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THE HERMETIC TAROT |
When Godfrey Dowson created The Hermetic Tarot back in the 70's, he was following a tradition started by the leaders of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn and one suggested even today as a valuable self-study tool. He retired to seclusion for two years and created a collection of 78 black-and-white drawings combining the traditional card images with astrological, elemental and Cabalistic symbolism. The result is a deck in which each card carries multiple layers of meaning.
I never thought I would buy a black-and-white deck, but the minute I looked at The Devil card, I knew I had to have this deck. Dowson not only loaded his cards with symbolism, but had a very wry sense of humor about it all. His cartoon-like depictions deliver the dark messages with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The two figures entrapped on The Devil card are a female with frog feet and a male demon with a knotted tail and snake feet. The devil himslf wears a likable smirk and above his head is a spiked collar straight from the finest bondage shop.
The second reason I nearly passed this deck up is that I am not very fond of cards with meanings written on them, but Mr. Dowson used obtuse phrases which allow for a great deal of interpretation. These phrases are derived from the teachings of The Golden Dawn; therefore, each name comes with a rich tradition of mystical research and insight. For example, The Devil is subtitled The Lord of the Gates of Matter. New depth is given to The Death card by the backup name of The Child of the Great Transformers. Rather than as a "training wheel" approach, each secondary name leads the reader to understanding the richness in each card.
The overall feeling smacks of 70's rock and folk concert posters with a bit of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams thrown in. I mean this in the most complementary way. Mr. Dowson has taken a very complex group of information sources and brought them down to earth. His illustrations reflect his belief in the cards and his personal love of the system.
The main value of this deck is the wealth of information
each card carries. Each card could easily be studied for hours and new
connections and symbols would continue to reveal themselves to the seeker.
A basic knowledge of the Cabala, astrology and the elements is very helpful,
but not necessary. The cards can work as a flashcard tool for learning
these various diciplines. The way I worked with the cards was to meditate
on the images with a good astrology book, Cabalistic reference and sybolism
dictionary nearby. Any symbol which I could not immediately identify,
I researched. The result of this type of work, was each card yielded multiple
meanings which kept reconnecting with each other in a myriad of ways.
Even
subtle differences in the pip cards carry a wealth of meaning. For example,
the 10 of Pentacles is decorated with 10 pentacles and 10 lotus-like flowers,
a glyth for Mercury and for Virgo, The 9 of Pentacles has the same nine
pentacles and lotus, the same glyth for Virgo and a Venus glyth, but the
identifying characteristic on this card is the presence of thorns. My
usual interpretation of the 9 of Penatacles carries a warning of being
too satisfied and, as a result, not achieving true potential. The addition
of these thorns to this card, gives me a visual image of being stuck in
one place.
Technically, the cards are standard playing card
size, a fact I am appreciating more and more as I watch my clients struggle
to mix decks which are even the slightest bit different from the standard
size. The card stock is durable and should last several years under normal
usage.
The Hermetic deck and book (ISBN 0-913866-92-X)
is published by U.S. Games.
If you feel you may be getting complacent in your readings or you find
yourself settled into the "same old safe " deck, reconnect to
the layers of meaning in all your decks through this one simple, but brilliant
representation of all that Tarot can be.