The Tarot

 

TarotSelectionDiag
K0 : SuperConsciousness
K1: Self Consciousness
K2: Subconsciousness
K3: Imagination
K4: Reason
K5: Intuition
K6: Discrimination
K7: Receptivity - Will
K8: Suggestion
K9: Response
K10: Rotation
K11: Equilibrium - Action
K12 : Reversal
K13: Transformation
K14: Verification
K15: Bondage
K16: Awakening
K17: Revelation
K18: Organization
K19: Regeneration
K20: Realization
K21: Cosmic Consciousness

The Tarot

bulletBackground and History:

The Tarot is a symbolic picture book of Ageless Wisdom.  Having no exoteric history before the fourteenth century, the oldest examples of Tarot designs were probably made about 1390.  According to one tradition, the Tarot was invented by a group of adepts around the year 1200 AD in the city of Fez, in Morocco.  The Tarot is constructed around a system of numbers and letters based upon the Cabala, or Secret Wisdom of Israel.1

 

bulletApplication:
As a symbolic spiritual language, the Tarot has been used in many ways over the ages.  Some of these include:
bulletMeditation
The Tarot cards (Keys) have been used as Mandalas for direct meditation, as well as for guided imagery and visualization.  As a part of a systematic spiritual discipline, meditation upon the Tarot keys is a highly effective method for personal transformation, for they act as a mirror showing us who and what we truly are.  In this role, meditation upon the Tarot Keys is an important practice within the Western Mystery Tradition.
bulletDiscerning Action
In conjunction with a spiritual discipline such as meditation, the Tarot keys, once their  imagery and principles have become internalized and made automatic,  can become a set of tools for seeing the world in a new way.  The keys can help one to recalibrate their  world-view into one which is more in harmony with what truly is.  Seeing Reality as it IS, is the basis for truly discriminating action and engagement.  The power which true discrimination gives one for making changes to their environment cannot be understated.
bulletDivination
There are two kinds of "divination" in which the Tarot has been used:  
bulletFortune Telling:  Using the Tarot in what traditionally has been dubbed "Fortune Telling" is actually a misuse which can lead to crippling psychological dependency.  The reason for this is simple.  When one bases their thinking and acting upon a mind-set which is superficial, reductionist and deterministic, they inevitably fall into bondage. Objectifying the Tarot Keys as powerful objects in their own right (which can determine future outcome) is making them into Idols, and when one worships idols, they are not seeing reality.  The Tarot Keys are merely a very effective tool for helping the mind tune itself to the One Reality.
bulletIntuitive Guidance:  The proper divinatory use of the Tarot is for helping one to tune into their spiritual intuition for the solving of some problem.  This can be done alone, or an experienced intuitive counselor can use the tarot to help counsel another in helping them to understand the principles involved with their particular challenge. Once we can see the principles, we're able to find our own solutions.

 

bulletExploration:
To further explore the Tarot, please see the following links explaining  each of the Keys (use your browser's "Back" button to return to this page):

The Tarot Keys

OR, if you prefer a frames navigation view of this diagram, click here.

If, after viewing the information on these Keys,  you wish to meditate upon them, click here.

 

 

 

1.THE TAROT ISBN 0-938002-08-2 By Paul Foster Case
Copyright 1990 by Builders of the Adytum, Ltd.