Another Prophecy

(Revised 5-6-2008, 11:00 AM. PDT) 

In addition to written prophecies, there are symbolic prophecies in archetypal images incorporated in certain spiritual teaching systems, and I want to tell you about one such prophecy that is relevant here. But first, let me tell you a little bit about how it works.

We human beings have a self-consciousness, witch Sigmund Freud called the ego. We know what that is, and we know it can become inflated with self-importance and judgmental self-righteousness. We also have a sub-consciousness, which we can learn something about in academic pursuits in higher education. But we also have a super-consciousness, which is the Christ-Avatar-Buddha Consciousness, which is not generally known because so few realize it. (See the page on The Highest State of Consciousness.)

 

Carl Jung, who founded analytic psychology in response to the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud, defined the sub-consciousness (which he called the unconscious) of human beings. What’s significant about that to me is that he surmised that it is comprised of both a personal sub-consciousness, which comes out of personal experiences, and a collective sub-consciousness, which is common to all humanity and inherited automatically by each one of us. Another significant part of Jung’s concept of the unconscious is the concept of universal archetypes, especially the potent universal symbols that appear in myths, fairytales and dreams. This helps to explain the power of archetypal symbolic systems.

I bring that up because the Sacred Tarot (pronounced Tearoh) is such an archetypal symbolic system, and it has been used since it originated in ancient times as a spiritual teaching tool that works with the Holy Qabalah (or Kabbala or Cabala) to pass along Ageless Wisdom.

Of course, "religious fundamentalists" have erroneously tried to demonize those who use the Tarot, but it's no wonder. There have been and still are many charlatans who misuse and misrepresent the Tarot. But neither the charlatans or the accusers have any idea of its true purpose, or of its origins.

You see, just as the Holy Bible can be misused and misinterpreted by greedy and even malicious right-wing preachers, so can the Sacred Tarot be misused and misinterpreted by those with self-serving intentions. In spite of that, the Tarot is a highly valuable spiritual teaching tool if used correctly and with proper instruction. And I will briefly show you why.

Dr. Arthur Edward Waite expressed the following, distinctly Jungian, view of the Tarot: "The Tarot embodies symbolical presentations of universal ideas, behind which lie all the implicits of the human mind, and it is in this sense that they contain secret doctrine, which is the realization by the few of truths embedded in the consciousness of all."

Even though most Tarot practitioners tend to be very private about it, some have made their beliefs known. For example, Judge Thomas Troward, a respected jurist and student of esoteric subjects, wrote: "Among such records explanatory of the supreme mysteries three stand out pre-eminent, all bearing witness to the same one truth, and each throwing light upon the other; and these are the Bible, the Great Pyramid, and the Tarot."

P.D. Ouspensky, the famous and respected Russian philosopher and author of Tertium Organum, said: "There are many methods of developing the ‘sense of symbols’ in those who are striving to understand the hidden forces of Nature and Man and for teaching the fundamental principles as well as the elements of the esoteric language. The most interesting of these is the Tarot. (It) represents a summary of the Hermetic Sciences—the Qabalah, Alchemy and Astrology with their different divisions. All these sciences really represent one system of a very broad and deep psychological investigation of the nature of man."

The original and true purpose of the Sacred Tarot is not for “fortune telling,” but for private self-realization, to be used in conjunction with the Holy Qabalah. It can teach us universal truths common to all religions, and help us understand the difference between the separate-self ego and the inner spirit-soul which is related to all and one with Divinity. It can help us integrate and harmonize our body, mind, and spirit. It can help us be loving, understanding, forgiving, compassionate, charitable and passive toward others, just as we would like others to be toward us.

Some say that the Tarot works because each image depicts part of the great universal truths in archetypal symbolism common to all the most sacred and ancient teachings. Some say that it works because the archetypal images and symbols act as keys to unlock the soul’s memories of the Divine Source and Creator. Some even say that this is not something that must be learned but merely revealed through remembering what we already know subconsciously. And all of that may be true.

The Tarot works not merely through archetypal symbolism, but also through imagery, colors, numbers, and other symbolism. For instance, scholars and scientific researchers tell us that colors have a subtle effect on the sub-conscious and conscious parts of our mind, as do images and archetypal symbols. That is part of the reason why the Tarot works as a pictorial text-book on Ageless Wisdom, but it also works because of the corresponding relationship between those colors, images, and symbols, and between the 22 numbers and letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the 22 Tarot keys in the Major Arcana.

You see, the Sacred Tarot consists mainly of just the twenty-two keys (or “cards”) that correspond to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and they came to be known as the “Trumps” or Major Arcana of the Tarot. The rest of the cards in the “playing or fortune telling” deck of Tarot cards are called the Minor Arcana, consisting of the four suits of wands, cups, swords and pentacles. And even though they too have symbolic meaning, I believe they were created in part to disguise and hide the core of the sacred teachings in an innocuous “playing deck” of cards. I personally believe that the Sacred Tarot was “hidden” in that deck, probably some time after the true Christian Qabalists and Jewish Kabbalists were driven underground in the fourth century after they began to be persecuted by the newly organized, theocratic, militarized, imperialistic Christian church-state.

(By the way, speaking of true Christians, please read the page on The Plant of Renown, which discusses how and why the original and true Christians understood that "There is fire in Chrism," and "The Chrism is superior to baptism for it is from the word Chrism that we are called Christians." - The Gospel of Philip )

But why, you may wonder, is the Hebrew alphabet still used with the Tarot? That is because of the original association and relationship, and also because it is not like other alphabets. For example, every letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a name which is a noun. Every letter designates some familiar natural object, and to every letter is also attributed a number, a concept, and an image. Those are all incorporated in the Tarot keys, and to each key is also attributed a musical note, an astrological affiliation, alchemical symbol, and other concepts associated with a human characteristic, ability, activity or emotion, such as sight, action, sleep, mirth, etc. And attributed to seven of the keys are seven sets of opposites, such as wisdom and folly, grace and sin, peace and strife, etc.

Of particular relevance to the message from the Spirit of truth is Key 13 of the Major Arcana of the Sacred Tarot, because I believe it contains certain clues having to do with the dawning of the new age, and with the messenger for the Spirit of truth.

Key 13 actually represents spiritual rebirth or transition, but it has an ironic and misleading title (Death). This is a very misunderstood key, which is why the number thirteen has been considered unlucky. But the truth is that it’s mostly about motion and growth, spiritual growth, spiritual rebirth, transformation, and imaginative and creative intelligence. And the more you know about the attributions and meaning of the symbolism, the more apparent that becomes.

You see, the astrological sign attributed to this key is Scorpio, which is veiled in mystery. Concealed within its nature are the secrets of sex, death and rebirth. Scorpio (like Key 13) has been called the "accursed sign" by people who deny or abuse their sexual nature, fear death, care nothing about spiritual rebirth, and therefore have no idea of the real meanings of the sign Scorpio or of the Tarot key to which it is attributed. But the deeper meanings have very much to do with creativity, positive change and sacredness, even though they also have to do with secretiveness.

The Hebrew letter attributed to Key 13 is Nun, a noun meaning Fish (the symbol used by the Essenes and the early Christians) and associated with water and growth. In mythology, Nun is the ethereal water from which creativity springs. In the Bible, Nun is the minister to Moses and the father of Joshua, and Joshua is a different version of the name of Yeshua or Jesus and Jehoshuah. In other words, this key has very much to do with the Christ function, and it also has to do with his messenger. This is further indicated by the fact that Jesus was the first or the thirteenth member of the group that included his twelve apostles.

Let me show you the 1910 Rider-Waite version of this key. Even though Key 13 is not specifically about any particular age, this particular version sets a trend and gives some very subtle clues as to the coming of the new age and the promise of the arrival of the son of man, the messenger for the Sprit of Truth.

Notice the fallen king and the crown that has fallen from his head. This refers to physical death, of course. But the deeper meaning is transformation and spiritual growth. In fact, in one sense, it’s about the rebirth of the spirit-soul, which comes only after the "death" or transcendence of the separate-self-ego. Thus the fallen crown represents the discarded egocentric notion of individual, sovereign authority and personal material power and wealth. It is the crown that Jesus rejected, in no uncertain terms, and here it foretells the eventual end of patriarchy and royalty. And it could be said that the real meaning of the key is spiritual rebirth or the "first death," when the ego and its idea of sovereignty and superiority is transcended, as well as the "second death," when the eternal soul transcends its need for a mortal body and proceeds to the next stage in the spiritual realm.

The figure praying for mercy is a high-ranking prelate (church dignitary) wearing a fish-head mitre on his head, which is a reference to the nearing end of the Piscean Age and dispensation, which will bring an end to political and religious patriarchy and an end to the oppressive and exploitive status of women and children. The woman kneeling at the side of the prelate, along with the child looking up hopefully with a gift of flowers in one hand, signify the imposed inferior and submissive status of women and children, and highlight the need for their liberation from patriarchal rule.

The rider on the pale horse is a skeleton dressed in black, the color for what is hidden or secret. His outward appearance is obviously ominous, but the wise know that even though we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should fear no evil and keep love for all people in our heart, knowing that appearances can be misleading and deceiving.

Now, it is true that in one sense the "rider on the pale horse" symbolizes actual death, as John described in the Book of Revelation. But the inverted pentagram represents that which has a deceptive appearance and that which is false, which is the opposite of the Christ. So, in a sense, it could be said that it represents a superstition based on erroneous perception.

An enlightened person understands that "Satan" is not an actual person or entity that can impose its will on us. It has absolutely no power over those who realize what it is — merely a negative state of mind that manifests in human beings as selfishness, greed, fear, hate, violence, and all manner of maliciousness and destructiveness. Therefore, that which is "Satan" is not something outside of ourselves, and it does not "possess" us. It is generated by our own negative thoughts, negative ideas and negative emotions, into which we can fall when we deny, ignore, or betray God.

At its worst, "Satan" is the lowest state of human consciousness, always alienated from society, often mentally tortured, often alone in its self-delusion, and often angry and violent when it cannot have its own way. And this concept is more clarified in Key 15, titled The Devil, which is also discussed in my third book, Getting From Babylon to New Jerusalem. Key 15 depicts a more grotesque and scary goat-like apparition, but, ironically, the main concept attributed to it is mirth or hilarity, because it merely represents deceptive falsehood and the delusion of outward superficial appearances, as well as bondage to such falsehood and delusion.

Of course, on the other side of the coin, the obverse pentagram or pentacle represents the Christ’s Holy Spirit of truth and honesty, which also manifests through our thoughts, feelings and acts of charity, faith, hope, love and kindness. But the Holy Spirit is generated not only from our own doing, but from an actual individual consciousness and presence (of the Christ-Avatar-Buddha in heaven) upon which we can depend, particularly when we believe in God and have faith in our heart.

Now, you will notice that in the above version of Key 13 the river in the background flows from between two pillars, with the rising sun shining over the source. This refers to the dual aspects of the creative and sustaining force of the universe, to the water that is necessary to life and growth, and to the nearing dawn of the Aquarian Age. Also, traveling up the river is a boat, which is a symbol showing that the messenger’s "ship is coming in" and that the message from the Spirit of truth will arrive when it reaches its destination. This is a theme that has been since repeated in various ways in the world, including the reference in Kahlil Gibran’s 1923 book, The Prophet. Gibran used very poetic and symbolic language that is easily recognized by students of esoteric teachings.

Now let me show you another version of Key 13 produced by Paul Foster Case (founder of Builders of the Adytum, or B.O.T.A.) in 1931. In this version the bland colors are replaced by a bright red background, the color representing action and desire, also referring to the planet Mars and to the physical male force and war. These references don’t necessarily refer to any particular event, but it’s interesting that at the time this version was drawn, World War I had recently been waged and the early indications of World War II were on the horizon. This would make the imagery of the apocalyptic "pale horse rider" more appropriate, having "the power to kill with sword." (Revelation 6:8) But before you read on, take a good look at this version of Key 13.

In this version all the basic attributions are still the same, and the theme of the rising sun and the river are repeated. In fact, the dawning of the new Age of Aquarius is growing a little brighter. But here the rider has dismounted. He is no longer cloaked in black, and he’s put down the banner and picked up the "Grim Reaper’s" steel scythe, which also refers to Mars and to action. He is still Death here, but again, death is basically the means of change and transformation from one state to another. And just as there could be no physical human motion without the framework of the skeleton, there could be no cycle and perpetuation of life without the "framework of existence" that is created by birth, reproduction and death.

All matter changes form and evolves, and the least dense matter changes form more quickly and more often. We are born and we die and we are reborn again. And by the way, all religions speak of this reality, which is why Jesus said: "Before Abraham was, I am." Our spirit-soul continues on, and Jesus confirmed that when he said he is the one which was, and which is, and which will always be, an eternal spirit-soul. And when the soul fully matures in a person who realizes that the True Self is the Self of All, as Jesus did, it then no longer has to continue coming back to Earth for yet another lifetime in another mortal body. It has learned its lessons in this gross realm of polarity and opposites and trial and error, and it graduates to greater realms of existence.

You may have noticed that in the 1931 version of Key 13 there is no boat. This is perhaps because the prophesied great wars were preoccupying many people at the time, and it was known that the messenger comes after the biggest and worst wars. But other symbols reflect the same meanings as those in the first version. Here the severed foot refers to Pisces, which is associated with the feet astrologically. The two active hands refer to the duality of Pisces, like the two piscean fish. It could even be said that the head of the man wears a crown while the woman’s doesn’t to signify the patriarchy that dominated throughout the passing Piscean Age. The two heads, however, also refer to the two spheres on the Tree of Life that represent wisdom and understanding, as well as to the male aspect of consciousness and the female aspect of subconsciousness.

In this third version of Key 13 (produced in 1971 by Father Paul Blighton, who founded the Holy Order of MANS), the rising sun again refers to the new age and the foot and the discarded boot with the water running out of it again refers to the closing Piscean Age. But the single foot and boot have a further meaning as well. The implication is that there is only "one foot on the ground," and this is a reference to the messenger for the Spirit of truth. It also refers to Key 14, which depicts the archangel with one foot in the water and one foot on land. And it refers also to Hindu symbolism in which the Avatar is often depicted as sitting with one foot on the earth and one foot folded across his lap.

This 1971 version of Key 13 also depicts some obvious references to the messenger for the Spirit of truth. In this version the boat (shown in the background of the 1910 Rider-Waite version) has landed, and the wheel implies not only a new mode of transportation, but it replaces the hands of the older version to show the progress possible in new activities. In that regard, the year this version was produced is significant, because 1971 was the year I witnessed God and began my spiritual education and journey. I learned of this version from someone I met several years later in 1976, the first time I went out on the desert along the Colorado River to meditate and fast. I personally believe this symbolism was added to reflect the fact that the messenger for the Spirit of truth had "landed" and begun his long journey. It also refers to the fact that the Spirit of truth became more active in the world, having been established in another host, and that many more people all over the world would benefit and learn from that Spirit, both consciously and subconsciously.

The Sacred Tarot is really a symbolic picture text-book that is compatible with all sacred texts like the Bible. They all provide the same core teachings of universal and eternal truths. And just as the Bible and other sacred texts have included prophetic messages, so does the Sacred Tarot, as you’ve seen. They all speak of the coming of the messenger for the Spirit of truth, and they all foretell the fulfillment of prophecy whereby the humble, faithful and meek shall inherit the earth.

As I said in the first book, the messenger is sent not to provide a new religion or a new teaching, but to remind humanity of the teachings that already exist and explain the true intent, purpose and meaning of those teachings. That, of course, necessitates exposing the myths and errors and false interpretations of those scriptures and teachings which have led so many people astray. And I discuss the Holy Qabalah and the Sacred Tarot because they comprise a teaching that is surely the most misunderstood and the least known, even though it can be one of the most effective because it can be utilized in conjunction with any religion or spiritual teaching. Its purpose is not to indoctrinate you, but to enlighten you.

I hope I have helped you to get a little better idea about the Sacred Tarot, and its true purpose. And I must remind you that while there is indeed but one way to God, there are many paths that lead thereto, just as there are many rivers that flow into the sea. Each one may be unique, but they all wind up returning to the Source.

Being on a path that is appropriate for you makes life easier and more rewarding. It leads you to where you want to go, spiritually, and it makes you a positive, productive person, which attracts positive energy to you. And the opposite is true for those who blindly stumble down a path of vain folly and material self-interest. We truly do reap what we sow.

(Most of the above was quoted from Getting From Babylon to New Jerusalem: #3 in the Real Prophecy Unveiled Series, published in 2003 by iUniverse, Inc.)

 © 2003- 2008 Joseph J. Adamson