Tarot of the Sephirot and Black Magic ??

[novenovembre]

Years ago, a friend came to visit me from Israel, and she asked me what I wanted her to bring me froom there. I had just started getting into tarot, and asked her for an Israeli tarot deck. She didn't know anything about tarot, so she bought what they advised her in the shop, the Tarot of the Sephirot. I didn't like the deck, it was reminescent of the Crowley, which I had always found a bit sinister, but even more so....I never used it, but kept it because it was a present. The other day I was showing it to a friend who studies exoteric science, and I was shocked when he told me that in the cards there was a lot of black magic symbolism. In particular, here's some of the main things he noticed :

This was the biggest detail : the Wheel of Fortune turns clockwise, whereas it is supposed to turn anti-clockwise, as in the RW.

The emperor looks like the Devil, he wears a red cloak and has horns-a capricorn's head, or something more sinister ...?

In the Star, there's a naked woman looking into a pool of water, and you see her image reflected, so that you see her image upside down.

Temperance is pouring two vases both of which seem to contain water into a third....if it's supposed to be alchemy, it doesn't work like that anyway; it works as in the RW, you pour one element into the other, not in a third container, to avoid contamination. Also, underneath Temperance, there are what look very clearly like the flames of hell.

I became curious, and for the first time, I read the booklet that came with the deck....the explanation of the Devil, which shows, in its own words, " a jolly devil with two naked human supplicants ", the divinatory meaning goes : " informed commitment, choice, perceptiveness, ironic wisdom. Having a sense of humour, being able to see the spiritual truth behind the facade of appearences.

Well....has anybody got any knowledge to comment on this ?
Thank you....

 

[senescal]

The wheel isn't turning clockwise there.

I'm not sure what you mean when you mention contamination in that alchemy reference. There's nothing to contaminate what is being poured from those vases.

Red is the color of the Emperor. Those are the horns of the ram, a reference to Aries.

I'm not sure why the flames in Temperance look so clearly like the fires of hell and not the fires of anything else. Why not the flames of creation, the fire of god, fire as the catalyst for the alchemical process etc?

Anyway, that's all standard Golden Dawn tarot symbolism and it's not satanic or black magical at all. Any book on the matter will clear away those impressions and help you enjoy that gift. It's a beautiful deck.

 

[Zephyros]

senescal is right, there is nothing in those images that would suggest anything sinister. Someone who was studying this stuff should probably have known better, unless they consider Kabbalah itself a from of black magic, which is just as absurd.

 

[novenovembre]

As far as the Golden Dawn is concerned, there are those who say that Crowley himself, was into black magic...I do not know this subject very well, though I've read about it, but I've heard about it a few times...I haven't known this guy for long, but he is particulary into alchemy, so I find it hard to believe that what he said about that had no foundation...in alchemical processes, apparently, you never pour two elements into a third container, but one directly into the other, exactly like it shows in the RW Temperance. but again, even so, obviously it doesn't mean the image was deliberately portraying something evil....

 

[novenovembre]

The wheel isn't turning clockwise there.

I'm not sure what you mean when you mention contamination in that alchemy reference. There's nothing to contaminate what is being poured from those vases.

Red is the color of the Emperor. Those are the horns of the ram, a reference to Aries.

I'm not sure why the flames in Temperance look so clearly like the fires of hell and not the fires of anything else. Why not the flames of creation, the fire of god, fire as the catalyst for the alchemical process etc?

Anyway, that's all standard Golden Dawn tarot symbolism and it's not satanic or black magical at all. Any book on the matter will clear away those impressions and help you enjoy that gift. It's a beautiful deck.

The feet around the wheel, especially the one at the bottom, clearly show the direction. It goes clockwise.
What about the interpretation of the Devil ? I had never heard of it before....

 

[senescal]

The feet around the wheel, especially the one at the bottom, clearly show the direction. It goes clockwise.
What about the interpretation of the Devil ? I had never heard of it before....

I see counter clockwise motion because of the purple curves. I find it hard to visualize it spinning any other way, but I now see where you come from.

The Devil card for many tarot specialists has little to do with that christian image of the devil, as an antagonist of god. If my qabalistic understanding (I mean, if one can even really understand qabalah at all) is right, there's no room for anything you would call an antagonist to anything you could call "god" in that paradigm.

The alchemical process shown in Temperance is not material, but spiritual. It's the balancing of opposites, of fundamental principles, active and passive, male and female, to achieve the great work. That's why I said there's no possible contamination. But that's just my understanding of the matter anyway, maybe your friend also has a valid point of view.

And about Golden Dawn, Crowley and black magic, I think we will have to establish what you are calling black magic anyway. But usually it requires a great deal of ill will and bending of facts to classify what was practiced and written in the GD documents and by Crowley as black/evil/dark magic.

 

[Zephyros]

Again I have little to add to the excellent post above mine. I don't know the significance of the direction the wheel turns, but I doubt it has anything to do with black magic (although senescal is right in saying that your definition for that is important).

As for the Devil, he isn't the Christian adversarial figure represented in many decks. He represents, if we go "by the book," interaction with one's environment, whatever that interaction may be (it's actually a bit more involved, but I'm trying to be brief). This can go both ways, good or bad, but isn't a more "evil" card than any other, and plays an important role in the overall picture.

As for the alchemical process you describe, I am not aware of that, so it may be true. However, the Thoth Temperance (called Art) shows a dramatically different picture than traditional decks of a figure pouring fire and water into a third receptacle (which symbolizes Death) illustrating that when things merge, they tend to lose the things that define them as individuals, but become something else in turn. The Sephiroths Temperance would seem to be influenced by this. Again, this has nothing to do with anything sinister and I have yet to see any mention of any book that it is.

Try to ask her for her sources, I'll hunt down a book or text he refers to even by a snippet of the name, I'll check it out.

 

[nisaba]

The other day I was showing it to a friend who studies exoteric science, and I was shocked when he told me that in the cards there was a lot of black magic symbolism.

What does the term "black magic" mean to you? I've been studying the occult since the middle 1970s, a fair few years now <smile> and to me and most serious occultists it means magic that is indigenous to black-skinned races. Since the late 1980s I've learnt a lot about Australian Aboriginal Magic, much of it very gentle and all of it based around ensuring life and growth - it is black magic. Conversely, the magic I practice, which comes from a Western European tradition is White Magic, even if I choose to Bind or Curse people or situations.

Magic designed to enhance tends to be referred to as "walking the right-hand path", and magic designed to limit is called "walking the left-hand path".

In particular, here's some of the main things he noticed :

This was the biggest detail : the Wheel of Fortune turns clockwise, whereas it is supposed to turn anti-clockwise, as in the RW.

So ... how does he know? Does the card have a moving picture? And no ... my copy of the RW does not have a moving picture.

If your friend knows anything of the occult (positive or negative), he's know that in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise is Deosil (following the path of the sun, positive) and anti-clockwise is widdershins (against the flow, or negative). He's also know that in the Southern Hemisphere this reverses. The coriolis effect, a natural meteorological phenomenon on which this belief is based, also does not and cannot take effect on things smaller than about fourteen metres in diameter, too.

The emperor looks like the Devil, he wears a red cloak

You have met the devil? Do tell. Red is the colour of blood circulation and therefore of healing. It is the colour of Fire and therefore of warmth, energy and protection. How is that negative?

and has horns-a capricorn's head, or something more sinister ...?

Horns symbolise animal life, the vigour and energy of livestock, and the gift of food they give to their human tribe. How is this negative? Shouldn't an Emperor be able to ensure that the population he rules have sufficient protein?

In the Star, there's a naked woman looking into a pool of water,

Nakedness represents innocence and purity, having nothing to hide and no reason to hide it. How is this sinister?

and you see her image reflected, so that you see her image upside down.

And you get to see her upright. Seeing yourself as you really are (as she would be seeing herself) is absolutely crucial to positive personal development. How is this sinister?

Temperance is pouring two vases both of which seem to contain water into a third....if it's supposed to be alchemy, it doesn't work like that anyway; it works as in the RW, you pour one element into the other, not in a third container, to avoid contamination.

In manufacturing pharmacy, you often pour two or more measured liquids into a joint receptacle to produce the final blend. In fact, pouring substance A from a test tube meant for it into a test tube meant only for substance B, will contaminate the B-test tube to the point where even after sterilisation it can't be used.

And that's from modern pharmacy, which grew out of alchemy. How many years' study does your friend have in either discipline, pharmacy or alchemy?

Also, underneath Temperance, there are what look very clearly like the flames of hell.

Look like, to whom?

We are water-based life-forms, and live on a Watery planet. The origins of life have to do with the blending of different organic chemicals in primordial waters. But they would never have been given a kick into actual reproducing life without electricity and geothermal heat - elemental Fire. Water needs Fire to become Life. How is that sinister?

I became curious, and for the first time, I read the booklet that came with the deck....

<smile> If it was a little white book inside the actual Tarot deck and not an accompanying book written by the creator of the deck, let me tell you, these are rarely written by the creator of the decks, usually by hack copy-writers employed by publishers who know even less than most of us. LWBs are famous for it.

I would dearly love to hear your friend's credentials.

 

[novenovembre]

I see counter clockwise motion because of the purple curves. I find it hard to visualize it spinning any other way, but I now see where you come from.

The Devil card for many tarot specialists has little to do with that christian image of the devil, as an antagonist of god. If my qabalistic understanding (I mean, if one can even really understand qabalah at all) is right, there's no room for anything you would call an antagonist to anything you could call "god" in that paradigm.

The alchemical process shown in Temperance is not material, but spiritual. It's the balancing of opposites, of fundamental principles, active and passive, male and female, to achieve the great work. That's why I said there's no possible contamination. But that's just my understanding of the matter anyway, maybe your friend also has a valid point of view.

And about Golden Dawn, Crowley and black magic, I think we will have to establish what you are calling black magic anyway. But usually it requires a great deal of ill will and bending of facts to classify what was practiced and written in the GD documents and by Crowley as black/evil/dark magic.

Again, I'm certainly not in a position to make a strong argument myself; just reporting my superficial knowledge from what other, more expert people have told me or that little I read on the subject myself....having said that, I've looked at the Wheel long and hard after reading your last post, and it is still very clear to me that the feet are going clockwise....your point about the purple curves, I tried to see it your way, but to me, the curves do nothing to reenforce your theory.....
Alchemical processes are carried out the way I described above. The guy I mentioned is a student of alchemy, and whatever else I think or know about him-not much, really-he's damn serious about it....True, the alchemical process described in Temperance is metaphorical, and you could argue that it doesn't have to be correct from the technical point of view, but surely someone who designes a tarot deck should take that into account....but I accept that that's not the strongest evidence in favour of my friend's theory.....
I totally agree with what you said about the Devil, and I for one, have never believed in the Good/Evil (or God/Devil) dichotomy as traditionally described; still, you have to admit it is weird that the description of the Devil there is so different from that of all other decks, (well the huge majority anyway....)....he's an amusing character there, bearer of irony, wisdom, informed choice, and a whole series of good qualities....not saying it's right or wrong; just...peculiar ? But then again, I'm not a scholar of Cabbalah....
Again, not an expert there.....but, if I remember correctly, I read somewhere that even Crowley's mother was well known for being into black magic rituals...and that, when she was pregnant with him, she referred to him as the son of the beast....and claimed that he was going to be extremely powerful in that field....historical malicious gossip ? Maybe...Given some time, I might find the source....

 

[novenovembre]

Again I have little to add to the excellent post above mine. I don't know the significance of the direction the wheel turns, but I doubt it has anything to do with black magic (although senescal is right in saying that your definition for that is important).

As for the Devil, he isn't the Christian adversarial figure represented in many decks. He represents, if we go "by the book," interaction with one's environment, whatever that interaction may be (it's actually a bit more involved, but I'm trying to be brief). This can go both ways, good or bad, but isn't a more "evil" card than any other, and plays an important role in the overall picture.

As for the alchemical process you describe, I am not aware of that, so it may be true. However, the Thoth Temperance (called Art) shows a dramatically different picture than traditional decks of a figure pouring fire and water into a third receptacle (which symbolizes Death) illustrating that when things merge, they tend to lose the things that define them as individuals, but become something else in turn. The Sephiroths Temperance would seem to be influenced by this. Again, this has nothing to do with anything sinister and I have yet to see any mention of any book that it is.

Try to ask her for her sources, I'll hunt down a book or text he refers to even by a snippet of the name, I'll check it out.

See my post to Senecar for some of the points you both raised....I certainly will ask him for some titles of his sources, and let you know, in fact I might even invite him to join the discussion, if that is allowed....surely he will be much better than me at defending his theories....Just to add, that apparently, the Wheel turning clockwise, as opposed to anticlockwise, is typical of black magic....but let me add this trivial, certainly irrelevant comment....don't you find that ALL the images in those cards, beautifully drawn as they are, are all a bit devilish and disturbing ?? Just look at their eyes....