Godfrey Dowson's subtle black and white designs emphasize the Golden Dawn's astrological attributes with further sephirotic, angelic, geomantic, numerical, and kabbalistic elements. B.O.T.A. The Thoth Tarot and the RWS are sister decks. (LogOut/ According to the LWB, they are the Fathers. There is a great deal to be gleaned from this deck, as it is not "simplified" and thoroughly challenges the novice to become well versed in Hermetics. M. M. MeleensBook M: Liber Mundi would be great, too. For me there is no comparison. Youll see this in Book T The Tarot in Israel Regardies The Golden Dawnbooks. [7] This flow of light is indicated by the lightning flash shown on diagrams of the sephirotic tree which passes through each sephirah in turn according to their enumerations. The Triquetra Spread is based on the triquetra symbol, a symbol that is significant to many philosophies and religions. An example of this practice is found in the rituals of the 19th . Sadly there are some things that you cannot tear apart to see how they work. Hermetic Tarot Deck by Dowson & Godfrey, includes 78 Tarot cards based upon the Golden Dawn 2.75" x 4.62" HealingTarot (189) $24.51 The Hermetic Tarot Card Deck and Instruction Booklet TheZenForce (141) $22.95 A reading with The Hermetic Tarot Tarot0nAstick (2) $7.71 On account of popularity, the Rider Waite is the system most tarot practitioners are familiar with and the one that most derivative tarot decks (like the Rubber Duck Tarot) are based on. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Meanwhile, per the notes in the LWB, the shield depicts a lion that is uncontrolled, in contrast to the maiden and the lion. The Knight of Swords, for example, represents Fire (for the Knight) on Air (for the suit of Swords). It contributed strongly to the Renaissance view of ritual magics relationship with Christianity. The swan and dove pertain to Venus, and the pheasant and hawk to Aquarius. $21.95 The Hermetic Tarot Deck. Company: The World of Jesuits and Their Friends. Kaplan remarks about the Hermetic Tarot that it is a compelling reconstructed version of the tarot that undoubtedly will take its place as one of the most important esoteric tarot decks published during the twentieth century.. Each adept took a name in Latin when they joined the Golden Dawn. Is he in an army uniform, he was a soldier For practitioners who adopt interpretive methods reliant on elemental dignities and affinities, that is a godsend. They are of normal size, which make shuffling easy, and it is easy to determine both suit and number of each. The deck contains 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana, making a total of 78 cards. (See CrowleysBook of Thoth.) Escher, you may very well feel an affinity for this deck. Kabbalistic Tree of Life with correspondences, by Shane Red Moon. Im also reminded a bit of the art style in Nemos Book of Azathoth Tarot. The arms are outstretched to form an equilateral triangle, giving the symbol of the Triangle surmounted by the Cross, a representation of light descending into darkness to redeem the shadow. An outline of the Tree of Life appears at either side of the blasted Tower. [Greatly Honored Sister Q.L.] The details and symbols in each card reveal many of the esoteric workings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn, which flourished around the turn of the century.Godfrey Dowson's subtle black and white designs emphasize the Golden Dawn's astrological attributes with further . I am still in the dark although Ive been given very much food for thought. In The Blasted Tower, Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty, the old is destroyed to clear way for the new. No study of occult philosophy is possible without an acquaintance with symbolism, for if the words occultism and symbolism are correctly used, they mean almost one and the same thing. . Reference is made to the Four Worlds, and the Paths of the Tree of Life in the instructional booklet leading the student to a deeper consideration of the expansive nature of accurate interpretation. 3) Thoth Tarot (1969). It is a must-have for any tarot practitioner subscribing to the Golden Dawn system. Key for single letters = 12. We have indicated the strict correspondence between the 10 planets, 12 zodiacal signs, and In Lurianic Kabbalah, they *are* the letters, and any correspondences to things like the seven ancient astrological planets or zodiac signs are secondary to their role as letters which represent the forces of creation. Non-Jewish Cabala, unlike in Judaic Kabbalah's mainstream censure of its magical side, became a central component of Western occult, magic and divination. Thank you a million and please continue the gratifying work. Traditionalist Judaic views ofKabbalahs origins view it as an original development from within the Jewish religion, perhaps expressed throughsyncreticterminology from Medieval Jewish Neoplatonism. [10][11][12] While the sephiroth describe the nature of divinity, the paths between them describe ways of knowing the Divine.[13]. If you step back from wanting a "pretty" deck and allow yourself to work with a deck that speaks plainly and at all levels at the same time, then the Hermetic Tarot is a deck for you. The Spiritual Life 2010 - 2030. The stories that unfold within the minor arcana can be thought . New Hermetics Tarot Descriptions When beginning to explore the archetypal images of the Tarot in the Practitioner level, . The spread reveals to the seeker what forces are crucial for turning his or her luck around. RWS KnightKING Hermetic Qabalah (from Hebrew (qabalah) 'reception, accounting') is a Western esoteric tradition involving mysticism and the occult. The first is a state of complete nullity, known as Ain ( "nothing"); the second state, considered a "concentration" of Ain, is Ain Suph ( "without limit, infinite"); the third state, caused by a "movement" of Ain Suph, is Ain Suph Aur ( "limitless light"), and it is from this initial brilliance that the first emanation of creation originates. Then I read the LWB. Yes, thats right he says he loves you . The Hermetic Tarot Cards - May 23, 2006 by Godfrey Dowson (Author) 2,617 ratings See all formats and editions Cards $19.76 5 Used from $14.98 22 New from $15.51 U.S. Games Systems has proudly reissued the Hermetic Tarot deck in recognition of its historical and artistic importance. Subtle variations exist in almost every card. (Fire, Air, Water and Earth), the letters of the Tetragrammaton (Hebrew Name of God: Yod, He, Vau, final He), the Jungian functions and the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. 6 Pents: 2 The panentheistic nature of Hermetic Qabalists is plainly evident here, as one may simply check the table to see that Chesed ( "Mercy") corresponds to Jupiter, Isis, the colour blue (on the Queen Scale), Poseidon, Brahma, and amethyst. Also, how you interpret the cards is very telling about where you are at in terms of your thought process. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. Its fun, its addictive and its too easy I think the purpose of life is to live life, rather than dabble in semi-scientific sounding pseudo analysis, no? Levi had a deep impact on the magic of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In Spiral Tarot, Kay Steventon conveys the spiral mysteries of the subconscious with the mythical imagery of her richly illustrated deck. From Kether emanate the rest of the sephirot in turn, viz. Each sephirah is a nexus of divine energy, and each has a number of attributions. keep updated with coming near near post. ; "The Holy Kabbalah", University Books, 1971, p 554-557. -- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot. Per Israel Regardie, the four Queens are supposed to be seated upon Thrones and clothed in armour, symbolizing steady but unshaken forces. subject. The backs of the cards are illustrated with the Hermetic Rose and hexagrams. Contemporary academics of Jewish mysticism have reassessedGershom Scholems theory that the new doctrine of Medieval Kabbalah assimilated an earlier Jewish version of Gnosticism; Moshe Idel instead has posited a historical continuity of development from early Jewish mysticism. As a rational man Id immediately say coincidence. Rabbiting through the nearest notebook with the (vague, remote) possibility of a blank page I stumbled over the very tally sheet Id been looking for earlier, on the topic on my Star count (above): Star: 19 This is, without question, one of the most beautiful and intricately illustrated decks I've ever encountered. The names of the angels of the decans of the heavens by day and by night are included on all the Minor Arcana. It empowers the reader to make full use of all aspects of interpretation at a glance. The 22 cards including the 21 Trumps plus the Fool or Zero card are often called the "Major Arcana" or "Greater Mysteries" and are seen as corresponding to the 22 Hebrew letters and the 22 paths of the Tree; the ace to ten in each suit correspond to the ten Sephiroth in the four Qabalistic worlds; and the sixteen court cards relate to the classical elements in the four worlds. However, Hebrew letters rather than actual card names depict the paths on the Tree. The Lovers also pertains to Sagittarius the Archer hence the bow and arrow at the upper center., Dowsons illustration of The Chariot card is very much modeled after the Thoth. Israel Regardie eventually compiled the more traditional forms of these rituals and published them in book form. Hermetic tarot Edit Following the esoteric workings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, "The Hermetic Tarot Deck" includes astrological, sephirotic, angelic, geomantic, and numerical attributions on each card. QUALITIES OF IMAGERY The symbolism used is powerful and intricate a review of any Major Arcana reveals many influences at work. Some authors see the origins of Qabalah not in Semitic/Jewish mysticism or ancient Egyptian Gnosticism, but in a western tradition originating in classical Greece with Indo-European cultural roots, later adopted by Jewish mystics. =) shrug. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The black eagle in front of her connects her to the alchemical white eagle front and center on The Emperor. Now you wont believe me and I am feeling a bita lotspooked. Change). The general principle involved is that the Qabalist will meditate on all these attributions and by this means to acquire an understanding of the character of the sephirah including all its correspondences. Apply the key of 12 for single letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The booklet also gives instructions for the classic ten-card Celtic Cross layout and presents a chart of the elemental and astrological symbols, and a diagram of the ten spheres and 22 Hebrew Letters of the of the 22 Paths of the Tree of Life. Welcome to the world of tarot reading, Argus. Like DuQuettes Tarot of Ceremonial Magick, Dowson is heavily influenced by Crowleys writings, and you can see that here in Key 12. It is the underlying philosophy and framework for magical societies such as the Golden Dawn, Thelemic orders, mystical-religious societies such as the Builders of the Adytum and the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and is a precursor to the Neopagan, Wiccan and New Age movements. Further, the imagery is intriguing, drawing the eye and the mind into infinite possibility and facilitating psychic placement in the vast expanse of the Astral. In creating Ethereal Visions Tarot, Matt Hughes has drawn inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement, adopting its distinctive style and meticulous approach to craftsmanship. Crowley makes reference to a Rose and the Cross for Key 12, and here you see the Rosy Cross. Samael Aun Weor has written many significant works that discuss Kabbalah within many religions, such as the Egyptian, Pagan, and Central American religions, which is summarized in his work The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah. Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Dialogue In The Muhammadan Spirit And Meaning. You rock!, Ed, Pingback: A Study of Golden Dawn Decks and the Western Tradition of Occult Tarot benebell wen, Pingback: Oracle of Dr. John Dee by John Matthews and Wil Kinghan benebell wen, Pingback: #only10decks The 10 decks Id take with me benebell wen, Pingback: Reflecting on My SKT Tarot & Art Journey benebell wen, Pingback: Reflecting on My SKT Tarot & Art Journey - Health And Astrology. This is what accounts for the four suits of the minor arcana. This manner of applying many attributions to each sephirah is an exemplar of the diverse nature of Hermetic Qabalah. Made according to the design of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and published by Israel Regardie and Aleister Crowley. Key 6 is assigned Gemini, though it is important to study this card along with Key XIV: Temperance (Sagittarius) . Here, the triquetra symbol is invoked to draw out the trinity of cosmic forces that the seeker must command in order to stay in control of his or her situation at hand. The level of detail and ornamentation that the Minor Arcana cards get into here surpass some of the earlier Golden Dawn decks we looked at, for sure. More information table of hebrew letters & tarot More like this The torn rose with the petals falling symbolizes the energy of defeat. Cross layout and presents a chart of the elemental and astrological symbols, and a diagram of the ten spheres and 22 Hebrew Letters of the of the 22 Paths of the Tree of Life. No shortage of them; for all I know theres even a Tarot of the Rubber Duck. Hermetic Qabalah differs from the Jewish form in being a more admittedlysyncretic system, however it shares many concepts with Jewish Kabbalah. Fielding, Charles and Collins, Carr; The Story of Dion Fortune, Thoth Books, 1998. , There are 3 prevailing tarot systems: According to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawns interpretation of theKabbalah, there are tenarchangels, each commanding one of the choirs of angels and corresponding to one of theSephirot. (LogOut/ Grimoire Book. The Hermetic Tarot deck features the esoteric, black-and-white designs of the secret society known as the Golden Dawn, which emphasize the mystical, astrological and kabbalistic influences of the ancient order. He then tied the cards to the Hebrew magical/mystical Kabala (which he spelled "Qabalah"). It can be integrated into personal rituals, meditations, and ceremonies and in fact is probably far better suited for such work than, say, the Marseille, Rider-Waite-Smith, or even the Thoth decks. According to this view, Hermetic Qabalah would be the original Qabalah,even though the word itself is Judaic Hebrew, over theChristian Cabalahor the Jewish Kabbalah. teaches esoteric psychology, occult tarot, Hermetic Qabalah, astrology, and meditation. It can also represent the three parts of the Freudian psychic apparatus, the ego, superego, and the id. He founded theBuilders of the Adytum(B.O.T.A) mystery school, rooted in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Masonic blue lodge system, later extended byAnn Davies. [3], These emanations arise out of three preliminary states that are considered to precede manifestation. Hermetic Qabalah arose alongside and united with the Christian Cabalistic involvement in the European Renaissance, becoming variously Esoteric Christian, non-Christian, or anti-Christian across its different schools in the modern era. $21.95. His fanciful literary embellishments of magical invocations presented Qabalism as synonymous with both so-called White and so-called Black magic. Now lets look at the Qabalistic Tree of life to locate the path of the card called Magician. It's meant for heavy-duty book study, the kind that requires frequent trips to the library over a period of months or even years. [Mathers] and 4 fothers. 19(2), Winter 20012002. The Secret Order of the Golden Dawn designed the cards using elemental and astrological symbols that are important to their teachings; this also allows for more in-depth readings that allow the reader to use astrology to find the . For example, the sephirah Hod has the attributions of: Glory, perfect intelligence, the eights of the tarot deck, the planet Mercury, the Egyptian god Thoth, the archangel Michael, the Roman god Mercury and the alchemical element Mercury. Meleen vibes, doesnt it? The Sacred Tarot and Hermetic System of Names and Numbers By C.C. This book referred to a division of the Hebrew letters into three categories, namely the three Mother Letters (corresponding to the Prime Elements), the seven Double Letters (corresponding to the planets) and the twelve Simple Letters (corresponding to the signs of the Zodiac). The ideas expressed by the card are . The serpent depicted on the hanging mans leg represents both The Creator and The Destroyer. This word means to Uncover, denude This is a symbol of the Kabbalah, or the science of numbers, which we will begin to analyze today. The courts are ranked: Knights (corresponding to the element Fire), Queens (Water), Kings (Air), and Princesses (Earth), where the Knights represent the Yod force of the Tetragrammaton. 1) Tarot de Marseille (1440-ish) Interpretations of the cards are given as "Dignified" and "Ill-dignified", which in my opinion is far more freeing to the reader than the standard "Reversed" interpretations given by so many decks. A slightly different description of the cards is found in The Book T: The Tarot by S.R.M.D. The tone of the deck and Dowson's artwork invokes the full spectrum of powers within the tarot practitioner for spiritual divinatory work. He founded the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A) mystery school, rooted in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Masonic blue lodge system, later extended by Ann Davies. But I hold it entirely possible that some people can be more conscious than I. And of course, theres CrowleysBook of Thoth. His teaching that the four Hebrew letters of God's name are supreme words of power was used a generation later by Papus as the basis for a complete system of Tarot correspondences. Godfrey Dowsons subtle black and white designs emphasize the Golden Dawns astrological attributes with further sephirotic, angelic, geomantic, numerical, and kabbalistic elements. From Book T: The Tarot (in Israel Regardies The Golden Dawn). (LogOut/ Hermetic Tarot $22.00 Quantity - + Magick | Astrology | Alchemical | Intuition | Guidance This highly detailed, black and white tarot card deck is from the Order of the Golden Dawn tradition. At the end of this deck review are correspondence tables that compare the RWS with the Hermetic Tarot. The Hermetic Tarot is black and white only, but is very highly detailed Tarot deck of 78 cards. QUALITIES OF INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLET With constant referrals to SEPHIRAH on the Tree of Life, this booklet makes it clear that the study of Tarot is a deeply spiritual process. The Tarot is the gateway of the soul and the guide to enlightenment because the continued study of Hermetics will lead to the discovery of Truth, the accomplishment of Wisdom, and the power of Freedom. The details and symbols in each card reveal many of the esoteric workings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn, which flourished around the turn of the century. We all through the why does this XYZ card keep on popping up in all my readings? That XYZ card changes, too. Here, the Five of Swords corresponds with the decan ruler Venus in Aquarius. The caduceus is a symbolism of hermetism. Ive found that the most informitave and true to fact and religion decks are the Rider-Waite deck, the Hermetic Tarot, the Golden Dawn Tarot, and the Thoth Tarot. A knowledge of astrology can greatly aid in the interpretation of the Tarot, and vice versa. The imagery is what appeals most of all to me. Godfrey Dowson draws heavily from elemental dignities and affinities, Western astrology as interpreted by the Golden Dawn, and the Qabalah. Rosicrucianism and esoteric branches of Freemasonry taught religious philosophies, Qabalah, and divine magic in progressive steps of initiation. As a rational man Id have to admit of the possibility of a cause other than pure coincidence. OnceHermeticismwas no longer endorsed by the Christian Church it was driven underground and a number of Hermetic brotherhoods were formed. After shuffling, three cards are drawn and placed around the significator or signifier card (S). The detailing, the angelic references, the 10 sephirots of the Tree of Life, the astrological, numerological, and elemental symbolism challenge me to advance my own scholastic studies of tarot and related metaphysical sciences. Love the deck, one old one new, the other one I was using, the one in safety is like the new but different. Both Jewish tradition and mainstream academic scholarship understand Kabbalah to have originated from within the Judaism, developing concepts and ideas from earlier Medieval Jewish neoplatonism. In contrast, Hermeticists have taken different views of Qabalahs origins. Yet I wouldnt call these scenic per se, at least not the way the RWS Minors are scenic. Or perhaps not . The booklet also gives instructions for the classic ten-card Celtic Cross layout and presents a chart of the elemental and astrological symbols, and a diagram of the ten spheres and 22 Hebrew Letters of the of the 22 Paths of the Tree of Life. Required fields are marked *. For the Nine of Pentacles, he writes, The pentacles are gently turning, suggesting the gradual exhaustion of the original whirling energy. But then in the Ten of Pentacles, those disks arenotmoving. Do we delude ourselves? The Hermetic Tarot is black and white only, but is very highly detailed Tarot deck of 78 cards. Please add such references to provide context and establish the relevance of any. Based on the esoteric workings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn. The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson is a masterpiece. Answer (1 of 8): (A2A) I own both decks: for my own particular reasons I prefer using the Hermetic Tarot over Rider-Waite, and usually end up recommending it to others (I even bought a copy of the Hermetic Tarot as a Christmas present for my girlfriend!) This article is about traditional Hermetic Qabalah. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson: A Powerful Divination Deck and a Suggested TriquetraSpread, Cultural Integration and the PriscaTheologia, The 3x3x3 Tag: Tarot, Oracle, and Other | benebell wen, Tabula Mundi Tarot: A Must for Any Metaphysician Tarotist benebell wen, Tarot of the Abyss by Ana Tourian benebell wen, Godfrey Dowsons Hermetic Tarot Revisited benebell wen, Kuan Yin art print with Great Compassion Mantradharani, SKT Revelation Status Update ProofsRedo, Vintage Tarot Texts (Gebelin and the comte de Mellet), trans. [26][27], Paul Foster Case (18841954) was an American occultist and author of influential books on occult tarot and Qabalah. All Rights Reserved. About us. [18] Moshe Idel instead has posited a historical continuity of development from early Jewish mysticism. Spiral Tarot incorporates figures from diverse mythologies including Ancient Celtic, Roman, and Greek. The 22 cards including the twenty-one Trumps plus the Fool or Zero card are often called the Major Arcana or Greater Mysteries and are seen as corresponding to the twenty-two Hebrew letters and the twenty-two paths of the Tree; the ace to ten in each suit correspond to the ten Sephiroth in the four Qabalistic worlds; and the sixteen court cards relate to the classical elements in the four worlds. The secondary key title here is Children of the Voice Divine. The tree of life exists simultaneously within four different worlds. Let us remember these images were created for the educated nobles and clergy -- reminding them that they have the most to lose if the hierarchy is toppled. The English translations for the angel names are provided in the LWB. All that said, the Hermetic Tarot is better used for spiritual reflection and meditation than everyday tarot readings to the public. Many of the Golden Dawns rituals were published by Crowley, altered in various ways to align them with his own New Aeon magickal approach. Under this theory, The Fool is the first letter, Aleph, being a very profound and mystical letter. 179 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT, US, 06902. In a Holy Trinity attribution, it corresponds with the Son. The numerology/astrology reading requests I get are even weirder. The 72 pip cards (Twos through Tens) feature the 72 Shem HaMephorash, or angelic hidden names of the Divine, and using a translation table, I attempted to figure out the English translations of the names to see if they correspond with Regardies tables, but I confess I had some trouble. What's more, it is an excellent tool for learning Hermetics and moreover expresses the planetary and zodiacal associations with particular cards and in many cases provides the Hebrew numbers and name translations. Working prior to the turn of the century, and drawing on a great deal of published information, library manuscripts, secret documents, and extensive personal research, Mathers assigned a complete set of correspondences between the Tarot and the zodiac. The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dowson is a masterpiece. by David Vine, The Magickal Botanical Oracle: Plants from the Witchs Garden, SKT Revelation 2nd Printing: Status Update, AI Art Controversy: The Libran Perspective =). Spiral Tarot. These cards house a myriad of symbolic keys which allows just as many interpretations; lending themselves perfectly to divination, since one truly reads the cards from the soul. The Symbolism Of The Tarot P. D. Ouspensky (1913) WHAT IS THE TAROT? The three selected Lords, Magis, or Dignitaries from the Hermetic Tarot represent the trinity of forces that will empower the seeker to change his or her outcome for the positive. Once Hermeticism was no longer endorsed by the Christian Church it was driven underground and a number of Hermetic brotherhoods were formed. Tami is bilingual, English/Hebrew, and lived in Israel for 17 years. Let's check out more on The Hermetic Tarot. The details and symbols in each card reveal many of the esoteric workings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn, which flourished around the turn of the century. These qualities alone improve the student's ability to grasp the possibility of deeper levels of understanding in the book of Tarot and to expand the readers' scope of divination. on the Rider Waite, is great for triggering your creativity in analyzing a particular problem. Terse, yet thorough, each card is clearly described. With the Enlightenment Age of Reason and its skepticism of mainstream religion, the tradition of exoteric-theologicalChristian Cabaladeclined, while esoteric-occult Hermetic Qabalah flourished in the Western mystery tradition. In the LWB, Key 0: The Fool corresponds astrologically with either Pluto or Uranus, while Key XX: The Last Judgment is either Uranus or Pluto. A primary concern of Hermetic Qabalah is the nature of divinity, its conception of which is quite markedly different from that presented inmonotheistic religions; in particular there is not the strict separation between divinity and humankind which is seen in monotheisms. In the court cards, the alchemical symbol corresponding with the classical element that the card itself represents appears on the top left and the symbol for the element corresponding with the suit appears on the top right. While Dowson diverged from that, all four queens here either appear to be wearing armor or express a warrior spirit. Note the card titles assigned to each card in the Hermetic deck. Fortune, Dion; "The Mystical Qabalah", Aquarian Press, 1987. All the detailing in the art is symbolic. Its not impossible, just statistically improbable , So right now Im going to have a single-shot trial, shuffle lots and cut once.