The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, A.E. Waite
Commentary
by
G.D.O'Bradovich III
"I have no such process to offer, as I think that more may be gained by individual reflection on each of the Trumps Major. I have also not adopted the prevailing attribution of the cards to the Hebrew alphabet--firstly, because it would serve no purpose in an elementary handbook; secondly, because nearly every attribution is wrong. Finally, I have not attempted to rectify the position of the cards in their relation to one another; the Zero therefore appears after No. 20, but I have taken care not to number the World or Universe otherwise than as 21. Wherever it ought to be put, the Zero is an unnumbered card.
In conclusion as to this part, I will give these further indications regarding the Fool, which is the most speaking of all the symbols." |
In an earlier section, Waite states:
"The truth is that the real arrangement of the cards has never transpired."
Waite has given several clues to the nature of the Major Arcana.
1." I think that more may be gained by individual reflection on each of the Trumps Major."
2.He has "not adopted the prevailing attribution of the cards to the Hebrew alphabet... because nearly every attribution is wrong."
3. "the Fool, which is the most speaking of all the symbols."
1. Waite does not state that the individual reflection should be attempted with an Egyptian dictionary. This is an understandable omission in order for people to continue to be deceived concerning the nature of the Tarot.
2. The prevailing exoteric analysis is to filter the Trump Cards through the Hebrew Alphabet. The esoteric analysis is through 22 select Egyptian phonemes from the 25 phonemes. The three unused glyphs will correspond to the 3 Father letters of the Hebrew.
3. The last clue is the "Fool" Card. It is the "most speaking". This can be interpreted as being a common sound in Egyptian.
The quail chick is transliterated with a "w" and has an "oo" sound as in Moon.
To make a plural word in Egyptian, three strokes or a quail chick is added.
"Most speaking" can also refer to the first sounds a baby makes, the "oo" sound.
Once a researcher knows to look in an Egyptian dictionary, the correct correlations are easy to discover, as Waite has altered the images of the Tarot, both by additions and deletions, to point occultists in the correct direction.
The name of the Tarot Card.
The images on the cards.
The name of the Egyptian glyph (what it depicts), i.e "mouth", "leg" et cetera.
Two examples will be sufficient.
In the "Strength" card, the woman holds a lion's mouth. The glyphs for mouth"R" and "lion" ("R" or "L") are the same. This card is the "R" glyph.
In the "Sun" card, the child holds a flag. The flag is symbol for NTR, commonly translated as "God". This card is the "N" glyph.
The "Fool" is the "w", based on the Egyptian Dictionary (the word fool begins with a quail chick) and Waite's clue of "most speaking".
I originally stumbled upon this discovery by noticing that "destruction" and "tower" were two entries apart in Faulkner's dictionary. ( I presume MacGregor Mathers discovered this correlation in a similar manner). Budge's dictionary (2 volumes) just confirmed my initial findings.
With the supposed Hebrew alphabet correlations no longer a viable option, we are prepared to show how I believe the cards are to be arranged.
Waite has kindly exchanged the numbers for "Strength" and "Justice" (Leo and Libra).
With 22 cards, 2 circles of 11 cards (one inside the other) can be formed.
The interior circle will represent the Astrological signs and the outer circle will represent the 7 planets and four elements.
"Strength" represents both Virgo, the virgin and Leo. The clue is that the "Magician" and the woman both have an infinity sign and this corresponds to Mercury.
The "Magician" rules the "Lovers" (Gemini, an air sign).
The "Fool" is element air with "Justice". (Libra, an air sign)
The "Hermit" becomes Saturn ruling "The Star" (Aquarius, an air sign).
"The World" becomes the element earth with "The Devil" (Capricorn).
On one side of the circle the 7 planets from "The Sun" to "The Hermit" and on the other side are
"The truth is that the real arrangement of the cards has never transpired."
Waite has given several clues to the nature of the Major Arcana.
1." I think that more may be gained by individual reflection on each of the Trumps Major."
2.He has "not adopted the prevailing attribution of the cards to the Hebrew alphabet... because nearly every attribution is wrong."
3. "the Fool, which is the most speaking of all the symbols."
1. Waite does not state that the individual reflection should be attempted with an Egyptian dictionary. This is an understandable omission in order for people to continue to be deceived concerning the nature of the Tarot.
2. The prevailing exoteric analysis is to filter the Trump Cards through the Hebrew Alphabet. The esoteric analysis is through 22 select Egyptian phonemes from the 25 phonemes. The three unused glyphs will correspond to the 3 Father letters of the Hebrew.
3. The last clue is the "Fool" Card. It is the "most speaking". This can be interpreted as being a common sound in Egyptian.
The quail chick is transliterated with a "w" and has an "oo" sound as in Moon.
To make a plural word in Egyptian, three strokes or a quail chick is added.
"Most speaking" can also refer to the first sounds a baby makes, the "oo" sound.
Once a researcher knows to look in an Egyptian dictionary, the correct correlations are easy to discover, as Waite has altered the images of the Tarot, both by additions and deletions, to point occultists in the correct direction.
The name of the Tarot Card.
The images on the cards.
The name of the Egyptian glyph (what it depicts), i.e "mouth", "leg" et cetera.
Two examples will be sufficient.
In the "Strength" card, the woman holds a lion's mouth. The glyphs for mouth"R" and "lion" ("R" or "L") are the same. This card is the "R" glyph.
In the "Sun" card, the child holds a flag. The flag is symbol for NTR, commonly translated as "God". This card is the "N" glyph.
The "Fool" is the "w", based on the Egyptian Dictionary (the word fool begins with a quail chick) and Waite's clue of "most speaking".
I originally stumbled upon this discovery by noticing that "destruction" and "tower" were two entries apart in Faulkner's dictionary. ( I presume MacGregor Mathers discovered this correlation in a similar manner). Budge's dictionary (2 volumes) just confirmed my initial findings.
With the supposed Hebrew alphabet correlations no longer a viable option, we are prepared to show how I believe the cards are to be arranged.
Waite has kindly exchanged the numbers for "Strength" and "Justice" (Leo and Libra).
With 22 cards, 2 circles of 11 cards (one inside the other) can be formed.
The interior circle will represent the Astrological signs and the outer circle will represent the 7 planets and four elements.
"Strength" represents both Virgo, the virgin and Leo. The clue is that the "Magician" and the woman both have an infinity sign and this corresponds to Mercury.
The "Magician" rules the "Lovers" (Gemini, an air sign).
The "Fool" is element air with "Justice". (Libra, an air sign)
The "Hermit" becomes Saturn ruling "The Star" (Aquarius, an air sign).
"The World" becomes the element earth with "The Devil" (Capricorn).
On one side of the circle the 7 planets from "The Sun" to "The Hermit" and on the other side are
Justice 11
Death 13 Temperance 14 Devil 15 |
Libra
Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn |
Fool 0
Hanged Man 12 Judgment 20 World 21 |
Air
Water Fire Earth |
The Minor Arcana-Court Cards
With the establishment of the Major Arcana as 22 select Egyptian phonemes, the Court cards must be analyzed in light of Egyptian mythology. Fortunately, the 8 primeval deities are 4 pairs of gods and goddesses.
Goddess
God |
Amaunet
Amun |
Kauket
Kuk |
Hauhet
Huh |
Naunet
Nu |
The Gods will be placed with the four seasons and the Goddesses will be placed with the four cross quarters.
The four sons of Horus protect four canopic jars and the four sons are protected by four goddesses. The traditional cardinal direction is added.
The four sons of Horus protect four canopic jars and the four sons are protected by four goddesses. The traditional cardinal direction is added.
South
North East West |
Imsety
Hapi Duamutef Qeehsenuf |
Human
Baboon Jackal Hawk |
Isis
Nepthys Neith Serket |
The four sons will bisect the four seasons and four cross quarters.
The four protecting goddesses will bisect the four primeval Goddesses and the following season.
The four protecting goddesses will bisect the four primeval Goddesses and the following season.
Minor Arcana-The Pip Cards
The Pip Cards (2 through 10) are flash cards that utilize words (bilateral and trilateral glyphs fully depicted) that describe the 22 Tarot cards .These 36 cards correspond to the decans of the Zodiac, as other commentators have stated.
For example, Fire cards 2, 3 and 4 are the decans of the Emperor and describe what is depicted on the card.
For example, Fire cards 2, 3 and 4 are the decans of the Emperor and describe what is depicted on the card.
Conclusion
The Tarot deck, once one knows not to look to the Hebrew letters, resolves itself in an Egyptian milieu. The first columns list the signs of the Zodiac and the second column lists the ruling planets and elements. The zodiac is in numerical order (4 through 17) and the elements are in numerical order (zero to 21). The ruling planets are not in numerical order, therefore, there may be an esoteric tradition of ruling planets when one places them in numerical order. The reordering of the ruling planets will be left to other researchers.