The Tarot of Eli, LLC-Major Arcana: New Orleans Voodoo Tarot-Key 17-Z'étoile & Thoth Tarot-ATU 17-The Star

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The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot- Z'étoile (A clear road) represents the fact that "every man and woman is a star" (Crowley, 1938). The Voodooist believes that fate upon fate, destiny upon destiny revolve across the Heavens as distant pinpoints of light. As above, so below, also states that every man and woman is a star. Truth be told, all of us are built out of the evolutionary knowledge of Light. Self is "light that is aware of itself". Each of us are constructed of Photons...particles that create light. Hence, the Divine Creative of our Milky Way Galaxy, it the Giant Photon Sun Core (Phallus) that spins around the giant black hole (Womb) that the many stars, and planets of this galaxy spin around and with. Our Souls are "Solar Selves", evolved long before physical worlds contributed organic living forms advanced enough for the "I AM" to use as Self-Awareness.

Snapping between the neurons of our brains, hearts, and gut, are the bio-photons that the Real You is. You are photonic energy, i.e., Light/Spirit. You power the body, as an Avatar. Hence, the flesh is an illusion and/or mask that you operate and wear in the name of the Creator....I AM. For with said body, you are an intimate creative mind, who can directly manipulate "crystalline light"/physical matter , in the "name of god"-I AM-without having to wait for the Universal Collective Unconscious to incorporate said knowledge, that may take millions of years. Your "little star" is your Soul/ Solar Psyche, and therefore, is the one who decides the bodies/self-conscious fate and/or destiny. As the Taoist say: "If it is here, it is there. If it is not here, it is not there. For all that is there is here and all that is here is there"... which is another way to say "As above, so below". So just as electricity can carry data, you are photons who carry the data you call "self". Data understood becomes information...in-form-ation. Hence, data understood becomes form in this universe. Therefore, here on the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot Key 17, the reference is not so much to the physical entity that roams the distant skies, but to the interplay between the light cast by a particular star and the light emitted by the "Crown chakra"-your personal zone of photon power-situated at the top of the physical body's head.

The link between the light/Photons of a star and the light/photons that emanates from the top of the head appears as a tube of microwave frequencies or tunnel (not unlike a dark hole, complete with event horizon) which allows direct communication with the Solar Soul, our reservoir of destiny.

Written By:

• The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Event horizon, boundary marking the limits of a black hole. At the event horizon, the escape velocity is equal to the speed of light. Since general relativity states that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, nothing inside the event horizon can ever cross the boundary and escape beyond it, including light. Thus, nothing that enters a black hole can get out or can be observed from outside the event horizon. Likewise, any radiation generated inside the horizon can never escape beyond it. For a nonrotating black hole, the Schwarzschild radius delimits a spherical event horizon. Rotating black holes have distorted, nonspherical event horizons. Since the event horizon is not a material surface but rather merely a mathematically defined demarcation boundary, nothing prevents matter or radiation from entering a black hole, only from exiting one. Though black holes themselves may not radiate energy, electromagnetic radiation and matter particles may be radiated from just outside the event horizon via Hawking radiation.

At the end of a black hole is what quantum physicists call a "white hole", which goes a long way in explaining the near death definition of "... I entered a dark tunnel with a white light appearing in the distance"...the perfect explanation of our individual personality's (self-conscious) travel into the Abyssal womb/Dark Hole and the exit into the White Light. White light being the perfect balanced weight of all colors that are spun together by the extreme magnetic/gravitational pull of the "Dark Hole". Hence, the Ace of Cups, Thoth Card, showing White light filling the Womb and/or "Holy Grail"-the Divine Creative's Magnetic Womb and/or the white light spiraling around and in the Star Egg (orphic egg) of the New Orleans Voodoo- Key 17 Card.

In Voodoo practice the star is visualized as a calabash, or large hollow gourd, containing our destiny. The Voodooist believes that the "Dark Night of the Soul", a phrase coined by St. John of the Cross, occurs when the sense of connection with our star/soul is lost. One feels that they are cut off from their destiny (seeking purpose). The road/path seems blocked. After much effort to break through is exhausted and failure is deeply felt, all is dragged into repetition, devoid of result. Hence, if the Z'étoile is position in a Celtic Cross reading as a Crossing card, this dark night can be expected by the querent. This "dark night" will very often yield benefits, if viewed as a form of communication between the Soul and the self-conscious. Here one can have a "hindsight" view of where the blockages lie, and see if they leave a trail leading back to actions or lack of action, that have offended the Spirit and/or Ancestors. Hence, a sacrifice or change of action is called for.

Therefore, the aspect of the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot Card, is that of a babe in an egg, suching his or her thumb as the egg floats in the black hole and/or the Womb as streamers of light careen around into the darkness. These steamers are "frequencies of light" that are connected to the Crown Chakra between the Star/Soul and the head.

In Divination the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot- Key 17- Z'étoile implies:

• Coming to terms with one's fate and obtaining clear sight and the strength this action brings.
• Dedication to one's life work. 
• The road/path is clear. 
• The Star "Within".

The Thoth-ATU 17- The Star, is the Path of Tzaddi (Tzadde) that connects the Sephiroth Netzach (Victory) to the Sephiroth Yesod (The Foundation). This is the path called the Natural Intelligence, by Dr.Paul Foster Case, founder of B.O.T.A., in his instructional text, Thirty Two Paths to Wisdom; natural intelligence because it is the Path of proper approach to the Divine Energy inherent in each person. It is the Natural Intelligence, as it represents the proper use of Imagination----which is the Divine "image maker" and/or Womb; many people call this state of intelligence the Creator.

The meaning of the Hebrew word, Tzaddi, is Fish hook, implying meditation, a process inseparable from the proper use of imagination. Once we are hooked on an idea, we focus energy (emotion), and with proper diligent software running our brain, the body gets it done. The physical vehicle, is a power-tool of Imagination and as we all know, with computer run power tools, garbage programing in means, garbage production- out.

The perspicacious may note that the Hebrew Letter shown on the ATU 17-The Star is the letter Heh and not Tzaddi. As shown on the above illustration of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, Heh is the proper path of the Emperor, and Tzaddi, which is mistakenly place on the Emperor card is properly the path of the Star. This confusion is because of Crowley's error (that most Qabalists agree) of confusing the fiery aspect of the Garden of Eden, which relates to the Emperor and Higher Self -Solar Soul, while the Star is the "lower Eden" of personality and/or self-conscious that is "hooked" to the Higher Self. Plus, sight, is attributed to Heh, this is self-observation of the One. It is the first sensory function of "I", and therefore, the first Path to which a sensory function is attributed in the Qabalistic Text-the Sepher Yetzirah, suggesting that sigh is the first of the senses as Aries if the first sequence in the Zodiac. Aries is attributed to the Emperor card. The Emperor/Aries emerges directly from Chokmah-The Sphere of the Zodiac.

All this may be too much for the culturally programed personality to absorb, but the fact is, you were imagined into being by what we now call the Collective Unconscious, or Universal Collective Unconsciousness/ the Photon Sun Core of our galaxy. So for the sake of simplicity, I'll call it the Divine Intelligence.

In the terms of the Hebrew letter, Tzaddi- fish hook, the implication is that there is a merging of two streams of conscious energy, for something is put-in rather than taken out. Here the individual consciousness is attached to the Greater Conscious. In the Tarot/Qabalah, Water is the symbol used for consciousness, making the analogy of the fish hook being put in, pertinent as well.

It helps to understand that we are not a brain, nor any kind of separate physical device. We are a ternary Self-concept that is the Transmitter, the Transmitted and the Receiver is the Brain. Just as a Radio Transmitter (in our case-Spirit) transmits frequency "everywhere but nowhere" at the same time and would be unheard without a radio receiver so it is with the frequencies of Spiral-Photon Energy (Spirit) that would be unheard without a physical vehicle tuned to that infinite frequency. In this scenario, Spirit is the ONE energy of the Solar Core, and the individual frequencies would be Soul Stations while the human vessel would be the receiving radio controlled- bio-photon-robotic -power tool.

In quantum physics, an entity is a point in time which to a timeless energy frequency, is extremely necessary for self-awareness. Points in time are necessary for a discriminating creator, for how do you know what you do and what you affect, when you have no way of examining the action? To gather Knowledge, the mind needs an intellectual gathering place---a place in time, i.e. a point. A point of a pen is also what authors need to write into manifestation their thoughts That pen gives them a Point in which to concentrate their thoughts so that they can be carefully examined, corrected and produced. Because of that point and the flow of ink (in physics this would be light) they can manifest those thoughts in time/space. Data- Points begin the transformation of energy into images.

The material that the Divine Consciousness deals in is "Thought", something we know exists but are unable to explain its source. It is our "first matter", and in Alchemy and Western Qabalah, the first matter-thought is often symbolized as a fish. This concept allows me to take the next quantum leap in examination. Theoretically if we describe the Ocean, as the womb of earth life, (Imagination is the Womb of idea) we can see that to the Ocean, it is everywhere and nowhere at the same time, for it has no sense of self. However, the fish is made of Ocean and its elements and must exist in the Ocean as a "part of Oceanic imagination"; a self-image, if you will, of the Ocean itself. And as Spirit (I AM) must with also create us, from itself, to be itself, and therefore, the Ocean of Light flows through the crystallized self -image (Me-fish) that it has imagined into existence. This gives the Light that is Life, power, which means the ability to do work. Now I know this is simplistic as an explanation can get, but it should help you in understanding why you have a physical vehicle, and why it is most sacred to Spirit!

The “I AM” (Imagination) denotes existence, the “me” establishes it as a sensual point in time, i.e. a place to do work.

The Path of the Natural Intelligence is the Path of the raw forces attributed to Netzach (Victory). To a Qabalist these natural forces are called the Elohim (Gods of Netzach) and are synonymous with nature itself. Moreover, the number of The Star, is 17 and when added together (1+7=8) seventeen becomes 8 which is key 8-Adjustment, which represents conscious control over the Kundalini (Lion-Serpent) whose description is both solar (lion is the symbol of the Sun) and sexual (serpentine force). As I have stated before, the Kundalini is coiled in the individual lower spine, which is the Foundation of earth manifestation. Kundalini is a feminine -Transformative aspect of the Star within. It gives birth to new abilities of magic.

To many, sex-energy or Kundalini is a word of sin filled lust and emotional turmoil:

However, the Western initiate knows as we encounter the sexual energy of Stars in ourselves, we are approaching the Greater Mysteries of Tiphareth, The Solar Logos, the central star of our existence. Of course, “if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen" .Thus, the Path of Tzaddi-The Star is important to the neophyte as it is a very powerful Path which points out the proper way to approach the Kundalini...The Divine Spiral Energy inherent in all of us should be approached by ritual Tantric meditation. Tantra, is a Sanskrit word meaning "to expand and liberate", which is exactly what the Kundalini risen, does to the Personality of the practitioner. But if the practitioner is a "ridged mental vessel", it will break them. So be very cautious and get books by Dr. John Mumford on Tantric meditation so that one begins becoming slowly more pliable before the stellar release of powerful forces.

This process of approach is a kind of yoga (communion) involving the "opening of Chakras" and/or the innervation of energy centers through the process of meditation. This is also the energy we use in the meditation process, being both the goal and means of enlightenment. The Star is the method or means of perfection.

In the Thirty Two Paths of Wisdom, the Magus-Dr. Paul Foster Case stated that: The twenty eight path [Path of Tzaddi} is called the Natural Intelligence, and it is so called because through it is consummated and perfected the Nature of every existing thing under the Sun." {The brackets are my own insertion).

Qabalists know the Star Card represents the proper use of imagination, through the energy of meditation.

Even though meditation feels like a personal activity, successful meditation shows us that it is not we that are meditating but rather, we are meditated! Truth be known, The Higher Self brings the Personality into meditation. In the context of meditation, the Personality uses the Path of Tzaddi, The Fish Hook, in searching for reality in the context of meditation; However, meditation is also The Higher Self angling to pull the Personality up from the depths of self-enclosure which is a reality imposed on us by the physical senses.

The Star Card figure, represents the most pure manifestation of the Great Mother Binah at the level of Personality, preceding enclosure in matter, She is the Same figure found in The Empress, in her royal regalia; The High Priestess and in The Universe cards,; However, here She is unveiled, in-robed, further representing Her purity.

The Star is associated with the love and inspiration sign of Aquarius. In the ancient world, Saturn was said to govern Aquarius, referring us to Binah and The Universe key 21.

Because the Star card represents the universe resolved into its ultimate elements, it relates to many more Paths than any other card in the deck. Thus, I recommend getting the text book by Robert Wang---The Qabalistic Tarot (A text book of Mystical Philosophy) and studying the many path Charts on the Tree of Life that he presents in the book.

To those of Western Qabalah, the Star card represents the "Lower Eden", from which the Personality originates and the Emperor, represents "Upper Eden" where the Fiery Higher Self originates...The Solar Logos. Here to, we see a relationship of The Star Path (Tzaddi) relating to another Path, that of the Emperor (Heh). The Star card also relates to the Planet Venus, which to the ancients was seen as the "Morning and Evening Star", also referred to as Lucifer, the Most beautiful of all Archangels, referring to the Sephiroth- Tiphareth-Beauty, which is the Solar Logos. Lucifer (morning star) is not seen as a underworld figure, but rather the Higher Self. But with proper enforcement of theological- propaganda the meaning of Beauty (Synchronicity) became an Underworld Angel who was so narcissistic that he challenged "God"----which is the common Christian view. We all must study history to see how the Christians took the names of gods and goddesses of other religions and demonized them, which only contributed to one's brain in the possession of ignorance and lost self-awareness. The truth is that the Latin word Lucifer is similar to the Greek Christos (Sun, also Zeus Christos or Sun of God) ----both relating to the fiery Sun of God....The Solar Logos and/or our Higher Self.

When the Star Card-Key 17, is thrown during a reading:

• The querent shall be or will be experiencing hope, faith and unexpected help for 17 weeks or 17 months.
•  Self-esteem and confidence contributing to self-efficiency and talent.
• The querent, upon meditating, shall hear their own song (sound frequency), becoming harmony and then emoting love, calm and peaceful agility.
• Insight into the perfection of the cosmos. 
• Renewal and rebirth.
• Spiritual introspection.

If ill defined by the accompanying cards, there can be the experiencing:

• States of dreaminess, and deceived hope.
• Denial of the Truth.
• Illusion.

Thank you for your interest, comments and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper.