An Introduction to the Tarot as taught by Ra

[Shin'Ar]

That's fine, but doesn't quite answer the question.

Do you want the list of all or any particular decks that would pass the test?

If you are unfamiliar with what I speak of, I would suggest you start by studying the ancient Egyptian symbols found on many of the Egyptian artifacts. The symbology is present throughout. And then compare what you find there with the Brotherhood of Light decks. However I would avoid the interpretation of The Sacred Tarot by CC. Zain in my opinion.

[zenmaster]

If you are suggesting there is a purer, extant deck, I'm all ears.

[JustLikeYou]

Zenmaster, I am assuming that Ra's historical account is accurate. If this is so, the original Egyptian deck -- as given by Ra to the priests -- is, of course, not available. The next best thing would be a deck which was personally stated by Ra to be reasonably similar. This would be the BoL deck and any like it.

[zenmaster]

The next best thing would be a deck which was personally stated by Ra to be reasonably similar. This would be the BoL deck and any like it.

Back when I was studying all this, I did notice BoL decks which varied in the level of detail pointed out by Don. For example, the bent leg of the sphinxes on the chariot card - some have both legs bent the same way, other depictions do not. Yet, at this seemingly gross level of detail, both presumably would be considered "reasonably similar". If that is indeed the case, then my take is the BoL card symbology is not "giving them a voice" as much as the accompanying instruction and their respective or relative depictions (on a "gross" level).

[JustLikeYou]

You have a keen eye, zenmaster. It is at this point that I have found the necessity of satisfying myself with the closest deck I can find. My real concern is the cards whose symbols were not covered in detail by Don. While the ultimate deciding factor in choosing a deck was personal resonance, the nominal goal was to find a deck of cards that can be safely assumed to be within a reasonable tolerance of similarity to the original images given by Ra, so that I could move forward on archetypes 8-22 without too much concern for distractions and omissions concerning symbolism. I know they are present, but I'll just have to trust my intuition on this one.

I get the impression that you doubt the usefulness of the deck based on the confused banter of C.C. Zane within his companion book. This is a very good point. And it is primarily this reason which gives me the feeling that it is not the "ultimate" deck for me. But it is the best I've got right now.

[Shin'Ar]

Do not base the interpretations of another as the method of deciding the credibility of the deck. And certainly do not allow the criticism of one who is not able to make a connection with the cards be a dissuasion to you. If you are knowledgable of the symbols and can make a connection with the cards and the client, than you and they will know when it is revealed.

[JustLikeYou]

My point is that Zain drew these depictions. While it is obvious that they are based on older images, his additions are certainly there. The Hanged Man, for example, is depicted with fruiting grape vines growing up and around the two trees from which the man hangs. I have not seen these grape vines in any other image. Facts like this make me wonder which symbols have been added and/or removed by someone who does not seem to grasp what it is he is depicting.

Can you tell me, Shin'Ar, why you place such emphasis on the relationship between cards and client? There are many who do not use them for divination and still others who only divine for themselves and not others.

[BlatzAdict]

The card that confuses me every time I receive it is the Tower.

What do you take from this card?

The Tower sits in the Chain of Spirit. It is the second card:

Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, World

if we ignore the first card, and the last 2, we have:

Tower, Star, Moon, Sun.

this forms a direct sequence, because the true name of the Tower is the Lightning Struck Tower.

the sequence now makes sense because it represents increasing intensities and consistencies of Light, ie,

Tower: a flash of illumination in a dark stormy Night
Star: a brief flickering speck of light, that lasts for hours
Moon: an orb of light that waxes and wanes over time
Sun: a steady bright life-sustaining Light that illuminates All

you can see that the Tower kick starts you on your Journey. It is normally considered a disruptive card, because the Flash of Lightning shows you something that you hadn't seen before, didn't even know existed. It changes your opinion or perspective on Things.

- -

plenum can you please do this for all of the cards please please please?

This. I feel you have broken into the main essence of each card, is exactly what I needed, I tried to go the other studious route with the royal road that Carla suggested, but it just wasn't floating my fancy.
I don't care much for the astrological connection or the biblical connections. I just want to know the main idea so I can more easily apply it to my life, and plus this would be a great teaching tool!


it's funny how then devil will signify the lack of light or the inward turning of light, selfishness, service to self, to contrast with the sun, who serves all.

It's one big transition to go from sts to STO.. or rather unawakened sts, to awakened sto

but please... do this for all the cards pleaseeeeeeeeeee

[Shin'Ar]

Can you tell me, Shin'Ar, why you place such emphasis on the relationship between cards and client? There are many who do not use them for divination and still others who only divine for themselves and not others.

my answer to your second question will also help to answer your first concern about Zain's imagery.

Our entire universe is designed in such a way that fields of consciousness interact with each other and share information. Each of us is a field of consciousness interacting with the One Consciousness and with every other field that we come into contact with that is able to share with our own.

These fields are interacting all around us all the time and when we become aware of this we can also attempt to direct and initiate these interactions. This is what many would call 'magic', and others psychic ability.

But, in some cases we may not be aware of a particular interaction, yet this does not mean that it is not taking place. The electromagnetic field of the planet creates all sorts of reactions that we never see happening.

And so when two fields of consciousness come together a sacred space of sharing information is created between them where they merge. This is known as the Mandorle. It has been symbolized throughout ancient history as the 'Eye", both because of the shape it creates between two circles and because it is actually the place where two consciousnesses see what is shared between them. The Catholics have perverted the Vesica Pisces to symbolize the Chrsitian fish sign of gathering a flock, the fishing of the Apostles. It was known for thousands of years prior to that as the Mandorle and the Eye of God. The Peacock Angel's tail plumage is the manifestation of the many eyes of God.

This Sacred Space is what is created between the reader, the cards and the client. Each has its field of consciousness and all share in this natural connection and interaction. It seems supernatural to those who do not understand it. But to those who are intuitively sensitive it is very natural. This becomes the connection between reader and client that allows for intuitive sharing as well as interpretation of the cards if one is understanding of the true symbolism, and other schools of knowledge that are involved. Each degree of understanding and knowledge adds to the intensity of the sharing.

This same sharing takes place even when we are not aware of it as I said earlier. And when someone has delved into that interaction through study they can be influenced subconsciously, and truth and memory can be shared even though the person has not been aware of the sharing.

Zain may have redesigned the imagery but in this case that did not affect the vibratory symbolism of the card's intentions. I can attest to that personally. Many times such manipulation can deactivate the vibration of the cards. And many personal opinions can alter the entire purpose behind them.

In Zain's case, I think his intentions were honest and his background and understanding sound enough that no harm was done. Much of what he teaches does resonate to a degree, but there is also much that he missed. And his lack of intuitive ability to properly interpret the symbolism does not mean that the true symbolism cannot still be seen in his design. It simply means that he could not translate it accurately.

If one studies the Emerald Tablets one will easily see the corrolation between the initiate and the teacher. The symbolism was created for the purpose of leading the intitate ever so subtly, as were the ancient legends and tales that were infused with such symbolism. That purpose and system is part of an interaction that is far more powerful than the interferences of any one person. it is the vast interaction of a universe of memory and knowledge shared between fields as it has done for billions of years.

As we learn to understand it, the connection becomes stronger within us.

[ergoneris]

Here is my take on this wonderful teachings on the Tarot.

My site is solely dedicated to this subject, feel free to comment, please...

www.ergoneris.org

[Confused]

The Law of One material recommends that we choose one system of study when it comes to dealing with archetypes. The choices that Ra presents to us are:

* astrology
* kaballah
* or the tarot

Ra has an affinity for the last option, as the Tarot was used on Venus as a spiritual teaching tool with great success. A great chunk of the later sessions of channeled material deal with the tarot and its various intricacies. As presented by Ra, the tarot takes on an ordered system; and each and every card is placed there for a reason, and is full of relationships to each other. In the following, I try to present a paraphrase of the overall system, without getting too bogged down in all the detailed analysis. The original text is there for you to read when you are ready to take the plunge.

The following is strictly my personal interpretation as best I understand it; I place this disclaimer right up front.

Some background first: I had no knowledge of the Tarot before reading the Ra material. Zero.

I skipped or skimmed most of the Tarot related sessions in my first couple of years working with the Law of One. It just seemed to complicated, too arcane.

I eventually realised, though, that this stuff was super important for clearing blockages and balancing the personality, so I tried to understand as much as I could. Ra gives you everything you need in his answers; it is just that you have to memorise and internalise a few facts before you can really begin the Work proper. I will try to lay out those facts as best I understand them.

- -

Principle 1: there are 21 Major Cards, these are called the Major Arcana. There is also a Fool Card which can be labelled 0 or 22 depending on your fancy. We stick with the 21 Major Cards first.

Principle 2: The first 7 Cards deal with the Mind, the next 7 deal with the Body, and the last 7 have the subject of the Spirit. Each card is placed in a stepwise fashion; like the rungs on a ladder, you go from one to the next, and don't skip a step. This will make more sense below.

Principle 3: try to imagine the three sets of 7 as three ladders next to each other. The first ladder is the Mind, the second is the Body, and the third is the Spirit. There are 7 rungs on each ladder.

Principle 4: each of these rungs or steps on the ladder is what we call an Archetype. An archetype is like a vortex of energy, or a pool of ideas. It becomes what we need it to become. An Archetype can also be seen as an Experience or an Understanding.

Principle 5: The first rung of each ladder bears a common relationship to each other. Imagine the first step of each ladder as being the same color. Then the second step of each ladder is the same color, but a different color to the first step. Can you see this? There will be 7 groups of colors, going horizontally across the steps of the three ladders.

- -

enough of the heavy stuff for the moment. How about we deal with some Names? before we even see the Cards themselves, let your mind dance over the following words. In time, they will become part of your consciousness.

7 Steps of Mind - Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot

7 Steps of Body - Balance, Wisdom, Wheel of Fortune, Enchantress, Hanged Man, Death, Alchemist

7 Steps of Spirit - Devil, the Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, the World

each of these steps represents a unique Energy or Vibration. You will learn to tune into them, and get a personal understanding of the meaning it represents in your life.

Ra suggests we start at the first step of each ladder, try to understand it, then move onto the next step. Once we get a grasp of that step, move up the ladder again. Go step by step, patiently and with a receptive heart. Try to intuit that which your mind cannot consciously grasp at this stage.

Once you reach the top of each ladder, the work isn't finished!

Ra then says: go back to the bottom of the ladders, and consider the Rungs in groups of Three. These will be the horizontal colors that I described in Principle 5 above. So: take the first rung of each ladder (the first step of Mind is the Magician, the first step of Body is Balance, the first step of Spirit is the Devil) and consider how these 3 Archetypes as a group might connect and inform each other.

- -

this sounds like a lot of work! why should I do this?

well, you don't. It's your choice.

well ... at least give me a sales pitch. You didn't write all this for nothing, did you?

Ra says that by understanding each of these 21 Energies or Archetypes, we can clear almost any blockage in our mind, body, or spirit. We can accelerate our spiritual path by accurately identifying, then resolving, what lesson or experience we are trying to learn. It means that when we get knocked out of our peace of mind, we can quickly and decisively return to the place of peace. That doesn't mean it is easy or doesn't take committed meditation to understanding the lesson; but it does mean that we have a reliable tool for working through all sorts of catalyst. The Tarot is like a swiss-army knife for consciousness.

- -

one interjection that I will add that has no textual support in the Ra material is that you can color the steps of the ladder from red to orange to yellow and all the way up to violet. The 7 colors of the rainbow if you will. And then identify the red rungs as the first chakra, the orange rungs as the second chakra, etc.

This is STRICTLY my personal addition to the above understandings. I don't believe that Ra made any reference to this from what I can recall. But it has helped me personally decode the meanings of some of the Archetypes.

good luck on your Tarot journey if you choose to begin it! and remember - always go back to the Source! The Law of One is there, and is a 6th Density source of Wisdom and Compassionate Understanding.

primary text always!

Thank you for this very wonderful post, plenum! Only a far-advanced mind, dedicated to the study of all things spiritual can do such a beautifully simple analysis and presentation of a complicated subject. I find the Tarot too complex and in fact do not bother much about it all. However, your presentation cleared much stuff for me, in terms of intellectual understanding, at least. Thank you.

[AnthroHeart]

If I recall correctly, tarot is for 3D understanding. When we go on to 4D and higher, there will be other teaching tools.

I haven't been too focused on the study of archetypes. I guess I'm just trying to get the basics down first.

[fox17]

I have a hard time reading on the computer screen so I may have missed a reference to the following ideas in this thread, but in regard to plenum finding a connection between the 7 rungs (of the 3 ladders) and the 7 chakras, Ra did have the following to say:

78.31 Questioner: How about the seven bodily energy centers? Are they related to archetypes in some way?

Ra: I am Ra. The same may be said of these. It is informative to view the relationships but stifling to insist upon the limitations of congruency. Recall at all times, if you would use this term, that the archetypes are a portion of the resources of the mind complex.

Right before that Don asked and Ra stated:

78.30 Questioner: Are the seven archetypes for mind a function of or related to the seven densities that are to be experienced in the octave?

Ra: I am Ra. The relationship is tangential in that no congruency may be seen. However, the progress through the archetypes has some of the characteristics of the progress through the densities. These relationships may be viewed without being, shall we say, pasted one upon the other.

This upward progress also fits the ladder concept.

Sorry if this material is repetition or out of context. I'm very new at this online forum idea but I'd like to get involved with it.

I too find myself making connections between things in this world and the chakras and the densities and will look more at how the archetypes might relate to each of them.

[ilindahrox]

The Tarot has followed me throughout my life up this point over and above all the other 'tools' that have also been of interest i.e. astrology, numerology, etc.

It wasn't until the beginning of 2012 i decided that i was going to enroll in a tarot workshop where i can learn the basics alongside a small intimate group (6-8 total) of other tarot enthusiasts. this was an amazing experience for me where i could see a broader interpretation of the same set of cards and developing my own 'feel' for the cards reading with my own signs, insights, etc that the others may not have picked up either.

For years have been preparing to develop my own unique set of tarot cards (major arcana) using my own culture, legends, ancestry, symbols, mythology, etc

Ans before my first workshop i wanted to get a tarot card reading from the actual tutor who was teaching the classes. so i booked an appointment and asked my ancestors, spirit guides and guardian angels to walk with me. i told them that if she was the one they had guided me to, then she will pick it up on her own without me telling her.

so i arrived to the reading. she and i went into her room. and just as i was about to sit down she took this big gasp for air and blurted out, "OMG! you will be developing your own deck and im supposed to help you!!"

i said yes i am, now lets do a reading and sign me up for a tarot workshop asap.


since, the journey has been amazing. i have used the 24 clock to also help me remember the major arcanas...e.g. when it was 2o'clock. i'd go, oh its the priestess o'clock...7o'clock was the chariot o'clock, etc this made it fun...and i tell you it STUCK in no time. plus i made sure that i had my own time with each card to feel for myself and build a personal relationship with each before understanding the interpretations in the tarot bible, etc and yes i have noticed that every reading i've given so far for others, they feel different and specific to the individual. i also make it a point to have the client interact with their own spread...where depending on how i feel, i ask them to interpret their own cards first...then i fine-tune the reading. this gives them confidence within themselves to trust their own feelings, inner guidance, etc reminding them that the 'tarot' is a mirror like everything else in their experience...this they can open up to the symbols, signs, all around them. its a wonderful approach.

sometimes...i flip one card and i feel thats all they need in that moment.

my $0.02

[DynamicBri]

Licence: Commercial use with modification.

[Plenum]

very nice Bri!

The only thing is - in my mental image - I have the mental ladder in the middle, and the Body ladder on the left.  So the mind as the central core.

Just my own personal image though

/ /

I do it that way, because the mind is the central concept.  And a quick shift left (to the body), or quick shift right (to the spirit) enables it to connect with those other 2 modalities of beingness.

It also then captures the movement from right to left (spirit --> mind --> body) of the energies of manifestation.

From Session 2

There are crystals which work upon the energies coming into the spiritual body; there are crystals which work upon the distortions from spirit to mind; there are crystals which balance the distortions between the mind and the body. All of these crystal healings are charged through purified channels.

[AstralOrphan]

Thank you, Plenum! This was very insightful and has inspired me to pick up my deck again and continue to study.

I was wondering, a deck of Tarot cards is typically 78 cards, the Major Arcana comprising of 21/22, and the Minor Arcana is the other 56 - does Ra mention the Minor Arcana? Or do you have any insights to offer about the rest of the Tarot cards?

Love + Light ~

[Jade]

Thank you, Plenum! This was very insightful and has inspired me to pick up my deck again and continue to study.

I was wondering, a deck of Tarot cards is typically 78 cards, the Major Arcana comprising of 21/22, and the Minor Arcana is the other 56 - does Ra mention the Minor Arcana? Or do you have any insights to offer about the rest of the Tarot cards?

Love + Light ~

Hi AstralOrphan!

Ra says that the Minor Arcana were added much later than the original Major Arcana that Ra gave to the Egyptians, and that they are generally used for astrological/predictive purposes.

88.22 Questioner: Were the Court Arcana and the Minor Arcana a portion of Ra’s teachings or was this something that came along later?


Ra: I am Ra. Those cards of which you speak were the product of the influence of those of Chaldea and Sumer.

88.23 Questioner: You mentioned earlier that the tarot was a method of divination. Would you explain that?

Ra: I am Ra. We must first divorce the tarot as a method of divination from this Major Arcana as representative of twenty-two archetypes of the archetypical mind.

The value of that which you call astrology is significant when used by those initiated entities which understand, if you will pardon the misnomer, the sometimes intricate considerations of the Law of Confusion. As each planetary influence enters the energy web of your sphere those upon the sphere are moved much as the moon which moves about your sphere moves the waters upon your deeps. Your own nature is water in that you as mind/body/spirit complexes are easily impressed and moved. Indeed, this is the very fiber and nature of your journey and vigil in this density: to not only be moved but to instruct yourself as to the preferred manner of your movement in mind, body, and spirit.

Therefore, as each entity enters the planetary energy web each entity experiences two major planetary influxes, that of the conception, which has to do with the physical, yellow-ray manifestation of the incarnation, and that of the moment you call birth when the breath is first drawn into the body complex of chemical yellow ray. Thus those who know the stars and their configurations and influences are able to see a rather broadly drawn map of the country through which an entity has traveled, is traveling, or may be expected to travel, be it upon the physical, the mental, or the spiritual level. Such an entity will have developed abilities of the initiate which are normally known among your peoples as psychic or paranormal.

When the archetypes are shuffled into the mix of astrologically oriented cards which form the so-called Court Arcana and Minor Arcana these archetypes become magnetized to the psychic impressions of the one working with the cards, and thusly become instruments of a linkage between the practitioner of the astrological determinations and divinations and the one requesting information. Oft times such archetypical representations will appear in such a manner as to have seemingly interesting results, meaningful in configuration to the questioner. In and of themselves, the Major Arcana have no rightful place in divination but, rather, are tools for the further knowledge of the self by the self for the purpose of entering a more profoundly, acutely realized present moment.

[DynamicBri]

I am Brian. This is an helpful comment. I thank you.

very nice Bri!

The only thing is - in my mental image - I have the mental ladder in the middle, and the Body ladder on the left.  So the mind as the central core.

Just my own personal image though

/ /

I do it that way, because the mind is the central concept.  And a quick shift left (to the body), or quick shift right (to the spirit) enables it to connect with those other 2 modalities of beingness.

It also then captures the movement from right to left (spirit --> mind --> body) of the energies of manifestation.

From Session 2

There are crystals which work upon the energies coming into the spiritual body; there are crystals which work upon the distortions from spirit to mind; there are crystals which balance the distortions between the mind and the body. All of these crystal healings are charged through purified channels.

[Plenum]

no probs Brian

[Plenum]

Thank you, Plenum! This was very insightful and has inspired me to pick up my deck again and continue to study.

I was wondering, a deck of Tarot cards is typically 78 cards, the Major Arcana comprising of 21/22, and the Minor Arcana is the other 56 - does Ra mention the Minor Arcana? Or do you have any insights to offer about the rest of the Tarot cards?

Love + Light ~

Hi there AstralOrphan!

I think Jade already answered the bulk of your question.  And that was the Ra quote that came to mind for me as well.

In terms of the second part of your question, no, I haven't really delved into the Minor Arcana much.  Well - I did explore it some, when I first got into the tarot and was utterly entranced by this organized system.  After all, it's the root of the modern gambling deck of cards, used for blackjack and poker, and whatnot.

So yeah, nothing really to offer there.  

Although - you probably already know this - but the elements of the Cups, Wands, Discs, and Swords is extremely profound.  And so really saturating yourself in the archetypal resonances of each of those Minor Arcana cards has the potential to identify balances/imbalances in the psyche.  Ie, being quite sensitive to which Understandings are subtlely attractive or repulsive on a deeper level.

[DynamicBri]

How would I elegantly put The Fool card in this illustration?
And perhaps I could add an array of key symbols next to each card label as vector art.

[Plenum]

How would I elegantly put The Fool card in this illustration?

I personally put it above card 7, and label it card 22.

That way, it exemplifies that it's the 'crown', and that the Choice/Fool is whole intent/purpose behind moving through these archetypes.

Alternatively, it could be Card 0, and sit below the Magician, and have it as a 'starting point', which is how the traditional Major/Minor Arcana is arranged.

But I think having it as 22 gives it the most prominent position.  And doesn't really mean that it's the 'end point'.  The Choice is an ongoing, moment-by-moment thing.  In how we choose to relate to ourselves.

Having it at 22 also makes it easy to pair with the Significators: which is how Ra recommended that further investigations could happen (pairing certain types of cards, I mean).

And perhaps I could add an array of key symbols next to each card label as vector art.

<thumbs up>

[Cobrien]

The tarot is a good blueprint for shaping the astral light.

Something to consider is the haunting effect, Ra mentions.

Also when Ra talks about the sexual biases in the cards he means it.

Kabbalah has more easily discerned correspondences due to the distortion of the tarot images.

Inner transformation is easily approached by holding the paired card to the intending aspect and seeking the antithesis thru the other card. Often since the tarot was developed with far more harmonious relationships the sexual bias is apparent.

Rather than have a clear visual of the image getting the gist which functions to shuttle energy is more important.

It is my personal belief not to care too much about metaphysical concepts. I feel much has been overly assigned and classified. The emotional hue of a concept is easily lost to the conscious or rather never found.

[Joyful Soul]

Hi Bring4th_Plenum,

Thank you for your summary of Ra's material on Tarot.
Recently I've started looking into this topic and I find your post to be very helpful.

Once again, thank you.

Wish love and light,
Joyful Soul

[kenney]

If i may add, from my perspective having graduated from the Church of Light and having mastered their way before moving on.

Studying the tarot as it is presented by Zain may be the single MOST (and i can not emphasize this enough) MOST worthwhile en devour anyone can take if they are attempting to unravel the Ra books for their own personal development. I found them (by then the Church of Light of course) in the late nineties, when I told Carla how lonely I was and I had reached my limit of learning alone, it was her suggestion. As an aside back then the only way I could get the Ra books was to write to L&L a letter and request a book, so I ended up sending a doantion with these big long letters telling why I was always loosing the first book giving it away to people hoping to make a friend to study with.

out of fear of becoming part of some crazy cult...i waited about 15 years to take her advice  

The following list are things that popped into my mind as I read all of the previous posts in this thread.

• C.C. Zain is Elbert Benjamin who along with George Llewellyn ( of Llewellyn publishing of course) would become the GIANTS of western astrology these two men and the small group around them would re-created astrology to encompass the discovery of the new planets. What we consider western modern astrology today was put in order by these two men, their friends, and their students.
  
  
•  study the cards singularly, as pairs, as trinities, as groups of seven, and cycles of nine. Investigate the alchemic use of the triangle, interlocked triangles (septenary), and the enneagram always placing the cards at each node/vertex point. Their interactions become apparent this way.
  
  
• By studying ALL of the tarot as it is set forth in the Brotherhood of Light course you learn a taste of Astrology, Kabbalah, Alchemy and Tarot. Passing all of the courses you will have mastered astrology and alchemy and tarot. Kabbalah is a totally different beast all together though it is discussed at length.
  
  
• clinging to the classical names of the cards is a mistake, burn into your soul "matrix of the mind, potentiator of the mind, Gateway of the soul, etc.." in no time you easily translate "the chariot" to "gateway of the mind" for instance.
  
  
• study the source of the Egyptian tarot, the books of Levi, Christian, and Papus in particular hold many clues and contain images and descriptions that are actually more in tune at times with the Ra view than the deck L&L had.
  
  
• Don's questioning slant would lead one to believe initially that the minor arcana is of less value than the majors, this is untrue. The major arcana is older and with a different source but the minors are highly relevant to our studies here.
  
  

[Plenum]

Thanks for the thoughts there kenney.

There's nothing like experience to offer a seasoned perspective.

Blessings.

[Osiris_Phoenix]

The Law of One material recommends that we choose one system of study when it comes to dealing with archetypes. The choices that Ra presents to us are:

* astrology
* kaballah
* or the tarot

Ra has an affinity for the last option, as the Tarot was used on Venus as a spiritual teaching tool with great success. A great chunk of the later sessions of channeled material deal with the tarot and its various intricacies. As presented by Ra, the tarot takes on an ordered system; and each and every card is placed there for a reason, and is full of relationships to each other.  In the following, I try to present a paraphrase of the overall system, without getting too bogged down in all the detailed analysis. The original text is there for you to read when you are ready to take the plunge.  

The following is strictly my personal interpretation as best I understand it; I place this disclaimer right up front.

Some background first: I had no knowledge of the Tarot before reading the Ra material. Zero.

I skipped or skimmed most of the Tarot related sessions in my first couple of years working with the Law of One. It just seemed to complicated, too arcane.

I eventually realised, though, that this stuff was super important for clearing blockages and balancing the personality, so I tried to understand as much as I could.  Ra gives you everything you need in his answers; it is just that you have to memorise and internalise a few facts before you can really begin the Work proper.  I will try to lay out those facts as best I understand them.

- -

Principle 1: there are 21 Major Cards, these are called the Major Arcana. There is also a Fool Card which can be labelled 0 or 22 depending on your fancy.  We stick with the 21 Major Cards first.

Principle 2: The first 7 Cards deal with the Mind, the next 7 deal with the Body, and the last 7 have the subject of the Spirit.  Each card is placed in a stepwise fashion; like the rungs on a ladder, you go from one to the next, and don't skip a step.  This will make more sense below.

Principle 3: try to imagine the three sets of 7 as three ladders next to each other.  The first ladder is the Mind, the second is the Body, and the third is the Spirit.  There are 7 rungs on each ladder.

Principle 4: each of these rungs or steps on the ladder is what we call an Archetype. An archetype is like a vortex of energy, or a pool of ideas.  It becomes what we need it to become.  An Archetype can also be seen as an Experience or an Understanding.

Principle 5: The first rung of each ladder bears a common relationship to each other.  Imagine the first step of each ladder as being the same color.  Then the second step of each ladder is the same color, but a different color to the first step.  Can you see this?  There will be 7 groups of colors, going horizontally across the steps of the three ladders.

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enough of the heavy stuff for the moment.  How about we deal with some Names?  before we even see the Cards themselves, let your mind dance over the following words.  In time, they will become part of your consciousness.

7 Steps of Mind - Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot

7 Steps of Body - Balance, Wisdom, Wheel of Fortune, Enchantress, Hanged Man, Death, Alchemist

7 Steps of Spirit - Devil, the Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, the World

each of these steps represents a unique Energy or Vibration.  You will learn to tune into them, and get a personal understanding of the meaning it represents in your life.

Ra suggests we start at the first step of each ladder, try to understand it, then move onto the next step.  Once we get a grasp of that step, move up the ladder again.  Go step by step, patiently and with a receptive heart.  Try to intuit that which your mind cannot consciously grasp at this stage.

Once you reach the top of each ladder, the work isn't finished!

Ra then says: go back to the bottom of the ladders, and consider the Rungs in groups of Three.  These will be the horizontal colors that I described in Principle 5 above.  So: take the first rung of each ladder (the first step of Mind is the Magician, the first step of Body is Balance, the first step of Spirit is the Devil) and consider how these 3 Archetypes as a group might connect and inform each other.

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this sounds like a lot of work!  why should I do this?

well, you don't.  It's your choice.  

well ... at least give me a sales pitch.  You didn't write all this for nothing, did you?

Ra says that by understanding each of these 21 Energies or Archetypes, we can clear almost any blockage in our mind, body, or spirit.  We can accelerate our spiritual path by accurately identifying, then resolving, what lesson or experience we are trying to learn.  It means that when we get knocked out of our peace of mind, we can quickly and decisively return to the place of peace.  That doesn't mean it is easy or doesn't take committed meditation to understanding the lesson; but it does mean that we have a reliable tool for working through all sorts of catalyst.  The Tarot is like a swiss-army knife for consciousness.

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one interjection that I will add that has no textual support in the Ra material is that you can color the steps of the ladder from red to orange to yellow and all the way up to violet.  The 7 colors of the rainbow if you will.  And then identify the red rungs as the first chakra, the orange rungs as the second chakra, etc.

This is STRICTLY my personal addition to the above understandings.  I don't believe that Ra made any reference to this from what I can recall. But it has helped me personally decode the meanings of some of the Archetypes.

good luck on your Tarot journey if you choose to begin it!  and remember - always go back to the Source!  The Law of One is there, and is a 6th Density source of Wisdom and Compassionate Understanding.

primary text always!

[Osiris_Phoenix]

Which tarot is used/suggested by Ra? I would like to purchase the same one to study them. Thanks

[flofrog]

Osiris_Phoenix,

welcome here. I am using the Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot. It is published by the Church of Light Albuquerque, NM.

It’s quite beautiful and you can find it online. The cards have the later additions that Ra talks about that one should not pay attention to when studying them. I think it was Plenum who counseled on that one. It’s great for study. Quite beautiful.

Best wishes,