" So, is this the end, the ultimate goal? No. We have attained the mountain top, but like The Fool, we must venture into the valley of experience so that we can learn to carry this state of consciousness with us wherever we go and point the way along the Path to other souls seeking their return to the Self."2
Hebrew Name: Tav (mark, T-cross)
Tav (or Tau) means signature or mark, but the mark is a cross of equal arms
[...] Among the Hebrews is was a symbol of salvation (Ezekiel 9:4). Thus
it represents salvation from death, and eternal life. As representing a
signature, this letter implies security, guaranty, pledge, and so
on. A signature is what makes business instruments valid. The
letter Tav therefore indicates the final seal and witness to the completion of
the Great Work of liberation."3
As a double letter, Tav represents the opposites of Dominion and Slavery. If one has true Cosmic Consciousness, he has dominion of a kind. The farther from Cosmic Consciousness one is, the more he is enslaved by the conditions and situations of life.
Qabalistic Intelligence: The
Administrative Intelligence
The Administrative Intelligence is attributed to Tav. "This is
consciousness of active participation in the cosmic government. It is
entry into the kingdom of heaven as a fully enfranchised citizen, charged with
full responsibility for the execution of its laws."4
Astrological Correspondence: Saturn
"According to mythology, Saturn ate his own children. He
represents that which absorbs its own expressions back into itself.
Exoterically, Saturn is the planet of [limitation, restriction,] inertia,
concreteness, profundity, weight"5
"Cosmic Consciousness, which is the absolute freedom from the delusions of
separative existence, is the result of being able to absolutely limit, restrict,
and focus our imagery to know that which we are, always have been, and always
will be."6
Liberation is the result of discipline. Absolute freedom and liberation is
the result of the absolute limitation and focusing of consciousness.
Saturn is a co-ruler of Aquarius (K17: The Star). The revelations which come from meditation are the result of limiting consciousness by focusing the mind.
Saturn rules Capricorn (K15: The Devil). Physical form and the bondage of ignorance both result from the principle of limitation. It "is the source of those apparent limitations which make us seek a way of escape from bondage."7 A narrowing down and focusing of awareness for the purpose of manifestation.
Saturn is exalted in Libra (K11: Justice). The limiting power finds it's highest expression in the active and dynamic administration of Cosmic Law - balanced action. Note also that dancing is a form of balanced action (see the dancer, below).
Number: 21
The power of 1 acting through the agency of 2. Self-Consciousness
acting through Subconsciousness. In the case of the 7th stage of spiritual
unfoldment, however, the Self-Consciousness depicted is not the
"personal" self conscious mode, but the consciousness of the Universal
Self acting through the Universal Cosmic mind stuff. The world, the
universe, everything that IS, is the result of the One Primal Will (1) acting on
and through the substance of itself (2). On more mundane levels, every
"world" or microcosm is the result of some initiating will (1) acting
on and through substance (2); force and form, enlivening energy and a
matrix to hold that energy in some pattern.
Color / Note: Blue-Violet / A
"Words fail to give any adequate idea of this seventh stage of spiritual unfoldment. We must leave it to your intuition to combine the suggestions of the picture with the meanings of the letter Tav. Here is a representation of what you really are, and of what the cosmos really is. The universe is the Dance of Life. The immortal, central Self of you -That is the Eternal Dancer."8
Symbolism:
(Summarized from "The Tarot", by P. F. Case)9
Dancer: This androgyne figure represents the merging of self-consciousness with subconsciousness with Superconsciousness. She bears two spiral wands representing the spiral force of the Life-Power (Involution and Evolution). Her violet scarf is symbolic of K10 (Rotation, Cosmic Law) and hints that behind the veil of mechanism lies the true Self of ALL. She is the ultimate expression of freedom. The Dancer in the Dance of Life.
Oval: A zero sign, the symbol of Superconsciousness. In the esoteric BOTA version of this key, the oval is composed of 22 three-fold leaves indicating the three-fold nature of each of the 22 forces which may manifest itself in integration, disintegration, or in equilibration. The dancer dances within the oval. Absolute liberation and freedom is found within the bounds of discipline and Self-imposed limitation.
Red Bindings: In the shape of a figure 8, has the same meaning of the infinity symbols over the heads of the Magician (K1) and the woman in Key 8. They symbolize rhythm, dominion, and the principle of correspondence - "as above, so below." The bindings are red "to suggest that the law symbolized by keys 1 [focused attention] and 8 [loving discipline] have been carried into action."10
Four Creatures: The four living creatures typify the fixed, eternal modes of the One Reality, as shown in Key 10. However, in the esoteric (BOTA) version of this key the Bull (symbol of the physical plane) faces away from the Lion. " In cosmic consciousness the closed circuit of successive transformations of energy is broken."11 The adept is no longer bound to the limitations of the physical plane.
The challenge is to consciously work towards the eventual state of Cosmic Consciousness and dominion in our lives:
 | Dominion: You do not turn your back on the physical world. You use the Saturn principle (limitation, discipline) to gain control of your physical body and of your environment as this is essential to attaining Cosmic Consciousness. The place where you have to prove these teachings is HERE and NOW. Here (in physical Space- Time) is where you develop dominion or slavery. |
| The Dance of Life: Having learned the laws of consciousness and imagery, you can now move in joyous harmony with the universe. We coordinate our actions, thoughts and will in accordance with the Laws of the dance of evolution, and we become truly free. We become both that which is evolving, and co-administrator with the ALL.12 |
In "Living the Tarot", Amber Jayanti provides some suggestions for integration and application of The World:
| The Imagery of The World can be used as a reminder13 On how to meet your mundane obligations with an expanded sense of what they are truly about. To lovingly discipline yourself to complete a cycle. To recall that, when you are aligned with your Self, the tools of life are at your command. |
| Ask yourself the following questions:14 Where might I apply the universal teachings to some worldly circumstance and thereby increase my level of Self-mastery? How are self-discipline, organization and flexibility freeing me in the midst of my responsibilities? How am I honoring the demands of the physical world in order to meet my spiritual obligations? Where would it be beneficial to place limits on my personal or professional relationships? What contract or agreement am I about to finalize? Where have I achieved mastery? Where am I dancing amid restrictions? What red-tape or bureaucratic b.s. have I over-come? |
Illustrations from the Universal Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of
U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright ©1990 by U.S. Games
Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.