Tarot and the Qabbalah

[Keith Dragon]

I've been studying both the Qabbalah and the Tarot separately, but recently, those two paths have combined as I find connections between the two. I was just curious in other peoples views of using the Qabbalah with the Tarot.

What I know so far in general, is that the 22 Trumps are associated with the 22 pathways on the Tree of Life, and the four suits are associated with the 4 kingdoms in the Qabbalah, as well as the Ace through 10 of each suit associated with the 10 Sephiroph on the Tree of Life.

What I'm interested in is how people have used the Qabbalah with the Tarot, and any experiences or reads that come to mind, and if there are any decent texts regarding combining the two.

Keith Dragon

[Morr]

well im currently working on both... im doing a lot of study when it comes to tarot and kabbalah and yes you are definitly right in all the things that you've said.

I have a Tarot book (with interpertaions and stuff) that also talks about the Kabbalhistic interpertations/paths of each card... but its in hebrew lol

but you are definitly right, theres a strong connection between the two.

[Keith Dragon]

I've found a good book called:

The Chicken Qabbalah which help dramatically, and put it in laymans terms, which is always good to start with.

I'm about to pick up Aliester Crowley's

Book of Thoth

Which I hear is good also.

What I'm looking for is a good book on the Qaballah, that explains the different paths, sort of and intermediate book.

keith Dragon

[Morr]

i have two very good books about kabbalah but they are both in Hebrew...

[Xander67]

In Crowley's Tarot Deck, he places the proper astrological, as well as the proper hebrew associations and elemental... on the cards... it is really cool

[Ara_Anonyma]

The Witches' Tarot (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/witches/) by Ellen Cannon Reed incorporates Qabbalah, and the corresponding book places heavy emphasis on integrating the two systems. Having no experience with Qabbalah before encountering this set, I don't know if it is quality nor if it qualifies as "intermediate," but it might be worth checking out.

Actually, the emphasis on Qabbalah, which has no appeal for me, is part of the reason I no longer own that particular deck and book. :p

[Xander67]

well, the Qaballa is an enlightening exprierence, I assure you, should you decide to look at a few books or websites about the Qaballa, especially the page done by Crowley :) it is really good, it helps you understand his tarot deck a bit better :T

[Xander67]

Actually, The Shakesperian Tarot has a few associations embedded within the art of the cards, but you have to be a bit familiar with Shakespeare and a few of his works to understand his cards...

the 33rd sonnet is a good one to read...

[Dusk]

I've found a good book called:

The Chicken Qabbalah which help dramatically, and put it in laymans terms, which is always good to start with.

keith Dragon

The Chicken Qabbalah? Sounds like something from Klucky's group of poultry pirates.

[Xander67]

I didn't Know Klucky was into the Qaballa :T

Ara, I have the book you referred to "the witches Qaballa" that book sorta helps a lil bit with her analagy of the 10 spheres being as folders on your hard drive......... other than that.....
I have no use for the book either, if you look at Crystalinks.com there is some pretty reliable info on the qaballa, sacred geometry, and the tarot.

[Ara_Anonyma]

It's a bad book, then? Good to know...it's a Llewellyn publication, so I wasn't sure.

From what I understand, Qabbalah is a Jewish system, developed around a monotheistic core, and fundamentally alien to my gods and beliefs. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it out of its original context and molding it to mine. That's why I tend to avoid it. :shrug: If others wish to put the time into studying it, bravo for them.

If nothing else, the Witches Tarot has pretty cards. :p

[Morr]

It's a bad book, then? Good to know...it's a Llewellyn publication, so I wasn't sure.

From what I understand, Qabbalah is a Jewish system, developed around a monotheistic core, and fundamentally alien to my gods and beliefs. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it out of its original context and molding it to mine. That's why I tend to avoid it. :shrug: If others wish to put the time into studying it, bravo for them.

If nothing else, the Witches Tarot has pretty cards. :p


I incorporate Kabballah into my workings, yet im an Eclectic Wiccan.
Kabbalah has a lot of interesting aspects that parallel Paganism, such as a female counterpart of Y-H-V-H (the Jewish God), names Shekhina. Theres also the 10 Sefiroth in the Tree of Life that corrospond to the chakras. It puts a lot of emphasis on words, chants & charms, as well as numerollogy & meditation. And of course, it ties in strongly with Tarot.

[Xander67]

well I dont think it was necessarily Bad, she had the Basic fundamentals of the qaballa, (tree, spheres, paths, pillars) etc.............. and I even liked the way she applied the Qabballa to wicca,
as Morr said in her post...

I suppose it all depends on which Qaballa you Use...(study) there are a few types, and a new one on the book shelves for our generation.... it incorporates Sacred Geometry as well as the Tarrot...

Like I said, CROWLEY.... Crystalinks.... Philosophical society..... Hermes.....Pythagoris......Mozart......Shakespeare..... our generation needs to draw from more than one element....

to study the Tarot and the Qaballa without a famililarization (at the least) with Sacred Geometry, and some of the works of the men i mentioned above.... you wont be able to piece the puzzle together :)

[Morr]

Besides, Tarot or not... Kabballah can be very enlightning in general.
It has a lot of parallel concepts as in Wicca, as mentioned above.

And God isnt always talked about as Y-H-V-H himself.. Sure thats the ultimate meaning by Jewish Kabbalhists, however, it sometimes is refered to as The Divine force/presense.

I'll admit thought, that it may be a bit difficult to those who dont know Hebrew. Because there is a very strong emphasis on the Hebrew letters & their meanings. The 10 sefiroth themselves each has a name in Hebrew (a diff combination of the four letters of - Y-H-V-H... in hebrew of course)..

[Hazel witchazel]

I have recently discovered the link with the qabballah and the tarot, i have always known the two have been linked but have only looked into this further recently and have found that having that extra bit of knowledge has increased my readings quite dramatically. the qabballah forms a structure for the tarot, and used in a reading you can mentally place the cards that come up into the tree of life and from that find out how close the querent is to achieving their goal(s) and also how they are going about achieving their goal(s) and if they are putting too much energy into too many areas of their life.. i have only two books on the subject but have found them both more than adequate to learn about the qabballah. they are the complete guide to the kabballah by will parfitt and ten minute kabballah by shossah cohen (not sur if i have got the authors first name right). i have also learnt the hebrew alphabet and how they correspond to the cards and the tree of life.
blessed be

love

crystal runewitch x

:ringaroun

[Keith Dragon]

The Chicken Qaballah was written by Lon Milo DuQuette, who has also written books on Crowleys Thoth Tarot and their creation, and also one of the leading writers on Aliester Crowley.

The Chicken Qabbalah takes a humorous view at the Qabbalah in a ways that helps you understand it better.

Also, it is my understanding of the Qabbalah that it is not itself a religion, but a mechanism for understanding the inner working of the Universe. It can be used in any belief structure, and strengthen understanding.

Also regarding the Hebrew Alphabet, and I am just getting into understanding it, also understanding the Science of Gematria (finding hidden meaning in the numerical values of the words.)

My next question is if there are any decent texts in understanding the mystical aspect of the hebrew Aplhabet, in English.

Dragon

[Morr]

Kabballah is Jewish Mysticism.

And as for sites that talk about the hebrew letters in English.. I wish I could help - but being a fluent Hebrew speaking chick, I never really needed that kind of help!
Good luck though!

[Dusk]

My next question is if there are any decent texts in understanding the mystical aspect of the hebrew Aplhabet, in English.

Dragon

A Jewish friend of mine recommended this book Zohar: The Book of Splendor : Basic Readings from the Kabbalah (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805210342/ref=ord_cart_shr/002-2170663-7926436?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER)

I haven't looked at it yet, but I am about to order it from Amazon.