Knapp-Hall Tarot symbols

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

felicityk	25 Sep 2003
This is a prelude to some material I will try to post later tonight. Diana and I were discussing the Knapp-Hall Tarot over on the Trading forum, and the subject of the symbols on the cards came up. These are not explained in the LWB (nor in Manly Hall's other writings, apparently), but Dummett and Decker's book A History of the Occult Tarot has a chapter on Hall and Knapp and delves into some of the background of the deck. I will be posting the purported meanings of the symbols according to this chapter. Felicity

felicityk	25 Sep 2003
This information comes from A History of the Occult Tarot by Ronald Decker and Michael Dummett, pp 243-244. The authors state that the "meditation symbols" included on the Major Arcana derive from two works by Harriette and F. Homer Curtiss: The Key to the Universe (1915), covering trumps 1-10, and The Key of Destiny (1919), covering the remaining trumps and The Fool. In the Knapp-Hall deck, The Fool has no meditation symbol. The symbols on 1-10 are, for the most part, simply representations of the number of the trump. Where there is an additional factor, I include the relevant quote from Decker and Dummett. 1 Le Bateleur: Crown "Hall's source is in a Cabalistic passage: the number 1 is called 'Crown'." 2 La Papesse: TWO crowns, one "darker and inverted" (Duality) 3 L'Imperatrice: TRIangle 4 L'Empereur: FOUR eyes 5 Le Pape: FIVE-pointed star 6 L'Amouraux: SIX-pointed star 7 Le Chariot: SEVEN stars (Pleiades) 8 La Justice: Hourglass "The Curtisses view 8 as underlying certain time-cycles, so its symbol can be an hourglass, which Hall accordingly adds to the eighth trump." 9 L'Ermite: Five-pointed star within a square (NINE vertices) 10 La Roue de Fortune: Tetractys (pyramid of TEN dots) I will continue with the rest of the trumps in my next post.

felicityk	25 Sep 2003
For trumps 11-21, the meanings according to the Curtisses are given in a table on p 244 of Decker and Dummett's book. I have included these meanings in quotes below (or a longer quote from the text, if present). 11 La Force: Swan "In The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Hall mentions that the swan is a symbol of initiation. This agrees with the Curtisses, who refer to the number 11 as 'the initiate'." 12 Le Pendu: cross surmounting triangle "Eliphas Levi had described the posture of the Hanged Man as an inverted triangle (formed by the head and elbows) surmounted by a cross (formed by the crossed legs). Levi saw this glyph as symbolising 'The Great Work', an alchemical term taken as a metaphor for personal transformation." 13 La Mort: triangle and square conjoined "Trinity producing elements" 14 La Temperance: Yin-Yang "As above, so below" 15 Le Diable: YHVH inverted "Satanus est Deus Inversus" 16 Le Feu du Ciel: Fist holding lightning "Divine Light" 17 Les Etoiles: craftman's square "Foundation of Excellence" 18 La Lune: flame in chalice "Light (reflected within)" 19 Le Soleil: Ankh "Life-force" 20 Le Judgment: flower growing from skull "From [the curtisses'] discussion of the number 20, Hall seized upon a casual allusion to 'flower or fruit' to decorate Le Judgment." 21/22 Le Monde: cross within circle "Circle of perfection and Tau-cross of spiritual power" I will return at a later date with the Minors.

Diana	26 Sep 2003
Oh this is wonderful. Can't thank you enough!

felicityk	29 Sep 2003
The following information comes from pp 242-243 of Decker and Dummett's book. A table on p 243 describes the symbol on each card and gives the meaning "derived from [hall's] encyclopedia", by which I think they mean The Secret Teachings of All Ages. In addition, the symbols are enclosed by (or intertwined with) a different shape for each suit. Scepters: Triangle (Emanation) 1 Encircled Dot = Crown 2 Coiled Snake = Wisdom 3 Lamp = Understanding 4 Cross = Mercy 5 Law Tablets = Justice 6 Sun Disc = Grace 7 Palm Frond = Victory 8 Peacock Plume = Glory 9 Column = Foundation 10 Key = Kingdom Swords: Ankh (Creation) 1 Wings = Metatron 2 Trumpet = Herald 3 Radiant Eye = Contemplation 4 Scales = Justice 5 Scourge = Severity 6 Twin Ankhs = Likeness 7 Rose = Grace 8 Caduceus = Healing 9 Crescent = Man-God 10 Brazen Serpent = Messiah Cups: Vesica Piscis* (Formation) 1 Crown = Holy Ones 2 Eye of Ra = Revolving Ones 3 Cabalistic H = Mighty Ones 4 Cut Diamond = Brilliant Ones 5 Fire/Snake = Fiery Ones 6 Monarch = Kings 7 Battle Axe = The Gods 8 Disc/4 Wings = Sons of God 9 Disc/2 Wings = Seat of the Sons 10 Soul Glyph = Souls of the Just Pentacles: Cube (Manifestation) 1 Lemniscate = Infinity 2 Zodiac 3 Saturn 4 Jupiter 5 Mars 6 Sun 7 Venus 8 Mercury 9 Moon 10 Glyph = Four Elements Strangely, the Court cards are not covered in this chapter, but I will attempt a discussion of them in a future post. * a vesica piscis is, according to the text, a "fish bladder", symbolized by a "mandorla", whatever that means :)

felicityk	30 Sep 2003
What is most unusual about the Court cards is that the Kings all bear the same symbol (each within the appropriate shape for their suit) as do the Queens, Warriors (Knights), and Squires (Pages) except for in the suit of Cups, where the Pages, Knights, and Queens have unique symbols (the Kings are still the same). Scepters/Swords/Pentacles: King: Hebrew letter Yod* Queen: Vesica Piscis Warrior: Ankh Squire: Cube Cups: King: see above Queen: Flower (Rose?) Warrior: Swastika Squire: Encircled Dot Note that the symbols assigned to Queen, Warrior, and Squire in three of the suits correspond to the shapes on the suits of Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, respectively. We know from the discussion of the suits above that these represent Formation, Creation, and Manifestation. The Encircled Dot, according to the Ace of Scepters, means "crown". The Flower might be associated with the Rose on the Seven of Swords, representing "grace". I won't speculate on the meaning of the Swastika. I know what it means to me, although I understand it meant something else before the Nazis co-opted it. Thus ends my discussion of the additional symbols featured on the Knapp-Hall Tarot cards. :) * I think it's Yod; it looks the same as the letter on Trump 10. This deck follows Oswald Wirth's system of Hebrew letter correspondence (Trump 1 = Aleph, Fool = Shin) rather than Waite's.

Diana	01 Oct 2003
This is like a taste of heaven. :)

Cerulean	20 Oct 2003
1. His book called The Tarot: An Essay by Manly P. Hall, reproduced by the Philosophical Research Society--I got this on Amazon.com-- lists in general references to the Tarocchi of Mantegna and includes black and white line drawings of the Mantegna and the Knapp Hall. There are bits and pieces, but no direct symbol reference. I can see the authors Knapp and Hall seem to favor a formal structure that is suppose to also be helpful to the student to ask questions in meditation, similar to koans or symbolic paintings of Asian cultures. In the English language booklet put out by U.S. Games, Manly P. Hall says the basis of the system is the Mandala method of the Buddhist and eastern philosophies...then goes on to say these symbols will be interpreted personally by the inner resources of their personal degree of understanding and the intuition...the meditation designs are represented on four levels: first and most elaborate depicte deities or circumstances in full detail and color. second, the the mandala substutes attributes of the dieties for the beings themself. For instance, Quan Yin is pictured as a lotus flower and the historical Buddha is the eight-spoked wheel of the law. third, the further refinement is the letter of the Sakskrit alphabet with some embellishment. In the fourth level, the disciple has attained the design in his heart. Generally, on the major trumps, the symbols are emblazoned on shileds such that appear in heraldry. The person asks, "What does a shield mean to me and what characteristics or qualities can protect me?" In the swords, the added emblems have no borders. but are all based on the Egyptian cruz anata, the key of life, which generally merges with the caduceus. In the cups, the the significant symbols are the visica piscis, an aura often associated with the Virgin Mary, in the East, with Quan Yin, the Lady of Mercy. In the batons, the meditation symbols are all placed in triangles and on the ace, an additional device is present which proides a aid in interpretation to the design. In the pentacles, all symbols are within squares and include the symbols of the planets. It would be proper to inquire why the planets are associated with the emblems of coinage. There is a difference of opinion in placement of Le Fou, the Fool. In the Pythagorean system, the zero comes before the one... the figure itself obviously represents the know nothing, a candidate seeking initiation in the mysterious labyrinth of the tarot deck. JA Knapps notes follow

Cerulean	20 Oct 2003
Divination with Tarot Cards Second edition, 1936, revised 1985. Knapp suggests to remember meanings in the majors: Earnest and sincere students, 1 and 2 through sincere Action and Efforts, 3, and the exercise of the Will, 4, with inspiration, 5, and Loving Motive, 6, wil Triumph, 7, with all Justice, 8, and Prudence, 9, over all ill Fortune and Destiny, 10, with Strength and Fortitude 11, and acts of Self Sacrifice, 12, will ultimately conquer Death, 13,. Also the use of Temperance and Moderation, 14, in all things, will banish all Evil, 15, Throught the gloom of Ruin and Deception, 16, will shine the bright Star of Hope, 17, and all secret Enemies and Dangers will be overcome, 18, and true Happiness will be their Reward, 19, A complete change of Position, 20 will assure Success in the Attainment of all that is God 21, Ignorant and Contrary Actions are pursued only by the Foolish, 0. Majors for Divination 1. Juggler, Male Inquirer 2. High Priestess, Female Inquirer 3. Empress, Action, Initiative 4. Emporer, Will 5. Pope, Inspiration 6. Lovers, Love 7. Chariot, Triumph, Protection 8. Justice signifies Justice 9. Hermit signifies Prudence 10. Wheel of Fortune signifies Fortune, Destiny 11. Strength, is Strength, Fortitude 12. Hanged Man, Trials, Sacrifices 13. Death, is Death, Change 14. Temperance, signifies Temperance, Moderation, Economy 15. Devil, signifies Great Force, Illness 16,. Lightning STruck Tower signifies Ruin, Deception 17. Stars signfies hope 18. Moon signfies secret enemies, danger 19 Sun signifies Happiness, Lucky Marriage 20. Judgment signfies Changed Position 21 The Universe signfies Assured Success 0 The Foolish Man-inconsiderate actions, Madness.

Cerulean	20 Oct 2003
Unfortunately, the delicious integration of Asian and other symbolism and discussion of divination starts becoming a more typical traditional, almost Etteilla style system in the minors. I want to pass over, but mention the booklet actually likens intuition to a 'feminine' strength----shades of the 19th and 20th century, pshaw and shame! Briefly, Sceptres are Enterprise and Glory, Cups are love and Happiness, Swords are Hatreds and Misfortune and Pentacles are monetary and material interest. Enterprise, Love, Hatred and Fortune are the four great principles. The courts...man represents the creator, one who undertakes enterprises. The woman characterises love. THe Knight, the young man, conflict, rivalry, hatred, etc. The child (Knave) symbolizes the absolute neuter which is affected by the adjacent cards. Man, woman, young man and child are the symbols to the family as the four great principles are applied to all humanity , to know in one case is to known in the other. The first is positive, the second is negative, the thirds is the opposition between the two, the fourth is the absolute neuter and these elements are symbolized by the four picture cards in each suit. The two colors red and black signify the dark and fair complexions of humanity. Scepters and swords represent dark people, the cups and pentacles fair people. Scepters and cups represent good and swords and pentacles represent the bad.... While there is a bit of updating later in the booklet, mentioning A.E. Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot and DeLou Veil, the traditional meanings where the Queen of Swords is a widow or false woman is still noted... I think the above has some dated material and also innovative ideas as well... On the plus side, below... Some of the spreads suggested talk about the Ages of Man (Childhood, Youth, Maturity and Old Age) and DeLou Vail's walk through the majors is very good, almost universal...so if one is practising different forms of reading, the information might be historically of value or give one a taste of a mix of archiac and somewhat innovative ideas...

felicityk	12 Jul 2004
I'm bumping up this thread because I just got a new acquisition. It's not an original 1929 version of this deck, but it's the next best thing: a reprint made by the original publisher (Philosophical Research Society) in 1981, prior to the US Games 1985 release. As discussed in this article from Tarot Passages, the colors on the original deck are far more vivid, and the reprint I just obtained is noticeably better-looking than my US Games version. I wish I had a scanner, though I have a feeling scans wouldn't fully convey the difference. I am very pleased, and no longer feel the need to go after the rare and pricey 1929 printing. :) Felicity

Cerulean	13 Jul 2004
One not put out by U.S. Games? Thanks. Cerulean

felicityk	13 Jul 2004
Yes, this reprint is from the original publisher. The artwork is a bit muddy in places, but it doesn't have the pixelated "Sunday comics" look of the US Games edition. A vast improvement IMHO. Here is a link to the eBay auction where you can see the box (all white) and card backs (non-reversible, but this isn't an issue for me). Felicity

Fulgour	02 Aug 2004
I just received The Knapp Hall Tarot ('85) and am now expecting Manly P. Hall's book to arrive from PRS any day. My strongest impression so far is to imagine someone buying this deck back in the 30s and beginning their journey thus equipped. We have so much variety today, but there was a time when such things were ever so rare. Think of there being nothing but this one deck and its very mysterious little white book. From there, given an energetic enthusiasm, someone could set off to discover the vasty all.

The Knapp-Hall Tarot symbols thread was originally posted on 25 Sep 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.