塔罗牌。通往时代智慧的钥匙

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THE 这 TAROT 塔罗 A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages
通往时代智慧的钥匙 by PAUL 作者 PAULFOSTER 培养CASE 箱 t MACOY PUBLISHING COMPANY MACOY 出版公司 NEW YORK 纽约

Copyright, 版权1947, by 1947 年，作者 PAUL FOSTER 保罗·福斯特CASE 箱 All rights reserved. 保留所有权利。No part of this book may
本书的任何部分都不得 be produeed 被生产in any form without 以任何形式没有permission 许可 in writing 书面形式from 从the publisher, 出版商exeept by a exeept 由 reviewer who may quote brief passages in a re-
可以在重新 view to be printed in a magazine or newspaper.
视图以打印在杂志或报纸上。 Printed in the United States of America
美国印刷

CONTENTS 内容 1. INTRODUCTION 介绍• • • • • • The Hebrew Wisdom 希伯来智慧 2. OCCULT 隐匿性MEANING 意义OF NUMBERS 数字 3. CONSTRUCTION 建设OF THE TAROT 塔罗牌之. Attribution 归因of the Major Trumps 主要王牌 Alphabet 字母 4. KEY 钥匙O: THE 这FOOL 傻瓜• • • • 5. KEY 钥匙1 : THE 这MAGICIAN · . 魔术师 · . 6. KEY 钥匙2 : THE 这HIGH 高PRIESTESS 女祭司 7. KEY 钥匙3: THE 这EMPRESS 皇后 8. KEY 钥匙4: THE 这EMPEROR 皇帝 9. KEY 钥匙5 : THE 这HIBROPHANT 10. KEY 钥匙6: THE 这LOVERS 恋人 11. KEY 钥匙7 : THE 这CHARIOT 战车 12. KEY 钥匙8: STRENGTH 强度 13. KEY 钥匙9: THE 这HERMIT 隐士 14. KEY 钥匙10: THE 这WHEEL 轮子OF FORTUNE 财富 15. KEY 钥匙11: JUSTICE 正义. • • • 16. KEY 钥匙12 : THE 这HANGED 绞死MAN 男人 17. KEY 钥匙13: DEATH 死亡 18. KEY 钥匙14: TEMPERANCE 节制 19. KEY 钥匙15: THE 这DEVIL 魔鬼 20. KEY 钥匙16: THE 这TOWER 塔 21. KEY 钥匙17: THE 这STAR 星 22. KEY 钥匙18: THE 这MOON 月亮 23. KEY 钥匙19: THE 这SUN 太阳 24. KEY 钥匙20: JUDGEMENT 判断 25. KEY 钥匙21: THE 这WORLD 世界 26. METHODS 方法OF STUDY 研究 27. TAROT DIVINATION 塔罗牌占卜• PAGE 页 1 6 16 to 自the Hebrew 希伯来语 29 39 49 57 · 65 ·65 75 85 93 103 111 119 125 131 139 147 155 161 167 175 181 189 195 200 204

ILLUSTRATIONS 插图 PAGE 页 Key of the Cosmos and Numbers
宇宙之钥与数字• . • . • • • •
• .• .• • • •Frontispiece 卷首插画 The Cube of Space •
空间的立方体 •• • • • • • • • • 68 The Tree of Life • •
生命之树 • • Tarot Oah'ds: 塔罗牌 Oah'ds： The Fool. 愚者。 The Magician • . 魔术师 • .• The High Priestess • 女祭司 • The Empress . 女皇 . The Emperor . 皇帝 .• • · . The Hierophant 法皇• The Lovers. 恋人。 The Ch~riot Ch~暴动 Strength . 强度。• The Hermit 隐士 The Wheel of Fortune .
命运之轮 . Justice 正义• . . . · . · .· .· The Hanged Man 被吊死的人 Death 死亡 Temperance 节制 The Devil 魔鬼• • The Tower 塔 The Star 星报 The Moon 月亮 The Sun. 太阳。 . . . . . . . Judgement 判断•••• ' .. The World •. 世界 •. . • • • 215
.• • • 215 . . . . 28 38 48 58 64 74 84 92 102 110 118 124 • 130 138 • 146 154 •• 160 • 166 174 180 • • 188 . . 194

THE 这TAROT 塔罗

THE TAROT 塔罗牌 A Key 钥匙to the Wisdom 走向智慧of 之the Ages 时代 I INTRODUCTION 介绍 THE TAROT 塔罗牌is a pictorial text-book of Ageless Wisdom.
是一本永恒智慧的图画教科书。 From its pages has been drawn inspiration
从它的书页中汲取了灵感for some of 对于某些 the most important 最重要的works on occult science published
出版的神秘科学著作 during the last seventy-five years.
在过去的 75 年里。Its influence on the 它对 minds of a few enlightened
少数开明者的思想thinkers 思想家may be traced 可能被追踪 throughout the history of the modern revival of interest
纵观现代复兴的历史 in esoteric science and philosophy.
在深奥的科学和哲学中。 This revival began in 1854 with the publication
这种复兴始于 1854 年的出版物of 之 Eliphas 埃利帕斯Levi's 李维斯Dogma and Ritual 教条和仪式of Transcendental 超然之 Magic, 魔法first of a series of occult writings in which he
他 names the Tarot as his most important
将塔罗牌称为他最重要的source of infor- 信息来源- mation. Eliphas Levi's teaching influenced the work of
mation 的。Eliphas Levi 的教导影响了 H. P. Blavatsky and Dr. Anna Kingsford.
P. Blavatsky 和 Anna Kingsford 博士。It has been 它一直 developed and extended in the circles of French occultism
在法国神秘主义的圈子里发展和扩展 in which "Papus" 其中“Papus”(Dr. （博士Gerard 杰拉德Encausse) Encausse）was for 是为了 long a leading spirit. 长期以来一直保持着领导精神。For English readers it is inter-
对于英语读者来说，它是 inter- preted in the books of S. L. MacGregor Mathers, Dr.
在 S. L. MacGregor Mathers 博士的书中 W. Wynn Westcott, Dr. Arthur Arthur 博士Edward 爱德华Waite 韦特and 和 others. 别人。The works of New Thought writers, especially
尤其是新思想作家的作品 the essays of Judge Thomas Troward, echo it again and
托马斯·特罗沃德（Thomas Troward）法官的文章再次呼应它 again; and, though Levi himself was a nominal Roman
再;而且，尽管利未本人是一个名义上的罗马人 Catholic, his doctrine is utilized by Scottish Rite Masonry
他的教义是天主教徒，被苏格兰分册共济会（Scottish Rite Masonry）采用 in the United States, inasmuch as General Albert Pike's
在美国，因为阿尔伯特·派克将军 Morals and Dogma of the Scottish Rite
苏格兰分册的道德和教条repeats 重复verbatim 逐字 page after page from the French occultist's
一页又一页地从这位法国神秘学家的Dogma and Dogma 和 Ritual. 仪式。1 1

------ . - --·- ... --- 2 The Tarot 塔罗牌 Levi's opinion of the Tarot was very high. He said:
李维对塔罗牌的评价非常高。他说： "As an erudite Kabalistic book, all combinations of
“作为一本博学的卡巴拉主义书籍，所有 which reveal the harmonies preexisting between signs,
揭示了符号之间预先存在的和声， letters and numbers, the practical value of the Tarot is
字母和数字，塔罗牌的实用价值是 truly and above all marvelous. A prisoner devoid of
真的，最重要的是，太棒了。一个没有 books, had he only a Tarot of which he knew how to make
书，他只有一个他知道如何制作的塔罗牌 use, could in a few years acquire a universal science, and
使用，可以在几年内获得一门通用科学，并且 converse with an unequalled doctrine and inexhaustible
与无与伦比的教条交谈，取之不尽用之不竭 eloquence.'' 口才。 The aim of this analysis is to show you how to use the
此分析的目的是向您展示如何使用 Tarot. A full treatment would require many volumes;
塔罗。完整的处理需要很多体积; but I hope to realize -the promise of my title by giving a
但我希望通过给出一个 concise explanation of the general plan of the Tarot, and
对塔罗牌总体规划的简要解释，以及 a brief outline of its meaning.
其含义的简要概述。It 它should be understood, 应该理解， however, that the student must
但是，学生必须fill 填补in this outline with the
在此大纲中，使用 results of his own observation and meditation.
他自己观察和冥想的结果。 Before entering upon a description of the construction
在进入结构描述之前 and symbolism of this book of occult science, it may be
而这本神秘科学之书的象征意义，可能是 well to say a word as to its history. In the main, I am
好吧，说说它的历史。总的来说，我是in 在 agreement with Arthur Edward Waite, who discusses
与 Arthur Edward Waite 达成协议，他讨论了 the various theories as to its origin
关于其起源的各种理论in 在his 他Key 钥匙to 自the 这 Tarot, 塔罗published 发表in 在London by Wm. Rider and Sons.
伦敦由 Wm. Rider and Sons 提供。 Dr. Waite concludes that the Tarot has no exoteric his-
韦特博士得出结论，塔罗牌没有外星的 history before the fourteenth century. The oldest examples
14 世纪之前的托里。最古老的例子 of Tarot designs now preserved
塔罗牌设计现在被保留in 在European museums 欧洲博物馆 were probably made about 1390. According to an occult
可能制作于 1390 年左右。根据一个神秘学 tradition, 传统in 在which I am inclined to place confidence, the
我倾向于置信， actual date of its invention was about the year 1200
它的实际发明日期约为 1200 年A.D. 公元\/ The inventors, this tradition avers, were a group of
这一传统反对的发明者是一群 adepts who met at stated intervals
在规定的时间间隔内相遇的行家in 在the city of Fez, 非斯市，in 在 Morocco. After the destruction of Alexandria, Fez be-
摩洛哥。亚历山大港被毁后，非斯成为- came the literary 文学作品来了and scientific capital of the world.
和世界科学之都。 Thither, from all parts of the globe, came wise men of
从世界各地来的，有all 都 nations, speaking all tongues. Their conferences were
说各种语言的国家。他们的会议是 made difficult by differences
因差异而困难in 在language and philosophi- 语言和哲学- cal terminology. So they hit upon the device of embody-
CAL 术语。所以他们遇到了体现的装置—— ing the most important of their doctrines
他们最重要的教义in 在a book of 一本

Introduction 介绍3 pictures, whose combinations should depend on the oc-
图片，其组合应取决于 occult harmonies of numbers.
崇拜的数字和声。 Perhaps it was a Chinese adept who suggested the idea,
也许是一位中国高手提出了这个想法， for the Chinese have a proverb, "One picture is worth
因为中国有句谚语，“一张照片胜过 ten thousand words,'' and Chinese writing is made up of
一万字“，而中国文字是由 conventionalized pictures.
传统化的图片。These pictures express ideas instead of words, so that Chinese, Japanese and Koreans, although they speak more than seven different languages, communicate easily with one another, if only they can read and write. As a skeleton for their invention the wise men chose the relatively simple system of numbers and letters af- forded by the Qabalah, or Secret Wisdom of Israel. This esoteric doctrine, apparently Jewish, was really a development of ideas fundamentally identical with the wisdom taught in the secret schools of China, Tibet and India. Some account of it, the ref ore, must precede our study of the Tarot itself. The Hebrew Wisdom The master-key to the Hebrew wisdom is the "name" translated "Lord" in the Authorized Version of the Bible, and "Jehovah" in the revised versions. It is not really a name at all, but rather a verbal, numerical and geometrical formula. In Roman letters corresponding to Hebrew it is spelled IHVH. This is a noun form derived from a Hebrew verb meaning "to be." Correctly translated, it means "That which was, That which is, That which shall be." THAT, not HE. Thus, it is a perfect verbal symbol for the One Re- ality-for that Something which has always subsisted behind all forms in the eternity of the past, for that Something which really is behind all the appearances and misunderstandings of the present, for that Something which will be the foundation for all the changing forms of life-expression in the eternity to come.

--- 4 The Tarot 塔罗牌 Never has Ageless Wisdom attempted
Ageless Wisdom 从未尝试过to define this 定义此 One Reality. 一个现实。Its inner nature defies analysis, cannot be
它的内在本质经不起分析，不可能是 put within the limits of any formal statement, because
put 放在任何正式语句的范围内，因为 the One Reality is infinit e. Yet, in every age the report
唯一实相是无限的 e。然而，在每个时代，这份报告 of the wise has been that in the One Something inheres
智者一直在 One Something 中 the power to 强大的know. 知道。We say, therefore, that IHVH is
因此，我们说 IHVH 是a verbal symbol for the Conscious Energy that brings all
带来一切的有意识能量的口头符号 things and creatures into existence.
事物和生物的存在。 The Qabalah classifies all possible operations
Qabalah 对所有可能的操作进行了分类of this 的 One Energy into four planes, or ''worlds.''
一种能量进入四个时空，或“世界”。Each plane 每个平面 or world is represented 或表示 worldby a letter of IHVH, as follows:
通过 IHVH 的一封信，内容如下： The .Archetypal World. 这。原型世界。This is the world of pure
这是纯粹的世界 ideas. 想法。In the archetypal 在原型中plane are the root-notions in-
平面是 - herent in the innermost nature of the universal Conscious
存在于宇宙意识的最内在本质中 Energy. 能源。From these ideas are derived all actual forms
从这些想法中衍生出所有实际的形式 of manifestation. 的表现。For example, the pure idea of a chair
例如，椅子的纯粹想法 is the idea of 是sitting. 坐。In that idea, as in all others, is
在这个想法中，就像在所有其他想法中一样，是 embodied a volition-the 体现了一种意志——will-to-sit. 愿意坐下。This will-to-sit is 这个 will-to-sit 是 the single root-notion behind all possible chair-forms that
所有可能的椅子形式背后的单一根概念 ever have been, are now, or ever shall be. Thus the ar-
过去是，现在是，将来将来。因此，archetypal world is seen to be the plane of will-ideas. To
化学世界被视为意志理念的平面。自 it Ageless Wisdom assigns the element fire, representing
它 Ageless Wisdom 分配了元素 fire，代表 universal radiant energy. In IHVH this world and this
通用辐射能。在 IHVH 这个世界和这个 element are represented by the letter ''I.''
元素由字母 ''I'' 表示。 The Creative World. 创意世界。Here the ideas of the archetypal
在这里，原型的想法 world are specialiied as particular
world 被 specialiied 为 specialpatterns. 模式。"Sitting" “坐着” becomes the mental pattern
成为心理模式for some special kind of
对于某种特殊的 chair. The Cosmic Energy acting on this plane contains
椅子。作用在这个平面上的宇宙能量包含 the patterns 图案of all chairs that have been made or thought
所有已经制作或想到的椅子 of in the past, of all existing in the present-but
的过去，所有存在于现在的 - 但是not those 不是那些 as yet unthought of. So with all other patterns
还没有想过。所有其他模式也是如此of par- 的 particular forms. 节状形式。To this world Ageless Wisdom assigns
永恒的智慧分配给这个世界 the element water, symbolizing the fluid plasticity of the
元素 water ，象征着 cosmic mind-stuff. 宇宙心灵的东西。The creative world is represented
代表创意世界in 在 IHVH by the first '' H.''
IHVH 由第一个 '' H.'' The Formative 形成型World. 世界。Here the archetypal 这里是原型ideas, 想法 specialized in creative patterns,
专门从事创意图案，are brought forth into 被带入

Introduction 介绍5 actual expression. It is the plane of processes, the world of forces behind the veil of physical things. The formative world is that which is now explored by physicists and chemists. It is the world of vibratory activities, and also the astral plane of occultism. Here take place the various kinds of action whereby the Cosmic Energy ac- tualizes its patterns. Ageless Wisdom assigns to this world the element air, representing the life-energy which wise men everywhere have associated with breath. The formative world is represented by "V" in IHVH. The Material World. This is the plane of the actual forms which affect our physical senses. Here the process of bringing down the idea of, sitting, through an operation based on the pattern of a particular chair, is :finally completed as the chair itself. This plane corresponds to the element earth, representing the solidity and tangibility of physical objects. It corresponds to the second '' H'' in IHVH. In every one of the four worlds, the Qabalah conceives the operation of ten aspects of the universal Conscious Energy. This idea that all possible aspects of the One Reality may be reduced to a tenfold classification is found in every version of the Ageless Wisdom. Thence arises the esoteric teaching conce;rning the meaning of numbers. This is a subject almost limitless in its ramifica- tions, but what is needed for Tarot study will be found in the next chapter.

- - ---------- - II OCCULT MEANING OF NUMBERS IN Tms OHAPTEB we shall consider the occult significance of the numbers from Zero to Ten, with particular reference to the esoteric meanings of the so-called ''Arabic'' numerals. As a matter of fact, these numerals were invented by Hindu priests, from whom they were bor- rowed (and slightly altered) by the Arab mathemati- cians who introduced them into Europe. The key to the meaning of the numerals is the diagram which appears as the frontispiece of this book. Readers of these pages, who are £ amiliar with occult symbolism, will perceive that the basis of the construction of this diagram is the six-pointed star, known as - the "Shield of David" and "The Star of the Macro- cosm.'' Years ago, one of the Theosophical Masters declared that the system of six circles, tangent to a cen- tral seventh, is a key to the construction of the cosmos. At that time, the Master's meaning was not grasped by the student to whom the statement was made. I hope the inclusion of this diagram in the front of the book may stimulate some. of my readers to further research. Want of space forbids my developing the various details. I shall therefore content myself by saying that this one diagram is a key to the geometrical construction of the Great Pyramid, to a very close approxi- mation to the squaring of the circle, to the true occult meaning of the apron worn by Free Masons, to the cor- rect construction of the Qabalistic diagram known as the Tree of Life (which has been called "a key to all things"), and to the proportions of the mysterious Vault in which the body of the founder of the Rosicrucian Or- G

Occult Meaning of Numbers 7 der is said to have been discovered. These are but a small selection of the mysteries to which this one diagram affords a clue. I shall confine myself to its numerical significance. In Arabic notation all numbers are represented by ten symbols, beginning with O and ending with 9. They are thus derived from the diagram: o ...... An ellipse, representing the Cosmic Egg, whence come all things. Zero is a symbol of the absence of qual- ity, quantity, or mass. Thus it denotes absolute freedom from every limitation whatever. It is a sign of the in- finite and eternal Conscious Energy, itself No-Thing, though manifested in everything. It is That which was, is, and shall be forever; but it is nothing we can name. Boundless, infinitely potential, living light, it is the root- less root of all things, of all activities, of all modes of consciousness. In it are included all imaginable and un- imaginable possibilities, but it transcends them all. The Qabalists call it: (a) No-Thing; (b) The Boundless; ( c) Limitless Light. Pure Conscious Energy, abov.e and beyond thought, to us it is Superconsciousness. The descending arc of the ellipse, on the reader's left, .represents Involution, the "winding-up" process whereby Limitless Light manifests itself in name and form. At B the lowest point of involution is reached in the mineral kingdom. From B back to A on the right side of the ellipse the ascending arc represents Evolution, the "unwinding" process. From B to F is the arc of evolution in the inor- ganic world. F to H is the arc of organic development up through plants to animals. H to D is the arc of organic development from the lowest animal to the highest type of human consciousness at point D. Only a few human beings have reached this point, but the race is nearer to it now than ever before. The arc from D to A is that of

8 The Tarot conscious expression beyond human levels, the evolution of conscious one-ness with the Divine. Thus the two sides of the ellipse suggest the esoteric doctrine of Involution or descent, and a corresponding Evolution, or ascent. The ascending arc corresponds to the occult doctrine : '' First the stone, then the plant, then the animal, then the man, and at last the god." 1. In the diagram, the number 1 is the vertical line from A to B, connecting the extreme height with the extreme depth. Among the many occult meanings of this number are: Beginning, initiative, originality, unity, singleness, iso- lation, and the like. In the Qabalah it is called the Crown, to show that 1 represents the determining, ruling, di- rective and volitional aspect of consciousness. The Crown is known also as the Primal Will. The same Hebrew philosophy calls this number the Hidden Intelligence, to show that this primary mode of consciousn ess is con- cealed behind all veils of name and form. This is the consciousness of the true Self or I AM-the Onlooker, seeing creation through countless eyes, manifesting itself through innumerable personalities. Ageless Wisdom teaches that all things are manifestations or projections in time and space of the powers of the I AM. In short, the I AM, or number 1, is the essence, substance, energy and consciousness expressed in all forms. Everything in the universe is the self-expression of the I AM. This is the first principle, the primary existence, the First Mover. In and through human personality it manifests as the waking Self-consciousness. 2. On the diagram this number begins at C, follows the upper circle through D to the center of the diagram, thence through the lower circle to E, and is completed by the horizontal line from E to F. The meanings of the number include:

Occult Meaning of Numbers 9 Duplication, reflection, receptivity, dependence, alternation, antagonism, and the like. Qabalists call it Wis- dom, the reflection of the perfect self-consciousness of the I AM. Wisdom is the mirror wherein the I AM sees itself. The number 2 is also named Illuminating Intelli- gence. It is that which illuminates the personal mind. It is the aspect of universal consciousness which man.if ests through human personality as grasp of the inner principles of the nature of the one Conscious Energy. In He- brew occultism, 2 is also the particular number of the Life-force in all creatures. 3. The upper half of this :figure is the same as the upper half of 2, from C through D to the center of the diagram. Its lower half begins at the center of the dia "' gram, and follows the lower circle through F and B around to E. Among the meanings of 3 are: Multiplication, development, growth, unfoldment, therefore expression. 3 signifies the actual outworking of the principles reflected from 1 by 2. In Qabalah, 3 is Understanding, looking forward into the :fieldof manifestation, in contrast to Wisdom (2), which looks back to the self-knowledge of the I AM (1). Understanding is , the concrete application of abstract Wisdom. Hence 3 is called the Sanctifying Intelligence, to convey the idea that through growth or expression comes the perfected manifestation of the potencies latent in the Limitless Light. On the form side, perfect realization (sanctifica- tion) requires perfected organism: in consciousness, it is perfected faculty and function. 4. This :figure starts with the vertical line of the :figure 1 (A to B on the diagram), and adds two · other lines- A to G, and G to H. Thus drawn, 4 shows in its upper portion a triangle, symbol of the number 3, and in its lower portion a T-square, a geometrical symbol of 4 itself. Triangle and T-square are among the most impor-

----------- - 10 The Tarot tant instruments of the draftsman. They have occult reference to the esoteric side of geometry. They suggest planning, surveying, topography and the like. From these considerations are derived the following meanings of 4: Order, measurement, classification, recording, tabula- tion, and so on. Because of these meanings Qabalists make 4 the number of memory. Because the Life-power's perfect memory of its own potencies and of the needs of even the least of its centers of expression cannot be supposed to fail, the idea of Beneficence ("good-giving- ness ") is also assigned to 4. This beneficence is not wasteful prodigality. All the gifts of the Life-power are measured out. Every center of expression receives ex- actly what is coming to it, always. Therefore the number 4 is called the Measuring Intelligence. 5. On the diagram, the first line of this figure is the horizontal, C to D. The second is vertical, C to I. The third includes five-sixths of the lower circle, from I through F and B to E. Meanings of 5 include: Mediation (because 5 is the middle number between 1, Beginning, and 9, Completion), adaptation, means, agency, activity, process, and the like. 5 is the dynamic Law proceeding from abstract Order (4). To primitive minds, the working of Law seems to be the operation of many forces, mostly hostile to man. Hence 5 is the number of versatility, and one of its names in Qabalah is Fear. Ignorant persons endeavor to pro- pitiate the p.ower they fear. Their sacrifices are the beginning of religious ritual. Hence 5 is the number of religion. A better, though incomplete, knowledge of Law sees it as a relentless, harsh, mechanical expression of mathe; matical principles, taking no account of human needs and aspirations. This is the interpretation of the materialist, who sees the Law as a mighty power. Hebrew

Occult Meaning of Numbers 11 sages take account of this also, and say that 5 is the number of Strength and Severity, as well as of Fear. Finally, to seers and sages, Law appears as the manifestation of perfect Justice, whereby man, whose numeral symbol is also 5, may so adapt natural conditions that he may realize progressive liberation from every kind of bondage. 5, then, is the number of versatility, because it shows the changing aspects of the One Law, inspiring fear in the ignorant, perceived by the materialist as relentless strength, and understood by the wise as undeviating justice. This One Law is the root of all operations of the Life-power, and is therefore called Radical Intelligence. The root-consciousness expressed through human personality is this One Law of meditation or adaptation. Man can change conditions. This is the secret of his power to realize freedom. 6. On the diagram, this is a continuous line from D to A, down through the ellipse ( on the Involution curve) to B, then around the lower circle to B. Its symmetry suggests the philosophical conception of Beauty. This is the direct outcome of ideas expressed by the preceding numerals. A free Life-power (0), knowing itself perfectly (1), grasping all possibilities of what it is in itself (2), understanding just how those possibilities may be worked out into expression (3), never forgetting itself, or any detail of the perfect order of its self-manifestation (4), and developing that order through the agency of a perfectly just law or method (5), must inevitably be working to- ward a perfectly symmetrical, balanced, and therefore beautiful, result. This idea is implicit in the following meanings of 6: Balance, equilibration, symmetry, beauty; harmony of opposites, reciprocity; complementary activities, polar-

12 The Tarot ity, love. It is named Intelligence of Mediating Influence, or Intelligence of the Separated Emanations. 7. On the diagram, this is composed of two lines- the first horizontal, from C to D, the second diagonal, from D to E. To exhaust the meanings of 7 would take as many pages as an encyclopaedia. It is the great Biblical number, many books in both the Old and the New Testaments being written on a plan of sevens-seven chapters, seven subdivisions, and so on. On this point, see the literary introductions in Moulton's Modern Readers' Bible. The more important occult meanings of 7 are: Rest, safety, security, victory. To the ancients 7 represented temporary cessation, not final perfection, as some have thought. In Hebrew, the word for "seven" and that for "oath" are closely related, since the security and safety of a sworn compact were represented in He- · brew thought by 7. This number stands for the logical consequence of the ideas symbolized by the numbers preceding it in the series. A perfect Life-power, working in the way out- lined in the explanation of 6, cannot be supposed to fail. Omnipotence must ultimately, no matter what present appearances may be, arrive at a triumphantly successful conclusion to all its undertakings. The Great Work is as yet unfinished. The Cosmic Experiment has not come to completion; but when we consider the nature of the Source of that experiment, the nature of the Worker in that work, reason assures us that it must succeed, down to the minutest detail. The Hebrew name for 7 is Occult Intelligence. 8, on the diagram, is a figure composed of the upper and lower circles within the ellipse. In writing it, we begin at A, describe a descending '' S'' to B, and return on an ascending inverted "S" to A. Thus the form of

Occult Meaning of Numbers 13 the figure suggests vibration by the shape of the lines, and alternation by the two kinds of motion used in de- scribing it. It is also the only figure except O which may be written over and over again without lifting pen from paper. Thus in mathematics the figure 8, written hori- zontally, is the sign of infinity. Among its occult meanings are: Rhythm, alternate cycles of involution and evolution, vibration, flux and reflux, and the like. It represents also the fact that opposite forms of expression ( that is, all pairs of opposites) are effects of a single Cause. ( See, on this point, Isaiah 45, verses 5 to 7). This number 8 is the digit value of the name IHVH (Jehovah), 888 is the numeration of the name Jesus in Greek, and 8 is not only the "Dominical Number," or "Number of the Lord," in Christian numeral symbolism, but is also the particular number of the god called Thoth by Egyptians, Nebo by Assyrians, Hermes by Greeks, and Mercury by Romans. Thus 8 is pre-eminently the number of magic and of Hermetic Science. Its Hebrew name is Splendor, and the aspect of consciousness to which it corresponds is called Perfect Intelligence. The Hebrew adjective translated "perfect" is ShLM. A noun spelt with the same letters means "peace, security, health, wealth, satisfaction," and thus refers to the perfect realization of the success represented by the number 7. 9, on the diagram, begins at D, follows the upper circle down to the center of the diagram, continues back to D, then along the line of the ellipse, on the right side of the diagram, to E. As last of the numeral symbols, 9 represents the following ideas : Completion, attainment, fulfilment, the goal of endeavor, the end of a cycle of activity. Yet, because 8 indicates Rhythm as part of the creative process, completion is not absolute cessation. The end of one cycle is the