Tarot and gypsys

Topic: The time and place of the origin of the tarot

Inaccurate: The tarot comes from Egypt; India; China; Fez, Morocco; the Sufis; the Cathars; Jewish Kabbalists or Moses; or the origin of the tarot is unknown.

Current Historical Understanding: The tarot originated in northern Italy early in the 15th century (1420-1440). There is no evidence for it originating in any other time or place. The earliest extant cards are lavish hand-painted decks from the courts of the nobility.

Topic: The origin of the word "tarot"

Inaccurate: The word is Egyptian, Hebrew, or Latin; it is an anagram; it holds the key to the mystery of the cards.

Current Historical Understanding: The earliest names for the tarot are all Italian. Originally the cards were called carte da trionfi (cards of the triumphs). Around 1530 (about 100 years after the origin of the cards), the word tarocchi (singular tarocco) begins to be used to distinguish them from a new game of triumphs or trumps then being played with ordinary playing cards. The etymology of this new word is not known. The German form is tarock, the French form is tarot. Even if the etymology were known, it would probably not tell us much about the idea behind the cards, since it only came into use 100 years after they first appeared.

Topic: The cultural source of the tarot symbols

Inaccurate: The symbolism of the trumps comes from Egypt (or India, or other exotic locale).

Current Historical Understanding: The symbolism of the trumps is drawn from the culture of Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Most tarot subjects are distinctive to European Christendom. Illustrations virtually identical to each of the tarot subjects can be found in European art, and such precise analogs are not found in other cultures.

Topic: The gypsies and tarot

Inaccurate: The gypsies brought the tarot to Europe and spread its use.

Current Historical Understanding: This idea was popularized in the 19th century by several writers, notably Vaillant and Papus, without any basis in historical fact. There is no evidence that the Rom (gypsies) used tarot cards until the 20th century. Most of their fortune-telling was through palmistry and later through the use of ordinary playing cards.

Rom Tarot Origin

Preface to TZIGANE TAROT
(Tarot of the Roms)
by Tchalai

My Brothers
They had eyes dark as night, my brothers,
As if cut in black diamond

They had moon-woven hair, my brothers,
Glistening blue in endless mist

And teeth like wolves' teeth, my brothers,
Joyous teeth clenched tight on their hungers

The voice they had, borne it was from the stars,
Fascinating and misunderstood

the hands they had, fearsome hands, my brothers,
And the world was drunk at their fingertips

Gone are they on all the paths, my brothers,
They were warm like fire, and fresh like the wind

Let me touch your hair your brow your lips,
Scrutinize the palms of your hands

I'm only searching for my brothers everywhere around,
To live is to know how to love

Gone they are on all the paths, my brothers,
But in every mirror, I find them again!

Tchalai


In the Beginning...

In the beginning was one word,
And this word was ROM
and this word was in the Rom
All that came
came from this word
came from this Rom

... ...

That which people know is this:
That we are the Rom
That we roam along the roads
accomplishing our Tzigane things
and sleeping out of doors at night

... ...

That which people do not know...
Land of the culture of old!
India! Where is thy sun?
Covered with the smoke of centuries
We have lost thee left thee behind!
Countries and sovereigns were changing all around...
Roads wagons and horses go by
Through meadows sands and woodland...
O history! Like in the cauldron
Where peoples are cooked
You have thrown the Tzigane family!
You have burnt their heart in the fore...

Leska Manush
Department of Linguistics
Institute of Social Sciences
USSR Academy of Sciences


follow link and scroll past this poem for more...

Ancient History

Paris in the Middle Ages 1500ad

Thus, not all "Gypsies" are Roma, and not all Roma are nomadic

Very interesting thesis on the origins of the Romani people and the ancient link to India based on dance traditions.

"We pass like the wind on the lake of the world without leaving a mark.
And yet,without us nothing would be the same.
Always thrown out, always hunted.
Despised and envied. And always unknown...^12"

"Romani Soul

My heart has been cut open
Blood drained in the name of freedom

Sweet music in my veins
Ancient dance in my broken bones.
Happy and sad
My spirit is sailing into the unknown
With no land, no home to call my own
Hopelessly searching through the past
To find my people, who scattered
Like glass that shattered
Long ago.
Listen and you'll hear the song of longing
Look in to the far distance beyond the horizon
And there you'll see dancing
My lonely, Romani soul.

We must not forget as dancers that we are dancing in the name of our people!"

-

Nadia Hava-Robbins, MA
California, USA
September, 1999

ATS Freebie

Great time Thursday night. 13 wonderful women graced me with their presence, including some very dear friends and supporters. I wore my complete costume (exactly what I wore the previous Saturday at Steer Inn). I wanted to give the newbies a better idea of what tribal is and how different it is from traditional bellydance. We went over some basic concepts and moves used in ATS.

This is a great class for super beginners because it is free and you leave with the ability to (or knowledge of how to) do a simple example of bellydance using ATS moves. This class is also great for experienced dancers who have yet to experiment with ATS in a group setting. Although we do not get through enough moves to create an ATS dance repertoire, its is an essential stepping stone into bellydance the tribal way.

As more dancers are evolving into fusion, it is necessary to understand where tribal comes from, its American roots, and the key vocabulary, formations, and ques before journeying into the experimental dance scene. My goal is to continue to hold true to the ATS format, training as many people I can, recruiting dancers into a troupe, performing for the arts and culture, and aiding fusion-ers with the basics.


ATS is beautiful because once you know it, you can dance with anyone else that knows it, even if you have never danced with them before!

ATS Workshop

This Saturday was the very first ATS workshop I have taught at AI&G and the first ever held on the Eastern Shore. I was hoping to teach experienced dancers that could easily utilize the moves and skills in any inprov setting... and that is exactly what I did. Dancers Carol (a.k.a Zatara) and the beautiful Karen of Lewes, DE attended. One of my vetran students, Renae, also came for the second half of the workshop.

I feel I have compiled a dance workshop format that will teach an experienced dancer how to improvise using the ATS moves with any ATS dancer across the nation in just 4 hours! I also compiled a series of exercises, stretches, and warm-up moves to help fine-tune your dance. I feel that deep breathing, appreciation, and meditation are also part of the dance.

We all did a great job interacting with each other. When it was over I felt like we should have done more improv, combining the slow moves we learned in the first half with the fast movements of the second half. Overall, I think it was definitely worth the time and effort ladies!!