The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
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1.4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> In His<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
archaeologist Court de Gebelin, who, just prior <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> French Revolution, occupied several years in <strong>the</strong><br />
publication of his Monde Primitif, which extended <strong>to</strong> nine quar<strong>to</strong> volumes. He was a learned man of his<br />
epoch, a high-grade Mason, a member of <strong>the</strong> his<strong>to</strong>rical Lodge of <strong>the</strong> Philale<strong>the</strong>s, and a virtuoso with a<br />
profound and lifelong interest in <strong>the</strong> debate on universal antiquities before a science of <strong>the</strong> subject existed.<br />
Even at this day, his memorials and dissertations, collected under <strong>the</strong> title which I have quoted, are worth<br />
possessing. By an accident of things, he became acquainted with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> when it was quite unknown in<br />
Paris, and at once conceived that it was <strong>the</strong> remnants of an Egyptian book. He made inquiries concerning<br />
it and ascertained that it was in circulation over a considerable part of Europe--Spain, Italy, Germany and<br />
<strong>the</strong> South of France. It was in use as a game of chance or skill, after <strong>the</strong> ordinary manner of playing-cards;<br />
and he ascertained fur<strong>the</strong>r how <strong>the</strong> game was played. But it was in use also for <strong>the</strong> higher purpose of<br />
divination or fortune-telling, and with <strong>the</strong> help of a learned friend he discovered <strong>the</strong> significance<br />
attributed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> cards, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> method of arrangement adopted for this purpose. In a word, he<br />
made a distinct contribution <strong>to</strong> our knowledge, and he is still a source of reference--but it is on <strong>the</strong><br />
question of fact only, and not on <strong>the</strong> beloved hypo<strong>the</strong>sis that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> contains pure Egyptian doctrine.<br />
However, he set <strong>the</strong> opinion which is prevalent <strong>to</strong> this day throughout <strong>the</strong> occult schools, that in <strong>the</strong><br />
mystery and wonder, <strong>the</strong> strange night of <strong>the</strong> gods, <strong>the</strong> unknown <strong>to</strong>ngue and <strong>the</strong> undeciphered<br />
hieroglyphics which symbolized Egypt at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> eighteenth century, <strong>the</strong> origin of <strong>the</strong> cards was<br />
lost. So dreamed one of <strong>the</strong> characteristic literati of France, and one can almost understand and<br />
sympathize, for <strong>the</strong> country about <strong>the</strong> Delta and <strong>the</strong> Nile was beginning <strong>to</strong> loom largely in <strong>the</strong><br />
preoccupation of learned thought, and omne ignolum pro Ægyptiaco was <strong>the</strong> way of delusion <strong>to</strong> which<br />
many minds tended. It was excusable enough <strong>the</strong>n, but that <strong>the</strong> madness has continued and, within <strong>the</strong><br />
charmed circle of <strong>the</strong> occult sciences, still passes from mouth <strong>to</strong> mouth--<strong>the</strong>re is no excuse for this. Let us<br />
see, <strong>the</strong>refore, <strong>the</strong> evidence produced by M. Court de Gebelin in support of his <strong>the</strong>sis, and, that I may deal<br />
justly, it shall be summarized as far as possible in his own words.<br />
(i) <strong>The</strong> figures and arrangement of <strong>the</strong> game are manifestly allegorical; (2) <strong>the</strong> allegories are in<br />
conformity with <strong>the</strong> civil, philosophical and religious doctrine of ancient Egypt; (3) if <strong>the</strong> cards were<br />
modern, no High Priestess would be included among <strong>the</strong> Greater Arcana; (4) <strong>the</strong> figure in question bears<br />
<strong>the</strong> horns of Isis; (5) <strong>the</strong> card which is called <strong>the</strong> Emperor has a sceptre terminating in a triple cross; (6)<br />
<strong>the</strong> card entitled <strong>the</strong> Moon, who is Isis, shews drops of rain or dew in <strong>the</strong> act of being shed by <strong>the</strong><br />
luminary and <strong>the</strong>se-as we have seen-are <strong>the</strong> tears of Isis, which swelled <strong>the</strong> waters of <strong>the</strong> Nile and<br />
fertilized <strong>the</strong> fields of Egypt; (7) <strong>the</strong> seventeenth card, or Star, is <strong>the</strong> dog-star, Sirius, which was<br />
consecrated <strong>to</strong> Isis and symbolized <strong>the</strong> opening of <strong>the</strong> year; (8) <strong>the</strong> game played with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> is founded<br />
on <strong>the</strong> sacred number seven, which was of great importance in Egypt; (9) <strong>the</strong> word <strong>Tarot</strong> is pure<br />
Egyptian, in which language Tar=way or road, and Ro=king or royal--it signifies <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> Royal<br />
Road of Life; (10) alternatively, it is derived from A=doctrine Rosh= Mercury =Thoth, and <strong>the</strong> article T;<br />
in sum, Tarosh; and <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> is <strong>the</strong> Book of Thoth, or <strong>the</strong> Table of <strong>the</strong> Doctrine of Mercury.<br />
Such is <strong>the</strong> testimony, it being unders<strong>to</strong>od that I have set aside several casual statements, for which no<br />
kind of justification is produced. <strong>The</strong>se, <strong>the</strong>refore, are ten pillars which support <strong>the</strong> edifice of <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>sis,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> same are pillars of sand. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Tarot</strong> is, of course, allegorical--that is <strong>to</strong> say, it is symbolism--but<br />
allegory and symbol are catholic---of all countries, nations and times <strong>the</strong>y are not more Egyptian than<br />
Mexican <strong>the</strong>y are of Europe and Cathay, of Tibet beyond <strong>the</strong> Himalayas and of <strong>the</strong> London gutters. As<br />
file:///C|/My%20Documents/Spiri<strong>to</strong>ality/Books/<strong>The</strong>...0<strong>to</strong>%20<strong>the</strong>%20<strong>Tarot</strong>%20-%20A.E.%20Waite/pkt0104.htm (4 of 7) [15/07/2001 23:10:05]