The Symbolism of the Tarot

P. D. Ouspensky’s book treats the tarot as a philosophical and symbolic language capable of expressing esoteric ideas about consciousness and development. Historically, it is significant for bringing a more reflective, metaphysical approach to tarot interpretation, and readers will find essays on symbolic structure, number, image, and the tarot’s relation to inner transformation.

P. D. Ouspensky (1878–1947) was a Russian philosopher, journalist, and esoteric writer who became one of the principal interpreters of G. I. Gurdjieff’s teachings. His books, especially Tertium Organum and In Search of the Miraculous, helped shape modern Western interest in mystical philosophy, higher consciousness, and esoteric systems of self-development.