by Marcus Katz
Whilst A. E. Waite has it illustrated as an innocent child upon a small horse, the reality of the symbolism is entirely stark; it is a Christian depiction of the avenging Christ riding out at Armageddon, his red flag soaked with the blood of sinners. So cogent is this symbolism that it is the only card to which Waite mentions a specific colour in the whole of Pictorial Key to the Tarot.
The Stations of the Cross are illustrative of the initiatory journey as are the stations of the Sun in the Path of the Seasons.
All may be deducted from the three crucial state transitions of awareness modelled upon the Tree of Life.
These are the essential experiences of initiation rather than the dressing up of it.
There is no difference, for the Adeptus Exemptus, between any religious conceptualisation of the simple truth of their own existence in the universe.
After a particular initiation, even the notion of pursuing any religion becomes its own mystery.
NOTE
For insight into the deep symbolism of the Waite-Smith Tarot as intended by A. E. Waite and designed by Pamela Colman Smith, see Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot.
- XX -
CAPUT XX
AEON
For this ritual is required a candle, sistrum, bell, dagger and quill.
Light the Candle.
O BES, PROTECTOR OF HORUS, GUARD ME FROM THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT.
Shake the Sistrum.
O ISIS, MOTHER OF MAGIC, GRANT ME KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE.
Ring the Bell.
O OSIRIS, WHO ART UNDYING AND UNBORN, GRANT ME SPEECH.
Take up the Dagger.
O HORUS, WARRIOR, GRANT VICTORY OVER ALL THAT ASSAILS ME.
Take up the Quill.
O MA’AT, GRANT ME TRUTH.
Blow out the Candle.
O HARPOCRATES, GRANT ME SILENCE.
COMMENTARY (C. XX)
In this ritual is recapitulated and prophesised the nature of the Aeons in both the context of social change and in every individual life from birth to grave. The progressive use of tools and our relationship to the external world is captured by the six simple actions within the rite.
Sometimes the simplest rituals are the most powerful.
NOTE
For more on the Aeons, see The Magister, pp. 66-84.
- XXI -
CAPUT XXI
FAUX PAS
I will Complete.
I will not.
I will Devote.
I will not.
I will be Silent.
I will not.
I will Obey.
I will not.
I will be Disciplined.
I will not.
I will conduct the Great Work.
I will not.
I will consider Other.
I will not.
I will be True.
I will not.
I will be Free.
I will not.
I will Enquire.
I will not.
COMMENTARY (C. XXI)
These lines summarise the virtues of the ten Sephiroth, commencing with Kether and completing with Malkuth. They each present the possibility to make a false step, which might be considered the sins of initiation, or at the very least a potential vice.
Malkuth means ‘Kingdom’ and is spelt with the Hebrew letters; Mem, Lamed, Kaph, Vau and Tau.
These five letters derive from the glyphs of five objects; Water, Ox-Goad, Palm of Hand, Nail and Cross.
Thus, the central image of a religion was long-written prior into the language.
We can learn to Read the Kingdom as a Story already Told.
For Language is the Symbolism of Prophecy.
- ARCANA MINOR -
0
2 - 4 - 6 - 8 - 10 - 12 - 14 - 16 - 18 - 20
21
19 - 17 - 15 - 13 - 11 - 9 - 7 - 5 - 3 - 1
0
Having Established our Major Arcana, we will now arrange the Minor Arcana.
A triangle will be used to group the concepts and again illustrate curious patterns.
In re-arranging the triangles in reverse numerical order, a new arrangement is seen by which a different story is told, both of ascent and descent narratives.
The central narrative of this booklet then follows, taking the Major Arcana in a unique sequence.
This sequence commences with the Fool (0), and then works through the Even numbers of the Major Arcana, i.e. High Priestess (2), Emperor (4), etc. through to Judgement (20) until it reaches the World (21).
The story then returns through the remaining Odd cards in reverse, starting with the Sun (19) which re-ignites the light from nothing (0) and then follows the Path of Return back to the Fool (0).
PENTACLES
Hold.
Validate. Check.
Save. Divest. Measure.
Learn. Work. Enjoy. Complete.
Complete.
Enjoy. Work.
Learn. Measure. Divest.
Save. Check. Validate. Hold.
SWORDS
Choose.
Wait. Separate.
Peace. Plot. Navigate.
Watch. Look. Break. Ruin.
Ruin.
Break. Look.
Watch. Navigate. Plot.
Peace. Separate. Wait. Choose.
CUPS
Give.
Relate. Reach.
Refuse. Mourn. Grow.
Imagine. Believe. Remember. Present.
Present.
Remember. Believe.
Imagine. Grown. Mourn.
Refuse. Reach. Relate. Give.
WANDS
Own.
Plan. Ambition.
Invitation. Agreement. Recognition.
Response. Movement. Patience. Struggle.
Struggle.
Patience. Movement.
Response. Recognition. Agreement.
Invitation. Ambition. Plan. Own.
- ARITHMUS -
ONES
Hold. Choose. Give. Own.
TWOS
Validate. Wait. Relate. Plan.
THREES
Check. Separate. Reach. Ambition.
FOURS
Save. Peace. Refuse. Invitation.
FIVES
Divest. Plot. Mourn. Agreement.
SIXES
Measure. Navigate. Grow. Recognition.
SEVENS
Learn. Watch. Imagine. Response.
EIGHTS
Work. Look. Believe. Movement.
NINES
Enjoy. Break. Remember. Patience.
TENS
Complete. Ruin. Present. Struggle.
- TO COURT COMPLETION -
Although not utilised in the narrative of this particular book, for the sake of completion, I provide here a set of keywords for the Court Cards in the context of this present work.
We will return to these cards in The Fig Tree, the companion book to The Mountain of Myrrh, which might be considered to provide a KEY to this ROSE.
The Court Cards can be considered as Gates to Sixteen Types of Ritual.
In order to work with a card, place it out somewhere obvious to you that is “in the way”.
It is more powerful if it is also uncomfortably public, without explanation.
NOT on a special altar, etc., which is only applicable to a lower level of magic.
Your natural inclination to move it “out of the way” will actually provide the energy and connection for the card to be activated in your immediate situation.
Once the situation has been changed, return the card immediately to your deck - it should be with a certain sense of relief.
This powerful mechanism of magic is built on the principles of incorporation and utilisation, working without “lust of result”.
- 16 RITUALS -
PAGES Invoke a Channel for …
PENTACLES better finance.
SWORDS better learning.
CUPS better relationship.
WANDS
better accomplishment.
KNIGHTS Activate a Response to …
PENTACLES lack of resources.
SWORDS lack of clarity.
CUPS lack of support.
WANDS lack of opportunity.
QUEENS Evoke a Connection with …
PENTACLES physical health
SWORDS mental health
CUPS emotional health
WANDS self-worth
KINGS Manifest a demonstration of …
PENTACLES wealth
SWORDS truth
CUPS love
WANDS status
NOTE
The astute reader of our works will discern that these sixteen rituals are intimated in the introductory-level Tarot book, Tarot Flip (p. 8). The purpose of teaching tarot (for the Order) is as an experiential language of initiation. All students are prepared for initiation if they so choose.
We now turn to the narrative of this Work, following a unique sequence of the Major Arcana.
This narrative contains a selection of commentaries brief enough to elucidate the structure without interruption of the flow of the sequence.
- PRELUDE -
Here it is.
It is incomplete. But it is here.
It is for you alone. But it is not about you.
It is about everything. But it means nothing.
It is good. But not about anything.
It is perfect in its imperfection. As all teaching.
It is words. And the power of words.
It is a similitude. But that can be recognised.
It is a dream of something better. As we are.
It has no end. But it is present.
Here it is.
- 0 -
It was dawn and the fire had gone out save the flickers tracing across an ancient juniper branch. Across the mountains, bells were tolling, and the lamentations of priestesses were being written into the clouds now hanging motionless beneath a white sun.
As was custom in those times, eleven and one thousand doves had been released, each stained with the blood of sacrifice. Wherever one cast one’s eye, the sky was littered with blood, with beating tears, scattered in motion across the heavens.
Upon the mountains, on a particular peak, a young man gazed across the cities and towns that were only now awakening to the news. He looked up from the circle traced about him and whispered to himself, "It is so, then. God has died".
His dog, if it had any opinion on the matter at all, kept it to himself and simply cocked his head to one side.
"Now," the Prince said, nodding, "it is time to return home".
- II -
It was a little after dawn and the bells had fallen as silent as speech. In the empty light of the sanctuary, those who had long worshipped, remained or returned. There were many who sat, still and stunned, amongst the feathers fallen from the sky.
Where she herself sat, no echo came. Her sin and suffering lay forgotten behind her on yesterday's altar. In her hands she held the spell of redemption, upon which she had written the words; Today. One. Reality. Always. Here.
She contemplated the virtues, she contemplated the vices. She mused upon the tasks ahead of her. Behind her, the veil simply lifted itself free in the warm breeze and joined the feathers and blood upon the courtyard stone.
She stood up between the pillars. "Because it was always time", she said, to no-one in particular.
- IV -
The sun had not yet taken its station in the sky, and yet all the world was aflame with glory.
The endless acres of wheat marched in the hot breeze like the burnished helms of armies without number, gold upon gold, falling upon the walls of the burning cities.
The Man of the Red Robe knelt in front of his own throne, letting the dust of the ground cascade between his fingers.
About him, the horns blew at every horizon, calling for mercy, for justice, for peace, for god, for all the things lost in war.
"Time to take control," he announced.
His command was relayed - as swiftly as a dry wind in barren times - to those who stood waiting in the boundless fields, to those who outnumbered even the blades of grass beneath their impatient feet.
- VI -
They knew it noon for no shadow was cast upon their tryst.
In the garden they met and the blooms of the Tree burnt like the fire in their eyes.
"Kiss me", she hissed, so as not to wake the watching Angel.
He did, and Heaven was confounded.
- VIII -
And later that day, that day of unbidden grace, shortly after the lion had consumed the body of the king and made whole the wolf, she arrived at the Gladden Glade.
Her way had bedecked her with flowers, and the honey of her hair shone like the summer sun. Her naked feet upon the worn stone of the temple steps called the very earth to exult her in gleaming veins of silver, of mercury, and of copper.
Those who tended the last stars bowed their blind eyes as she entered through the temple gate and approached the one who waited within.
"I am the Fear of Beauty", she spoke to Him who had devoured god and whose skin was no more than everything that existed.
"You are Mercy and it is time for us to undo this World".
- X -
And before that golden dawn, that herald of the everlasting day, the great circles of heaven turned a final time as though they were the gears of a grand clockwork museum.
All was stilled, the clouds astonished; and in that moment, no baby cried, no woman wept, and no man stood.
The fragrance of Raptura, the most ancient incense, made from the leaves taken out of Eden and lit by the last hands on earth or in heaven, rose above the altar.
A final breath came from the Beast and the smoke above the ashes coiled into itself, and against all nature, bound itself in impossible knots.
The wheel turned and toppled from its axle.
Everything became undone; the vessels were shattered, the lights extinguished, and the sparks of the engine of creation scattered beyond time's own knowledge.
The moving likeness of eternity reversed itself and everything began again. And again. And again.
- XII -
The past is an ocean full of stars that may or may not have ever been, endless in its possibility.
In that darkening ocean sleeps an ancient god, who is all that was never was; the Lord of Unfulfilled Desire, He is called, and in some tongues, strange and barbaric, his name means He Who is Regret.
He hangs suspended above all the Aeythers, the Archons and the Worlds without end and number. He is fixed only at the highest point, the singularity from which all proceeds, even He, All that was Never to Be.
A Great Mystery, indeed. The Necessity of Nothing. An event horizon shrouds his diffusion in everything that is done; an endless, limitless light without edge.
Silence then, from nothing, in nothing, outside of nothing. And yet, and yet ... this.
- XIV -
This Angel, She is Alchemy.
The Furnace of Jerusalem and the Dew of Heaven are of Her.
This Angel, She is Eternity.
Her Wings are the Experience of Everything that Lives.
True, She is her Presence as No Other.
She comes to those who have left everything behind.
Those who have laboured in the vineyard.
Those who have worked in the workshop.
Her eyes, oh her eyes see through everything.
Her intense curiosity pours through and removes you from yourself.
You are Born to Her.
Sweetly. Cleanly. Gently.
She Cuts the Cord.
It is more of Fear than it is of Love, yet Equal in the Crucible.
Her mystery is alike nothing else but Her.
The touch of Her trembles Existence.
The embrace of Her is to know everything in its own simplicity.
Out of the Darkness of Every Night, her Light comes.
Sh
e stands between us and heaven.
Oh! Her hands reach down to us!
- XVI -
From out of the ruins come the hod-carriers of the bricks of babel.
The architects, the planners.
The alchemists and magicians.
The builders, the creators.
The artists, the engineers.
The sailors and soldiers who survived intact.
The Diplomats and Peacemakers.
The doctors, the nurses.
The teachers, the leaders who worked together.
The dreamers.
The workers.
All who live to build against disaster.
These bricks are made of imagination become real.
These towers are manifestation in the hands of those who know the one true secret of creation; only the past and future can be built - the present is naught but the foundation.
COMMENTARY
The "foundation" here refers of course to Yesod, as does the nature of the bricks (imagination). In the original biblical verse, the bricks of the Tower of Babel are described with the same Hebrew word from which we also get "moon", which is usually taken to refer to the bricks being "white as the moon". In Kabbalah, of course, that correspondence is much deeper. The Tower is built from imagination to reflect the divine. "Lest it be built in the divine name, it is built for naught".
