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Elements Positioned on Pentagram
CREATING LIVING IMAGES WITH ELEMENTAL TRIANGLES
"Know ye not that ye are Gods?" a beloved spiritual leader once asked (John 10:34). Two thousand years later, it has become necessary for us to slowly unfurl our wings to touch all the dimensions of Universal Consciousness: we must learn to love all of creation or die. We cannot destroy the planet and each other much more than we already have and still survive as a species. Despite all prevailing pessimism, I would vote yes if the question is whether or not humanity can experience a positive shift in consciousness that might save us.
I know a secret: if, during the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram, you effectively invoke the Archangels, your personality disappears, and you know without any doubt who you are as a spiritual being; you feel a profound sense of eternity and timelessness, as if all time exists at once in the Universal Mind (something I have suspected since the age of eleven when I started hearing voices and having intuitions that clearly and accurately predicted the future).
Because of my spiritual practices, I have also intuited that the Tree of Life is a kind of "programming" for the cosmos. As above, so below. Universal Consciousness, as the Tree of Life, is embedded within each one of us. Since you embody the archetypal energies of the Tree of Life in your personal energy field, you can awaken a powerful connection between yourself and Universal Consciousness and modify the cosmic "programming" within the limits of natural law, which is why creating living images can be so transformative.
The Tarot dovetails with the Tree of Life in every conceivable way. When creating a Tarot living image, you clearly and ardently imagine that you are the figure in the Tarot card and take on its archetypal energies. In other words, with each living image, you are activating the powerful energies of the Tree of Life in your own personal energy field to manifest your intentions--which often include making changes in yourself and your world for a higher good. As you repeatedly awaken this powerful connection between yourself and Universal Consciousness, you become a co-creator with God.
The Three of Wands, with the Decan and Tree of Life Correspondences
The Three of Wands helps me expand my mind beyond "local" reality--beyond my limited experiences within the physical dimension. In the elemental triangle above, Saturn, represented by The World, is the Tree of Life correspondence, which in this case is positioned at the top. The Sun, a planet in classical astrology, is part of the decan associated with the Three of Wands: The Sun in 11 - 20 degrees of Aries. When creating a living image with this card, either for yourself or someone else, you can include these other three energies in your intention. For instance, you can imagine getting the "big picture" as you stand under the sun experiencing the dimensions of Universal Consciousness, one of which is the trinity, suggested by the three wands; you can feel the dynamic energy of Aries as you stand in the Christ-light of Oneness, experiencing the freshness of the beginning of creation (a mythological principle associated with the path of The Emperor), caught up in the adventure and the dance of life (represented by The World). You might have a different interpretation of how these cards work together thematically: your intention is everything as you open your consciousness to these powerful influences.
The Planetary Decan Correspondences of Aries
You can also invoke the energies associated with Aries. When doing so, you need to consider the three planets in the decans corresponding to the zodiac sign of Aries. For instance, with Aries, you focus on the planetary influences of Mars, the Sun, and Venus. Mars and Aries of course are strongly associated to each other through the Fire element. With these three planets, you can experience the power of the life-force on all levels of being. Remember that the sun is the source of all life in the solar system and is also associated with enlightenment on all levels of the psyche: emotional, mental and spiritual. Venus is associated with harmony, beauty and love on all levels of being. Combined, these three energies are extremely potent: this ritual can help you experience a heightened sense of energy within you as well as deeper spiritual understanding.
The Number Card Correspondences of Aries
You can include the energies of the Number Cards in the living image of Aries by placing the Two of Wands (Mars), the Three of Wands (Sun), and the Four of Wands (Jupiter) over the cards associated with the planets. The alternate titles of these cards say it all: the Two of Wands is "The Lord of Dominion"--over yourself and your world; the Three is "The Lord of Established Strength"--of yourself as a fully realized spiritual being; the Four is "The Lord of Perfected Work." I have found these cards especially helpful in gaining greater confidence, a heightened sense of mastery, clearer vision, and a deeper sense of my purpose as a spiritual being. The creation of living images can help you see beyond your personality, which is limited by space and time in this dimension, and enable your psyche to experience subtle dimensions of Universal Consciousness.
Significant relationships exist between symbols in the Tarot and the Tree of Life. For instance, pentagrams and elemental triangles are strongly associated with each other. Unlike the elemental triangle, however, the pentagram fits in seamlessly with the powerful ritual mentioned above known as "The Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram," which we are going to use in the future, so it is important that you understand the elemental relationships.
Thanks to the media, people nowadays tend to be familiar only with the inverted pentagram used by satanic cults. Many people consequently believe that all pentagrams are evil, which could not be farther from the truth. Every spiritual symbol, like the cross or the pentagram, has the potential to be turned upside down, just as all divine energies can be perverted by unbalanced individuals. The pentagram is actually a symbol representing the one of the most harmonious forces in the cosmos, the Christ-force, the five-pointed star combining five elements, or levels of being, in absolute balance. Just as importantly, the pentagram can be used in ritual to bring energy harmoniously down the planes from spirit to matter.
In the Tarot, each suit is associated with an element, or level of being: Wands with the element of Fire, Cups with Water, Swords with Air, and Pentacles with Earth. At the points of the pentagram, you can use “foundation” cards to represent levels of energy manifesting harmoniously: the four Aces, each representing the root of its element, and “Judgement,” a card associated with the letter Shin and the quintessence of Spirit. The Ace of Wands representing the root of the element of Fire (Yod) should be positioned at the lower right point, the Ace of Cups representing the root of the element of Water (Heh) at the upper right point, “Judgement” representing Aether or Spirit (Shin) at the top, the Ace of Swords representing the root of the element of Air (Vau) at the upper left point, and the Ace of Pentacles representing the root of the element of Earth (final Heh) at the lower left point of the pentagram. The Hebrew letters associated with the four elements form the Tetragrammaton, the unpronouncable name of God (which people sometimes pronounce as Jehovah, or Yahweh). With the Hebrew letter Shin in the middle, the letters form Yeheshuah, the mystical name of Jesus, symbolizing spirit manifested in matter as well as the higher self manifested in the incarnated personality.
The Planetary Decan Correspondences of Cancer
We will focus more on Pentagram Spread Rituals, which tend to be a bit more complicated, later on. Right now, however, we need to get back to to the basics of creating powerful elemental triangles. Remember that if you want to invoke the energies of a card under a Water or Earth Sign, you need to use a downward pointing triangle. If you are focusing on Cancer, a Water sign, for instance, you can include the three planets in the decans corresponding to Cancer: Venus, Mercury, and The Moon--three energies used in the performance of magic to manifest a specific intention. The seventh Emanation known as Victory (Netzach) is associated with Venus, who, in the Hebrew tradition, is represented by Archangel Haniel. The eighth Emanation known as Splendor (Hod) is associated with Mercury, represented in the Hebrew tradition by Archangel Michael. The ninth Emanation known as The Foundation (Yesod) is associated with The Moon, represented in the Hebrew tradition by Archangel Gabriel. Archangels Haniel, Michael, and Gabriel are extremely important in the performance of magic. (More on that later.)
Number Cards Associated with Cancer
You might choose instead the three Number Cards associated with Cancer, the Two, Three, and Four of Cups, since they are all so positive: What could be better than a life filled with love and abundance and clear psychic vision and understanding? Number cards can be excellent modifiers that add to your intention.
The Elemental Correspondences of Water
If you choose to invoke an element, you can place the card representing the element in the center of the triangle, and then position the cards representing the three zodiac signs in the corresponding elemental triplicity around it. For instance, you need to use a downward pointing triangle for Water, with the card that represents Water, The Hanged Man, in the center. Then place The Chariot (Cancer), Death (Scorpio), and The Moon (Pisces) in the shape of an downward-pointing triangle around The Hanged Man. I have found that this ritual is particularly effective for spirit journeys and for purification with the element of Water.
The King as the Tree of Life Correspondence for the Twos
With the Twos and Tens, which on the Tree of Life are not associated with a planet, you can use a King for the Twos to represent the Tree of Life correspondence and the Page of the suit for the Tens. The Kings, who represent wisdom, are actually assigned to the second Emanation known as Wisdom (Chokmah in Hebrew). With the Two of Swords, for instance, you can use the the King of Swords to represent the Tree of Life correspondence, and The High Priestess (The Moon) and Justice (Libra) to represent the decan. I have found this triangle effective in restoring a deep sense of peace and balance in the soul as the King of Swords transmutes negativity into grace. (Notice the golden butterflies lifting from his crown in the background tapestry.)
The Page as the Tree of Life Correspondence for the Tens
For the Tens, you can form a triangle using a Page for the Tree of Life correspondence. For instance, you can place the Ten of Pentacles in the middle of the triangle with The Magician (Mercury) and The Hermit (Virgo) above. The Pages are associated with enthusiasm and curiosity and learning and innocence as well as with fresh ways of looking at things. I have found this triangle effective in experiencing new and creative ways of thinking, especially in terms of obtaining abundance.
REVIEW OF ELEMENTAL, ASTROLOGICAL AND TREE OF LIFE ASSOCIATIONS
On the Tree of Life, the Number Cards are associated with the circles on the Tree, known in Hebrew as Sephiroth, or Emanations. These spheres are the first ten "paths," which follow the Path of Lightning, starting at the top, heading down diagonally to the second sphere at the right, then straight over horizontally to the third sphere, then diagonally down to the fourth sphere on the right, and so on to the bottom sphere.
Behind the Tree of Life are three veils of negative existence beyond manifestation, which the human mind in its current state cannot possibly know. The Tree of life symbolically reveals the evolution of the basic energies of the cosmos that we can know since we are part of them, and they are part of us.
In the process of creation, the first sphere that emanated from the unmanifest is known as the Crown (Kether in Hebrew). The second Emanation, associated with the zodiac, is called Wisdom (Chokmah in Hebrew). A planet is associated with each of the next seven Emanations on the Tree of Life, Three through Nine, in this descending order: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and The Moon. Eventually, the physical plane manifested, receiving the influx of all of the other cosmic energies.
The Tree of Life contains four different levels, symbolized by the elements, Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. The Number Cards, which are associated with the Emanations, represent the different levels of energy corresponding to the four elements within each sphere.
The Aces represent the roots of their respective elements, not astrological signs. Each of the other 36 Number Cards, however, is assigned 10 degrees of the zodiac, known as a decan. The Number Cards, Two through Ten in each suit, together represent the complete circle of the zodiac.
Three of the decans within the Fire triplicity are associated with Aries, three with Leo, and three with Sagittarius. Three of the decans within the Water triplicity are associated with Cancer, three with Scorpio, and three with Pisces. Three of the decans within the Air triplicity are associated with Libra, three with Aquarius, and three with Gemini. Three of the decans within the Earth triplicity are associated with Capricorn, three with Taurus, and three with Virgo.
Within the circle of the zodiac, the planetary signs follow a descending order mirrored by the spheres on the Tree of Life: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, The Sun, Venus, Mercury, and The Moon.
Each Number Card is associated with an Emanation on the Tree of Life, the Twos with the second Emanation in the Path of Lightning, the Threes with the third Emanation, the Fours with the fourth Emanation, and so on down to the Tens in the tenth Emanation. So, each of the Number Cards, Two through Ten, contains a decan correspondence and a Tree of Life association. For example, the Four of Swords contains this decan correspondence and Tree of Life association:
Decan: Jupiter in 21 - 30 degrees of Libra
Tree of Life Association: Jupiter in Chesed (Fourth Sphere)
Most of the time, the decan correspondence and the Tree of Life association are not the same, as in the following example.
Decan: Venus in 11 - 20 degrees of Virgo
Tree of Life Association: Moon in Yesod (Ninth Sphere)
The Tens do not represent the planet Earth. Instead, on the Tree of Life they represent the forces of the four elements within the cosmos. So, the Tens have a Tree of Life association of "the four elements in Malkuth." (Malkuth is Hebrew for The Kingdom.)
Decan: Mercury in 21 - 30 degrees of Virgo
Tree of Life Association: Four Elements in Malkuth (Tenth Sphere)
Let's review: The Minor Arcana Number Cards are associated with the ten Emanations, also known as the first ten paths on the Tree of Life. Each Number Card, Two through Ten, has a decan correspondence and a Tree of Life association. The Major Arcana Trumps are associated with the paths that connect the spheres on the Tree of Life and each Trump is associated with one of the following: a zodiac sign or a planet or one of three elements, Fire, Water, or Air.
Working with elemental triangles is a great way to learn about the Tarot cards and to resonate with the energies within them as you experience dimensions of Universal Consciousness by building the Tree of Life in your aura.
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