It was realized that this collection of pages was a most magickal text created by the high priesthood, (after the Order of Malchizedek). Due to the many wars fought and suffered by the Hebrew people, the priesthood had made an important decision. Up to that point, the sacred mysteries were only communicated orally to candidates who had proven themselves worthy. Trained in ritual and dedicating their lives to God, the initiates were tested in integrity and compassion. They were then gradually enlightened as to the higher spiritual arts, through initiation ceremonies and instructed to keep silent on the subject.

As conflict after conflict raged in this part of the world, the horror of all the knowledge being lost weighed heavily on these ancient brethren. It was resolved to create a living book whose pages would forever retain the sacred wisdom. They synthesized many traditional symbols into one beautifully conceived and executed work of divinely inspired art.

Another ancient brother was to contribute to this noble undertaking. He was the wise master Pythagoras, whose name had spread far and wide. He attributed, like the Hebrew priests, sacred properties to the numbers 1-10. This truth was promoted by his loyal students throughout the world. It isn’t surprising that this knowledge was brought to the Holy Land and there proliferated amongst the many mystery schools. The philosophies of the Greek master fit perfectly with the numerical system of the ‘Tree of Life’ (mentioned so many times in Genesis), a profound symbol of existence. The Tree has 10 spheres or ‘Sephiroth’ that emanate unique qualities. They are:

1.Kether-Crown
2.Chokmah-Wisdom
3.Binah-Understanding
4.Chesed-Mildness/Mercy
5.Geburah-Severity/Strength
6.Tiphareth-Beauty
7.Netzach-Victory
8.Hod-Splendor
9.Yesod-Foundation
10.Malkuth-Kingdom

These Sephiroth, in turn, are joined together by 22 ‘paths’ that connect the ‘fruit’ of the tree as branches. Metaphysically, the ancient masters (as well as the modern ones) used the paths to illustrate certain ideals and states of being to bring the candidates to closer understanding of Universal laws. Twenty-two is the number of Hebrew letters in their alphabet. Each letter has its own power and corresponding meanings. Much of what’s talked about today in numerology and the like is a further continuation of this concept.

When the Knights brought the system back to Europe after the Crusades, western scholars of the day attributed the 12 zodiac signs, 7 ancient known planets and 3 of the four elements to each letter. These glyphs of the human experience could then be memorized and utilized by students to perfect themselves and come closer to expanded consciousness or Godhead. These classifications forged powerful links in the minds of the students of Divine harmony, balance and relation.

The high priests of the Hebrews placed a very special name of God within the system. Called ‘Tetragammaton’ by the Greeks, it was considered so holy that it was, and is, only spoken out loud, one time a year. It’ power is believed to carry through the aethyr into the four-corners of the universe. For, as it is written:

“In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God.” (John 1:1)

The Great Sphinx in Giza, Egypt was said to contain these four powers. They are: to know, to will, to dare, and to keep silence. Balanced into 4 separate (yet equal and one) meditations, they are also shown as thus:

1. To know-East-the eagle-air
2. To will-South-the lion-fire
3. To dare-West-the man-water
4. Tokeep silent-North-the ox/bull-earth

These ‘houses’ or watchtowers were then emblematically numbered 1-10 and became the other 40 cards of the Tarot system. There is a title for each ‘suit’, the swords, the wands, the cups and the discs. They are a further development of the initial 22 cards or pages and act as more detailed descriptors of basic human thoughts, drives, feelings and physical qualities. Each is then associated with a planet and zodiac sign for advanced study.

As it is a system of royal descent and ingenuity, there is a class of pages/cards cleverly titled ‘the court’, these are 16 in number. These are created by taking the original 4 suits and combining them with each house, 4 x 4, (ie. Fire of fire, fire of air, fire of earth and fire of water). The court stands for qualities within each of us and metaphysically symbolize people in and around our circle of influence.

These bring the entire system of cards to 78, (the number of most ‘true’ Tarot sets). A book compact enough to be transported through the holy land undetected. Upon it’s rediscovery by the Knights Templar and subsequent reintroduction into Europe in the middle-ages, they saved this important work from obscurity. Thankfully this noble deed continued the unbroken lineage of masters through the centuries to modern students of today.

The book was originally attributed to the ancient Egyptian arch-type Thoth, (record keeper of wisdom) and later to the Greek Hermes. Hermes Trismegestus, the ancient philosopher proclaimed on his Emerald Tablet, “As above, so below” eloquently stating our relation to the Supreme Architect of the Universe. Years later, the master Jesus the Christ was to restate this as, “on earth as it is in Heaven”.

The word ‘TARO’ itself is symbolic, meaning ‘unity’ and the work truly unites many systems of belief. All under the canopy of Heaven is here placed on the ‘Tree of Life’, unifying Jewish Kabbalah, Christian Rosicrucianism, Sufi mysticism, Tibetan Buddhism, Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Tantric Hinduism, ancient Egyptian magick, Greek philosophy and Universalist theory into many paths that are ONE.

‘ROTA’ the Latin word meaning ‘wheel’ illustrates this one, reaching out into a circle of perfect harmony and accord. ‘TORA’ the Old Testament ‘Law’ gives us an order to bring these powerful forces of light and love into balance. God has been called the Macrocosmos, as we have been named the Microcosmos, the small parts of the whole, under the banner of Heaven, imbued with these temples of our bodies, created in God’s image as sparks of the Divine light. The ancients placed the human body on the Tree of Life too and several mystic schools teach the chakra system and place them there as well.

Fast forward to the 1700’s and the ancient wisdom was re-revealed by the secret Catholic magician Eliphas Levi (also a Freemason) who published his findings in a book titled ‘The Ritual and Dogma of Transcendental Magic’ that is considered a classic in the field. It was utilized by the famed American Freemason Albert Pike in creating several degrees of the Scottish Rite from his Great Work titled, ‘Morals and Dogma’. The noted scholar and Sir Knight A.E. Waite used this foundation, with help from the Masonic Rosicrucians and another famous spiritual group the ‘Golden Dawn’. He combined the wisdom and created a version of the Tarot for a modern audience. It wasn’t realized though, that, due to an oath that Eliphas Levi had taken in the Masonic Rosicrucian Order, 2 of the 22 cards, (chapters in his book) had been switched, so as not to reveal the entire ‘secret’.

Some will start to grumble to themselves about ‘masonic’ secrets, yet may fail to contemplate the horror of the Inquisition and the prevalent ‘darkness’ of those times. It wasn’t until the noted occult poet Aleister Crowley was given the source-work in the Golden Dawn, that the error was detected and corrected.

From the 1960’s to the present time, there have been hundreds of ‘decks’ (Tarot books) created. They are theoretically based on the same material, yet have distinct and different artwork for the varieties of unique individuals who now utilize them. Whether for personal meditation and growth or as a tool for divination, the sacred book known as the tarot has guaranteed its place in human history forever.

It has been my hope, brothers and sisters, that I might shine a bit of light on a most fascinating subject of history and spirituality. I believe this and other systems of introspection are master keys to propel humanity forward. With this many blessings on your studies.

Love is the law, love under will.