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The Trumps and the Three Worlds |
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The conception of the Universe in terms of God, Man and Nature was a constant theme throughout Middle Age and Renaissance thought, and can be seen, for example, in the philosophies of Hermetism, Christianity, Neoplatonism, Rosicrucianism, and the works of Fludd, Böhme and Kircher. This world-view assumes Man to be the link between God the ultimate spiritual and Nature the ultimate physical, since Man is uniquely a part of both worlds simultaneously. This triad also took the forms of God, Christ, and Creation; the Light of Order, the Soul of Man, the Darkness of Chaos; Thesis, Synthesis, Antithesis. In each case, the middle term resolves two polarities. Several occult authors have used this construct to convey a three-tiered layer of meaning within the 22 trumps. In spite of some discrepancies, there are intriguing similarities between the work of the following four authors, each of whom described this tradition as being passed on to them by their predecessors. The chart below is based on the works of Papus, Mouni Sadhu, Tavaglione, and C.C. Zain. Their initials appear in that order within the last column of the chart. These archetypes are differentiated by the authors from any divinatory meanings, and served as the basis for their use of the Tarot as a sort of ‘philosophical abacus.’ For example, in the realm of Spirit it could be said that 3 (the Empress) as The Creative Force of Nature, when combined with a spiritual thoughtform as 4 (the Emperor), equals 7 (the Chariot) as that which is able to command its own form. This self-commanding force of 7 must connect itself to the Divine Essence of 1 in order to establish true Equilibrium of 8 within its environment. These authors also provide a more exoteric meaning to the cards which were generally in harmony with each other and with the European traditions. These keywords are included with the Trump titles as an additional reference. |
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Trump |
Spiritual World |
Intellectual World |
Physical World |
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I |
The |
God |
Man |
Universe |
P |
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Divine Essence |
Man |
Active Nature |
S |
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The Absolute |
Unity |
Man |
T |
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Absolute Being |
Unity |
Man |
Z |
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II |
The High |
Goddess |
Woman |
Passive Nature |
P |
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Divine Substance |
Polarity |
Matter |
S |
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Consciousness |
Track, Rail |
Woman |
T |
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Absolute Consciousness |
Binary |
Woman |
Z |
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III |
The |
Universal Vivifying Force |
Humanity |
The World |
P |
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Divine Nature |
Birth |
Creativeness |
S |
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Absolute Power |
Fertility |
Action |
T |
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Absolute Power |
Fertility |
Action |
Z |
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IV |
The |
Will |
Power |
Universal Creative Fluid |
P |
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Form |
Authority |
Adaptation |
S |
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Realization of the Absolute |
Realization of ideas |
Practical Realization |
T |
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Spiritual Realization |
Intellectual Realization |
Physical Realization |
Z |
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V |
The |
Intelligence |
Authority |
Universal Life |
P |
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Knowledge of Good & Evil |
Quintessence |
Religion |
S |
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Regulating Law |
Religion |
Inspiration |
T |
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Regulating Law |
Religion |
Inspiration |
Z |
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VI |
The |
Beauty |
Love |
Universal Attraction |
P |
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Law of Analogy |
Free Will |
Environmental Forces |
S |
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Science of Good & Evil |
Balanced Liberty & Necessity |
Antagonism of Forces |
T |
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Science of Good & Evil |
Balanced Liberty & Necessity |
Antagonism of Forces |
Z |
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VII |
The |
The Father |
Realization |
Astral Light |
P |
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Spirit Dominating Matter |
Victory |
Law of Property |
S |
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Spirit Dominating Matter |
Reign |
Elements Submitting to Man |
T |
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Spirit Dominating Matter |
Reign |
Elements Submitting to Man |
Z |
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VIII |
Justice |
The Mother |
Justice |
Elementary Existence |
P |
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Equilibrium |
Law |
Karma |
S |
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Absolute Justice |
Attraction & Repulsion |
Relative Justice |
T |
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Absolute Justice |
Attraction & Repulsion |
Relative Justice |
Z |
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IX |
The |
Human Love |
Prudence |
Astral Fluid |
P |
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Protectorate |
Initiation |
Prudence |
S |
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Absolute Wisdom |
Prudence |
Circumspection |
T |
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Absolute Wisdom |
Prudence |
Circumspection |
Z |
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X |
Wheel of |
Necessity (Karma) |
Fortune |
Force Potential |
P |
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Testament |
Kabbalah (Ordered System) |
Fortune |
S |
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Good & Bad Fortune |
Governing Authority |
Active Principle |
T |
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Good & Bad Fortune |
Governing Authority |
Active Principle |
Z |
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XI |
Strength |
Liberty |
Courage |
Transitory Life |
P |
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Spiritual Force |
Human Force |
Forces of Nature |
S |
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Principle of all Force |
Moral Strength |
Organic Strength |
T |
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Principle of all Force |
Moral Strength |
Organic Strength |
Z |
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XII |
The |
Charity |
Experience |
Equilibrist Force |
P |
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Messiah |
Sacrifice |
Zodiac |
S |
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The Revealed Law |
Duty |
Sacrifice |
T |
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The Revealed Law |
Duty |
Sacrifice |
Z |
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XIII |
Death |
Law of Transformation |
Death |
Universal Plastic Force |
P |
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Immortality |
Death & Reincarnation |
Transformation of Forces |
S |
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Perpetual Change |
Evolution of the Spirit |
Natural Death |
T |
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Perpetual Change |
Evolution of the Spirit |
Natural Death |
Z |
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XIV |
Temperance |
Involution |
Temperance |
Corporeal Life |
P |
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Synthesis |
Equilibrium |
Reversibility |
S |
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Perpetual Movement |
Combination of ideas |
Combination of Forces |
T |
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Perpetual Movement |
Combination of ideas |
Combination of Forces |
Z |
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XV |
The Devil |
Destiny |
Fate |
Serpent |
P |
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Logic |
Serpent Force |
Fate |
S |
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Predestination |
Mystery |
Fatality |
T |
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Predestination |
Mystery |
Fatality |
Z |
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XVI |
The Tower |
Divine Destruction |
The Fall |
The Visible World |
P |
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Logical Exclusion |
Astral Compulsion |
Physical Destruction |
S |
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Punishment of Pride |
Loss of Spirit |
Ruin |
T |
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Punishment of Pride |
Exhaustion of Mental Effort |
Ruin |
Z |
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XVII |
The Star |
Immortality |
Hope |
Physical Forces |
P |
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Hope |
Intuition |
Natural Divination |
S |
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Immortality |
Interior Light |
Hope |
T |
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Immortality |
Interior Light |
Hope |
Z |
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XVIII |
The Moon |
Chaos |
The Body & its Passions |
Matter |
P |
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Occult Hierarchy |
Hidden Enemies |
Hidden Dangers |
S |
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Abyss of the Infinite |
Hidden Enemies |
Delusion |
T |
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Abyss of the Infinite |
Shadows of the Psyche |
Deception |
Z |
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XiX |
The Sun |
The Elements |
Digestion |
The Mineral Kingdom |
P |
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Fruitful Truth |
Virtue |
Philosopher’s Gold |
S |
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Supreme Heaven |
Sacred Truth |
Happiness |
T |
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Supreme Heaven |
True Happiness |
Sacred Union |
Z |
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XX |
The |
Innate Motion |
Respiration |
The Vegetable Kingdom |
P |
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Attraction to Divinity |
Astral Transformation |
Physical Transformation |
S |
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Eternal Life |
Moral Rebirth |
Renewal |
T |
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Immortallity |
Discernment |
Unexpected Elevation |
Z |
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0 |
The Fool |
Momentary Motion |
Instinct |
The Animal Kingdom |
P |
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Emanation |
Senses |
Matter |
S |
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Eternal Life |
Sensitivity |
Material |
T |
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Eternal Progression |
Devotion to Spiritual Realms |
Devotion to the Great Work |
Z |
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XXI |
The World |
The Totality of God, Man, and the Universe |
P |
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The Highest Absolute |
The Great Operation |
Omnipotence of Nature |
S |
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The Absolute |
Adeptship |
Realization |
T |
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Angelhood |
Adeptship |
Highest Attainment |
Z |
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Copyright
© 2000 Mark Filipas