Persian Tarot was released for the first time in 1980. It was created by Madame Indira. This tarot is composed of 55 cards, and each one of them possesses a strong and characteristic symbolism. The cards adapt to the questions asked by the consultant. But just who is this celebrated seer, Madame Indira?
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Indira was born in Algeria, and raised in a convent, by nuns. She never got to meet her parents. She had a very strict education, and developed a faith in God during her years spent with the Christian nuns. From the age of 10, Indira began to show great intuition - she was able to predict things that always came to true. She only shared this with the people close to her, and did not speak openly about it. At the age of 11, she came up with the idea of what would become the Persian Tarot, and so she designed her first game of cards. Even then she made sure that each picture had its own particular meaning.
Once she was an adult, she continued to learn about life, accompanying her husband on a mission to Saigon and Saudi Arabia. They were received by ambassadors and some high-up people who sought her advice. She didn't hesitate to predict their futures, and they trusted her. Madame Indira's reputation began to spread, and in 1972 she opened office as a clairvoyant in Neuilly.
Madame Indira's tarot is very aesthetically pleasing; the colours of the drawings are lively and joyful, which immediately makes you want to know a bit more about them. On the drawings we find sultans, princesses, palaces, jewellery boxes, a boat, cats… Just by looking at these cards, you are instantly transported to another country. The Persian Tarot has an exotic allure that draws you in...
Tarot Persan's deck
As stated before, this tarot is composed of 55 cards. There are 19 symbolic cards, the "majors", 16 "intermediary" cards, 16 "minor" cards and 4 "complimentary" cards.
The 19 Major Arcana are represented by 5 "animal" cards and 14 "symbol" cards.
The 5 animal cards are the Tiger, Black Panther, Peacock, the Swallows, and the Wheel of Fish.
The Tiger , is a great predator in Asia, which needs a lot of space to hunt. In China, it is a symbol of strength and ferocity, and in India, it is compared to the divine force that chases away bad spirits. The Tiger evokes power, virility and courage.
The Black Panther is a rare species that is primarily found in Burma. It symbolises cunning, ferocity and strength.
The Peacock has mystical connotations. Some ancient cultures considered it to be a unique creature that possessed the power of the third eye, whilst others saw it as a demonic being.
The Swallows are gentle, and herald the arrival of Spring. They symbolise joy, fertility and love.
The Wheel symbolises the circle of life. The wheel turns, it is a sign of wealth, luck and fertility.
The other 14 Major Arcana are the Torches, the Island, the Boat, the Witch, Sickness, Death, the House, Encounters, Marriage, Fertility, the Break-Up, Fatima's Hand, the Chest, and the Sun.
It's clear how meaning can easily be given to these cards. For example, if we drew the Marriage card, then we could tell that someone we knew was going to get married. The cards have a self-explanatory meaning. Madame Indira made it so that interpreting the Persian Tarot cards would be simple. Their symbolism is based on Jewish-Christian culture and Indo-European myths. Everything that belongs to our culture and that is present in our collective unconscious is useful for better understanding the symbolism of the game.
The 16 intermediary cards are the Kings, Queens, Knaves and Aces of Hearts, Clubs (coins), Diamonds (scythes) and Spades (scimitars).
Here we can see that the Persian Tarot cards were inspired by popular card games.
The 16 minor cards are the 3, 5, 6 and 10 of Hearts, Clubs (or coins), Diamonds (or scythes) and Spades (or scimitars).
The last 4 complimentary cards are the Owl, and the 3, 7 and 9 of Owls.
Draw Tarot Persan
The order in which you draw the cards is of fundamental importance. The meaning of the cards changes according to where they appear in a draw. To understand a draw in its entirety, each card needs to be interpreted separately, and then as a whole. The draw is usually made in a celtic cross, or with 3 cards placed side by side.
The advantage of Persian Tarot is that it's easy to use and a lot of fun to play. What's more, you'll be interpreting your draw at the same time as the clairvoyant. You will intuitively feel the meaning of each card, and you will know more about yourself and the choices to make.
Persian Tarot esotericism and aesthetic!
When you buy a Persian Tarot set, it very often comes with a little explanatory sheet. Don't hesitate to familiarise yourself with the game before going to see a clairvoyant who knows how to use it. Doing so will allow you to have a clearer picture of the cards, and to better understand their meaning during a consultation.
The cards never trick us; they reflect our emotions, and what we feel at a very precise moment in our lives. They can give you the answers you've been waiting for, or guide you on your path. When your doubt is overpowering, the Persian Tarot can prove to be a precious aid that can help you move forward. Persian Tarot is a game with a perfect blend of aesthetics and practicality. It places esotericism and beauty side by side, drawing us in...
Coming soon: a description of 55 tarot cards Persian ...
