During 2018 – 2019, I participated in a tarot book club that read Robert Place’s The Tarot; History, Symbolism and Divination. I found this book to be one of the most extensive books on the history of tarot.
Place’s argument in this book is that the “Tarot Trumps contain the archetypal myth of the hero and can serve as one’s guide in initiation.” I fully agree.
While there is a ton to digest in his book, (and I could write a full lot about initiation and the myth of the hero. Better yet just read 78-degrees of wisdom or Joseph Campbell) the thing that I am focusing on right here is Place’s exploration of I Tronfi, or Triumphs. That is why this post is called the “Tarot’s Journey to Triumph.”
In this blog post, Triumphs refers to the allegorical writing of the poet Petrarch, the Triumph parades in Rome, and also the “Trumps” (Triumph cards) in the Major Arcana cards within the tarot. All are connected.
Petrarch’s writing , and the Triumph parades in Rome were influential in the creation of the first Tarot.
Let’s go back in time.
As we hop in our time-machine, I’ve got to give cred where cred is due. The research in this post is based on Place’s work. So go out and buy his amazing book The Tarot; History, Symbolism, and Divination or one of his equally amazing tarot decks (yes, he’s an artist too!).
The First Tarot Deck
Renaissance
It would be impossible to jump into this Triumph wagon without looking at time and place. The time is early 15th century, Renaissance time. The place is Italy.
The Renaissance (14th – 17th C) was a time that broke a crack through the Dark or Middle Ages and began in Italy, thanks to the wealthy Medici family. Christianity was still the accepted religion in the Renaissance, but what broke the Dark Ages open was the return to classical ideas in art and literature. The Medici family spent a lot of money supporting artists who incorporated classical ideas in their art.
Classical Ideas
Classical (Pre-Christian) ideas took a more cosmic approach to life. Astrology, the planets, nature, the cosmos, and alchemy were all accepted subjects and philosophies to ascribe to.
The creation of the Tarot in the 15th century illustrates pagan, classical ideas.
Cards like the Sun, Moon, and Star are a few cards that illustrate these ideas. These cards are used in modern tarot decks today, like the Rider-Waite Smith deck.
Christian Ideas, The Virtues
Christianity has it’s place in the tarot and the Renaissance, too. Three of the Four Christian virtues, Fortitude (Strength), Temperance, and Justice are clearly illustrated in the Tarot cards. So, there’s room for everyone here (actually there are other religious practices referred to in the cards, but for simplicity sake I am not going to cover all of them).
The Roman Triumph Parade
Now we get into some fascinating stuff. Geeks only read on. Next we look at the Roman Triumph parade and in turn, it’s connection to tarot.
The Roman Triumph parade is of old origin, and is even depicted in early Etruscan art. It was a processional celebration after successful wars and conquests. These were public parades that brought everyone out into the streets to celebrate.
We can also see the Roman Triumph procession depicted quite literally in the Chariot card.
In the triumph parade, the captives of war walked first, followed in turn and “trumped” by solders, leading to generals of higher rank, and lastly the commanding officer or king. So, the parade was a display of victory and power.
As author Robert Place states, the parades did more than celebrate the triumph over death. They expressed the desire for immortality. This was certainly the case as fame or recognition of a ruler’s victory would outlive them.
The basic triumphant parade was taken a step forward by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (1194 – 1250). Adding to the basic war parade, and inspired by classical literature, he reenacted the role of hero and created a procession that was more performative in nature, highlighting the nature of conquest and perseverance.
In time, the format of parade began to mix with Carnival, which included singing and dancing, much like the carnival of Mardi Gras that we know now. So, the hero’s journey spans time and place.
The Hero’s Journey
The triumph parade was not only an important event, but an expression of the hero’s journey.
If you are not familiar with the hero’s journey, think of something in your life you worked to accomplish. As you worked towards this goal, you likely faced economic, social, or personal obstacles. Doubt or judgment from the world around may have crept in.
But you hung in there. You didn’t give up. You came up with creative solutions. You sought out people who could help you. As you worked towards your vision, you were made to deal with many challenges, all of which you overcame. Finally, after much exhaustion and hard work, you rose above insurmountable odds towards the finish line. Yay you. You completed the hero’s journey!
But back to the Roman parades. Initially they were a promenade to celebrate the heroes in their conquest.
Over time, though, the Roman parades became more complex. They began to express the various experiences in life one must triumph over: Love, Justice, Strength, Fertility.
One can only imagine lovers and cupids in costume, as well as other characters dressed up to illustrate the hero’s journey. Again, like Mardi Grad and many parades we experience now.
One need not imagine the Roman Triumph too hard, because we have art, literature, and the tarot to show us how the history of the hero’s journey.
Take a look at Brueghel’s engraving, Triumph of Time, 1574, which clearly illustrates details of the tarot trump cards, such as Death, the Hermit (time), and Justice.
Like the procession, tarot’s major arcana cards illustrate the hero’s journey, shown above.
Petrarch
Writer of I Trionfi or “Triumphs”
14th Century
Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca) was a very important writer during the Renaissance, and may even arguably be one of the initial sparks to ignite this era. I’m not going to get into everything he did (overload), but I am getting into his work I Trionfi or Triumphs.
Triumphs is a series of poems that explore concepts similar to the Roman Triumph parade. Petrarch’s work sheds even more light on the images in the tarot, too.
Petrarch’s I Trionfi is a series of poems, each section connecting a vice with an honorable virtue. In each sequence, a greater evil (or vice) is overcome.
These are the challenges of the hero’s journey, some of which are shown in the tarot. Petrarch organizes them into the following sequences. I have chosen simply to highlight the sequence of his Triumph poems (we could have a whole other post about his poems!).
Petrarch’s Triumphs in Tarot
Love is triumphed through Chastity (Prudence)
Death is triumphed through Fame
Time is triumphed through Eternity
Trump cards
It should be noted that Trionfi is also a card game (see also Tarrochi), where certain cards “Trump” others. So, they have higher values. The trump cards “Triumph” over the pip (or numbered) cards. So, like the Roman Triumph, the trump cards increase in value as you follow the sequence.
Tarot Trumps
The tarot trumps refer to the major arcana cards, the cards in the tarot numbered 0-21. These cards begin with the Fool and end with the World card (note: the rest of the deck are considered “pip” cards which are numbered. Except for the Court Cards).
The Fool’s Journey
The tarot trumps, as we’ve been discussing, are an illustration of the hero’s journey. In tarot talk it is often referred to as the “Fool’s Journey,” which begins with card 0, the Fool, and ends with the World card, numbered 21 (the major arcana cards).
As you begin your journey in life (or in any venture, really), you begin without experience, or with only a sense of possibility. This is the Fool.
As you triumph through challenges, you eventually arrive to the World, signifying completion of your journey.
The series of 22 major arcana cards represent the totality of one’s life experience, and the microcosms therein. The Fool is the beginning of life and the World is the completion and the end of life (and perhaps reincarnation?).
Additionally, the major arcana and the Fool’s journey can be seen in our life experiences (the microcosm). For example, major arcana card 6, the Lovers, shows our journey in love. So, if you were doing a tarot reading about love, you could pull out the Lovers card as your guiding significator card. Next you shuffle the major arcana cards, asking, “where am I right now in the Lovers journey?” Then you draw one card.
This card will tell you, where in the hero’s (aka the Fool’s) journey you are within the experience of love.
So, the major arcana cards help us examine any number of life experiences and where we stand in the process from start to finish. They also show us the many things we experience during a lifetime.
Conclusion
The tarot is a deck of cards that bring illumination into one’s path, purpose, and personal journey. Many mystical teachings explore the triumph of the spirit over the trials of life, and even beyond into death.
Created during the Renaissance, the tarot embodied the blending of classical ideals, mysticism, and Christianity. During this period, “triumph” parades in Rome celebrated the victory of life over death. Similar to Mardi Gras, these parades were reflective of the human spirit’s ability to triumph over the universal experiences we share.
The tarot connects us with our own heroic journey; to reign victorious in our own life experiences and to find illumination through every turn, twist, and step in the procession that leads us closer to triumph.
A Tarot Reading for Triumph
Now that we’ve talked about the tarot and the triumph parade, let’s incorporate our knowledge with a reading. For this reading, separate out major arcana cards 0-21 in your tarot deck. You will use those cards for the reading. Shuffle the cards, cut the deck, and restack the cards back together. Draw the two cards on top. The cards represent:
Card 1: What must my spirit triumph through, presently?
Card 2: Where does this lead me?
Here’s an example reading:
Card 1: What must I triumph over?
The card drawn to answer this: The Hanged Man.
What one must triumph over, in this reading, is in the acceptance of what one cannot control.
Card 2: Where does this lead me?
After I triumph and learn the lesson of the Hanged Man, where will I stand?
The card drawn to answer this is the Tower.
The patient, accepting nature of the Hanged Man will lead one to significant change. The dramatic changes I seek, as shown in the Tower card, will manifest through surrender.