All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.
LORD OF SUCCESS UNFULFILLED
As Nathan was riding through the Tarot Realm, he encountered a young farmer taking a break. The farmer appeared to be daydreaming while waiting for his crop of pentacles to ripen. The farmer was dirty from long hours of working in the earth, but something about this common farmer impressed Nathan a great deal, so Nathan attempted to sense the subtle influences affecting him. Because of the great discipline needed to bring a crop to fruition, Nathan immediately suspected that Saturn was a subtle influence. Since the farmer was growing pentacles, Nathan knew another influence must be associated with an Earth sign, such as Capricorn, Taurus, or Virgo. Since farming requires the strength and perseverance of a bull, Nathan suspected that Taurus was also a subtle influence. And since the farmer was working in the natural world and creating beauty and harmony with his pentacles, he intuited that Venus was also involved. Nathan wanted to be sure that his intuitions were accurate, so went in search of the King or Queen of Pentacles.
Soon, Nathan came upon the King of Pentacles near the castle. Nathan dismounted and bowed before the King. "I serve thee always, great King."
The King responded, "Yes, my devoted knight, what brings you here today?"
Nathan described the farmer. "I sensed powerful forces affecting the farmer, and I was hoping that you would tell me if my intuitions are correct. Back in the realm where I came from, people rarely attempt to experience subtle influences, so in this endeavor I am a little unsure of myself, your Highness, but I hope to master the skill in the future so that I can serve the realm as effectively as possible," Nathan replied.
"An admirable goal, brave knight. What powerful forces did you sense?"
"First, your Highness, I felt the influence of Saturn. Farming requires great discipline, I know, but I was a little unsure that my intuition was correct because the mythological principle associated with Saturn is the 'Descent into the Underworld.' I am not sure how that applies here, your Majesty."
"Let's be clear about the meaning of the mythological principle. What do you think it means?"
"Well, your Majesty, I don't think it means descending deep into the underworld in some cave. My experience has been a kind of descent to the underworld through meditation. In other words, my mind drops into the void as I meditate. The chatter in my mind vanishes. In fact, my personality vanishes as well, and the few thoughts that I do have seem random. When my mind is empty, I sometimes envision archetypes representing spiritual principle, such as the infinity symbol, or a golden equal-armed cross, or a golden crown, or a golden cup and chalice on a brilliant white tablecloth. When I descend into the void and my personality disappears, I experience another order of existence, in other words. I don't understand how that applies to the farmer, your Highness."
"I think that your description of the descent into the underworld is accurate. In this realm, people experience it in meditation all the time. As you drop into the void, you are cleansing your mind. If you don't purify your psyche often, negativity builds up and rears its ugly head. I am aware that in the realm where you came from, negativity often builds up so much that many people project anger and hatred at each other for ridiculous reasons such as their skin color or their sexual orientation or their customs or their spiritual values. I know this has led to genocides and horrific wars that have killed countless people in your realm. In this realm, on the other hand, we know that psychic negativity can end up destroying societies, so here we constantly emphasize the need to meditate and perform a mental purification process of some kind regularly."
"Through the influence of Saturn, then, the farmer purifies his heart and mind regularly so that he can eliminate negativity and create harmony with the pentacles that he grows. Is he a kind of magician?"
"Yes, indeed, even though he is, as you put it, a common farmer, he is a kind of magician who manifests harmony for the highest good of the realm. His pentacles are about to ripen, and he will soon experience success."
"Saturn is the father of the gods who restricts force in form. Without Saturn, the physical realm would not exist. Is it a coincidence that Saturn also provides a way for the mind to release itself from form, your Majesty?"
"It is not a coincidence at all. The God who created the primordial basis for our magnificent physical realm by restricting force in form also wanted us to know the freedom and power of the mind so that we are not completely trapped in physicality. Let's talk a little about Taurus now, my friend. The mythological principle associated with Taurus is the 'Keeper of Wisdom.' What do you think that means?"
Nathan thought for a moment. "I think over time as we meditate we build an inner temple where we place all of our treasures from the spirit realm, such as the archetypes I described. In that inner temple the light shines upon the archetypes, and we understand the wisdom of the spiritual principles associated with them. I believe that as we evolve we are all like The Hierophant to some degree: we are all 'keepers of wisdom.'"
The Empress: Venus (AI Version)
"Very good, my friend. Now how do you think Venus is a spiritual influence?"
"Just as the pentacles grow for the farmer, I think a similar kind of harmony can grow in our lives. Through meditation and regular purification of the psyche, as well as through spirit visions and understanding of spiritual principles, we create a marriage of heaven and earth."
"So you're aware of the mythological principle associated with Venus. Very nice, my friend!
"Someday, perhaps, I will be able to manifest positive subtle influences like the farmer does. Thank you, my King, I serve thee always."
Nathan bowed and thanked the King and found a room in the castle where he could perform a ritual. Nathan chose the Seven of Pentacles as his central card, which is also remarkably similar to what he had experienced earlier, a card that represents Saturn in Taurus and Venus in Victory, the seventh Emanation on the Tree of Life. Nathan chose The Hierophant, which represents Taurus.
Nathan chose The World as the second modifier because the The World, associated with Saturn, represents the "Descent into the Underworld." Then Nathan chose The Empress, which is associated with Venus and the mythological principle of the "Marriage of Heaven and Earth."
Since Earth is a passive element, Nathan used the Passive Invoking Pentagram while laying down the foundation cards, the Aces and Judgement, starting in the lower left corner of the pentagram, moving to the upper right corner and continuing from there. After he placed all of the cards, he tapped each card in the direction of the Passive Invoking Pentagram, making sure to tap the one in the lower left corner to complete the pentagram.
Then he placed the Seven of Pentacles in the middle of the pentagram and tapped the card, saying, "The Seven of Pentacles, Saturn in Taurus, Venus in Victory." Then he placed the modifiers on the Ace of Pentacles, first The Hierophant, then The World, then The Empress, in the lower left hand corner of the pentagram, the position that represents the element of Earth.
As he placed The Hierophant on the Ace of Pentacles, he said while tapping the card, "The Hierophant, Taurus, the 'Keeper of Wisdom.'"
As he placed The World on The Hierophant, he said while tapping the card, "The World, Saturn, the 'Descent into the Underworld.'"
As he placed The Empress on The World, he said while tapping the card, "The Empress, Venus, 'The Marriage of Heaven and Earth.'"
Then he drew the Passive Invoking Spirit Pentagram and the spirit wheel in the air in brilliant white above The Seven of Pentacles on the altar, charging the pentagram and the spirit wheel in the usual way with the Sign of the Enterer. After that, he drew an Invoking Pentagram for Earth directly over the Passive Invoking Pentagram, charging the pentagram and the symbol of Taurus in the usual way. At that point, he imagined the symbol of the bull's head becoming the living image of the farmer in the Seven of Pentacles. Then he imagined gnomes flowing from the Archangel Auriel and filling the living image while at the same time the bright points of the Earth element flowed from his aura and filled the living image as well.
Then he said, "Great Lord, I ask that you help me develop my inner temple of wisdom so that I can manifest positive subtle influences in myself and in the realm for the highest possible good."
Then he stated, "Perform this task until I have succeeded in mastering this ability, then return to the element of Earth, doing no harm. So mote it be!"
He imagined for a few minutes the living image of the farmer in the Seven of Pentacles helping him as he continued to build his inner temple and manifest greater harmony in his sphere of influence. He, of course, performed the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram before he completed the ritual.
Afterwards, Nathan felt like he was effectively manifesting harmony, for himself and the realm.
Review the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram.
(All AI generated versions are based on my paintings, photographs or 3D Blender renderings.)
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