Luxury & Spirituality
Arnaud Malherbe, the spiritual and grounded tarot
More popular than ever, tarot attracts new fans wishing reconnect with symbolism and a certain spirituality. On the occasion of a drawing session with Arnaud Malherbe, tarot reader in ParisI had the opportunity to take a closer look at what is often mistakenly regarded as a divinatory art. For us, he looks back on the origins of tarot and the meaning it can give to our lives.
First of all, what is tarot?
Tarot is a legacy of humanity who has the power to reveal our personality and has the ability to to shed light on every situation in our lives. A consultation can address a wide range of issues and questions, from career orientation to relationships. Above all, it's a tool for self-discovery very powerful. Thanks to symbols, numerology and archetypes, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves in the present, and build our future with full awareness.
A quality of the spirit, spirituality can take many forms. What does spirituality mean to you?
Belief, meditation, religion - it's true that spirituality has become a catch-all term. There are many currents in spirituality as with occultism or spiritualism, for that matter. Tarot has an immaterial dimensionThe cards are called blades (because they speak to the soul) and the trumps are called arcana (meaning secret, mystery). Just as my astrology teacher used to teach, true spirituality begins with self-knowledge. As Erasmus said: you're not born a man, you become one. Knowing yourself allows you to lighten up and move towards elevation.
"True spirituality consists first of all in knowing oneself.
What are the origins of the Tarot de Marseille and how did it evolve?
No one really knows how or where tarot originated. Maps have been found on every continent in the world and the Egyptians were already using it. Tarot did not have its contemporary spiritual dimension, they were purely playing cards. Cartomancers don't draw with the major arcana, but with minor arcana such as a deuce of spades or queen of hearts. It was only later that the major arcana began to be used for this purpose. The first representations of these major arcana can be found in Italy as early as the 14th century; they have since evolved and their illustrations have changed.
How does tarot differ from other increasingly popular games or oracles?
At present, there is a massive offer from booksellers and retailers, particularly for oracles, which define cards that are very different from tarot. The tarot always has the same structure, while the oracles are more varied. and seem easier to access, as they deliver a very direct message and are usually accompanied by a guide.
There are several types of tarot known as the Tarot de Marseille, all of which share the same characteristics. 56 minor arcana (4 sets of 14 cards from Ace to King, our classic decks) and 22 adults (cards numbered from 0, The Mate, to 21, The World), but the illustrations change. Although the structure remains the same, in the American tarot the House of God becomes the Tower, the Bateleur is sometimes called the Magician and the Mat becomes the Fool. The name differs, but the symbolism remains.
Tarot is sometimes equated with divination, but during our consultation, I realized that it was more a question of avenues of reflection than projections. You remind us that "the question is more important than the answer"...
I don't use the tarot in a divinatory mode; what interests me is taking a modern, philosophical rather than esoteric look at it.. Today, the practice is evolving, with a whole stream of psychologists and researchers drawing parallels between arcana and certain psychological profiles, such as the archetypes identified by Carl Jung. First and foremost, cards make you thinkIt's like a Rorschach test. Of course, one can be astonished by a print. several realizations following a consultation, while for others, the print becomes a confirmation of what we already know. Used properly, tarot, like astrology, can become a revealing compass..
"Used properly, tarot, like astrology, can become a revealer, a compass.
Are we all susceptible to a print or do we need to have a certain faith in the practice?
Whatever you do, you have to keep your feet on the ground - tarot is concrete! To soar, you need to be grounded, and make sure you don't have your head in the stars too much.. Everyone has sensitivity and intuition, and you have to be able to trust yourself. It's all about empathy. In tarot, as in many other fields, confronting points of view, trying things out, playing and not taking oneself too seriously are the keys to staying centered.
"To soar, you have to be grounded, and make sure your head isn't too far up in the stars.
Are you seeing a new breed of tarot devotees?
I don't necessarily have the necessary hindsight, because although I've been interested in tarot for ten years or so, I've been practising full time for about two years. Certainly, over the last few months I've noticed the effect of confinement. A lot of people are reinventing themselves and coming to see me to tackle a change of career or a change of life. There are no typical profiles, but it's true that slightly more women than men consult me. I've seen some very rational people change, becoming less radical and even drawing their own cards.
You organize initiatory workshops and relatively "simple" draws. Can anyone be a tarot reader?
Just like at school, you have to start with the alphabet, i.e. understanding blade symbolism. Once assimilated, tarot becomes a friend and practice makes perfect. I'd like to offer more in-depth courses, with more people, when the health situation allows. To make a reading, you need to be comfortable with making mistakes. It helps to pay close attention to the other person. Posture and attitude count, because tarot is based on exchange and energiesalthough I do offer remote consultations.
Do you think there's a new craze for these practices, or is it more a question of media coverage than a historical phenomenon, or at least of finally taking up this intimate questioning in the eyes of the world?
It's true that tarot has become fashionable, but clichés and a certain mistrust of tarot and its practitioners persist. Many still think it's a matter of belief, of religion, when in fact it's not. the tarot is very material - it's not about believing, it's about experiencing ! Since the 80s, the person who has contributed most to the democratization of tarot is without doubt Alexandro Jodorowskiwho popularized it through his school and his book The Tarot Way.
"It's not about believing, it's about experiencing.
Do you fear that the tarot's new popularity will lead to certain excesses?
There are tarot reader diplomas, but none are recognized by the state. Some online courses issue certificates that have no value. For my part, I followed a training course with a code of ethics. I've been practicing for between 5 and 10 years, and I continue to train and attend courses. You also have to watch out for the addictive side of tarot and its fashionable effect: some people no longer dare to make decisions without a card. Drawing on a regular basis isn't a problem in itself, as long as you keep the necessary distance. A card of any kind can bring to light an intention for the dayBut it shouldn't create a blockage. In any form of therapy or even entertainment, there is an element of addiction. Used with humility, there is no risk, but as in many other fields, care must be taken to ensure that no one tries to gain the upper hand.
Symbolism, detailed narratives, strong aesthetics - at the end of the day, tarot has a lot in common with art and luxury?
Perhaps, because beyond its presence in the collective imagination, tarot has incomparable depth and richness. There is an abundance of literature on the subject. Visit illustrations of the blades would be based on sacred geometry, there would be no such thing as chance.. The cards hold many secrets and a certain perfection. There's numerology, and while we're still in the infancy of quantum physics, there may already be a little of that in a tarot deck.
Do you think the fascination with tarot, and mysticism in general, reflects a desire to reenchant the world, to reconnect with our instincts in response to the extreme rationalization of our societies?
We live in a particular period characterized by a loss of meaning. We look for this meaning elsewhere, to lift ourselves up and free ourselves from what engulfs us through deeper questioning. We need to feed on symbols to rediscover a form of unity. We live in a fragmented world, adopting different roles depending on the context, and unfortunately all this is divisive and unnatural. In my opinion, the problem today is that everything is put on the same level, and because of a lack of understanding, notions are flattened and oversimplified.
Until the 18th century, to be a doctor, you had to be an astrologer, see things holistically and understand the body as a whole. Today, all practices are separated, we look at the leaves of the tree without observing its roots. In traditional Indian and Chinese medicine, we find this wisdomthis global vision of body and mind. The tarot brings some depth to all this, responding to this pressure for uniformity. Like a jigsaw puzzle, it's all part of a whole, and in a time of crisis our quest for meaning is exacerbated.
The return to spirituality is accompanied by a renewed appreciation of nature. What role does the tarot lend to nature?
Nature and its elements are an integral part of the tarot. It features the moon and the sun, key principles of masculine and feminineBut also plants, trees and animals. Many animal species appear in a tarot deck: horses, dogs, wolves, lions, eagles or bulls. I like to think that those who, centuries before us, created these cards encoded nature's secrets in order to pass them on to us.
What requests have the fashion and luxury brands you've worked with made for their event projects?
Of course, there's a marketing side to it, a desire to show off, and I sometimes receive surprising requests, some of which I refuse. But I always keep my sincerity. They're generally great moments of exchange, whether they're customer events or meetings for employees of fashion brands or hotels.
What's your favourite blade, and why?
It depends on the moment. I buy old tarot cards, which have survived the centuries and are still with me in my daily life. Right now, I'm concentrating on the Force, a card I keep close to me. The tarot is a wonderful book of secrets that we never tire of..
Many thanks to Arnaud for his time and his precious testimony. You can find out more about Arnaud's tarot initiation workshops and consultations on his website website. Designed by Arnaud, Le Tarot of the Confined with its humorous cards is available on its website.
