The Tetractys and the Four Suits

In this article I’m going to be looking at the concept of the Tetractys, a mathematical pyramid conceptualized by Pythagorus that consists of four rows of 1, 2, 3, and four numbers respectively. Not being a mathematician, I am not going to go too deeply into this, but I want to present a basis for looking at the numbered cards in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot, and how they relate to each other.

Some interesting background on the Tetracty (from Wikipedia):

1. The Tetractys symbolize the four elements – earth, air, fire and water.
2. The first four numbers also symbolized the harmony of the spheres and the Cosmos.
3.  The four rows add up to ten (1+2+3+4=10), which is a unity of higher order mathematically,
4. The Tetractys represents an organization of space: (1) the first row represents zero-dimensions (a point), (2) the second row represent a one-dimension (a line with two points), (3) the third row represents two-dimensions (a plane defined by a triangle of three points), and (4) the fourth row represents three-dimensions (a tetrahedron defined by four points).

There is an actual spread entitled the Tetractys (Tetraktys) spread. It is in the form of the ten position Tetractys triangle, and is defined as follows:

1

3          2

6          5          4

10          9          8          7

The bottom row, the Tetrad, represents the material world. From right to left, the positions represent the elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. This row represents the opportunities and conflicts between the different areas of the Seeker’s life.

The second row from the bottom, the Triad, represents spiritual forces. This line presents the back story, or the explanation for what ha happened in the bottom line. The three positions are, from right to left, the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Destroyer.

The third row up from the bottom represents the Dyad, or the essential principles. The right hand card represents light, and yang, while the left hand card represents dark, and yin. Here we see the heart of the issue of the reading.

The fourth row up, from the bottom, represents the Monad, or the whole, the unity of the principles in he Dyad. It represents the theme of the issue being addressed.

Over the next four weeks, we will take a look at the four suits of the Minor Arcana, and see how they fit into the principle of the Tetractys. Some of the things that we will be looking at are masculine/feminine polarity, which cards are operating “behind the scenes”, and fate versus free will. Wish me luck on this!

In the meantime, take a look at the Tetractys – as a unified triangle, and as a triangle made up of many smaller triangles. Lots of inter-relationships here!

Here are a couple of links that will allow you to use the Tetractys as an actual Tarot spread: Aeclectic Tarot Forum, http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Tetractys/id/578326.

To end this on a high note – a little video that I found on You Tube. It is a reflection on the Kabbalistic Tetragrammaton and the Tetractys, so not directly related to the Tarot, but well done and interesting, none the less.

Bibliography

Kabbalistic Tetragrammaton and Tetractys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAukInaCgas.

Tetractys. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetractys

Tetrakyts. http://www.telp.com/tarot/tetraktys.htm

© June 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

ISIS Tarot de Marseille

ISIS Tarot de Marseille

Artist: Tadahiro Onuma
ISIS (The Institute of Study on Initiation and Symbolism)
2010
ISBN #978-4-88594-446-8

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I want to thank Alec Satin for bringing this deck to my attention. I saw he scans on his blog, and “had to have it”! I purchased the deck directly from Mr. Onuma, with not a little trepidation, because I was not that sure how well Japan’s postal system had recovered from their recent devastating tsunami difficulties. I need not have worried – it came through in record time, and in excellent condition!

The “ISIS Tarot de Marseille” is a traditional, 78 card Marseille-style deck, based on the Nicholas Conver Marseille deck (1760). Where the Conver deck was made from wooden block prints, and therefore appears two dimensional, the ISIS deck is three dimensional.

The colors are absolutely stunning – rich and vibrant, they pop right out at you. Primary colors are used – green, blue, red, yellow and light blue, symbolizing, as noted below, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether) plus flesh. There is a slightly different view of the colors presented by Jean-Claude Flornoy in his restorations. He presents the seven symbolic colors as white, the color of emotional saturation; black, representing the earth; red, representing blood and suffering; blue, representing blows to the body and soul; yellow, representing perseverance; green, representing hope; light blue, representing awareness;

There was no LWB (Little White Book) with this deck, but there was an informational card that reads as follows:

”The Tarot de Marseille is part of a World Heritage in which a spiritual tradition of Southern Europe has successfully been preserved and cultivated since ancient times. It is like a museum on paper where mystical wisdom from ancient Egypt, the Orient, Greece, India and the Celtic and Jewish traditions can be found hidden in symbolism. It is you who will discover the inherent value that resides within the cards.

The oldest Tarot de Marseille can be traced back to the beginning of the 17th Century. It is said that Francois Chosson’s 1672 version defined the basic structures of this particular tarot, and all versions of the Tarot de Marseille after that one include the following characteristics:

1. The proportion of the card is always the equivalent of two equilateral squares joined.

2. There are frames at the top and bottom of each Major Arcana card, containing a Roman numeral at the top and the name of the card in French at the bottom.

3. The number frame for the Le Mat card is blank and the Arcana XIII has no name frame.

4. Each image is depicted in a geometrical composition consisting of three circles, two squares, two triangles and two pentagrams.

One hundred years after Chosson, the Conver version was published in 1760. In the 250 years since, it has become the de facto standard of the Tarot de Marseille.

A wealth of esoteric teachings are embedded in the composition, colors and numbers of this tarot. The colors of the Conver version are green, blue, red, yellow and light blue, symbolizing respectively, earth, water, fire, air and ether of the 5 elements, plus flesh. The ISIS version restores these colors as faithfully as possible.

The Conver version was made with wooden block prints, representing each image two dimensionally. The ISIS version presents the images in third dimension. The ISIS version includes contemporary technology and Japanese aesthetics, making it the most beautiful Tarot de Marseille in the world.”

The cards are approximately 2 ½” by 5”, and the card stock is study and will stand up to use. The backs are a small patterned green, and are reversible.
The card faces show a ¼” white border, followed by a thin black line. The Major Arcana show the card number, in Roman numerals, at the top, with the card title across the bottom in French. The Pips (numbered cards) show the card number, in Roman numerals, centered on the left and right hand side of the card. The Court cards show the title and suit across the bottom. As this is a Marseille-style deck, the imagery on the Pips is limited to the suit icon and minimal embellishments.

The Fool and Strength have an interesting added detail of a bee prepared to sting! What I noticed immediately was the eyes in this deck – they stand out int hat they are focused in a definite direction, and they add emotion to the figures on the cards.

Several of the cards in this deck retain traditional markings: the Two of Deniers (Pentacles) shows the year of publication and the publisher. The Two of Coupe (Cups) shows a Cup in ayellow background at the bottom of the card, the the initials “G” and “M” to the left and right of the Cup as it faces the reader. Le Chariot shows the initials “V.T” on the chariot, between the horses. The Valet de Deniers is labled with the word “France” on the left hand side of the card, and he words “Conver Valet.de.Deniers” on the right hand side of the card.

I liked the feel of this restoration. The added dimension to the cards, along with the intensity of the color, makes for some very pleasant reading experiences. I would not hesitate to recommend this deck for any level of student/reader – there is something for everyone here. I also feel that it is an especially good deck for someone new to the Marseille tradition.

© June 2011 Bonnie Cehovet

Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction

Author: Ross. E. Goldstein, Ph.D.

Self-Published

2011

ISBN #978-1-452842284

 

“Chain Reaction” is what I would call an epic story. Goldstein, a competitive cyclist, journalist covering the cycling world, an sports psychologist writes about a 23 year old cyclist, Cal Scott, riding for a major team, T-Mobile, with apparently everything going for him, who abruptly leaves the cycling world to return home to live with his parents. He won’t tell them why he left a promising career as a cyclist, and makes no moves to pursue an alternate life. He becomes a barista – a top barista – but has no plans for a future.

 

When Cal is 25, his father Paul plans a trip to Italy, to do some “recreational” cycling. He invites Cal to come along to ride with him. Paul is a hardball defense attorney – Cal strongly suspects strings, and refuses to go. In the end, his father will not take no for an answer. Cal finds himself in Italy, meeting his father’s friend Gianni Di Salvo, and Gianni’s cyclist daughter Daniella.

 

Oh … the trip strangely coincides with Bassano del Grappa’s grueling race up the ferocious slopes of Monte Grappa. Di Salvo is the coach for his own Squadra Diavolo cycling team. Cal is offered a chance to ride with the team, where a winning race could mean re-entry into the cycling world. Along the way Cal faces his own shadows, his relationship with his father, a growing relationship with Daniella, and a highly competitive relationship with the team Squadra Diavolo leader, Rocco. Rocco will do anything to win, and he is Daniella’s ex-boyfriend.

 

Along the way we hear many familiar names, including that of iconic cyclist Lance Armstrong. We learn about blood doping, and performance enhancing drugs, such as EPO, CERA, We see the way a team functions, from the inside out. We see the competitive nature, the team members that give their all for their team leader, pushing themselves until they have to drop out.

 

The sport of cycling has a cut-throat side, but it has an equally strong heart – that of pushing ones-self beyond all limits to achieve the seemingly impossible.

 

Well written, fast paced … one does not want to put this book down!

 

© June 2011 Bonnie Cehovet