NMR ISSUE 3

Astrological Forecast 3
Autumnal Equinox
Closer Look at the Tarot: Threes
Editorial
Interview with Raven Wolf
Letters 3
Magick That Fails
Music and Mantras
Oh Gods Above
Prenatal Solar Eclipse
Quartz
Seeking the Goddess in Your Home
Solitary Samhain Ritual
Tarot Images
The Oldest Magick
The Other Editorial
The Return of Gaia

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A Closer Look at the Tarot:

Fours

Jason Rath

Major vs. Minor Arcana

It is not true that the Minor Arcana are less potent or divine than the Major Arcana. Rather, the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana should be called the "Major Arcana" and the 22 archetypal cards of the Major Arcana should be called the "Lesser," or "Minor Arcana." To understand this, look at the Tree of Life:

The Tree of Life contains 32 paths, or vessels: ten

"Spheres," represented by the numbered cards, and 22 "Lesser Paths" between them, represented by the Major Arcana. The various archetypal vessels are a blueprint or map of the ever-changing universe—both within and without Man. The Tree of Life as a whole shows the evolution of consciousness and spiritual development in all creatures. But it specifically symbolizes the forces working within and through Man. The ten archetypal Spheres, called Sephiroth, represent the divine emanations of the Godhead. They are very specific and form the basis of the Tree itself. The 22 Lesser Paths are channels between the Sephiroth. These paths represent Man's awareness of the Godhead. Thus, the Lesser Paths also refer to Man's consciousness.

Man, an imperfect creature, is not completely aware of the Godhead in all its aspects. Thus, the 22 Major Arcana cards (the Lesser Paths) are Man's general philosophy of the macrocosm and Godhead. The so-called Minor Arcana, however, represent specific forms of the Godhead. The Major Arcana is too general to be more pure or potent then the other 56 cards of the Tarot.

Sphere Translation Cards

1) Kether the Crown Aces2) Chokmah Wisdom Twos; Kings3) Binah Understanding Threes; Queens4) Chesed Mercy Fours5) Geburah Severity Fives6) Tiphareth Beauty Sixes; Knights7) Netzach Victory Sevens8) Hod Splendor Eights9) Yesod Foundation Nines10) Malkuth Kingdom Tens; Knaves and Elements: Another important key to the Tarot is the archetypical Elements. Alchemists recognize three primary Elements that make up all things: Salt, Sulfur and Mercury. These relate to the Cups, Wands and Swords, respectively. Together they form the material world—Pentacles. Qabbalists also recognize three Elements (corresponding respectively with the Alchemical Elements): Water, Fire and Air. Earth is a synthesis of these three primary Elements.Alchemical HermeticElement Element Cards SephiraMercury Air AcesKetherSulfur Fire TwosChokmahSalt WaterThrees BinahUniversal Solvent Spirit/Earth — —Salt corresponds to hermetic Water, as related to the supernal Sephira Binah. Sulfur corresponds to hermetic Fire, as related to the Sephira Chokmah. Finally, Mercury corresponds to the hermetic Air, as related to the supernal Sephira Kether. The three supernal Sephiroth act as three distinct ingredients in one solution—Spirit, or the Universal Solvent. Fire, Water and Air make up Earth—the manifestation or realization of matter. When Fire, Water and Air are in static equilibrium, the energies (as a whole) are Spirit. When these same energies find balance (dynamic equilibrium) in one solution, they are Earth.When divining; the suit of majority characterizes the focus of the reading according to the nature of its Element. Wands indicate energy and sometimes quarreling. Cups represent spiritual development, pleasure and sometimes-emotional attachments. Swords represents intense lower astral activity, trouble, nightmares, sadness and depression. Pentacles refer to material matters. Tetragrammaton Qabbalistic Suit Element World (translation)Wands Yod Fire Atziluth (Archetypal)Cups Heh Water Briah (Creative)Swords Vau Air Yetzirah (Formative)Pentacles Heh' Earth Assiah(Action)Trumps Shin Spirit Atziluth(Archtypal)Mantras. Some time ago I devised a simple mantra I use before working with the Tarot. It helps me to focus on the matter at hand and attune myself with the entities of the cards. I sit down in the classic yoga sukhasana and breathe deeply in through the nose, out through the mouth. Once relaxed, I begin to mentally say "Tahhhh" when inhaling and "Rohhh" when exhaling. After a few minutes I stop and proceed with my work. I find this mantra to be very helpful. I hope you will try it. The Four Fours. The Minor Arcana represent the evolutionary steps of the four Elements—Wands sympathetic with Fire, Cups sympathetic with Water, Swords sympathetic with Air, and Pentacles sympathetic with the Earth. Chesed is the fourth Sephiroth in the Tree of Life; thus the Fours are assigned to the realm of Chesed. In other words, you could call the "4 of Wands" the "Chesed of Wands." (More properly it would be "Wands of Chesed." The "4 of Cups" would be "Cups of Chesed," etc.)Chesed (Mercy) is the Sphere of perfection, the first Sephira below the Abyss, Daath (Hebrew for "Knowledge"). Daath is the "invisible Sephira" between the first three Sephiroth and the rest of the Tree. It marks the division between the comprehensible and the transcendent. The Sephiroth above the Abyss are very abstract for they represent divine thought. Chesed is the first Sephira that we can truly understand. It is the industry following the Divine Mind's formulation of tentative action. Thus, the Fours represent the first comprehensible manifestation of a subconscious or abstract thing, and the perfection of the matter at hand. Chesed contains all holy powers and governs the lower Sephiroth and all forms. You could consider Chesed as the World—the Sphere that Man recognizes as the ruler, or Godforce, of the material world. The magickal image of Chesed is a mighty king upon a throne. Ruler, king, lawgiver and father figures are all symbols of Chesed and the Fours. Ruling gods, such as Zeus, are attributed here, as is the force symbolized by the planet Jupiter. Thus, the Fours of the Tarot are the rulers of material actions and forces. According to Robert Wang, in The Qabbalistic Tarot, the Fours and Chesed represent the "Demiurge (the lesser Creator) which actually is the Power described in the Book of Genesis . . .. The formless and void darkness of the Supernal Triangle gives rise to manifestation, which is form and light. There is no light in Binah, only a `thick darkness,' nor is there form, only what we have called the `will to form.'" Thus, the Fours represent a cause-taking root in the physical. In a reading, aces, twos, or threes represent subtle energies or situations evolving about you or within you. They can warn of a developing destructive energy. Be alert and you can remove the cause of a potential problem from your life. Fours, however, indicate that the problem has already taken root. The larger the card's numerical value, the more developed is the situation. Pay close attention to the numbers of the cards. A ten, for instance, indicates matters that have strongly taken root and manifested within your realm. A two indicates forces which have yet to manifest. Cards Spiritual Meaning Mundane Meaning Aces Divine thought, | Birth & strength 3s creation, abstract |of things to come. Beginnings. |Chaos.4s to 9sFormulation of |The evolution of a what was previously|situation just be- abstract & subtle. | ginning to clear. Usually 4s to 6s represent subconscious currents taking on form in the most simplistic stages.Tens Full realization & |The matter at hand manifestation of | is fixed, and com- previous thoughts |pletely disclosed. & intentions. |Completion of the Completion in the |matter or situation. fullest sense. |Rest after action.The Aces through the Threes represent divine thought and archetypal ideas. In a more mundane sense, this relates to the abstract ideas of the depths of the mind. The Aces through the Threes, in a divinatory context, represent subtle archtypal energies, without form or force. The Fours represent the product and synthesis of these forces. The Fours through Nines represent the force and desire to become physical. The clues these cards give allow one to predict the development of subtle energies and thus events.In a reading, use the cards' numerical values to place them on the Tree of Life. This will help you pinpoint exact stages of evolution or places of manifestation. Learn to associated the different cards with one another to understand the whole picture. Where do the Fours come into this picture? To many, the Fours are the first step, the divine cause. Three very important steps precede the Fours and Chesed, but they are beyond Man's knowledge. One symbol of Chesed and the Fours is the four-sided pyramid, the apex being Kether, where the Aces reside. The spiritual forces flow down the sides of the pyramid, evenly distributed. The Fours represent the holy powers above made external; they begin to form physically. Thus, the Fours represent the first stage of manifestation and action—the manifestation of the Microprospos. Internal manifestation begins in the Aces through Threes. With the Fours, external manifestation begins. According to Robert Wang, "It is the initial urge toward material structure as we know it and, as such, is the administrator of the Laws first proposed by Binah."Often, readers forget to define the cards as they relate to the entire Tarot layout. In your readings, consider each card's meaning in qabbalistic terms. Also, consider the astrological decans of the cards, which represent powerful forces progressing toward manifestation. Then ask yourself, "If I put this energy (card) with these other energies (cards), what type of energy (solution) would I have all together?"SphereElement 4 of: Polarity EnergyChesedFire Wands Positive DynamicChesedWater Cups Negative PassiveChesedAir Swords Positive DynamicChesedEarth Pentacles Negative PassiveFour of WandsThe fourth qabbalistic Sphere, Chesed, influences the Four of Wands through the Element Fire. The Four of Wands is the Lord of Perfected Work—Chesed in the Archetypal World. This deals with completion of the matter at hand, work or projects end, confinement, rest after labor and toil, perfection and stability and balance.This card indicates: settlements and agreements; arrangements of all kinds; perfection in the matter at hand; great force behind the matter at hand; success, cleverness, order and government, balanced strength, satisfaction, completion of work, the end of the matter at hand, earned success and rest. You desire to find new facets in the self and in relationships. Before you can grow and change you must resolve conflicts with the inner self. Also, you must learn to communicate and consider your ideas before acting. You learn how to properly plan, thus gaining strength and establishing a strong foundation and home life. New growth and new beginnings are also possible interpretationsThe decan of the Four of Wands is Venus in Aries. This is an aggressive personality. Venus often represents love and romance, but that is not the focus here. Consider the occult symbolism of Venus. Venus rules the Empress card of the Major Arcana. She especially symbolizes the connection between the material and spiritual planes. Thus, spiritual forces heavily influence the matter at hand. Their nature will most likely appear as a fiery energy, similar to Aries. Venus in Aries also indicates inner strength.The two angels which rule this card are Nanael (He who is the Caster Down of the Proud) and Nithael (He who is Celestial King)Incense Mixture for the Four of Wands: 3 Parts Saffron 1 Part Dragon's Blood 1 Part RoseFour of CupsChesed influences the Four of Cups through the Element Water. The Four of Cups is the Lord of Blended Pleasure or Luxury—Chesed in the Creative World. This card refers to the nurturing, feminine side. It is wise to open up to this nature, but be careful not to allow emotions to carry you away. Be sure that you guide your emotions and imagination, not vice versa. Also, be careful that you do not suppress and afflict others in the spirit of love. For instance, parents must learn to raise their children without afflicting them with unneeded worries and fears. Learn to enjoy your gift of compassion, but be sure it does not become oppressive.The four of Cups indicates: deep seated emotions effecting your daily activities; much pleasure and luxury because you have the ability to accept love; your strong emotions frequently give you the ability to be especially caring and nurturing toward others—often, this is why others give so much to you.The decan ruling this card is Moon in Cancer. This astrological influence indicates intense emotions and warns us not to let underlying emotions get the best of us. Sometimes even our "success" can bring anxiety. Its keys are compassion, love, tenderness, intuition, warmth and subconscious emotions affecting conscious actions.The two angels who rule this card are Hahayel (He who is Lord of the Universe) and Mevamayah (He who is the End of the Universe).Incense Mixture for the Four of Cups: 2 Parts Myrrh 1 Part Peppermint 1 Part VioletFour of SwordsChesed influences the four of Swords through the Element Air. The Four of Swords is the Lord of Rest from Strife or Truce—Chesed in the Formative World. It brings joy and satisfaction, also growth and expansion.The Three of Swords (Lord of Sorrow) symbolizes the destructive forces of Vau of Binah. The Four is Lord of Truce, indicating harsh reality. This recognition makes the situation tolerable or even pleasurable. But there is still considerable tension beneath the seemingly calm conscious exterior. For this reason, the Four of Swords is closely tied with the mind and intelligence.Remembered that burying painful thoughts and emotions is not an escape from a difficult situation. When facing adverse forces, find ways to vent frustration constructively. Often this card indicates those who look to religion as a parental figure. This type of relationship is usually a subconscious impulse to escape a difficult past.Jupiter in Libra rules this card, an energy of justice and cooperation. This is especially significant because there are unsettled energies about you or the matter at hand. Never the less, you have the ability to cooperate, thus calming tension. Finally, when you find yourself in an unpleasant or even unbearable circumstance, call upon your Higher Self or God. This card indicates a great dependence upon religion.This card symbolizes: rest, sleep, recovery from illness, growth and abundance; success in the matter at hand; mental clarity; spiritual trials and tests; balancing, cleansing, purification, and grounding; temporary pleasure.The two angels which this card are Lavaiah (He who is Wonderful) and Kalial (He who is Worthy to be Invoked).Incense Mixture for the Four of Swords 2 Parts Myrrh 2 Parts Frankincense or Copal 1 Part CarnationFour of PentaclesChesed influences the Four of Pentacles through the Element Earth. This card is the Lord of Earthly Powers—Chesed in the World of Action. Here, the four symbolic beasts of Kether are ruling the elements of Malkuth. This symbolizes a strict conformity to Natural Law—everything has its proper place and time.This card might indicate discontentment with commonly accepted religious viewpoints. If so, it also indicates a strong belief in oneself. Other meanings are: increase of money and other valuables; success and growth; investments brought to a close; earthly power or strength; great authority and ambition; honor; knowledge of earthly matters; established financial life; security through integrity. This card also warns against developing a dictatorial attitude.The decan for the Four of Pentacles is Sun in Capricorn—the energies of the Winter Solstice. This indicates ambition and great responsibility, an energy which is secure and helpful when you are in need.The two angels who rule this card are Kevaqiah (He who is to be Rejoiced in) and Mendial (He who is Honorable.Incense Mixture for the 4 of Pentacles 1 Part Dittany of Crete 1 Part Orris Root (Powder) 1 Part Cinnamon