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[Aunt Clair]

What are Tarot cards used for?

Tarot cards can be used for practical problem-solving, creative visualisation, meditation, self-improvement, as a tool of understanding, for divination and fortune-telling, even for card games. Some collect Tarot cards simply for the joy of the artwork, while other delve further into research and study of the history of Tarot cards. http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/faq.shtml#whatistarot

Mystics use Tarot imagery to understand the teachings of the Mahatma and Angels. The Tarot is a symbolic language useful to the magician when words can not be heard clairaudiently or telepathically. Clairvoyance develops before Clairaudience and remains stronger in the magician as both magical sight and magical hearing continue to progress.

Alchemists use Tarot to further an understanding of the Hermetic Elements and the Mystic Visions about Alchemical Works as taught by the Mahatma . The study of medieval alchemical images give clues in tarot imagery to the understanding of the method to accomplish the alchemical works . At least , Franz Bardon , Mathers and Crowley all studied Tarot and wrote about its occult use and interpretation .

Where did Tarot originate?
This is still subject to debate. Perhaps divination symbols originated in Egypt.

Their invention has also been assigned to the Egyptians, with whom they were said to have had a religious meaning, and to the Arabs. A very ingenious theory, founded on numerous singular resemblances to the ancient game of chess (chaturanga, the four angas or members of an army), has been advanced that they were suggested by chess (see “Essay on the Indian Game of Chess,” by Sir William Jones, in his Asiatic Researches, vol. ii.)http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Cards,_playing

Possibly the earliest known recording of Egyptian Tarot is in the Bembine Tablet

The Bembine Tablet of Isis is a medieval aged tablet which is suspected to have been copied from an ancient Egyptian piece ; For a larger image hit this link http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/img/bemb.jpg.According to Hall, the bronze and silver Tablet was bought by Cardinal Bembo,  after the Sack of Rome in 1527.  Following the death of Cardinal Bembo in 1547, the Tablet of Isis was kept in the museum of the House of Mantua until 1630, was exhibited in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris in 1809, and was last known to have been exhibited in the center of Gallery 2 of the Museum of Antiquities in Turin. From a Study of the Bembine Tablet of Isis as related to the Tarot ; www.valdostamuseum.org/ hamsmith/btisis.gif "The border of the Tablet contains 4 corner figures plus 74 other figures, for a total of 78 figures ."

Some point to Chinese use of playing cards from 1120 AD and suspect these were adopted from the round cards used in India by mystic Brahmans;

In the Chinese dictionary, Ching-tsze-tung (1678), it is said that cards were invented in the reign of Sèun-ho, 1120 A D, for the amusement of his concubines. There is a tradition that cards have existed in India from time immemorial—very ancient ones, round in form, are preserved in museums—and that they were invented by the Brahmans. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Cards,_playing

Others insist that the Tarot originates with Muslim Sufi mystics who are recorded having Arabic Naib cards in 1379 and these were introduced to Europe by crusaders;

If we may believe the evidence of Covelluzzo of Viterbo (15th century) cards were introduced into Italy from Arabia. On the authority of a chronicle of one of his ancestors he writes: “In the year 1379 was brought into Viterbo the game of cards, which comes from the country of the Saracens, and is with them called naib.” The Crusaders, who were inveterate gamblers, may have been the instruments of their introduction (see Istoria della città di Viterbo, by F. Bussi, Rome, 1743). According to other authorities, cards came first to Spain from Africa with the Moors, and it is significant that, to this day, playing cards are called in Spain naipes (probably a corruption of the Arabic Nabi, prophet). Taken in connexion with the statement of Covelluzzo, this fact would seem to prove the wide popularity of the game of naib, or cards, among the Arab tribes. The meaning of the word (prophet) has been suggested to refer to the fortune-telling function of cards, and the theory has been advanced that they were used by the Moorish gypsies for that purpose. Gypsies are, however, not known to have appeared in Spain before the 15th century, at a time when cards were already well known. In regards to the word naib, the Italian language still preserves the name naibi, playing cards.

There are diverse theories on the origins of divination cards from playing cards or from religious mystical symbolic archetypes including; Brahman Mystics from Ancient India, Ancient Hermetic Egyptians, Sufi Muslims, Chinese Concubines, Jewish Kaballahists, and  Gypsy Fortune Tellers.

Perhaps the first historical evidence of an actual Tarot Deck is from the courts of Northern Italy;

 The oldest Known surviving set which had 60 cards is from 1377 . Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milano who was perhaps the richest man in Italy in the early renaissance commissioned a set as a commemoration for the birth of his heir from a mistress . His father Giangaleozzo on his way to become king of Italy was poisoned and died, when Filippo was 10 years old. The mother was killed by his elder brother in prison. The dukedom broke in pieces and his cruel brother was assassinated some years later. With the help of his wife Beatrice de Tender, a 20 years older widow of the condottieri Ficino Cane, Filippo as new duke of Milano restored the earlier possessions, but the relation to the much older woman ended in tragedy, Filippo accused her of adultery and beheaded her.Filippo became a hard and lonesome man with it.In 1424/1425 Filippo was at the height of his success. He was very successful at the battlefield and the earlier power of the Milanese dukedom had redeveloped. His mistress was expecting a child, this was a great relief, because Filippo had reason to believe that he could not have children. He prepared a Triumph celebration ("Trionfo") to show his pride and joy in the coming birth. Viconti commissioned a worthful playing card deck for the birth of his heir .As major motifs 16 Greek Gods were chosen . In April 1425 his child was born, it was not the wished male heir, but a daughter, Bianca Maria Visconti, who became an artist and was  involved  in the production of so called Trionfi-cards.1441: Bianca Maria marries. Probably at this occasion the idea of festivity playing card decks is revived. The Trionfi decks became immensely popular and developed to be called Tarot cards.  http://trionfi.com/0/b/

How many cards are in a modern Tarot Deck ?

........The regular playing deck has 4 suits  clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds
The Tarot deck has4  corresponding suits  wands,arrows, cups and coins
There are variant names .........................rods ,..........................pentacles
....................................... ..................staves
These 4 sets correspond to the elements.. fire ,...... air,water and  earth

The regular deck has the following Royals King, Queen and Jack 3x4=12
....................................... ................as well as Ace to 10 =10x4 =40
....................................... ....................................... .......12+40=52
So there is a total of  52 cards in a regular playing deck

But the Tarot Deck has 78 cards the difference is that there are
The Royals include King , Queen , knight and Page................. 4x4 =16
variants include .........................prince and princess
....................................... ....................................ace to 10 x4 =40
In addition there are 22 major arcana ....................................... ...=22
....................................... ...................................... 16+40+22 =78

What are the Major Arcana ?

0 The Foolish Man The Spirit of Aethyr -A man with a fool's cap, dressed like a jester, with a stick and bundle over his shoulder. Before him is the butterfly of pleasure luring him on (while in some packs a tiger, in others a dog, attacks him from behind). It signifies Folly, Expiation.

1 The Magician The Magus of Power -Before a table covered with the appliances of his art stands the figure of a juggler, one hand upraised holding a wand (in some packs, a cup), the other pointing downwards. He wears a cap of maintenance like that of the kings, whose wide brim forms a sort of aureole round his head. His body and arms form the shape of the Hebrew letter Aleph, to which this card corresponds. He symbolises Will.

2 The High Priestess The Priestess of the Silver Star -Popess, or Female Pope. A woman crowned with a high mitre or tiara (her head encircled by a veil), a stole (or a solar cross) upon her breast, and the Book of Science open in her hand. She represents Science, Wisdom, or Knowledge.  

3 The Empress The Daughter of the Mighty Ones -A winged and crowned woman seated upon a throne, having in one hand a sceptre bearing a globe surmounted by a cross, while she rests the other upon a shield with an eagle blazoned therein on whose breast is the cross. She is the Symbol of Action, the result of the union of Science and Will.
  
4 The Emperor Sun of the Morning, chief among the Mighty-He is crowned (and leaning against a throne, his legs form a cross, and beside him, beneath his left hand, is a shield blazoned with an eagle). In his right hand he bears a sceptre similar to that of the Empress. His body and arms form a triangle, of which his head is the apex, so that the whole figure represents a triangle above a cross. He represents Realisation.
  
5 The Hierophant The Magus of the Eternal  -The Pope is crowned with the papal tiara, and seated between the two pillars of Hermes and of Solomon, with his right hand he makes the sign of esoterism, and with his left he leans upon a staff surmounted by a triple cross. (Before him kneel two ministers.) He is the symbol of Mercy and Beneficence.

6 The Lovers The Children of the Voice; the Oracles of the Mighty Gods -This is usually described as representing Man between Vice and Virtue, while a winged genius threatens Vice with his dart. But I am rather inclined to the opinion that it represents the Qabalistical Microprosopus between Binah and Malkuth (see my Kabbalah Unveiled), while the figure above shows the Influence descending from Kether. It is usually considered to mean Proof or Trial; but I am inclined to suggest Wise Disposition as its signification.  

7 The Chariot The Child of the Powers of the Waters; the Lord of the Triumph of Light  -This is a most complicated and important symbol, which has been restored by Eliphas Levi. It represents a Conqueror crowned and bearing a sceptre, riding in a cubical chariot, surmounted by four columns and a canopy, and drawn by two horses, one of which looks straight forward, while the other turns his head towards him. (Two wheels are shown in the complete single-headed figure.) It represents Triumph, and Victory of Justice and Judgment.
 
8 Justice The Daughter of the Lords of Truth: the Ruler of the Balance   -A woman crowned and seated on a throne (between two columns), holding in her right hand an upright sword, and in her left the scales. She symbolises Equilibrium and Justice.

9 The Hermit The Magus of the Voice of Power,the Prophet of the Eternal -An old and bearded man wrapped in a mantle, and with his head covered with a cowl, bearing in his right hand the lantern of occult science, while in his left he holds his magic wand half hidden beneath his cloak. He is Prudence.  

10 The Wheel of Fate The Lord of the Forces of Life -A wheel of seven spokes (the two halves of the double-headed cards make it eight spokes, which is incorrect) revolving (between two uprights), On the ascending side is an animal ascending, and on the descending side is a sort of monkey descending; both forms are bound to the wheel. Above it is the form of an angel (or a sphinx in some) holding a sword in one hand and a crown in the other. This very complicated symbol is much disfigured, and has been well restored by Levi. It symbolises Fortune, good or bad.
  
11 Fortitude The Daughter of the Flaming Sword - A woman crowned with crown and cap of maintenance, who calmly, and Without effort, closes the jaws of a furious lion. She represents Strength.  

12 The Hanged Man The Spirit of the Mighty Waters - This extraordinary symbol is almost unintelligible in the double-headed cards. Properly, it represents a man hung head downwards from a sort of gibbet by one foot (his hands are bound behind his back in such a manner that his body forms a triangle with the point downwards), and his legs a cross above it. (Two sacks or weights are attached to his armpits.) He symbolises Sacrifice.

13 Death The Child of the Great Transformers: the Lord of the Gates of Death - A skeleton armed with a Scythe (wherewith he mows down heads in a meadow like grass). He signifies Transformation, or Change.  

14 Temperance  The Daughter of the Reconcilers: the Bringer-Forth of life -Temperance An angel with the sign of the Sun on her brow Pouring liquid from one vessel into another. She represents Combination.  

15 The Devil The Lord of the Gates of Matter: the Child of the Forces of Time - A horned and winged demon with eagle's claws (standing on an altar to which two smaller devils are bound by a collar and cord). In his left hand he bears a flame-headed sceptre. He is the image of Fate or Fatality, good or evil.  

16 The Blasted Tower The Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty -Lightning-struck Tower. A Tower whose Upper part is like a crown, struck by a lightning-flash. (Two men fall headlong from it, One of whom is in such an attitude as to form a Hebrew letter Ayin.) Sparks and debris are falling. It shows Ruin, Disruption.    

17 The Star The Daughter of the Firmament, the dweller between the Waters  - A nude female figure pours water upon the earth from two vases. In the heavens above her shines the Blazing Star of the Magi (surrounded by seven others), trees and plants grow beneath her magic influence (and on one the butterfly of Psyche alights). She is the star of Hope.

18 The Moon The Ruler of Flux and Reflux: the Child of the Sons of the Mighty -shining in the heavens, drops of dew falling, a wolf and a dog howling at the Moon, and halted at the foot of two towers, a path which loses itself in the horizon (and is sprinkled with drops of blood, a crayfish emblematic of the sign Cancer, ruled over by the Moon, crawls through water in the foreground towards the land). It symbolises Twilight, Deception, and Error.  

19 The Sun The Lord of the Fire of the World -sending down his rays upon two children, who suggest the sign Gemini. (Behind them is a low wall.) It signifies Earthly Happiness.

20 The Judgement The Spirit of the Primal Fire -The Last Judgment. An Angel in the heavens blowing a trumpet, to which a standard with a cross thereon is attached. The Dead rise from their tombs. It signifies Renewal, Result.

21 The Universe The Great One of the Night of Time -Within a flowery wreath is a female figure nude save for a light scarf. She represents Nature and the Divine Presence therein. In each hand she should bear a wand. At the four angles of the card are the four cherubic animals of the Apocalypse. Above, the Eagle and the Man; below, the Lion and the Bull. It represents Completion, Reward.

A CARD is strong or weak, well dignified or ill dignified, according to the cards next to it on either side. That is if there are a lots of queens that show up in one reading , it is time to look at the dignities chart .
http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/bl_bookt19.htm
Crowley's Keys to Major Arcana  DIGNITIES
A Majority of Wands Energy, opposition, quarrel.
A Majority of Cups Pleasure, merriment.
A Majority of Swords Trouble, sadness, sickness, death.
A Majority of Pentacles Business, money, possessions.
A Majority of Keys Strong forces beyond the Querent's control.
A Majority of Court Cards Society, meetings of many persons.
A Majority of Aces Strength generally. Aces are always strong cards.
.
4 Aces Great power and force.
3 Aces Riches, success.
4 Kings (Knights) Swiftness, rapidity.
3 Kings (Knights) Unexpected meetings. Knights, in general, shew news.
4 Queens Authority, influence.
3 Queens Powerful friends.
4 Princes Meetings with the great.
3 Princes Rank and honour.
4 Princesses New ideas or plans.
3 Princesses Society of the young.
4 Tens Anxiety, responsibility.
3 Tens Buying and selling (commerce).
4 Nines Added responsibilities.
3 Nines Much correspondence.
4 Eights Much news.
3 Eights Much journeying.  
4 Sevens Disappointments.
3 Sevens Treaties and compacts.
4 Sixes Pleasure.
3 Sixes Gain, success.
4 Fives Order, regularity.
3 Fives Quarrels, fights.
4 Fours Rest, peace.
3 Fours Industry.
4 Threes Resolution, determination.
3 Threes Deceit.
4 Twos Conferences, conversations.
3 Twos Reorganization, recommendation.
 

What are the Minor Arcana ? are the 4 suits of cards from Ace to ten . These are also called the Pips .

Resemblance to  description of the card may give clues to the identity of a person in the querent's life . ie A lover with black hair and blue eyes might show up as the Prince of Cups in a reading ; Here is more about the Royal Court from the Book of T by Aleister Crowley ;
THE ESPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOUR COURT CARDS OF THE SUITS  
SUITS .CARDS .CRESTS SYMBOLS ...HAIR...... EYES

Wands.
King.Winged black horse's head, waving flames, club, scarlet cloak.Red-gold.Grey or hazel
Queen Leopard's head, winged Leopard, steady flames, wand with heavy head or end .red gold.blue.brown
Prince.Lion's head, winged Waved ,salient flames, fire wand of Zelator Adept.yellow.blue-grey
Princess.Tiger's head, leaping flames, gold altar, long club,.Red-gold. Blue

Cups
King.Peacock with opened fan White horse, crab issuing from cup, sea.fair.blue.
Queen.Ibis,crayfish issuing from cup, river.gold-brown.blue
Prince.eagle.scorpion,eagle; serpent issuing from cup, lake.brown.grey or brown
Princess.swan.dolphin.lotus.sea with spray, turtle from cup.brown.blue or brown

Swords
King.winged hexagram winged brown horse, driving clouds, drawn sword.dark-brown.dark
Queen.winged child's head, head of man severed, cumulus clouds, drawn sword.light-brown.grey
Prince.winged angel's head arch fairies winged, whirling hair, nimbi, drawn sword , sickle. dark.dark
Princess.Medusa's head silver altar, smoke, clouds, drawn sword.light-brown.blue

Pentacles.
King.stag head Light-brown horse, ripe cornland, sceptre with hexagram,Zelator Adept.dark.dark
Queen.goat head barren land, fan, light one side only, sceptre with cube, orb of gold.dark.dark
Prince.bull's head flowery land, bull, sceptre with orb and cross, orb held downwards.dark-brown.dark
Princess.ram's head.grass, flowers, grove of trees, sceptre with disk, pentacle as ace.rich brown.dark

THE Four Kings, or "Figures mounted on steeds," represent the Yodh forces of the Name in each Suit: the Radix, Father and commencement of Material Forces, a force in which all the others are implied, and of which they form the development and completion. A force swift and violent in its action, but whose effect soon passes away, and therefore symbolized by a Figure on a Steed riding swiftly, and clothed in complete Armour.

The Four Queens are seated upon Thrones; representing the Forces of the He of the Name in each suit; the Mother and bringer-forth of Material Forces: a force which develops and realizes that of the King: a force steady and unshaken, but not rapid, though enduring. It is therefore symbolized by a Figure seated upon a Throne: but also clothed in Armour.

The Four Princes -These Princes are Figures seated in Chariots, and thus borne forward. They represent the Vau Forces of the Name in each suit: the Mighty Son of the King and Queen, who realizes the influence of both scales of Force. A Prince, the son of a King and Queen, yet a Prince of Princes, and a King of Kings: an Emperor whose effect is at once rapid (though not so swift as that of the Queen) and enduring. It is, therefore, symbolized by a Figure borne in a Chariot, and clothed in Armour. Yet is his power vain and illusionary, unless set in Motion by his Father and Mother.

The Four Princesses -are the Knaves of the Tarot Pack; The Four Princesses or figures of Amazons, standing firmly of themselves: neither riding upon Horses, nor seated upon Thrones, nor borne in Chariots. They represent the forces of the He final of the Name in each suit, completing the Influences of the other scales: The mighty and potent daughter of a King and Queen: a Princess powerful and terrible: a Queen of Queens - an Empress - whose effect combines those of the King, Queen, and Prince, at once violent and permanent; therefore symbolized by a Figure standing firmly by itself, only partially draped, and having but little Armour; yet her power existeth not, save by reason of the others: and then indeed it is mighty and terrible materially, and is the Throne of the Forces of the Spirit.

Here follow the general meanings of the small cards or pips of the suits, as classified under the nine Sephiroth below Kether. (Aces Kether)

2s Chokmah The Four Twos symbolize the Powers of the King and Queen just uniting and initiating the Force; but before the Prince and Princess are thoroughly brought into action. Therefore do they generally imply the initiation and fecundation of a thing.

3s Binah Realization of action owing to the Prince being produced. The central symbol on each card. Action definitely commenced for good or evil.

4s Chesed Perfection, realization, completion: making a matter settled and fixed.

5s Geburah Opposition, strife and struggle: war; obstacle to the thing in hand. Ultimate success or failure is otherwise shewn.

6sTiphareth Definite accomplishment. Thing carried out.

7sNetzach Generally shew a force transcending the Material Plane: and is like unto a Crown; which, indeed, is powerful, but requireth one capable of wearing it. The Sevens then shew a possible result: which is dependent on the action then taken. They depend much on the symbols that accompany them.

8s Hod Solitary success: "i.e." success in the matter for the time being: but not leading to much result apart from the thing itself.

9s Yesod Very great fundamental force. Executive power, because they restore a firm basis. Powerful for good or evil.

10s Malkuth Fixed, culminated, complete Force, whether good or evil. The matter thoroughly and definitely determined. Ultimating Force.

More about the Minor Arcana

Wands are also known as Rods , Staves and Clubs. They are Fire . Rods are Trials ,Tribulations , Trevails and Triumphs . These represent struggles to overcome .It symbolizes Force - strength, rush, vigour, energy, and it governs, according to its nature, various works and questions.
Ace of Wands is called the Root of the Powers of Fire.
2 of Wands Dominion  
3 of Wands Established Strength  
4 of Wands Perfected Work  
5 of Wands Strife  
6 of Wands Victory  
7 of Wands Valour  
8 of Wands Swiftness    
9 of Wands Great Strength  
10 of Wands Oppresion    
 Knave of Wands is "The Princess of the Shining Flame: the Rose of the Palace of Fire."
 Knight of Wands is "The Lord of the Flame and Lighting: the King of the Spirits of Fire."
 Queen of Wands is "The Queen of the Thrones of Flame."
 King of Wands is "The Prince of the Chariot of Fire."

Pentacles also known as Coins or Diamonds are Earth . They represent money and all other energy .It represents materiality in all senses, good and evil: and is, therefore, in a sense, illusionary: it shows material gain, labour, power, wealth, etc.
 Ace of Pentacles is called the Root of the Powers of Earth.
 2 of Pentacles Harmonious Change  
 3 of Pentacles Material Works  
 4 of Pentacles Earthly Power  
5 of Pentacles Material Trouble    
6 of Pentacles Material Success  
7 of Pentacles Success unfulfilled    
8 of Pentacles Prudence  
9 of Pentacles Material Gain  
10 of Pentacles Wealth  
Knave of Pentacles is "The Princess of the Echoing Hills: the Rose of the Palace of Earth."
Knight of Pentacles is "The Lord of the Wide and Fertile Land: the King of the Spirits of Earth."
Queen of Pentacles is "The Queen of the Thrones of Earth."
King of Pentacles is "The Prince of the Chariot of Earth."

Swords are also Arrows and Spades . Swords represent Air . Swords represent Conflicts , Treachery and Enemies .Ace of Swords is called the Root of the Powers of Air.  It is the affirmation of Justice upholding Divine Authority; and it may become the Sword of Wrath, Punishment, and Affliction.
2 of Swords Peace restored  
3 of Swords Sorrow    
4 of Swords Rest from Strife  
5 of Swords Defeat  
6 of Swords Earned Success  
7 of Swords Unstable Effort
8 of Swords Shortened Force  
9 of Swords Despair and Cruelty  
10 of Swords Ruin      
Knave of Swords is "The Princess of the Rushing Winds: the Lotus of the Palace of Air."
Knight of Swords is "The Lord of the Wind and the Breezes: the King of the Spirits of Air."
Queen of Swords is "The Queen of the Thrones of Air."
King of Swords is "The Prince of the Chariot of the Winds."

Ace of Cups , chalices , goblets , grails and hearts . Cups are Water and represent Lovers , Friendships , Family , Romance.The Ace is called the Root of the Powers of Water. It symbolizes Fertility - productiveness, beauty, pleasure, happiness, etc.
2 of Cups Love  
3 of Cups Abundance    
4 of Cups Blended Pleasure  
5 of Cups Loss in Pleasure  
6 of Cups Pleasure  
7 of Cups Illusionary Success  
8 of Cups Abandoned Success  
9 of Cups Material Happiness  
10 of Cups Perfected Success  
Knave of Cups is "The Princess of the Waters: the Lotus of the Palace of the Floods."
Knight of Cups is "The Lord of the Waves and the Waters: the King of the Hosts of the Sea."
Queen of Cups is "The Queen of the Thrones of the Waters."
King of Cups is "The Prince of the Chariot of the Waters."
============================================================================
Tarot Links :
Aleister Crowley's Book T -An Occult Description of the Tarot
http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/bl_bookt.htm
Tarot Forum
http://www.tarotforum.net/archive/index.php/
Tarot Card Meanings
http://www.thelostfound.com/tarot/cards/meanings/
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/basics/
Association with Astronomy Astrology and Zodiac -Crowley
http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/bl_bookt10.htm
Method of Divination
http://altreligion.about.com/library/texts/bl_bookt20.htm
Mathers on Tarot ;
http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/mathers/

[Aunt Clair]

Class II of the Tarot course is devoted to the interpretation of the Major Arcana . I have chosen the Medieval Scapini Tarot by Luigi Scapini . This is available for sale at US Games INC . http://www.usgamesinc.com/product.php?productid=606

IMHO , this is the best deck for an occultist dealing with the Path of the Magician and the Tree of Life or Hermetic Qabballah.The imagery is authentic to the middle ages and so it is archetypically present in the alchemical works engravings of the Medieval and the  Renaissance Alchemists . This traditional imagery is also used in mystic communications by the Mahatma and Archangels . They teach mystics in visions using these rich archetypes . The authentic colours of this traditional palette is particular to the Hermetic understanding of the elements through the Tarot .

The pneumonic,or mnemonic,dittys presented  here are from Volume I of the Connolly Tarot - A New Handbook for the Apprentice by Eileen Connolly.These are useful to help remember the divinatory meanings .When the card appears upside down ,  the reader takes the reverse meaning . Most Tarot decks have a small book that accompanies them . This is where we get the fullest description of that card as it was intended .

This first elemental set represents the right hand of the magician the magican is the orange pinky FIRE  , the popess is the indigo ring finger WATER  , the middle finger is the red emperor EARTH and the index finger is the  green empress AIR  . The thumbs and big toes make another elemental set the first of which is repeated in the colours of the right glove . They appear first as lead , pyrite , copper and iron on the big toes and thumbs but later emerage as silver , gold , emerald and ruby on the right glove of the magician . The new thumb is purple .

II Popess...............................II I Empress............................IV Emperor...........................V Pope
.............................................................................................
.
Behind the veil within your grasp....Health children and business good...Truth and justice known within ...You are right according to Hoyle
Living knowledge from the past ....All is well you knew you could.........Forgiveness means admitting sin...Others' mistakes make your blood boil 
....................................... ............................Reverse Meaning................................ ....................................
Nothing hidden naught to fear......All looks black the reason why........Butterfly flits and knows no way.....Free spirit glows within your soul   
All is seen don't waste a tear........You built castles in the sky ...........Man must plan and work each day...New adventures make you whole

II  Popess.......Silver........WATER.....Ma gnetic.....Female......Binah........Plu to
The slender , young popess gazes from her throne with serenity and wisdom , Her robes are indigo blue symbolizing feminine intuition and a crescent moon crowns her tiara . In her right hand is the Book of Life . Its cover inscribed with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life , and in her left hand are a gold key and a silver key . At her breast is a Maltese cross joined wiht a child's head referring to the legend of Pope Joan , the female pope , Behind her shoulders is a veil supported by the sun and the moon , with rainbows streaming down on each side. The arch's column to her left is supported by a black sphinx and symbolises the feminine side of life incorporating a mermaid who is offered an apple by a demonic serpent . The fiery column on her right is masculine and in it are little flames , water drops , a slamander and a bat . The popess's foot rests on a grass green cusion the colour of hermetic air . The checkered floor is the symbol of justice and gives way to life and nature .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS Wisdom , sound judgement , common sense , learning , serentiy , objectivity , penetration ,education , foresight , intuition , perception , education , foresight, perception , self-reliance , hidden emotion, purity , virtue, severity , platonic relationships , Avoidance of emotional entanglements , volubility , teacher .

REVERSED MEANINGS Ignorance , shortsightedness, lack of understanding , selfishness , acceptance of superficial knowledge , improper judgement , shallowness , conceit .

The Popess is a statement about the duality of the Godhead and the equality of women in religion in spirit and the lack thereof here on Earth . She is indigo the emergent female sorceress beginning her path around the wheel . She represents the Opus Nigredo or the Black Works of each Alchemical Stage .  Larger image here ; http://groups.msn.com/AscensionoftheAvatar/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=118

III Empress.....Green....AIR..... Magnetic.....Female......Netzach.....Ve nus

The Empress sits majestically on a throne whose back forms a gothic arch with wings and a clear blue sky. On her head is a cron with nine stars for the nine muses of music , poetry and science , and twelve stars for the twelve houses of the zodiac. Her grown is red for passion ., tempered by cool blue which flows around her like fertile waters . She holds a shield emblazoned with the imperial eagle , and in her left hand is a scepter topped with an orb . The platform on which she is seated is supported by Tarocchi of Mantegna cards showing the 7 liberal arts : grammar , logic , rhetoric , geometry , astrology and theology. At her feet is a crescent moon and a lily at the side of her throne denotes purity .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS Feminine progress, action , natural energy , development, fertility , accomplishment, interest in details of daily life , mother , sister , wife , feminine influence , evolution, ability to motivate others , a leader , decisions founded on all the facts at hand , businesswoman ,levelheadedness, practicality , decisiveness, intuitiveness.

REVERSED MEANINGS ;Vacillation , inaction , lack of interest , lack of concentration , delay in accomplishment or progress , anxiety , frittering away of resources , loss of material possessions ,seduction , infertility , infidelity ,fickle love , vanity .

The empress appears often during mystic visions and has frequent appearances in alchemical images also . Always dressed in green , she represents AIR which is needed to fill the energy body to make ascension to the next level . She carries lanterns symbolic of wisdom and carrying the message to the next incarnation and to the next generation of the planet . She lies within coffins symbolising the second death of Alchemical Works . She is copper transmuting to emerald . She is the Goddess of the Emerald Tablet . She represents the Green Works of Alchemy which precede each Opus Rubedo .

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IV Emperor.....Red..........EARTH.......El ectric.......Male........ Geburah... Mars

Many details point to the Emperor's rank as supreme ruler of the elements . The awesome and potentially destructive powers of the four elements are represented by pictures of apocalyptic landscapes , showing winds for air , volcanic land for earth , burning buildings for fire and ships sinking for water , Bracing the platform are four creatures a he goat , a lion , a dog and the creation of Frankenstein . The platform and its symbols represent the elemental chaos which the emperor rules and puts to order . The yellow cube on which the ruler sits is draped with a fiery red robe; the colours of power and activity . The emperor himself is dressed in armor designed after that depicted on the sepulcher of emperor Rudolf of Hapsburg (1218-1291). He wears a large hat lined with ermine mink , topped at the crown with pyramids , and decorated with the imperial eagle .

On his breast are the sun and the moon . A golden braid , a token from the Empress , is draped at the neck . The tulip that appeared with the Fool and the Magician appears at the back of his throne . He holds a lily headed scepter with a crescent moon as its handle . The facial features are those of Stuart R. Kaplan president of US Games Systems whom the artist wished to honor as a patron .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS Worldly power , confidence , wealth , stability , authority , indomitable spirit, leadership, maturity , war making tendencies , paternity , father , brother , husband , male influence , direct pressure , domination of intelligence and reason over emotion and passion , patriarchal figure , desire to increase dominination in every direction . Masculinity worthiness to exercise authority , a capable and knowledgeable person , Willingness to listen to counsel .

REVERSED MEANINGS immaturity , ineffectiveness , lack of strength , indecision , inability to make progress , weak character , feebleness , failure to control petty emotions .

The Emperor represents the Opus Rubedo . It marks the struggle of the magician to tame the inner demons of Seth as they traverse the husks of the sepiroth that are the  qlippoth on the averse tree . The emperor assists us to make the crude iron become ruby . He represents the angry absent middle aged father who becomes gray haired , pink and kind in his old age as a sage , tired of war . He is iron transmuting to ruby .Larger image here ;
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V.....Pope.....Gold.........FIRE....... .. Electric........Male........Chokmah.... .Jupiter

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:  A jovial face augments the benevolence of the Pope.Yet his hair is white and his face lined with experience. He raises his right hand in blessing .In his left hand is a staffwith the symbols pf the planets Mercury, the sun , the moon, Mars  Venus, Jupiterand Saturn at the top, and the thunderbolt of Jupiter at the bottom . The three rings of his tiara show at the bottom , the natural world , in the middle , the crown of thorns of Christ's Passion representing worldly life and freewill and at the top, the spiritual realm , represented by simple triangles and circles , with a cross surmounting the whole . The two pillars behind him are from the ciborium of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome . At the foot of the throne , the seven vices are depicted from left to right ;pride , wrath , lust , gluttony , envy , sloth , and avarice . The Pope triumphs over the sins of the world . Two monks kneel one on each side of the platform . The angle of the throne , which seems to be leaning forward , symbolises mercy and receptiveness to the needs of others .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS : Ritualism , Ceremony , Mercy , Humility , Kindness, Goodness, Forgiveness, Inspiration. Alliance , Compassion , Servitude, Overt reserve . Captivity to one's own ideas . Tendency to cling to ideas and principles outdated. A person to whom one has recourse , Conformity . A religious or spiritual leader . Inability to adapt to new circumstances and changing conditions . A person wiht a sense of importance of history .

REVERSED MEANINGS : Foolish exercise of generosity . Overkindness . Repeated errors , Susceptability . Importance. Vulnerability . Frailty . Unorthodoxy . Renunciation.

This card is : One of the first Suns Its moon is the Popess but in this set it is also sun to the moon of Justice . There is a clue to the quality of AIR in the chartreuse green sholl around the Pope's vestments . We must heat the AIR with FIRE of the SUN to ascend . This
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[Aunt Clair]

Let's see if I understand the point of tarot correctly.  When one sees signs, they are never clear-cut and easily understood, because they come from higher planes where our physical mind cannot comprehend things with one-to-one coorespondence.    Over many, many years, people found out (through individual experience and some sharing within groups) that there were patterns to the lessons being taught.  Symbols meant specific things.  When many symbols are given, the relation(s) they have to one another alters the meaning.  The tarot decks are one method of interpreting the signs that are given.

Alchemists can use these interpretations to understand what they're being taught at the moment both spiritually and in the physical.Tell me where I err, because I have never made an attempt to understand tarot before.edit: Let me know if we'll ever use the deck in the lessons, otherwise I'm going to hold off on spending $20 for the Medieval Scapini deck.

Yes that is all correct , well done . I will teach spreads after we revise the basic meanings of the major arcana . I want to present them in elemental sets the way that spirit teachers showed me . There have always been speculations and variations on the correspondences , mine is not entirely traditional . I see 12 sepiroth on the world tree and 16 on the Tree of the Dragons which has one more elemental set called the wheels of the chariot . The present deck of 78 shows 22 major arcana 11 jeweled sepiroth and 11 qlippoth husks . When the jewels are replaced in the husks and the pages of the two trees come together completely transmuted there is wondrous progress for the magician . The Tarot are an essential part to understanding mystic visions and projecting such visions to future students . The magician strives to be able to teach in spirit during dreamstate lessons and to teach after the death of this body as an apprentice to the Mahatma .My cards are becoming worn with use . I recommend two decks . The palette changes and the Thoth Tarot Deck authored under Aleister Crowley is the best to show the newest hermetic colours .

Unaware............................ yellow , lavender/ olive , brown

The colours above this line represent the wasted harvest . They no longer exist .

....................................... ................white/black
Emergent ....................................... .....red/blue

The colours above this line represent the base male and female and the two primary pillars of God and Goddess

Primary............................... Orange , Indigo/Chartreuse Green,  Salmon Red.
...................................gold pyrite, silver lead/ green copper , red iron

The colours above this represent the 10 colours of the Primary Tree of Life which is on the chest of the magician . These are the only colours on typical traditional cards such as the Medieval Scapini ; White , Black , Red , Blue , Orange , Green , Indigo , Gold , Silver , notably missing is purple and rose which are the last to arrive and begin with the next set .

Secondary ............Amber,  Violet / Aqua ,  Rose
...........................Pear, Plum / Fig , Pomegranite
...........................Gold, Silver/Emerald , Ruby
Tertiary  ..............Topaz , Sapphire/Ivory , Ebony
...........................Lemon Yellow , Platinum Blue /Pale Green , Pink

fallow wheat yellow gray  , wormwood blue gray /methane green gray, zombie rose gray

On the Thoth Deck Crowley et al use a palette which includes all of the secondary and tertiary colours but does not revisit the previous ones .

[Aunt Clair]

This second  elemental set represents the left hand of the magician . Justice is the purple  pinkyWATER , the pope is the yellow  ring finger FIRE , the middle finger is the aqua chariot AIR and the index finger is the rose lovers EARTH. On the human energy body these are called the wheels of the chariot . The two at the top of the body are the pair of eyes as a hermetic pair rose earth daath the hidden one and aqua the invisible 12th sepiroth . At the base of the body the pair of gonads are as a hermetic pair too topaz fire and sapphire water . The eyes are on the left hand but the gonads are on the left glove . 

VI Lovers.............................VII Chariot.........................VIII Justice ........................VIIII The Hermit
................................................................................................

Select well with integrity high.Achievement now with effort from you.Use the love you feel within.Look up dear friend and see the light.... 
your moral scruples tell you why.control emotions dreams come true .feed them honey and you will win.it shines by day and shines by night .....   

....................................... ............Reverse Meanings............................... ...............................

indecision's not your friend.all's not well this you can see.heed the wisdom in this card.shallow pride,why ? don't ask.   
you may lose all in the end.living this way just cannot be.issues forced make life hard.halve the problem, halve the task.

VI Lovers.......Indigo......WATER..... Magnetic ....Female ....Chesed......Saturn

The lovers is modeled on the same card from the 15th century Visconti Tarot . A man and  woman clasp hands , the woman gazing at the man and the men loking upward . They willingly pledge their love and their desire to stay with one another as they stand on a forking path near an abyss. On the left is a rugged and hard land . the choice of virtue. On the right is a pleasant and sunny land , the choice of vice . Above the two lovers is the centaur chiron , who was renowned for his beneficience and wisdom . After his death , he was exalted to become the constellation Sagitarrius , the zodiacal sign that rules freechoice .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS :Love , beauty ,perfection , harmony , unamity ,trials overcome , trust , honor , deep feeling , optimism, being oblivious to possible consequences . Letting oneself go . Freedom of emotion ,. The necessity of tests or trials . Struggle between sacred and profane love. Examining , yearning , temptation , A person deeply involved in the emotions and problems of a friend or relative . A meaningful affair .

REVERSED MEANINGS :Failure to meet the test , unreliability , seperation , frustration in love and marriage interference by others , fickleness , untrustworthiness , unwise plans .

The Lovers  is an alchemical marriage and although mostly red EARTH it represents a dual nature and the harmony of electric and magnetic forces .  Larger image here ;
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VII Chariot.....Rose.........Earth....... Electro Magnetic.....Male.........Daath.......U ranus

The charioteer rides over a landscape that recalls Northern Italy , near Verona at the foot of the Alps . The square chariot is sheltered by a canopy lined iwth gold stars on a deep blue background . The charioteer has the qualities of a zodiacal sign of Aries . he holds a scepter composed of a rod with a sphere and an arrow and he controls the horses' reins with a golden ring . A blue crescent and a red crescent on his shoulders represent knowledge of the past and future . The white horse pulls upward while the black horse pulls earth ward indicating the two impulses of human nature towards spirituality and sensuality . The charioteer must learn to control the horses so that they can function in harmony . The horses tails together form an image of a winged seed , denoting the potential embodied by the chariot .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS :Major effort , possible voyage or journey , escape , rushing into a decision , riding hte crest of success or popularity . perplexity , trouble , adversity , possibly already overcome conflicting influences turmoil vengence need for supervision , need for attention to details , urgency to gain control of ones emotions greatness can be achieved when physical and mental powers are kept in balance .

REVERSED MEANINGS :Defeat, failure , to lose something , at the last minute , otherwise within the grasp , sudden collapse of plans , to be conquered or overwhelmed , failure to face reality .

The chariot is a middle pillar path representing another alchemical marriage of the black Mother Goddess and the white Father God .  The white and black horses signify the air and earth polarities in the first two pillars of God and Goddess . The black mother takes us to Earth the white father takes us to air . We need a balance .

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VIII Justice ...Blue Gray...WATER.....Magnetic..... Female.....Qlippoth of Binah

The woman signifying justice has a sophisticated face , for she must be discriminating and knowledgable , Her dress is red and blue with a gold lining . Her headdress is composed of three towers with three doors , like the temple of the great fertility goddess Diana of Ephesus . She wears a golden braid at her elongated neck and the neckline of her dress is anchorshaped , in her right hand , Justice holds a sword , and in the left hand a scale . She is surrounded by a curious arch the pillars of which are breasts again referring to the goddess . whos holy images depicts a woman with a multitude of breasts. An amazon one of the legendary female warriors of ancient times is in the lunette above her . Two suns provide illumination . On the sides , scenes of the 4 seasons are shown . The fertility of the design indicate that although justice may seem severe to wrongdoers the world is best when justice prevails .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:Fairness , justice , harmony , balanced conduct , equity , righteousness , virtue honor , virginity , just reward, good intentions , well meaning actions , firmness of character , advice , =self satisfaction , the eventual outcome , whether favorable or unfavorable will truly be fair equilibrium poise impartiality ability to perceive temptation and avoid evil a person who responds favorably to the good nature of others ,a considerate person

REVERSED MEANINGS :bias , false accusations , bigotry severity in judgement , intolerance , unfairness , abuse

Justice has all four primary hermetic colours around her , she sits like a Malkuth sepiroth 4 in one . 
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IX....Hermit...Pale Yellow...FIRE........Electro Magnetic...Male.........Qlippoth of Chokmah
An old man holds up a lamp shaped like an hourglass . He supports himself with a staffon which are seven roses and a sanke . The roses on his staff symbolise the seven stages fo growth from a bud to the fully open flower to wilt. The twisted snake bites its own tail , symbolizing eternity. The hermit's hat is like those worn by the monks of Mount Ahtos of Greece, as is his gown , which waqs oringially black but has been faded by the sun . His underdress is made of woven straw. In the background is Mount Athos and at his feel is the sea . The boats and the whale in the forewground refer to the Old Testament prophet Jonah . who was miraculourly saved from drowning when he was swallowed by a whale . Later his preaching saved the city of Ninevah from destruction by God .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Counsel . Knowledge, solicitude, inner strength , self -illumination . Prudence. Discreton , vigilance , patience , circumspection, self-denial,withdrawal , somethime representing recession and regression desertion annulment insincerity coldness . A loner or a person incapbale of interaction with another peson . Fear of discovery . Failure to face facts. Possessor of Secrets , unutilized knowledge.

REVERSED MEANINGS : imprudence , hastiness , prematurity , foolish acts , incorrect advice , failure resulting from inactivity , overprudence resulting in unnecessary delay .immaturity . excessive isolation .

This card is another version of the magician . We pass around the Tree of life many times as a 3 dimensional obelisk . We descend the Tree of Life from Kether to Malkuth and we ascend on its  right side . We move to the Aya of Sorrows on the rear and then descend the left side . Soon we manifest the Emerald Tablet on the chest and the Black Tablet beneath our feet . When we get to the  and the averse tree of death below the mirror . This is both the sapphire sage on the gonads of the front of the energy body and the purple planet Jupiter on the first chest tree . In this case not the black mother Goddess and white father God but the male in balance with the female . This is the magnetic male . This whole set portrays that balance which began with the alchemical marriage of the black and white horses on the chariot and the alchemical marriage of the red and green lovers . Now we have the magnetic male in the Hermit who is Kether.Purple is another colour for the final transmutations like silver, gold and crystal .  Larger image here

http://groups.msn.com/AscensionoftheAvatar/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=127

[Aunt Clair]

This third elemental set represents the left foot of the magician.The pomegranite red is EARTH on the Wheel of Fortune . The unripened fig green is AIR on the Queen of Force who tames the fire lion . The golden pear  Hanged Man is FIRE .The plum purple WATER is the sage mage Hermit .

X Wheel of Fortune.................XI Force.....................XII Hanged Man.......................XIII Death
....................................................................................


wheel of life spins round for man..Justice given, lesson learned.......Blessed with truth and has no fear.......Release your fears and look ahead   
You must adapt the best you can..we recieve what we have earned..Faith hold's strong when trouble's near..Today is new the past is dead   

....................................... ............Reverse Meaning................................ ......................

When you can't see the way to go..No matter what is right or true..absorbed in earthly work and gain ..Time and work will change it all 
Trust in God and let him know ..You cannot change what people do..oblivious to your spiritual pain..Stand up straight or you may fall

X Wheel of Fortune .4 in 1..EARTH..Electro Magnetic..Male.. Malkuth..Earth
The Wheel of Forutne is gold and on it are the symbols of the zodiac . Behind the wheel , blind Fortune stands .Her wings , hands and head touch the wheel in seven places , symbolizing the seven planets of the ancients . Her wings are red and behind her , a blue circle represents individual life. Two boats , with figureheads like twisting snnakes, support the Wheeland also bind Fortune's feet. Below are the green waters of life.The ruler of the Wheel , fixed at the top holds a sphinx and a sword. On the right , a blue figure ascends , chasing a golden crown . On the left an older man is afire while he hurls downward, grasping for his golden crown which will soon be enveloped by the waves . Below an old man flails helplessly in the water .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Destiny , fortune , fate , outcome, felicity , godsend , special gain or unusual loss, culmination , approaching the end of a problem inevitablility, unexpected events may occur , the course of things from beginnning to end . Advancement for better or worse . Progress , good or bad luck depending upon nearby cards .

REVERSED MEANINGS : Fialure , ill luck , borken sequence, unexpected bad fate , interruption , or inconsistency due to unexpected events , outside influences not contemplated .

The Wheel of Fortune is the archetypical Malkuth . It has all four elements in balance and is the end of the first journey down the tree of life and the beginning of the averse tree of death below the mirror . It is male EARTH energy but Fortune is a female divinity .

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XI.... Force....UV Green.....AIR........ Magnetic.....Female......Qlippoth of Netzach

A tail , strong woman calmly grasps the jaws of a lion with one hand . She is modeled on a painting by the Renaissance master Piero della Francesca. Her hat has the lemniscate, traditional , for this figure of the tarot . A golden braid at her neck links her with the Emperor and Justice . The landscape is stony and dry. In the background is Hermes with the head of the Usn. Hermes was the Greek God of Alchemy , and his image here is from a medal which commemorated as successful alchemical operation .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS Control over a situation . Strength , courage , fortitude , energy , resolution , defiance , action , awareness of temptations and the ability to overcome them . Confidence , inate ability , zeal , fervor , mind over matter, accomplishment , attainment at considerable peril , conquest , hidden forces at work are challenges , heroism , virility , strength to endure in spite of all obstacles .

REVERSED MEANINGS :Weakness , pettiness, impotence , sickness, tyranny , lack of faith , abuse of power, succumbing to temptation , indifference , physical circumstances overwhelm the will .

The Force card shows Our Lady controlling the male lion the element of FIRE . She is AIR . Fire is her friend when it heats AIR , up she rises . We ascend .

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XII Hanged Man ..UV Orange..FIRE....Electric.......Male.... .....Qlippoth of Geburah


The imagery of the Hanged Man runs with the blood of sacrifice . The scaffold is twined with grapes that ooze red juice , At the foot of the right pillar is a pelican , the bird which according to legend , feeds her children with her own blood when she pecks her breast to raise her blood , which is frequently shown in allegoraical art at the top of Christ 's crucifix . Nearby is a sacrificial lamb , its throat cut , On the left a dragon bites its tail , illustrating the occult law, That which is above is the same as that which is belwo . The hammer the nails and pincers are traditional symbols of Christ's passion . The hanged Man himself seesm complacent as he dangles above whirling waters . the buttons of his shirt and trousers number twenty -two , the number of the Major Arcana of the Tarot . Coins drop from the crescents formed by his pockets and splash in the water .
DIVINATORY MEANINGS : Sacrifice , Life in supsension, transition , change , reversal of the mind and one's way of life , apathy and dullness , boredom , abandonment , renunciation , events with an uncertain outcome , the peiord of repite btween significant events . Repentance , readjustment , eforts may have to be made to reach a goal , which still may not be attained . The approach of new life forces . This is the time to condition oneself for new experiences . Surrender , lack of progress , an unappreciated person .

REVERSED MEANINGS : Lack of sacrifice , unwillingness to make the necessary effort , failure to give of one's self . Preoccupation with the ego . False prophecy useless sacrifice .

The Hanged Man is Odin . He is the alpha and the omega , the 12th sepiroth on the tree of life and the first on the Averse tree . He takes us on our journey beneath the mirror to begin the Giant Works .
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XIII Death.......................WATER....Ma gnetic.....Female..... Qlippoth of Luna
A skeleton dances on blue ground , holding a scythe whose handle used to be a human spine .The pose of Death resembles of Shiva, Hindu god of destruction. A raven, symbol of decomposition, glides nearby. The landscape is strewn with human hands and feet , but the hands indicate that new energy is coming forth , as emphasized by the green plants below . Three heads are in the foreground. On the right is a woman's head and in the middle a child's . The artist admits that he , too , is subject to the great power of Death and his portrait appears , with palette , in the bottom left hand corner .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS :Transformation. Clearing away the old to make way for the new . Risk for renewal . Unexpected change . Alteration . Abrupt change of the old self , though not necessarily physical death . The ending of a familiar situation or friendship. Loss of income or financial security . Illness, possibly even Death . Streak of bad luck . A loan that will not be repaid .

REVERSED MEANINGS : Stagnation. Immobility . Slow changes . Partial change . Inertia. Narrow avoidance of a serious accident .
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[Aunt Clair]

Here is a chart which lists correspondences between the Hermetic Colours of the phalanges and the Tarot .
http://au.msnusers.com/AlchemicalFlame/Documents/Docs%2FHermetic%20Pallette%20of%20Sepiroth%20Tarot.xls



Column B is the position of the finger or toe in the order of appearance .
Column C is the colour clairvoyantly seen on the phalanges at that stage.
Column D is the Tarot Card images associated with that hand in order of appearance .
Column E is the same Tarot broken into elemental sets of FIRE , WATER, EARTH and AIR .
Column F associates the sepiroth with fingers and the qlippoth with toes .
Column G is a brief descriptor of the Qlippoth .
Column I lists the 16 sepiroth on the Tree of Life currently , this is an interpretation . Most Occultists argue whether there are 10 or 11 .

Lines 42-47 are the colours of the new right hand beyond the Ruby Obelisk .
Lines 54 -58 show how each hermetic element is slowed down, canceled or sped up .

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Crystal Kether Ain Soph Aur
Yellow Tipareth Sol
Purple Yesod Luna
Silver Binah Pluto
Indigo Chesed Saturn
Sapphire Sheol
Aqua Detzniyutha Neptune
Green Netzach Venus
Gold Chokmah  Jupiter
Topaz Merkabah
Orange Hod  Mercury
Red Geburah Mars
Rose Daath Uranus
4  in 1 Malkuth

http://www.yellow.co.nz/site/buildersoftheadytum/images/Tree%20of%20Life.jpg
http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Tree_of_Life
http://www.revelation2seven.org/UsedImages/ChristMystery.gif
Date Posted: June  8, 2006, 03:13:33 PMThis fourth  elemental set represents the right  foot of the magician.The bread brown is EARTH  . The olive green is AIR . The buttermilk pale yellow is FIRE .The wine lavender is WATER .

XIV Temperance .....................XV Devil.............................XVI Tower.............................XVII Star
..................................................................................

Patience builds the dreams of man ...Chains you grasped to change your life ....Blessed with truth and has no fear.......Release your fears and look ahead   
Maintain balance while you plan ........now hold you tight and cause you strife ..Faith hold's strong when trouble's near..Today is new the past is dead   

....................................... ...........Reverse Meaning................................ ............................

Too much too soon can ruin it all ....Listen to your higher voice ...................The karmic force will clear away .........Inspiration , hope and health
Without foundations you will fall .....Change your ways you have the choice ..the debris caused by yesterday .........Spiritual gifts beyond one's self 

XIV..Temperance...Uv Purple ....WATER...Magnetic.....Female......Ql ippoth of Chesed
An angel pours liquid from one vessel to another . The golden urn is solar , embodied by a lion and the silver vessel is lunar embodied by a crescent . Together they symbolise the harmonious mix of masculine and feminine . The mysteriously androgenous features of the angel resemble those of John the Baptist in the painting by Leonardo da Vinci . On the forehead is a solar disk . The angel's wings denote alchemical ablution . On the left is a wilted flower and on the right is a scene of Christ's Baptism as the dove of the Holy Spirit descends . The Baptism scene is taken from a fresco by the artist in the church of Santa Croce in Verona , Italy .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Moderation . Temperance . Patience. Accomplishments through self -control and frugality . Accomodation. Harmony . The mixing of bringing together into perfect union. Management . Compatibility . Fusion . Adjustment . Good Influence. Consolidation . Ability to utilize the material and intellectual manifestations available to oneself . Possibly a person without excessive tendencies . A well -liked highly regarded person . Confidence and placidity . Possibly being too temperate and moderate to achieve a goal presently out of reach .

REVERSED MEANINGS :  Discord . Disunion . Conflict of Interest . Hostility . Inability to work with others . Difficulty in understanding others . Impatience . Frustration .
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XV ..Devil .............UV Orange...FIRE........Electro Magnetic..Male.........Qlippoth of Kether
The body of the Devil embraces the four elements his wings symbolise air , his orange horns symbolise fire , his  red face symbolises earth and the scales on his legs symbolise water .A mouth on his belly mockingly protrudes a red tongue . His wings and the star on his forehead indicate that once the Devil was one of the angels of heaven known as Luicfer the "bringer of light " . In his left hand the Devil holds a sword without a hilt as a symbol of unleasehed sexuality , and his fiery right hand makes the occult sign of greeting. Two horns and animal ears add to the bestial quality of the creature . Female breasts indicate that the Devil is not really a he but a hermaphrodite having attributes of both genders .  A gold  male demon and a green female demon at his feet also emphasize that both sexes can take on the qualities of the Devil . They dance the tango , a dance of sensuousness , and they are tethered to the Devil's pedestal with golden ropes . Three steps on which the demons feet are placed , symbolise hierarchy and diabolic initiation . Flames leap through fissures on the stony floor .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Subordination , ravage , bondage, malevolence , subservience , downfall , wierd experience , bad outside influence or advice , black magick , Unexpected failure . Seeming inability to realise one's goals . Dependence upon another person that leads to unhappiness.Violence , shock , fatality , self punishment , temptation to evil , self destruction , disaster , astral influence . The tearing apart of self expression to such an extent that one becomes ineffectual . An ill-tempered person . Lack of humour except at another's expense , a lack of principles.

REVERSED MEANINGS :  Release from bondage . Throwing off shackles. Respite , divorce , recognition of one's needs by another person . Overcoming handicaps . The beginning of spiritual understanding . The first steps towards enlightenment.

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XVI..Falling Tower...UV Red ...EARTH...Electro Magnetic............Male......Qlippoth of Daath
With foundations set in sand , the Tower is made of seven cubical stories , like the Tower of Babel . There are three doors , the Gothis door at the top representing faith and the square door on the lower left representing experience . The tip of an obelisk emerges from the top of the tower, and the mushroom cloud that expands evokes nuclear catastrophe . Satellies , bombs , stars , and debris fall through the sky . A king falls on the left , he is shaped like the Hebrew letter ayin . Another figure , motionless on the ground is struck on the neck with a brick .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Complete and sudeen change , breakdown of old beliefs ,abandonment of past relationships , severing of a friendship . Calamity , misery , disillusionment , bankruptcy , termination , downfall , undoing , diisruption , loss of stability , a sudden event that destroys trust , loss of security , loss of love and affection , setback , terrible change .

REVERSED MEANINGS :  Continued oppression , following old ways , living in a rut , inability to effect any worthwhile change entrapment in an unhappy situation ,imprisonment

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XVII Star....UV Green ...Heavens Air...Magnetic...........Female......Ke ther
A young woman kneels on the edge of a pond . Her long blond hair flows around her naked body to meet the ground perfectly . In her left hand is a Doric protogeometric vase , indicating Doric rusticness and simplicity . In her right hand is an Attic vase , reflecting elegance and fine intelligence . Above her are two stars , one with eight points and the other with five points and symbols of the seven planets of the ancients .Near her is a Rosicrucian rose which is reflected in the water . A raven perches on the rose as a personal sigil of the artist who was inspired by the star . Two hills are behind the woman and an acacia bush on one of the hills is a symbol of grace and love .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Hope , faith , inspiration , bright prospects , mxing fo the past and present , promising iopportunity , optimism , good omen , spiritual love , ascending star , astrological influence , accumulation of past knowledge for use in the present , results will soon come from energies expended. Fulfillment , satisfaction , the proper balancing of desire and work , hope and effort , love and expression , a favourable card suggesting that desire and energy are essential to happiness .

REVERSED MEANINGS :  unfulfilled hopes disappointment , pessimism , bad luck , lack of opportunity , stubborness , imbalence , conclusion of an unsatisfactory business experience or friendship

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XVIII Moon.........................XIX Sun.................................... ....XX Judgement.............................. ..........XXI World
....................................... ........................................ ........................................ .


Deep inside you will know...................Attainment Joy and Happiness ?..........New vibrations let you see ..........Free to choose your path at last   
Change has come though it won't show.With Sun in spread the answer's yes ..exactly what you'd like to be ......you've learned your lessons in the past   

....................................... ...........................Reverse Meaning................................ ....................................... ..

Make no judgement at this date ........A sense of failure , loss involved ..........the soul is tired and feeling low .......Afraid of change and insecure
things will clear up if you wait  ..........apply yourself till problem's solved.........would like to know which way to go..lack of vision will keep you poor   

XVIII..Moon..Silver or Purple ....WATER...Magnetic.....Female......Ch okmah or Yesod

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Shadows play over a scene lit only by the moon . Anubis , the Egyptian God of the Dead sits in the form of an elegant violet dog at the foot of a tower , Across from him a wolf howls . On one tower is an astrologer from ancient times and on the other tower is Galileo's telescope . Drops of moisture fall from clouds lit by a crescent moon with masculine features . A huge crayfish emerges from a murky pond in the foreground . 

REVERSED MEANINGS : Deception , twilight , obscurity , trickery , danger , error , a warning , bad influence , ulterior motives , insincerity , false friends , double dealing , false pretenses , disgrace , slander , superficiality , unknown enemies , the meeting of many divergent influences , falling into a trap failure to avoid dangers unforeseen changes in plants. 

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XIX..Sun..Gold or Yellow ....FIRE...Electro Magnetic.....Male......Binah or Tipareth

A white horse bears a young boy and girl .The boy is Hercules and he carries the Sun over his head while the girl holds a distaff . The white horse is a symbol o that which serves love and it dances in a circle of paradisiacal flowers . A lyre symboll of the Grreek Sun God Apollo leans on the wall and on the other sides is an egg recalling the virtue and love of the twin brothers Castor and Pollux who born from a singel egg . A sturdy wall enclosed the scene .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: Satisfaction , contnentment , success , favorable social relationships , love , joy devotion , unselfish sentiment , engagement , a happy marriage , pleasure in daily existence , earthly happiness the contentment derived from extending oneself to another person . A good friend , high spirits , warmth , sincerity , the rewards of a enw firendship , pleasure from simple things , achievemnet in the arts , acceptance of life .

REVERSED MEANINGS : unhappiness , loneliness , possibly a broken engagement or marriage , canceled plans , triumph delayed although not necessarily lost , clouded future , lack of friendship

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Judgement ; A city of tombs is awakened by the trumpet blast of an angel . A woman and two men , one very old , emerge from three of the tombs , while hands groping from other tombs recall the imagery of the Death card . The hair of the angel spirals and whirls , while its billowing clothes and the clouds surrounding it are like the swan constellation of the Milky Way Galaxy .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:  Atonement . Judgement . The need to forgive to repent . The moment oto account for the manner in which we have used our opportunities . The possibility that present conduct toward people is unfair and unkind . Rejuvenation . Rebirth . Effort that ends in just reward . The desire for immortality . The possibility exists that someone is taking unfair advantage which they will come to regret . A lawsuit or personal conflict is concluded .

REVERSED MEANINGS : Del;ay . disappointment , failure to face facts , procrastination , theft , alienation of affection deep worry .

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XX..World ..4 in 1 .................Malkuth
A young girl , almost a child stands nude in the middle of a wreath , She holds two wants , one black , one white , The wreath around her is composed of flowers and fruit and is twined with the alchemical snake . At the corners are the symbols fo the elements and of the planets . Stars are above , near an angel and an eagle and clous billow fire bleow near a lion and a bull the animals of the sphinx . Medieval symbolism matches the lion with the element firs and the evangelist St . Mark , the bull with earth and St. Luke the angel or human with air and ST . Matthew .and the eagel with water and ST . John .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:  Attachment , completion , perfection , recognition , honors , ultimate change , the end result of all efforts , success , assurance , synthesis , fulfillment , triumph in understaking s, the rewards that come from hard work . the path of liberation . eternal life , admiration of others , inheritance , the outcome of events in spirt of other signs this is very favourable especially if surrounded by other favourable cards

REVERSED MEANINGS : imperfection , failure to complete the task one starts , lack of vision , failure .

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O Fool.........................I Magician
.....................

You have the power to use your will ...Through God's love let all men know 
Choose with wisdom be soul still  ........All is given , blessings flow
....................................Rev erse Meaning................................ ....................................... ..

If discontent is all you know l .............Hidden truths and cunning ways
Check back in time it will show  ..........can hurt your life in coming days 

0..Fool.......UV Orange....FIRE.......Electro Magnetic.........Male......Hod
The fool dressed in ragged clothes stands dangerously near an abyss . On his head ar feathers , white for the suit of swords , red for wands , aqua for cups and gold for coins . he carries a rough stick over his left shoulder. On the end fo the stick is a pig's bladder symbolising St. Roch , a victim of the plague who wandered in the wilderness as an outcast . In the fool's right hand is another stick . A small lion leaps fiercely on his leg and a wilted flower with thorny petals is at his feet. A crocodile lurks in the abysss among pieces of a broken obelisk .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS: a new adventure , enthusiasm , initiative , unlimited possiblilties , pleasure , passion , frenzy obsession , mania , folly , thoughtlessness , lack of discipline , immaturity , irrationality , frivolity , inconsiderateness , delirium , spontaneity , levity , exhibitionism , unrestrained excess , carelessness in promises , infatuation , indiscretion , tendency to start a project without carefully considering all the details . Reluctance to listen to advice from other people.

REVERSED MEANINGS ; faulty choice or bad decision , indecision , apathy , hesitation , failure to diligently proceed , ignoring opportunities

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1..Magician..UV Purple ....WATER...Magnetic................... Female......Qlippoth of Hod
Magus ;  ayoung man dressed in red stands at at three legged table , his hat is luxurious and wide birmmed symbolising the triumph of thought and intellect .. On the table are symbols of three tarot suits sword, cup and coins and in his hand is a wand . The wilted flower that was at the feet of the Fool is now revived and the stony ground resembles the skin of the crocodile which the magus has conquered through will .

DIVINATORY MEANINGS : Originality , creativity , free will , imagination , self -reliance , skill , will power , self -confidence , dexterity , ingenuity , flexibility , craft , guile , masterfulness , self -control , trickery , deception , sleight of hand , unity of though and emotion . Determination to see a task through to completion , ability to influence other people .

REVERSED MEANING: Weakness of will . ineptitude , insecurity , disquiet , delay , lack of imagination , the use of one's skills for destructive ends . willpower applied to evil end's

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[Aunt Clair]

This is an article about the manifestation of the enigma jewel in the nexus of the wheel which is in the centre of what was the abyss . It is about the unlocking of the ladder which is the stairway to heaven . The ladder is joined end to end in time when the abyss can be crossed by lengthening it to form a circle of stones , an ouroborous . As the ladder needs to become long enought to bend end to end so does our energy body .
chakras/ front , rear ,  left , right stones
...............................white / silver 
.........chartreuse.................... .....
violet. .............purple...................
indigo.......................sapphire.. .....
blue... plat. blue....................emerald
green...............aqua ...................
yellow.yellow .............amber .........
orange. ...........topaz.....................
red.....salmon........................r uby 
.......................rose...black /  gold  ;white on black closed , gold on silver open

http://www.riverofenlightenment.com/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=22
As above so below...

The alpha and the omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet meaning the beginning and the end .As a biblical name of God . "I am the alpha and the omega "

and...Each of the realms is found at least 3 times ; once in the heart where the entire cosmos resides , once on the energy body , once external to the body in a spiritual plane .Inside , on and outside

So Kether is shown as the crown , above the head of the magician , and it is the light of Godhead above the universal mind above the Higher Planes .

Malkuth is Earth , it is the Earth Stone initially in the belly of the magician at the completion of the Great Work . But as the body of the Magician lengthens on every turn of the wheel , the earth becomes under the feet in the golden mystic heart of the magician . Then the earth must be found again . Below the Hell of Brimstone lies the more merciful Hels and below that the magico-elemental realm . Pierce its sky and come back to Kether .

The hanged man hangs feet to feet, upside down, below the magician . At his golden crown ,is another head ,that of the hermit . Go to his feet and find the new earth .Break through with his toe and that is the deeper Hels of the cosmic tree of Life beyond the Earth Logos .

Now where does the Hermit stand ? His feet stand , on the feet of the pope . And when heaven is in hell and hell is in heaven ,when each sun has a moon and each moon has a sun ,then the empress is revealed head to head with the pope . She is beauteous akasha , the silver moon .

O Fair Juliet become Persephone and cry at your rape as does your mother moody Ceres . Where does she stand ? She is Persephone in Hel . She is standing on nothing . Will she fall into the void ?

The fair moon must rise from the Valley of the Shadow of Death and greet her grieving mother once more . Here comes Hades the Emperor who relents 6 months of the year . So the Empress bades 4 knights to raise her from Hell to return to Earth .

Now she will have her ladies in waiting . Every yin has its yang . 4 ladies come to the court and greet the 4 knights. Justice sits in the mirror one half in the white cube , one half in the black . Temperance is the pomegranite also on the Ephod 6 months to grieve , 6 months to harvest and be with mother Ceres . Out comes the sun Hurrah ! . Here cries the moon half in bliss , half in agony .

These tarot cards demonstrate the lengthening of the ouroborous , as the cosmic stones are beaded like a necklace becoming longer and longer finally there is no void and the nouse is revealed .This elemental understanding is different than the one above ,btw .

Where the nouse is ,there is no clutter, just syncronicity . This is the sweet spot of manifestation . The Magician and his 3 mates are the 4 primary hermetic elements . They sing to the Empress Akasha on the right thumb of the magician . One hand cannot clap well . Where is the left ? The golden amoris is the Emperor and the 4 Ladies in Waiting have come to his court to see the wedding .
What happens next how shall the mirror yield 10 stones of light and 10 of shadow a nexus and a nouse ? The enigma Jewel is the answer .

The path is eternal and infinite .

When the magician can bring the white cube to crown the black and make the silver Empress of the Moon wed the golden Emperor of the Sun that is the infinity gate made of the fingers on both of the magician's hands . The eternity gate is 10 more they are the qlippoth the toes of the magician .

When the nouse is the centre of the infinity gate and that nestles in the nexus of the eternity gate then the crystal of the enigma jewel grows in the heart of the magician and is the key to manifestation . To come to this sweet spot , manifest 10 stones of light on the mirror and have 10 more of shadow thru the mirrors.

The light watcher merges with the dark water re integrating like the skexis and the mage of the Dark Crystal film . They walk into the nexus together and close the void in the Valley of Death . There is no abyss, here .

As the energy body extends to form the necklace of cosmic stones . The eternity loop comes to the gate. The void becomes more orderly less chaotic and easier to traverse . The nexus is found where the right hand meets the left , where the alpha is omega , heaven is in hell and heaven is in hell .
The tarot here represent the fingers of the right and left hand of the magician.The energy body begins as the magician in the tree of life and soon includes the  tree of death as the hanged man below . 

10 Temperance ~ lion & unicorn left middle aqua air  ....................
9 Priestess~left pinky purple water ....................................... ....
8 Force ~ Demeter gets her way ~left ring amber fire....................
7 Justice ~left index rose earth.................................. ...............
==============================================
6 By Emperor Hades ~golden left thumb amoris ..........................
********************************************** NEXUS
5 Empress Persephone raped & married ~ silver right thumb akasha
===============================================
1 We begin as the magician~right middle red earth ..................
2 on which stands the hanged man ~ right pinky orange fire.......
3 beneath him comes the hermit ~right ring indigo water ...........
4 then the pope brings heaven to hell ~right index green air.......

[Aunt Clair]

from 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
citation ;
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Cards,_playing

CARDS, PLAYING. As is the case with all very ancient pastimes, the origin of playing-cards is obscure, many nations having been credited with the invention, but the generally accepted view is that they come from Asia. In the Chinese dictionary, Ching-tsze-tung (1678), it is said that cards were invented in the reign of Sèun-ho, 1120 A D, for the amusement of his concubines.

There is a tradition that cards have existed in India from time immemorial—very ancient ones, round in form, are preserved in museums—and that they were invented by the Brahmans. http://www.epicindia.com/magazine/Culture/arundhati-and-saptarishis-an-eight-suited-ninety-six-card-moghul-ganjifa

Their invention has also been assigned to the Egyptians, with whom they were said to have had a religious meaning, and to the Arabs. A very ingenious theory, founded on numerous singular resemblances to the ancient game of chess (chaturanga, the four angas or members of an army), has been advanced that they were suggested by chess (see “Essay on the Indian Game of Chess,” by Sir William Jones, in his Asiatic Researches, vol. ii.).

The time and manner of the introduction of cards into Europe are matters of dispute. The 38th canon of the council of Worcester (1240) is often quoted as evidence of cards having been known in England in the middle of the 13th century; but the games de rege et regina there mentioned are now thought to have been a kind of mumming exhibition (Strutt says chess). No queen is found in the earliest European cards. In the wardrobe accounts of Edward I. (1278), Walter Stourton is paid 8s. 5d. ad opus regis ad ludendum ad quatuor reges, a passage which has been thought to refer to cards, but it is now supposed to mean chess, which may have been called the “game of four kings,” as was the case in India (chaturaji). If cards were generally known in Europe as early as 1278, it is very remarkable that Petrach, in his dialogue that treats gaming, never once mentions them; and that, though Boccaccio, Chaucer and other writers of that time notice various games, there is not a single passage in them that can be fairly construed to refer to cards. Passages have been quoted from various works, of or relative to this period, but modern research leads to the supposition that the word rendered cards has often been mistranslated or interpolated. An early mention of a distinct series of playing cards is the entry of Charles or Charbot Poupart, treasurer of the household of Charles VI. of France, in his book of accounts for 1392 or 1393, which runs thus: Donné à Jacquemin Gringonneur, peintre, pour trois jeux de cartes, à or et à diverses couleurs, ornés de plusieurs devises, pour porter devers le Seigneur Roi, pour son ébatement, cinquante-six sols parisis. This, of course, refers only to the painting of a set or pack of cards, which were evidently already well known. But, according to various conjectural interpretations of documents, the earliest date of the mention of cards has been pushed farther back by different authorities. For instance, in the account-books of Johanna, duchess of Brabant, and her husband, Wenceslaus of Luxemburg, there is an entry, under date of the 14th of May 1379, as follows: “Given to Monsieur and Madame four peters, two florins, value eight and a half moutons, wherewith to buy a pack of cards” (Quartspel met te copen). This proves their introduction into the Netherlands at least as early as 1379. In a British Museum MS. (Egerton, 2, 419) mention is made of a game of cards (qui ludus cartarum appellatur) in Germany in 1377. The safe conclusion with regard to their introduction is that, though they may possibly have been known to a few persons in Europe about the middle of the 14th century, they did not come into general use until about a half-century later. Whence they came is another question that has not yet been answered satisfactorily.

If we may believe the evidence of Covelluzzo of Viterbo (15th century) cards were introduced into Italy from Arabia. On the authority of a chronicle of one of his ancestors he writes: “In the year 1379 was brought into Viterbo the game of cards, which comes from the country of the Saracens, and is with them called naib.”

The Crusaders, who were inveterate gamblers, may have been the instruments of their introduction (see Istoria della città di Viterbo, by F. Bussi, Rome, 1743). According to other authorities, cards came first to Spain from Africa with the Moors, and it is significant that, to this day, playing cards are called in Spain naipes (probably a corruption of the Arabic Nabi, prophet). Taken in connexion with the statement of Covelluzzo, this fact would seem to prove the wide popularity of the game of naib, or cards, among the Arab tribes. The meaning of the word (prophet) has been suggested to refer to the fortune-telling function of cards, and the theory has been advanced that they were used by the Moorish gypsies for that purpose. Gypsies are, however, not known to have appeared in Spain before the 15th century, at a time when cards were already well known. In regards to the word naib, the Italian language still preserves the name naibi, playing cards.

Towards the end of the 14th century cards seem to have become common, for in an edict of the provost of Paris, 1397, working-people are forbidden to play at tennis, bowls, dice, cards or nine-pins on working days. From an omission of any mention of cards in an ordonnance of Charles V. in 1369, forbidding certain other games, it may be reasonably concluded that cards became popular in France between that date and the end of the century. In Italy it is possible that they were generally known at a somewhat earlier date. In the 15th century they were often the object of the attacks of the clergy. In 1423 St Bearnardino of Siena preached a celebrated sermon against them at Bologna, in which, like the English Puritans after him, he attributed their invention to the devil. Cards in Germany are referred to in a manuscript of Nuremberg about 1384, which illustrates the rapid spread of the new game throughout Europe. In form the earliest cards were generally rectangular or square, though sometimes circular.

Not long after their introduction, cards began to be used for other purposes than gaming. In 1509 a Franciscan firar, Thomas Murner, published an expositoni of logic in the form of a pack of cards, and a pack invented in 1651 by Baptist Pendleton purported to convey a knowledge of grammar. These were soon followed by packs teaching geography and heraldry, the whole class being called “scientiall cards.” Politics followed, and in England satirical and historical sets appeared, one of them designed to reveal the plots of the Popish agitators. The first mention of cards in the New World is found in the letters of Herrera, a companion of Cortes, who describes the interest manifested by the Aztecs in the card games of the Spanish soldiers.

Early in the 15th century the makin of cards had become a regular trade in Germany, whence they were sent to other countries. Cards were also manufactured in Italy at least as early as 1425, and in England before 1463; for by an act of parliament of 3 Edw. IV. the importation of playing cards is forbidden, in consequence, it is said, of the complaints of manufacturers that importation obstructed their business. No cards of undoubted English manufacture of so early a date have been discovered; and there is reason to believe, notwithstanding the act of Edward IV., that the chief supplies came from France or the Netherlands.In the reign of Elizabeth the importation of cards was a monopoly; but from the time of James I. most of the cards used in this country were of home manufacture. A duty was first levied on cards in the reign of James I.; since when they have always been taxed.

It has been much disputed whether the earliest cards were printed from wood-blocks. If so, it would appear that the art of wood-engraving, which led to that of printing, may have been developed through the demand for the multiplication of implements of play. The belief that the early card-makers or card-painters of Ulm, Nuremberg and Augsburg, from about 1418–1450, were also wood-engravers, is founded on the assumption that the cards of that period were printed from wood-blocks. It is, however, clear that the earliest cards were executed by hand, like those designedfor Charles VI. Many of the earliest wood-cuts were coloured by means of a stencil, so it would seem that a the time wood-engraving was first introduced, the arto of depicting and clouring figures by means of stencil plates was well known. There are no playing cards engraved on wood to which so early a date as 1423 (that of the earliest dated wood-engraving generally accepted) can be fairly assigned; and as at this period there were professional card-makers established in Germany, it is probable that wood-engraving was employed to produce cuts for sacred subjects before it was applied to cards, and that there were hand-painted and stencilled cards before there were wood-engravings of saints. The German Briefmaler or card-painter probably progressed into the wood-engraver; but there is no proof that the earliest wood-engravers were the card-makers.

It is undecided whether the earliest cards were of the kind now common, called numeral cards, or whether they were tarocchi or tarots, which are still used in some parts of France, Germany and Italy, but the probability is that the tarots were the earlier A pack of tarots consists of seventy eight cards, four suits of numberal cards and twenty-two emblematic cards, called atutti or atouts (= trumps). Each suit consists of fourteen cards, ten of which are the pip cards, and four court (or more properly coat cards), viz. king, queen, chevalier and valet. The atouts are numbered from 1 to 21; the unnumbered cards, called the fou, has no positive value, but augments that of the other atouts (see Académie des jeux, Corbet, Paris 1814, for an account of the mode of playing tarocchino or tarots).

The marks of the suits on the earliest cards (German) are hearts, bells leaves and acorns. No ace corresponding the earliest known pack has been discovered; but other packs of about the same date have aces, and it seems unlikely that the suits commenced with the deuces.

Next in antiquity to the marks mentioned are swords, batons, cups and money. These are the most common on Italian cards of the late 15th century, and are used both in Italy and in Spain. French cards of the 16th century bear the marks now generally used in France and England, viz. cœur (hearts), trèfle (clubs), pique (spades) and carreau (diamonds).

The French trèfle, though so named from its resemblance to the trefoil leaf, was in all probability copied from the acorn; and the pique similarly from the leaf (grun) [sic!] of the German suits, while its name is derived from the sword of the Italian suits. It is not derived from its resemblance to a pike head, as commonly supposed. In England the French marks are used, and are named—hearts, clubs (corresponding to trèfle, the French symbol being joined to the Italian name, bastoni), spades (corresponding the the French pique, but having the Italian name, spade=swords) and diamonds. This confusion of names and symbols is accounted for by Chatto thus—“If cards were actually known in Italy and Spain in the latter part of the 14th century, it is not unlikely that the game was introduced into this country by some of the English soldiers who had served, under Hawkwood and other free captains, in the wars of Italy and Spain. However this may be, it seems certain that the earliest cards commonly used in this country were of the same kind, with respect to the marks of the suits, as those used in Italy and Spain.”

About the last quarter of the 15th century, packs with animals, flowers and human figures, for marks of the suits, were engraved uppon copper, and later, numerous variations appeared, dictated by the caprice of individual card makers, but they never came into general use.

The court cards of the early packs were king, chevalier and knave. The Italians were probably the first to substitute a queen for the chevalier, who in French cards is altogether superseded by the queen. The court cards of French packs received fanciful names, which varied from time to time.

Authorities—Abbé Rive, Éclaircissements sur l'invention des cartes à jouer (Paris, 1780), J. G. I. Breitkopf, Versuch den Ursprung der Spielkarten zu erforschen (Leipzig, 1784), Samuel Weller Singer, Researches into the History of Playing Cards, with Illustrations of the Origin of Pringing and Engraving on Wood (London 1816); G. Peignot, Analyse critique et raisonnée de toutes les recherches publiées jusqu\à ce jour, sur l'origine des cartes à jouer (Dijon, 1826); M. C. Leber, Études historiques sur les cartes à jouer, principalement sur les cartes françaises (Paris, 1842), William Andrew Chatto, Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards (London, 1848); P. Boiteau D'Ambly, Les Cartes à jouer et la cartomancie (Paris, 1854), translated into English with additions under the title of The History of Playing Cards, with Anecdotes of their use in Conjuring, Fortune-telling, and Card-sharping, edited by the Rev. E. S. Taylor, B A. (London 1865); W. Hughes Willshire, M.D., A Descriptive Catalogue of Playing and other Cards in the British Museum, printed by order of the trustees (London, 1876); Origine des cartes à jouer, by R. Merlin (Paris, 1869); The Devil's Picture Books, by Mrs J K. Van Rensselaer (New York, 1890); Bibliography of Works in English on Playing Cards and Gaming, by F. Jessel (London, 1905), and especially Les Cartes à jouer, by Henri René d'Allemagne (Paris, 1906) (an exhaustive account).

[Aunt Clair]

citation ; http://thefoolsjourney.net/index.htm

The Fool's Journey

http://thefoolsjourney.net/images/fj-map-red-bkgnd.jpg

http://thefoolsjourney.net/images/fj-map-red-bkgnd.jpg

The map is in two parts. The external world is depicted on the left side. Four cards describe our outer world: The Tower, The Wheel of Fortune, The Hanging Man and The Devil. These are called the Hell Cards to express the idea that this world is imperfect; indeed, it is pure hell for many people. (Of course there are also wonderful things about it. Just that its not all wonderful, although it could be.)

This is where The Fool starts out. But by his or her very nature, there is no satisfaction here. Something important is missing, something higher, more meaningful, and this is what The Fool seeks. The nature of the journey is to leave this world, and the direction of the journey is inward.

The center oval represents this inward journey in seven stages. The oval or eye (perhaps you see eye is equivalent to "I") proceeds from left to right. The seven stages are named across the bottom: Portal, Inner Knowledge, and so on. the first and last stage are represented by one card each; the other stages are represented by two cards, one at the top of the eye and one at the bottom. For example, the second stage consists of the cards The Hierophant and The Moon Pool. Each card represents one aspect of the work to be done in that stage.

In the center of the eye are five cards. The World represents the higher, spiritual realms and suffuses the entire diagram, including the outer world (where it is largely concealed from ordinary states of consciousness). In the metaphor we use in the Fool's Journey, this state is symbolized by the union of Shiva and Shakti. It is this androgynous being that is depicted on most versions of this card. The entire journey may be seen as coming into resonance with this being, or - what is the same thing - uniting Shiva and Shakti within oneself.

Four final cards appear in a circle around The World. They are Awakening (known as Judgement in most decks), The Chariot, Transference (known as Temperance), and The Lovers. (I have changed the names of several of the cards where the usual name was incorrect or wrongly emphasized. This was necessary because some of the original names were given to hide their real meanings from the prevailing forces in Europe at the time, i.e. the Roman Church.) These cards are more global in effect than the outer cards, or are catalysts that originate outside the individuality of The Fool during the journey.

[Aunt Clair]

Tracing the links between Indian mysticism and Tarot

citation ;http://www.tarotindia.com/links/museo2008.html

Tracing the history of anything can never be an easy task. Amalgamating all the bits and pieces of articles and information, we only arrive at theories and evidence that only point out to one fact - human life has evolved and grown, not in isolated pockets of earth, but through a generous interchange and intermixing of cultures through several thousands of years. When it comes to something as mystical as Tarot is believed to be, is the history only limited to the earliest evidence of the printed trump cards, or to the invention of playing cards, or the invention of paper, or the invention of games or pictorial art with similar concepts, or to the related occult and mystical arts or the history of spiritual knowledge?

Whether we speak of the serpent energy or kundalini, or the dragon, sepiroths of the tree of life, the wheel of life, or chakras from the root to the crown, the snake near the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, or the Caduceus, the elements or the tattwas and panchamahabhutas, the Egyptian cross of Horus, the Swastika, the holy cross, the Shiva lingam, the yin and yang, prakriti and purusha, Ardhnarishvara, the Star of David or the yantras, the trinity of goddess or the trinity of gods or the holy trinity, Pashupati, the horned god or the devil, there are too many overlaps and parallelisms between the east and the west. It often leads to the debate of what came first - the chicken or the egg? Ancient Indian culture, philosophy including but not necessarily limited to the vedas, contain esoteric and spiritual messages, concepts and symbols that have influenced all over the world, religions, traditions, art, beliefs and knowledge throughout the ages.

Yet India is not credited enough for its several scientific and spiritual discoveries.

Aryabhatt the first to proclaim the earth was round, rotating on an axis, orbiting the sun and suspended in space (around 1,000 years before Copernicus.) He also calculated pi to four decimal places, developed the trigonomic sine table and the area of a triangle

Sage Nagarjuna was an ancient chemist who used alchemical metals developed for medicinal usage. Sage Parashara (100 BCE) is called the "father of botany" because he classified flowering plants into various families, nearly 2,000 years before Lannaeus (the modern father of taxonomy).

Brahmagupta, in the 7th century had said about gravity that "Bodies fall towards the earth as it is in the nature of the earth to attract bodies, just as it is in the nature of water to flow".

About a hundred years before Brahmagupta, another astronomer, Varahamihira had claimed for the first time perhaps that there should be a force which might be keeping bodies stuck to the earth, and also keeping heavenly bodies in their determined places.

Bhaskaracharya in his book Surya Siddhanta discusses the force of gravity, 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton

Einstein's concept that one can travel faster than the speed of light was written about centuries before in the ancient Vedic literature

Ancient Indian Civilization
The Indus Valley civilisation (also referred to as Harappan civilization) is said to rivals Mesopotamia and Egypt as the earliest civilization (origins theorized to be dated to 6000 BCE and estimated to have flourished at its peak between 2600-1800 B.C after which it is said to have vanished mysteriously before the supposed Aryan invasion). Translation of the Harappan script is in progress and their directional town planning and tablet inscriptions and pictures indicate their knowledge of astronomy.

According to a discovery made in the Gulf of Cambay, western India, another civilization said to be over 9,500 years old (ruins found 40 to 120 feet under sea level) indicate what could be the mother of Harappan culture and the most ancient of all civilizations.

Astrology and astronomy:
Earliest references to astronomy are believed to be in the Rig Veda, which are dated 2000 BC. During next 2500 years, by 500 AD, ancient Indian astronomy emerged as an important part of Indian studies and astronomical principles were used in casting of horoscopes. In ancient Indian astronomers had recognized that stars are same as the sun (sanskrit shloka "Sarva Dishanaam, Suryaha, Suryaha, Suryaha." - in all directions there are Suns), that the sun is center of our universe (solar system) and that the circumference of the earth is 5000 Yojanas (One Yojana being 7.2 kms., the ancient Indian estimates came close to the actual figure). The ancient Indian term for gravity is gurutvakarshan (attraction to the guru) which may have referred to the attraction of earth, known as the female mother principle to the sun which was revered as the male god principle. Tarot incorporates astrological concepts.

Numbers and Mathematics:
Indian mathematicians introduced the concept of zero, the techniques of algebra and algorithm, decimal system, square root and cube root and Geometry, called Rekha-Ganita in ancient India, (during the age of the Islamic Renaissance and the Arabs these techniques were generally improved upon eg. Arabs coined the name 'Al-Jabr' meaning 'the reunion of broken parts' with 'Al' meaning 'The' & 'Jabr' mean 'reunion', indicating that they took it from an external source and amalgamated it with their concepts about mathematics.) The so called Arab numerals are in fact of Indian origin. The technique of algebr as well as many others could have then been passed on to the west at the time of crusades that resulted in a massive exchange of ideas and concepts. Tarot is much based on numerology.

Zero:
Zero represents a fundamental concept in the Tarot trumps, which are twined in the Fool's journey. The inclusion of zero in mathematics opened a plethora of computational possibilities and the concept of negative numerals. Zero was called Pujyam (to be worshipped) that takes one through the journey into the void of eternity (Nirvana) that may be the essence of the World card. Zero was called Shunya, while the Arabs refer to it as Sifr or Siphra, from which the English term Cipher, sphere and sephiroths derive. The decimal system is based on the incorporation of zero.

Chess:
Chess is believed to have originated in Sindh in ancient India (the oldest pieces dating 3000 BC were excavated from the site of Mohenjodaro in Sind). It was called Chaturanga, (mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata dated around 500 BC). The name chatarang could be an amalgamation of the Indian words 'Chatur' meaning four and 'anga' meaning parts. This corresponds with the concept of four suits in card games. The Persians created a modern version and named in Shatranj and the game continued in Spanish as ajedrez and in Greek as zatrikion. The entrance of chess into Europe, notably, is marked by a massive improvement in the powers of the queen. Tarot's history has been linked with chess.

Playing cards:
It is usually thought that Tarot is distinguished from ordinary playing cards with respect to occult symbolism. On the contrary, the deck of regular playing cards may indeed hold metaphysical significance with the four suits that may be representing the four elements or the seasons, the 13 cards per suit corresponding with the 13 phases of the lunar cycle, contrast of black and red for the masculine and feminine principles and the 52 cards of the deck standing for the number of weeks in a year. The Joker itself has been compared with The Fool card of the Major Arcana of Tarot. The total value obtained when the value of each card plus one for joker is added, corresponds with 365 days of the year.

Ancient, round and intricate Indian cards were used for the game of Ganjifa (sometimes said to be dated as far back as 7th century AD), and also similar and much earlier (pre-Mughal) cards called Kridapatram, whose meaning is more or less "painted rags for playing".

The composition of such decks was apparently based upon the numeral twelve (the original number of suits, each of which was made of this same number of subjects, and used signs such as horses, elephants, men, and the like). In Dasavatara Ganjifa, there are ten suits of twelve cards with an upper court card, Raja, a lower court card, Pradhan or Mantri, and ten numerals in each suit.

The specialty of these cards is the depiction of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. The incarnation suits are: Matsya (symbol of fish), Kurma (symbol of turtle), Varaha (symbol of boar), Narasimha (symbol of lion), Vamana (symbol of water pot), Parashurama (symbol of axe), Rama (symbols of bow & arrow, or monkey), Krishna (symbol of quoit or cow), Buddha (symbol of conch) and Kalki (symbol of sword or horse).

The ancient Indian native board game Chaturanga, which later developed into its Persian form Shatranj or Chess, has been claimed as a possible source of inspiration for the Indian round cards. The Chaturanja represented four corps of the Indian army: elephant-riders, cavalry, foot-soldiers and charioteers (later on turned into "ships"); and with the exception of the latter, the remaining three were also among the suits of the Kridapatram cards the aim of the game of which seems also is to mimic a war but may be also depicting another esoteric concept.

One theory suggests that the Indian cards may have influenced the standard four suited playing card the origin of which is believed to be in China after the invention of paper. Trionfi was the Italian name for playing cards with trumps which is said to have developed into the Tarot cards. A card game popular in India is called by the name Turup meaning trump.

Vedas and Upanishads:
The term Veda is derived from 'Vid' (knowledge), and relates with the word 'wit' in English and vision in Latin. Regarded as the oldest surviving texts of humanity (newest parts of the Vedas are estimated to date back to around 500 BCE to 1500 BCE not accounting for the unascertained origins of the oral tradition), the Vedas comprise a collection of scriptures on powerful subjects from the material to the religious and spiritual. The Vedic understanding is based on the concept of reincarnation, which declares that the steps of the symbolical staircase of human ascension can also be understood as lifetimes.

The four Vedas, generally labeled as the original Vedic scriptures are known as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. Rig means ritual, and it contains mainly hymns and prayers (Mantras) in the worship of the universal forces called the demigods. Yajur means ceremony, and it mainly describes how to perform the rituals. Sama means singing; the scriptures of these categories contain many other mantras as well as strict rules how to chant these mantras according to mystic vibrations. Atharva means a priest who knows the secret lore;
Vedanta-sutra refers to 560 condensed aphorisms which define the Vedic truths in most general terms.

The Upanishads are spiritual texts that are woven into the four Vedas and lead to the Vedanta (the final knowledge of the Vedas). The word Upanishad relates to "sitting beneath," i.e. knowledge obtained from a spiritual teacher. These texts indicate that all material forms are transient; they are temporary manifestations of an eternal energy, which in itself is beyond material duality. They indicate the oneness behind the variety and inspire people engaged in the rituals of the Vedas to go beyond their short-term goals.

To highlight the parallelisms between Indian mysticism and Tarot, one may go as far as to suggest that the four suits of the tarot minors can be compared with the four Vedas (the total 56 cards relating with the 560 vedanta sutras) that relate to the more short-term ritualistic knowledge. The teaching of the Upanishads (the exact numbers of which are undetermined but said to be more than 200) are more akin to the tarot trumps that stand for the more powerful, spiritual and non-dualistic self-realizations.

[Aunt Clair]

Theory concerning Chess, round playing cards and Tarot origins from India

Citation; http://www.crystalinks.com/indiasports.html

The famous epic Mahabharata narrates an incidence where a game called Chaturang was played between two groups of warring cousins.

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiachess.gif

The age when epic Mahabharata was written is variously dated around 800 BC to 1000 BC. In some form or the other, the game continued till it evolved into chess. H. J. R. Murry, in his work titled A History of Chess, has concluded that chess is a descendant of an Indian game played in the 7th century AD.

The game of cards also developed in ancient India. Abul Fazal was a scholar in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar. In his book, Ain-e-Akbari, which is a mirror of life of that time, records game of cards is of Indian origins.Martial arts by the name of Kalaripayattu were a native of Kerala, a state of India. Kalaripayattu consists of a series of intricate movements that train the body and mind.

Chess

Chess originated in ancient India and was known as Chatur-Anga - Meaning 4 bodied, as it was played by 4 players. From this name we have its current name Shatranj. One such instance is in the Mahabharata when Pandavas and Kauravas play this game. Yudhistira the eldest of the Pandavas places his bets on his kingdom, his wife Draupadi and all other material possessions. And by a malevolent trick he loses to the Kauravas everything that he had placed his bets on. Consequently to humiliate the Pandavas, Dushasana one of the evil Kaurava brothers takes hold of Draupadi whom Yudhisthira has lost to the Kauravas, and tries to disrobe her in front of the assembled court. The Pandavas though powerful are helpless as they have lost Draupadi and according to the rules of the game they have no claim on her anymore.

In distress, Draupadi invokes Lord Srikrishna to come to her rescue. And in answer to her prayers the lord appears and in a miracle sends a continuous stream of apparel to clothe Draupadi's body. The evil Dushasana tires himself out trying to tear away Draupadi's clothes but he is powerless against the divine strength of Lord Srikrishna. After hours of struggling to achieve his evil intention he falls unconscious to the floor. Draupadi's honor is saved. In deference to Lord Srikrishna's wishes, the Kauravas relinquish their claim to Draupadi. But in return the Pandavas are obliged to relinquish their kingdom for fourteen years and go into exile in forests, after which they return and regain their from the Kauravas, but not before a devastating war is fought between the two clans on the battlefield of Kurutshetra.

The Mahabharata story throws light on the fact that a game similar to Chess was played in ancient India. The Mahabharata is variously dated around 800 and 1100 B.C. Thus this game was known in India nearly 3000 years ago. It is the view of some historians that this game was also used in the allocation of land among different members of a clan when a new settlement was being established.

The Indian origin of the game of chess is supported even by the Encyclopedia Britannica according to which, "About 1783-89 Sir. William Jones, in an essay published in the 2nd Vol. of Asiatic Researches, argued that Hindustan was the cradle of chess, the game having been known there from time immemorial by the name Chaturanga, that is, the four angas, or members of an army, which are said in the Amarakosha (an ancient Indian Dictionary - S.B.) to be elephants, horses, chariots and foot soldiers.

As applicable to real armies, the term Chaturanga is frequently used by the epic poets of India. Sir William Jones' essay is substantially a translation of the Bhawishya Purana, in which is given a description of a four-handed game of chess played with dice.

Sir William, however, grounds his opinions as to the Hindu origin of chess upon the testimony of the Persians and not upon the above manuscript. He lays it down that chess, under the Sanskrit name Chaturanga was exported from India into Persia in the 6th century of our era; that by a natural corruption, the old Persians changed the name into chatrang; but when their country was soon afterwards taken possession of by the Arabs, who had neither the initial nor the final letter of the word in their alphabet, they altered it further into Shatranj, which name found its way presently into modern Persian and ultimately into the dialects of India.

The further says that Wander Linde, in his exhaustive work, Geschichte and Litteraturdes Schachspiels (1874), has much to say of the origin-theories, nearly all of which he treats as so many myths. He agrees with those who consider that the Persians received the game from the Hindus.

The outcome of his studies appears to be that chess certainly existed in Hindustan in the 8th century, and that probably that country is the land of its birth. He inclines to the idea that the game originated among the Buddhists, whose religion was prevalent in India from the 3rd to the 9th century.

According to their ideas, war and slaying of one's own fellow-men, for any purpose whatever, is criminal, and the punishment of the warrior in the next world will be much worse than that of the simple murderer, hence chess was invented as a substitute for war.

H.J.R. Murry in his monumental work A History of Chess, concludes that chess is a descendant of an Indian game played in the 7th century.

According to the Encylopedia - altogether, therefore, we find the best authorities agreeing that chess existed in India before it is known to have been played anywhere else. In this supposition they are strengthened by the names of the game and some of its pieces. Shatranj as Forbes has pointed out, is a foreign word among the Persians and the Arabians, whereas its natural derivation from the term Chaturanga is obvious. Again affix the Arabic name for the bishop, means the elephant, derived from alephhind, the Indian elephant.

Even the word checkmate is derived from the Persian term Shah Mat which means 'the king is dead!'. The Sanskrit translation of this term would be Kshatra Mruta. Another term viz. 'the rooks' which is the name for one set of the counters used in chess, originated from the Persian term Roth which means a soldier. The Persian term according to the Encyclopedia is derived from the Indian term Rukh, which obviously seems to have originated in the Sanskrit word Rakshak which means a soldier from Raksha which means 'to protect'.

About the introduction of this game into Persia, the Encylopedia says that the Persian poet Firdousi, in his historical poem, the Shahnama, gives an account of the introduction of Shatranj into Persia in the reign of Chosroes I Anushirwan, to whom came ambassadors from the sovereign of Hind (India), with a chess-board and men asking him to solve the secrets of the game, if he could or pay tribute. The king asked for seven days grace, during which time the wise men vainly tried to discover the secret. Finally, the king's minister took the pieces home and discovered the secret in a day and a night.

The concludes that "Other Persian and Arabian writers state that Shatranj came into Persia from India and there appears to be a consensus of opinion that may be considered to settle the question. Thus we have the game passing from the Hindus to the Persians and then to the Arabians, after the capture V of Persia by the Caliphs in the 7th century, and from them, directly or indirectly, to various parts of Europe, at a time which cannot be definitely fixed, but either in or before the 10th century. That the source of the European game is Arabic is clear enough, nor merely from the words "check" and "mate", which are evidently from Shah mat ("the king is dead"), but also from the names of some of the pieces.

Thus it was from India that the ancient Persians are said to have learnt this game, and from them it was transmitted to the Greco Roman world. The evidence of the Persians having borrowed this game from India is seen in the name the Persians gave to it. The Persian word for chess is Chatrang, which was later changed by the Arabs to Shatranj. As said in , this word is obviously a corruption of the Sanskrit original Chaturanga.

The other term Astapada meaning eight steps, which was also used to describe this game in ancient India, perhaps was a description for the eight steps (Squares) which the modern Chessboard, has. The modern Chessboard is checkered with 64 (8 x 8) squares in all, with eight squares on each side. The old English word for chess which is Esches, possibly stems from this eight squared aspect of the game as did the Sanskrit word Astapada.



Playing Cards


Ancient India was the birthplace of the game of playing cards and has since spawned a plethora of card based games which are played the world over. Some of the most popular games such as blackjack, baccarat and poker. For reference Casino.org has a list of strategies for these card games.

The game of playing cards was also one of the favorite pastimes of Indians in ancient times. This game was patronized especially by the royalty and nobility. This game was known in ancient times as Kridapatram, in the middle ages, it was known as Ganjifa.

In medieval India Ganjifa cards were played in practically all royal courts. This game is recorded to have been played in Rajputana, Kashyapa Meru (Kashmir), Utkala (Orissa) the Deccan and even in Nepal. The Mughals also patronized this game, but the Mughal card-sets differ from those of the ancient Indian royal courts.

Some scholars are of the opinion that this game was in fact introduced into India by the Mughals. But according to Abul Fazal author of the Ain-e-Akbari, the game of cards was of Indian origin and that it was a very popular pastime in the Indian (Hindu) courts when the Muslims came into India.

According to Abul Fazal's description of the game, the following cards were used. The first was Ashvapati which means 'lord of horses'. The Ashvapati which was the highest card in, the pack represented the picture of the king on horseback. The second highest card represented a General (Senapati) on horseback. After this card come ten other with pictures of horses from one to ten.

Another set of cards had the Gajapati (lord of elephants) which represented the king whose power lay in the number of elephants. The other eleven cards in this pack represented the Senapati and ten others with a soldier astride an elephant. Another pack has the Narpati, a king whose power lies in his infantry. We also had other cards known as the Dhanpati, the lord of treasures, Dalpati the lord of the squadron, Navapati, the lord of the navy, Surapati, the lord of divinities, Asrapati, lord of genii, Vanapati, the king of the forest and Ahipati, lord of snakes, etc.

On the authority of Abul Fazal we can say that the game of playing cards had been invented by sages in ancient times who took the number 12 as the basis and made a set of 12 cards. Every king had 11 followers, thus a pack had 144 cards. The Mughals retained 12 sets having 96 cards. These Mughal Ganjifa sets have representations of diverse trades like Nakkash painter, Mujallid book binder, Rangrez, dyer, etc., In addition there were also the Padishah-i-Qimash, king of the manufacturers and Padishah-izar-i-Safid, king of silver, etc.

Cards were known as Krida-patram in ancient India. These cards were made of cloth and depicted motifs from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc. A tradition carried on today with floral motifs and natural scenery.

The pre-Mughal origin of the game of cards is evident if we examine the pattern of painting the cards. We also find that despite the observation of Abul Fazal that Akbar introduced the pack with 8 sets, we find that even earlier, in Indian (Hindu) courts we have packs with 8, 9 and 10 sets apart from the usual 12. The numbers were derived from the eight cardinal directions Ashtadikpala, for the pack with 8 set, from the nine planets Navagraha for the one with 9 sets and from ten incarnations Dashavatara of Vishnu for the pack with 10 sets.

Themes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are painted on these cards. The largest number of such cards are to be found in Orrisa. The largest number of such cards are to be found in Orissa. The painters from Orissa have represented various illustrations like the Navagunjara, a mythical birdhuman animal which was the form assumed by Sri Krishna to test Arjuna's fidelity, il lustrations from the Dashavatata of Vishnu are also portrayed.

All these cards were hand-made and were painted in the traditional style. This required considerable patience and hard meticulous work. The kings usually commissioned painters to make cards as per their preference. The commoners got their cards made by local artists who were to be ; found in urban and rural areas. In order to -obtain the required thickness a number of sheets of pieces of cloth were glued together. The outlines of the rim were painted in black and then the figures were filled with colors.

As cards were played by members all strata of society we find different types of cards. Some cards were also made of ivory, tortoise shell, mother of pearl, inlaid or enameled with precious metals. The cards were of different shapes; they were circular, oval rectangular, but the circular cards were more common. The cards were usually kept in a wooden box with a lid painted with mythological figures. This art of handmade, hand painted cards which had survived for hundreds of years. gradually feel into decay and became extinct with the introduction of printed paper cards by the Europeans in the 17-18th centuries. With the extinction of the art of making and painting cards also was erased the memory that Indians ever had played the game of cards with their own specific representations of the Narapati, Gajapati and Ashvapati.

[Aunt Clair]

Ancient Mystic Round Cards from India

Krida-patram later called Ganjifa

Quite a lot of the earlier decks were also inspired by the Mahabharata epic and many of these had lesser suits rather than the traditional twelve used in Ganjifa. It is believed in the local tradition, that these cards were already being used by the locals for several centuries before the Moghuls arrived in India; however, there is no written evidence of the same.

The Ganjifa cards always had dark colored backs but the faces of the cards were painted in different colors and grounds.

Some of the characters that can be found in these cards were the Lion and Sun, the King, the Lady, the Lakat, the soldier etc.

Each deck of card was different than the other in design since they were all made by different artisans, and in many cases these were even obscene.

Even today, in several parts of Orissa the Moghul Ganjifa is played by the locals with 96 cards that consist of eight suits of eight different colors. In Maharashtra and some parts of West Bengal the Dashavatara Ganjifa is played with a deck of 120 cards.

http://cardshistory.com/india.htm


One  theory about Ganjifa is that the pattern was created in Persia, and these were taken to India by the Mughals    1526–1803.

These are reproduction sets.







But others believe that the origin of divination cards and playing cards is in India from the ancient Kridapatram believed to be as early as 700 BC .

Cards were known as Krida-patram in ancient Bharat. These cards were made of cloth and depicted motifs from the Ramayan, Mahabharata, etc. A tradition carried on today with floral motifs and natural scenery.

http://www.balagokulam.org/teach/other/sports.php

They were called Kridapatram, whose meaning is more or less "painted rags for playing", and the composition of the deck was apparently based upon 12: in fact, this was the number of suits, each of which was made of this same number of subjects, and used signs such as horses, elephants, men, and the like. Basically, they were an early version of the Dasâvatâra pattern but some decks were inspired by the epic Mahâbhârata, and some others had fewer suits (8, or 10). It is locally said that by the time of the Mughals these cards had already been in use for several centuries. Many details about the Kridapatram cards, though, remain a mystery, as well as their same existence, not being mentioned by any written source prior to the 16th century.

http://a_pollett.tripod.com/cards25.htm


more
http://www.epicindia.com/magazine/Culture/arundhati-and-saptarishis-an-eight-suited-ninety-six-card-moghul-ganjifa
http://www.crapsdicecontrol.com/gambling_history.htm

[Aunt Clair]

Citation;
http://spiralupward.com/?tag=art

http://mesocosm.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/img_5998.jpg
http://spiralupward.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/795px-Bembine_Table_of_Isis.png

The Bembine Table (Altar piece) of Isis from Athanasius Kircher’s Œdipus Ægyptiacus.

The three full folio tomes of ornate illustrations and diagrams were published in Rome over the period 1652-54. Kircher claimed that his sources for Oedipus Aegyptiacus were Chaldean astrology, Hebrew Cabbala, Greek myth, Pythagorean mathematics, Arabian alchemy and Latin Philology.

The third volume of Oedipus Aegyptiacus deals exclusively with Kircher’s attempts to translate. The primary source for Kircher’s study of hieroglyphs was the Bembine Tablet, so named from its acquisition by Cardinal Bembo shortly after the sack of Rome in 1527. The Bembine Tablet is a bronze and silver tablet measuring 30 X 50 inches depicting various Egyptian gods and goddesses. In its centre sits Isis representing ‘the polymorphic all-containing Universal Idea.
 
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