The Thoth Tarot-Key 14- Art and The Tarot of The Ages-Key 14-Temperance:
In many other traditional Tarot Decks, ATU/Key 14 is called Temperance, which implies the heating and cooling of forged steel to make a keen, flexible blade or the slow cooling down process of tempering glass. And in a way, this process is the Thoth Tarot-ATU 14- Art Card’s 24th Path of Samekh (meaning -Prop), as it is attributed to the restriction and control over the forces of existence.
Master Theron (A. Crowley), in his book 777, made this comment on the letter Samekh: It is "The Womb preserving Life. Self-control and Self-sacrifice govern the Wheel." (Fortune).
Leading from Yesod (foundation) to Tiphareth (beauty), the Path of Samekh is as from Moon (Self-reflection) to Sun (Solar Psyche-Source), from Personality to the Higher Self.
On the Tarot of The Ages-Key 14- Temperance card,this Solar source is shown as crystal ball of golden solar light, the sign of the Sun and the Higher Mind of the Solar Logos above the head of the Egyptian angel in the pillars of King Solomon's temple. Around this winged messenger, is the image of a pentagram, the symbol of the 5 elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Spirit, are shown in the illustration as Air, water, Earth and the Fire-light flowing between the vessels as a rainbow link between heaven (golden vessel) and earth (silver vessel).
Traditionally, Temperance cards represented one's ability to control the mind. However, the mixing of cultures (Egypt and King Solomon) may confuse translation of this card, but these 2 are closely related as the word Solomon is Hebrew for, Sun God of On which is the Egyptian Ra of Heliopolis.
King Solomon was supposedly a Hebrew King with pretensions to ruling a golden age of glory. His wondrous reign was purported to be a gift of Yahweh, even though the bible consistently declares that Solomon didn't worship Yahweh.In fact, he never built his famous temple, for it was built by King Hiram of Tyre, to whom Solomon was forced to pay tribute (1:Kings 5:11). The Tyrian sun god Melek or Heracles-Melkart (biblical Molech), Shamash the sun god (biblical Chemosh) and the Goddess Astarte, or Ashtoreth, whom Yahweh's priests called an abomination (1: Kings 11:5-7) where worshiped in the Temple of Solomon. Hence, in reality there was no golden age. The great cities of Solomon were merely mud brick villages. The "city" of Megiddo, covered less than 13 acres. Therefore, the "standard of living" was far from "golden" when compared to that prevailing in other parts of the ancient Near Eastern World ((Pritchard, S.S., 35.). But then this is part of the Patriarchy's propaganda campaign to rule the "minds of men" by inventing "god" through the controlled definitions of religion. Solomon reigned in the 10th century B.C.(B.C.E.), but he Hebrew manuscript used as a basis for the biblical account was written in the 10th century A.D.(C.E.), a good 2000 years later-though a few medieval copies of a Greek text might have gone back as far as the 3 century B.C.. No records existed of all this in Solomon's time line.
On the bottom of this card, is the Hebrew letter-Gimel, meaning "camel" and is used to represent the Thoth Priestess card. The Tarot of The Ages-Key 14-is attributed to the zodiac sign of Scorpio (a water sign) that is attributed to the Thoth Death Card. I find this a real mix up of arcane information.
All I can say about this card, is that the art is beautiful and the image is of the traditional tarot. The meanings of this card are the same meanings attributed to the Thoth Tarot.
The Thoth Tarot- ATU 14-Art, represents a very difficult Qabalistic Path called Samekh (meaning support), the very enormity of the Great Work (As above, so below) will be experienced on this inner path of the Psyche. The initiate may experience going through a long dark tunnel, believing (not knowing) there is Light at the end of it. This Path of Samekh, The Art card, is one of the 3 cards that have been called the Path of "the dark night of the Soul", verifying that this is a Path of trial, tempering and temptation that is supported by the Higher Self .
The Path of Samekh, The Art Tarot Card, is the Intelligence of Probation, as Dr. Paul Foster Case-founder of B.O.T.A.- labels it in his text, THIRTY-TWO PATHS OF WISDOM. In various Gnostic texts, it is also called, "Daughter of the Reconcilers, the Bringer Forth of Life." All of these phrases lead us right to the very idea behind this card; The Great Mother Binah- the 3r Sephiroth-Understanding and her mate, Chokmah-the 2nd Sephiroth-Wisdom. Thus, the central figure on the Thoth Card is an Androgynous figure of Chokmah and Binah and/or wisdom and understanding, in that order.
Also, for you astrology buffs, the ruling sign of the Path of Samekh, is Sagittarius, the Archer, who is also Diana the Huntress, goddess of the Moon. All of which repeats the principle that with the exception of the FOOL (0), all the figures of the Tarot are the Fool as Mother Binah (Understanding) and Father Chokma (Wisdom) in different states of Force and Form which is why Crowley's figure is the androgynous combination of the Chokmah-Binah paradigm.
Another helpful reference book, VOICE OF ISIS- by Hariette and Homer Curtis describes the Universal Mother ("The Womb with a View") as the "power of bringing forth in humanity the Divine Child or the Christ." This bearing of the Child is the Soul, reborn and achieved by conquering the Path of Samekh or The Art of Probation. We are not only to be Moons, reflections of a soul created personality, but also the Solar Personality,(the soul) that is the Divine Child/Psyche and/or Sun/Son of God.
Now don't misunderstand, the Art card demonstrates how the experience of rebirth is brought about, which is to say, through the exchange and equilibrium of opposites which can only be symbolically described, but does not demonstrate the birth itself. Thus, the symbolism here is not to demonstrate a "deep Mystery", rather this symbolism demonstrates how limited and inadequate is our language to describe the process. That is why the Qabalistic Tarot Reader, is not one who thinks that by memorizing descriptions and numbers of the cards they are a Tarot Reader. Rather, it is by scrying, and subjectively "walking the Paths", turning subjective into objective sensation; the process of actual experience ....one begins to Understand the Tarot.
The Art Card, may be more symbolic than the Tarot of The Ages-Temperance card; However, it is not nearly so symbolic as some believe. The Art Card symbolizes the Alchemical Art where Fire becomes Water and Water becomes Fire (...."When the male is no longer male and the female, female.”: Gnostic Gospel of Thomas). This process is describing an actual event/process that happens in the initiates material body, i.e. an actual physical transformation. Thus, we have illustrated in the Thoth Tarot-Art card is an Androgynous figure, combining the Water (consciousness) with Lightning (Fiery Will of Spirit) creating in the Golden Cistern (the Human body) what is known as the Living Water and/or consciousness vivified by merging with Fiery Spirit. By bringing Spirit into the body, Spirit’s fiery nature not only tempers the consciousness, one also tempers the Spirit with consciousness, thus forming "something more than the sum of its parts"; a union of Master and Masterpiece!
We know the golden cistern to be the human body, because of the kaput sigil of the Raven and Skull engraved on it. This symbolizes death, while the fire water combination implies life.
This alchemical process is often described, by Qabalists, as a personal application of the Yod (fire) and Heh (water) uniting in the body to produce Vau (Air) within the individual crucible of form which is Heh-final and Earth. This is described as a "Spiritual Orgasm" or "The Ecstasy" which is a process demanding inner manipulation of sexual forces (He-She) and is shown as a golden energy (in the shape of a stylized arrow) firing upward and across the shoulders of the Divine figure in the Art Card or as the Golden Halo on the Greek Goddess Iris, the Goddess of the rainbow. Iris is the personification of the Hindu Maya, the many colored veils of the World's appearances behind which the spirit of the Goddess works unseen. In many mythologies she is seen as the bridge between heaven and earth.
Even the often flesh-o-phobic Christian iconography, has accepted this Spiritual Orgasm as she "married the Christ". For instance, the ecstasy of the 16th century mystic, Saint Theresa which was described as having an angel thrust a flaming arrow into her heart.
The symbolical of the piecing arrow that brings ecstatic enlightenment is actually an archetypal, and mufti-cultural accepted description of a real process of physiological transformation! What happens is a rhythmic, pleasuring motion of inner energy, and ebb and flow that is confined (shown as the figure eight shaped leminscate- associate with the Magus) in very specific perimeters (oval or womb shaped) but which is taken in either direction at will, i.e., 0=2 and 2 returns to 0.
The Mercury/ Magus, knows that by changing the vibration of inner energy, one raises or lowers the level of consciousness, moving from Chakra to Chakra or Path to Path. Simply stated: The Kundalini (sexual energy) acting upon consciousness produces astral images, the pictures that form our minds.
At first, many students find the symbolism of the Major Arcana complicated; However, the principle of the Path of Samekh or Art or Temperance, is to produce a consciously controlled vision that is limited by will. The purpose of Hermetic Qabalistic, and Gnostic symbols is to furnish descriptions that most anyone can relate to. They are not remote or really complicated, if you focus on one at a time. In fact, most of the symbolic language of the Mysteries, has been superseded by the language of Carl Jung and other psychologists. To Carl Jung, this ability to consciously control Visions, would be called "lucid dreaming", which is known to help the individual correct personality disorders.
Robert Wang goes on to explain, in his textbook: THE QABALISTIC TAROT," It should be added that the Metals described in Alchemical literature are the same as the Seven Chakras of the Hindus, the Seven Planets and the Sephiroth of the Microprosopus [lower seven on the Tree of Life.]. These words have been used as codes over the centuries, meaning seven distinct levels of objective consciousness. Thus when one speaks of a Planet ruling a sign of the Zodiac, what is meant in the relationship of a Sign to a given center of energy both in the Greater Universe and in the Human body." (the brackets are my own explanation).
The Art of awakening these Pathsin the Human Body, is the Qabalistic initiates goal. "To Know Thyself" is to know the "As above and so below" nature of our Whole Self.
As stated, the Art-Temperance Card, is the sign of Sagittarius, which is ruled by the planet Jupiter, meaning the 2nd Sephiroth- Chokmah (Wisdom). Here, we should remember that "Lower Chokmah" is the 4th Sephiroth- Chessed, the architect of all manifestation, working with the "Will to Form “and/or "the information" of Binah (Understanding).
As explained before, Art- Temperance Key 14- The Path of Samekh, is an actual physical process, and an arcane knowledge for centuries of Gnostic, Mystics, Tantrics, Alchemists, and Qabalists. And is a willed process of directing the communion or interchange of opposite energies, as shown, somewhat inadequately, as a shining globe in the Legends Temperance Tarot Card and more alchemical in the Thoth Art card as the Male and Female hermaphrodite, along with the lightning (vital life force and/or sex force) and water combination above the Golden Cistern. Also stated on the Thoth Art Card, the Cistern is also adorned with the Raven and Skull symbol of annihilation or death, as hermetic marriage is a type of annihilation, as 2 are melded together as One. This is easily seen in the union of colors, as Red combined with Blue, annihilates both, to become Purple. Hence, the Anima (feminine) and Animus (masculine) are no longer separated, and he is no longer he and she is no longer she.
The beginning of the process of communion is begun by the Higher Self; a process which is instituted in the 4th Sephiroth Chesed, the most refined, point of Microprosopus (microcosm), to which the Higher Self is central. Chesed is the enacting force (phallus) of the Great Mother Binah's process of” Will to Form"(womb). Until the initiate accomplices this process of inner communion that is the Path of Samekh, the Higher Self (Shown as an androgynous figure on the Thoth card) cannot be known to the personality. Thus, the Art of "Spiritual Alchemy" describes this Card and the whole process as a preparation of the Personality, and its physical vehicle, to deal with the Solar/Spiritual Forces (influx of Light) which would devastate a "normal" system. This is an ongoing process of measuring and testing, instigated by the Higher Self, to see how much the physical body can bear. When properly tempered, the body can handle the stress of such energy, the arrow is released. (Kundalini rises). Once contacted on the Path of Samekh, the Higher Self will regulate the flow, so the individual isn't harmed, A great jolt of energy, will tell the individual to "back off', and relax. Because this is a Passion so overwhelming, it is often described as Divine Anger, which is apt if we realize that anger is energy-in-motion for self-motivation; to get off of one's butt and do something. It could be said that Divine Anger is the motivation for Sagittarius to launch his arrow.
Around the Androgynous figure are the Latin words, "Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem", when translated into English, means:" Visit the interior parts of the earth; by rectification thou shalt find the hidden stone". The "Philosophers Stone", being the ultimate achievement of alchemy.
All in all, the Art Card key 14, is the consummation of the Divine Marriage, depicted on the Lovers Card Key 6, here the Orgasm of Spirit has been reached, and consumption has been achieved. There is a perfect interchange of forces, as the Red Lion has become white, and the White lion has become Red. The Art card shows Water being poured on Fire, and Fire is merged with Water, all within the purified physical vehicle, shown as the Golden Cauldron, i.e. the Master's body. Get and read the Textbook, The Qabalistic Tarot by Robert Wang and the Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley for more in depth explanation of this coded process.
When the Art or Temperance card is thrown during a reading, the querent is experiencing or will soon experience:
- A combination of forces affecting realization and action.
- A blending of all circumstances in order to achieve balance.
- Trials and tribulations that lead to the "middle path", arriving at a profound realization.
- Moderation.
- Patience.
- Accomplishment through self-control and frugality.
- Harmony.
- Accommodation.
- The mixing or bringing together into perfect union.
When ill defined by the surrounding cards:
- Discord.
- Disunion.
- Conflict of interest.
- Hostility.
- Inability to work with others.
- Sterility.
- Frustration.
- Impatience.
Thank you for your interest, comments and supportive donation. May you live long and prosper.
