Tarot of the Imagiers of the Middle Ages (Oswald Wirth)

Oswald Wirth (1860–1943), Swiss Freemason and disciple of Stanislas de Guaita, published an initial version of his major arcana in 1889, before delivering a complete deck of 78 cards in 1926 accompanied by the work The Tarot of the Imagiers of the Middle Ages. His ambition is twofold: to rediscover the medieval sources of tarot by drawing inspiration from illuminations and cathedrals, while integrating the keys of Kabbalah and hermeticism as understood in Parisian occult circles. He relies on Etteilla and Court de Gébelin. The result is a tarot with sober iconography, medieval hues, that emphasizes moral allegories and symbolic correspondences.

Structured into 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana, it follows the traditional numbering with some variations specific to Wirth. The majors are particularly rich: each figure is conceived as an autonomous allegory, laden with references to Freemasonry, alchemy, and mythology. The minors, less illustrated than in the Rider-Waite, are interpreted according to numerical and elemental attributions. Classic spreads apply naturally. This deck is suitable for readers who appreciate rigorous symbolic reading.

It brings a historical and philosophical dimension to the consultation, reminding that tarot is a universal symbolic language with deep roots. For the consultant, it opens a perspective of timeless wisdom: contemporary questions find answers grounded in a profound tradition. Its solemn medieval aesthetic fosters a state of receptivity conducive to reflection. It is a tarot of maturity, ideal for significant turning points in life.