When Tarot was discovered in the 14 th century in Italy it was a rage. The rulers at that time thought predicting the future was not the right thing to do, which is why Tarot Card Reading was banned. Tarot Cards were read in dark alleys so that the Reader & Seeker would be hidden away from guards patrolling the streets and would not be caught and punished. This is why Tarot came to be known as an Occult or hidden or secret science.