TAROT AND HERMETIC CABALA

The so-called "Major ARCANA" of traditional Tarot, representing the 22 letters of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet are also 22 of the "32 Most Holy and concealed paths of the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life)" written of in the Sefer ha-Yetzirah, or Book of Formation. Each card of the Major Arcana represents one of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac, one of the 7 "ancient planets", or one of the 3 elements of Air, Water or Fire. The 4th element, Earth, being a pendent to the whole system, is not represented by any card within the Major Arcana. 12 plus 7 plus 3 equals 22 "Paths". The other 10 paths are "the 10 Sfirot, 10 not 11, 10 and not nine"

and are represented by 10 cards each in the 4 suits of cups, wands, swords, and coins; symbolizing Water, Fire, Air and Earth, the 4 elements of the ancient philosophers. The 4 suits are also the 4 Worlds of Cabala, and signify the manifestation of the: "TETRAGRAMMATON" in the 4 Worlds, through the 36 decans of the 12 Signs of the Zodiac (plus the 4 ACES equaling 40 cards representing the 4 worlds of ten emanations each). Each card of the 56 Lesser Arcana (except the 16 court cards and the Aces) represents one decanate (10 degrees) of the Zodiac. The four Aces are the Roots of the four Elements, initiated in the Sfira Kether (Crown) in each World. The court cards, 4 per suit, signify the: TETRAGRAMMATON operating in that particular World or suit. The Knight signifies the 1st letter of the NAME, the Queen the 2nd letter, the King---the 3rd letter, and the Princess or Knave--the last letter of the NAME--in each particular World. Also, each court card rules over 30 degrees of the Zodiacal light, and each Knave (or Princess) rules over 1/4 of the heavens circum-navigating the pole star. The Keys to the interpretation of the various cards of the Tarot, consist in the knowledge of Hermetic correspondences within the 4 Worlds, and the Cabalistic placement of each card within the Etz Chaim, or Tree of Life. By Eleazar Shlomo ben Yaakov All rights reserved