Tarot's Internal Structure(s)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jmd	10 Aug 2003
I was reminded by another member of the lemniscatory way in which the Major Arcana may be placed, X and XXI crossing one another: ....IIII.V... III........VI II.........VII I..........VIII F.........VIIII ....XXI/X.... XI..........XX XII.......XVIIII XIII.......XVIII XIIII......XVII ....XV.XVI... This pattern yields quite wonderful reflections as cards are considered in connection with others (it is mentioned in Alfred Douglas's The Tarot). __________ Another and different reflections result from considering the cards in pairs, what is below is like what is above: XI; XII; XIII; XIIII; XV; XVI; XVII; XVIII; XVIIII; XX; XXI .I; ..II; ..III; ..IIII; ..V; ..VI; ..VII; .VIII; ..VIIII; ..X; ..F. __________ Yet a third is by placing the cards in three superimposed sequences of seven cards, the Fool atop (as found in numerous books which begin with the Waite/Colman-Smith deck. __________ A fourth is also mentioned earlier by Wirth, which also pairs the cards, but in a flattened elliptical form. __________ I though it may be useful to take some time to reflect on these various connections, for cards do not, of course, occur in isolation in their design, and certain elements link according to sometimes these more difficult to discern connections.

Macavity	10 Aug 2003
I think some of these symmetry ideas are of great interest. But a lot of the Tarot "math(s)" seems to have a deal in common with symmetries, permutations... I suppose the ultimate exploration is Tony Smith's stuff though I don't (and never did) know enough to comment! ;) I do play around with "rows of seven" and have also been intrigued by some who suggest (even) rows of nine - In line with Hebrew alphabet/numbers being to base ten? Yes, nine doesn't go into twenty one, and we digress, but... :D These loops also remind me of the diagrams to justify the "Crowley Swap" (qv) in the Book of Thoth. (Emperor/Star wrt. Tzaddi/Heh) There too, I get the impression Mr. C. thought of the majors in terms of a loop and then swapped cards about some (rotation) symmetry point? I recall a loop is indeed a prerequisite to undertanding (the vague?) reasonings behind this! }) I am also impressed by some of the symmetries inferred in Rune pairings "first with last" etc. (i.e. across a circle?) as well as sequential pairs, vertical relationships etc. So, why not with Tarot too? I don't know whether these are "built-in" to runes, any more than some of this is (historically) built in to tarot? Intriguing, nevertheless. Macavity

Kiama	10 Aug 2003
Thanks for posting this JMD: I enjoy explorning different ways to gain insight into tha cards, and any excuse to lay them out on the floor in pretty patterns is a good excuse! The lemniscate one you posted actually led me to re-confirm some ideas I had come across whilst looking at certain cards a few days ago: The Magician and Strength, for instance. Macavity: I believe the reason why Crowley changed the Star and Emperor was because of something written in the Book of the Law: "Tzaddi is not the star.". Kiama

catti	10 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jmd I was reminded by another member of the lemniscatory way in which the Major Arcana may be placed, X and XXI crossing one another: ....IIII.V... III........VI II.........VII I..........VIII F.........VIIII ....XXI/X.... XI..........XX XII.......XVIIII XIII.......XVIII XIIII......XVII ....XV.XVI... This pattern yields quite wonderful reflections as cards are considered in connection with others (it is mentioned in Alfred Douglas's The Tarot ). __________ . JMD thank you so much for posting that.....years ago i layed my cards out and studied them like that, back when i had a Dali deck and was to young to understand it or appreciate its value ( it was given to me!) and in the subsequent waxing and waning of my interest with tarot and different decks i about the pattern i value this forum so much...there are no occult used/or new book stores of any sort in my city and it is the largest on this side of the island..in other words without this forum it could have been another 10 years until i remembered this layout! catti

The Tarot's Internal Structure(s) thread was originally posted on 10 Aug 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.