The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) · 25 of 134 · tr. A.P. Morton
Chapter VIII (part 2)
4--Passage from one series to another.
We can then represent the series in this way-- And what is true for each of the terms of a ternary is also true for the ternary taken as a whole , and this leads us to new considerations.
For the first ternary would be positive, corresponding to Yod , the active, the creator.
The second ternary would be negative, and would correspond to the first He , i.
e.
that all the terms of this ternary would be reflections of the terms of the first, just as the second card was the reflex of the first.
This gives us-- We can thus determine the meaning of the arcana 4, 5, 6, 7 in the three worlds, since we know the meaning of the arcana 1, 2, 3, 4.
We need only refer to the study of the Tarot by numbers, to find the symbols, which correspond respectively to Yod , to He , to Vau , and to the second He .
But if the second ternary is the reflex of the first, the same rule applies to the septenaries.
All the cards of the second septenary will therefore be the symbolical reflection of those of the first.
All the cards of the third septenary are representatives of the third term, or of transformation.
We have then-- The 1 st septenary , Which represents the active Creation .
The Divine Osiris-Brahma, or the Father.
The 2 nd septenary , Which represents Preservation .
The Astral, Isis, Vishnu, the Son.
The 3rd septenary , Which represents Transformation , Physics, Horus, Siva, the Holy Spirit.
The three first arcana will therefore give the sense of all the others according to the following figure: FIGURE SHOWING THE SENSE OF EACH OF THE 22 MAJOR ARCANA yod positive or creative series 1.
4.
7.
10.
13.
16.
19.
1st he negative or preservative series 2.
5.
8.
11.
14.
17.
20.
vau neuter or transforming series equilibrium 3.
6.
9.
12.
15.
18.
21.
2nd he transitional series 4 = + positive (1) = negative ---- + ---- - ---- + ---- - ---- ∞ yod positive or creative series he negative or preservative series vau neuter or transforming series equilibrium 2nd he transitional series This figure is very important, for it enables us to see at once the symbolical value of any card in the Tarot, by working in the following way-- TO DISCOVER À PRIORI THE SYMBOLICAL VALUE OF ANY CARD IN THE TAROT.
We must see-- (1 st ) Which Hebrew letter is written to the left in the horizontal column, which contains the card under consideration.
(2 nd ) Which Hebrew letter is written at the foot of the vertical column , containing the card.
(3 rd ) Which sign (+ or -) governs the secondary vertical column, containing the card in question.
EXAMPLE: I wish to determine the sense of the 5th arcanum.
I look to the left and find the Hebrew letter he .
This shows that the 5th arcanum is the he of what?
In order to know, I look at the vertical column and find yod .
The 5th arcanum is the he of yod , but that is not enough, so I look at the secondary column which contains the sign (-) negative.
I thus obtain a definite description of the 5th arcanum.
The fifth card of the Tarot is-- The He of Yod considered negatively .
This is a synthetic formula comprehensible to those only who are used to manipulating the sense of the word Yod-he-vau-he .
It is therefore necessary to give further explanations.
He represents the reflex .
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 text explicitly relies on the principle that 'what is true for each of the terms of a ternary is also true for the ternary taken as a whole' and that later series are 'reflexions' or 'symbolical reflection' of earlier ones, embodying the 'as above, so below' axiom.
Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.
The structured arrangement of the arcana implies an intelligible divine order governing the cosmos (Creation, Preservation, Transformation).
A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.
The passage describes a structured flow of principles from the 'active Creation' (first ternary/septenary) through 'Preservation' to 'Transformation', reflecting a hierarchical descent of divine attributes.
The balance of two contrary forces as the structural law of cosmos and operation — Lévi's equilibrium, expressed in Kabbalah by the senary: the will of God in its first cause, liberty in man, mathematical equilibrium in matter; the twofold vibration required to direct the Astral Light safely.
The third series (Vau) is explicitly defined as 'neuter or transforming series equilibrium', balancing the positive and negative poles.
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 (creative) and negative (preservative) series, governed by signs (+ or -), indicating a doctrine of opposing forces.
Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.
The Hebrew letters (Yod, He, Vau) and divine names (Osiris, Brahma, Isis, Vishnu, Horus, Siva) are treated as carriers of ontological meaning and power within the system.
The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.
The text suggests that all arcana derive their sense from the first three and the underlying Hebrew letter structure, implying a unified source of meaning.