Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
.";.,i
;ii
Exhibition of
Occult and Alchemical Designs for the Cards
of the
T'arot of the Egyptians
EXHIBITION OF PLAYING CARDS
THE
TAROT
(BOOK OF THOTH)
78 PAINTINGS
ACCORDING TO THE
-
The origin of the Tarot is unknown, but in all
I probability it was introduced into the Mediterranean
Basin not later than the end of the l4th century. \['e have
existing packs in the lSth centwy.
i . It is generally admitted that the cards were a classifi_
I cation or ma,p of the universe. The material universe has
always been divided in the first instance into four, and, the
number Four is the basis of the pack. There are four suits
,{
,ilt
corresponding to t!" four elements, four quarters, four
rfi stations ofthe sun, four seasons and so on. Ä:rd the'other
numbers involved in this classification are d.erived, directly
from it.
l+2+3+4 : 10
l+2 : 3l
W 3+4 : 7l2Z
' 3x4 : 12)
f The number of the Trumps (22) is -accordingly that
I
of the Atus, or Houses, or Kevi. Thö subiect of tiö cards
and look (the Tarot is called ihe book of ihoth or Tahuti,
t the EgS4ptian Mercury) is the influence of the l0 numberå
ald the twenty-two letters on man, and his best method.
cl of manipulating their forces.
l
. ft appeqs frop _the classification that the system of
the Tarot is that of the Hebrew eabalah. eabalah
-"rrn
" received," 'i.e., a tradition receivöd by means of initiation.
I The Ilebrew Qabalah claims to be based, on the
I Egyptian Qabalah. It was supposed that Moses, lhe $eab
yqagician of
I -th9 Hebrews, [åd been initiated tf tne
hierophants of that country. This theorv is confided bv
strongly_marked traces of Egyptian figåres and id.eas iä
the traditional designs themsälves, 6ut there is also
panilbld expression of the influence of fndian religions.
ln _particular, the fndian God Ardhanari is represänted
with of the four suits, Wanäs, Cups,
-the four _weapons
Swords, and Diks.
-
Ii
,{i
il$
tr
'll
T
'1,r
't1 :
No. No.
child symbol'i,ses the New Aeon of the child' Eorus, symbolism is that of the Creator of Li.fe and, his
wh'i,alt, talces the ltlnae of the Ol'd Aeon that has goaerned,
representatiue is the Bpermatozoon tr'or [hat reason
us for 2,AA0 gears. The Hi'erophnnt rnoaes onl'y at the card is called the Hermit. In the same order of
intöraals of 2,000 years. The four masks are the ideas the Hermi,t hold,s the lamp whose aentre is the
guard,'ians of euerg m,ystery, aul'rninati,ng i,n the Granrl Sun.^ The Egg, surrounded by the coils of a snake,
Mgstery of the uni,ting of m'i'uoaosm anil nxawaaosrn. |ypr$"u the Universe, wåile the snalce si,gni,fi.es tke
The woman before the hierophant represents Venus, fluid,j,a essence of Light, whioh i,s thelife of thå Uni,uerse.
noufarmeil, and, mili,tant. Tlrc Wan'cl' with i'ts interlaceil In this card are traces of the legend öf persephone.
rinis sh,ows the three Aeons of Isis, Os'iri,s and,,Horus. The serpent Wand, here seen -growine out äf the
Abyss, is the Wand of Mercurv, the guirle of the
7 VI. The Lovem. This specifieally alchemical card is a soul through the lower regions. Thd letter yod
oo
symbol, of procreat'ion, the swords drawing attention means a hand," and the hand. is the centre of the
to the ptrocess of d,i,ui,si.on whi'oh actually talces place. design.
Cain antl AbeI represent' tlte refusal of God' to hear tke ux.
,tl
the w'i,ld bl'end' of col,owr a,nd' of mouement resol,aes Wsfw? wkiah un'ites them, anil, in her right
-
slrc holds
i,tsel,f into an equi,l,ibri,um' of al'l' possi'bil'iti'es of se'nsat'i'on.
al,oft tpe Qw-p
-afla_m,e
with l,oae and, tl,eatk. In thi,s Cuyr
are m,i,ngl,ed, the el,ements of the sowament of ttw AuA.
f0 f,K. The Eermit. The letter, to which this card is In. the background are the blood,less figuree of the
-wkotc
sa'i,r.fts on wkom this mi,rage traua,i,ls, .fbr thedr
attributed, is the letter Yod, the foundation of all
li,fe has been absorbeil into the Holy Gråi,l.
the other letters of 'the Hebrew Alphabet. The
.ly'o.
No.
f 3 Xm. The trIangetl Man or Dying God. The posture of the Li4hts ri,si,ng out of putrefaction. Putrefaction itsef is
drowned or hanged man is of the greatost significanrce. shown by the raven perched on a skull on tho
The legs are arossd, so that the ri'ght I'eg forma a right cauldron. The aonsummation of tke zohole art of
Alnhemg ,is procla'imed, in the glarg wi,th its i,nsarirytian
angl,e' wi,th the left l,eg, anil' the arrrts are stretohe'd, oul at .. VISITA INTENIORA TENNAE NECTIEI.
ai angl,e of siriy il,egrees, so as to form' an equi'lateral'
CANDO INVENIES OCCULTNM LAPIDEM,"
triangl,e. This g'i,ues the symbol of the triangl" tof
mountal, bg a cross, wkiah represents the d'escent of ,th,e The aounsel, to a'is'it the interior of the earth 'i's a re-
tight i,nto d,arlcness 'i,n ttrd'er to red,eern 'i,t. The u:h,ol'e * capi,tulati,on (on a higher gi.ane) of the fi,rst formala, of
iilea of sacrifiae is a misaomaepti,on of %ature, qnd tl-n lr tlr,e W orlc. T he'i,mryortant word, is R E C T I F I C A N DO,
i,t i,mqfli,es the right lead,i.ng of the new l'iai,ng substance
el,emeÄt of water to whi,alt' the card, i,s attri'bu'ted''is th,e
element of illusi'on.
2f XX.
d,eath.
l0 tl
No. No.
26 !'our of Wantls:Completion. Chesed in the suit of Ffue. 33 Knight of Fire:fiery part, of Tire.
Venus in Aries. The card represents a warrior in complete armour on a black
The Wands are headed by the Ram sacred to Aries, and, at horse.
the other end, the doves of Venus. The ori,gi,na,l Wi,ll, of the Noru.*No description of 33.
Two has been transmi,tted, throuqlr the Three, and, 'i's now bu'i,k
up 'into a sol'id, system of oriler,law, and, goaernment. :r4 Queen of Wantls:watery part of Fire, i'ts fluid'i,ty and, col,our.
The card shows a Queen with a crown of the winged globe.
27 Five of V/anils:Strifo. Geburah in the srrit of tr'ire. Saturn She is seated on a throne of fl'ame, orilered, 'i,nto geom,etr'i,cal'
and Leo. light by her materi,al power. Bhe carri,es a Wand' topped' wi'tlt
These Wan<ls are of the Ch,åef Ad,ept or Cad,uceus, second, Ad,ept, a, f,r aome, suggesti,ue of the mysteries of Bacahus
or Phani,u, thåril Ad,ept, or Lotus. F'iaed,oubleflames sltow
bal,anaed, energy. Thi's is ptnely actitse
35 Prince of lVanils:airy part of Tire, wi'th its faaul,ty of
force. expand,i,n g and, oolat'i'1,'i,s'i,ng .
t2 13
No. .trflo.
4l Five of Cups:Disappointment. Geburah in the suit of 49 Prince of CuBs:airy part of Water, or its elnst'i,ai,tg qnd
Water. Mars in Scorpio. aol,ati,l,i,ty, anfl, tke eneigyIn this card he is seated in
of steam.
The Cups are empty. They are arranged in an inverted a chariot, surrounded liy clouds and drawn by an eagle.
pentagram. They symbolise the tri,um,pth, of matter oaer spi,ri,t. He carries a Lotus and-a Cup from which issues a spiral
serpent.
42 Six of Cups:Pleasure. Tiphareth in the suit of Water.
Sun in Scorpio. 50 Princess of Cups:earthy part of Water, ot its facul'ty of
The Lotus stems are grouped in an elaborate movement,. also its power to giue substanae to id,m', to
wgstal,l,i,sati,om,
'Water gushes
into them; thoy are full but not overflowing. söpgtort Life,'ani, to fofm a basi'i oJ chemi,aal, combi'naft'i,on.
This shows the ,i,nf,uenae of the Bun on Water. His .fierae bät She is repiesented as'a dancing figure, and has a crest of a
balanaed, power ofierat"t oå o @pe of yrutrefaction whtci is the swan with open wings. She carries a Cup with a tortoise.
basis of fertility. The dolphin s5'mbolises the power of creation.
43 Seven of Cups:Debauch. Netzach in the suit of Water.
Venus in Scorpio.
The Lotuses have hecome poisonous ; green slime issues from
them. They are arranged in two descending triangles, with
a lower cup much larger than the rest. This shows erternal SWORDS
splend,our and, internal, aorruptiom.
44 Eightof CuBs:Indolence. Hodinthesuit ofWater. Saturn 5l Ace of Swortls.
in Pisces. This card represents tlte f,rst of the mired' elements, anil' 'i,s the
The Lotuses droop, the Cups are ehallow and old, and are resul,t of the Un'ion of Water and' Ai'r. In the centro is a
arranged in three rows. The upper row is empty. sword ihplying kingship, which pierces a crown with twelve
45 Nine of Cups:Happiness. Yesod in the suit of Water. points for the twelve signs of the Zodiac.
Jupiter in Pisces. Air.
The nine Cups are perfectly arranged in a square. They 52 Two of $wortls:Peace. Chokmab in the suit of Moon
are filled and overflowing with water. Thii is the moat in Libra.
bene,f,cent aspect of water. In this card are two crossed swords united by a blue rose
with five petals, which emits white rays pr_oducryg _a
46 Ten of Cups:Satiety. l\falkuth in the suit of Water. Mars geometrical- pattern which suggests energy begond' the
in Pisces. onsl,aught of the d,isrugttion of the i,ntel,lect.
The Cups are arranged as in the Tree of Life, but they are
unstable and qpill the water from the great Lotus that hangs 53 Tbree of $words:Sorrow. Binah in the suit of Air. Saturn
over them. This typifies the d,i,srupttiue and, a,iolent forae in Libra.
which, ineaitabl,y, attaalcs eaery supposed, perfection The card represents the Great Sword of the Ma-gician, point
47 l(ttight of Cups:fiery part of Water, or water's power uppermost, cutting the junction of the two short swords.
of Tirä background shows crystallisation and storm. This is
sol,ution. The card represents him as a warrior in black
tke d,arlcness of the Great Sea.
armour, with whito wings, on a white horse. In bis hand he
carries the Cup from which issues a Crab, sign of water in Four of Swotils:Truce. Chesed in the suit of Air' Jupiter
aggression. The peacock symbolises the brillianco of water. in Libra.
4t8 Qugen of Cups:watery part of Water, or ito power of refl,eati,on The f,our swords in this card. are at the corner of a St.
amd, reception She is enthroned on still water, and carries a Andrew's Crcs. Their points are sheathed. in a rose of
shell-like Cup containing a cray-fish. fn her other hand. she forty-nine petals. This-represents the establishme:rt of
holds the Lotus of Isis. d,ogma and, äonnenli,om 'i,n theVeatm of i,ntell,ect.
t4 t5
No, .lflo.
öo Five of Sworils:Defeat. Geburah in the suit of Air. Venus 62 The Queen of Swortls represents the watery part 9f Air,
in Aquarius. that is its el,asti,aity an'il, transm'i'ss'iue power. She is t'hroned.
The hilts of the swords form an inverted. pentagram and are on the clouds, andher helmet carries a child's head. fn ono
diverse, the blades broken and crooked, typrfying dntel,l,ecl hand a sword, in the other a head of a man. She represents
enfee.bl,ed, b y sentiment. the alear percept'ion of an åd,ea, tlte Li,berator of mi,nd,.
oo Six of Swoills:Science. Tiphareth in the suit of Air. 63 The Prince of Swortls:the airv part of Air.
Mercury in Aquarius. This card t;,pifies the Intellect.- The Prince is seat'ed in a
The ornamental hilts of the Swords form a hexagon in the chariot drawn by child-like faYs.
card. Their points touch the outer petals of thä red. rose
upon a Golden Cross of six squares. Tlte perfeat balnnae of 64 Ihe Princess of Swortls:the earthy part of Atr; lhe f,rati'on
mental and, moral, faaul,ties, hard,ly won and, ,i,mpossi,bl,e to kold,, o.f the aolati,le, or the materiali,sation of the ld,ea. She appears-
interprets the idea of Science. å tni* card in front of a barren altär, and llas a helmet' of
ol Seven of Sworils:X'utility. Netzach in the suit of Air. Medusa on her head.
Moon in Aquarius.
The card shows six Swords with their hilts in crescent
formation. Their points impinge on a much larger up-
thrusting Sword. Here uaai,llation and, compronr,ise are DISKS
d,epicted,.
öö Eight of Swortls:Interference. Hod in the suit of Air. 65 fite Ace of Disks represents the last of the femi'nine symbol,s-;
Jupiter in Gemini. i,t is the twi,n si,ster o.f Ai,r, and, its brid,e. It i,s rnt only Earth,
The centre of the card. contains two long Sword.s pointing but matter as such.- Per aontra, the Dislc is the whi'rldng
down, -while six smaller ones suggesting Eastern weapons sgrylol' of Space. The Di,slc i,s wi'nged, to i,nd'i,cate i,ts spi,rihml,
cross them, three on each side. The card suggests LaCIc of orbgbft.
pers'i,steTtce'i,n intel,leatual, m,utters amd, accid,ental, interferenae.
66 Two of Disks:Change. Chokmah in the element, of Earth.
59 Nine of Swords:Cruelty. Yesod in the suit of Air. Mars in Jupiter in Capricornus.
Gemini. TG card represents the two pentacles, one above the other,
The nine Swords are of different lengths, pointing down- and are the Ohinese symbols Yang and Yin. About them is a
wards, poison blood drip from their jagged points. The green Serpent; he förms the figure 8. This card" symbol,'i,ses
background is studded with tears and crystal forms. fn ihe d,oatri,ne : Change is the sultport of stabi'li,ty.
this card intellect is repl,aaed, bg heartl,ess pa,ssi,on.
60 Ten of Swonls:Ruin. Malkuth in the suit of Air. Sun in Three of Disks:Work. Binah in the element of Earth.
Gemini. Mars in Capricornus.
The Swords are arranged. on the Tree ofLife, but the points This card iepresents a pyramid viewed from above. The
one to fi.ve, and seven to nine, shatter the central Sword base is formed of three wheels which typify Mercury,
which represents the Sun, the Heart. The background. is Sulphur, Salt. Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, Alep!, $ni1 an{
aflame with explosive d.estruction. This card shows req,son Mem. This means t'he m,ateri,al, establ,ish,ment of the i'd'ea of
rwm mail, and a rint of soul,l,ess meakani,sm. tlte uniaerse.
6l Ifuight of Swonls represents the fiery part of air, wind and 68 Four of Disks:Power. Chesed in the suit of Earth. Sun
storm; the ai,olent power of mpti,om appli,eil, to a mamageabl,e in Capricornus.
el,emsh He is represented as a warrior with a helnqet The Disks a,re very large ancl solid, and suggest,a fortress.
bearing a revolving wing, and. mounted. on a maddened This card symboliies Låw an'd, Oriler, mai,ntaineitr by aonstq'rrt
steed. He carries a Sword. and a Poniard. ai,gi,l,anae.
16 t7
No. No,
69 five of Dis}6:Womy. Geburah in the suit of Earth. 76 Queen oI Disks:watery par-b of Earth or fertildty. She is
Mercury in Taurus. throned arrid vegetation and crowned with the spiral horns
This represgntg the five Disks in an inverted pentagram. of the Markhor. IIer sceptre is surmounted by a cube, and
The.general effect is one of ,stra,in, get the sgnfrol, is"ttns- she holds her proper Disk-a sphere of circles and loopn.
continued,,inaction. Its matural, meaning i,s i,ntedtigewe apffliöÅ She typifies ambi,tdon of'matter to take pwrt in the uwrk of
areat'ion,
to labow.
77 Prince o1 pisfus:airy part of Earth or the f,orexaerwe ad
70 Six of l)isks--Success. Tiphareth in the suit of Earth. frtrctifi,cation of that elemcnt. He is seated in a chariot drawn
Moon in Taurus. by a bull. His helmet is crowned by a bull; and he holds a
The Disks are in a hexagraT. The planets are arranged. in Disk resembling a globe and marked with mathematical
their usual attribution, in the centre the Sun as Rosä and symbols. In his other hand he carries a sceptre surmounted
Cross. This typifies the karmoni,ous establ,i,sbment of thn by a cross. The card symbolises the functi,on of bringi'rq
energy of tlte Elernent.
farth trom the Earth the uegetati,on whi,ak is the swbstan'ce of th'e
Bpi,rit itself .
7l Seven of Disks:I'ailure. Netzach in the suit of Earth.
Saturn in Taurus. 78 Princess of Disks:earthy part of Earth, or the El,ernent on
The Disks are arranged as in the geomantic fi.gure Rubeus. thebri,nlc of Transf,guration. She is standing; her crest is the
This card represents enfeeblemnnt and, blight. head of the rarn ; her sceptre clescends into the earth where its
head becomes a diamond. Behind are a, grove of trees, and
72 Eight ol Disks:Prudence. Hod in the suit of Earth. an altar resembling a wheatsheaf. She carries a Disk in
Mercury in Virgo. whose centre is the Chinese iileogram il,erwti,ng the tw'i'n spiratr
The Dieks are arranged as the geomantic figure Populus, and Joroe of Creation in perfeat equi,li,bri,wm.
repr-esent the fnrit of a great tree. It signifies intel,li,genae
agili,ed, to materiq,l, matters.