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The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) · 21 of 134 · tr. A.P. Morton

Chapter VII (part 1)

CHAPTER VII. CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MAJOR AND MINOR ARCANA. GENERAL AFFINITIES. KEY OF THE TAROT. Domination of the 1st Septenary--Affinities of the 2nd Septenary in the Tarot, Card by Card--Ditto of the 3rd Septenary--General Affinities--Affinities of Yod , He , Vau , and of the 2nd He . General figure giving the Key to the Tarot. CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MAJOR AND MINOR ARCANA.. THE Pentacles on one side, the Ternary of transition on the other, establish the connection between the major and minor arcana. This connection is found in the general affinities of the four letters of the tetragrammaton. The 1st septenary, which corresponds to yod , governs all the correspondents of yod in the minor series, that is to say-- The 4 Kings. The 4 Aces. The 4 Fours, The 4 Sevens. Each element of the septenary governs different terms, thus-- 1 st Septenary . The arcana 1 and 4 govern King -1.4.7 of Sceptres. ---- 2 and 5 ---- ---- of Cups. ---- 3 and 6 ---- ---- of Swords. The arcanum 7 ---- ---- of Pentacles. Moreover-- The 1st arcanum especially governs the positive terms of the series, i. e.-- Arcanum The King of Yod or of Sceptres (+). 1 (+) The King of Vau or of Swords (-). The 4th arcanum especially governs the negative terms of the series-- Arcanum The King of He ... Cups 4 (-) The King of the 2nd He + Pentacles (-). By applying the same law to the other arcana we find-- Arcanum Ace of Yod (+) Sceptres. (+) 2 Ace of Vau (-) Swords. Arcanum Ace of He (+) Cups. (-) 5 Ace of He (-) Pentacles Arcanum 3 4 of Sceptres (+). (+) 4 of Swords (-) Arcanum 6 4 Of Cups (+). (-) 4 of Pentacles (-). Arcanum 7 All the transitional terms. (∞) 7 (∞). SECOND SEPTENARY.--The second septenary, corresponding, to He , governs all the correspondents of the first He , in the minor series, that is to say-- The 4 Queens. The 4 Twos. The 4 Fives. The 4 Eights. Each element of the second septenary has the following dominations-- Arcanum 7 (+) Queen of Sceptres, (+) Queen of Swords, (-) Arcanum 10 (-) Queen of Cups, (+) Queen of Pentacles, (-) Arcanum 8 (+) Two of Sceptres, (+) Two of Swords, (-) Arcanum 11 (-) Two of Cups, (+) Two of Pentacles, (-) Arcanum 9 (+) Five of Sceptres, (+) Five of Swords, (-) Arcanum 12 (-) Five of Cups, (+) Five of Pentacles, (-) Arcana 13 (∞) All the 8, (∞) THIRD SEPTENARY.--The third septenary corresponds to Vau , and rules over-- The 4 Knights. The 4 Threes. The 4 Sixes. The 4 Nines.
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Themes
Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The entire passage is dedicated to mapping affinities and connections between Major and Minor Arcana based on shared structural principles.

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Cosmic Sympathycosmology

The Stoic and Plotinian doctrine that all parts of the cosmos are bound by hidden affinities, so that a movement in one part resonates through the whole; the metaphysical basis for astrology, magic, and divination.

The concept of 'general affinities' and 'connection' between different parts of the Tarot system reflects the doctrine that parts of the cosmos resonate with one another.

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Gendercosmology

The Hermetic doctrine that a masculine-feminine generative principle operates on every plane of being, not only the biological — present at all times as a structural feature of creation itself. Distinct from divine_marriage (a specific reunification event or symbol) and aeons (paired divine beings arranged in syzygies, not a universal structural claim).

The text mentions Kings and Queens as distinct categories governed by different septenaries, implying a structural masculine-feminine division.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

The text presents itself as a 'Key to the Tarot,' implying esoteric knowledge reserved for those studying the system.

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Letters Of Creationcosmology

The twenty-two Hebrew letters as the building blocks through which God creates and sustains all existence.

The text explicitly structures the Tarot system around the four letters of the Tetragrammaton (Yod, He, Vau, 2nd He) and their dominations.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

The passage relies heavily on numerical groupings (Septenaries, 1st-7th Arcana, Kings, Aces, Fours, Sevens) to establish magical correspondences.

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Polaritycosmology

The Hermetic doctrine that apparent opposites are identical in nature but differ in degree — two extremes of the same scale (hot/cold, love/hate) — such that one pole can be shifted toward its opposite by a change of degree ('mental transmutation'). Distinct from opposites_transcended (a completion-state marking the path's end, not this doctrine's active technique) and magical_equilibrium (balance held BETWEEN two forces, not identity-by-degree of what looks like two forces).

The text distinguishes between positive (+) and negative (-) terms within the series of arcana and suits.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

The Tetragrammaton letters (Yod, He, Vau) are treated as having ontological power to govern specific cards and suits.

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Related passages · 9 parallels
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