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To: alt.tarot From: Paul_Hume@f235.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Hume) Subject: Re: Dignities? Date: Fri, 17 Nov 1995 03:18:36 GMT T - Dignities were used in (introduced by) the Golden Dawn in its system of Tarot divination. Cards are read in threes - the central card is interpreted in the light of the two cards on either side of it. Well aspected cards intensify their standard meaning. Ill aspected cards weaken or reverse it. The system is used instead of reversals, and I must note that I use it for preference and have for years - it works far better than reversal in my experience. It also avoids asinine arguments like the one I notice raging about the direction of the pentagram on the Devil card (black magick my aching hoof). Minor arcana are dignified based on suit. Wands and Cups are opposed, as are Swords and Disks. Thus, a central Wand flanked by one Cup is somewhat ill dignified, and flanked by two is not well dignified at all. Similarly for a Pentacle flanked by one or two Swords. Trumps derive their elemental (suit) qualities from their assignment to the Zodiac, the Elements, or the Planets/Sephiroth. Fool = Air Magus = Mercury = Hod = Water High Priestess = Moon = Yesod = Air Empress = Venus = Netzach = Fire Star = Aquarius = Air Hierophant = Taurus = Earth Lovers = Gemini = Air Chariot = Cancer = Water Hermit = Virgo = Earth Wheel = Jupiter = Chesed = Water Justice/Adjustment = Libra = Air Hanged Man = Water Death = Scorpio = Water Temperance/Art = Sagittarius = Fire Devil = Capricorn = Earth Tower = Mars = Geburah = Fire Emperor = Aries = Fire Moon = Pisces = Water Sun = Sun = Tiphareth = Air Judgement/Aeon = Fire Universe = Earth (this one is tricky, but reads as Earth mostly) So, a Fire Trump, say Art, flanked by two Cups would be ill dignified. Flanked by two Wands, very well dignified. But apart from this card counting (a la bridge or blackjack) the flanking cards indicate the nature of the meaning. Art flanked by 3 Wands and 8 Wands might indicate masterful and decisive combination of opposing factors to produce a stable solution. Whereas flanked by 5 Wands and 7 Wands, a more strenuous situation, probably successful but not without some conflict which must be faced head-on. The rule of thumb: Fire is ill-dignified by Watery cards, Air by Earthy cards, and vice-versa. Details on the system can be found in: The Golden Dawn (I. Regardie) Tarot Divination (A. Crowley) The Book of Thoth (A. Crowley) Qabalistic Tarot (R. Wang) And probably some others - but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. The system works just fine in any spread - instead of using reversal, one simply deals three cards into each position. A Celtic Cross using this technique is described in detail (as is the system itself, come to thinkl of it) in the Ciceros' book, New Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot. Hope this answers your question. Paul
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