The Second Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of this card is the Priestess of the Silver Star. The Path of the High Priestess is the first to reach Kether from the lower realms of the Tree in Tiphareth. It is The Crown of Beauty, the beginning of Sovereignty and Beauty, the Primum Mobile, acting through the Moon on the Sun. This is the longest path on the Tree, stretching from God the Crown the Source of All to God the Son the Slain and Resurrected One . Gimel, the Hebrew letter attributed to this path means camel, the...
The Fourteenth Key the th Path
This drawing represents the more ancient form of the 14th Key of Tarot, for which the later and more usual form of Temperance was soon substituted, as better representing the natural symbolism of the Path Sagittarius. The earlier figure was considered not so much a representation of this Path alone, as the synthesis of that and the others conjoined. The later figure, therefore is better adapted to the more restricted meaning. The more ancient one of water and one of liquid fire. The mixing of...
Earned Success Mercury in Aquarius
Two hands as before, each holding three swords which cross in the center. Rose re-established hereon. Mercury and Aquarius above and below, supported on the points of two short daggers or swords. Success after anxiety and trouble. Selfishness, beauty, conceit, but sometimes modesty therein, dominion, patience, labor, etc., according to dignity. Tiphareth of Vav. Labor, work, journey by water. Herein rule Rehaayal and Yeyeziel. The Six of Swords is Tiphareth in the scale of Yetzirah. It is Solar...
Peace Restored Moon in Libra
Two crossed swords, like the air dagger of a Z. A.M., each held by a white radiating angelic hand. Upon the point where the two cross is a rose of five petals, emitting white rays, and top and bottom of card are two small daggers, supporting respectively the symbols of Luna in horizontal position and Libra, representing the Decan. Contradictory characteristics in the same nature. Strength through suffering. Pleasure after pain. Sacrifice and trouble yet strength arising therefrom symbolized by...
Loss in Pleasure Mars in Scorpio
A white radiating angelic hand as before holding lotuses or water lilies of which the flowers are falling right and left. Leaves only and no buds surmount them. These lotus stems ascend between the cups in the manner of a fountain, but no water flows therefrom, neither is there water in any of the cups, which are somewhat in the shape of the magical implement of the ZA-M. Above and below are the symbols of Mars and Scorpio, representing the decan. Death or end of pleasures. Disappointment....
Abandoned Success Saturn in Pisces
A hand holding a group of stems of lotuses or water lilies. There are only two flowers shown which bend over the two center cups pouring into them a white water. The cups are not yet filled. The three upper cups are empty. At top and bottom Saturn and Pisces. Temporary success, but without further result. Things thrown aside as soon as gained. No lasting even in the matter in hand. Indolence in success. Journeying from place to place. Misery and repining without cause. Seeking after riches....
Prince of the Chariot of the Waters
A winged kingly figure with a winged crown, seated in a chariot drawn by an eagle. On the wheel is the symbol of a scorpion. The eagle is borne as a crest upon his crown, cuirass and buskins. General attire like King Prince of Wands. Beneath his chariot is the calm and stagnant water of a lake. His scale armour resembles feathers more than scales. He holds in one hand a lotus, and the other a cup, charged with the sigil of his scale. A serpent issues from the cup, and has its head tending down...
Venus in Cancer
Hand at lower part from cloud holds lotuses. A lotus flower rises above water, which occupies the lowest part of the card, and rises above the hand holding the lotus. From this lotus flower a stem rises, terminating nearly at the top of the card in another lotus or water lily flower, from which a white water gushes like a fountain. Crossed on the stem just beneath are two dolphins, gold and silver on to which the water falls and from which it pours in full streams, like jets of gold and silver,...
Pleasure Sun in Scorpio
An angelic hand as before, holds a group of stems of lotuses or water lilies from which six flowers bend, one over each cup. From these flowers a white glistening water flows into the cup as from a fountain, but they are not yet full. Above and below are the symbols of Sun and Scorpio, representing the Decanate. Commencement of steady increase, gain and pleasure, but commencement only. Also affront, defective knowledge and, in some instances, contention and strife arising from unwarranted...
Despair and Cruelty Mars in Gemini
Four hands somewhat as in preceding symbol hold eight swords upright but with the points falling away from each other. A fifth hand holds a ninth sword upright in the center, as if it had disunited them, and struck them asunder. No rose at all is shown as if it were not merely cut in pieces but completely and definitely destroyed . Above and below Mars and Gemini. Despair, cruelty, pitilessness, malice, suffering, want, loss, misery. Burden, oppression, labor, subtlety and craft, lying,...
Strife Saturn in Leo
Two white radiant angelic hands issuing from clouds right and left of the center of the card. They are clasped together as in the Grip of the First Order, and they hold at the same time by their centers five wands, or torches, which are similar to the wand of a Z.A.M. Four wands cross each other, but the fifth is upright in the center. Flames leap from the point of junction. Above the central wand is the symbol Saturn and below it that of Leo representing the Decanate. Violent strife and...
Great Strength Moon in Sagittarius
Four hands as in the previous symbol holding eight wands crossed four and four, but a fifth hand at the foot of the card holds another wand upright, which traverses the point of junction with the others. Flames leap therefrom. Above and below the symbols Luna and Sagittarius. Tremendous and steady force that cannot be shaken. Herculean strength, yet sometimes scientifically applied. Great success, but with strife and energy. Victory preceded by apprehension and fear. Health good and recovery,...
The Decanates Of The Zodiac
and all Sword cards are of the Prince Scale. Pentacles, under the presidency of the World of Assiah, belong to the Princess Scale. To summarize KING SCALE Wands, Fire, Atziluth, masculine force. QUEEN SCALE Cups, Water, Briah, feminine power. PRINCE SCALE Swords, Air, Yetzirah, masculine force. PRINCESS SCALE Pentacles, Earth, Assiah, feminine power. One final note on the Color Scales The Tree of Life, as it is usually depicted, is described as the Minutum Mundum. the Small Universe . The...
The Fifth Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of this card is Magus of the Eternal Gods. The path of the Hierophant runs between Chesed Mercy and Chokmah Wisdom . It is The Wisdom and Fountain of Mercy, the sphere of the Zodiac acting through Taurus upon Jupiter. This is a very masculine path the uppermost path on the Pillar of Mercy. The Hierophant is an important link between the Higher Self the Ethical Triangle and the Spiritual Self the Supernal Triad . It is a primary function of the Hierophant to tie together the...
The General Meanings Of The Court Cards
These are the meanings in the most general sens . The Four Kings or figures mounted on steeds represent the Yod forces of the Name in each suit, the radix, Father, and commencement of Material Forces. A force in which all the others are implied and of which they form the development and completion. A force swift and violent in action, but whose effect soon passes away, and therefore symbolized by a figure on a steed riding swiftly, and clothed in complete armour. Therefore is the knowledge of...
Valor Mars in Leo
Two hands holding by grip, as before, 6 wands, three crossed by three, a third hand issuing from a cloud at the lower part of the card holding an upright wand, which passes between the others. Rames leap from the point of junction. Above and below the central wand are the symbols Mars and Leo, representing the Decan. Possible victory, depending upon the energy and courage exercised valor, opposition, obstacles, difficulties, yet courage to meet them, quarrelling, ignorance, pretence, wrangling...
Shortened Force Jupiter in Gemini
Four hands as usual, each holding two swords, points upwards, touching near top of card, two hands lower on left, two on right of card. The rose of other sword symbols re-established in center. Above and below Jupiter and Gemini. Too much force applied to small things, too much attention to details, at expense of principle and more important points. Ill-dignified, these qualities produce malice, pettiness, and domineering qualities. Patience in detail of study, great ease in some things,...
The Third Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of this card is Daughter of the Mighty Ones. The path of the Empress is the mediator between the Father and the Mother Chokmah and Binah . It is The Wisdom of Understanding, the Union of the powers of Origination and Production the Sphere of the Zodiac acting through Venus upon Saturn. This is also the path of Unity the Union of the powers of Force and Form resulting in the title, Daughter of the Mighty Ones. The Empress is the Universal Mother-figure, whose womb we must be...
The New Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot
Keys to the Rituals, Symbolism, Magic and Llewellyn Publications St. Paul, Minnesota, 55164-0383, U.S.A. The New Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot copyright 1991,1994 by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Cover painting Judgement card from...
The Invoking Dream Rite
1 During the day, take the Tarot card of the Star out the deck and put the rest of the cards away. Leave this card on a dresser or table next to your bed with two white candles on either side of it. Periodically during the day, contemplate the card with all its meanings and symbols. Permit your hermetic knowledge, experience and imagination to come together and bring the card to life in your day-dreams. Calmly tell yourself that tonight you will dream an intuitive vision about the Star card...
The Thirteenth Key the th Path
The 13th Key of Tarot represents a figure of a skeleton, upon which some portions of flesh still remain. In a field he is reaping off with the Scythe of Death the fresh vegetation which springs from the corrupting bodies buried therein fragments of which, such as hands, heads and feet appear above the soil. One of the heads wears a kingly crown another is apparently that of a person of little note, showing that Death is the equalizer of all conditions. The five extremities, the head, hands and...
The Fourth Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of the this card is Son of the Morning, Chief among the Mighty. The Path of the Emperor connects Tiphareth the Son to Chokmah the Father . It is The Wisdom of Sovereignty and Beauty, and the originator of them the sphere of the Zodiac acting through Aries upon the Sun, and initiating Spring. It is a very masculine path from all outside appearances. But in fact the male Aries energy is guided by Binah which is red in Atziluth . The Emperor takes the manifesting energy from the...
The Sixth Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of this card is Children of the Voice Divine, the Oracles of the Mighty Gods. The path of the Lovers connects Tiphareth, the Solar Center of the Higher Self, to Binah, the Great Sea of the Super Conscious. It is The Understanding of Beauty as well as the Production of Beauty and Sovereignty. Saturn acting through Gemini upon Sol. The affection between the Lovers is not sexual in nature rather it is the Divine Love of the twins of Gemini for each other. This is the uniting of...
The Twelfth Key the rd Path
The Magickal Title of this card is the Spirit of the Mighty Waters. The path of the Hanged Man runs between the spheres of Hod and Geburah. It is The Severity of Splendor, and the execution of judgement. Mars acting through Water upon Mercury. This is a path of self-sacrifice, loss, and the concept of the Divine Death associated with all of the dying-god myths. It represents the crucifixion of Christ and the slaying of Osiris. Yet just as in all of these myths, the god dies and is resurrected...
The Ninth Key the Oth Path
The Magickal Title of this card is the Magus of the Voice of Light, the Prophet of the Gods. The path of the Hermit leads from Tiphareth to Chesed. It is The Mercy of Beauty, the Magnificence of Sovereignty, Jupiter acting through Virgo upon Sol. He represents communication between the Higher Self of the Ethical Triad and the Spiritual Self of the Supernal Triad. The Hermit is symbolized by the Kerux in Golden Dawn ritual, who is Anubis ultimately a lower form of Hermes-Thoth, messenger to the...
Sorrow Saturn in Libra
Three white radiating angelic hands issuing from clouds and holding three swords upright as if the central sword had struck apart from the two others which were crossed in the preceding symbol . The central sword cuts asunder the rose of five petals which in the preceding symbol grew at the junction of the swords , its petals are falling, and no white rays issue from it. Above and below the central sword are the symbols of Saturn and Libra, referring to the Decanate. Disruption, interruption,...
The Lesser Banishing Ritual Of The Hexagram
1 Perform the Relaxation Ritual or take Ritual Bath. 3 Stand in the east and perforrruthe Qabalistic Cross. 4 Still facing the east in your temple space, spread arms out in the shape of a Tau Cross. You may use your right index finger or a favorite ritual wand held in the right hand to trace the prescribed figures. 5 Trace the banishing hexagram of Fire. Imagine it drawn in a flaming golden light. In the center of the figure, thrust forward with the wand or index finger as described in the...
The Eighth Key the th Path
The Magickal Title of the card is Daughter of the Flaming Sword, Leader of the Lion. The course of Strength or Fortitude is the reciprocal path which straddles the Tree from Geburah to Chesed. It is Mercy tempering Severity. The Glory of Strength. Jupiter acting through Leo upon Mars. Just below the Abyss, it is a major path which connects the two great opposing forces of the Higher Self. This corresponds on the human body to the channel of energy that connects the right and left arms. True...
Unstable Effort Moon in Aquarius
Two hands as before, each holding swords. A third hand holds a single sword in the center. The points of all the swords do just touch one another, the central sword not altogether dividing them. The rose of the previous symbols of this suit is held by the hand which holds the central sword, as if the victory were in its disposal. Above and below Luna and Aquarius. Partial success, yielding when victory is within grasp, as if the last reserves of strength were used up. Inclination to lose when...
Bibliography 1
Case, Paul Foster. The Book of Tokens. 10th ed. Los Angeles Builders of the Adytum, 1983. _. The Tarot A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages. Richmond, Fortune, Dion. Practical Occultism in Daily Life. 6th ed. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire The Aquarian Press, 1985. _. The Mystical Qabalah. New York Ibis Books, 1981. Gay, John F. An Introduction to the Qabalah For Everyman, Para-chemy. Fall 1976, pp. 382-383. Gilbert, R.A. The Sorcerer and His Apprentice. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire The...