========================================================== DECYPHERING CROWLEY'S TAROT (QBLing With Crowley Part One) ---------------------------------------------------------- by nagasiva ----------- revised several times with lots of solutions!! Introduction AC's "The Book of Thoth" has the conventional explanation for what he proposed changing from Occult Tarot tradition: The card which must be exchanged for "The Star" [XVII] is "The Emperor", who bears the number IV, which signifies Power, Authority, Law, and is attributed to the sign of Aries. This proves very satisfactory. But it became infinitely more so as soon as it was seen that this substitution cleared up the other mystery about Strength and Justice. For Leo and Libra are, by this exchange, shown as revolved about Virgo, the sixth sign of the Zodiac, which balances the revolution of Aries and Aquarius about Pisces, the twelfth sign. ---------------------------------------------------- "The Book of Thoth", Crowley, Weiser, 1981 (1944); p. 40. ==================================================== and: ..."The Star" is referred to Aquarius in the Zodiac, and "The Emperor" to Aries. Now Aries and Aquarius are on each side of Pisces, just as Leo and Libra are on each side of Virgo; that is to say, the correction... gives a perfect symmetry in the zodiacal attribution, just as if a loop were formed at one end of the ellipse to correspond with the existing loop at the other end. ----------------------------------------------------- Ibid., p.10. ================= in summary, Crowley's 'perfect symmetry' here pertains to the *switches* made, rather than the resultant attribution- scheme. he here advocates switching NAMES and SYMBOLISM of the EMPEROR and STAR cards, supporting it in part as a parallel change to the GD-SWITCH: JUSTICE and STRENGTH, whose names and images were also the only items exchanged. The GD-SWITCH ---------------------------------- GD CARD SYMBOLISM SWITCH -------------------------- from VIII-JUSTICE-LEO and XI-STRENGTH-LIBRA to VIII-STRENGTH-LEO and XI-JUSTICE-LIBRA ---------------------------------- the GD-SWITCH rectified the card-themes to a more rational system because the STRENGTH-LEO & JUSTICE-LIBRA matchings were more convincing and supportable using conventional symbolism. the GD-SWITCH had only really been made possible with the introduction of the FOOL to the initial, 0 position within the Cypher Manuscript. this document was ascribed to the Secret Chiefs and probably constructed by Mackenzie. the placement of FOOL before the other trumps allowed *all* of the cards after it to slide down 1 attribution -- moving VIII from CANCER to LEO and XI from a Planet (e.g. MARS in Papus) to LIBRA. once that slide was made, then the GD-SWITCH would firm up its symbolism to zodiacal norms. in his deck, Crowley not only left the old Roman Numerals as a blind, but *changed the GD-SWITCH's cards' names* (to VIII ADJUSTMENT/XI LUST) as a further trip-up for those who may study his deck's structure with respect to tradition. he added the embellishment of symbolism related to his religious doctrines reflecting off Christian scripture (i.e. his LUST, formerly STRENGTH, bears the Crowleyan figures of the Beast ridden by Babalon who holds the Cup of the Blood of Saints -- a play on the Revelation of John in the Christian New Testament -- rather than the traditional woman and lion). Trump Table Resolution the Trump Table at the back of Crowley's book may be used by the informed occultist to decipher Crowley's intent, which he concealed in his cards. this table displays his abandonment of the significance of what he called "Title and Numbers Printed on the Cards" in favour of the "Key Scale", mapping to the sefirotic paths to which each trump is assigned within that table. it contains the following information necessary to understand his intent: ------------------------------------------------------------------ Number/Title on Card Letter Value Attribution Key Scale ------------------------------------------------------------------ IV EMPEROR TZADDI 90,900 [AQUARIUS] 28 VIII [JUSTICE] LAMED 30 [LIBRA] 22 XI [STRENGTH] TETH 9 [LEO] 19 XVII STAR HE 5 [ARIES] 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------ this table is otherwise in *ascending order down the page*, which indicates that these 4 are misplaced as a blind, reversed with respect to the rest of the trumps in that *all the other columns are likewise reversed*. through this table, AC implies 2 NAME-SYMBOL SWITCHES: the GD-SWITCH, as well as his own, AC-SWITCH. THE AC-SWITCH ---------------------------------- AC CARD SYMBOLISM SWITCH -------------------------- IV-EMPEROR-ARIES and XVII-STAR-AQUARIUS to IV-STAR-ARIES and XVII-EMPEROR-AQUARIUS ---------------------------------- Crowley may not have concluded placing the GD-SWITCH into his deck (one need only change the Roman Numerals), but he did tweak his EMPEROR and STAR cards slightly so as to imply the AC-SWITCH: he changed the Hebrew letter attributions on the all *4* cards (IV,VIII,XI,XVII) to reflect that change, while leaving their Roman Numeral and astrological attributes to Golden Dawn standards. therefore, in order to make plain what one will find in his *deck*, the method of reconstructing a Thoth deck to Golden Dawn standards would require *2* revisions: 1 change of the printed Hebrew Letters on the cards IV and XVIII, and 1 change of the Roman Numerals on trumps VIII and XI: -------------------------------------------------- Revising the Thoth Deck to Golden Dawn Standards -------------------------------------------------- ACTIVATING THE GD-SWITCH ------------------------------ VIII -- CHANGE VIII to XI XI -- CHANGE XI to VIII REMOVING THE IMPLIED AC-SWITCH ------------------------------ IV -- CHANGE TZADDI TO HE XVII -- CHANGE HE TO TZADDI whereas, revising to Crowley's standards was more complex: -------------------------------------------------------- Crowley's Intended Tarotic Trump Result: 15<->28 AC-SWITCH -------------------------------------------------------- ROMAN NUMERAL INTENDED IV XVII NAME / TITLE STAR EMPEROR KEY SCALE / TREE POSITION 15 28 SEFIROT CONNECTING 2-6 7-9 ZODIACAL ATTRIBUTION ARIES AQUARIUS HEBREW LETTER HE TZADDI GEMATRIA VALUE OF LETTER 5 90, 900 COLOURS BY SCALE: KNIGHT VIOLET SCARLET QUEEN SKY BLUE RED PRINCE BLUISH MAUVE BRILLIANT FLAME PRINCESS WHITE, TINGED PURPLE RED GLOW -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Crowley's Intended Tarotic Trump Result: 19<->22 GD-SWITCH -------------------------------------------------------- ROMAN NUMERAL INTENDED VIII XI NAME / TITLE STRENGTH ("LUST") JUSTICE ("ADJUSTMENT") KEY SCALE / TREE POSITION 19 22 SEFIROT CONNECTING 4-5 5-6 ZODIACAL ATTRIBUTION LEO LIBRA HEBREW LETTER TETH LAMED GEMATRIA VALUE OF LETTER 9 30 COLOURS BY SCALE: KNIGHT YELLOW (GREENISH) EMERALD GREEN QUEEN DEEP PURPLE BLUE PRINCE GREY DEEP BLUE-GREEN PRINCESS REDDISH AMBER PALE GREEN requiring *3* revisions: 2 changes of the Roman Numerals, 1 exchange between IV and XVIII and 1 between XI and VIII; and 1 change of the astrological attribute on IV and XVII. this matter is further complicated by a variety of sources indicating, like the cards, no change in astrological sign. the diagram on page 268 of "The Book of Thoth" has these clearly marked associating EMPEROR with ARIES and STAR with AQUARIUS. notable Crowleyphiles like Hymenaeus Beta have perpetuated this not completely obvious blind in reference texts such as "Magick: Liber ABA: book 4", despite the confirmation that it is an error by consulting Crowley's descriptive text and the bulk of the tabulated information in "The Book of Thoth" or simply by a consideration of astrological sign series. additionally, according to H. Beta's extensive and beautiful reference-source compiling all parts I-IV of "Magick", the diagram in "The Book of Thoth", p. 266, which contrasts markedly with p. 278: was produced in Germany c. 1925 (by an artist named Hopfer), and may reflect the artist's reliance on a diagram by S.L. Mathers.... ---------------------------------------------- "Magick: Liber ABA, book 4, parts I-IV, by Aleister Crowley, with Mary Desti and Leila Waddell; ed. Hymenaeus Beta, Weiser 1997; p.764, note 318 to p. 543. ============================================== this Hopfer may have been convinced by Crowley's deck (quite reasonably) that the blind should be reproduced (or he didn't know astrology or Hebrew well enough to have parsed it). perhaps it is a tradition of interpretation passed on within the O.T.O. (see the quote below from its Frater Superior, Hymenaeus Beta on the 'many' attributions which he says should follow). Crowley's "Four Scales of Colour" for Key Scales 15 and 28 are *also* transposed (conforming with p. 278) on the other hand, the same colour scale chart *doesn't* include the 19/22 exchange, and these appear to be correctly listed for their colours as is; if so then the AC-SWITCH would also require a colour-exchange also! the Key Scale *isn't* the standard for solution in the table of "Essential Dignities of the Planets" on p. 284, where the Key Scales for 15 & 28 are reversed in the chart AND in *reversed-attribution* from the logical and traditional (!=> Aries/28; Aquarius/15), PLUS the Key Scales for 19 & 22 are reversed in the chart and *properly* attributed (Libra/22; Leo/19). the Wheel Diagram relating the Planets to the Signs immediately above this has the zodiac in its proper sequence (but doesn't, within it, list the Key Scales). it would be very interesting to learn who constructed exceptions or left them in "The Book of Thoth" and for what reason. they seem to imply sloppy editing and it is likely the source for Hymenaeus Beta's errors (but that Big Blue Brick is humungous, so a few errors aren't too surprising, especially for SECRET stuff! ;>) Hymenaeus Beta reproduces the Wheel in the Big Blue Brick (ABA) p. 565, and in Table V on the same page INCORRECTLY attributes Aquarius/Saturn/Neptune/Uranus to Key Scale *15* and Aries/Mars/Sol/Pluto to Key Scale *28*. that he does believe that many of the attributions are actually supposed to accompany the EMPEROR/STAR switch is obvious here within the notes to this text: the "*tzaddi-he* counterchange" [was] discovered c. 1923 EV.... Crowley later relaxed his secrecy concerning "the exact matter or manner of this adjustment" in *The Book of Thoth* (1944), pp. 38-40. ... Crowley counterchanged the Hebrew attributions of two trumps, changing Atu XVII "The Star" from [tzaddi] to [he], and Atu IV "The Emperor" from [he] to [tzaddi]. Many, but not necessarily all of the corresponding attributions were also counter- changed accordingly. In the present edition the appropriate adjustments are indicated wherever these symbols are employed, but such adjustment is not always possible. ---------------------------------------------------- Ibid., "Magick", editor's note, H. Beta, 1997; p. 731, note 143, to page 156. ==================================================== it appears that he either wasn't completely familiar with astrology and the history of the Occult Tarot and Crowley's text on the matter, or intends to perpetuate errors/blinds. in any case the AC-SWITCH as he presents it in his text is not convincing and is easily understood to have been designated differently by Crowley in "The Book of Thoth". The 'Symmetry' Argument Crowley's motivation for the switch is nonsensical. that is, it derives from his supposed revelation in his scripture. it does not resemble the very obviously-rational GD-SWITCH in terms of *character or logic*. he attempts to justify his motivation by referring to a weak symmetry in comparing the 2 name/symbolism switches involving zodiacally-attributed trumps, but he fails to mention that his proposed deck does *not*, comparably, rectify the NAMES and SYMBOLISM to a more rational mesh with Occult Tarot tradition (the rationale of support for the GD-SWITCH). the fact that the AC-SWITCH doesn't mesh with conventional zodiacal symbolism of known traditions of Tarot such as that of the Golden Dawn, whose initiations included his instruction. undermines support for his suggested revision, unless one is a convert to his cult. conventionally, the STAR is *not* better matched with ARIES than with AQUARIUS, and the EMPEROR is decidely *corrupted* in a change from ARIES to AQUARIUS. whereas it was obviously an improvement for Mackenzie and thence the Golden Dawn to exchange STRENGTH with JUSTICE names and imagery. he argues that as it involves the exchange of two zodiacally- attributed cards about a third, that there is a symmetry which somehow serves to further justify the change. whereas the GD's is interior to the linear sequence of the Trumps themselves, the AC-SWITCH extends *beyond* the Trump-set's termination and back around to its beginning (following the zodiacal wheel), from XVII STAR AQUARIUS through the sign at XVIII MOON PISCES, back to the beginning of the trump sequence to the first zodiacal sign in traditional Occult Tarot: IV EMPEROR ARIES). /-----\ / virgo \ leo | libra | gemini ------------------- sagittarius | aries | aquarius \ pisces / \------/ focussing only on the cards attributed to the zodiac signs and remarking on the 'symmetry' of the switches, one is ignoring the fact that the GD-SWITCH pertains to 2 Trumps 3 cards away from one another, rotated about a sign closer to Number VIII (IX HERMIT VIRGO) and that this symmetry only extends to a rough consideration of *signs*, rather than cards as a whole. Crowley's suggestion pertains to 2 Trumps *8* cards away and then only through the end of the Trumps and back to their beginning. while it is true that there is a small degree of resemblance between these proposed switches of NAME and SYMBOLISM, it is not compelling like the GD-SWITCH and there are far more elegant and interesting options available (see Appendix below). ====================================================================== Appendix : Analysis of Proposed Tarot Switches ---------------------------------------------- extended analysis of the symmetry and form in 3 tarotic exchanges. CONTENTS A) GD-SWITCH Analysis B) AC-SWITCH Analysis C) 333-TRIPLE-SWITCH Analysis ------------------- GD-SWITCH Analysis 2 trump NAMES AND SYMBOLISM switching between VIII and XI around IX HERMIT VIRGO. VIII [STRENGTH] LEO ^ =>VIII [0 CARDS] | [IX HERMIT VIRGO] <----- Zodiacal pole of switch ['IMAGE'] | =>XI [2 CARDS] V XI [JUSTICE] LIBRA [NOTE: IMAGE: A 2 B 0 C; AXIS => IX HERMIT VIRGO; SHADOW: A 0 B 2 C; SHADOW AXIS => X WHEEL JUPITER] ----------------------------------------------------------------- AC-SWITCH Analysis 2 trump NAMES AND SYMBOLISM switching between Key Scale 28 and 15 around MOON PISCES 29. 28 EMPEROR AQUARIUS ^ =>29 [0 CARDS] | [29 MOON PISCES <----- Zodiacal pole of switch ('IMAGE')] =>32,0=>15 [8 CARDS] 'Around the Corner' | V 15 STAR ARIES *backward* around to AQUARIUS, treating the zodiacal wheel as if it weren't part of a linear sequence of the Trumps regardless of the Trumps' sefirotic placement, so as to return to EMPEROR AQ. [NOTE: IMAGE: A 0 B 8 C; AXIS => 29 MOON PISCES; SHADOW: A 8 B 0 C; SHADOW AXIS => 16 HEIROPHANT TAURUS] ----------------------------------------------------------------- 333-TRIPLE-SWITCH Analysis 1 SIGN (Pisces), 1 ELEMENT (Water), & 1 PLANET (Luna) *attribution* switched amongst Key Scale 13, 23, and 33: 23 [HANGED MAN] LUNA | [09 CARDS] ELEMENT-> PLANET V 32 MOON WATER | [05 CARDS] SIGN-> ELEMENT V 11 FOOL SOL <----- Overall pole of switch ('IMAGE') 13 [HIGH PRIESTESS] PISCES | [10 CARDS] PLANET-> SIGN V [NOTE: IMAGE: A 10 B 09 C 05 D; AXIS => 36 (BLANK) PLUTO; SHADOW-1: A 05 B 10 C 09 D; SHADOW(1) AXIS => 15 EMPEROR ARIES; SHADOW-2: A 09 B 05 C 10 D; SHADOW(2) AXIS => 25 ART SAGIT.] =========================================================================== copyright (c) nagasiva yronwode 2004 all rights reserved. END