Complete guide to tarot illuminati ( PDFDrive.com )

Capricorn

Scorpio

Mercury Gemini & Virgo

Aquarius Sagittarius & Pisces

Leo

Venus Taurus & Libra

Pisces Aries & Scorpio

Virgo

Mars

Aries

Scorpio

Libra

Taurus

Jupiter

Sagittarius

Cancer

Gemini

Capricorn

Saturn

Capricorn

Libra

Cancer

Aries

The sun rules Leo, the sign of the ego and the self, the sign of the king, or man at
his highest. It is in its detriment in Aquarius, the sign of selflessness,
community, the group mind, and the global village. The sun is exalted in Aries,
because it too is a sign concerned with the self; Aries shares the sun’s fiery
nature, takes command easily, and grabs all the attention. The sun is in its fall in
Libra, because such a self-serving and confident planet does not go well with a
sign that is traditionally associated with peace, harmony, and cooperation.

The moon rules Cancer, and is associated with the generative process, birth,
motherhood, nurturing, and family. It is in its detriment in Capricorn, which
represents the strict control of the emotions, a trait that doesn’t sit well with the
moon’s fluctuating energies. The moon is exalted in Taurus, because in this sign
its emotions are grounded and steady, finding a firm foundation. The ancient
writer Porphyry further wrote that the bull is representative of the moon’s power
of genesis. The moon is in its fall in Scorpio, where the passion and broodiness
of that sign amplifies the moon’s negative emotions and causes them to become
even more fluid and unstable.

Mercury rules Gemini, as they both represent thought, communication, and the
element of air. Mercury is in its detriment in Sagittarius because their modes of
thought are so very different: where Sagittarius sees the bigger picture, its mind
wandering far and wide, Mercury sees the details and flits about, making very
short journeys. Mercury also rules Virgo, where thinking becomes very
analytical. Thus Mercury’s other sign of detriment is Pisces, since its logical,
organized way of thinking does not sit well with the psychic, intuitive mind of
Pisces. Mercury is exalted in Aquarius, the sign of the inventor and innovator,
allowing for creative thinking and intellectual advances. It is in its fall in Leo,
where details are often overlooked if they do not serve the ego.

Venus rules Taurus, the sign of beauty, luxury and sensuality, providing it
with a steady foundation. It is in its detriment in Scorpio, which transforms the
gentle, sensuous love of Venus into an intense, often jealous and possessive love
that can quickly become obsession. Venus also rules Libra, the sign of
cooperation and interpersonal relationships. Thus it is also in its detriment in

Aries, because Venus’s love of peace, beauty and harmony is in direct
contradiction to the self-interest of the warrior Aries. Venus is exalted in Pisces,
because the ruler of Pisces is Neptune, the planet that is considered the higher
expression of the energies of Venus. Whereas in most signs the love represented
by Venus is expressed on an individual level, with Pisces the love is
universalized and extended to humanity. Venus is in its fall in Virgo, where its
gentle, loving nature is rendered picky and critical, and where free expression of
the emotions is often blocked by considerations of practicality.

Mars rules Aries, and they share an intense love of action and control, as well
as a fiery masculinity and ambition. Both are capable of pushing forward
regardless of any obstacles, and are well known for having a virility and lust for
life that pervades all matters. It finds itself exalted in Scorpio, where its penchant
for destruction can be used to transform base matter into something with greater
depth and wisdom. Mars finds its detriment in the airy, balanced sign of Libra,
where the scales must always be balanced and peace maintained, and it reaches
its fall in Taurus, the slow-moving, materialistic sign of possessions and value,
where the fast action of Mars becomes total destruction for the sake of
destruction.

Jupiter rules Sagittarius, both planet and sign embodying the outward
expansion of power and ideas, searching for truth and justice. Since Jupiter is the
“great wanderer” of the zodiac, it finds itself in its detriment in Gemini, the
planet with a short orbit that rules brief journeys. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, the
sign of nurturing and mothering, as these benevolent traits are expanded under
Jupiter’s influence. It is in its fall in Capricorn, as this sign rules self-discipline
and controlled emotions, again limiting Jupiter too much.

Saturn rules Capricorn because they both relate to worldliness, achievement,
discipline, and control. It is in its detriment in Cancer, the emotional sign of
motherhood and nurturing, as Saturn’s stoic, constricting nature does not sit well
with caring Cancer. Saturn is exalted in Libra, where it seeks to create balanced
structures and balanced judgment. Aries, where it is in its fall, stifles the earthy
nature of the sign.

Triplicities

A planet is also said to be strong, or to have “essential dignity,” when it falls in
its own triplicity, which is another way of saying its ruling element: Earth—
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Air—Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Fire—Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Water—Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
The planets are likewise given an elemental nature:

Day Ruler

Night Ruler

Participating Ruler

Earth

Mercury

Saturn

Venus

Air

Saturn

Venus

Mercury

Fire

Sun

Mars

Jupiter

Water

Jupiter

Moon

Mars



(Note that this is one version of the planetary triplicities; it seems that
astrologers just can’t make their minds up about it!) So when the Sun falls in
Leo or Aries, it has “essential dignity”—in other words, it is particularly strong,
has more influence, and is more benevolent. This does not mean that if a planet
falls in another sign that it is weakened; it’s like when we work in a team with
other people—our own skills are not usually lessened by those around us, but
with the right combination of skills, and with each team member working toward
the same ends or sharing the same interests, together we will strengthen each
other and the work produced will be better and more useful.

Putting Together the Jigsaw Puzzle of the Minors So, let’s start to
piece this jigsaw puzzle together! Not only does each minor

arcana card have associations with a Sephira and an element, but
it also has associations from the astrological sign and planet it is
ruled by. Within the latter, we need to look for essential dignity
(whether the planet falls in its own triplicity) and whether the
planet is in its rulership, exaltation, detriment, or fall because of

the astrological sign it is paired with on the card.

Here are some questions to consider in our astrological assessment:

1. Is the planet happy in this element?

Does it have essential dignity?
Is it in an element that directly contradicts its interests?

1. Is the planet happy with the zodiacal sign it is paired with, and vice
versa?

Do they share common interests?
How do they both move energy?
Is the planet exalted in this sign?
Is the planet the ruler of this sign?
Is the planet in its detriment in this sign?
Is the planet in its fall in this sign?

1. Is the planet happy with the Kabbalistic Sephira it is placed in?
In the following chapters, as each minor arcana card is introduced, you will
find that the astrological, planetary, and Kabbalistic associations are cited but
not explained. This is so that you can consider these associations yourself and
make the connections you find most relevant. You may also find that the
astrological associations are contained within the first-person speech of many of
the minor arcana cards, so be on the lookout for those too.

[contents]

Chapter 23

The Suit of Wands

Ace of Wands, the Thrust and Lust of Life

“From the depths of the primal light I came, whirling in tongues of fire and
terrible visions. With the fullest force of life I explode into your dreams and
inspire all the urges that course in your blood: the urge to thrust yourself into
the world, bold and bright and golden; the urge to set your mark upon history
with great deeds and mighty reputation; the urge to roll up all your energy into
a ball with another soul and shout the culmination of your pleasure to the stars.
I am the lust and desire in life that drives you ever onward to greatness,
challenges, pleasure, and pain. I am the force of will at its purest and most
focused, the strength of your will and energy and desire all directed to one
purpose… I am magic, and I am unstoppable. In my hands I grasp the fires of
passion that can inflame or injure you, and from that passion, from that spark of
inspiration or danger, everything else proceeds. If I cannot have release, if I do
not achieve my goal, I will not weaken, but instead I will consume you from
within and you will be the fuel for my ever-burning fire.”

No astrological associations for Aces / Kether in fire

Illumination

All the aces, as the first card of their suit, share a special relationship as not only
the source of the cards that follow but also as the purest representation of their
elemental powers. In the case of the Ace of Wands, we find fire at its purest and
most primal, the origin of the concerns of the suit of wands: energy, the self,
ego, ambition, drive, passion, desire. All the aces feature Yods, the Hebrew letter
that means “hand,” which is also the seed of the other Hebrew letters. Thus the
Ace of Wands can be seen as a seed that is planted and then bursts into life,
releasing its fiery force into the world. As primal fire, this Ace relates to the
world of inspiration and desire, as well as our urges, whether they are sexual,
creative, destructive, or ego-driven. Just as the wand is thrust out in the card
image, so we have the urge to thrust ourselves out into the world and into new
experiences, immersing ourselves in everything life has to offer. There is an
undeniable lust for life radiating from the Ace of Wands that fills us with desire
to do, to be, to will, and to act.

As elemental fire, it is interesting that an item traditionally made of wood is
used to represent this suit. We see that the Ace of Wands is fuel for fire—a great
stave of wood that burns bright and long, which can be used to aid survival at its
most basic, as well as a torch to guide and inspire. The image of a fiery wand or
torch is found throughout the ancient world symbolizing the fires of lust and
desire, and in medieval Christian mysticism we see the fiery arrows of divine
ecstasy being driven through the heart of St. Teresa of Avila, causing her intense
spiritual pleasure as well as pain. As an arrow, the Ace of Wands also reminds
us of focus and direction as well as aim, and this card is nothing if not a card of
aims, ambitions, and goals set with purest intent, will, and desire. The Ace of
Wands is also a magician’s wand (or, the wand of the Alchemist card). A
magician’s wand is not merely a stage prop that is wiggled around for show; it is
the extension of the magician’s will out into the universe. Through the wand, the
magician directs the full force of his will, intention, and energy to enact change
within and upon the universe: this is the act of creation at its most dynamic. Of
the wand, Aleister Crowley writes, “To strike with the wand is to utter the fiat of
creation…”14 Fiat here comes from the Latin, “let there be,” used in particular

reference to the creation of the world in the Old Testament, fiat lux, “let there be
light.” Echoing this in the card image, we find that our Ace of Wands is not a
dead stick, but rather a living branch from which beautiful flowers blossom and
leaves grow, with tendrils of golden light sprouting forth and seeping out into the
world. From this card, inspiration is fuelled and seeded in a primal form in one’s
life, whether in dreams or ideas, urges or creative processes. This is a fiery muse
that not only engenders inspiration but also the desire to act upon it, often
manifesting in the unstoppable urge to express that inspiration outwardly. The
hand that holds the wand in the card is strong, well-defined, and certain, the
muscles delineated and tensed: this is not a receptive inspiration, but rather a
firm, active, passionate thrust of inspiration into life and being.

We can also see blooming—almost ejaculating—from the tip of the wand, a
golden tree. Here is obvious phallic symbolism, as the wand represents the
phallus in its erect state, pulsing with lust and life and the need to expand
outward into the universe. It is driven to a heightened state of direction by fire,
and just like any build-up of energy, it must eventually burst out, too big to be
contained any longer. Thus the Ace of Wands represents great and intense
passion that burns within and requires expression without. Any endeavour
undertaken without this passion, going forth without the powerful, ejaculating
drive of the Ace of Wands, lacks the necessary momentum to reach completion
in a whole and perfect state. Anything that lacks the pure, primal fire of the Ace
of Wands cannot maintain the primal desire for action.

Being the extension of will into the universe, the Ace of Wands can also be
seen as the ego, the self, the concept of “I.” It is the first delineation of
personality, the ego that pushes us onward to greater heights. Often the ego is
viewed as a negative aspect of the self, but when applied correctly it can be a
positive force for change and dynamic action. It is the ego that is responsible for
giving us drive toward our goals and ambitions, for instance. Since the Ace of
Wands is a card of enacting change in the world according to one’s directed will
and energy, this is a potent reminder that we are the beginning of that change.
Action is required for anything to happen. The great, gleaming building in the
background of the card began as a dream, inspired and fuelled by desire, will,
and intent, and all these things were then focused into action and driven ever

onward by passion. When we think about magic, often we see it as the creation
of something out of “thin air,” but we have a better example of that principle
right here: from the most abstract of inspirations and sparks of dreams, a
beautiful building stands testament to the unique ability of mankind to express
passion and conceive beyond necessity.