The way Tarot has come down to us through the ages has given it a mysterious flair associated with gypsies, fortunetellers, secret esoteric orders, witches and weirdos. As if Tarot were designed to pick up the discarded parts of ourselves, what originated as a court game in Italy in the 14th Century was metamorphosed and adopted through the years by people outside the mainstream and imbued with mystery, secrecy and ambiguity as it assimilated and soaked the conflicting energies of the evolving times.

The strange, mystifying allure of Tarot resonates with us because its symbols and images never cease to expand and acquire new meanings as they continuously mold themselves to any ideology, discipline or school of thought that wishes to adopt or adapt its wisdom.

Tarot in psychotherapy is not a new subject. Just like poetry, dance, drama, painting or any inspirational art can serve as an instrument for analysands or clients to gain access to the unconscious, more psychologists today are adding Tarot to their list of functional tools.

As New Age writer and metaphysician Jean Houston notes, "The stupendous music of our minds goes largely unplayed and unknown... In this time of whole- system transition we can no longer afford to live as half-light versions of ourselves. The complexity of our time requires a greater and wiser use of our capacities, a rich playing of the instrument we have been given." (Houston, A Passion for the Possible, 1998.)

When Tarot resonates with us, no matter how subtle, we should stop and listen to the cadence of its images. The symphony of meanings, the overwhelming flow of sensations, can be our bridge to new levels of understanding ourselves. It is as if Tarot had come down to us like sheets of music to help us play our instruments, to assist in our exploration of sound, and color and energy vibrations that not only helps us heal our wounds but also shows us how to access hidden energies and reach incredible richness in personal expression. The outburst of new Tarot decks in the past twenty years is yet another indication of how these Arcana have taken hold of our personal and world consciousness.