A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

A Closer Look at the Tarot Aces

Jason Rath
This is a series of essays on each of the seventy-eight cards of the Tarot. It will discuss the rich symbolism of each card, addressing the hidden meanings behind the Tarot's universal language of color and symbols. This series will systematically unveil and define the entire Tarot, explaining many areas of the Tarot, which have remained closed to all but a select few. Such systems as the Qabbalah and astrology will help to show the many facets of the Tarot. The articles will follow the numerical pattern of the cards themselves, beginning with the aces of the minor arcana.

The fifty-six cards of the minor arcana can break down into four separate groups of cards. The four aces, the thirty-six lesser cards (2-10) and the sixteen court cards. The ten numbered cards represent the ten emanations of the godhead that brought the universe into being. These ten spheres of the qabbalistic Tree of Life categorize the evolutionary stages of the creation of the universe. Each card of the Tarot has its place on the Tree of Life. The four aces are placed in the sphere known as Kether, which means the crown.

Kether is the first emanation and symbolizes God itself, a pure being without duality. Although Kether is ineffable, it does have symbols and titles that help explain its effect on the world. From Kether the nine later emanations follow, by the virtue of the archetypal elements which the four aces represent.

Letter Element Sign Qab. World Ace

Yod Fire Leo Archetypes Wands

(Atziluth)

1/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

Heh Water Scorpio Creation Cups

(Briah)

Vau Air Aquarius Formation Swords

(Yetzirah)

Heh Earth Taurus Action Pentacles

(Assiah)

The four aces represent the essence or seed of the elements Fire, Earth, Air and Water. They do not represent elements in their physical forms, but in their spiritual forms. The godname of Kether is Eheieh, which means, "I am," or pure existence. This also represents the nature of the four aces. The aces represent the nature of God in its purest form. The four aces fall under the presidency of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH). Each letter represents one of the aces, as well as the four qabbalistic worlds of existence. It is important to remember that the aces are unique. They represent the force behind the creation of the universe. Thus, the forty-eight other cards of the minor arcana represent the product of the four aces of Fire, Earth, Air and Water.

Letter Energy Qab. Sphere Ace

Yod Father(+) Chokmah Wands

(Wisdom)

2/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

Heh Mother(-) Binah Cups

(Understanding)

Vau Son(+) Tiphareth Swords

(Beauty or Balance)

Heh Daughter(-) Malkuth Pentacles

(Kingdom)

Qabbalistic Sphere Correspondence

Kether Aces, Trumps

Chokmah Twos, Kings

Binah Threes, Queens

Chesed Fours

3/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

Geburah Fives

Tiphareth Sixes, Knights

Netzach Sevens

Hod Eights

Yesod Nines

Malkuth Tens, Pages

Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands is the root of the powers of Fire. This card represents the spirit of Fire, not a fire of heat and destruction. It is a spiritual Fire of creative force, strength and pure directed energy. The Ace of Wands symbolizes the beginning of action on the archetypal plane, beginning the act of creation in the subtlest sense. Here god is seen as infinite light and motion not yet contained. This means that no manifestation can take place in a physical sense, although the energies necessary for creation exist. The four aces and the first emanation, Kether, correspond to the concept of the point. A point cannot be measured; its only attribute is that it exists somewhere.

Yod, the Hebrew letter attributed to the Ace of Wands literally means

"hand," indicating the direction of force. Although the energies represented by the aces are not contained, they do have consciousness and purpose. Thus, by virtue of the Father, the three later worlds, too, have a definite purpose. This purpose is the containment of the infinite light

4/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

(God). By containing the infinite light, God becomes both physical and dual in nature. Thus, men and women are literally the bodies of God on the physical plane.

The divinatory meaning of the Ace of Wands is the primordial energy of God manifested in matter, or Man's realization for his potential ability to utilize the higher forms of himself to make physical change (magick). But here Man has not learned to direct these powers with his will. It simply refers to the awareness of the powers of Fire: force, creative force, rush, vigor, illumination. Because Man does not exercise his will at this stage, this card represents natural, not invoked, force.

Incense mixture for the Ace of Wands:

1 Part Ambergris

1 Part Dragon Blood Root

1 Part Saffron

You may use the incense mixtures given for each card when mediating with that card. The Tarot incense mixtures up the cards' vortices, allowing you to use the cards as talismans and ritual aids. Also burn the incenses when pathworking with the Tarot.

The Ace of Cups

The Ace of Cups is the root of the powers of Water. This card symbolizes the spirit of the archetypal Mother, Binah. The Ace of Cups, governed by the seed of Water, symbolizes the productivity of the feminine energies of the Binah. She represents the "bringer forth of material force." The force of the Ace of Wands is harnessed and thus balanced by the Ace of Cups. Through this process the Mother unites with the Father, thus manifesting the power of the Ace of Wands (Father). At this stage God resembles the Mother, thus the creative aspect of God is

5/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

seen in the second qabbalistic world of Creation (Briah). The emanation of Binah and the world of Creation corresponds to the line. With the Ace of Wands, we see the force of Fire exists somewhere. But this undefined position means nothing; it cannot manifest until related to another point. Here we see the importance of the Mother in the cycle of creation. The Father and Mother form the line.

Heh, the Hebrew letter attributed to the Ace of Cups literally means "window." The window symbolizes the restriction of light (Ace of Wands) and the womb of the great Goddess. Compare the symbolism of this card with the sperm fertilizing the ovum. Their union produces the Son (Ace of Swords) and the Daughter (Ace of Pentacles), following the evolutionary pattern of the four worlds.

The divinatory meaning of the Ace of Cups represents the containment of the positive light of the Father. Through the union of two opposites one can find true mastery, understanding and creatively using the force of the Ace of Wands. Here are the qualities of fertility, beauty, balanced force, creativity, understanding and productiveness. Here one has developed a knowledge and creative use of one's Higher Self. Through meditation and reflection one understands the need for compassion and patience.

Incense mixture for the Ace of Cups:

1 Part Ambergris

1 Part Myrrh

1 Part Lotus

Ace Qab. Sphere Human Nature Wands<+> Chokmah Linear Thought

Cups Binah Wholistic Thought

6/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

Swords Tiphareth Acting from the Heart

Pentacles Malkuth Sexual & Survival Instinct

Ace of Swords

The Ace of Swords is the root of the powers of Air. The Ace of Swords is the product of the union of the Father and Mother; Air is the product of Fire and Water. The Son, symbol of the Ace of Swords, has the benefits of both the Mother and Father. This quality of evolution is an important trait of the Ace of Swords. Thus, this card represents the world of Formation. The Son symbolizes the ability to give form through the qualities of Fire and Water. Here God is seen as the mediator between the forces of Male and Female. In a sense, the Ace of Swords represents the spirit becoming form. In this powerful role it also acts as the divine law of justice, exercising the power of judgment to create balance.

Vau, the Hebrew letter attributed to the Ace of Swords literally means

"pin" or "hook." The Ace of Swords is related to the sphere of Tiphareth (beauty and balance). The Ace of Swords signifies the Veil between the higher, more spiritual worlds and the lower, physical worlds. Thus, this card relates to the mysteries of the crucifixthe trials and errors of the physical level. This is an initiatory process leading us to our Higher Selves. Here we learn to exercise control, to act not solely as Mother or Father, but as a balance of the two. When we realize the need for balance we attain true beauty.

The divinatory meaning of the Ace of Swords is a need to contemplate extremes, find balance and act upon that knowledge. It calls upon one to reason and learn. This card symbolizes invoked force because the Son is acting through analytical will instead of intuition. This card also implies decisions and difficulty.

Incense mixture for the Ace of Swords:

7/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

1 Part Ambergris

1 Part Mint Leave

1 Part Lign-Aloes

The Ace of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles is the root of the powers of Earth. This card represents the essence of the Father and Mother manifested on the physical plane. The Ace of Pentacles is associated with the sphere of Malkuth. Here, all the subtle forces manifest. The Ace of Swords is the third point; forming the plane and allowing form to begin. This card adds the fourth point making the three-dimensional solid, manifesting the balanced thoughts of the Son. Here the Daughter (twin to the Son) signifies the Spirit locked in form and matter.

The final Heh is the Hebrew letter associated with this card. It represents the relation of the Mother (Binah) with the physical world. Here the Daughter manifests the evolving ideas of form that began with the Mother, they now become physical.

The divinatory meaning of the Ace of Pentacles is simply matter in all its forms. On a spiritual level, this card relates to the trials of the Spirit in physical form striving to return to its source. Here is the allusion of becoming a "king." We must remember, despite our earthly accomplishments, our kingdom is not of this world.

Incense mixture for the Ace of Pentacles:

1 Part Ambergris

8/9

A Closer Look at the Tarot: Aces

1 Part Dittany of Crete

1 Part Wheat

Part two of this series examines the four twos of the minor arcana and gives meditative guidelines for pathworking with the minor arcana cards. If you have any comments on "A Closer Look at the Tarot," please send us a letter, we would love to here from you.

9/9