Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice (Connolly Tarot, Vol 1) (Part 1)

241 Pages·1979·2.71 MB·English

by  Eileen Connolly

VOLUME I OF THE C O N N O L LY TAROT
CLASSIC EDITION
A NEW HANDBOOK
FOR THE APPRENTICE
EILEEN CONNOLLY
ORIGINAL CLASSIC EDITION
Illustrated with the
RIDER-WAITE TAROT DECK
NEWCASTLE PUBLISHING COMPANY INC
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
Copyright © 1979 by Eileen Connolly*
All rights reserved.
ISBN 0-R7S77-CM5-3
No pari of this book may be reproduced In any form without the
expressed written consent of the publisher, except by a reviewer, who
may quote brief passages in connection with a review.
Edited by Douglas MenviUc and Alyce Tulips-
Illustrations from the Kid*r-Waile Tarot deck are reproduced by per
mission ofU.S. Games Systems, Inc.,4*8 Park Ave. South, New York,
NY 10016*
The interpretations of the Tarot presented in this volume have been
developed over many years of research, study and teaching by the
author. This material may be used for class teaching, provided written
permission is granted by the author, Eileen Connolly, All letters of
inquiry should be addressed to the author, in care of the publisher.
FIRST EDmON
A NEWCASTLE BOOK
First Printing October 1979
Printed in the United State* of Amenta
PREFACE
The object erf this Handbook is to offer not only a spiritual apprenticeship to students
of the Sacred Tarot but to offer a concise reference for anyone interested in investigating
and Interpreting the fascinating symbology or the Tarot in relation to the Cabala, Astrol
ogy and theesotericMeriteof Kum«doKy* T*1* Handbookis divided into three sections:
Section 1 Basic lessons, exercises, procedures, meditations and fundamental
esoteric philosophy relating to the Major and Minor Arcana.
Section 2 Major and Minor Mentors, which art guides lo the positive and negative
interpretations of the symbols on each card. Further Mentor guidelines
include a Comparison Chart and an in-depth explanation of meanings
when certain symbols fall near each other in a spread.
Section 3 Procedures necessary prior to spreading the cards lor divination.
My intention is to teach you as simply as possible how to »vork with and understand
the Tarot cards, and not to attempt at this stage to fill your mind with too much unneces
sary detail. I would like you to feel that I am teaching you perionally. so that the
Handbook becomes not only a source of learning but a friend you can relate to on a very
perninal level During my years of teaching the estihW science*.! have found that people
usually want to "get on with it" as soon aft possible, solintendtopresentcherudimenw of
this ancient art to you right away, ltis important for the beginner to become Involved with
the symbol ogy of the Tarotdecfcimmediately; onceyouarefamiliar with the cards and feel
able to master the basic procedures, your enthusiasm will be aroused and you will be
motivated to learn all you ran. It is at this point that the real adventure of Tarot begins.
Whatever your purpose in studying the Tarot may be, this Handbook will piovide
you with a continual ready reference* It contains both method and procedure for learning
the art of divination. Bv using the Major and Minor Mentor guide**, you will be able to
locate CahalUtk, Astrological and Numerological references at a glance* Each individual
subject is treated in such a way as to enable yuu to quickly discover and explore whatever
aspect of the Tarot you desire.
Eileen Connolly
Santa Barbara, California
December, 1978
v
CONTENTS
Preface v
List of Charts viii
List of Exercises ix
Author's Note x
Introduction 1
A Note on Procedure 3
SECTION I
Chapter 1 Beginning Your Apprenticeship 7
Chapter 2 Learning the Minor Arcana 17
Chapter 3 Learning the Court Cards 29
Chapter 4 Learning the Major Arcana 39
SECTION n
Chapter 5 Understanding the Minor Mentors 61
Chapter 6 Understanding the Minor Mentors 71
Chapter 7 The Minor Mentors 77
Chapter 8 The Court Mentors 145
Chapter 9 The Major Mentors 163
SECTION III
Chapter 10 Steps to Divination 211
Chapter 11 How to Read the Cards 219
Chapter 12 The Esoteric Time Cards 233
Chapter 13 Beginning and End 243
Index of Cards 244
vii
LIST OF CHARTS
Chart 1 Daily Record Book 13
Chart 2 Minor Sequence Table 19
Chart 3 Thought Track 25
Chart 4 Tarot Log 56
Chart 5 Cabalastic Reference —Major Arcana 73
Chart 6 The Tree of Life 74
Chart 7 Lemniscate for Divination 220
Chart 8 Celtic Cross Spread 223
Chart 9
Celtic Block Spread 226
Chart 10
Predictive Manteia Spread 230
Chart 11
Time Chart 236
viii
LIST OF EXERCISES
Exercise I Esoteric Approach to Suit Keys 21
Exercise 2 Random Selection of Suit Keys 22
Exercise 3 Esoteric Approach to the Aces 23
Exercise 4 Thought Track 26
Fxercise 5 Synthesizing the Seed with the Suit Key 26
Exercise 6 Sensitivity Key to Court Cards 30
Exercise 7 Court Cards on the Thought Track 36
Exercise 8 Daily Prayer with the Major Arcana 40
Exercise 9 The Spiritual Path of the Major Arcana 50
Exercise 10 Entering the Major Arcana 57
Exercise 11 Analysis of the Celtic Cross 223
be
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Many of my previous students will immediately realize that
here is a higher esoteric interpretation for each Tarot symbol, as
promised* I sincerely hope that their spiritual vision may be
enhanced and that ihese lessons will give even greater satisfaction
than the preliminary lessons of the past.
x
INTRODUCTION
GNOTHI SEAUTON = KNOW THYSELF
It has been said that the Tarot cards contain the secrets of the universe. It
is only through the discovery of your own hidden depths that you may
explore the Higher Spiritual Self and begin to learn these secrets. When
you allow sensitivity of the soul to open the door, the ancient symbols of
the Tarot will reveal their mysteries to you*
The befit way to commence your studies is to work to discard inner
conflicts and impatience. A new student can easily become confused and
discouraged trying to absorb the varied interpretations and sometimes
conflicting theories of the Tarot's origin and history* The reason for these
apparent contradictions is that each Tarot Master has expressed personal
conclusions, based on his own experience and study, independent of other
opinions- It is advisable, therefore, to approach the Tarot with an open
mind- Once you have experienced the fascinating accuracy of divination
and have learned how to read theancient symbols with sensitivity, you will
be ready for in-depth study. Until then, be content to learn at your own
pace and enjoy the awakening of your own psychic abilities as you take
your journey as an apprentice down the Royal Road of Tarot.
Behind the intriguing disguise of the Tarot deck is the entrance to an
astonishing dimension of occult wisdom. Throughout the ages, simple
uncluttered souls have been able to enjoy the benefits of hidden wisdom
naturally and easily, perhaps because they could readily accept God's laws
and had respect for the eternal soul of man- Children can often let go and
wander at will in the higher realms. Perhaps many of us today are too
bogged down with a "prove it" kind of attitude, thus making us totally
unprepared to receive the guidance of our Higher Self. Intuition, an abso
lutely natural sense, is slowly becoming extinct from lack of use. Until we
learn again to trust our own inner feelings, we will be forced to live in the
limitations of practical thought, which does not allow us to expand our
consciousness beyond everyday affairs.
2 TAROT
Whenever we attempt to approach our Higher Self by using our powers
of reason and intellect, we always arrive at a point of utter confusion and
frustration. Wecan go to great lengths to find reasons tor this dilemma, we
can philosophize with each other, but we always arrive at the same conclu
sion eventually. The dilemma will be solved once we realize that the key to
self knowledge is pure simplicity. We must relax not only the body, but the
busy mind, letting go of everyday problems and concerns, allowing the
higher vibrations to flow through our mind and body.
Unfortunately, when we do have an opportunity to unwind and make
contact with our Higher Self, we often try to wrestle with our problems on a
conscious level, striving to manipulate and solve them completely on our
own* With the right attitude, we can rise to the Higher Consciousness and
achieve a level of peace, balance and harmony, wherein the solutions to our
problems will come to us naturally and our anxieties will be overcome.
With practice, you can achieve this state of mind at will, like other
students before you. But you mayfe^l that you have tried this before, thatit
doesn't work for you. If so, you probably haven't tried long enough or hard
enough, orunder theright conditions. Choose a time when you are not too
tired, for instance. When you are physically or mentally exhausted, you are
apt to allow your mind to drift backwards and forwards over the day's
activities and eventually fall asleep amidst thi. inner whirlpool. This results
in your waking up so tired that you feel you haven't been to sleep at all.
When you are not tired, you can achieve the physical and mental relaxa
tion which is a prerequisite to probing the higher realms of consciousness,
and can exert direction and wilt toward this endeavor. Approach it as you
would any other activity intended to give you pleasure. Be alert and ready
to tackle whatever lies ahead* Be objective and use the exercises in this
Handbook as you would any educational instruction. This attitude will
help you speed your goal of inner realization, a goal which should be that of
all men: Cttothi seauton—Know thyself.