Tarot - The Library of Esoterica
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Trace the hidden history of Tarot in the first volume of TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica, a series exploring the creative ways we seek connection to the divine. Organized according to the sequence of the Major and Minor Arcana, this richly illustrated book brings together more than 500 Tarot cards and original works of art from around the world in the ultimate exploration of a centuries-old art form.
Tarot is a mirror for self-exploration, reflecting our shared longing for meaning, purpose, and connection to the divine. With roots spanning more than 600 years, this tradition tells a collective human story shaped by seekers, artists, and mystics alike.
Though often relegated in Western culture to the margins of the arcane, Tarot has been preserved through secret texts, oral tradition, and philosophical study. Over centuries, countless creative hands transformed what began as a parlor game into a powerful system of divination and personal insight—continually reimagined as each generation reshapes its symbols and meaning.
Author Jessica Hundley charts this remarkable evolution in Tarot, the debut volume of TASCHEN’s Library of Esoterica. The book examines the symbolic language of more than 500 cards and artworks—nearly two-thirds of which have never been published beyond their original decks. Ranging from medieval origins to contemporary interpretations, this is the first visual compendium of its kind, meticulously arranged according to the 78 cards of the Major and Minor Arcana.
The volume explores Tarot’s enduring influence as a muse for artists such as Salvador Dalí and Niki de Saint Phalle, and features decks by nearly 100 contemporary artists from across the globe who have embraced the medium as a tool for cultural expression and transformation. Complementing the imagery are excerpts from influential thinkers including Éliphas Lévi, Carl Jung, and Joseph Campbell, alongside a foreword by artist Penny Slinger, a practical guide to reading the cards by Johannes Fiebig, and an essay on oracle decks by Marcella Kroll.
Details
- 520 pages
- Dimensions: 9.5" W x 6.75" D
- Hardcover
About The Author
Jessica Hundley is an author, filmmaker, and journalist known for her explorations of counterculture, metaphysics, psychedelia, and magic. She has written for Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, and is the author of books on iconic figures such as Dennis Hopper, David Lynch, and Gram Parsons.
The Contributing Authors
Johannes Fiebig is a leading authority on Tarot and the psychological interpretation of symbols. He published his first book in 1984 and has since sold over 2 million copies in more than a dozen languages. In 1989, he co-founded the Königsfurt publishing house—later Königsfurt-Urania and AGM-Urania—serving as managing director until 2018. He is now an independent writer based in Kiel.
Marcella Kroll is an artist, tarot reader, and metaphysical teacher, as well as host of the podcast Saved by the Spell. She serves as a program director at the Los Angeles Public Library, where she leads Tarot and divination classes for teens, and is the creator of two widely popular oracle decks.
Brand
TASCHEN began in 1980 as Benedikt Taschen’s small comic bookstore in Cologne and has grown into one of the world’s leading art-book publishers, celebrated for its dazzling, boldly designed volumes across art, architecture, photography, fashion, design, and pop culture. From pocket-sized books that helped democratize visual culture to SUMO-scale Collector’s Editions, TASCHEN remains committed to diversity, innovation, and treating every subject—whether a $10 title or a $10,000 masterpiece—with equal respect and craftsmanship.
Working closely with acclaimed creatives, the privately owned publisher has released thousands of titles in dozens of languages and now operates globally through an e-commerce site, international distribution network, and 12 flagship stores from Beverly Hills to Hong Kong. With teams spanning cultures, generations, and creative disciplines, TASCHEN fosters a down-to-earth, collaborative spirit while continuing to shape books that feel less like publications and more like immersive, museum-worthy experiences.
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