THE ARCANE ARCHIVE
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Subject: TAROT DIVINATION
     
     This form is especially applicable to Divination concerning the ordinary
     material events of daily life.

     It is a mode of placing the cards based upon the scheme of the dominion of
     the Tarot Symbols. The more rigidly correct and in harmony with the scheme of
     the Universe is any form of Divination, so much the more is it likely to
     yield a correct and reliable answer to the enquirer. For then and then only
     is there a firm link, and bond of union, established between it and the
     Occult forces of Nature. The moment the correct correspondence of the Symbols
     employed ceases to be observed, the link between them and the inner Occult
     forces is strained, and in some cases broken. For this cause, therefore, is
     it that the same mode of Divination will sometimes yield a true and sometimes
     false answer, and at other times a partly true and partly false; because the
     correspondences are either not rigidly observed or else made use of by an
     ignorant and uninitiated person.

     Therefore the Diviner should enter upon the Divination with a mind clear and
     unprejudiced, neither disturbed by anger, fear, nor love, and with a sound
     knowledge of the correspondences of the symbols which he employs. Also he
     should be able to employ his clairvoyant and intuitive faculties therein when
     necessary and should avoid as much as possible a warped or strained decision.
     Also it is not well to divine repeatedly concerning the same matter; and the
     Diviner should also recognise that even the material occult forces do not act
     as the instruments of a blind fatality, but rather in accordance with the
     will of the more spiritual powers which are behind them.

     Also it may be well for the Diviner to put on his insignia, and make over the
     pack any invoking hexagram or pentagram, either with the hand alone, or with
     convenient magical instruments. And it may also be advisable in some
     instances to invoke an elemental force consonant with the matter, to aid in
     the divination.

     And let it not be forgotten that in working with the lesser magical
     implements all four should be at hand, even though only one be actually
     employed. For if this be not done, it will give undue force to the suit
     corresponding to the Element invoked, and instead of being an aid in the
     matter, it will be a hindrance to correct reading.

                                THE OPENING OF THE KEY

     The mode of performing the Divination called "The Opening of the Key" is by
     five consecutive operations of laying out the cards, they having been
     previously well shuffled, and, in addition in the first and fourth cases,
     having been cut as well, and in a certain manner. These five operations
     answer respectively, the first to the Dominion of the Four Knaves under the
     presidency of the Four Aces; the Second to that of the Kings, Queens and
     Knights, referred to the Twelve Houses; the Third to that of the Twelve Keys
     attributed to the Signs; the Fourth to that of the smaller cards answering to
     the 36 Decanates; and the Fifth and last to the rule of the Sephiroth in the
     Celestial Heavens.

     These are five distinct operations, consecutively executed from the mode of
     Operation called the "Opening of the Key," which, as has been before said, is
     especially applicable to the daily events of life. The first of these methods
     shows the opening of the matter as it then stands. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, its
     consecutive development, and the 5th its termination.

     Before commencing the Divination, one of the sixteen court cards should be
     selected to represent the significator of the enquirer, and should answer as
     nearly to his description.

     WANDS generally - very fair-haired and red-haired persons with fair

     complexion.

     CUPS generally - moderately fair persons.

     SWORDS generally - dark persons.

     PENTACLES generally - very dark persons.

     KINGS - Generally men.

     QUEENS - Generally women.

     KNIGHTS - Generally young men.

     PAGES (KNAVES) - generally young women.

     Of these the Queens and Knights in reading the cards during the processes
     almost always represent persons connected with a matter under consideration.
     The Kings, if looking against the direction of the reading, or if meeting it,
     represent the coming of a person or event, or phase of an event, but if
     looking with the direction of the reading represent the departure of a person
     or the going off or wane of some event.

     The Pages (Knaves) if looking with the direction of the reading, represent
     general opinion in harmony with, and approving of the matter; but if looking
     against the direction of the reading the reverse.

     If the Diviner be performing the Divination for a person at a distance and of
     whose general description he is ignorant, he can select the significator by
     cutting the pack, and taking one of the court cards of that suit, cut to
     represent him, of course earnestly thinking of the person at the time.

     It is usually much better for the Enquirer to shuffle or cut the cards
     himself; but if the Diviner should have to do this himself, he must, while
     doing so, earnestly think of the person enquiring, or concerning whom the
     Divination is performed. In all cases of shuffling and cutting, the person
     doing so should think earnestly of the matter in hand. In cutting, if a false
     cut be made, that is to say if one or more cards should drop in the process,
     the cards should be at once reshuffled, and again cut clearly, otherwise it
     is probable that the answer will be unreliable. If the matter be important,
     he should wait twelve hours before reshuffling.

     In the laying out of the Cards, if any are inverted, they must remain so and
     must not be turned round, as that would alter the direction in which they
     would be looking. A card has the same meaning and forces, whether right side
     up or inverted, so that no particular attention need be paid to the
     circumstances.

     The order of the cards as laid down must also not be interfered with. In the
     reading of the cards when laid out, the Significator of the Enquirer is the
     starting point, and reading proceeds by counting over certain cards in the
     direction in which the face of the Court card chosen as Significator of the
     Enquirer is turned.

     The mode of counting is as follows, recognising the card from which one
     starts as the No. 1.

     From every Ace--Five cards (spirit and four elements).

     Princess (Knave) --Seven cards (seven palaces of Malkuth).

     King, Queen, Prince--Four cards, (letters of Tetragrammaton).

     Smaller cards--Its own number (a Sephirah).

     Key of Aleph Mem Shin--Three cards (number of the Mother letters).

     Key of duplicated letters--Nine cards (number of planets and

     Caput and Cauda Draconis).

     Key of single letters Twelve (number of signs).

     The counting is continued till one alights on a card which has already been
     read.

     Thus, in the following example, we will suppose that the significator is the
     Queen of Cups, and that she is looking to the left. We should read as
     follows: Queen of Cups--a fair woman; counting four, we come to Five of
     Pentacles, Le. "Loss of money" and as it has on one side the Moon and on the
     other a card of Pentacles, it shows that it is through deception in business
     matters,) we then count 5, the number of the card, from the 5 of Pentacles,
     which falls on the 6 of Cups "Success." But as this has on one side the
     Foolish Man, and on the other the Ace of Wands, this will not be great owing
     to unwise conduct. Then we count six from the 6 of Cups, still going in the
     same direction which brings us to the Queen of Cups, a card we have already
     read, so we finish there.



                                    FIRST OPERATION

                       REPRESENTING THE OPENING OF THE QUESTION

     The significator being chosen, the enquirer shuffles the cards, thinking
     earnestly of the matter under consideration. He then places the cards in a
     single packet on the table before him, face downwards. This represents the
     Name YHVH, which is now to be separated into the component letters. He
     therefore is to cut the pack as nearly in the middle as his eye can direct,
     and to face the uppermost portion to the right of the lowermost; the former
     will represent YH and the latter VH (final). He again is to cut the right
     hand packet into two parts, as nearly in the centre as he can, and place the
     uppermost part to the right again. This will represent Y and the lower part
     the remaining H. He is now to cut the left hand packet to the left, its
     uppermost part will represent V and its lower part H (final). So that he will
     now have four packets nearly equal in size, answering from right to left to
     the name YHVH under the presidency of the Four Princesses (knaves) and
     through them to the four radical forces (Aces). These four packets are then
     turned face upwards without altering their relative position, and the meaning
     of their four bottom cards (which are now uppermost) thus shown may be read
     as an indication of the matter. Each packet is now examined to find where the
     Significator of the Enquirer is, being careful not to alter the order of the
     Cards. The packet containing the Significator is retained for reading, and
     the others are put aside and not used in this particular reading (operation).
     Carefully note to which of the Four letters the packet containing the
     significator of the Enquirer corresponds. If to Y and Wands, energy and
     strife. If to H and Cups, pleasure. If to V and Swords, sickness and trouble.
     If to H final and Pentacles, business and money. The packet containing the
     significator is now spread out face upwards in the form of a horseshoe (count
     in the way the Significator looks) and its meaning is read in the manner
     previously described.

     First by counting to certain cards until one alights upon that which has been
     previously read; and then by pairing them together in succession from
     opposite ends of the horseshoe. (You do not miss the significator.)

     Before commencing counting from the Significator, the Diviner should first
     notice what suit predominates in the number of cards. In this a majority of
     Wands would signify energy, quarrelling, opposition. Of Cups, pleasure and
     merriment. Of Swords, trouble and sadness, sometimes sickness and death. Of
     Pentacles, business, money, possession, etc. Also if in the cards laid out
     there should be either three or four cards of a sort, such as 3 Aces, 4
     Fives, etc., their meaning should be noted according to the table hereafter
     given. A majority of the Trumps (Major Arcana) shows forces beyond one's
     control.

     Supposing that a young man asks the question "Shall I succeed in my present
     affairs?" His complexion is fair, and his hair light brown. The Diviner
     therefore takes the Knight of Cups for Significator. (Had he been an older
     man he would have selected the King of the same suit instead) and requests
     Enquirer to carefully shuffle the pack and place it face downwards on the
     table before him. He then instructs him to cut the pack as nearly in the
     centre as possible, and to place the uppermost half well to the right. Then
     to cut each of the packets as nearly in the centre as possible, putting each
     uppermost half to the right of and beside the lower half, thus yielding four
     packets of nearly equal dimensions.


     Here the 10 of Wands is strong, being in the place of Yod which governs Wands
     - Fire. The Six of Swords is moderately strong, being in the place of Heh
     which rules Cups - Water, which is not a hostile and contrary element to Air;
     the 4 of Pentacles is weak because it is in the place of Vau which rules the
     contrary element to Earth, viz. Air; and the Chariot, Cancer, a watery sign,
     is fairly strong, being in the place of Heh final, which rules Earth, a
     friendly element to Water.

     The Diviner then reads these 4 Cards as a preliminary thus: "The Enquirer
     works very hard and gains but little money, yet matters are beginning to
     improve." This is based on the 10 of Wands showing cruelty, harshness, etc. 6
     of Swords labour and work. 4 of Pentacles gain of money, and the Chariot
     success.

     The Diviner then examines the Four Packets to find where the Significator is.
     It proves to be in the one of which the 6 of Swords is the bottom card. This
     is in the place answering to the letter Heh, which represents pleasure and
     rules Cups. This is so far a good omen, as it shows society and merriment.
     This pack of cards is retained for reading, the others are put aside as not
     bearing on the question.

     Let us suppose that this packet consists of 20 cards, and that they are in
     the following order. The Diviner spreads them out in the form of a horseshoe:


     The suit of Cups is distinctly in the majority - pleasure, visiting friends,
     love-making, etc. There are 3 Knaves which indicates society of the young.
     From which the Diviner reads that the Enquirer is fond of young people and of
     flirting, etc. There being no other set of 3 or 4 cards of a sort, the
     Diviner proceeds to read by counting from the Significator, whose face is
     turned towards the 9 of Wands.

     The counting therefore proceeds in the direction of the arrow, thus: 4 from
     the King of Cups, 10 of Pentacles, 10 from this, 8 of Cups. 8 from this,
     Wheel of Fortune. 9 from this, Knave of Wands, 7 from this, 10 of Cups. 10
     from this, 5 of Swords. 5 from this, Knight of Wands. 4 from this, Ace of
     Pentacles. 5 from this, 10 of Cups. And as this card has already been taken,
     this form of reading finishes here.

     In this reading as hereafter explained, each card is modified by the card on
     either side of it. If it be an end card, such as the 6 of Swords, in this
     case it is modified not only by the card next to it, Ace of Pentacles, but
     also by the card at the opposite end, Knave of Wands.

     If these cards are of a contrary element to the card itself, they very much
     weaken and neutralize its force, but if the contrary element is only in one
     card, and the other is of a connecting nature, it does not much matter. This
     is explained later among the tabulated rules. The King of Cups is between the
     9 of Wands and the Wheel of Fortune, both of which cards are of a fiery
     nature, and therefore contrary to Cups which is Water, and therefore it shows
     that the Enquirer is rather lacking in perseverance and energy. 10 of
     Pentacles, "His business will begin to prosper," 8 of Cups, "but yet he will
     lose interest in it, owing to his love of pleasure and society" (shown by 8
     of Cups having the suit on each side of it). Wheel of Fortune, "and through
     his fortune changing for the better." Knave of Wands (Knight of Wands on one
     side and 6 of Swords on the other), "He yet is anxious through falling in
     love with a graceful and sprightly girl with chestnut hair and fair
     complexion whom he has recently met: (shown by Knight of Wands turned
     contrary to the course of the reading). 10 of Cups, "His suit is at first
     favourably received." 5 of Swords, "but some slanderous reports and mischief
     making" (not altogether without foundation) "come to her knowledge." Ace of
     Pentacles, "though his increasing prosperity in business." 10 of Cups, "had
     lead her to regard him with favour."

     The Diviner now pairs the cards from opposite ends of the horseshoe, as in
     the following example.

     Knave of Wands - 6 of Swords

     "She is anxious about this."

     Knight of Wands - Ace of Pentacles

     "And he begins to neglect his business which yet is fairly good.

     3 of Cups - 2 of Pentacles

     "And instead throws aside his business for pleasures.

     Knight of Cups - 5 of Cups

     "The consequence of this is that the engagement between them is broken off,
     shown by Knight being turned in opposite direction.

     10 of Pentacles - 8 of Cups

     "Still his business does fairly well though he is losing interest in it.

     5 of Swords - 10 of Cups

     "The matter is the subject of much gossip.

     9 of Wands - Queen of Cups

     These two cards of contrary suits are therefore of little importance. "Among
     their acquaintances."

     King of Cups - Knave of Cups

     "He moreover begins to pay attention to another girl of not quite so fair
     complexion.

     Wheel of Fortune - King of Swords

     "Who however prefers a dark man, who is much admired by the fair sex (shown
     by his being next to two Knaves and a Queen.)

     6 of Wands - Knave of Pentacles

     "But he has already gained the affection of a girl with dark brown eyes and
     hair." (This description is obtained by mixing the effect of the Wands with
     Pentacles.)

     This concludes the reading in the First Operation, which may be thus resumed:

     "The enquirer is a fair young man who works very hard, and has hitherto
     gained but little money, yet matters are beginning to improve. He is fond of
     society, and of visiting friends. He is rather lacking in perseverance and
     energy. Notwithstanding this, his business and money transactions will begin
     to prosper. But yet he will lose interest in it owing to his love of pleasure
     and society, and though his fortune is changing for the better he has yet
     much anxiety through falling in love with a graceful and sprightly girl with
     chestnut hair and fair complexion whom he has recently met. His suit is at
     first favourably received, but some slanderous tales and mischief-making not
     altogether without foundation, come to her knowledge, though his increasing
     prosperity in business has led her to regard him with favour. She is made
     anxious by this, and he begins to neglect his business which yet is fairly
     good, and instead abandons it for pleasure and merry-making."

     "The consequence of this is that the engagement is broken off. Still his
     business does fairly well though he has lost interest in it. The whole affair
     is the subject of much gossip among their mutual acquaintances. (One of the
     chief mischief-makers is a fair middle-aged woman shown by the Queen of
     Cups.) He, however, soon begins to pay attention to another girl of not quite
     so fair a complexion. She, however, prefers a dark young man who is much
     admired generally by the fair sex, but he has already gained the affection of
     a young woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes."

                                   SECOND OPERATION

                      REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MATTER

      The Enquirer again carefully shuffles the cards, and places the Pack on the
                                      table face

     downwards, but he is not to cut them. The Diviner now takes the Pack and
     deals it round card by card in 12 Packets face downwards in rotation as in
     the following diagram:

     (Deal and read in order of Houses against the direction of the Sun.) So that
     the first packet answering to the Ascendant will consist of the 1st, 13th,
     25th, 3 7th, 49th, 6 1st, 73rd cards as shown, and so on.

     This Operation is under the presidency of the Court Cards, whose dominion in
     the Celestial Heavens falls immediately between that of the 4 Knaves and that
     of the Keys answering to the 12 Signs of the Zodiac. It represents the 12
     Astrological Houses of Heaven, as shown.

     Without altering the relative order of the packets, or of the cards in the
     packets, the Diviner examines each in succession, till he finds the one which
     contains the Significator. This he retains for reading, noting carefully to
     which astrological house it corresponds and gathers up the other packets, and
     puts them aside, as they are not of any further use in this operation.

     As before, the Diviner reads the packet containing the Significator, by
     spreading them out in the form of a horseshoe, first reading by counting the
     cards in order from the Significator in the direction in which the face of
     the figure on the card is turned, and next by pairing the cards together from
     the opposite ends of the horseshoe. It is hardly likely that in so small a
     packet there will be either 3 or 4 cards of a sort, but if there be, the
     Diviner takes note of the same, and also observes which suit predominates. I
     now continue the examples commenced in the previous operation. I must here
     observe that the example is purely of my own invention, and of course is not
     contained in the Book T, wherein only the mode of working is given. I have
     purposely taken a commonplace, trivial, and material question for
     elucidation.

     We will suppose the Enquirer to have duly and carefully shuffled the Cards,
     thinking of his affairs, and that the Diviner has dealt them round into 12
     packets as above shown. The packet containing the Significator is located in
     the Ascendant, and it contains the following cards in the order given.


     This mode of reading shows that as the Significator is in the Ascendant it
     will principally relate to the Enquirer's manner of living at this point.

     The Significator is in this case right side up, whereas in the previous
     reading it was inverted and is looking towards the 9 of Swords, which
     direction therefore the reading proceeds, counting thus: 4 from King of Cups
     - Knave of Pentacles; 7 from this - Sun; 9 from this; - Knave of Pentacles; 7
     from this - Sun; where the reading ends.

     King of Cups - Knave of Pentacles

     "The enquirer is unhappy" (looking to 9 of Swords) "and makes the
     acquaintance of the girl with the dark hair and blue eyes with whom the dark
     young man (his rival) is in love. (She is artistic and well-mannered; and
     hopes to carry out her wishes, i.e. to marry the dark man with whom the fair
     girl, to whom the Enquirer has transferred his affection, is now in love.)
     For she is beginning to be apprehensive regarding her success, and is jealous
     in consequence."

     Pairing the cards from opposite ends of the horseshoe the Diviner proceeds:

     King of Cups - 9 of Swords

     "The Enquirer is anxious, and his health begins to suffer.

     8 of Pentacles - Sun

     "But hopes ultimately to succeed through skillful action in the matter.

     4 of Swords - Knave of Pentacles

     "He therefore endeavours to make a friend of the dark girl."

     Temperance

     "As he expects to realize his wishes by her means in the end." (This is shown
     by the card being single in the end.)

                                    THIRD OPERATION

                      CONTINUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUESTION

     The Enquirer again carefully shuffles the cards, while thinking earnestly on
     her affairs. The pack is not cut. The Diviner deals out the cards into 12
     Packets in precisely the same manner as in the Second Operation. Only instead
     of being referred to the 12 Astrological Houses, these 12 Packets are under
     the presidency of the 12 Keys of the Tarot attributed to the 12 Signs of the
     Zodiac. The first packet, Emperor - Aries, the 2nd, Hierophant - Taurus, the
     3rd, Lovers - Gemini, and so on. As before the Diviner selects the packet
     which contains the Significator for reading, and rejects the rest. He notes
     also the meaning of the Trump answering to the Sign of the Zodiac, under
     which the Packet falls. He spreads the cards out in the form of a horseshoe,
     exactly as before.' I now continue the example before commenced:

                                        EXAMPLE

     We will suppose that the Packet containing the King of Cups is that whose
     position answers to the Hierophant - Taurus and that it consists of the
     following cards, arranged as in the diagram.

     The Hierophant and the majority of the cards in this packet being Keys alike
     show that the forces at present at work are ceasing to be under the control
     of the Enquirer. The reading proceeds according to the usual order of
     counting, as follows: King of Cups, 2 of Wands. Magician - Queen of Wands;
     Universe - Tower; 2 of Wands again.



     It may be mentioned that supposing a packet to consist of six cards, and the
     Significator to be a Knave, or counting 7 from it, it would come back to the
     Knave again, this would show that the Enquirer would act according to his own
     ideas in this point of question, and would not let his line of action be
     influenced by the opinion of others. (The reading would then proceed by the
     pairing of the cards as usual:)

     King of Cups - 2 of Wands

     "Though anxious concerning several matters, he (the Enquirer) is beginning to
     succeed better by this line of action."

     Magician - Queen of Wands

     "Which seems to be quite the best. But the older woman (who previously made
     mischief and was represented by the Queen of Cups in the 1st Operation) who
     is artful and a gossip," Universe - Tower - 2 of Wands

     "Again injures the matter because she wishes to get an influence over the
     Enquirer herself."

     Pairing the cards, the Diviner proceeds:

     2 of Wands - Tower

     "Her influence cunningly exercised, brings about a complete disruption of the
     whole matter.

     Universe - Magician

     "The entire matter becomes invested with trickery and glamour."

     Queen of Wands - King of Cups

     "As she herself pays him a good deal of attention and sympathy,"

     2 of Pentacles

     "Which furthers her plans by bringing about a friendship between them."

                                   FOURTH OPERATION

                        THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUESTION

     As before the Enquirer is instructed to shuffle the pack and place it on the
     table but not to cut it.

     The Diviner takes the Pack, turns it face upwards, and goes through it, being
     careful not to disarrange the order of the cards, till he finds the
     Significator. At this point he cuts the Pack, that is to say, he takes the
     Significator and the cards which had been beneath it and places them on the
     top of the remainder, turning the whole face downwards again, ready for
     dealing out. (Be very careful here: S.A.)

     The consequence of this Operation is that the Significator becomes the top
     card of the pack (bottom, really; face on table). The Diviner takes off the
     Significator, places it face upwards on the middle of the table and then the
     following 36 cards laid out in the form of a circle round it, face upwards,
     answering to the 36 Decanates of the Zodiac, and showing the further
     development of the Question. These are dealt round in the order and direction
     of dealing as the 12 packets in the two previous operations.

     The reading proceeds by the same law of counting, but instead of counting
     from the Significator itself, it begins from the first card of the 36, and
     always goes in the direction of dealing. The suit which is in the majority
     and the circumstances of either 3 or 4 cards of a sort being found in the 36
     Decanates are also noted. When the reading by counting is finished the cards
     are paired together; 1st and 36th; 2nd and 35th; 3rd and 34th; and so on,
     placed in order successively upon the Significator. I now continue the
     example before commenced.

     We will suppose the Enquirer to have shuffled the pack, and that the Diviner
        takes it in his hands, and in turning it up finds the bottom card to be
          Temperance. On going through it he comes to the Significator, thus:

     He therefore takes the cards from King of Cups to Temperance included and
     places them above (or behind, S.A.) the 5 of Pentacles, being careful not to
     disturb their relative order. This has really the effect of cutting the pack
     between the Queen of Wands and the King of Cups.


     Of course when he again turns them face downwards for dealing, the King of
     Cups will necessarily be the top card and the Queen of Wands the bottom card;
     Temperance being immediately above the 5 of Pentacles, the former top card.
     The Diviner takes the top card, the Significator and places it face upwards
     in the centre, and then deals round in succession 36 cards, face upwards in
     the order shown in the above Diagram.

     Let us suppose them to be thus arranged. The reading always proceeds in the
     same direction as the dealing in this form of operation, commencing the
     counting from the 1st card dealt.

     We here find 12 out of the 22 keys; 7 of Wands; 7 of Cups; 5 of Swords; 6 of
     Pentacles; total 37 including Significator. The preponderance of the Keys
     represent "Influences beyond the control of the Enquirer." There are four
     Kings - "Meetings with influential persons," and four Eights, "Much news and
     correspondence."

     The counting proceeds as follows from the first card dealt. King of Cups -
     Six of Cups -5 of Pentacles - Hermit -4 of Cups - Fortitude -4 of Swords - 7
     of Cups - Justice - 5 of Cups King of Swords - Emperor - 6 of Cups again.

     King of Cups - 6 of Cups

     "The Enquirer's love of pleasure-going,"

     5 of Pentacles

     "Brings about loss of money and business,"

     Hermit

     "And he is forced to be more prudent,'

     4 of Cups

     "And not go into the society of others so much, which has already brought him
     anxiety (shown by 4 Cups between 2 Wands, contrary elements weakening effect
     on this card.)

     Fortitude

     "He works more closely,"

     4 of Swords

     "And begins to get better."

     7 of Cups

     "Yet he has not sufficient energy in his nature to stick to work for long."
     Justice

     "The retributive effect of this is,"

     5 of Cups

     "That he loses his friends."

     King of Wands

     "And his former rival who, though rather a vain man, is energetic and hard
     working."

     Emperor - 6 of Cups

     "Replaces him in popularity and esteem."

     Pairing them now the diviner proceeds:

     King of Cups - Death - 6 of Cups

     "The enquirer loses pleasure in consequence."

     4 of Swords - 7 of Cups

     "And becomes less energetic even then before, and more anxious for
     pleasure-going than ever."

     Moon - Chariot

     "Yielding to the tempation of idleness and vanity by means of fraud.

     8 of Swords - Ace of Pentacles

     "He embezzles the money of his employer, and sees prison staring him in the
     face.

     8 of Cups - Temperance

     "The result of this is the loss of good name.

     3 of Pentacles - 5 of Pentacles

     "And of his situation of trust.

     10 of Wands - 2 of Cups

     "His former friends and admirers turn a cold shoulder to him. Fool - Justice

     "And the result of this folly is that he is arrested and brought before a
     court of law.

     7 of Wands - Hierophant

     "The decision is adverse.

     Judgment - Hermit

     "And judgment very justly given against him.

     Emperor - King of Wands

     "But his employer, though stern, is a kind hearted man,

     2 of Swords - 9 of Swords

     "Offers to take him back and overlook the past.

     Star - Fortitude

     "As he hopes this will have proved a lesson to him,

     King of Swords - King of Pentacles

     "And points out to him that his former rival,

     3 of Wands - 8 of Pentacles

     "Though perhaps vain, was yet a hard-working and good man of business.

     4 of Cups - 10 of Swords

     "The Enquirer in consequence of this determines to completely give up his
     former mode of life which had brought him to the brink of ruin, and becomes a
     steady man.

     8 of Wands - 6 of Wands

     "After this he suddenly receives a hasty message which gives him much
     pleasure, 3 of Cups - 9 of Pentacles

     "Stating that owing to the loss of a relative he is the inheritor of a
     legacy." This concludes the Fourth Operation.

     It is always necessary for the Diviner to employ his intuition in reading,
     and sometimes he may have to clairvoyantly "go through" a card of doubtful
     signification. Thus in the reading just given it is only the circumstance of
     the Moon, Chariot, 8 of Swords, Ace of Pentacles being followed by other
     confirmative cards which justifies such an evil meaning of them.

                                    FIFTH OPERATION

                               CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER

     The cards are to be again carefully shuffled by the Enquirer but not cut. The
     Diviner then takes the Pack, and deals it card by card in rotation into ten
     answering to the Tree of Life. This refers to the rule of the 10 Sephiroth in
     the Celestial Heavens.

     This being done, the Diviner selects the packet containing the Significator
     for reading, noting carefully under which Sephirah it falls, and taking this
     as a general indication in the matter. This packet is then spread out in a
     horseshoe form, and read in the usual way, counting from the Significator and
     this time in the direction in which the face of the figure looks. The cards
     are finally paired together as in the previous Operation. This completes the
     Mode of Divination called "The Opening of the Key."! now give the conclusion
     of the example.

     We will suppose that the cards have been shuffled and dealt in the following
     manner into 10 packets answering to the Sephiroth in the Tree of Life:

     The packet containing the Significator falls under Binah, containing the 3,
     13, 23, 33,43, 53, 63, and 73rd cards dealt. This is an argument of sadness
     and trial. The cards are spread as follows:

     The counting proceeds as follows: King of Cups - Star - Judgment - King of
     Cups again. Evil cards are in the majority, another argument of loss and
     trouble.

     King of Cups - Star - Judgment

     "He has hopes of thus establishing his fortunes and that a favourable result
     will ensue for him."

     The Diviner then pairs them thus:

     King of Cups - 7 of Pentacles

     "He plunges therefore into speculation by which he loses heavily (indicated
     by 7 Pentacles near Hanged Man.)

     Knave of Cups - Hanged Man

     "And his love affair comes to nothing."

     Star - Judgment

     "All his expectations are disappointed,"

     Knight of Pentacles - 8 of Swords

     "And his life for a time is arduous, petty, and uninteresting."

     (The coming of trouble is here shown by the Knight of Pentacles looking
     against the direction of the reading. If it were turned the other way it
     would show that his troubles were quitting him and that matters would
     improve.) This completes the operation, and shows the general development and
     result of the question.