The reason for this is simple:
Any exhaustive examination of the trumps will include an equal treatment of both the positive and negative aspects of each card. Right and wrong, good and evil, are largely societal constructs designed to keep people in line. Moral character is a surrogate for genuine conscience, and a proper study of Tarot will include an equal treatment of both light and shadow to encourage the growth of conscience and eliminate any need for character. At the very least, a profound contemplation of Tarot should foster an in-depth approach to your deeper psychological structures, namely about how they affect the surface ones. Such an approach should be fearless and without bias. This results in a sort of predicting of the Now, and not the so-called future, as our conscious grasp of the totality of our selves is usually too narrow to know where we'll end up next.
Predicting the Present has as its premise and goal the examination of spiritual transformation from the standpoint of non-fragmented consciousness, using the twenty-two trumps as a contextual and interpretive guide. The "light" and "shadow" aspects of each card are therefore translated in terms of their holotropic (toward unity) versus hylotropic (toward plurality) drives. My aim is to demonstrate, by way of picture and parable, that these aforementioned drives aren’t antithetical to each other. Rather, they’re separated only by the ignorance of the person contemplating them. To the unenlightened, duality is conflict; but duality is actually complimentary. One of the main purposes of this book is to venture to the darker side of the moon and, as it were, light a candle.
This being a book on Tarot, the following may seem a bit obvious, but I want to make it clear:
As meaning is always context bound it should be obvious that the context of this book is contemplative. The twenty-two trumps, and some of the “pip” and court cards as well, are consistently interpreted in a manner specific to a hermeneutical approach. It's impossible to exhaust the list of interpretations in this regard for the very fact that Spirit is in the final analysis all-inclusive. Whether one's context be formal, structural/post-structural, phenomenological, or all the above; it makes not a lick of difference:
If the interpreter of the cards believes there to be a final resting place to context and meaning, she'll inadvertently ask the querent to lay down in that grave beside her and the reading will be over before the cards are shuffled.
A biased approach will yield biased interpretations. It's most certainly not in the nature of meaning to ever be fully expressed, but it can be fully lived. I want to convey through the medium of this book something from the contemplative realms, and I'm confident that both Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris felt the same way when creating this marvelously rich and textured Tarot deck.
As for the archetypal and cultural significance of the trumps, it's important to understand that they exist on all three broad levels of psychospiritual development. It's commonly and erroneously taught that the trumps exist solely on the transpersonal level, above the so-called Abyss of Knowledge; what, in Kabbalistic terminology is called, "Olam Ha Atziluth." However, the trumps exist on all four Worlds, and the point to bear in mind is that there’s a vast difference between the Jungian psychoid and the Neoplatonic archetype, but the trumps function in both ways and not merely one or the other.
It's also important to know that most of the information regarding the interplay of the trumps with the cards of the Minor Arcana can be found in essays 0-10, that is, from The Fool to Fortune. Consequently, the essays which deal with these trumps, especially from The Fool to Fortune, are noticeably more complex than the ones that follow them in sequence. This has been done intentionally. The best way to read this book is to read each chapter from The Fool to Fortune as thoroughly as possible. This will prepare you for the more candid chapters that follow. The learning process implicit in the format of this book is holographic, not linear, and we're introduced to this holography from The Fool to Fortune.
The format of this book follows the sequential, but by no means linear, pattern of psychospiritual growth as prominent researchers premodern, modern, and postmodern, have almost unanimously presented it. The book is therefore divided into three Phases, each named after the three developmental stages of Man as outlined by Friedrich Nietzsche and Shree Rajneesh. These are The Camel/Larvae, The Lion/Caterpillar, and The Butterfly/Child. These three stages also correspond to Kierkegaard’s three stages of Aesthetic, Ethical, and Religious. Much of the Thoth Tarot deck can be understood by making a thorough study of Nietzsche. Crowley did, after all, regard him as the first prophet of Thelema and even canonized him as a Saint. As for Rajneesh: something tells me that he and Crowley would’ve been fast friends!
Each phase/chapter contains the trumps which I feel best exemplify the chapter's commensurate stage of development, with an eye to uncovering the hidden key to transcending and including their respective worldviews and the “dark nights” that divide them. Thus, the first Phase contains essays on The Fool to The Lovers, for these are the cards which best portray the selfcentric phase of development. This is the phase of the Camel/Larvae. At this stage, a person is essentially narcissistic. The noblest task a person at this stage of growth can embrace is to fully face the challenges of life. You must traverse this existential learning curve with as much fortitude and intelligence as you can muster. Because this growth-process is by no means a rigid one, other cards from later chapters are included in those essays, all of which point to that which transcends and includes the lessons native to this stage of growth.
The second Phase contains essays on The Chariot to The Tower, for these are the trumps which, in my opinion, best exemplify the sociocentric phase of personal growth. That is, you’re no longer concerned primarily with how you fit in with your environment, but rather, how the environment fits or doesn’t fit with you. This is the Lion/Caterpillar phase of growth. This isn't a smooth transition, however, and typically involves a painful process of trying to discover your own uniqueness in an environment of conflicting worldviews, beliefs, and shifting techno/economic trends. So although it may be true that the transition from the selfcentric to the sociocentric worldview is often heralded by a deep rebellion, it's usually a gripe against having to now think about others, not as mere extensions of oneself, but as individuals in their own right.
Finally, the third Phase deals with an amalgamation of the lessons and pitfalls of the preceding two Phases. This section of the book contains essays on The Star to The Universe, corresponding to the worldcentric phase of psychospiritual unfolding. Here, you’re no longer encumbered by a selfcentric or sociocentric blind spot. Instead, you’ve now made the transition from a self and ethnocentric perspective to an all-inclusive one. At this level, all shared human and planetary issues are translated into expedient rather than egoistic terms. Here, you naturally create new values with which to live by. These values arise as spontaneous virtues, rather than borrowed ones.
It must also be mentioned that the Thoth tarot, as a deck created under the tutelage of Aleister Crowley, is rich in Thelemic symbolism. The religion of Thelema is centered around a channeled document known as "Liber Al Vel Legis" or the "Book of the Law". It proclaims that as of the year 1904 a new "Aeon" (era) has begun, hailing Crowley as prophet. Personal opinion aside, I feel the present book would be incomplete without the inclusion of at least something Thelemic. For this reason, I've included excerpts from, and fresh interpretations of, some Thelemic documents where I felt it would be remiss of me not to.
For me, the true significance of Tarot has little to do with the prognosticating of future events, Rather, the effect a Tarot reading has on the spiritual growth of the querent is of paramount importance. Each interpretation of the cards in a spread should be received, not as divine providence, but as a fresh and honest perspective weighed against one's own biased notions. For example, let's say that Suzanne questions Tarot about the status of her relationship with Jake. She wants to know if Jake wants to marry her. The cards say no, Jake doesn't want to marry h
er. In fact, he wants to escape from Suzanne as soon as possible! Now, whether that statement is true is beside the point. The real issue is how Suzanne handles the news. The mindset to adopt during a Tarot session should be like the one you'd have while listening to the opinion of a person whom you deeply respect. Do that and you may discover some interesting things about your ability to see big pictures!
You’ll also notice that I’ve included a Glossary in the Appendix. Should any term, concept, or phrase found in the text confuse you, you should be able to find its definition in the Glossary. To make this easier for you I’ve placed all Hebrew, Latin, Egyptian, Greek, and Sanskrit words in italics.
In closing, I'd like to express my gratitude to the reader for allowing me to share this precious dimension of my life. We're all here to contribute to existence our own offering of songs and to live through them as they echo through the halls of eternity and into the appreciative ear. The pages that fill this book are my offering of songs and I've tried my best not to sing out of key. Within these pages are written words to inspire and to provoke insight. The truth of something can be understood only by coming face to face with it. It's one thing to look at the moon through your bedroom window and quite another to go there. The twenty-two trumps of Tarot are but fingers pointing at Truth.
Sincerely,
Daniel A. Kelley
PHASE ONE
(The Fool to The Lovers)
The Camel and the Larvae
"If you think it is important to know about yourself only because I or someone else has told you it is important, then I am afraid all communication between us comes to an end. But if we agree that it is vital that we understand ourselves completely, then you and I have quite a different relationship, then we can explore together with a happy, careful and intelligent enquiry."
-Jiddu Krishnamurti
The Fool:
The Spirit of the Aether
Trump #0
Planet: Uranus
Elemental Trump of Air
Letter: Aleph (ox) (numerical value: 1.)
Path: #11 (from Kether to Chokmah)
Tempus Sementis: ("Tide of Sowing"—Aurum Solis name for the season of Spring.)
Helpful Quotes
"Know naught!
All ways are lawful to innocence.
Pure folly is the Key to initiation.
Silence breaks into Rapture.
Be neither man nor woman, but both in one.
Be silent, Babe in the Egg of Blue, that thou
mayest grow to bear the Lance and Graal!
Wander alone, and sing! In the King's palace
His daughter awaits thee."
-Aleister Crowley
"The beginning is what most people are missing. Not that it would be that difficult to find it—the only obstacle is the illusion that we must search for it."
-Gustav Meyrink
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."
-T.S. Eliot
Contemplation
The Fool occupies the path of Aleph on the Tree of Life, leading from Kether (the crown) to Chokmah (wisdom). The Hebrew letter Aleph represents the sound of breathing, especially laughter. In Egyptian legend, the sound of thunder was thought to be the sky-goddess Nuith's laughter and, as both The Fool (Uranus) and Nuith are associated with the sky, their relationship is worthy of deeper contemplation.
If Nuith is the sky then The Fool is the air that fills it; and air is, if nothing else, aimless. The aimlessness of The Fool can sometimes be mistaken as absence of fear, and sometimes this is true; but the fearlessness represented in this card mustn't be mistaken as true courage. On the contrary! The Fool’s apparent fearlessness is the result of unequivocal trust, which can be detrimental. Even so, this isn't necessarily always a bad thing:
"Only to the extent that man exposes himself over and over again to annihilation, can that which is indestructible arise within him."
-Karlfried Graf Von Durkheim.
The above quote is a perfect summary of the Camel/Larvae phase of growth!
The tiger biting The Fool's thigh symbolizes fear, and The Fool pays him no mind. This fearlessness is the very fragrance of freedom, but for this freedom to be unconditional it must be coupled with profound responsibility. Only by taking full responsibility for one's life can freedom become incorruptible, and The Fool hasn't yet learned this lesson. The Fool is naive, wandering from experience to experience, colored by whatever environment he finds himself in at any given moment. He's “green” in the pejorative sense of the word; he’s a neophyte, a new plant, and he hasn't yet found his destiny.
The Fool hasn't yet learned the valuable lessons of lost innocence. Though he may be surrounded by people, still he's utterly alone. There can be no true company as he travels from now-here to nowhere to now-here again. His only company, if any, is his faith. The Fool mustn't resist the turning of the Wheel of Fortune but must learn to roll with it by remaining true to himself; though he knows not yet what that self is. He must find his Original Face by searching the forest of infinite possibilities and create his own pathway through it. This infinity of possibilities is symbolized by the umbilical cord wrapping three times around the green Dionysus (The Fool). This thrice-looping cord represents the Three Veils of Infinite Potential (negative existence), called in Kabbalah Ain, Ain Soph, Ain Soph Aur.
Notice the three key figures located on the innermost loop of the umbilical cord. These are:
● The Dove
● The Butterfly
● The Asclepius Staff
The dove symbolizes pure essence. What that essence is will depend upon the context. In the context of Taoist Alchemy, for example, these three figures symbolize the “three treasures” of Shen, Qi, and Jing, respectively. Briefly, Shen is consciousness itself. In Taoist and Tibetan traditions, consciousness is conceived as a substance that can be raised or accrued through specific practices. Qi is the psychosexual energy which travels through definite pathways in the Etheric Body and has a symbiotic relationship with breath, blood, emotion, and intention. I believe that Jing is the ancient Chinese understanding of what we now call DNA (The Asclepius staff is also the Caduceus and double-helix.). It is the very genealogy of our lifeforce and what we’re capable of manifesting in this life.
When these three treasures are aligned, refined, and actualized, then the Taoists claim that a spiritual “embryo” is formed. When this embryo is fully matured, one becomes what Nietzsche referred to as the Overman: a being of an entirely different order than that of the average person. In the card, we see this spiritual embryo forming in the twin-infants embracing between The Fool’s legs. We see these infants fully matured, equipped with butterfly wings, dancing down the mountain in The Sun card (fully formed embryo). The Sun located on The Fool's genitals suggests that the transformation of sexual energy (Qi) plays a pivotal role in the formation of this spiritual embryo. This transformation is represented by that most ubiquitous symbol of transformation, the butterfly.
That the bioelectrical Qi should be symbolized by a butterfly is fitting, as Qi travels and is also the very stuff which triggers metamorphosis. When this refined energy (embryo) is raised up to the brain, then the “third-eye” opens and one's spirit can leave the physical body at will. The third-eye is represented by the winged solar disk at the top of the Caduceus, and the now liberated Shen is represented by the white dove.
This spiritual transformation can be sabotaged by the animal drives and primal urges, symbolized by the tiger and the crocodile lying in wait to devour the embracing infants (spiritual embryo). This draining away of vital force is the grimmer interpretation of the wound located on The Fool’s right breast. The rose bloom adorning the head of the crocodile is a reminder that these animal drives shouldn't be repressed but refined. To repress them would breed fear and neuroses. This divine sanction of the lower drives is further illustrated by the garland
of flowers located between The Fool's legs. The topmost flower represents Godhead and the first Sephira on the Tree of Life, Kether. The five-petal flower below and to the right symbolizes enlightened thought and the second Sephira, Chokmah. The three-rowed flowers to the left symbolize enlightened understanding and the third Sephira, Binah. The rose blooming atop the Crocodile's head represents the natural world and the tenth Sephira, Malkuth.
This Kabbalistic symbolism contains the entire formula for becoming the Overman.
The Fool, as Kabbalistic Zero, is self-begotten and symbolizes the primordial potential of collective DNA. This apparent chaos has been handed down by heredity. The Fool must take responsibility for it and create himself with it and from it. That this process has yet to be completed is symbolized in the card by the separation of the four primordial elements (the four suits). The Fool holds the flame in his left hand (Wands) the chalice in his right hand (Cups), the coins in his satchel (Earth/Disks), and the element of Air is symbolized by the autumn leaf located above his left shoulder and the Hexagram of Air hiding in the background of the card (Swords). The four primordial elements and their corresponding suits have exchanged their essences in the Art trump, but they're undifferentiated in The Fool. Let's hope that youth isn't wasted on the young!
A story…
A Great but foolish king complained that the rough ground hurt his feet when he walked, so he ordered that the whole kingdom be carpeted with cowhide to protect his feet. But the court Fool laughed at the idea—he was really a wise man in disguise. He said, "The kings idea is simply ridiculous." The king became enraged and said to The Fool, "you show me a better alternative otherwise you will be put to death." The Fool said, "Sire, cut out small pads of cowhide to cover your feet instead."
Predicting The Present Page 3