TAROT INTERPRETATIOI{

LessonTlrirteen

THE DWELLING PLACE OF'SPIRIT

Your study tableaufor this week is as fbllows:

a
+ 5

6 7 8

o t0 ll

It emphasizes l(ey 7 as the meanterm betweenthe pairs3-11,4-10,5-9 and 6-8. Besides

tlresecombinations,we shallconsideralsothe sequences 3, 4, 5 ancl9, 10, 11, omitting 3, 6,9
n n d 5 B . l l . O f t h e s et.l r ef i r s tg r o u ph a sb e e ni n t e r p r e t ei n
d ! e s s o n! 2 , a n Ct h ec t h e i ' . , , ' ibl !e
interpretedin Lesson14.

You will rememberthat the generalmeaningof I(ey 7 hasbeengiven as Receptivity-Will.

This Key representspersonalityas a vehicle for the directiveprinciple of the universe.
Personalityis a movable field of action,like a chariot,fencedin by the boundaliesof
organismand environment. The rider in tlre car is the true Self, and that Self is identical with
the power which setsthe universein motion and keepsit going throughthe various cycles of
transformation.

lfhe rider is the One Will. AgelessWisdom teachesthat the Will power in any human
personalityis really an influx of the directiveenergysymbolizedby the charioteer.The
chariot is the personalorganism. It is drawn or moved by two sphinxes,representingthe
positive and negativephasesof sensation,and receivesthe influx of the universalwill-power
through subconsciouschannels,as shown in l(ey 6.

When we considerl(ey 7 as a symbol of agency,the ernphasisfalls on what is representedby

the car itselfl that is, upon the function of the personalorganisrnas the vehicle of the One
Lilb. Thus, in sayingI{ey 7 is the agencylinking Key 3 to Key 11,we nreanthat the inflr-rxof
the cosmic will-force is the meanswherebythe image-makingpower of subconsciousness
(t(ey 3) is enabledto bring aboutthe developmentof faith.

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Faith has beencalledthe bridge to knowledge. Knowledge,however,may be definedas that

which always works when rightly applied. To hold faith in tliat which doesnot work merely
deepensone'signoranceand so canneverleadto knowledge.

A basic characteristicof the AgelessWisdom, as taughtin theseprogressivelessons,is that

theseteachingsalwayswork wheu properly studiedand diligently applied. Thus that which
bcgins with faith endswith knowledge,and this rightly appliedknowledge,as the Eastern
Mastersteach,adiustsour I(arma (I(ey 11) to the perf'ectrhythm and equilibrium of the
universeof which we are apafi.
nianif-ested

When wc are consciouslyreceptiveto the influx of the Life-power and consciouslysubmit

every detail of our personallives to Its direction,we automaticallyattuneourselvesto this
cosmic lhythm and place ourselvesat the fulclurn of equilibrium of this GrandTotality . . .
this universewhich is the rnanifestedaspectof God, or if you pref'er,the One Sourcefi om
which all elsederives.

This consciousreceptivity clarities our mentalimageryand our intentionto act as vehicles for
the One Life is carriedto subconsciouslevelswhere it works to bring forth from the gardenof
the Ernpressthe "bread of life" in the form of right desires. Then, becausewe imagine truly,
our thoughtsas they take {brm in action adjustour personallives and our Karma so that we
are halmoniouslyrelatedto the working of the law of universalequilibrium.

Receptivity,agaiu,is thc meanswliereby we are enabledto reccivethe direct regulativepower

symbolizedby the Etnperor. When we areproperly receptive,our personalreasoningis in
nnison r'viththe UniversalReason.Then w-eseethings as they really are,not merely as they
look. Our receptivityputs us in consciousrelationwith the cyclesof universalactivity
syrnbolizedby the Wheel of Fortune.

To thosewho have no knowledgeof our methodof procedureit seemsthat we have unusual

cotnmandof circumstances,or that we are unusuallylucky. Apparently,we make things
occul to suit ourselves.We wod<wonderswhich amazeall beholders.

To clurselves,ltowever,it seemsotherwise. We know that all we do is to submit ourselves

completelyto the influenceof the directiveprinciple of the universe. When we do this, we
finclthat the leastdetailsof our daily experienceare broughtinto harmonywith the cosmic
order. Thus otr thoughts,words and deedsbecomethe specializedmanifestationof cosmic
tendencies.

Receptivityenablesus also to reapthe full benefitsof intuition. As you have learned,true

intuition, the Triumphantand EternalIntelligence,invariably teaohesus how to apply some
principle which is eternallytrlle to the solutionof a particularpersonalproblem. The
principle is always universal,but intuition is what enablesus to seejust how the principle
'fhe
bearsupon the situationwhich confrontsus and thus changesthe situation. more
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receptivewe are,the more intuitive do we becomeand the clearerand betterare we able to see
the path immediatelybeforeus, This is the path which leadsultimately to consciousunion
with the One Identity picturedby the Herrnit.

I{ey 7, furthermore,is the link betweenKey 6 and I(ey 8. It is throughthinking continually of

personalityas being a vehicle for the UniversalWill that we experiencethe good resultsof the
harmoniousrelationbetweenthe consciousand subconsciousminds, as picturedby the
Lovers. For then we no longer try to bendconditionsby meansof "personalwill." Instead,
we simply perceivethe actualpresencein our lives of the One Will which is sufficient to rneet
our every requirement.

This attitudeof willingnessconstitutesa most potentsuggestionto subconsciousness.It

clearsaway the negativeeffectsof the wrong notion that we haveto accomplishanything
whatcverthrough the exerciseof merely personalpowers. 'Ihe powersassumepersonalfolm
as tirey are expressedin thought,speeohand action,but we know that the powersthemselves
do not have their origin in the lield of personality.

Subconsciousness, acting in responseto the suggestionthat personalityis actuallythe abode

of Omnipotenceitself, brings the subhumanforcesof the personalfield into line with this
suggestion.Thus the firnctionsof the entireorganismare adjusted,and evenbody structureis
altcred. The wild beastsof the lower natureare tamedand broughtunder control. A tide of
stleugrirsurgesthrougirthe whoie organlsm,anciall the powersoI personalltyare
co-ordinated.

In the sequence3, 4, 5, Key 4 is the meanterm. It showsus the power of reasonas the link
betweenthe subconsciousprocessof rnentalimageryand the superconscious activities which
bring to us the instructionof the Inner Teacher. The deductiveprocessof the subconscious
mincl forms groupsand complexesof associatedideas. Theseare then submittedto the
regulativefunction of self-consciousreasoning,symbolizedby the Emperor.

tJntil this has beendone and the materialsmadeavailableby the creativeimagery of the
subconscioushave beenassortedand classified,we are not reaclyto listen to the Inner Voice.
For it is in the processof consciouslysorting and arrangingour mental irnagesthat the nature
ol our problemsbecomesevidentto us. l'hen only do we perceivein what respectsrve are yet
in ignorance.

Until we know what we do not hnow we arenot readyto seek,much lessto protit by the
higher guidancetypified by the Hierophant. For intuition gives us light from above,but only
when we are readyto seekthat light. Unlesswe know how to ask,we cannotreceivethe
higher instruction,ancluntil our consciousreasoninghas shown us clearly i.r'hatit is rve do not
know, we cannotformulatethe specificquestionsu4richarenecessary,if-we hope to receive
from the Inner Voice that definite elucidationof principleswhich will guide us to right
thouglrtand right action.

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The sequence9, 10, 11 showsthe Wheel of Fortuneas the meall term betweenthe lfermit and
Justice. The Hermit is the sameas the Charioteerand he is really also the sameas the
Emperorand the Hierophant. He is the guiding power lighting our path to the lieights of
spiritual attainment. The mountainwhereonhe standsis within us, not outside. 'I'he path
leadingto this height is thereforethe way of gradualprogressin the scienceof
The Hermit is the goal of our hopes,and he is also the foundationof our
self'-l<norvledge.
personalexistence.

Tire Wheel of Fortunerepresentsthe cyclesof cosrniclaw through which the power of the
One lcientity is communicatedto us, its centersof expression.The outcomeof the working of
the law representedby Key 10 is shown in Key 11. The One Identity adjustsour personal
lives through the orderly sequenceof its own self-manifestation.The more clearly we
perceivethis, the more definitely arewe establishedin faith. We learnto say,"So be it" to the
heavenlyorder. No matterhow things look to us, we affirm that the presentsituationis an
orderly clevelopmentfrom all previousconditions.

IJnderstandthat faith in the cosmic order is no lnere pretense.it is really a logical deduction
fittn what we know of the power, wisdom and beautyof the One Reality and later as we
ascendever higher on the Path,otr faith is transmutedand becomesknowledge. . .
Knowledge born of direct perception. Concerningthis, as exemplifiedin the idea of Victory
(which is definitely associatedwith I(ey 7 tl'rroughits number),Albert Pike writes:

"Victory is the perfbctSuccess,which with the Deity, to Whom the future is present,attends,
anclto I{is creaturesis to result, fi'om the plan of Equilibrium everywhereadoptedby Him. It
is the rer:onciliation
of Light and Darkness,Good and Evil, Free-willandNecessity,God's
ornnipotenceand Man's liberty; and the harmoniousissueand lesult of all, without which tlie
nniversewould be a failure. It is the inherentPerfectionof the Deity, manifbstedin His Idea
of the universe;but it is tlrat Perf-ection
legardedas tlie successfulresult, which it both causes
or proclucesand is; the perfectionof the plan being its success.lt is the prevailing of Wisdom
over Acciclent,and it, in turn, both producesand is the Glory and Laudationof the Great
Infrnite Contriver, Whoseplan is thus successfuland glorious."
. . . Morals and Dogma,p.767

Otrr affirmation that the CreativeProcessis a successnow. includesthe realtzattonthat since

we are not yet all-seeingand all-knowing, it is more logical to assumethat apparentfailures
owe their appearance to our ignorance. Concerningthis we may quotealso from The Sculptor
Speaks(Doubleday,Doran& Co.),in which JacobEpsteinsetsfbrth this view:

"I do not agreewith the theory that the magic wand changessomethingugly in nature;
transmutationby a painteror sculptorinto somethingbeautiful. The thing itself is always
beautiful, or will appearbeautifulto the personwho knows how to look at it . . . the beauty

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was always there. It is only the accidentalcircumstancesof life that concealthe beauty from
somepeoplesometimesand from somepeoplealways."

To know lrow to look at itl That is the thing. We neednot agreewith Epstein'snotion that
inability to look is merely the outcomeof accidentalcircumstances.Ratherwould we say that
to eachone in due season,enlightenmentcomes-not by accident,but by a growth which
rvorks outward tiom within underthe euidanceof the One Identitv.

Irollow out the samegeneralplan in yonr practicethis week as in the precedinglessons.

Write out six meditationsfbr vourself.