Magickal Use of the Tarot
Phaedron
The Magickal (spiritual) forces and phenomenon of the Self and the Universe are symbolized in one complete book given to humanity by the ancient Egyptian god Thoth (later called Hermes by the Greeks). This book is called Tarot. Its pictures have been discovered on the ancient temple walls of the Egyptians. It is said that Thoth walked the earth at that time.
Students of Magick learned that they could meditate on these images to reveal what influences and energies would be present at any given time and place. This was the birth of forecasting using Tarot symbols. Whether you use the Tarot to unravel the Mysteries, or to see what forces lie ahead of you, proper use will sharpen your senses, uncover deep parts of your Self and align you to a portion of nature. The following specifics are from the Practica Arcanum and certain teachings of the International Academy of Hermetic Knowledge.
It is important to learn to use the Cards as focal points for meditation/scrying. Thus, the cards are only tools that open the centers of the Higher Self that will reveal certain knowledge. Remember, they in themselves, are powerless pieces of cardboard. The power lies in the reader's ability to unite with universal symbols, triggering higher functions. You, as the reader, are responsible for unlocking the answer to anything you want to know.
By placing the cards into predesignated arrangements, you can learn how the energies of Tarot Magick work. This understanding of the unseen forces is essential to learning the language of the Tarot. It is also a valuable and essential training method for your intuition.
The Trumps
There are 22 Trumps" or major keys at the beginning of the deck. They represent Superior Forces, unaffected by and above the Elements and Planets. (Most decks present the same thing by different artists. The Thoth" deck is used here.)
For those familiar with the Tree of Life (Qabalah) (see NMR 4:1 and 1:1): the Trumps are the Paths, and are objective. They represent the experiences of nature, the divine, the macrocosmic—the higher" reflection of Man. They are every phenomenon of the outer" nature. By determining their effects, the aspirant can unravel their influence on him or herself.
These Trumps pertain to Spirit, the whole being (i.e., soul) and therefore perfection (sometimes called the God"-part of the person):Fool, Magus, Empress, Hierophant, Chariot.
These Trumps pertain to individuality, the true natal identity; not being influenced by the wills of others (i.e., the true Self; the original state of Man, although this is not God-hood, it is free of distractions from the true original Purpose. See On the Will in NMR 3:5):Priestess, Emperor, Lovers, Lust, Hermit, Fortune, Adjustment, Hanged Man.
These Trumps pertain to personality, how you express your soul in the outer world (i.e., the reflection of your soul on this side of manifestation.):Death, Art, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Aeon, Universe.
Studying the Tarot in relation to one's self, one can attain many great things. All these cards are doubly dignified; that is, they can be constructive or destructive depending on their placement and surrounding factors as taught by the Hierophant.
The Court Cards
The Trumps symbolize the creative source. There are also four Elements characteristic of this creative source, which also find expression. These can be corporeal and characteristic of nature. They also represent the four Planes: spirit, emotion, intellect, matter (as taught in Qabalah). They are given to us to understand things pertinent to our development. They are:
FIRE:Wands (the spiritual plane); activity; causal (that which is the cause of anything).
WATER:Cups (the emotional plane); receptive; first state of comprehension; our idea of the formation of anything; Creative, not formulated, the sense of something and the subconscious ignorant of that which is seen.
AIR:Swords (the mental plane); intellectual only; formulated regimen (plan); ignorance of unseen things.
EARTH:disks (the physical plane); manifestation; completion.
Every Element manifests as either: divine, a sensation, a thought or manifested matter. Thus there are, respectively, a Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess within each suit. And the Elements expressed in their four characteristics comprise the 16 court card combinations. From here they make themselves more definable, known, visible and controllable in existence as natural Elemental forces for Man to use in the next Principle.
The Small Cards
These subjective and personal depictions of the events of ordinary humanity are called Lesser Keys, Minors, Small Cards, etc. They are the Aces through the Tens of each Suit. The ten Sephirah on the Tree of Life correspond to ten states of existence represented in the Tarot. Existence occurs on all four Planes (Worlds). So each Plane/Suit is represented in the Lesser Keys of the Tarot.
For example, the 4 of Swords (4th state) would be the mercy and benevolence of the mind/intellect (Swords). You can see why this card is titled Truce"—truce within one's self or with other events. It symbolizes a compassionate order in the intellectual World (Plane), free from disorder or disagreement.
Knowing that the Suits are the Planes of existence, and that the Sephirah represent a certain energy or state that vibrates to a corresponding number (e.g., Kether = 1); you can superimpose these states of existence within every plane, and apply them to the Small Cards in the Tarot. Here is a guide:
1ST STATE:origin; possibility of manifesting in other ways. The Aces are a root or seed, the incomplete basis of the Element.
2ND STATE:wisdom of self or phenomena. The 2's are the identity of the Element.
3RD STATE:understanding of what wisdom or phenomena are. The 3's are how Man visualizes the forces of the 2's.
4TH STATE:mercy—higher love. The 4's bring the abstract idea of the Element into comprehensible form.
5TH STATE:shear power. The 5's are the comprehensible energies behind the Element.
6TH STATE:harmony. The 6's are the balance and higher use of the Elements' virtue.
7TH STATE:instincts. The 7's show the feeling" and reaction that the Element produces.
8TH STATE:knowledge. The 8's are the observable knowledge of the Element.
9TH STATE:the conversion of that which is above to that which is manifested. The 9's show how each Element will be naturally expressed in the mundane kingdom where we dwell.
10TH STATE:the physical reflection of that which is divine. The 10's show how the separated Element manifests itself, remembering that manifestation is only one part of a whole. Herein lies the key to perfection. It can transmute from the 10th to the 1st, the base returning to the divine.
This is the simple system of the Qabalah from which the cards were designed. One cannot know the cards unless one comprehends the Tree of Life, and vice versa. To separate these two studies is a mistake. The mastery of the Tarot is abstract if one approaches it without wisdom.
Skill in the Tarot
A good Tarot reading should contain the following:
1) Expertise! Depend on the Higher Forces that lead you in interpretation. Abide by their advice! Don't ask the same question twice!
2) Stillness of mind! If you are not objective, you'll project" your thoughts (rather than impressions) into the cards. If you are scattered, you will block higher knowledge from operating through your intellect. (The reader must be aligned to and familiar with contacting the Higher Force!)
3) Intuition—the key. Never refer to books for an interpretation. The Tarot is psychic, not academic or computerized! You must feel your specific answers. The books don't know your specific questions!
4) Answers that are general, vague, philosophical or rhetorical are rampant among practitioners! Such answers do no good in the actual solution of a query. The true Tarot reader must be able to go out on the limb, that is, be specific! Detailed answers are much more helpful than hedging" around the question. Also, the reader must learn the art of asking the question specifically. The asking phase is as important as the answering phase.
A Condensed Spiritual Guide to the Trumps
FOOL:the idea of unaltered, independent energy, rational or not; freshness or foolishness.
MAGUS:the idea of controlling one's own life via the laws of the universe.
PRIESTESS:the idea of receptivity; opened intuitive understanding.
EMPRESS:the idea of expression of an intent.
EMPEROR:the idea of mastery of an intent; active as opposed to the passive Empress.
HIEROPHANT:the idea of the expounding of mysteries; the link between Creator and Creation; a way.
LOVERS:the idea of extremes uniting, complementing rather than changing each other.
CHARIOT:the idea of anything directing its own self.
LUST:the idea of strength conquering weakness.
HERMIT:the idea of inspiration or wisdom exalting that which is lower to eventually become higher.
FORTUNE:the idea of fruition of manifestation.
ADJUSTMENT:the idea of balance; mystical equilibrium.
HANGED MAN: the idea of sacrificing the ego and discovering
DEATH:the idea of transformation of any kind of transference from one state to another.
ART:the idea of creating a higher effect.
DEVIL:the idea of complete manifestation unbalanced and with no other comprehension of anything else on any other Plane with any other meaning.
TOWER:the idea of destroying the unfit to rebuild.
STAR:the idea of divine and magickal assistance; hope.
MOON:the idea of sublime reflection, of an origination; sometimes no more than reflection when action is required.
SUN:the idea of health, and the epitome of consolidation and exertion.
AEON:the idea of fulfillment of potential.
UNIVERSE:the idea of synthesis; the final distillation of the source into the end result.
A Magickian's Concise Guide
to the Court Cards and Minor Arcana
Wands
KNIGHT of WANDS: active! Fiery! forceful; needs great composure; confident; intent; directed.
QUEEN of WANDS:intent and forceful but introspective; aware of her self; pride; touchy.
PRINCE of WANDS:quick; young looking; vigor; forceful; indecisive but sees all alternatives; volatile.
PRINCESS of WANDS:sensuous and whimsical; clever; self-centered and spoiled; devious.
ACE of WANDS:root of energy distilling into matter; energy of expansion, such as the Creation.
2 of WANDS:Chokmah of Fire (will); conquering by force for good; identity; sometimes home.
3 of WANDS:force given a body to do its will; thus the card's title is Virtue, like birth.
4 of WANDS:the above 3 cards manifested, thus its recognizable completion; success of true Will/purpose.
5 of WANDS:Geburah of Fire—just active force, unbalanced, forming nothing; but strife of evil is good.
6 of WANDS:balance of power; harmony of all forces; provides good by its delicate strength & wisdom.
7 of WANDS:use of lesser forces; random assertion; poor direction but good intent and efforts.
8 of WANDS:Mercurial Fire (i.e., direct and swift action); energy like lightning, electricity, etc.9 of WANDS:a firm foundation for energy to use! Well-directed energy; intent has all its needs.
10 of WANDS:energy confined; restriction; self centeredness lacking power or knowledge of anything else.
Cups
KNIGHT of CUPS:uses passiveness and charm well; emotionally unstable; sensitive; led by emotions.
QUEEN of CUPS:extremely sensitive; can't see herself through influences-reactions; dainty; reflective!
PRINCE of CUPS:Scorpio-like; active by secrecy; silent power; not motivated by conscience; sincere.
PRINCESS of CUPS:utilization of Briah; sensuous; sanguine; reserved; gentle; intangible.
ACE of CUPS:root of water; not formulated; receptive; creates from the native Source.
2 of CUPS:union by recombining separations; above separateness; love in all aspects.
3 of CUPS:receptivity into form; takes all things.
4 of CUPS:luxury for good or evil; there is so much, its management is the focal point.
5 of CUPS:pleasure upset; beauty overcome by mere force; power made impotent; disappointment.
6 of CUPS: balance and beauty of all senses, etc. No obstructions but enjoyment.
7 of CUPS:overindulgence of senses; blindness to the obvious; dependence on illusory fulfillment.
8 of CUPS:stagnation; lack of senses; sterility because of inactivity.
9 of CUPS:stable emotions; no imbalances; proper use of Water yielding happiness.
10 of CUPS:the chalices are filled to satisfaction; no room for anything else; slight activity can spill their contents.
Swords
KNIGHT of SWORDS:causes movement where there should be stillness; clever; inspired but impulsive.
QUEEN of SWORDS:clarity; destroys intellect; sees all; well planned; enforces justice; graceful body control.
PRINCE of SWORDS:must plan for every act, usually too much for use; all idea, no action; rational; malleable.
PRINCESS of SWORDS:materializes ideas; vengeful; can manipulate or balance all; thus, doesn't conform comfortably.
ACE of SWORDS: root of Air and consciousness; base of intellectual formation; omnidirectional.
2 of SWORDS:peace after conflict; change of status; placid idea; all forces equalized.
3 of SWORDS:sorrow of the Universe, usually; perversion; imbalance of all-consuming receptivity reducing to form; inevitable loss of original ideal without purpose.
4 of SWORDS:Chesed (compassion) reconciles and equilibrates all, perfectly; allows no assertiveness; acquiesces.
5 of SWORDS:Geburah's force blindly slashing instead of thinking; allows no peace; uses any unscrupulous means.
6 of SWORDS:proper balance of all the above for productivity, allowing the Higher to operate.
7 of SWORDS:frustration; only success would have been appeased; leads to further consequences.
8 of SWORDS: too many ideas, all conflicting; search for all sides interferes.
9 of SWORDS: subconscious instincts running rampant regardless of compassion; nothing humane.
10 of SWORDS:so much reason that it is literally insane; logic over reason, judgment, feeling, life.
Disks
KNIGHT of DISKS:considers without action; looks ahead but priority is what's in front of him; can't use opportunity.
QUEEN of DISKS:also looks but is passive; considers all but inactivity allows all to dry up; does only what she knows.
PRINCE of DISKS: slow; strategic; practical; reacts after he decides; cautious; not easily moved by others.
PRINCESS of DISKS:lowest part of Earth; always gets benefit from probing deeply, not perceptively or analytically; receptive.
ACE of DISKS: root of matter, but not matter itself; eclipse; Spirit's descent to manifestation.
2 of DISKS: change; all universe must change for harmony.
3 of DISKS: that which functions by will; all parts of it work cooperatively; desired process occurs!
4 of DISKS: power; fortification; endurance; consolidation of resources; not very flexible; strong design only.
5 of DISKS: weight of self-infliction (worry) through too much consideration of matter and force towards goal.
6 of DISKS: harmonizing, conglomerating all the Elements to work under your will, naturally; balanced unity.
7 of DISKS: material has degenerated and as effort is made in one place, it is neglected another; full failure.
8 of DISKS: a calm, stable prudence; matter slowly accrued, not like the 7 of Disks (gluttonous); less than overwhelming growth.
9 of DISKS: fulfillment in everything; all comes to one who approaches desire for spiritual gain.
10 of DISKS: Malkuth of Assiah (i.e., manifestation of the material) for good or evil.
1992 The Winged Disk
Phaedron is the G. H. Hierophant of the Holy Order of the Winged Disk, and Director of its International Academy of Hermetic Knowledge. These articles are excerpts from The Practica Arcanum. For more information call (800) 827-6843, or write: PO Box 4384, Charlottesville, VA 22905. | 
