numbers
Responding to jmd's two requests for clarification:
1. I agree that the elemental attribution is not clear-cut. I tend to follow the Golden Dawn here, though. In the Sefer Yetzirah, temperate is "revayah," the same word translated as "runneth over" in Psalm xxiii, and the Temperance angel is pouring water from one overflowing cup into another, so Cups are Water. Coins measure how many material toys you can buy, so are Earth. Ore for a Sword must go through fire and water with a steam byproduct, so Swords are Air, leaving Wands as bound energy, or Fire.
2. I would prefer scenic pips because the numerical patterns in the Marseille only suggest rather abstract mathematical ideas to me. (Details on request.) I miss the visual suggestions in the Waite (or even Thoth). This is because I am a fairly weak visualizer and not terribly intuitive overall. From another point of view, creating a qabalah-related deck inspired by the Marseille majors and Levi-Papus system might give a qabalist a way to express his or her ideas about qabalah beyond what could be put easily into words.
Hope this answers your questions. If not, I can try again.
Regards,
"Numbers"
1. I agree that the elemental attribution is not clear-cut. I tend to follow the Golden Dawn here, though. In the Sefer Yetzirah, temperate is "revayah," the same word translated as "runneth over" in Psalm xxiii, and the Temperance angel is pouring water from one overflowing cup into another, so Cups are Water. Coins measure how many material toys you can buy, so are Earth. Ore for a Sword must go through fire and water with a steam byproduct, so Swords are Air, leaving Wands as bound energy, or Fire.
2. I would prefer scenic pips because the numerical patterns in the Marseille only suggest rather abstract mathematical ideas to me. (Details on request.) I miss the visual suggestions in the Waite (or even Thoth). This is because I am a fairly weak visualizer and not terribly intuitive overall. From another point of view, creating a qabalah-related deck inspired by the Marseille majors and Levi-Papus system might give a qabalist a way to express his or her ideas about qabalah beyond what could be put easily into words.
Hope this answers your questions. If not, I can try again.
Regards,
"Numbers"