Welcome to the Christine Payne-Towler Tarot Library. Included here are excerpts from her book, The Underground Streams: Esoteric Tarot Revealed. Upon viewing the essays, you'll have the option of opening up a print-friendly PDF version.
Tarot history
History of Tarot - An approach to tarot history.
Esoteric Orignins of Tarot - Dr. Lewis Keizer's essay on the history of Tarot.
Criteria for Esoteric Tarot - A discussion of what attributes constitute the esoteric tarot.
Tarot influences
The Gnostic Tarot - Gnostic significance of the tarot as a Judeo-Christian tradition.
Kabbalah - Influence of the Kabbalah on Tarot.
Confluence - The confluence of the three great systems.
Tarot theory
Continental Tarots - "What Happened" to the Major Arcana in the late 1600's.
Spanish School - A look at the influential Spanish tarot tradition.
The English School - Short history of the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn.
Major Arcana - General discussion of the Tarot and its traditions.
Minor Arcana - In-depth discussion of the Minor Arcana and its origins.
The cards
Major Arcana Cards - A card-by-card look at the Major Arcana.
Coins - A card-by-card look at the suit of Coins.
Cups - A card-by-card look at the suit of Cups.
Swords - A card-by-card look at the suit of Swords.
Wands - A card-by-card look at the suit of Wands.
About the author