Presenting invaluable essays written by prominent occultists from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, this profound book explores the fascinating evolution of tarot as a magical tool. Occult scholar Donald Tyson has edited and annotated these important works to convey each occultist s message in the context of the time period. Essential Tarot Writings reveals where many of our fundamental assumptions about the tarot come from, including card meanings, how it s used in ceremonial magic, Hebrew and Kabbalistic correspondences, and more. All of these essays are interconnected by each century s understanding of tarot and the influences these great thinkers had on each other. From Antoine Court de Gebelin to S. L. MacGregor Mathers, the titans of esoteric tarot are brought together in one must-have collection.