Exhibition of Occult and Alchemical Designs for the Cards

1t
.";.,i
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Exhibition of
Occult and Alchemical Designs for the Cards
of the
T'arot of the Egyptians
EXHIBITION
OF PLAYING CARDS
THE
TAROT
(BOOK OF THOTH)
78 PAINTINGS
ACCORDING TO THE
INITIATED TRADITION AND MODERN
SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT
WITH OTHER
OCCULT AND ALCHEMICAL
DESIGNS
a1u u{v. uw-.:ffiJr-uryo retters on man, and his best method.
ot marupulating their forces.
c.J
I
fi
.. Jt
appea,rs
fro$ the
classification that the system
of
the Tarot is that of the
Febrew eabalah. eabadh *A;;
" received," 'i.e., atradition
receivöd. by meais of initiatiån.
claims to be based, on the
Qabalah
tfe {epr-er1
eabalah. I! was supposed that Moses, the great,
of the Ilebrews, [äd been initiateå tf ,n,;
hierophants o-f that country. This theorv is confided b;
strongly-marked traces of-Egyptian figrires ."a iau*"ä
the .traditional designs theösälves, fioi th"*u is atso
ma,rutolct e5pression of the influence of Indian reliqions.
ln -pafticular, the fndian God Ardhanari ie represänted
with _the four _weapons of the four suits, W;;ä;;-öö;
Swords, and Diks. -ujgJlprran
{
I
I
I
lqagrcian
. ft seems, therefore, probable that Egyptian and. Indian
adepts-were responsible Tor the pack inTls'primitive forö
which is now loit.
THE TAROT
(Book of Thoth)
I
i
I
,{
rfi
,ilt
The origin of the Tarot is unknown, but in all
probability
it was introduced into the Mediterranean
Basin not later than the end of the l4th century. \['e have
existing packs in the lSth centwy.
. It is generally admitted that the cards were a classifi_
cation or ma,p of the universe. The material universe has
always been divided in the first instance into four, and, the
number Four is the basis of the pack. There are four suits
corresponding to t!" four elements, four quarters, four
stations ofthe sun, four seasons and so on. Ä:rd the'other
numbers involved in this classification are d.erived, directly
from it.
l+2+3+4 :
W
'
f
I
t
cl
I
I
I
10
3l
7l2Z
12)
The number of the Trumps (22) is -accordingly that
of the Atus, or Houses, or Kevi. Thö subiect of tiö cards
and look (the Tarot is called ihe book of ihoth or Tahuti,
the EgS4ptian Mercury) is the influence of the l0 numberå
ald the twenty-two letters on man, and his best method.
of manipulating their
l
:
:
:
l+2
3+4
3x4
forces.
. ft appeqs frop _the classification that the system of
the Tarot is that of the Hebrew eabalah. eabalah
-"rrn
" received," 'i.e., a tradition receivöd by means of initiation.
The Ilebrew Qabalah claims to be based, on the
Egyptian Qabalah. It was supposed that Moses, lhe $eab
yqagician of
-th9 Hebrews, [åd been initiated tf tne
hierophants of that country. This theorv is confided bv
strongly_marked traces of Egyptian figåres and id.eas iä
the traditional
designs themsälves, 6ut there is also
panilbld expression of the influence of fndian religions.
ln _particular, the fndian God Ardhanari is represänted
with
of the four suits, Wanäs, Cups,
-the four _weapons
Swords, and Diks.
_ It seems, therefore, probable that Egyptian and, fndian
adepts.were responsible -for the pack inliJ primitive form,
which is now lost.
What is undeniable is, that it must have been put,
together in its medieval form by Hebrew Qabalists.
The general symbolism of the Atus is based on the
ideas of C-hurch and State current in those times.
This is manifest especiallv in the titles of such Atus
'as the X'ool, the Magiciai (Conjuror or Juggler), the-I'ema-le
Pope, the Emperor, the EmFress, lhe Jop-g, t-he $ermi!'
thd Hanged lfan, Justice, Death, the Devil, the Blasted,
the Last Judgment.
There is certain evidence of Grreco-Roman influence,
and possibly Ass5rrian or Chaldean, for in the old packs
the Emperoi was sometimes called Jup,iter; and we have
the aströnomical triad of the Sun, the Moon, and the Star,
while perhaps the Blasted. Tower may be taken as a s5rmbol
of Agni, X'ire or Lightning.
These mingled origins are, however, of no great signific&nce. I{hat is certain is that the pack, such as it was,
was skilfully moulded by fnitiates as a means of_preserving
and transniitting the tradition of the initiated wisdom ;
safeguards against the betrayal of the secrets were intro'
ducöd, especially with regafd to the attributions of the
Atus or Trumps.
It is hoped that an important book on these subjects
will appear slortly in conjuiction with the reproduction of
these-frctures in ihe traditional form of a pack of cards.
The cards have been very famous for centuries'
Eundreds of books have been rvi'itten about, them. They
were used. by the " Bohemians " or Gipsies for telling
fortunes, anci in a mutilated form are used for playm-g
various games of cards in all Latin countries in bot'h
hemispheies. But these are degradations of their t'ruo use
in noSle contemplation of the Secret Energies of Nature.
THE TWENTY-TWO
TRUMPS
No.
ro.
The Fool is Air or Vacuum or Puissqnt Innooence.
He holds the male element of fire, the female element
of water, the sword of air, and the disc of earth.
He is the Green Man of Bprdnq, the great fiool, of
tke Cel,ts, Dal,uah, and Parsifal. He is also Zeus
Arrhenothel,us, D'ionysus Zagreus, Bacchu; Di,gthues
and Baphomnt.
2t.
TIre Magician or Juggler. Meraury, who
,i,s
Wisilann,
Wil,l, and Word, by whom the world. is created,
symbolises the fl,uid,i,a basi,s of all transmi,ssi,on of
acti,aity. Behind him and through him is the Ape,
Hanumnn, which is a llindu conception. The
Egyptian counterpart, Thoth, is also always followed
by the Cynoaephalus Ape.
#
3 II.
$
The Priestess. She is
again she is Artennis.
Is,i,s, th,e eternal, a'irgi,n, and,
It is for this reason såe is
'in the luminous ae,il of li,ght,light bei,ng ai,ewd
not as the mani,festati,on, but as the ueil,, of the spiri,t.
alothed,
t
.t
TTT
T4e Empress. She is seated in traditional posture.
This posture represents salt, thoi,na,ati,ae princi,pl,e of
na[,ure. The lotus typifies the"fe.mi,ni,ne or passi,ue
f)ower. The Bees on the robe may be compared with
the Fl,ew' d,e Lys, suggesting the n'rench oiigin of the
'f
; the belt ,i,s the Zocl,,iaa. The Pelican m,ag be
id,enffied, with the Gre,at Mother and, her offspri,ng. It
re_presents the continui,ty of l,i,fe and, ,i,nheri,tanae of
gy"mtrol
t
blood, uniti,ng all
forms of nature. The White
Eagl,e
typifi,es Al,chemi,aal, Balt, anil, tlue White Tincture, of tlw
natru'e of si,luer.
5 rv.
The Emperor. This card means Goverwnerrtby maans
of two contrasting sgmbols. These are the Rari, wh,i,ah,
whem w,i,l,il, is sol,itary anil, aotnageous, and, the Lam,b,
whi,ah is d,oa,il,e and, aowaril,l,q, and is, in fact, the Ram
by authority. The
posture tpifies fäe
of tÅi uninterse.
The Red EagG represents"tlte Red, Tincture of the
tamed
Ataherni,cå\,
ii.
tii,
ii
,T
Ii
,{i
il$
tr
'll
Bulphur,ihn Tery
Alnhemi,sts, ro'h;an
6V.
å
el,äment
of the nature of
gold,.
The EieroBhant. The referenae in this card, ,i,s to
Iatnus the Bwll, and its Indian equivalent, the
Elephant. The pentagram with its -dancing male
T
'1,r
't1 :
No.
No.
child
symbol'i,ses the
wh'i,alt, talces the
symbolism
New Aeon of the child' Eorus,
is the Bpermatozoon tr'or [hat reason
the card is called the Hermit. In the same order of
ideas the Hermi,t hold,s the lamp whose aentre is the
Sun.^ The Egg, surrounded by the coils of a snake,
|ypr$"u the Universe, wåile the snalce si,gni,fi.es tke
fluid,j,a essence of Light, whioh i,s thelife of thå Uni,uerse.
us for 2,AA0 gears. The Hi'erophnnt rnoaes onl'y at
intöraals of 2,000 years. The four masks are the
guard,'ians of euerg m,ystery, aul'rninati,ng i,n the Granrl
Mgstery of the uni,ting of m'i'uoaosm anil nxawaaosrn.
The woman before the hierophant represents Venus,
noufarmeil, and, mili,tant. Tlrc Wan'cl' with i'ts interlaceil
rinis sh,ows the three Aeons of Isis, Os'iri,s and,,Horus.
7 VI.
The Lovem. This specifieally alchemical card is a
symbol, of procreat'ion, the swords drawing attention
to the ptrocess of d,i,ui,si.on whi'oh actually talces place.
Cain antl AbeI represent' tlte refusal of God' to hear tke
cle,,i,ld,ren of Eue u,ntil, bloorl is shed'. Thi,s seem,s to be
the symbolisati,on of erternal relig'ion. It, was by means
of the shedd,ing of blood, and of erternal, rel'igöons that'
Cain was able to have contact with his fellow men.
In that sense the meaning of the card is tlte gi,ai'n'g of
In this card are traces of the legend öf persephone.
The serpent Wand, here seen -growine out äf the
Abyss, is the Wand of Mercurv, the guirle of the
soul through the lower regions. Thd letter yod
llhe Cha.riot. The four Sphinxes on this card, drarving
the chariot, are the Bttll,, the L'i'on, the Eagle, and' the
Man, the uthole representinq the s'irteen sub-el,emen,ts.
The function of the Charioteer is to bear the lloly
Grail, in the centre of which is rad'iant bl'ood', sgmbol'i's,i,rry the presence of Light in Darlcness.
I VIII.
Ailjustment or traditionally Justice. This card
represents the T4'ornan satisf'ed,. This condition is
synbolised !y !tt" s-calgs, in whi_ch -she weighs the
uruverse ; Alpha, the f,rst, e*aatly balatwes aga'i'nat
Ontega, the last. These scales represent the two
' witnesses.' Eaah ' wi,tness' . is am authent'i'a man'i,festat'i,on of Maya, the one fulf'lli,ng the other bA a, proa,ess
of contrad,'i'ation, for nature is not Just'i,ae-she is rather
dhrough he" piäcess of equilibrium " la Justesse."
Finally, this Woman is the original Harlequin, /or
the w'i,ld bl'end'
i,tsel,f
f0 f,K.
of
col,owr a,nd'
into an equi,l,ibri,um' of
al'l'
of mouement resol,aes
possi'bil'iti'es of se'nsat'i'on.
The Eermit. The letter, to which this card is
attributed, is the letter Yod, the foundation of all
the other letters of 'the Hebrew Alphabet. The
oo
means
design.
ux.
,tl
,,1
il
j
sai,ence to manlci,nd,, si,nce the rnurder symbolåses analys'is
and, tho subsequent contact, synthes'i's.
8 Vtr.
is that of the Creator of Li.fe and, his
representatiue
ltlnae of the Ol'd Aeon that has goaerned,
a hand," and the hand. is the centre of the
Fortune. Bv the attribution of this card to the
planet Jupiter, it is made to represent the Uniuerse in
its asytoot of conti,nual, cltange. -The appearance of all
sorts of celestial phenomena emphåsises this. fn
the middle is the ten-spoked wfeel, the accepted.
symbol of Fortune. The tlree fiqures attacheä to
lhe yh99f sy,mbol,i,se the three forms if energy,
--ALerpresseitr
i,1t. th.ea
Hi1,Qr, Sgstem
la the term
the top
Guna.
the Sphinx, typifying intelligence and bahnå
(Sattvas) ; Ilermanubis, in the semblanceof anape,
represents the restlessness of brilliant, unstable
reason (Rajas);
-and at the bottom, almost falling
{1om the,wheel, is tle reptile-headed Typhoi
(Tamas), the symbol of destruction, sluggishitess,
and ignorance. The alchemical attributös of the
si-ts
t
Gunas are Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt.
',I
rzixr.
Lust. This
It
card, was formally catled, Btrength.
,i,m7ilies,-howeaer, not only strength,, but jq1
i,n-strenqth
of the lion-are, respeotively, that of an angel, saint, poet, adulteåss,
euerciseil,. The seven heads
warrior, satyr, and lion-serpent. The central ffgure
wocna,n, who has surremd,ered, herself to all the
is the
of areaft,i,on and, who rid,es astrid,e ai the Beast.
h,9r l,eft_ha1td, she holrl,s th,e re'ins, as regtiesemt,i,ng the
forces
In
slrc holds
Wsfw? wkiah un'ites them, anil, in her right
al,oft tpe Qw-p
with l,oae and, tl,eatk.
-afla_m,e
are m,i,ngl,ed, the el,ements of the sowament
In
thi,s Cuyr
of ttw AuA.
In. the background are the blood,less figuree of
the
-wkotc
sa'i,r.fts on wkom this mi,rage traua,i,ls, .fbr thedr
li,fe has been absorbeil into the Holy Gråi,l.
No.
.ly'o.
f
3
Xm.
Li4hts ri,si,ng out of
The trIangetl Man or Dying God. The posture of the
drowned or hanged man is of the greatost significanrce.
The legs are arossd, so that the ri'ght I'eg forma a right
angl,e' wi,th the left l,eg, anil' the arrrts are stretohe'd, oul at
shown
aonsummation of tke zohole art of
,is procla'imed, in the glarg wi,th its i,nsarirytian
.. VISITA INTENIORA TENNAE NECTIEI.
CANDO INVENIES OCCULTNM LAPIDEM,"
The aounsel, to a'is'it the interior of the earth 'i's a recapi,tulati,on (on a higher gi.ane) of the fi,rst formala, of
tlr,e W orlc. T he'i,mryortant word, is R E C T I F I C A N DO,
i,t i,mqfli,es the right lead,i.ng of the new l'iai,ng substance
i,n the path o.f the True Wil,l,.
cauldron. The
Alnhemg
ai
angl,e of siriy il,egrees, so as to form' an equi'lateral'
triangl,e. This g'i,ues the symbol of the triangl" tof
mountal, bg a cross, wkiah represents the d'escent of ,th,e
tight i,nto d,arlcness 'i,n ttrd'er to red,eern 'i,t. The u:h,ol'e
iilea of sacrifiae is a misaomaepti,on of %ature, qnd tl-n
el,emeÄt of water to whi,alt' the card, i,s attri'bu'ted''is th,e
element of illusi'on.
f4 XIII. Death. The alchemical sense of Death
is not so much
il,estruction as chonge. Thus v'e have, in this card, the
*
lr
t
fO
XV.
Scorpion, representing pr'imiti,ae energy always_ read'g
to comm'i't su'ia'id,e (aacord,ing to thelegend') whenheaai'l,g
beset, bwt prepa,reil to unclergo ony transformatinm
whi,ah wi,ll perm'i,t 'i'ts conti,nued' eri,stenae in o d'i,fferent
form.
-i,gni,ted,
Thus potass'i,um, tltrown upon, water,,becom'es
anil' aacepts the embraae of the hyd'roryl rad'i,cte.
The fish and serpent, here represented, have been
objects of worshiltin cults whåch @ryltt ttae d'oatri'nes of
reswmect'i,om or re-incarma't'ion' The central figure ie
exeouting the Dance of Death (skeleton and scytho
are both Saturnian frgures), and on his head he wears
the crown of Osiris. The influence of Saturn is
,
expressed in the negative aspect of Dealh as reryresenti"S those essenti,al forms whiah are not d,estroyed' by ihn
ord,inary changes of natwre ; the positi,ae and creat'i'ae
sid,e is seen 'in tlte sweep of the scytlrc, whi'ch calls i'rrto
bei,ng bubbles, symbolisi,ng new liaes. The highest
aspect
t
I
17
XVI.
of the aard, is the Eagle, wh'i,ch represerrts
A$, formerly
called" Ternperance.
The
highest
achievement of alchemy.was the affecting of change,
card represents perfection, the perfecti,on of annihi,lnti,on by emanai,pation from the prison of organi,sed, l,i'fe.
The dove and the serpent represent the femin'i,ne and
mascultne 'impulses. In th,e language of Schopenhauer
into their opposites. Thus in this card the red,
lion has become white, the white eagle has become
so on,
The rainbow symbolises another stago in the
alchemical process by the aura of mnny-colau'reil'
The Sower or tho Blastetl Tower, or the House of
God. This card, is ctttributed, to th'e llebreto letter P6,
wltich means a mouth,. The card. which admits of two
interpretations in one, is a manifestation in its
rudest form, of pure destrucbion, the d,estru,ct'i,on of
the old,-established, Aeon by li'ghtning, f,ames, and
engi,nes of war. The other interpretation is drawn
from the cult of Shiva. At the top of the card
appears the Eye of Shiva. Acoording to this, the
ra
the transmuting of objects, qualities, colours and
red.. In the main fi,gure, theblaak anÅ, tnhite personnqes
wh'ich tnere the Loaers in Carcl, VL are.now 'i'nterahanged, and' fused' into am and'roggne f,gu're. This is
the consummation of the Royal Marriage.
The Devil is here represented in the traditional
form of the Goat. The cult of the Goat represents
the impul,se to realcless areation without ang regard, for
result. Behind the Goat, stands the Tree of Li,fe,
which pierces the Heauens 'i,n a medley of fantasti,a
forms, recalling the markings on the planet Mars,
always associated with the fiery material energy of
creation. In the transparent roots the sap is seen,
seething and leaping in every direction. The ring
at the top is one of the rings of Saturn or Set, the
Ass-headed god of ihe Egyptians. The sp'i'ral shape
of the horns 'i,s an all,u,sion to the highest and, m'ost
remote things. Zoroaster d,ef,nes God, as " haa'ing a
spiral forae."
eraltal,i'on aboae solid' matter.
f5 XW.
putrefaction. Putrefaction itsef is
perched on a skull on tho
by the raven
"
f
8
XVIL
The WiIl to Liue and, the WilI to D'ie."
$tar. Eaery form of .energy in the aaril i's spi,ral' ;
this is in anticipation of the present Aeon, that of
Horus, the crowned and conquering Child, successor
The
No.
-llo.
to the " dying god," Osiris. The il,epafiing
,i,s
22
Aean
shown i,n the rectil,i,near forms of energy i,esui,nq
Jrom the Lower cup. These forms stand for the now
aband.oned Euclidean geometry. The figure of the
goddess may be taken as a m,ani,festati,on of tke
swmounil,,ing spaae
fg XVm. fhe Moon.
Nr6,.
in the seri,es of which, these two aard,s are th,e
begi,nninq and, the end,. The l,etter Tau symbol,ises a
aompri,sed,
fotnfold, entens'i,on, a1ryili,cable to the transoend'enae of
spaae q,nd, t'i,m,e fuy a aontinu,ally self-com,pensati,nq
change. The, letter is furthor attributed, to Saturm, the
sl,owest of the planets, and, on that account associa.teil,
of Heaaen.
This card represents the state of impure
horror, hidrlen darkness rvhich must be passed
through before light can be reborn. The Moon ,i,s,
there,fora, the rnost uniaersal of the planets, partalci,ng
at onae of the lrigllest and, tlte louest. At the bottom
of the card rnoves tha Bacrecl, Beetl,e, beari,ng the Sun
of ni,ght. Above is the evil
Moon. A stream, or path of Berum,
The Universe. This card is attributed to the letter
Tau. Together with the fi,rst aard,, the Fool, the woril
Ath is spelled,, menning Essence. Thus al,l reali,ty i,s
il
uith the eletnent, of Earth. Saturm i,s the olcl, god,, the
go'1 of fertili,ty. The presence of the letter Tau upon
f
the Tree of Life indieates a sta[e, of eoui!,ibri,umbetweem
ah,amge and, stability. The glyph änihe card, therefore,
synrbolises th,e, compl,etian of the Great Work. The
image of tke Uniuerse is a ma,id,en, tlte final, letter of
I'etragram,maJcn. She is represented as dancing with
through tlrc il,arkness
landscape of the
ti,nged,
wi,th blood,, fl,ows between two barren mountains.
On the hills are dark sinister towers. On the threshold stands the jackal-headed god, Anubis, in double
form; at his feet are the jackals waiting to d.evour
those who have fallen by the way.
20
Xm.
The Sun. This card represents the Loril, of tke nan
Aeon,, the Lord, of Li,ght, Li,fe, Li,berty anil, Loae, and, the
compl,ete entanc'i,ltati,on of the hum,am raae. Tke greem
rlLounal, represents the fertil,e earth,, but the presence of a
wal,l, shows that the new Aeon d,oes not nxea,m the nbsence
of aontrol,. The twin children are represented as
dancing outside the wall, because they typify tke new
stage ön ltuman h,i,story, the stage of oomyflete freed,om
from the restriati,ons ,imposed, by su,oh, id,eas as si,n and,
d,eath.
2f XX.
Ehe Aeon, or the Angel, or the Last Judgment. The
card is girt about witlt, the bocl,y of N ui,t, thn star goil,il,eas,
representi,ng wnli,mited, possi,bility. She surtound.s the
globe of
f,re, her mate, flad,i,t, stand,i,ng fm eternal,
energy, In the mid.dle sits their child, Ilorus, also
a $olar deity, rvho is the incarnation of the New
Aeon. The left ltanil,, antend,ed, and, empty, rem,i,nd,s us
God, has d,estroyeÅ, the old, Uni,aerse, but is, as
young to forrn its suacessor. At the bottom of
the card a,ppears the Hebrew Letter, Shi,n, that is
attributed. to this card. The tltree Yoil,s are oacupi,ed
by three human f,gu,res ari,s,i,ng to pa,rtake, of the Essence
the Great spiral-forming Serpent or Sun. She is
surrounded by ten symbols. About hp"r is an ellipse
aomposed, of seuenl,y-two a'i,rcles for tlte quinaries of tke
Zod,'iaa. At the corners of the card are the four
Kerubim, showing the established. Universe. In the
centro ,is the Wlzeel, of Life, i,niti,ati,ng the form of the
Trea of Li,fe, whiah i,s uisible only to those of pwe
heart. On the lower part of the card is the late
J. W. N. Sullivan's well-known mao of the chemical
t
I
elements.
WANDS
il
$
23
lWatter.
24
of the l{ew Aeon.
Two of \dlands:Dominion. Cholimah
Mars in Aries.
suit,
of Firo.
Jirst steJt 'in the weati,ae, proaess.
Three of Wanrls:\rirtue. Binah in the suit of
the
25
Fire.
Sun
in
Aries.
The \4'ands take the f<rrm of the Lotus,
estq,hl,'ishment of pri,meaa,l enargy.
l0
in the
Here are tivo dorjes crossod. The <iorje is the Tibetian
symbol of destruction. But d,estruatiom m,a,U be regard,eÅ as
that the
ge:t, too
Aco of Wantls ropresent's the essence of the elements of firo
The flames are Yods, arranged in the form
of the Tree of Life. I.t is pri,,mord,i,al, Energy m,anifesti,ng i,n
' in its inception.
tl
and. represemt lhe
No.
No.
26 !'our of Wantls:Completion.
Chesed
in the suit of
Ffue.
Venus in Aries.
The Wands are headed by the Ram sacred to Aries, and, at
the other end, the doves of Venus. The ori,gi,na,l Wi,ll, of the
Two has been transmi,tted, throuqlr the Three, and, 'i's now bu'i,k
up 'into a sol'id, system of oriler,law, and, goaernment.
27
Five of
V/anils:Strifo.
Geburah in the srrit of
33
horse.
Noru.*No description of
:r4
tr'ire. Saturn
and Leo.
These Wan<ls are of the Ch,åef Ad,ept or Cad,uceus, second, Ad,ept,
sltow
or Phani,u, thåril Ad,ept, or Lotus. F'iaed,oubleflames
bal,anaed,
28
energy. Thi's is ptnely
actitse
force.
35
30 Eight of trllands:Swiftness.
Hod.
from equilibri,urn.
36
32
of Wands:Strength.
Yesod
in the suit, of
Ten of Wanils:Oppression. Malkuth in the suit of tr'ire.
The Wancl,s are arosseil,, slnw'i'ng the pouers of comgi,eteÅ
emwgi,es of Fi,re, but they haue Lost their patents of rcbil,ify.
In front are two d,orjes Lengtkend to bars. This card shows
the Force d,etaalted, from its spi,ri,tual sources.
g and,
oolat'i'1,'i,s'i,ng
.
ancl. hold.s
the Phenix
Princess of
Wanils:the earthy part of X'ire, or the'imes'i,sti'bl,e
CUPS
JJ
38
Ace of Cups:the element of Water in its searet and original'
form. It is the feminine compliment of the Ace of Wands.
This i,s a pri,mord,i,al, card, im the essent'i'al forrn' of the Hol,y Grail'.
Two of Cups:Love. Chokmah in the suit of Water. Venus
in
Cancer.
Thb card represents two cups overflowing on a calm sea.
These are filled from a Lotus, floating on the sea, twined
with two dolphins, showi'ng the harmony of the rnale and
fernale i,nterpreted, ån the hi'gh,est and, brod,ilest serwe.
X'ire.
Moon and Sagittarius.
The Wands have become arrows, eight in number, and one
Master anow which has the Moon for its point, and the Sun
for the driving force above it. This card gives the ful,l,est
d,eaelnpment of the lorce in its relation to the Foroes aboae'i,t.
t2
Prince of lVanils:airy part of Tire, wi'th its faaul,ty of
of the combustible sustance.
She has the plunaes of Justice streaming from her brow, and
holds a Wand crowned bv the Sun.
Ra'inbow, representing 'i'nterplay anil aorrelat'i,om.
also shows fåe energy of h'i'gh ueloa'ity.
Nine
of the mysteries of Bacahus
ahem'i,cal attractiom
Um'i,uerse ås the
3l
aome, suggesti,ue
Wand of Power and, Energy.
in the suit of X'ire.
Mercury in Sagittarius.
This card represents the Li,ght-Wanils turned' into aleotriaal,
rays aonstituti,ng matter by thnir energy. Aboae thi"s restoreil
It
f,r
IIö is seated. in a Chariot of X'lame
$even of \[/4nds:Valour. Netzach in the suit of Firo.
Mars in Leo.
The Ad,eTtt's Wand,s are rel,egated, to the baalcgrounil, ; in front
'i,s a wuÅ,e, %%enen alub ; thefl,ames d,re d,'i,spersed'. This sh,ows
il,egemeration of ini,ti,al Energy, and, d,eparture
Wantls:watery part of Fire, i'ts fluid'i,ty and, col,our.
The card shows a Queen with a crown of the winged globe.
She is seated on a throne of fl'ame, orilered, 'i,nto geom,etr'i,cal'
light by her materi,al power. Bhe carri,es a Wand' topped' wi'tlt
expand,i,n
Six of Wantls:Victory. Tiphareth in the suit of Fire.
Juniter and Leo.
Three Wands of the three Adepts in arranged order. Nine
flames burn as lamps. flnergy, and, its recept'iom and, refl,eat'i,om
33.
Queen of
a,
bg the Femi,n'i,ne, are typi'fi,ed,.
29
Knight of Fire:fiery part, of Tire.
The card represents a warrior in complete armour on a black
39
Three of Cups:Abundance. Binah in the suit of Water.
Mercury in Cancer.
The Cups are pomegranates, bountifully overflowing in a
calm sea, typifying
the
fulf.lm'ent of the Wil'|, to Loue.
Cups:Luxury. Chesed. in the suit of Water. Moon
in Cancer.
The four Cups stand upon the sea, no longer stable but
rufled. The Lotus has a multiple stem. The Dnergy of the
El,ement, al,thouqh, orilereil', has lnst the orig'i,nal' pu,rity of the
Four of
aorweption,
13
No.
.trflo.
4l Five of Cups:Disappointment. Geburah in the suit of
Water. Mars in Scorpio.
The Cups are empty. They are arranged in an inverted
pentagram. They symbolise
42
43
49
of CuBs:airy part of Water, or its
elnst'i,ai,tg qnd
In this card he is seated in
a chariot, surrounded liy clouds and drawn by an eagle.
He carries a Lotus and-a Cup from which issues a spiral
aol,ati,l,i,ty, anfl, tke eneigy
the tri,um,pth, of matter oaer spi,ri,t.
Six of Cups:Pleasure. Tiphareth in the suit of Water.
Sun in Scorpio.
The Lotus stems are grouped in an elaborate movement,.
'Water gushes
into them; thoy are full but not overflowing.
This shows the ,i,nf,uenae of the Bun on Water. His .fierae bät
balanaed, power ofierat"t oå o @pe of yrutrefaction whtci is the
basis of fertility.
Seven of Cups:Debauch. Netzach in the suit of Water.
Venus in Scorpio.
The Lotuses have hecome poisonous ; green slime issues from
them. They are arranged in two descending triangles, with
a lower cup much larger than the rest. This shows erternal
Prince
of steam.
serpent.
50
of Cups:earthy part of Water, ot its facul'ty of
also its power to giue substanae to id,m', to
söpgtort Life,'ani, to fofm a basi'i oJ chemi,aal, combi'naft'i,on.
She is repiesented as'a dancing figure, and has a crest of a
swan with open wings. She carries a Cup with a tortoise.
Princess
wgstal,l,i,sati,om,
The dolphin s5'mbolises the power of creation.
SWORDS
splend,our and, internal, aorruptiom.
44
45
Eightof CuBs:Indolence. Hodinthesuit ofWater. Saturn
in Pisces.
The Lotuses droop, the Cups are ehallow and old, and are
arranged in three rows. The upper row is empty.
Nine of Cups:Happiness. Yesod in the suit of Water.
Jupiter in Pisces.
The nine Cups are perfectly arranged in a square. They
are filled and overflowing with water. Thii is the moat
bene,f,cent aspect
46
Ten of
in
5l
Ace of Swortls.
This card represents tlte f,rst of the mired' elements, anil' 'i,s the
resul,t of the Un'ion of Water and' Ai'r. In the centro is a
sword ihplying kingship, which pierces a crown with twelve
points for the twelve signs of the Zodiac.
52
Two of $wortls:Peace. Chokmab in the suit of
of water.
geometrical-
which, ineaitabl,y, attaalcs eaery supposed, perfection
47 l(ttight of Cups:fiery part of Water, or water's power
of
sol,ution. The card represents him as a warrior in black
armour, with whito wings, on a white horse. In bis hand he
carries the Cup from which issues a Crab, sign of water in
aggression. The peacock symbolises the brillianco of water.
4t8 Qugen of Cups:watery part of Water, or ito power of refl,eati,on
reception She is enthroned on still water, and carries a
shell-like Cup containing a cray-fish. fn her other hand. she
amd,
holds the Lotus of Isis.
t4
pattern which suggests energy
_a
begond' the
onsl,aught of the d,isrugttion of the i,ntel,lect.
Pisces.
over them. This typifies the d,i,srupttiue and, a,iolent forae
Moon
with five petals, which emits white rays pr_oducryg
Cups:Satiety. l\falkuth in the suit of Water. Mars
The Cups are arranged as in the Tree of Life, but they are
unstable and qpill the water from the great Lotus that hangs
Air.
in Libra.
In this card are two crossed swords united by a blue rose
53
Tbree of $words:Sorrow. Binah in the suit of
Air.
Saturn
in Libra.
The card represents the Great Sword of the Ma-gician, point
uppermost, cutting the junction of the two short swords.
Tirä background shows crystallisation and storm. This is
tke d,arlcness of the Great Sea.
Four of Swotils:Truce. Chesed in the suit of Air' Jupiter
in Libra.
The f,our swords in this card. are at the corner of a St.
Andrew's Crcs. Their points are sheathed. in a rose of
forty-nine petals. This-represents the establishme:rt of
d,ogma and, äonnenli,om 'i,n theVeatm of i,ntell,ect.
t5
No,
öo
.lflo.
Five of Sworils:Defeat. Geburah in the suit of
in Aquarius.
Air.
Venus
62
The hilts of the swords form an inverted. pentagram and are
diverse, the blades broken and crooked, typrfying
dntel,l,ecl
enfee.bl,ed, b y sentiment.
oo
Six of Swoills:Science. Tiphareth in the suit of Air.
Mercury in Aquarius.
The ornamental hilts of the Swords form a hexagon in the
card. Their points touch the outer petals of thä
mental and, moral, faaul,ties, hard,ly won and,
,i,mpossi,bl,e
interprets the idea of Science.
ol
Seven
of Sworils:X'utility.
Moon in Aquarius.
Netzach
the alear percept'ion of an åd,ea, tlte Li,berator of mi,nd,.
63
The Prince of Swortls:the airv part of Air.
64
Ihe Princess of Swortls:the earthy part of Atr; lhe f,rati'on
o.f the aolati,le, or the materiali,sation of the ld,ea. She appearså tni* card in front of a barren altär, and llas a helmet' of
red. rose
upon a Golden Cross of six squares. Tlte perfeat balnnae of
The Queen of Swortls represents the watery part 9f Air,
that is its el,asti,aity an'il, transm'i'ss'iue power. She is t'hroned.
on the clouds, andher helmet carries a child's head. fn ono
hand a sword, in the other a head of a man. She represents
to kold,,
This card t;,pifies the Intellect.- The Prince is seat'ed in a
chariot drawn by child-like faYs.
Medusa on her head.
in the suit of Air.
The card shows six Swords with their hilts in crescent
formation. Their points impinge on a much larger upthrusting Sword. Here uaai,llation and, compronr,ise are
DISKS
d,epicted,.
öö
Eight of Swortls:Interference. Hod in the suit of Air.
Jupiter in Gemini.
The centre of the card. contains two long Sword.s pointing
down, -while six smaller ones suggesting Eastern weapons
cross them, three on each side. The card suggests LaCIc of
65 fite Ace of Disks represents the last of the femi'nine symbol,s-;
i,t is the twi,n si,ster o.f Ai,r, and, its brid,e. It i,s rnt only Earth,
but matter as such.- Per aontra, the Dislc is the whi'rldng
sgrylol' of Space. The Di,slc i,s wi'nged, to i,nd'i,cate i,ts spi,rihml,
orbgbft.
pers'i,steTtce'i,n intel,leatual, m,utters amd, accid,ental, interferenae.
59
Nine of Swords:Cruelty. Yesod in the suit of
Gemini.
Air.
Mars in
66
6l
el,emsh He is represented as a warrior with a helnqet
bearing a revolving wing, and. mounted. on a maddened
steed. He carries a Sword. and a Poniard.
16
Jupiter in Capricornus.
TG card represents the two pentacles,
one above the other,
and are the Ohinese symbols Yang and Yin. About them is a
green Serpent; he förms the figure 8. This card" symbol,'i,ses
The nine Swords are of different lengths, pointing downwards, poison blood drip from their jagged points. The
background is studded with tears and crystal forms. fn
this card intellect is repl,aaed, bg heartl,ess pa,ssi,on.
60 Ten of Swonls:Ruin. Malkuth in the suit of Air. Sun in
Gemini.
The Swords are arranged. on the Tree ofLife, but the points
one to fi.ve, and seven to nine, shatter the central Sword
which represents the Sun, the Heart. The background. is
aflame with explosive d.estruction. This card shows req,son
rwm mail, and a rint of soul,l,ess meakani,sm.
Ifuight of Swonls represents the fiery part of air, wind and
storm; the ai,olent power of mpti,om appli,eil, to a mamageabl,e
Two of Disks:Change. Chokmah in the element, of Earth.
ihe d,oatri,ne
Three of
:
Change is the sultport of stabi'li,ty.
Disks:Work. Binah in the element of Earth.
Mars in Capricornus.
This card iepresents a pyramid viewed from above. The
base is formed of three wheels which typify Mercury,
Sulphur, Salt. Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, Alep!, $ni1 an{
Mem. This means t'he m,ateri,al, establ,ish,ment of the i'd'ea of
tlte uniaerse.
68
Four of Disks:Power. Chesed in the suit of
Earth.
Sun
in Capricornus.
The Disks a,re very large ancl solid, and suggest,a fortress.
This card symboliies Låw an'd, Oriler, mai,ntaineitr by aonstq'rrt
ai,gi,l,anae.
t7
No,
No.
69
five of Dis}6:Womy.
in the suit of Earth.
Geburah
76
Mercury in Taurus.
This represgntg the five Disks in an inverted pentagram.
The.general effect is one of ,stra,in, get the sgnfrol, is"ttnscontinued,,inaction. Its matural, meaning i,s i,ntedtigewe apffliöÅ
Six of l)isks--Success. Tiphareth in the suit of Earth.
Moon in Taurus.
The Disks are in a hexagraT. The planets are arranged. in
their usual attribution, in the centre the Sun as Rosä and
Cross. This typifies the karmoni,ous establ,i,sbment of thn
77
Seven
of Disks:I'ailure. Netzach in the suit of Earth.
72 Eight ol Disks:Prudence. Hod in the suit of Earth.
Mercury in Virgo.
The Dieks are arranged as the geomantic figure Populus, and
the fnrit of a great tree.
agili,ed, to materiq,l, matters.
73
Nine of
Disks:Gain.
Virgo.
or
fertildty.
It
Earth.
Venus
78
Princess of
Disks:earthy part of Earth, or the
in
Earth.
of Life,,the tenth Disk being larger. The-image indicates
tLre futility of matari,al, gai,n. Mounta,i,ns,
_alao graui,tati,on, and, the aati,ai,ty of Eartk as a
proil,uaer of Li,fe. He is clothed. as a wrrriorl aåd his helmet
earthquakes-,
is crested with a stag.
Ile is armed with a flail,
carries
an exceptionally solid Disk, and is mounted on a shfue horse.
l8
El,ernent on
an altar resembling a wheatsheaf. She carries a Disk in
Mercur5r in Virgo.
The Disks are become coins, and are arranged on the Tree
75 Knight of Dislcs:the fiery part of Earth.
th'e
whose centre is the Chinese iileogram il,erwti,ng the tw'i'n spiratr
Joroe of Creation in perfeat equi,li,bri,wm.
hexagon. - This signifies the rrur,lii,pl,iaati,on-of the ori,gi,nal,
'
Word,, the mi,ngl,ing of good, lualc and, good, noaruiqe,m,ent.
in the suit of
of
thebri,nlc of Transf,guration. She is standing; her crest is the
head of the rarn ; her sceptre clescends into the earth where its
head becomes a diamond. Behind are a, grove of trees, and
a_
Ten of Disks:Wealth. Malkuth
swbstan'ce
Bpi,rit itself .
signifies intel,li,genae
Yesod in the suit of
She is
Prince o1 pisfus:airy part of Earth or the f,orexaerwe ad
frtrctifi,cation of that elemcnt. He is seated in a chariot drawn
by a bull. His helmet is crowned by a bull; and he holds a
Disk resembling a globe and marked with mathematical
The Disks are arranged as an equilateral triangle of three,
apex upwards, surrounded by a ring. Six larger Disks form
74
of Earth
farth trom the Earth the uegetati,on whi,ak is the
Saturn in Taurus.
The Disks are arranged as in the geomantic fi.gure Rubeus.
This card represents enfeeblemnnt and, blight.
repr-esent
par-b
symbols. In his other hand he carries a sceptre surmounted
by a cross. The card symbolises the functi,on of bringi'rq
energy of tlte Elernent.
7l
oI Disks:watery
areat'ion,
to labow.
70
Queen
throned arrid vegetation and crowned with the spiral horns
of the Markhor. IIer sceptre is surmounted by a cube, and
she holds her proper Disk-a sphere of circles and loopn.
She typifies ambi,tdon of'matter to take pwrt in the uwrk of
l9