Tarot: Art and Poetry of a Sacred Game [] La Biblioteca Publica (Public Library)

Tarot: Art and Poetry of a Sacred Game

Monday, December 16th, 2019
at 3:00 pm

La Biblioteca Publica (Public Library)

Tarot: Art and Poetry of a Sacred Game
Miguel Canseco

Tarot is widely known as a tool for divination and spiritual exploration but it is also a true artistic treasure born in XVth century Italy. With influences of religion, mythology and poetry, this card game is a mosaic of philosophy that deeply relates with all human emotions. The transition of this game from the Italian royal houses to the esoteric world offers a fascinating view of the way symbols shape our understanding of the world. From it´s origin to the present day Tarot has been deeply united with art, and many artists have made an extensive use of Tarot such as Salvador Dalí, André Bretón, Italo Calvino and Alexandro Jodorowsky among many others.

Tarot is situated in a unique place in which art, philosophy, poetry, psychology and the western esoteric tradition intertwine to create a true book of wisdom that can boost intuition and self knowledge. By integrating the element of chance, the 78 cards of this game are displayed in an infinite number of variations, in that sense, each reading is a unique message for the person who opens his mind and soul to the Tarot experience.

Miguel Canseco is a psychologist, artist and professional Tarot reader based in San Miguel de Allende that has studied the history and symbols of Tarot for more than fifteen years. His research was published in the 2016 book “El Tarot: del Dilema a la Metáfora” In this lecture he will share the fascinating history of the relation between art and tarot offering insights of it´s therapeutic use and the way poetry shapes a tarot reading. He will also share the advance of a new Tarot deck “El Tarot de la Taberna” (The Tavern Tarot) he is creating in a collaboration with the publishing house El Cerdo de Babel of Saltillo, Coahuila. For Miguel Canseco, the tarot is not only a sacred game it is also an art form in which emotions find a voice and people can access to a new and positive meaning for their life by accessing to the beauty and depth of the symbols that shape this ancient game.

The library has thrived and grown through the generous gift of time and money by members of the community, and as is still the case, has relied for the past 50 years on the continued financial support of the people in San Miguel de Allende. The Biblioteca wishes to thank all of the generous persons, groups and companies for their donations of time and money. The library began in a private home in 1954 and moved in 1958 to its current location at Insurgentes 25. This year, the Biblioteca is celebrating its 50th anniversary at this address and will offer a series of special events. Aside from its holdings of more than 60,000 volumes in Spanish, English, German or French and its many lecture, film and theater events, the library grants scholarships to young students and offers cultural activities.

If you wouldn’t normally include a library on your vacation itinerary, you might want to reconsider when you’re in San Miguel. The city’s Public Library has an extensive collection of both Spanish- and English-language books and films, and offers a quiet respite from the sights and sounds of the city. In 1954, Canadian expat Helen Wale invited Mexican children to read through a collection of magazines in her home. Soon, the volume of visitors outgrew the space. In 1958, the library moved to its current location in an 18th-century building several blocks north of El Jardin in central San Miguel. Today, in addition to its abundant bilingual media, the library offers free classes for children on subjects like computers, painting and piano. The library also hosts cultural events and English-language tours that guide visitors through the neighborhood’s colonial architecture. Inside the library, you’ll find a courtyard cafe (good for a quick bite) and the Santa Ana Theatre, which shows international films and hosts concerts by San Miguel’s popular musicians. With its large number of events, the site has become a cultural artery for residents and visitors alike. “This is more than a library. It’s a memorable gathering point for Spanish and English speakers of all ages to share books, chess, movies, music and food,” one TripAdvisor reviewer wrote. The library is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guided house and garden tours operate on Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon; the two-hour tour costs 150 MXN (about $12 USD) per person. Tickets can be purchased at library’s Ticket Center.