Chapter 32

M. Pussey, at 4 francs ; and one is published in London by Mr.

✦

George Redwny, 15 York Street, Covent Garden.

90 THE TAROT.

THE TAROT OF OSWALD WIRTH.

It became necessary to have a Tarot pack in which the
symbolism was definitely established. This work, suggested
by Eliphas Levi, who defined the principles on which it
was to be based, has been accomplished by Mr. Oswald
Wirth.

This clever occultist, aided by the advice of Stanislas de
Guaita, has designed the series of the twenty-two major
arcana. These drawings reproduce the Tarot of Marseilles,
with the symbolical modifications suggested by the re-
searches of Eliphas JJ3vi upon this important question.

Owin^ to the kindness of M. Poire], who assisted the
work by printing these designs, we now possess a mar-
vellous symbolic document in the Tarot of Oswald Wirth.

It is therefore wise, as we have already said, for those
who wish to study the Tarot very thoroughly, to procure
the Tarot de Marseilles, and that of Oswald Wirth.

We shall use them both presently in our explanation of
the symbolical meaning of each card,

But before passing to the study of these symbols, card
by card, we must see if there are no means of positively
defining the symbolism of the Tarot.

HOW CAN WE HOPE TO DEFINE THE SYMBOLISM OF THE
TAROT CONCLUSIVELY ?

We have already and sufficiently explained that the
Tarot represents the ancient or occult science in every
possible development.

If we then wish to find a solid basis for the study of the
symbols represented in the 22 major arcana, we may
put the Tarot on one side for an instant, and devote
ourselves to this ancient science. It alone can enable us

HISTORY OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAEOT. 91

to attain our end, not in finding the explanation of the
symbols, but in leading us to create them one by one, by
deducing them from fixed and general principles.

We shall thus commence work of quite a new character,
whilst avoiding, so far as possible, falling into those errors
which arise from the effort to explain the symbols of the
Tarot by themselves, instead of seeking for their solution
at their original source.

The first step in the search for these particular symbols
leads us to discuss the grave problem of the origin of
symbolism itself.

We cannot enter upon, much less solve, this question by
ourselves ; we shall therefore quote the opinions of several
writers upon this subject. Truth, having Unity for its
criterion, the agreement of various conclusions in one
point will be a valuable guide for us.

Claude de Saint-Martin, the unknown philosopher, states
in his book, the Livre des Rarpports, that the primitive
alphabet is composed of sixteen signs. He received these
data, so far as we can judge, from intuitive revelation,
joined to the teaching of the Illuminism, of which he was
one of the members.

Lacour, in his book on the Elohim or Gods of Moses,
has inductively determined the existence of a primitive
alphabet, also composed of sixteen signs. Another
author, Barrois, pursuing inquiries of quite a different
nature, also reaches the conclusion of the existence of
sixteen primitive signs in his system of Dactylology.

But the labours of Court de Gébelin, and above all of
Fctbre d' Olivet, are the most remarkable in this respect. In
his Langue Hébraïque Restituée, this learned Initiate estab-
lished the existence of primitive hieroglyphic signs from
which the Hebrew letters are derived.

THE TAROT.

AU these writers, starting from very different points,
agree in their conclusions, and this gives us a strong
argument in favour of the truth of their inquiries.

But it matters very little to us whether these 16
primitive signs are the direct origin, either of the Hebrew,
Sanscrit, Chinese, or Greek letters. The identity of source
tends strongly to identity of results, and any one of these
derivative alphabets will answer our purpose.

The Hebrew alphabet, composed of 22 letters, seems
preferable to us, on account of the concordance between
the number of its letters and that of the Arcana in our
Tarot.

We shall therefore adopt, as the starting-point of our
study, the Hebrew alphabet of 22 letters, derived from the
16 primitive hieroglyphic signs.

This conclusion is scarcely reached, when fresh light
shines upon us from all sides.

Guillaume Postel l reveals to us the connection between
the Hebrew letters and the Tarot ; Van Hclmont fils,2
Claude de Saint- Martin? Fabre d' Olivet,4, all confirm our
opinion ; lastly, Eliplias Levi 5 also throws the weight of his
marvellous learning into the question.

But we are more surprised to find that the Sepher
Yetzirah,6 an old book of the Kabbalah, which contains a
study upon the formation of the Hebrew alphabet, arrives
at a division of the letters which exactly corresponds with

1 Clavis.

2 Origin of Language (Latin).

3 Tableaux naturels des rapports qui existent entre Dieu, Vhomme
et l'Univers.

4 La Langue Hébraïque Restituée.

5 Rituel de la Haute Magie.

6 Translated into English by Dr. Wynn Westcott.

HISTORY OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAROT. 93

the astrological data contained in an old manuscript in
the Vatican, upon which Christian 1 based his horoscopic
works.

One single and identical conclusion arises from all these
different points of view : the value of the Hebrew letter as
a symbol.

In it we possess a real symbol, of which we can ascertain
not only the meanings, but also the origin.

We could then make a Tarot exclusively composed of
Hebrew letters and of numbers, but this is not our object ;
we are seeking to discover in the symbolism of the Hebrew
characters the symbolism of the Tarot, and we shall thus
realize our intention of ascertaining deductively the value
of the figures of the Tarot and the reason they have been
chosen.

THE HEBREW LETTERS AS THE BASIS OF THE SYMBOLICAL

TAROT.

We shall now study the Hebrew letters one by one, in
determining successively —

1st. The hieroglyphic value of each one of them according
to its origin (Fabre d'Olivet, Barrois) ;

2nd. Its symbolic value derived from this hieroglyphic
(Fabre d'Olivet, Eliphas Levi, Christian) ;

3rd. Its astronomical value (Christian and the Sepher
YetziraK).

Once acquainted with these data, it will be easy for us
to deduce from them the application of the letters to the
symbols of the Tarot.

But before we enter upon this study, it is necessary to
say a few words upon the Hebrew alphabet in general and
its constitution.

1 Histoire de la Magie.

THE TAKOT.

The alphabet of the Hebrews is composed of 22 letters;
these letters, however, are not placed by chance, one after
the other. Each of them corresponds with a number
according to its rank, with a hieroglyphic according to its
form, with a symbol according to its affinities with the
other letters.

As we have already said, all the letters are derived from
one amongst them, the yod.1 The yod has generated them
in the following mariner (see Scpher Yetzirah) —

1st. Three mothers :

The A (Aleph)

The M /The Mem)
The Sh (The Shin)

2nd. Seven doubles (double because they express two
sounds, the one positive strong, the other negative soft) :

The B (Beth)

The G (Gimel)

The D (Daleth)

The Ch (Caph)

ThePh (Pe)

The E (Resh)

The T (Tau)

3rd. Lastly, twelve simple, formed by the other letters.

To render this clearer, we will give the Hebrew alphabet
here, indicating the quality of each letter and its rank.
(See page 95.)

We have now given a fixed principle for symbolism in
the Hebrew letter, and need not fear being deceived by
the false interpretation of a costume, or of an incorrect
figure. The Hebrew letter will be always there, to en-
lighten us upon obscure or difficult points.

1 See above (p. 19) : Study upon the word Yod-he-vau-he.

a
1

b
s

HISTORY OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAROT. 95

We can therefore safely return to the Tarot, which we
have left to make this digression.

NUMBERS
IN-
ORDER

HIERO-
GLYPHIC

NAMES

VALUE IN

ROMAN

LETTERS

VALUE IN THE ALPHABET

aleph

mother

beth

double

gimel

double

daleth

double

simple

vau

simple

zain

simple

heth

simple

teth

simple

Yod

simple and principle

kaph

double

lamed

simple

mem

mother

nun

simple

samech

simple

ayin

simple

plie

double

tzaddi

simple

qoph

simple

resh

doable

shin

mother

tan

double