Nov 30, 2005

The Illustrated Oracle project has entered post-production.  This extraordinary documentary explores the fascinating world of Tarot cards.  Divination and fortune telling are the oldest spiritual practices of mankind.  Every culture has their own divinatory traditions, from the Chinese I-Ching to the Nordic Rune Stones, but the Tarot of Western Europe is unique in its complex set of symbols and rich visual imagery.  This program traces the mysterious history of the Tarot.  Where did this infamous deck of cards come from?  How was it originally used?  What do the strange symbols and images on the cards really mean?  And why are Tarot cards and other divinatory practices more popular than ever?  

Follow the spread of Tarot from its first documented  appearance in 15th Century Italy to the ascent of the occult Tarot in 17th Century France.  Learn the truth about secret societies like the Golden Dawn in England and France and the burgeoning popularity of Tarot cards in America during the counter-culture revolution of the 1960s.  This documentary explores the amazing world of divination, fortune-telling, and related magickal practices from historical, cultural, psychological, scientific and philosophical perspectives.  Through interviews and readings with the most knowledgeable and renowned practitioners in the occult community, as well as commentaries by leading professors, scientists, and skeptics, discover an amazing world you never knew was all around you.  Does divination and Tarot really work?  You decide.