Mysticism of Ancient India and its links to Tarot

Uma

I really don't know where to put this thread but since this forum is about Kabbalah I think people here might be interested because the chakra system, the tree of life and our soul's evolutionary journey is part of our energy anatomy and has been recognized in some form or another in every mystical tradition that has ever existed, not only the Hebrew tradition. The records of ancient India are much older.

I found a link that explores the link between Indian mysticism and tarot <link removed by moderator>

Are there any more out there?
 

Yygdrasilian

Soixante-neuf

Rule of Nine
∑ of any interval ascending and descending always =9
http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/20/2053/QLS4D00Z/m-escher-ascending-and-descending.jpg

IX ♍ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ♓ XVIII
(Hand ------------> Back of Head)
Cutting the brain in half, down its longitudinal fissure, the corpus collosum may be observed to resemble a Hand reaching toward the back of the Head. In keeping with the marriage of opposites, this neuro-physiological feature of Human consciousness is the interface between our left and right hemispheres (dianoia+noesis), and also our brain’s largest inter-connective pathway.
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/Split_Brain/brmodelc.gif
http://disenchanted.com/dis/lookup.html?node=1852


. . . . . . 9♃♓---9☽♐
. . . . cups ~ ~wands
. . 9 ♂♊ ~ ~ ~ ~ 9♀♍
swords ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ disks
♍ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ♓ 6+6+6
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
./ 6☉♏] . . . . . . ./ 6 ☽♉ ]
/ -cups-] . . .☉. . / disks- ] 1☉1 Invictus: ☉♓ Age of Pisces
.[ ----- ] . . . . . . . [ ----- ]
.[ 6 ♃♌ ] . . .♃ . . . [ 6☿♒ ] ♃☿ Realms&Exiles: diagram obtaining ɸ from hEYEmen
.[wands] . . . . . . . [swords] 1☉1 Invictus: ♃♍ = corpus callosum
.[ ----- ] . . . ☿ . . . [ ----- ]
[- VI ♊ -] . . . . . . [- XV ♑ -]
♍: Naturally, upon entering the House, One might expect a firm handshake. And, were it not for the practical value in considering the corpus callosum from a number of perspectives, such greetings would be in order:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9cSuXLlOtA <---2’ 26”

Hamsa हंस
-Sanskrit word meaning Goose, or Swan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamsa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_and_Pollux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simonides_of_Ceos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_memory

>< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXBCdt5IPg
 

Lleminawc

So I just clicked on that link and Firefox said "tarotindia" is a "Reported Attack Site". Just thought I'd share that.
 

Grigori

Moderator Note

Lleminawc said:
So I just clicked on that link and Firefox said "tarotindia" is a "Reported Attack Site". Just thought I'd share that.

Thanks Lleminac, I've removed the link to that website from your post and Uma's opening post. I'm not sure what is best to do in this instance to will get some advice and get back to this thread shortly.

In the meantime please do share other links everyone :)

Similia
 

Wizardiaoan

By my theory of the Tarot, I treat it as a sequential alphabet, and then align the Hebrew and Devanagari alphabets by place value (as well as all alphabets). The important thing is to arrive at the correct alphabet order, but in the case of Devanagari and its like, it is correct up to M = 25 = 5.

The importance of this is that Devanagari and Sanskrit can be equated tarotically via place value I think.

Ka = Air
Kha = Mercury, etc.

The entire alphabet really vibrates T = 11 = Jupiter I find, as the sickle that cuts attachment. It is Buddhistic in this way (for those into Katapayadi, note BuDDha = 93).

P.S. I'm going to give my chakra correlations in the "chakras and the tree of life" thread if I can find it.

Kha as Mercury is the house of Bet, note the hole and cavity in the letter.

Sanskrit has 35 letters counting Ksha and Lla. I think the Tarot keys extend past 22. I have attributed them, but that is probably another post or thread.
 

Uma

musings

Wizardiaoan - much thanks and looking forward to your link.

In the meantime I found this http://www.publicsafety.net/wand.htm which talks about the Kabbalistic Tree of Life as a representation of the Caduseus.

Indian mysticism speaks of the subtle energy system of the human body (which is also mirrored in the universe - as macrocosm of our microcosm...the magician's as above so below). There are seven important chakras involved in involution (life force descending from spirit to matter) and evolution (life force ascending back into reabsorption by its source). We breathe through two nostrils which have subtle energy channels called Ida and Pingala (left and right) - these being represented by the two serpents of the Caduceus and the two sides of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Spiritual evolution begins when the life force (Kundalini) is awakened from the root chakra and begins to travel up the central channel or sushumna.

It only makes sense to me that everything in the universe is created and reabsorbed by this same process. There are many ways to map it out and conceptualize it.

Even when we reduce the Tree of Life to a Pythagorean formula of numbers, numbers are just about vibrations/frequencies...which is energy, life force... It's the same story again in another perspective.

I just can't understand why western mysticism is so divorced from eastern mysticism... The experience of chakras and life force energies and Kundalini awakenings is universal. It's a science that belongs to all.
 

Uma

Ashvatta (Indian Tree of Life)

From The Bhahagavad Gita: The world of matter can be likened to a fig tree...(and other interesting quotes):

http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7101gita.html

And Blavatsky says upfront that all these codes and secrets (which went into the making of Tarot) are about an experience which is accessible to all:

"No new philosophy is set up in the The Secret Doctrine, only the hidden meaning of some of the religious allegories of antiquity is given, light being thrown on these by the esoteric sciences, and the common source is pointed out, whence all the world-religions and philosophies have sprung. Its chief attempt is to show, that however divergent the respective doctrines and systems of old may seem on their external or objective side, the agreement between all becomes perfect, so soon as the esoteric or inner side of these beliefs and their symbology is examined and a careful comparison made. It is also maintained that its doctrines and sciences, which form an integral cycle of universal cosmic facts and metaphysical axioms and truths, represent a complete and unbroken system; and that he who is brave and persevering enough, ready to crush the animal in himself, and forgetting the human self, sacrifices it to his Higher Ego, can always find his way to become initiated into these mysteries. This is all the Secret Doctrine claims. Are not a few facts and self-evident truths, found in these volumes, truths already proved practically to some, better than the most ingenious "working" hypotheses, liable to be upset any day, than the unexplainable mysteries of religious dogmas, or the most seemingly profound philosophical speculations?... No "philosopher" who views the spiritual realm as a mere figment of superstition, and regards man's mental perceptions as simply the result of the organization of the brain, can ever be worthy of that name."
—H. P. Blavatsky
 

Wizardiaoan

Hi Uma,

Thanks for that link, the world tree does seem to be a universal symbol of self. However, I do think the Tetractys and the Tree of Life with their ten spheres really map the magickal psyche very well (and since reality originates from psyche, the universe as well).

I agree with you that the West needs to absorb the Eastern wisdom, and vice-versa too. Recall though that the East really only opened up to the West from the mid 1800's. With the general unpopularity of creative spirituality (and the usual resistance of tradition to change), we are only now really experiencing the open possibility of complete homogeneity of doctrine.

Like you, I have embraced nearly all traditions, seeing them as enriching my perspective and appreciation of the world's spiritual creative expression. One thing that has allowed me to appreciate diverse cultures widely is their mystical alphabets, which I align to the Tarot just as Hebrew by serial place value, again once you can posit assuredly their correct alphabet orders.

As far as the chakras and the Tree of Life's comparison, I explain mine here:

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=51550&page=2

I realize the similarity of depicting the middle pillar as sushumna and the left and right as ida and pingala, as well as kind of overlaying the two schemas upon each other. I also note Chokmah and Binah in the past were posited to symbolize the right and left brain (which is why some people ascribe both to Ajna). I take a different approach. I base my correlations upon number, which is at the heart of psyche and reality.

Rubedo (Yechidah, Chiah, Neshamah):
1. SAHASRARA KETHER-MERCURY
2. AJNA CHOCKMAH-MOON
3. VISHUDDHA BINAH-VENUS
Albedo (Ruach):
4. ANAHATA CHESED-JUPITER
5. MANIPURA GEBURAH-MARS
6. SWADHISTHANA TIPHARETH-SUN
Nigredo (Nephesh):
7. MULADHARA NETZACH, HOD, YESOD, MALKUTH-SATURN

One of the core things to note is the division between 3 and 4 in both schemas, as this is the macrocosm and microcosm, where the mysterious abyss lies at their intersection. On the Tree this is Binah and Chesed, the separation between the supernal triad and the rest of the Tree. In the chakras, this is Vishuddha and Anahata, the separation of the head and neck from the torso. Chesed as Jupiter is Anahata, the Heart chakra I believe. Many schemas that attempt to overlay the two patterns resort to putting Vishuddha in Daath, which I think is a mistake, it is clearly Binah residing in its creative purity above the abyss.

I view the Tetractys, the Tree of Life, the Chakra schema, and the Tarot (which I feel is based serially upon the alphabet symbolism of Hebrew) as the four great initiatory models. Note then that in the chakra schema we have 34 consonants, 1-12 in Anahata and 13-22 in Manipura. This is where Hebrew ends with its 22 letters. The chakra schema actually posits at least 34 Tarot keys! This is a fact rarely perceived.
 

Uma

Wizardiaoan said:
Many schemas that attempt to overlay the two patterns resort to putting Vishuddha in Daath, which I think is a mistake, it is clearly Binah residing in its creative purity above the abyss.

Wow - Wizardiaoan...lots to think about...

I have just enough time now to comment on this one (I'd like to draw out a chart to make your comparisons visual and I'll post it here). Vishuddha, the throat chakra is about both communication AND silence. We speak through it and we also connect to the deep silence of the Source through it. When we listen to that space of silence, insight comes. We can also speak from silence, meaning channeling the Source (wisdom) through the throat.

The element associated with Vishuddha is ether or akash (also known as "space") - so people who can access the akashic records (the collective field of universal mind from all times and spaces) for information are using the Vishudda to do so. It may manifest as visions (which is the domain of Ajna/brow chakra) but Vishudda/throat chakra is also involved. Chakra functions do overlap.

Also the abyss or Source or zero point field from which all emanation derives is connected to all the chakras.

The account of creation in Genesis - that the world was created in 6 days is really a metaphor or code of the process of (any) creation taking 6 stages passing from the brow chakra down to the root chakra.

I agree east can learn from west as well as west can learn from east. From my point of view, everybody has a piece of a much larger puzzle.