The Tarot of the Magicians

239 Pages·1990·7.64 MB·English

by  Oswald Wirth

l~eTAROT
OF THE MAGICIANS
OSWALD WIRTH
SAMUELWEISER, INC.
YorkBeach,Maine
First pUblished in English in 1985 by
Samuel Weiser, Inc.
Box 612
York Beach, Maine 03910
Second printing, 1990
English translation©1985 Samuel Weiser, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, without permission in writing from Samuel
Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote briefpassages.
First published in Paris in 1927 under the
original title: Le Tarot, des lmagiers du MoyenAge
Special thanks to Richard Gardner and Diana Faberwho
helped with this translation.
ISBN 0-87728-656-6
Library ofCongress Cataloging in Publication Number: 85-51592
BJ
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Contents
Page
Preface 9
Introduction 15
PART ONE: The Tarot
1. The Origins ofthe Tarot 21
2. Signs Revealing the Secrets ofthe Tarot 26
3. The Kabbalistic Tarot 36
4. The Astronomical Tarot 43
5. Notions ofSymbolism: Forms and Colours 48
6. The Tarot and the Hebrew Alphabet 55
PART 1WO: The Symbolism ofthe Twenty-Two Keys to the Secret
Knowledge ofthe Middle Ages 57
PART THREE: Resume and Recapitulation
7. Cosmogonic Outline 159
8. The Programme ofInitiation as Revealed by the Tarot 164
9. The Tarot Seen in the Light ofHermetic Philosophy 167
10. The Masonic Harmonies in the Tarot 170
11. The Arcana Interpreted in Terms ofGood and Bad 173
PART FOUR: The Tarot Applied to Divination
12. Imagination 179
13. The Art ofDivination 181
14. The Instruments ofDivination 183
15. Consulting the Tarot 185
16. Interpretationofthe Oracle 187
17. An Example ofInterpretation 189
18. The Reality ofthe Art ofDivination 192
19. Conclusion 195
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TheTarotofthe Magicians
201
Appendix
215
References
221
Index
6
To the Memory ofStanislas de Guaita
7

Preface
Indulging as I was in the practice of two more weeks went by and I was tired of
occultism and before studying its theories waiting. I decided that the sleeping woman
deeply, I was, at the beginning of 1887, had been dreaming, surrendering to the
applying my hypnotic skills on a sick woman suggestion ofher wandering imagination, as
who fell asleep under my influence. She was was her wont as soon as her vision ceased to
a lucid patient who informed me ofthe state relate to herselfand to the stages ofher cure.
ofher organs and ofthe effect produced by In short, lucidity is dependent on the
my fluid. Her tendency to chatter came out instinct which urges the sick animal to seek
in spontaneous revelations, quite its health-restoring grass. In any case it is
unexpected, to which Ionly paid moderate easier to see clearly within onself, than to
heed. draw true information from the outside.
One day however, I was struck by my That is to say, vague moving images which
clairvoyant's tone ofconviction,which seemed receptive imaginations pick up.
to perceive with more accuracy than usual as Reflections such as these made me forget
she said 'You will receive a letter with a red the letter that I had waited for in vain, to
seal ofarmorial bearings!' This she exclaimed such an extent that the prediction which I
as ifthis fact were ofparticular importance. have rejected only came to mind when I
'Can you see who the letter will come received a letter with a red armorial seal.
from?' Without bothering with the envelope, I
'It is written by a young fair-haired man hastened to find out the contents, they took
with blue eyes who has heard ofyou and me far away from all the mutterings ofa
wishes to make your acquaintance. He will sleepwalker.
be very useful to you and you will get on Stanislas de Guaita was inviting me to
extremely well together.' come and talk to him. Now, what I knew
Iasked other questions, but the replies then ofthe future author ofSerpent de fa
were confused; they merely embarrassed the Genese made me picture him as an erudite
lady to no purpose. She was floundering and man, rich in knowledge accumulated during
finally said, 'Wait for the letter; I can see it the course ofmany years ofstudy. I expected
clearly with its red seal. It will reach you in a to be received, ifnot by Doctor Faustus, not
few days, before the end ofnext week.' yet rejuvenated, at least by a master writer
Intrigued, I looked out for my mail, but who had passed the half-way mark in his life.
the week went by and nothing came, then You can imagine my surprise when I saw
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TheTarotofthe Magicians
myselfjoyfully welcomed by a young man of understanding.
twenty-six years ofage: who in no way Being caught up ~ I was in the briars of
pontificated. My heart was immediately won. the earthly forest: Ifound in Guaita the
He was young and fair-haired, with blue guide who moved in the heights. Without
eyes, and the letter had been sealed with him how would I have found my way? It was
red; no doubt at all . . . this was him, the he who inspired the study which I have not
friend, the protector as promised by the ceased to pursue.
sleeping patient. Knowing ofmy skill in drawing, he
The future justified the extraordinary advised me, right from our fust interview in
emotion ofthe clairvoyant when she 1887, to restore the 22 arcanas ofthe Tarot to
announced the letter with the red seal, their hieroglyphic purity and gave me the
which at that time had not yet been necessary material by providing me
written. My entering into a relationship immediately with two Tarots, one French the
1
with S. de G. became for me an event of other Italian, as well as Dogme etRituelde
great importance! He made me his friend, laHaute Magie, the most important work of
his secretary and his collaborator. His library Eliphas Levi, in which the Tarot is the object
was at my disposal and benefiting from his ofcopious commentary.
conversation, Ifound in him a teacher ofthe Such was the starting point ofthe present
Kabbala ofhigh metaphysics, as well as the work ofwhich one could say that Stanislas de
French language; for G. took the trouble to Guaita is the spiritual father. After I had
form my style and to refine me from a submitted to him a first Tarot redesigned on
literary point ofview. He made me the two crude packs which I have compared,
appreciate well-turned phrases by initiating this learned occultist gave me his criticism for
me into the aesthetics ofbeautiful French which he was held answerable at the time of
prose. It is to him that Iowe my readability. the publication ofthe Tarot Kabbalistique,
I am also obliged to him for forming my which appearedin 1889, with 350copies, with
intellect. When it was his desire to have me the help ofthe photogravers ofG. Poise!'
as a friend, Iwas only an elementary handler This Tarot was valued and appreciated by
offluid, gaining empirical results, but I was the occultists. Compared with the card
weak in logic. Guaita possessed the games then in circulation it was very
enlightenment which Ilacked. Whereas I satisfying, but it still had to be perfected.
had but a smattering ofspiritism and vague The ideal to be realized demands a perfect
theosophy, he had assimilated the traditional unity ofsymbolism, so that everything fits
doctrine ofthe masters ofthe science ofthe into the 22 compositions, which must throw
occult, ofwhich he said he was a very light upon each other and must contain no
humble disciple. Starting from Eliphas Levi arbitrary detail which is not justified. To lead
he had gone on to the Kabbalists ofthe to this operation one had to grasp the overall
Renaissance and to the hermetic philosophers idea ofit and become acquainted with the
ofthe Middle Ages, reading and concepts which gave it birth.
understanding everything with amazing With the help ofStanislas de Guaita, I set
facility. The most obscure texts became clear to work to acquire the knowledge of
as soon as he threw the light ofhis brilliant symbolism empowering me to restore the
mind upon them. Tarot to the design and colours in accord
Metaphysical problems were like child's with the Medieval Spirit. It was a long
play to him, and I was far from being able to process, but I had the patience to learn
follow him, but when I was too far behind methodically. Whenever Icame across them I
he was quick to retrace his steps and in practised interpreting the symbols even to
brotherly fashion take me by the hand. He the point ofgaining the reputation ofbeing
was lenient towards my slow saturnine a specialist in the field. Startingfirst ofall
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Preface
with the constructive symbolism ofthe accompanied by some interpreting text
Freemasons, I was then led to compare it however slight? We are in a hurry and no
with that ofthe Alchemists, who put the longer have the leisure time for meditation;
esotericism ofinitiation into picture forms, to think entirely for oneselftakes too long.
taken from ancient metallurgy. This We need ideas explained clearly to achieve a
esotericism was most carefully adapted to the quick assimilation or immediate rejection.
practice oftheir arts by the stone cutters of I did my best to conform to the
the Middle Ages.2 requirements ofthe age. My efforts ended in
As soon as one is able to make the aseries ofessays which I felt in no hurry to
symboIs speak, they surpass all speech in have published in view oftheir imperfection.
eloquence, for they allow one to find the In 1922 however, I thought that I ought to
'Last Word', that is to say the eternal living draw from my mass ofmaterials a definite
thought, ofwhich they are the enigmatic manuscript. The editor of The Green Snake3
expression. Decipher the hieroglyphics ofthe had made proposals which made me decide
deep silent wisdom, common to thinkers of finally to produce a work which was
all ages, religions, myths and poetic bordering on an obsession. The draft copy
invention, and you will reveal ideas in which I entrusted to the publisher however,
harmony and relative to the problems which did not deserve to see daylight, for it was lost
have always preoccupied the human mind. in a rather incomprehensible way. After a
In a poetic way syrnbols reveal to us concepts long but fruitless wait concerning the result
which are too ethereal to lend themselves to ofsearches undertaken to find my text, I had
the limitation ofwords. Not everything can to resign myselfto starting the work again.
be dehydrated into the prose ofbarristers The necessary uninterrupted meditation
and rhetoricians. There are some things so was found for me in the course ofmy
subtle that one has to feel and divine them holidays of 1924/25. Benefiting from a lovely
like the adepts ofthe wise philosophy ofthe retreat in a delightful spot where the view
Medieval Symbolists, who will react against embraces one ofthe finest landscapes in
the pedantic slavery ofwords. France, I hope that my final text reflects the
It is from these wise and discreet masters inspiring background and great light ofthe
that the Tarot comes to us, as a unique longest days.
monument which instructs the thinker more By becoming absorbed in a contemplation
than all the sententious treatises, for its stimulated by a Gothic background, I
pictures teach us to discover the modest truth thought that I was in meditative communion
which lies hidden in the depths ofour own with the past, living in the memory which
understanding. constantly evoked Stanilas de Guaita. I am
No collection ofsymbols is comparable to convinced that the master for whom the veil
it, revealing as it does, wisdom ofa ofmystery was lifted, does not abandon his
completely unarbitrary kind, for each ofus colleague who is straining to discern the
discerns it freely, without being prey to any truth.
other suggestion but that ofsilent pictures. Like many other theories, that ofthe
Containing in a condensed form, Unknown Superior Beings is true, provided
otherwise inexplicable thoughts, these that it is understood. Our true initiators
pictures have no words, but do not hide the often do not reveal themselves to our senses,
fact that they have to make us fathom their and sometimes remain as silent as the
precious wisdom. But does the mentality of symbolic compositions ofthe Tarot, but they
the twentieth century lend itselfto keep watch on our efforts at deciphering,
divination? What would be the lot ofthe and as soon as we have found the first letter,
Tarot today ifit remained enigmatic, just as they can mysteriously prompt the second to
it has come to us, without being put us on the path ofthe third. Guaita
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The Tarotofthe Magicians
certainly helped me, for my thought calls to somewhat mystical respect.
his so that between us a telepathic The journalists who saw the author ofthe
connection is established. The relationship Temple de Satan as the 'dark Marquis'
between one mind and another is in the spending his nights in conjurations with the
nature ofthings, that has nothing in help ofbooks ofspells, made the
common with the classic or modernized enlightened author laugh heartily as he was
necromancy in the form ofspiritism. totally opposed to any suspect practices. He
Philosophic occultism is not superstitious was never tempted to carry out the slightest
although it is based on a study of magical act, knowing only too well that
superstition. It is concerned with whatever can be gained in this way is only
indestructible beliefs used to analyse and dangerous illusion leading to breakdown and
search for the truth which motivates them; madness.
for it would be illogical to admit that Nevertheless ridiculous rumours are abroad
humanity is forged with all the patches of in certain places where it is not accepted that
false ideas which go with nothing. The the owner ofthe 'Clefde la Magie Noire'
smoke which darkens space comes from a fire died ofnatural causes. They carry their
whose hearth we should discover. The effrontery as far as claiming that the last
investigators ofthe obscure occultism assign words ofGuaita were 'I die the victim ofmy
themselves the task ofgoing back to the own work'. I flatly deny this imaginary story,
source ofa beliefwhich by necessity has its invented to fit in with the doctrines of
'raison d'etre'. charlatans' occult practices. Guaita died in
Stanislas de Guaita pursued this the Chateau d'Alteville towards the end of
investigation with the enthusiasm ofan 1897 without ever having attributed his
exceptionally gifted neophyte, who discerns illness to his studies, which had been
quickly and who perceives immediately the undertaken before the onset ofhis illness.
theoretical synthesis, realizing the overall The people who were present during his last
significance ofthe facts which are seen as moments thought that they heard him
'r
magical. This marvellous receptivity gives us murmur. can see! I can see!', while an
the worth ofbooks which are the expression ofhappy surprise spread over the
enlightening testament ofa tradition which face ofthe genial explorer ofthe occult.
is established from now onwards. Guaita, Solar natures in love with an ideal of
who has never allowed himselfto innovate in beauty live the life ofthe flesh only in part,
occultism, arrived only at interpreting and then only for a limited time. Like
faithfully an orthodoxy, that ofthe masters Raphael and Mozart, Guaita was to die
ofthe school to which he was linked. These young. It was granted to me to live on, but
masters were sacred to him and he did not the incomparable friend, the inspiring
think ofcriticizing their assertions, for he master, has never died for me. His thought
could not hold suspect the teaching ofthose remains as mine; and with him and through
whom he admired without reserve. him I aspire to initiate myselfinto the secret
At this stage one should point out the things. We collaborate secretly, for he who
most remarkable trait in Guaita's character. has gone encourages me to pursue his work,
His generous spirit led him to admire others. which I deem useful to resume on the basis
I have heard him praise to the skies ofthe most recent archaeological discoveries.
Josephine Peladan, Maurice Barres, Laurent Occultism deserves to be taken seriously, and
Tailhade, Saint Yves d'Alveydre and a should not be left to the equivocal
number ofother contemporaries whose dogmatism ofdisturbed imaginations. In it
knowledge or literary talent he appreciated. everything is to be reviewed, weighed up and
He gave Eliphas Levi almost the status ofa controlled according to the requirements of
god and bowed before Fabre d'Olivet with a an enlightened empiricism.
12