The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination — John Shaqi
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of DivinationDe Laurence, L. W. (Lauron William)
Religion
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination
De Laurence, L. W. (Lauron William)
Fortune-telling by cards; Tarot
which is usually occupied by the Ace of Pentacles as the last of
the whole Tarot series. This rearrangement has been followed
by Papus recently in Le Tarot Divinatoire, where the confusion is
of no consequence, as the findings of fortune-telling depend upon
fortuitous positions and not upon essential place in the general
sequence of cards. I have seen yet another allocation of the zero
symbol, which no doubt obtains in certain cases, but it fails on the
highest planes and for our present requirements it would be idle
to carry the examination further.
Section 2
THE TRUMPS MAJOR AND THEIR INNER SYMBOLISM
ONE. THE MAGICIAN
A youthful figure in the robe of a magician, having the countenance
of divine Apollo, with smile of confidence and shining
eyes. Above his head is the mysterious sign of the Holy Spirit,
the sign of life, like an endless cord, forming the figure 8 in a
horizontal position . About his waist is a serpent-cincture,
the serpent appearing to devour its own tail. This is familiar to
most as a conventional symbol of eternity, but here it indicates
more especially the eternity of attainment in the spirit. In the
Magician's right hand is a wand raised towards heaven, while the
left hand is pointing to the earth. This dual sign is known in
very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it shows the descent
of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived
to things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the
possession and communication of the Powers and Gifts of the
Spirit. On the table in front of the Magician are the symbols of
the four Tarot suits, signifying the elements of natural life, which
lie like counters before the adept, and he adapts them as he wills.
Beneath are roses and lilies, the flos campi and lilium convallium,
changed into garden flowers, to show the culture of aspiration.
This card signifies the divine motive in man, reflecting God, the
will in the liberation of its union with that which is above. It is
also the unity of individual being on all planes, and in a very high
sense it is thought, in the fixation thereof. With further reference
to what I have called the sign of life and its connection with
the number 8, it may be remembered that Christian Gnosticism
speaks of rebirth in Christ as a change "unto the Ogdoad." The
mystic number is termed Jerusalem above, the Land flowing with
Milk and Honey, the Holy Spirit and the Land of the Lord.
According to Martinism, 8 is the number of Christ.
TWO. THE HIGH PRIESTESS
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