TAROT INTERPRETATION

LessonTwenty-Two

INSPIRATION

Tlre tableaufor this week is:

t2 13 t4

t5 16 t7

18 t9 20

The magicsquareis:

15 20 13

t4 t6 l8

19 t2 t7

-fower.
In both arrangements the centralcard is l(ey 16, the The constantsummationof the
magic squareis 48. It showsthe adept'sreversalof ordinary statesof consciousness (I(ey l2)
as the result of the working of the law representedby Key 8 through reason(Key 4). This
tableaushowsthat in order to reasoncorrectly,we must profit by the law that all subhuman
statesof the life-force are underthe control of the subconsciouslevel of humanmentality.
Iraulty reasoningis often the lesult of our ignoranceof the law. I(ey 16 showsthe stateof
consciousness whiclr is the resultof our releasefiom complexesof mistakenopinion.

The constantsummationof the magic square,48, is alsothe numberof the word !5'l!,
l(okab, (),20:-1,6; ),20; ),2). This is Hebrewfor Mercury,the planet. It thereforerelates
to all things F{ermetic,and in particular to the power of attentive concentrationpictured in
Tarot by the Magician.

i(okab, however,has a more generalmeaningthan its specialapplicationto the planet

Mercury. It is the genericFlebrewterm for "star." Thus the GreatMagical Agent, which
EliphasLevi calls"Astral Light," would be Erl:t:n ilN, Aur ha-I(okabim,"Light of the

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Stars." The numerationof thesetwo words is 310, and this is the numerationof U'll to
conquer,of lUlll to bind, and of lli is, are,essence,being.

The Astral Light, Levi writes, is the blind force soulsmust conquer. It binds us so long as we
remain in ignoranceof its natureand laws. Yet it is the materialbasisof our being, for it is
the substanceof heavenand earthdiffusedthroughoutinfinity. When we rnasterand direct its
currents,we becomedepositariesof the power of God, for the Astral Light, the First Matter of
the alchemists,is the power whosesuperconscious manifestationis representedby Key 0,
whose self-consciousmodesof expressionare symbolizedby Key 1, and whose subconscious
law of operationis picturedby Key 3. Thus it is of someinterestto note that the number 3 10
is also the numberof the noun TF^3, a young lion. (SeeKey 8)

The centralidea of this lesson,representedby Key 16, is the overthrowof error by right
knowledge. Your other studiesof Key 16,have told you that the basisof all error is the
delusionof sepalateness picturedby the lonely peak on which the Tower is built. Right
knowledgeis syrnbolizedby the lightning-flashwhich is alsothe symbol of the flaming
sword, representingthe ten Sephirothof the Qabalists.

Now, in Hebrewthe "flaming sword" (Gen.3:24) is llflil Dit5, lawhatha-khereb(44 plus

2I5, or 259). Lawhat, which is translated"flaming," mears also "magical," or "the force of
enchantment."By numerationit is connectedwith the noun F"l, dam, blood. Ha-Khereb,the
sword, is equal by numeration to ll'ltN a path, a naffow way, and to h'11,to inadiate, to rise
(asthe sun).

Briefly stated,the esotericdoctrineindicatedby the Qabalisticcorrespondence is that the

magical force is in the blood, that to direct it is to find liberation,and that as it risesin our
consciousness and sendsits radiancethroughour lives, we are set fiee. It is calledthe flaming
sword in the story of the fall of man becausethat story refersto the descentof consciousness
'fhe
from higher and inner planesto the physical. sword "turns every way" becauseit is the
fire force in the blood streamcirculating through our bodies, and thereforeturning in every
direction.It keepsus out of Eden,for the time being, so that we may gain knowledgeof the
physical plane.Yet this samefbrce in our blood is what we must learnto use in order to
overcomethe delusionswhich causeall our difficulties.

In order to breakup our complexesof error,representedby the Tower, we rnustadoptthe

mental attitudeexpressedby I(ey 12. Consciousand voluntaryreversalof our thinking is
indispensable.This reversalmust be practicedcontinually.

We must reversethe notion that we are in any senseseparatebeings. We must reversethe

notion that we are personally independent,and substitutefor it the truth that we are related
rnentallyand spiritually to the cosmic whole, and utterly dependentthereon. We must also
reverseour notion of what we meanby the pronoun"I," and seethe identity of that "I" with
universalSpirit.

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This takes a lot of practice,for it doesnot come naturallyto us. Eventually,this practicewill
result in the overthrow of all our subconsciouscomplexesof error. More, it works directly on
our physical bodieschangingthemjust a little every day, alteringboth chemistryand structure
until at length we are releasedfrom bondageto three-dimensionalappearances and come
actually to know ourselvesas four-dimensionalbeings. Remember,we do not become
four-dimensionalbeingsby this practice. We only becomedirectly and positively aware that
we are,and then we can exercisepowersbelongingto that state. (l(ey 12, 16,20)

What we call the Mars force is directly involved in the transformationof personalitywhich
'fhe
overthrowserror. magic power flaming in our blood stream,and flaming, too, in every
tissueof our bodies,flows out of the symbolicNorth, the place of darknessand terror which
representsall things unlcnown,toward the East and South,representingenlightenment and
power. It is by control of forceswhich in every generationof ordinaryhumanity have
inspiredtemor,and have beensurroundedwith taboos,that the real magicianfirst of all
transfbrmshimself, and then,through himsell his world.

He works first upon himself, that he may build a different organismcapableof registering
vibrationsin his environmentwhich passunperceivedby thosewho have not made
themselvesover. This new organismis able also to direct forceswhich an ordinary human
body cannotmanipulate. Thus the true magicianfinds himself in a new world wlrich he
ordersin ways -whichseemmiraculousto ignoranipersons.i{e deniesand destroyshis oid
"self," for that false self is really non-existent.Thus all magic includesself-immolation.

Out of the destroyedfalse self, sacrificedon the flaming pyre of right knowledge,rises,like
the fabled Phoenix,the true Self. This regeneratedSelf is the solarbeing whoseinstruments
are the transmutedhuman consciousness and subconsciousness. A true magicianis
consciouslyidentified with the greatIntelligencewhosephysicalbrain is the Sun. There'sa
real occult statementfor you! It saysmuch in few words. May you extractfrom it its full
meaning!(l(eys 13, 16, 19)

This sameSun-Spiritis the Holy GuardianAngel picturedin I(ey 14. Fortunatelyfor us, we
do not have to perform the Great Work with no more than the meagerequipment afforded by
our personalconsciousness.The personalconsciousness is being worked upon, and at one
stageof the work it is utterly brokenup in order that it may be reconstituted.Thus you will
not fail to notice that the lightning-flashin Key 16 comesfrom outsidethe Tower and springs
ftom a solardisc.

Adepts who are close to the final realizattonsay with St. Paul, "l die daily." They are
consciousof the dissolutionof the personsthey usedto be, and they rejoice in it. ln alchemy,
this stageof the GreatWork is called putrefaction becauseit is actuallythe complete
disorganizationof all the combinationswhich enteredinto the make-upof the old personality.
Refusal to enter into this stageof the Great Work keepsmany studentsfrom making any real
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practicaldemonstration.Remember,you cannot stay as you are and becomean adept. The

path is a path of reorganization,and to gain the crown at its end, you must passfar beyond the
statesand conditionsof ordinary humanpersonality. (Keys 14, 16, 18)

What particularproblem confrontsyou now? That is your startingpoint. Try to realizenow

that the real natureof that problem is this: You are mistaken aboutsomething! What you
are ignorantof, primarily, is someaspectof your own real power. Thereis power enoughto
enableyou to meet that problem. There is wisdom enoughto correctyour effor. Yet nothing
will help you so long as you hang onto the error. This problem you face is no real exception
to the generalperfection of the cosmic order. It is really an opportunity for you to get rid of a
pet bit of nonsenseyou are treasuring. Few peoplelike to be told this, but the few who have
earsto hear are the oneswho eventually becomeadeptsand masters.

'l-he
ordinary human reactionto any problem is eitherto run away from it, or elseto blame
somebodyelse,or the stars,or Fate,or Karma for it. The unusualreactionto a problem is to
seein it an opportunityfor the unveiling of somehitherlo unrecognizedaspectof truth.

You have heardof "'fhe Dweller on the Threshold"perhaps?And if you are well-readon this
particulartopic, you know that the "Dweller" is none other than your false self. On what
thresholddoeshe stand? On the thresholdof the Adytum of "God-nourishedsilence." On the
thresholdof the Gate of Eden. On the thresholdof Paradise.Rememberthat "paradise"
lreans literally "an en.closure.l'The path of liberationleadswithin. The powerswhiclr -
rcleaseLrsarewithin. What moreneedbe saidT (Keys 75,16,17')

Reversethe ordinary attitudesof ordinary men and you attainto the consciousness of the
adept.You do not becomeanythingthat you are not now. Strangedoctrinethis, but true. You
do not become,but you do enterinto a new region of knowledge. You do not add to yourself
anything.You find what you alreadyposses.Franklin, Galvani,Faradayand Edison did not
bring electricity into the world. Their knowledge of it was the germ of this electricalage.

Reverseordinary statesof humanconsciousness and you die to the personalitythat you were
while thosestatesdorninatedyour mind. You die, but in dying you learnexperimentallythat
thereis no death,and find yourself liberatedfrom the notion that you must have a physical
body in order to be alive. For thoseexperienceswhich abolishthe consciousness of death
come relatively early on the path of liberation. Reversethe false appearances of "this world"
and you will find that the "I(nowledge and Conversationof the Holy GuardianAngel" is
actually Self-knowledge.

Can we be plainer? Yet how many will hearand understand?Listen againto the words of the
wise written at the beginningof FAMA FRATERNITATIS, r,vherethey say the book was
written "tltat man might therebyunderstandhis own noblenessand worth and why he is called
Microcosmus,andhow far his knowledgeextendethinto Nature." (I(eys lz,13,14)

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Remember,too, that the Life-power hasto be incorporatedin an organismbeforeits higher

manifestationsmay be expressedhereon the physicalplane. This is the occult truth behind
all cloctrinesof incarnation. This is the hiddenmystery of "the Word madeflesh."'fhe
naturalman has a naturalbody. The adepthas an adept'sbody. The body you have now is the
seedfrom which yoll may developa higher organism;but you must participateconsciouslyin
the development. The actualbuilding of your new body is accomplishedat subconscious
levels,symbolizedby the moon abovethe path in l(ey 18. The way, or method,wherebythis
is accomplishedis the middle way betweenthe extremesof artificiality and the general
averagesof the merely natural. This way leadsto actualregeneration.

Regenerationis no mere metaphysicalterm. It designatesan actualgenerativeprocess

occurringin the practicaloccultist'sphysicalbody. As a result,he developsan organ for the
solar consciousness mentionedin this lesson. Then his personalconsciousand subconscious
life is renewedand he becomesas a little child. From this regenerationhe passeson to the
next stageof unfoldmentin which ordinaryrestrictionsof time and spacedo not affect the
adept'saction.(I(eys 18, 19,20)

This that we speakof is not so far off in the future as you may suppose.Doctrineswhich
pretend that this reahzationis far aheadof us are false. If we have the mentality to grasp the
principle, we have akeady arrived at the stagewhere alarge measureof rcalization is possible.
'fhis
messageis not sentyou as a promiseto be fulfilled sometwenty incarnationshence,nor
in someafter"life to r,vhichdeathis the portal. It is a messageof hope for the here and iior','
intendedto rouseyour expectationsof betterconditionsin this life. Remember,you are a
fbur-dimensionalbeing. You are not really bound by the limits of spaceand time. Your
effectiverangeis far beyondwhat most personssuppose.

Right now you can, and do, heal or hurt at a distance,and yow personalactivity affectsthe
lives of otherswho may live thousandsof miles away. What theselessons,and all sirrilar
teachingsemanatingfrom the Inner School,aim to accomplishis to awakenmen and women
to clear understandingof what they really are. You must know what you are doing before you
can do it intelligently, befbreyou can bring your performanceup to the standardof virtuosity
we call "adeptship."

Possiblyit may seemto you that we setthe mark too high. Not so. The world needshealers,
needsthinkerswho can consciouslyprojecttheir constructiveimageryinto mental space.
Many are called, and if few are chosenit is only because,notwithstandingall that has been
said and written aboutpracticaloccultism,only a few understandwhat it really is, and fewer
still are reallyworl<ing.

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MEDITATIONS

FIRST DAY: I(eys 12, 16,20. The movementof universalforcesis the basisof all my
personalactivity. Let me be free from the delusionof separateness.Let me be free from the
belief that I am bound by time and space. Doing nothing of myself, I yet enter freely into
all activity, for my real life is the Universal Life.

SECOND DAY: I(eys 13, 16,79. All thingsaremadenew for me this day. The errorsof the
pastcannotimprison me. Today, eventoday,I am a new creature.The seedof the new life
springs within me into its unfoldment, breaking down all barriers and uniting me
consciouslyto the radiance of my shining Self.

TIIIRD DAY: I(eys 14, 16, 18. My personalconsciousness is beingtransmutedby my true

Self. Its inspirationshattersthe delusionwhich is the only bondage. In my flesh the magic
flaming sword turns every way to cut off all that is false. The alchemy of Spirit transmutes
my bondageinto freedom,and I pressonward to the goal of perfect realization.

IjOURTII DAY: Keys 15, 16, 17. I rejoiceat this day'sproblems.They areopportunitiesto
break down the walls of ignorance. I watch expectantlyfor the unveiling of truth. My
problem is an opportunity to overcomeerror and seethe beauty that really is.

ITIFTIIDAY: I(eys 12, 13,14. The more I yield to the One Life, the more it yieldsitself to
me. What was dies out as what I am becomesever clearer. I am guided safelythrough this
day. Supported by the One Great Life, through all appearancesof change,all my
personal forces are truly adjusted by the One Self.

SIXTII DAY: I(eys 18, 19,20. My subconsciousness is continuallyat work to build me a

finer body. In that body is awakeningthe new life of the spiritualman that I truly am. I am
set fiee from every limitation. My body is regeneratedinto the divine likenesswhich
knows no bondageof time or space.

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