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The Magician & The Wheel of Fortune The Sun Ones & Nines In The Numerical Tarot:The Ones
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ONES & NINESAs we examine the cards of the Minor Suits we will see how they successfully combine the qualities of equidistance, as well as progress from 1 through 9 (see A Significant Signature of Nature elsewhere on this site).In the case of ones and nines, as they appear in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck, we see how the aces all use the same symbolic idea of a hand emerging from the heavens, bearing the symbol of the suit in question. While on the other end, the nines represent the various types of endings these progressions lead to. To The Numerical Tarot, beginning each line the same way, and ending them differently, symbolically conveys the condition of life itself, being that in life there is only one way to be born, but a million ways to die (singular point to expansive sphere - see Geometric/Dimensional model elsewhere on this site).Of course in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck there isn't much activity within the aces with which to convey the various keywords of the deck at a glance chart used by The Numerical Tarot, or to even associate these cards to their parents in the Majors the way The Numerical Tarot does. But the aces are unique in this way, and as we continue this analysis into other cards, this will be less of a problem.But as aces go, the Rider/Waite/Smith aces do contain some symbols that, to The Numerical Tarot, could hint to thier unique position within the matrix of inter-related ideas being presented on this site. The Numerical Tarot has an association of seasons to suits that is a bit different than tradition (see The Quaternary and the Elements elsewhere on this site). To The Numerical Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles shows us the garden of the Magician card, symbolizing the forces of Spring. The Ace of Cups (Roses in The Isomorphic Tarot deck) shows us an abundance of water, a symbol of the subconscious yin forces at work in the suit of Summer. Then, the earth tones in the landscape of the Ace of Wands symbolize the forces of Autumn. And finally, the cold blue mountains, behind the Ace of Swords, symbolizes the forces of Winter.Looking at the nines, we see two kinds of finite endings, as well as two kinds of infinite non-endings. In the 9 of Pentacles we have an ending involving a woman in a garden, surrounded by a wall of 'fruition,' symbolized by the grapes, or 'fru-it', all around her. This is the same garden as the one seen in the Ace, but with much more growth. This card marks the finite tangible end of the positive or ameliorative number lines.Moving to the 9 of Wands , we see a different kind of wall, symbolizing the finite ending of a negative deteriorative number line. Here we have a very determined looking man standing guard against an unknown enemy. To The Numerical Tarot, the wall of wands behind him is seen as an impenetrable obstacle, or a finite dead end - abrupt, arresting and futile.For our two infinite non-endings, we turn to the suit of Cups (Roses in The Isomorphic Tarot deck). In the 9 of Cups, we see a man sitting in front of a table, displaying a full and plentiful wealth of cups. He symbolizes eternal happiness and a bright future, the emotional counterpart to the 9 of Pentacles' fruition.' In the 9 of Swords we see the negative side of eternity. Here, the endless empty reaches of darkness, brings fear in the night. Nightmares and insanity plague the occupant of this card as a look into the great abyss disturbs her sleep.ON THE MATRIX - These are the basic concepts of these various cards (the 1s and 9s), but while all cards remain capable of describing both physical activities as well as emotional thought, we can gain additional insight by once again observing the eight positions each number holds on the matrix of overlapping influence.With this approach, we see how the Ace of Pentacles accurately represents the physical action of starting an endeavor, while the equidistant 9 represents the end of a thought process - like the answer to a question. In continuing, we see how the Ace of Cups represents the concept of a 'state of being,' in its purest form, while the 9 of Cups has already been described as the emotional equivalent to the 9 of Pentacles' fruition - emotional satisfaction.On the negative side, the Ace of Wands represents the action of a false start or bad start, while the thought process of the 9 of Wands, represents the stubborn mind, or oppressed mind, as false starts lead to dead ends. The Ace of Swords then represents the state of a determined mind on the brink of giving up, while the 9 of Swords reveals the dark emotions behind the oppression of the 9 of Wands, and the even darker emotions behind a literal physical death of tangible things, found in the 9 of Wands. The woman in the 9 of Swords is grieving for whatever physical death took place in the correlative 9 of Wands.BACK TO MAJORS - In relating these cards back to the Majors we can see how the Ace of Pentacles represents the Magicians intellect and incipient will to begin (as well as his garden), while the Ace of Cups represents his hypnotic presence. On the other side we can see how the Ace of Wands represents the fatalistic mind with its false starts, while the Ace of Swords represents a cold and stolid presence.On the other side we can see how the multiferous infinity of the 9 of Cups and the fruitful conclusion of the 9 of Pentacles relate to the consummate knowledge of the Hermit. While the vacuous infinity of the 9 of Swords and the abrupt and arresting conclusion of the 9 of Wands relate to the idea of literal death and darkness, as seen in the Moon card.IN THE ISOMORPHIC TAROT DECK, a good beginning is symbolized by a rising sun and a starting gun. On the opposite deteriorate side, a turtle, snail and inchworm symbolize a very slow beginning. In the suit of Roses, the idea of intellectual brilliance is seen in the light bulb. On the other deteriorate side, the idea of intellectual stupidity is seen in the cold dead brain as well as the fool's cap.A fruitful ending is seen in a flag atop a mountain peak, in the 9 of Coins. On the deteriorate side, a dead end is seen in a tombstone and vulcher, in the 9 of Staves. In the suit of Roses, a happy perpetuity is seen in a fountain, rainbow and cornecopea. On the deteriorate side, an unhappy perpetuity is seen in bats coming out of hell, in the 9 of Swords.IN THE NUMERICAL TAROT DECK, (UNDER CONSTRUCTION, COME BACK LATER!) |
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