the kingdom. Mellet illustrates an example of this reading method by using the cards to interpret the Pharaoh's dream from the Bible story of Joseph. In the dream, the Pharaoh saw 7 fat cows being eaten by 7 skinny cows, which then became fat themselves. This was interpreted to mean 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine.
Bringing this ancient method back into modern practice is an act of ancestral reverence, honoring Tarot’s historical roots as a tool for divination. Below, is my translation of “La Maniere dont le tarot servait pour consulter les Sorts.” Or “The Way in Which the Tarot was used to Consult the Fates”, so that you can try this historic reading method yourself.
Laying Out the Cards: The Method of Consultation
This method is designed for two people: the reader and the querent, but it can be adapted for solo readings if needed.
Step-by-Step Process:
Divide the Deck:
Person 1 takes the 56 Minor Arcana cards and shuffles them thoroughly.
Person 2 takes the 22 Major Arcana cards and shuffles them thoroughly.
Flip Cards One by One to Create Pairs:
Both individuals begin flipping their cards over, one by one.
Person 1 flips through the Minor Arcana, counting out loud: "Ace, 2, 3, 4… Page, Knight, Queen, King," repeating this order until all Minor Arcana cards are revealed.
Person 2 flips over a Major Arcana card at the same time as Person 1 is counting, placing each Major Arcana card into a discard pile.
When the number counted by Person 1 matches the rank of the flipped Minor Arcana (e.g., counting "2" and revealing the
2 of Cups), that Minor Arcana card forms a pair with the Major Arcana card that Person 2 just flipped.
3. Write down The Pairs and Reshuffle the Majors
Once a pair is made, write down the combination and set the Minor Arcana card aside in a discard pile.
After a pairing is made, Person 2 gathers all the Major Arcana cards, shuffles them, and resumes flipping as Person 1 continues counting. This ensures the Major Arcana is always shuffled and whole after each pairing.
If all Major Arcana cards have been flipped, Person 2 shuffles the discard pile and continues flipping until all Minor Arcana cards have been paired or discarded.
The process ends when all Minor Arcana cards have been flipped and either discarded or paired with a Major Arcana.
Interpreting the Card Pairings: Power by Number
Laurent de La Hyre - Allegory of Arithmetic (1650)
Once all pairings between the Major and Minor Arcana have been thoughtfully made, it's time to delve into the intricate process of interpreting them. This method involves examining not only the rich symbolic meanings that arise from how the major and minor arcana pairings interact, but also taking into consideration their unique numerical power.
The numerical value of the Minor Arcana plays a crucial role in determining the strength and significance of each pairing. While the Major Arcana speaks to larger, universal themes, the number on the Minor Arcana card acts as a magnifier for the energy of the pairing, amplifying or diminishing its influence on the reading.
The numeric value of a Minor Arcana card (from Ace through 10) directly correlates with the intensity of its message. Higher numbers—like 8, 9, and 10—suggest a more pronounced or urgent influence, while lower numbers—like Aces, 2s, or 3s—represent a gentler or more subtle impact. The Court Cards also carry numerical weight—Pages are valued at 1, Knights at 2, Queens at 3, and Kings at 4.
For example, a 9 of Cups paired with The Sun would indicate a deeply fulfilling and intensely positive outcome, where emotional satisfaction is strongly highlighted. On the other hand, a 2 of Pentacles paired with The Chariot might suggest a lighter influence, indicating a need for balance to enjoy the fulfillment and emotional satisfaction of the 9 of Cups and
The Sun.
Higher numbered Minor Arcana cards tend to signal amplified intensity. Whether the pairing suggests a positive or challenging outcome, the higher the number, the more impactful its presence in the querent’s life.
In this method, the Minor Arcana cards shape the strength and effectiveness of the Major Arcana’s message. Each pairing becomes more layered as the number of the Minor Arcana pushes its energy closer to the querent’s central issue, influencing how strongly they feel or experience the forces at play in their reading.
The Fool’s Special Case: If The Fool (0) appears in a pair, it nullifies the numerical value of the Minor Arcana card, suggesting freedom from that influence or a shift in its meaning.
Going Deeper with Numerology:
Mallet also mentions calculating the total numerical value of all the pairs to derive additional meaning. The sum of the numbers can provide an overarching theme or message for the reading
What If No Cards Are Paired?
Though Mellet and Gébelin didn’t explicitly say how to continue with the reading if no pairings are made during the process, I believe this can be interpreted as a significant message in of itself. In this case, the cards may be saying that the answer is not ready to be revealed—sometimes, the fates remain silent, meaning more time or reflection is required. Alternatively, the situation is in flux, and no clear outcome can be determined at this moment. The querent may need to reframe the question, suggesting they reconsider the focus of the inquiry or what they truly seek to understand.
The absence of a match can be a powerful prompt to pause, reflect, and perhaps consult the cards again after further introspection.
Example Reading: Fixing my Creative Block
I recently tried this method myself to explore a creative and energetic block I’ve been experiencing lately. My question centered around what underlies this sense of stagnation and how I might overcome the blockage. The cards revealed the following pairs:
Justice – Page of Wands (1)
Temperance – 5 of Pentacles (5)
The Tower – 7 of Cups (7)
The Devil – King of Wands (4)
The Star – Queen of Swords (3)
Interpretation:
1. The Tower & 7 of Cups:
This pair is the most powerful numerically, and it speaks of a significant shake-up to my sense of structure and routine. The Tower represents sudden destruction and upheaval, but also sudden revelation and illumination. Meanwhile, the 7 of Cups symbolizes illusions, choices, and uncertainty. Together, this pair suggests that my creative block may stem from too many options or distractions, the lack of a senes of direction and the need for and a dramatic change in perspective to clear the fog.
2. Temperance & 5 of Pentacles:
The second most important pairing. Temperance calls for balance and moderation, while the 5 of Pentacles represents a period of scarcity and hardship. This combination suggests that the creative block may have resulted from a lack of balance or perhaps feeling unsupported, urging me to find both moderation and a strong foundation upon which to build.
3. The Devil & King of Wands:
This pairing reflects a struggle between ambition and unhealthy attachments. The King of Wands represents charismatic leadership and a creative vision, while the Devil warns of overreliance on vice and the emergence of the Shadow. This pair suggests that to overcome the block, I need to release any toxic patterns that prevent me from committing to the larger vision or ideal.
4. The Star & Queen of Swords:
The Star symbolizes hope and inspiration, and the Queen of Swords represents clarity, intellect, and truth. This pair hints that once I cut through the confusion with clear thinking, hope and creativity will begin to flow again. Though not as numerically significant, this pair still offers valuable guidance about using intellect and objectivity to regain inspiration.
5. Justice & Page of Wands:
Though numerically the least important, this pair offers insight into the core of the issue. Justice points to the need for balance and fairness, while the Page of Wands represents youthful, adventurous energy. Together, they suggest that fairness and balance must be restored before I can tap into my creative energy fully.
The overall numerological value of the pairs is 2. This number is significant as it represents balance, partnerships, and duality. In the context of my creative block, the number 2 suggests that the key to overcoming my stagnation lies in finding equilibrium—whether it’s balancing work and rest, or blending inspiration with discipline. It points to collaboration, perhaps even seeking advice or working alongside others, to gain perspective and rejuvenate my creative energy. The theme of balance, echoed by Justice and Temperance, highlights the need for harmony to break through the block.
Conclusion: Why I Love This Method
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this method is the interplay between the Major and Minor Arcana. Using the Minors number to amplify the potency of Majors is an interesting thought experiment. I think that the two arcanum lend themselves naturally to such pairings and the interpretation came much more easily that I expected. The story told by the pairings in the order the come out versus in their numerical order is also another interesting consideration. If we look at the reading as a narrative, we can pinpoint where the climaxes of our story (and our fate) are, and plan accordingly.
Reviving this ancient method of tarot reading has been a wonderful way to honor the roots of the practice. While we now understand that tarot likely didn’t originate in ancient Egypt or hold the secret knowledge of the Magi, there’s still something special about connecting with the history of how it’s been used. Mellet and de Gébelin may have romanticized its origins, but the method itself had to come from somewhere. Personally, I find it more likely that this style has roots in Italian folk traditions of cartomancy, rather than ancient Egypt.
Regardless of its origin, this method provides a fresh and meaningful approach to reading the cards, and I hope you give it a try.
