"Around the middle of the fifteenth century, not so long after the first written references in Europe to cards of any kind, an artist named Bonifacio Bembo painted a set of unnamed and unnumbered cards for the Visconti family of Milan", Origins of Tarot, Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self Awareness by Rachel Pollack

Did you know that the roots of tarot have their beginnings in the north of Italy at the height of the Renaissance. The first playing cards emerged in the courts of the noble Milanese families and became a popular card game for entertainment and play.

The Visconti Sforza, Bolognese Tarochini and the Minchiate Tarot cards were commissioned by the aristocratic families to be hand painted and designed by expert artisans. Played as a game called 'carte da trionfe' the tarot was purely a trick playing game in the height of the Renaissance.

Today I discuss the Visconti and Sforza alliance in Milan, Cosimo de Medici patronising philosophers to transcribe the Corpus Hermeticum, the time of Renaissance Magic, the shift in art and philosophy, the move toward the mystical traditions and how the tarot eventually evolved into that of cartomancy, esoteric practice via secret societies and occult practitioners in England and France in the 18th and 19th centuries. To now be tethered to the mystery traditions and used as form of divination, fortune telling and spiritual practise.

I also share a few personal revelations about the tarot system along the way. And lastly if you are in Italy it turns out there is some serendipity to this episode I discovered while writing my show-notes you can visit the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo (a quick train ride from beautiful Milano) for an exhibition that is on until June 2026, that covers the last seven hundred years of tarot. If only a patron would come calling to me! How I would love to see this exhibition!

Enjoy this Episode x

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"A book can never disappoint you" - Cinzia Ferri

Welcome to Episode #129:

Just a little rumination about books and life as the new year arrives! Enjoy x

The Substack Post that inspired this podcast:

A book can never disappoint you!

MichelleJohnston.life for the Show-notes

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“Bologna was unique in championing the professions of women. The home of Europe’s oldest university, which has supported female students since the thirteenth century, the city considered women artists integral to its development” - Katy Hessel, The Story of Art Without Men

Welcome to Episode #128:

Bologna is one of those places that has that quintessential Italian feel. A medieval city with wonderful heritage and a place where tradition and conviviality are maintained. Many people love to visit for the food and there is a lot to say about the glories of the table in Bologna. I went there for art, food and wine and found myself lured by the beautiful porticoes that dominate the city and a significant visit to Santa Caterina. There are UNESCO World Heritage sites and al fresco ambience like no other. I often wonder why more people don’t visit this city. It has so much to offer in terms of the magic of travel in Italy.

Visit Bologna

MichelleJohnston.life for the Shownotes and Visuals!

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