The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Symbolism Of The Tarot

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A poetic guide to the Major Arcana, this work explores Kabbalah, alchemy, and occult symbolism. Ideal for students of Tarot and Western esoteric thought, it offers a metaphysical interpretation of the cards as a complete code of Hermetic psychology.

Summary up to 500 words

First published in 1913, P. D. Ouspensky's *The Symbolism of the Tarot* presents a profound analysis of the Tarot as a complete code of Hermetic symbolism, synthesizing Kabbalah, alchemy, astrology, and magic. Ouspensky argues that the Tarot is not merely a game but a psychological investigation into man's relationship with the spiritual and physical worlds. The text posits that the Tarot represents a summary of the Hermetic Sciences, where terms like 'gold' in alchemy refer to the Kingdom of Heaven within the soul, and planetary movements reflect qualities of the human consciousness. The work is structured around the Tarot's three divisions: the twenty-two Major Arcana representing the initiatory path, the zero card linking the spiritual and physical, and the fifty-six Minor Arcana depicting the visible world. Ouspensky explains that the four suits correspond to the four elements and the four letters of the Name of God (Jehovah), representing the active and passive principles of consciousness. The black suits signify activity and the subjective side, while the red suits represent passivity and the objective side. Through vivid, visionary descriptions, the narrative guides the reader through the Major Arcana. It begins with the Fool, who carries the four magic symbols in ignorance, and progresses through the High Priestess guarding wisdom and the Emperor embodying the Great Law. The journey continues through the Lovers' unity, the Devil's illusions, and the Hermit's inner light. Key cards like Time (Temperance) reveal that eternity is a serpent pursuing its tail, illustrating that life and death are cyclical. Death is reinterpreted not as an end but as a necessary step in the Path of Life, while Judgment signifies the realization that the visible world is contained within the soul. The text culminates with the Hanged Man, who has found Truth by understanding the inversion of the soul's perspective. This figure bridges the gap between the phenomenal and noumenal worlds, realizing that the point of the soul contains the infinite square of the universe. Ultimately, Ouspensky demonstrates that the Tarot is a tool for breaking the 'enchanted circle' of human conceptions, allowing the initiate to perceive the world in itself and unify the duad into monism.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Occult
• Tarot