The Tarot Code

by Carlo Bozzelli

  If so, where? We must ask ourselves the same questions that the reader would, to help himself understand which reasoning to follow. As the boughs belong to the two trunks, to the rectangular-square form, we should investigate the corresponding and geometrically inverted symbol, the oval, which recalls opposition also because made of leaves, in contrast with the bare branches. What leads back to 12? As the circle expresses the notion of the Heavens, let us analyse the four Living Beings that surround the female figure in this light. What do the symbols of Taurus and Leo communicate to us? They are two constellations. At the same time, the sign opposite Taurus on the oval is Scorpio, which in antiquity was known as Eagle, while Aquarius, represented by the angel-human with the pitcher, the symbol of service, is opposite Leo59. Thanks to this evidence, in the World card we find again the concept of 12 expressed by the constellations of the circle of the Zodiac, even more so as the term mundus, the Latin etymology of Monde (World), in ancient times designated the celestial vault, the universe and the luminous heavenly bodies, and was used only later to indicate Earth and its inhabitants. Moreover, the constellations, differently than the cut branches, which metaphorically represent that which is “dead”, represent that which is alive:

  12 cut branches (dead)

  12 living constellations

  Fig. 5

  The Constellations

  In this way, we may reach new levels of codification. The Hanged Man, in obvious difficulty, is immersed in the terrestrial and no longer has a connection with the energies of the constellations, expressed by the 12 cut branches. On the contrary, the World personage moves freely at the centre of the Heavens, the universe. Might the different attitudes of the protagonists themselves, create their status? The Hanged Man is the cause of his own condition. As the man hides his hands behind his back, what does he not wish to reveal, first of all to himself? This is even more evident when compared to the female figure which, practically nude, openly shows her kingdom.

  There is a sense of total transparency, all the more so if we remember that the cartouche Le Monde,60 in French as in Italian, bears the word with the same root as “mondare”, to clean. The abovementioned symbolism recalls the theme of Christ and the 12 apostles, representing the Sun and the 12 Zodiacal constellations progressively conquered by the disciple along the Path of Initiation.61 May we not think then, that the Tarot suggests it is necessary to avoid hiding one’s true nature from oneself (and from others), to go towards purification and act with clarity and truth, in accord with the Heavens, in order to be free and able to move at the centre of one’s own world. According to us, this way of seeing is far-reaching because it renders us protagonists and responsible for our destiny and our actions, even the most disagreeable, whose difficulty and guilt we often tend to attribute to adverse conditions or to other individuals and never, or almost never, to ourselves.

  So from a certain point of view, we may say that finding oneself in a difficult position may derive from an excess of a material condition deprived of Heavenly connections, or else from the choice not to adopt a sincere and transparent behaviour. The firm tie that unites these two states is evident.

  We have specified all this, to say that the analysis of the Codes takes place on multiple levels. In this case, after having identified a first, that is, the total opposition of the two cards, we enter a second, the terrestrial-celestial sense of this inversion. Later we access a third level: deciphering the symbolism of the 12 constellations, we discover a new meaning for that which the Tarot intends to show us - to avoid being imprisoned in the material dimension, the necessity of connection and communion with the spiritual world. Finally, in the fourth stage, we understand that sincerity, together with a clear and honest conduct, brings harmony and joy, which render us free; while hiding, also and above all from ourselves, makes us prisoners. Every plan rests on comprehension of the one before it, as in mathematical theory. For example, if we wished to explain Pythagoras’ theorem to someone who knows little of geometry, we might find ourselves in the complex situation of having to explain what numbers are (level 1), the triangle (level 2), the areas of geometric figures constructed on catheti (level 3) and square roots (level 4). For the Codes, which are simple axioms but become gradually more elaborate, leading towards the construction of ever more articulate logic, the same thing happens. This is because of another of their peculiarities:

  The enigmas of the Tarot are built according to a scheme of progressive levels

  and open upon a multiplicity of congruent and coherent meanings.

  Arrived at this point, in order to avoid potential doubt that all of this is only a fascinating exaggeration, we deem it necessary to take up the description of further aspects by continuing the comparison of the two Arcana.

  New Levels

  We have seen that the attitudes of the two protagonists, the Hanged Man and the World, have very different qualities. The first conceals, he is imprisoned in the material world, and is in a difficult situation of which he is possibly the principal cause. The World does not hide; she is free and seems to dance at the centre of the Circle of the Zodiac, that is, of the Heavens and their energies. There forms a Terrestrial-Celestial opposition, which extends also to the two personages, in which the classical dualistic representation of human beings is underlined. Up until here, in fact, it should be clear that:

  1) Among all the forms of Dualism, the Terrestrial-Celestial is the most relevant.

  2) Human beings as well are characterized by this principle, which in them takes the form of personality-Soul.

  3) Personality is terrestrial, Soul is Celestial.

  The Tarot is an instrument that offers enormous possibilities for reflection, but there would be no sense in meditating upon great existential themes if this were without a practical and concrete application. Therefore, thanks to the symbolism of the Arcana, in order to avoid dry theoretical confines, let us attempt to understand in a more detailed manner with respect to what has been said before, what is the deeper sense of the relationship between the terrestrial-personality and the celestial-Soul.

  For a start, let us recall the rapport between the 4 elements and the 4 suits of the Minor Arcana:

  Water-Cups

  Fire-Wands

  Earth-Pentacles

  Air-Swords

  We know that, for the entity Tarot, according to Dualism, the Minor Arcana represent the personality. Being divided in this manner, as we apply this correspondence to man, in particular to his terrestrial part, the personality, which belongs to this world, the symbolism of the Tarot arrives, to aid our comprehension. Let us see how.

  Pentacles

  Pentacles (or Coins), connected with Earth, correspond to the physical plane. They are thus associated with the physical body, with money and with all that which is material.

  Cups

  Fig. 6

  The Knight of Cups

  Cups, associated with Water (even the horse of the Knight has a head which resembles that of a seahorse!), correspond to the emotional plane. It is not a coincidence that common ways of expressing emotional unease are “to be agitated”, “to be shaken”. Moreover, the Moon is the card of the Major Arcana which contains the most liquid, because in symbolism, she is the Lady of Waters, of the body and of the Earth (seas and oceans), she dominates them with a cyclic nature, with individual rhythms in communication with cosmic rhythms. As the Moon is associated with the Mother-Goddess and therefore with life and with the first emotional dependencies of the child towards the mother, thus is explained the relationship between water and this plane.

  Fig. 7

  The Moon

  Wands

  Wands, (or Staffs), made of wood that burns, are associated with Fire, as we see by the flames surrounding the Ace. As symbolically, fire corresponds to the energetic plane, the concept of sexual energy must be taken into account, as in fact, sexuality represents the greatest ene
rgetic demand for an individual (we have only to think of the importance of sex in the story of humanity or of the single person). In this case, as well, the phallic form of the Ace, or the explicitly sexual symbolism of the Queen of Wands, aid in our comprehension. In this way the presence of Wands and Cups (for the Ancients, connected to the chalice, the female sex), shows both polarities, male and female.

  Fig. 8

  Ace and Queen of Wands

  Modern physics as well, confirms the connection between Wands and fire in an exemplary manner. We know that the Hindu caste Code,62 associates Wands with work, which the science of Physics associates with energy; at the same time, this last, in physics termed.

  W, is the product of F (Force) multiplied by Distance (s), expressed in calories or Joules, (units of energy):63

  W (travail) = F x S (mesuré en unité d’énergie)

  Thanks to this scientific Code, we confirm a definite association between Wands, Energy-Fire64 and Work.

  Wands ←→ Energy ←→ Work

  Swords

  Swords, in order to be used, must cleave the air; and therefore lead back to this element. Here as well the Knight of the suit confirms the hypothesis, as his horse, compared to the other three, shows all four hooves detached from the ground, in the act of leaping into... the air!

  Fig. 9

  The Four Knights compared

  Swords then, correspond to the mental plane, belonging to the sphere of thoughts, ideas, borne on the air. To comprehend the difference that connects to the emotional, let us imagine a slight automobile accident in which the two drivers (unharmed), exiting their vehicles, may:

  1. Argue: they would be governed by emotions.

  2. Calmly compile a jointly agreed statement for insurance purposes: they would be guided by the mental.

  As the Ancients compared the mental plane to a battlefield, in the Tarot as well, it is represented by Swords. In the Bhagavad-Gîtâ itself, the sacred text of Indian spirituality, which tells of a war between rival families, a dialogue between Arjuna, symbolizing the personality, and Krishna, representing the Soul, is described. The battlefield, metaphorically, is the mental; and the aim of the personality is to find tranquillity. The only possible way to find it is to transfer consciousness into the Soul, to listen to the voice of Krishna; because when our consciousness is on the mental plane, our thoughts are in constant agitation. Only when the mental plane has gained control does it transform into a sixth sense, the means used by the Soul to send its messages, intuitive thoughts: this is, precisely, the plane of the Soul, the Fifth Element. Let us see how to address this subject with respect to our theme.65

  The Fifth Element

  According to Tradition, the four elements of Nature are at the base of the physical and material universe. At the same time, in the human being, these principles correspond to the physical, emotional, energetic, and mental planes. Thus, there is a perfect equivalence:

  Pentacles → Earth → Physical Body

  Cups → Water → Emotional Body

  Wands → Fire → Energetic Body

  Swords → Air → Mental Body

  In all traditions, even if with different names, to these first four is associated a Fifth Element, corresponding to divinity and sacred Space. According to this dualistic vision, if in man the four principles are the terrestrial and material part, the personality, the Fifth constitutes the spiritual and celestial part, the Soul. Observing again the card of the World, we understand more fully how the Tarot codifies the message. Let us interest ourselves again in the tetramorph of creatures surrounding the female figure, and who, we have said, symbolize the Zodiac. We observe a primordial iconography found also in Christian symbolism, although in a form different from the astrological one presented here.

  “Each one had four faces…As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.” (Ezekiel 1, 4-11)

  and

  “In the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature, like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings: and round about and within they are full of eyes.” (Revelations 4, 6-8).

  Fig. 10

  The World

  What is the connection between the four elements and humans? We have said that the Living Creatures symbolize Taurus, Leo, Aquarius and the Eagle-Scorpion. These in turn are connected to the four principles of Nature, although with certain differences. Taurus is Earth and Leo is Fire, we know; the angel of Aquarius (bearer of the amphora) is associated with Water; the Eagle, in flight, with Air. The last two relationships are inverted66 with respect to traditional astrology but this should not surprise us, as in this arcanum we have already observed a long series of Codes based on antitheses. Recognizing the four elements in the cards, we identify in the four Creatures as well, the components of the human personality. What role, then, does the woman67 have? On the one hand, simply, she represents the Fifth (additional element) in relation to the four; but the concept is the same, finding herself in the centre of the Zodiac, she traces the Space-Heavens. It is no coincidence that the etymology of the cartouche, as we said, leads back to the Latin mundus, connected to the Greek κόσμος (cosmos) which means, literally, Universe, because the icon symbolizes Space in its physical and sacred sense. Thus, through these deductions, it is demonstrated that in the XXI Arcanum is expressed the microcosmical symbolism of the Soul of man, the Fifth Element associated to the four of the personality, and also the macrocosmical symbolism of the Universal Soul, the unifying principle termed by the Ancients, Ether. As this connection was already evident thanks to the preceding reasoning, with this new intuition, we hope to have been finally able to demonstrate that in the teaching of the Tarot there exists a true central theme. Not only those last considerations are coherent with all that we have already extrapolated regarding the two Arcana, but they appear in harmony with the entire Coded Structure, which is gradually revealing itself. The Hanged Man, in fact, detached from the zodiacal and celestial energies, represents the individual immersed in the personality, by which he is truly bound and imprisoned, who has no knowledge of his spiritual and celestial component, of which he actually does not sense the presence. The World, on the contrary, presents us with a human being in which the Soul has become the true guide of its actions, the centre of its world, to whose service the personality lends itself. With the XXI Arcanum, we are at the end of the Journey and the Fifth element, the Quintessence, which has fully realized its manifestation, may lead the man, becoming his true creator and teacher. In this task, the four Living Beings of the personality, his body, emotions, energy and thoughts which, integrated and evolved now assist it, collaborate in full syntony. If we wished to go beyond this already surprising level of codification, we would find ourselves facing new enigmas because the Codes multiply in order to allow research of ever-greater dimensions. In any case, to gain an overview, let us dedicate ourselves for a moment to new aspects.

  4.2 The Coded Structure: New Codes

  Simplicity

  It seems a good idea to pause for reflection on what has been said up until now. All of the knowledge enclosed in the Tarot over the course of the centuries, has been totally disintegrated, losing itself in a multitude of different games containing only a part of the original symbolism. Although the antique deck of Conver, custodian of the Tradition, conserved the symbols and significance thanks to the presence of the Coded Structure, we are speaking in any case of images. How then may the sense of these be comprehende
d through observation? What does it mean, to develop the aforementioned attitude of a child? The key is simplicity. Let us imagine that all the acquired mathematical knowledge of man were to disappear. How to reconstruct it? We would need to begin again with primary questions, basic principles. With time, an elaborate science, whose foundations rest however upon elementary notions, would form anew. It is the same for the Tarot. Let us immerse ourselves in a distant epoch, the Middle Ages, for example, in a time with no modern comforts such as television or internet. We meet a monk who gives us this deck of cards. How may we, without outside help, enter into the secrets of these Icons? Let us begin to observe them, perhaps even unable to read the names of the cards, whose meanings, given the immediacy of the images, we would learn intuitively. Our sole possibility would be to begin to understand the simplest things: which figures are of men, which of women; who is dressed, who nude; which bizarre figures are described, and so on. We would not wonder right away about the symbolical and occult content, also because we might not have the capacity. All that would be secondary. In any case, thanks to the first data suggested by observation of the illustrations, we would perhaps gradually begin to comprehend certain connections, first in a rudimental manner and then more and more clearly…until we discover the presence of hidden coded messages. In this manner, as demonstrated by the comparison Hanged Man-World, we realize that the Codes necessitate a particular mode of comparing symbols and concepts, a modality of thought and a form of association to which we are not accustomed.