In the dark we do not see, but we feel things. It isin the dark that we conjure the soul of Night and

dream-up the spirit of the 'other', who is notoutside of us, but within.

Tarot Noir

Dark TarotAn investigative study

ofan approach to Magick

by Tim Hartridge

P A G E 2

Wicca, Magick, Alchemyexploring the psychic experience

www.witchesworkshop.com

www.ozpagan.com

info@witchesworkshop.com

Telephone: (02) 9590 9392

Post: PO Box 179 Newtown NSW 2042

Copyright Tim Hartridge 2003

This manual is copyright. A personal copy manybe created for personal research by members of Dark Circle Coven.

No part may reproduced by any process without written permissionpart from any fair dealing for the purposes of

private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act.

Inquiries should be addressed to Tim Hartridge: PO Box 179 Newtown 2042

T A R O T N O I R

P A G E 3

Part 1

Whenever the topic of the Dark Tarot (or Tarot Noir as I also call it)

comes up I am gripped by a juxtaposition of emotions. At the one end

I am enthused and excited by this system of magickal work, and at the

other end I experience a feeling of frustration about where to begin in

explaining what it is. I've found it's a bit like trying to describe the

storyline of a movie; if at first you go directly into all the in's and

out's you may wind up boring your listener. I find it best just to say

instead, "You should see it."

But, when pressed for an explanation I describe the Dark Tarot

simply as a unique blend of Divination and Magick.

And seeing we are talking about it, I'd ask that anyone interested in

exploring it with me to be prepared to put aside all the more generally

accepted interpretations of the Tarot, for this is not 'fortune telling'.

The role that any physical Tarot cards might play is more as a

divining tool to the real work - the practice of Magick. The cards play

a duel role in this process - which is part divinatory and part ritual.

Together they form a magickal formula which is used to create an

operation of ritual invocation or evocation.

I should briefly address some basic questions before we try exploring

what's involved in a Dark Tarot working.

Q. Why the name 'Dark' Tarot?

A. The quick answer is - anything that deals with the 'Occult' or the

'hidden' aspect of esoteric practice is 'dark'. There is certainly no

sinister notion here, although the 'dark' theme does seem to haunt me.

Q. So what can you do with the Dark Tarot?

A. You can use it as a way to 'divine' a magickal procedure for the

accomplishment of anything. Those with a more Thelemic orientation

to magick might use such an operation in the furthering of 'True Will',

where as those with a Wiccan or Shamanic approach to magick might

use it for 'Initiation' or simply the acquisition of some particular need.

T A R O T N O I R

P A G E 4

Q. Are there any practical principles to using the Dark Tarot?

A. There are, and there is also a fundament difference in 'who' can use

it too. The theory works like this: the Witch or Magician theoretically

is in-touch with a sense of their personal Destiny - they intuit their

True Will. Therefore when the Witch/Magician draws the Tarot cards

in regular reading there will be (theoretically) nothing new in what

they see, or at least nothing they weren't already intuitively aware of.

Now in contrast, any ordinary person drawing the cards for a reading

will have an entirely different reaction. They are apparently not aware

of their destiny and so are simply 'amazed' with the reading. In other

words, before the reading they could not see or intuit what Fate had in

store for them.

Q. Okay, a Witch or Magician 'theoretically' already knows what's in

the reading. Doesn't this make the idea of even doing a reading

redundant?

A. No, because at the same time the cards also supply the

Witch/Magician with the practical occult or 'dark' formula in how to

take a consciously active role in the accomplishment of their True

Will or Destiny. (This is done via a simple formula described in some

detail later).

Now this is another key point to the Dark Tarot - if the oracle can

reveal something of the inner workings of Destiny or True Will to the

Witch/Magician, it is this inner or occult component that we want to

get at and use. Therefore the 'Dark' Tarot can reveal not only glimpses

of the hidden forces at work in a Witch's life, but also provide

valuable clues to the means of it's accomplishment. Indeed,

theoretically there would be nothing to prevent the Witch/Magician

from directly invoking it.

This idea that you could divine True Will or Destiny and have the

means to invoke it was frankly something which frightened me; if

only because once you 'knew', what excuses would you have to not

getting on with it!? The idea that you might say, "Hey, can't I leave it

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P A G E 5

'til next full moon?" bemoans a certain lack of sincerity and personal

integrity in your magickal work don't you think!?

Q. How do you obtain an interpretation of the cards?

A. When I initially began using the Dark Tarot I was very much

aware of how limited my life experience was. I concluded that there

was probably vital information in the cards which I would not see,

especially if all I was using was an orthodox interpretation. After all,

this 'reading' was supplying me with information about something

which I had yet to experience, my Destiny. I had to find a way to free

myself up from any bias and begin to open myself up to unknown,

'dark' possibilities.

I decided to try trance and intuition as a chief source for exploring the

Dark Tarot. I began devising a set of Tarots through a combination of

numerous trance journeys as well as drawing upon certain magickal

experiences. These were descriptive images rather than drawn

pictures. By working with my recorded descriptive 'pictures' rather

than drawn images I was able to keep adding to them as I gained

more experience in the trance journeys.

Later, I also created a basic table of correspondences which assisted

me in developing my ritual procedures. (I'll reproduce this later.)

Okay, we've probably talked enough. I'd like to introduce you to the

Dark Tarot in a sequence of logical stages. The first step to be taken is

the divining of the Tarot by selecting 3 cards needed for the work

ahead.

T A R O T N O I R

P A G E 6

First steps:

Take any ordinary Tarot deck and separate the 22 trump cards from

the minor part of the deck. You'll only be using these 22 cards from

the Tarot.

Formulate a question about one of the following: a. Something related

to your life and how to achieve it. b. What do I need to do in my life?

c. or something more specifically related to the practice of witchcraft

such as - How may I evoke a familiar spirit?; or d. You may also

simply allow destiny to offer you insight, although I do not

recommend this as a starting point; and finally e. Any other issue not

covered by any of the above.

Take the 22 trump cards place them face down in front of you and

using your left hand spread, mix and shuffle the cards on a flat

surface. Put plenty of you into this moment and allow the cards to

shuffle completely at random - all the while contemplating your

question. When you have finished, gather the cards up with both

hands and stack them neatly in one pile.

Next, again using the left hand, cut the deck into three. Now turn over

the top card on each of the three piles. Record these cards and the

order they appear in from left to right. This is quite important to do

because we'll be working in the strict order they appear in.

Using these cards you will be performing a trance journey and

working with a new set of motifs than might appear on any physical

Tarot deck you are using. I'll be posting the practical methods in

several stages in the coming days.

T A R O T N O I R

P A G E 7

Part 2

If you recall you have, or are about to choose three cards for your

Dark Tarot working. Perhaps I should draw your attention to the

importance of allowing 'chance' to play a full role in this process. In

the method I described previously, I say to allow the cards to fall

completely at random. I am quite a fatalist when it comes to such

things and am also big on the Jungian concept of synchronicity - the

meaningfulness in apparent randomness.

DestinyWhat I am suggesting here is that there is significant and meaningful

consequence to the cards you draw. It is important to feel you are 'in-

sync' while shuffling and drawing the cards. I suppose the suggestion

that you can be 'in-sync' may be a convenient explanation, but for

anyone who has worked with the Tarot it seems completely natural.

I'd even go so far as to say that during the divinatory process a mutual

relationship emerges between you and cards.

So why divine the future from the cards in order to practice magick?

Because I think you can influence the future, or at least influence any

potential destiny shown in the cards. After all, it's not really Fate until

it's all over. While I think it is possible to influence a possible

outcome before it happens, I need to ask "Would you want to?",

especially without knowing the complete picture. And besides, Fate

has a funny way of getting what She wants anyway. (Maybe I am a

Fatalist after all.)

However when it comes down to it I am not suggesting that one

should try to change things, quite the contrary. I am proposing that we

nominate to accept our Destiny, or to put it poetically, submit to

Initiation at the hands of the Goddess Fortuna. Presuming you are

prepared for the ordeals, challenges and transformation necessary.

The method of using the Dark Tarot then lays open a way of magickal

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P A G E 8

work to aid manifesting Destiny in a more purposeful way. Perhaps

then what I really mean by 'Destiny' is really 'Initiation'.

in summary then, there are really two distinct areas of use here for the

cards in a Dark Tarot working. The first is divining personal destiny

which we've been discussing, and the second is to use the cards to

'divine' a magickal method to achieve some more limited goal.

Sigil, spell and sorceryIn part one I asked that once you had shuffled the cards that you

should cut them into three and turn over the top three cards. You

should then make a note of the cards in the order they fall, from left to

right. These three cards form the basic components of a Dark Tarot

working and are known as Sigil, Spell and Sorcery respectfully.

The practice of dividing the cards in three is an ancient one, having

reference mainly to three parts of time - the Past, Present and Future.

For the purpose of a Dark Tarot working though the three cards

divide our magickal work into three interacting components.

Briefly, Sigils are the forms and symbols; the Spells are any words or

sounds; and lastly, the Sorceries are the rituals or acts. As a

comparative reference, in the Oriental esoteric traditions these

translate as Yantra, Mantra and Tantra. The method of working in a

Dark Tarot operation is to determine the meaning of the cards and

then combine the three components into a magickal working of

evocation or invocation and thereby, if successful, manifest your

destiny or desired goal.

T A R O T N O I R

P A G E 9

The Sigils ...and spells and sorceriesThe first card in our undertaking connects us to the Sigil of the

working. Sigil comes from the Latin word 'sigilum' meaning 'sign'. In

a Dark Tarot ritual this card will particularly related to signs or seals;

symbols which contain a particular energy. The full definition of Sigil

in the Dark Tarot not only includes all icons or signs, but also any

'forms' or 'objects'. This especially includes any ritual objects, for

example - magickal tools, robes and the like. Equally, the Sigil card

relates to colours, perfumes, gems, metals, herbs, alphabetic letters,

digits, and spirit images or forms (eg. of deities, totem animals, kinds

of familiar spirits, etc). It especially reveals the psychic dimensions or

ambience which are active, and equally any physical locations

analogous to the particular card.

The remaining two cards are used to divine the 'Spells' and 'Sorceries'.

Briefly, once all the attributes of the three cards have been identified

they are then combined to assist you in a magickal operation. In other

words, via the Dark Tarot 'reading' you can divine the forces in

operation, identify the components and using these 'invoke or evoke'

them into your life.

On a mundane level the Dark Tarot may act in much the same way as

one would use a traditional set of 'Tables of Correspondence'. These

are tables which tell you for example that 'Love' corresponds to the

planet 'Venus', which in turn corresponds to the colour 'Green' and the

gemstone 'Emerald', and so on.

Even if you adopt this rather literal approach to divining the

Correspondences, you could theoretically collect all the various

components to use as your 'Sigil', your 'Spell' and the 'Sorcery' and

produce a magickal working. BUT, there would be just one problem

with approaching the work in this formulaic and mechanical way - it

could apply to anyone and that's not how the Dark Tarot works.

In order to use the Dark Tarot the whole operation must be very

intuitive and specifically personal to you. You must 'divine' the

T A R O T N O I R

PAGE 1 0

meaning. If all you were doing was looking up some tables and apply

the elements by formula you'd end-up 'short circuiting' the whole

practice. Consequently, you would be unlikely to succeed. You

certainly wouldn't have discovered the hidden or 'dark' significance of

the cards as they relate to you. Dare I over stress the point - I have

called this method of magickal work the 'Dark Tarot' precisely

because it is concealed or occulted from your consciousness. As a

consequence in order to divine the hidden meaning, resort must be

made to the unconscious in discovering destiny's secrets.

Trance I found was the best method to utilise and so I employ a sort

of specialised 'vision quest' - described next.

T A R O T N O I R

PAGE 1 1

Part 3

Mephistopheles says, "To gain your end, the act must be your own.

For where your ghosts and phantoms choose to dwell Your sage

philosopher's accepted well. His art and favour, spread for your

delight, Will bring a dozen novel ones to light. Unless you err, naught

can truly known. If life you want, then find it as your own."

- Goethe ("Faust" Act II)

Correspondence and tranceFrom among the Western Mystery schools the Qabalistic traditions

have long been at the forefront in tabulating the values and attributes

of the Tarot. In particular the Order of the Golden Dawn and the

various off-shoots were quite fastidious in the cataloguing all the

sympathetic elements to be found within a specific sphere and the

Tarot play a key part of the equation. Collectively these catalogues

have become known as the 'Tables of Correspondence'.

Now as useful as these Tables might seem it was precisely this type of

moribund inflexibility that was stagnating my magickal work before I

began exploring the Dark Tarot. If I were to break through and

reconnect to something more authentically a part of my own psyche,

then I would need to approach things very differently. I decided

trance would be my main method in the acquisition of magickal

knowledge. I devised a type of 'vision quest of the Tarot' which would

induce trance. My experiences were direct and very personal.

Naturally I recommend anyone seeking to apply an authentic use of

the Dark Tarot to use this or similar methods.

Psychic doorwaysMost witches and magicians are probably familiar with the practice

known as 'astral doorways'. This is where you use an image such as a

Tarot trump as a 'doorway' and attempt to project your consciousness

T A R O T N O I R

PAGE 1 2

into card's psychic counterpart. The idea being, to make contact with

the psychic reality that the card represents. In a Dark Tarot working

your next task after drawing your cards is to undertake a trance

journey of each card and to retrieve clues to three areas of your

magickal work (ie. sigil, spell, and sorcery).

Through doing this trance work you'll also begin to build own set of

'correspondences' and begin to form the images which will become

your own personal 'Dark Tarot'.

Can see what this method of work will do for you? From such trance

experiences you'll begin to create your own 'hidden' Tarot and

through exploring the Unconscious or 'Underworld' in trances you'll

create an authentic 'Dark Tarot'. In a sense, the only legitimate way

you can work with the Dark Tarot is to undertake a vision quest for

each card you draw, and then searching for the hidden keys - your

sigils, spells and sorceries - combine them in a magickal working.

Forbidden imagesI knew from my own past experiences though that if all I did was to

use the images from the regular Tarot I wouldn't get far. I would get

stuck and languish in the predictable, in things too familiar. I needed

to connect to the Tarot at deeper level, maybe even things which

would shock me awake. I needed a new energy to inspire this work so

I could tap into fresh potential. I decided to created a new set of

images for my Tarot.

I commenced by drawing from a combination of my own trance

experiences and some past 'unusual' magickal workings. I also

combined icons and images from the 'forbidden' and left-hand path

traditions - the Gothic, the Medieval, as well as past and present

Witch-cult practices and Alchemy. I also used the ritual themes from

Eastern Tantra, other sexual magicks and even Voudoun - everything

associated with the Cults of the Shadow, everything considered 'dark'

and nocturnal. I conceived a new set of names to these icons to

T A R O T N O I R

PAGE 1 3

further break with the predictable while still adhering to relevant

principles. Gradually I synthesised the experiences down into

compact images which activate the psychic atmosphere necessary as

an entry point for trance and vision quests.

The following became my Dark Tarots presented here in abbreviated

table descriptions:

PAGE 1 4

0 11 The Fool LunaticA lonely deserted path lit by moon light, the wastelands. A lone man walks starring at the moon. A dreamer, sleepwalking.

1 11 The Magician SorcererWithin a ritual chamber a Sorcerer prepares elemental and familiar spirits for their night errands. Sigils of desire, projections.

2 13 The Priestess VampyreAn open coffin in a crypt or sanctuary, in which lays a female vampyre. Trance, astral states of consciousness, forbidden knowledge.

3 14 The Empress WitchA Witch or Mambo within her ritual chamber preparing to open forces upon the physical plane. Fetishes.

*17 15 The Star YoniA star-strewn, night sky. A dark bedroom in which lays a naked negress. A black hole in space, absorption of all light and energy.

5 16 The Hierophant Black MagicianA priest making preparations for a funerary rite. A dark figure who is hidden by the cowl of his robe. Withholding knowledge.

6 17 The Lovers Sex MagiciansAn Arabian boudoir, heavy incense burning, within two naked people sit starring into each others eyes. All around them lay the naked bodies of unconscious individuals.

7 18 The Chariot InitiationYogic and tantric practices. Comets and meteors. A rite of Initiation by tribal ordeal.

8 19 Strength EnchantressA crescent moon hanging low in the western night sky, tinged red with the ochre of desert dust. An energetic redheaded woman riding her male partner.

9 20 The Hermit HermeticistA silent darkened room in which is seated a silhouetted figure. A powerful force emanating from beyond. Solo sexual sorcery. Manual stirring of ojas in a partner.

10 21 Wheel of Fortune TimeA dark spiralling goddess from whom emanates a vortex of irresistible power. Development of chakras. Awakening the Kalas.

11 22 Justice AdjustmentInvocation of destiny or karmic forces. Ancient Egyptian rites of passage.

12 23 The Hanged Man The AbyssThe Spider Sorcerer whose victim may be killed, saved for later use, inter-acted with, played with or freed. Secret venoms and fetishes.

13 24 Death NecromancerA sance circle in which a spirit appears in the centre. A ruin abbey and graveyard whose entrance is a half open gate.

14 25 Temperance AlchemistA magus massaging sensually a priestess. Within the shrine appear dew drops upon the altar. An elixir.

15 26 The Devil MasterA Witches Sabbat and invocation of the Beast. Dark and unseen forces erupting. Kaos magick and sexual sorcery.

16 27 The Tower PhallusDionysian excess. Shattering of forms. Blasphemy acts.

*4 28 The Emperor GeomancerThe hidden forces of the dragon tracks both within and without.

18 29 The Moon Familiar SpiritsSorcerers assume animalistic form and perform acts of lunar sorcery .The Mass of Amrit. Evocation of the forgotten powers.

19 30 The Sun VortexAn eclipse, a black sun, a neutron star. The desert of Set at night.

20 31 Judgement AwakeningDark sorcery overthrowing the status quo, the forces of change. Evocation of the Dark Self. Cults of the Shadow.

21 32 The World UnderworldThe domain of the living dead, the eternal myth, Never Neverland. A dark universe, in which the Dreamer awakens.

V I S U A L I S A T I O N S O F T H E D A R K T A R O T

T A R O T N O I R

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Part 4

Journey of many returnsWhile not completely abandoning the traditional Tarot tables of

correspondences, I started to relegate them to a position of a

backdrop to my own direct experiences. That way I could use the

traditional Tarot attributes more as an archetypal or mythical

shadow- imprint, while my own experiences would be more

personally authentic and relevant to my state of being at the time.

My original 'images and icons' of the Dark Tarot (described in Part 3)

became my basic knowledge base or platform to start from for trance

experiences. Each journey I do for a working adds more knowledge

and energy to the cards. As does initiating others into the work,

helping me to develop a greater understanding of the cards and

magick. Meanwhile, the regular Tarot and their correspondences act

in the role of supportive material and for the purpose of amplification.

The practical method I continue to use for doing trance journeys and

retrievals involves the use of a small ritual gong and an electronic

amplifier. Although a drum or other 'drone' instruments can equally

be utilised. As can such recordings as "Well of Souls" by Steve Roach

and Vidna Obmana, "Elysian E" by Michael Stearns or "Zeit" by

Tangerine Dream. I particularly favour many of the excellent

recordings by the dark ambient or atmospheric artist Robert Rich.

Dark vision questsMost contemporary practitioners of magick and witchcraft will have

either experienced or heard of the practices of 'Vision Quests'. This is

particularly relevant among certain Indian tribes of America. During

the 1980's writers such as Dr Michael Harner described his own

initiation into the Shamanic experience in his book the 'Way of the

Shaman'. The method utilised is a simple, but effective technique of

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PAGE 1 6

using a monotonous drum rhythm to aid in a shift of consciousness

thus producing the onset of trance.

Another author and occultist, Kenneth Grant has also described the

potent effects of trance in rituals. In particular he relates experiences

from the secret tantric style trance practices of an Oriental sect known

as 'Cult of Ku'. In their occult rites a gong is ceaselessly struck

producing a shift in the psychic atmosphere of the temple. The

vibrations cause the priestess of the cult to transform and become a

multiform vehicle of the Goddess uniting with her devotees in

ecstasy.

The method I prefer to use combines all of these above techniques.

Using a small gong which I amplify via a microphone and then add a

digital delay. The effect of which produces an echo when the gong is

struck. By using a steady rhythm of percussive strikes upon the gong

a whirling wall-of-sound soon produces an irresistible energy

submerging one into a trance world.

With these trancing-gong rhythms I combine the projection of

consciousness into the psychic scenery the 'Dark' trump with which I

am working and submit myself to the experience. When executed

correctly this Iays open a way for any possibility, the more

unexpected the better.

The following is an example of one such experience undertaken by a

witch during private initiation. This visionary work was usually

preceded by a simple ritual form: a Circle casting, sensual anointing

of sabbat oils, imbibing of chalice wine, strong incense, and

submerging dancing around a fiery cauldron 'til collapse and thence

into trance accompanied by the gong.

The Dark Tarot trump this particular student drew was the 'Lunatic'

(the Fool 0). The depicted image is described as: "A lonely deserted

path lit by moon light, the wastelands. A lone man walks starring at

the moon. A dreamer, sleepwalking." After the ritual prelude the

student-witch uses this scene to commenced her vision quest. (The

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descriptive titles are her own. Although she divides the narrative into

three parts, in fact each part just flowed from one scene into the next.

The following text is given with her permission.)

1. The Altar: I am standing in a room which appears to be part of a

ruined gothic period style building. The walls are stone and shaped

into arches, the ceiling open to the night sky. The room is dimly lit

and in the centre is a raised stone altar. I move toward it, clothed in a

white diaphanous gown open at the front. Lying down on the altar the

gown falls away and I wait. I feel rather blissful and open (perhaps a

little naive!) A figure in a brown hooded robe moves toward the altar

and produces a ceremonial dagger which he takes in both hands and

beginning at my breast bone slices my torso down the middle to my

lower abdomen. He stands back and through the opening a stream of

white light emerges. The opening widens and the stream of light

extends up through the ceiling, into the sky. Then a dove flies out of

the opening up through the stream of light. I can see a small red

multifaceted gem in my lower abdomen. The stream of light then

ceases and the hooded figure sews me up in a zig-zag fashion with

some brown string. He is gone and I am left alone in the ruin. I feel

empty and lost. After some time I look down and notice a frog sitting

at the base of the altar.

2. The Leopard: In the darkness the head of a leopard appears,

holding an egg shaped emerald in its mouth. It appears to be the top

of a staff, fashioned in gold and slowly spins, moving toward me.

3. The Snake: Against a backdrop of darkness, a cauldron appears.

Writhing up from its centre is an emerald and ruby encrusted gold

snake.

Background and comments The person who was doing this Dark Tarot work had not long been

studying with me. She was in fact still receiving even basic

instruction on circle work. This visionary example was rather typical

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of many her experiences, where the imagery was rich in content.

What struck me about these visions was not their dramatic nature, but

their purity. There doesn't appear to be any conscious Ego

construction, everything flows quite spontaneously. In fact, the

visions felt free and uninhibited. I think particularly because this

person had no real orthodox magickal training that I found this quite

encouraging and helped validate this system of magickal work for me

- if it could work so well for her it could work for any one.

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PAGE 1 9

Part 5

Applied magick: How to evoke a Familiar spirit

As pointed out previously the Witch may utilise the Dark Tarot for

guidance in fulfilment of any desire, as well as the larger issues

related to his/her Destiny. Previously I have suggested that the two

may really be indelibly linked, but to illustrate how I've used the Dark

Tarot in a simple and practical way I offer the following example to

the student.

In historical records Witches are often described as associating with a

Familiar Spirit. This is a special type ally or spirit helper. Sometimes

the Familiar may even take the role of the Witch's spiritual guide.

Using my method of Dark Tarot divination I offer a way to formulate

a magickal working for the evocation of a Familiar spirit.

The first step is to express your request as a simple and direct

question - "How may I evoke a Familiar Spirit?" Next, while

concentrating upon the desire you shuffling a deck of the 22 Tarot

trumps and draw the three cards.

As you now understand the first card is representative of the Sigil or

sign by which I may evoke the Familiar. My second card is the Spell

or sound by which I may call the spirit; and the third card will show

me a rite of Sorcery to be used in the work of evocation. By

combining the ingredients of the three Tarot trumps a complete

method for the evocation of a Familiar Spirit will have been divined.

My selection was: XIV Alchemist (Temperance) for the Sigil; I

Sorcerer (The Magician) for the Spell; and 0 Lunatic (The Fool) for

the Rite of Sorcery.

In order to begin the work I undertake three separate trances for each

card. My dark vision quests enable me to more fully explore the

energies of the Familiar I'm destined to interact with, as well as

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PAGE 2 0

directly experiencing its nature as a psychic reality.

For the sake brevity I have condensed the experiences. (You may

wish to review the descriptions of each Dark Tarot trump I gave in

Part 3. Each card's image will act as my entry point.)

XIV ALCHEMIST - sigil Trance-Vision: I enter the scene and am

immediately aware of identifying with the Alchemist-magus. I am

immersed in an azure light. I am walking in a B-line toward a naked

priestess who is outstretched on a target (just like one of those knife

throwing acts seen in a circus). In my hand I hold short cross-bow

arrow. I notice she is very flushed, perspiring with beads of sweat and

emitting a heady, though not unpleasant perfumed odour.

Sigil analysis One of the strongest symbols which came up in the Alchemist

(Temperance) vision was the 'arrow'. Now it should be noted that the

Qabalistic correspondence to this card is Sagittarius, the archer (see

tables below). Using this as a starting point I decide to construct an

arrow fetish as a physical sigil for my rite of evocation.

Also under the heading of Sigil are included: signs, symbols and

actual sigils, as well as correspondent colours, numbers, perfumes and

incense, magickal tools, textures, shape, form and appearances,

stones, plants and animals.

Examples of other elements which could be drawn from the vision

include: an azure light, the naked priestess, a target, and a heady

perfume.

I SORCERER - spell Trance-Vision: Again I immediately identify

with key figure, this time in the role of the Sorcerer-magus. I/He is

exhaling in the manner of someone with a frosty breath. There is a

serpent like hiss to this exhalation and I feel a word trying to form in

my throat. A powerful energy feels to be erupting, almost as though it

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were trying to be expelled from the gut and throat. Previously I had

noted the 3 letters which correspond to my three cards - they are

SBA. I now spontaneously remember these and they are hissed out as

the word "Sheba".

Spell analysis The Sorcerer-magus has chosen "Sheba" to be hissed as the spell of

evocation for my rite. I also note from the Tables (see below) that this

card corresponds to the key of "E", with any "chattering" or "tittering"

sounds (its Mercurial quality). Because of this fact I decide to use a

calabash in the rite. This calabash is a simple seed rattle from West

Africa, which can produce the right "chattering" sound to the

accompaniment of my spell, "Sheba". (I'd also like to draw your

attention to the similarity of this 'spell- word' to the name of the

fabled Queen Sheba, an Arabian beauty who charmed King Solomon,

and probably reveals qualities which resonate naturally in the spell.)

Now apart from words and music also under the category of Spells

fall such things as rhythms and any sort vibrational resonant,

particularly any natural sounds like wind, rain and thunder.

Something else which is less obvious to the category of 'Spells' is

Time. This is because any Spell, like music consists of sounds which

are arranged in Time as a sequence.

Because of this fact your Spell card may reveal various types of Time.

Eg, solar-terrestrial day and night, dawn and dusk, or Lunar cycles, or

even stellar-planetary time periods. Any of these factors could be

taken into account. For example, the Sorcerer card is correspondent to

Mercury which in turn is attributed to Wednesday. So a chosen time

for a final Dark Tarot working can even be divined.

A final note about the Spell: Even if I hadn't deduced a word, such as

"Sheba" there was never the less the 'hiss' of breath from the Sorcerer

and so I could have simply used this.

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0 LUNATIC - sorcery Trance-Vision: A dreamy, lunar quality seems

to envelop me as I enter into the Lunatic's province. It is as though I

am in a dream-bubble. I feel blown along by all sorts of foolish

thoughts some comic, but many sexy. I am reminded of Shakespeare's

'Puck' from a "Mid-summer Night's Dream". In the play he placed a

drop of juice from a strange poppy upon the dreamers' heads and they

fall madly in love with next person they set eyes upon - it is riotous

and crazy (loco = mad - I decide to be very careful that no-one is

about when I open my eyes!).

Sorcery analysisThe Sorcery card is correspondent to such things as specific types of

magickal powers or operations. My experience from this card

revealed a strong hypnotic and dreamy quality, and so I could try

using any ritual acts, dance or movement which might induce this as

part of my ceremony. I also assess that my Familiar may be cable of

some mischievous acts, especially in affairs of the heart.

This card is under the rulership of Air and also lunar forces, together

these denote the Moon's power over dreams and thought. Psychically

these are known as 'thought forms' and can be expressed in acts of

creating 'astral globules' (see table notes). While on a mundane level

we can see how Puck-like love spells could be cast with the aid of this

Familiar's influence, there is also another side to the Lunatic.

The Lunatic/Fool or 'Outsider' who's powers come from 'outside' or

the 'otherside' may impress upon the unawakened Dreamer many

unthought of dreams. The Dreamer thus impregnated with such

thought forms may act as medium for inspired thought. If for example

this were to be acted upon oneself, you might become the vehicle for

the channelling of thoughts from the otherside to the mundane world.

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Dark rite of DwallInterpreting the overall message of the Dark Tarot symbolism is a

subjective experience. I naturally warn the Student not to be too Ego-

centric, but to try be as objective as possible. The last thing you want

to do at this stage is to short-circuit the whole thing by being too

biased or conservative. Try to learn from this experience and don't

forget Witches are 'heretics' at heart. By all means investigate the

cards thoroughly, but in the words of Durban's natural mystic Madala

Kunene "...each dreamtime journey or dwaal is different". ('Dwaal'

means to be confused or to take a journey with no fixed destination.)

Treat this as though you are about to undertake Initiation. Keeping the

following points in mind will assist you in your Dwaal: 1. Expand

your understanding the cards via study of their correspondences (see

tables below); 2. Combine them in a visualisation as an aid to

dreaming-up your working; 3. Finally, adapt, prepare and perform an

actual rite using all your new discoveries. Keep your ideas to the

point. 4. Expect transformation and changes in yourself. A Dark Tarot

working is usually marked by a time of personal Initiation and

changes which are rarely simple or smooth sailing.

The final trance Alchemist, Sorcerer, Lunatic

In the final stage I combine the three components of my rite

Alchemist, Sorcerer and Lunatic. I arrived at the following

visualisation-trance experience and outline for a ritual.

I am wandering a lonely, isolated path. For some reason I am aware it

is in the early hours of a Wednesday morning (Mercury-Sorcerer).

The moon is visible, but hangs low in a mist shrouded night sky.

Ahead of me is the sheltered ruin of an old farmhouse or barn. As I

enter within it walls, but the roof is open to the night sky. I see the

back of the Alchemist cum Sorcerer cum Lunatic. Laying on the

ground in front of him is a sleeping priestess. I merge identifying with

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the magus. In my right hand I am holding the Blue-Arrow fetish and

in my left the seed-calabash. At one end of the arrow is bright yellow

feathers which are attached to a blue shaft. A sharp steel tip is at its

head. I am now squatting down in front of the priestess, she is laying

on a deep blue velvety cloth. I can see under her body an irregular

eight-sided figure, traced in yellow.

As I gaze at her I feel completely mesmerised by the whiteness and

beauty of her body against the blue cloth. Holding the arrow in my

right hand I extended the feathered-end toward the priestess. A shiver

spontaneously runs down my left arm into the calabash. At the same

time a powerful serpentine ripple flexed the muscles through my torso

finishing in my head and a compulsive gust of air from my breath, I

hiss "SheeeBAaa". The word is expelled in a long breath over the

priestess. I am now naked and hang suspended horizontally above the

body of the white priestess. A weird sort of psychic container seem to

hold us together for a moment and then I find myself back in front her

again. Using feathered arrow I stroked over the erogenous zones of

the her body. Little trickles of perspiration moistened feathers. A dew

is formed on her vaginal lips and I catch this with the steel tip of the

arrow.

At this point I suddenly become aware of a number of key points. At

the same time I moved from a trance state and became consciously

alert of the following: The Alchemist-Sorcerer-Lunatic is the familiar

Spirit. I have embodied him or evoked him from within my

unconscious, but he requires a powerfully erotic rite to stimulate any

latent powers. He has a contra-sexual soul-mate in the form of the

ecstatic- dreaming priestess. When their coconsciousness is raised in

a mutual trance or seance they stimulate each other and produce a

honeyed 'dew' which contains their latent powers. The arrow-fetish

may be useful as a type of magician's wand or dart to hold the erotic-

psychic charge.

The key to building an effective rite of evocation ultimately lies in

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how keen is your intuition, research and imagination. Where research

is highly valued by the rational mind it will be via the your irrational

intuition and imagination that the hidden or dark knowledge may

come. Fantasies are more often discarded as fanciful, but in this work

free reign is given over to the imagination in order to draw out the

most from the unconscious. Trance-visions like these may be

compared to an awake dream and is the means I use to connect with

the unconscious.

Fetish ritesFor personal reasons I offer only a brief comment about the results of

this Dark Tarot working.

I used as many of the elements from the trance experiences as I felt

were necessary and decided to do the following - I treat the working

as a rite of self-Initiation. I obtained the various elements needed. The

first is the arrow-fetish and I paint it blue. I inscribed with the fetish

with the letters 'SBA'. It will act from this point on as a material basis

or contact for the work with my Familiar. I obtain a blue cloth and

paint an irregular eight-sided star pattern on it and use this as a ritual

mat or 'circle' in which to operate. I enlisted the aid of a Priestess who

can aid me in incubating the 'dew'. We celebrated rite as a type of

mysterium coniuntio. I successfully invoke the Familiar and have it

act through me as medium. The progeny manifest from outside my

own limited experience and begin lives of their own, but I feel

transformed through the experience.

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The arrangement of the Dark Tarot

upon the Tree of Life showing the ten

Sephiroth and twenty two paths with

astrological & elemental attributions.

On a macrocosmic level the Tree of

Life is an esoteric representation of

the Universe, while at a microcosmic

level it depicts the psychic anatomy

of the individual.

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Number Path Orthodox Dark Demons/Gods Sigil Spell SorceryTitle Tarot (signs, colour, incense, (sounds, words, (magickal operations,

tools, numbers, images) names of power, etc) powers, ritual, acts)

0 11 The Fool Lunatic Amprodias 1,11, 401, Minotur, swastika, E, winds, Creation of Astral Globules,Il Matto dorje, dagger, fan, galbanum, Aleph Air

luminous pale yellow on a square of emerald of gold.

1 11 The Magician Sorcerer Baratchial 260, a ruin, wand, E, chattering or tittering, Evocation of Elements,Il Bagattelliere phallus, gum mastic, Beth Mercury

indigo vesica rayedwith violet.

2 13 The Priestess Vampyre Gargophias 393, bow & arrow, camphor, G sharp, howled, Clairvoyance and projection,La Papessa mense, aloes, an open coffin, Gimel Moon

silver on a black circle.

3 14 The Empress Witch Dagdagiel 55, cord, sandlewood, mytle, F sharp, crooning or lilting, Invoking powers,LImperatrice Mambo door or gate, vivid sky blue on Daleth Venus

a rose circle rayed pale green

*17 15 The Star Yoni Hemethterith 1054, censer, asperger, galbanum A sharp, almost inaudible whisperings, Astrology, Kalas induced as Le Stelle fish hook, lurid red on H clear and cool, Aquarius

glowing red inverted triangle

5 16 The Hierophant Black Magician Uriens 395, horns, burin, dragons blood, C sharp, roared, bellowed Invoking earthly forces,Il Papa Bukor red gum, nail, Vau Taurus

lines of flame on a brown triangle

6 17 The Lovers Sex Magicians Zamradiel 292, tripod, wormwood, D, hoarse cachinnation, Bi-locationGli Amanti sword, new leather yellow Zain Invocation of Horus & Set

on a mauve vesica. Gemini

7 18 The Chariot Initiation Characith 640, furnace,onycha, D sharp, splashing Casting enchantmentsIl Carro fence, dark green-brown Kheth Channelling Kalas

on an amber-hued circle Cancer

8 19 Strength Enchantress Temphioth 610, discipline, olibanum E, roaring, hissing explosive force Invoking TotemsLa Forza serpent, greenish-yellow on a Teth Leo

grey arrow-shaped.

9 20 The Hermit Hermeticist Yamatu 13,1 lamp & wand, narcissus F, lower register, sighing, murmuring WillLEremita hand, yellowish- green on Yod Invisibility

silver-grey slate Virgo

10 21 Wheel of Fortune Time Kurgasiax 315, sceptre, saffron A sharp, imperious intonation, Material powerRota Della Fortuna palm, rich purple on a blue Kaph Changing destiny

ground rayed with yellow Jupiter

11 22 Justice Adjustment Lafcursiax 671, cross, galbanum F sharp, upper register, prolonged KarmaLa Giustizia ox goad, pale green on rich blue Lamed Libra

12 23 The Hanged Man The Abyss Malkunofat 307, cup,cross, wine, myrrh, onycha G sharp, upper register, Exploration of qlippothLAppenso water, deep blue on an inverted a shrill stridulation Water

triangle of sea-green. Mem

13 24 Death Necromancer Niantiel 160,pain of obligation, benzoin G lower register, bubbling cauldron Necromancy(none) fish, lurid indigo- brown like a Nun Evocation of Hell

black beetle on a greenish-blue triangle Scorpio

14 25 Temperance Alchemist Saksaksalim 300, arrow, ligum-aloes G sharp, high pitched TransmutationsLa Temperanza prop, bright yellow on vivid dark electric crackling Alchemy

blue, like lightning in a night sky Samekh Sagittarius

15 26 The Devil Master Aanonin 237,secret force, lamp, musk, civet A, raucous bleating Witches SabbatIl Diavolo eye, black sigil within Ayin Evocation

an indigo pentagram Capricorn

16 27 The Tower Phallus Parfaxitas 450, sword, pepper, dragons blood C, lower register Awakening KundaliniLa Torre mouth, bright red on thunder Works of wrath & revenge

an emerald square Peh Mars

*4 28 The Emperor Geomancer Tzuflifu 302, cord, galbanum A sharp, chanted ManifestationLImperatore Hungan window, white on violet Tzaddi Earth currents, Aries

18 29 The Moon Familiar Spirits Qulielfi 266, twilight, mirror, ambergris B Female sexual sorceryLa Luna back of the head, slug trail silver Qoph shape-shifting

on a circular stone Pisces

19 30 The Sun Vortex Raflifu 406, cinnamon, D, mellifluously Male sexual sorceryIl Sole head, red rayed on amber disc Resh purifications, Sol

20 31 Judgement Awakening Shalicu 500, pyramid, lamp, wand, olibanum C, sibilant & sinister whisperings EvocationIl Giudizio tooth, vermilion on emerald Shin Aeonic magick, Fire

21 32 The World Underworld Thantifaxath 1040,sickle, sulphur, assafoetida B sharp, hollow reverberation Works of maledictionIl Mondo Tau, sickle, Tau Saturn

black rectangle

T A B L E S O F C O R R E S P O N D E N C E