The Geocentric Tarot

Posted on 2008-01-12 by

The twenty two trumps of the tarot have been associated to the twenty two letters of the hebrew alphabet. But let’s look at a more straight forward association.

Looking at the iconography of the trumps, it is easy to spot that some are related to planets and other to zodiac signs. But a quick check based on the knowledge of the time when the tarot was drawn gives only 7 planets + 12 signs = 19 trumps. If we follow this idea, we are short of explanation for 3 cards.

But if we remember that at that time the celestial objects were thought to be carried by 9 spheres, we get closer to our target. 9 spheres + 12 signs = 21 cards.

How do we account for the 22nd card? Well, this model is not called geocentric for nothing, so let’s assign it to the center of the universe: the Earth. Now we have our tally: 9 spheres + 12 signs + Earth = 22 trumps.

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Norse Gods

Posted on 2007-11-26 by
Days Norse Roman Greek Egyptian  
Monday Moon Luna      
Tuesday Tiu Mars Ares Horus  
Wednesday Wodan Mercury Hermes Toth  
Thursday Thor Jupiter Zeus Osiris  
Friday Freya Venus Aphrodite    
Saturday Loki Saturn Cronus   Dagon
Sunday Sun Solus      
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Nine Heavens

Posted on 2007-11-08 by

Nine Spheres

In the geocentric model of the universe, there is nine spheres surrounding the Earth, each supporting some celestial objects. Listing them from the outer one to the one closest to the Earth, we find:

    • Sphere of the Primum Mobile.
    • Sphere of the Zodiac.
    • Sphere of Saturn.
    • Sphere of Jupiter.
    • Sphere of Mars.
    • Sphere of the Sun.
    • Sphere of Venus.
    • Sphere of Mercury.
    • Sphere of the Moon.

Circular Motion

Each of these spheres is animated by circular motion. Celestial objects are supposed to be perfect. And everything that is perfect is animated by circular motion. The origin of the motion of a particular sphere is an Intelligence.  There is one Intelligence associated to each sphere.

No Vacuum

There is no vacuum. The space between the spheres is filled by an Element, the Ether. Being perfect, this Element is also animated by circular motion.

Sub Luna

What lays under the Moon is imperfect and subject to change and degeneration. Imperfect objects are either motionless or animated by straight line motion.

The Earth

The Earth is at the center of the geocentric universe. It is motionless, so has no associated Intelligence.

The Elements

Below the Moon are found the four imperfect Elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Being imperfect they are animated by straight line motion. Air and Fire move upward. Water and Earth move downward. The symbols for Air and Fire are triangles pointing upward. The symbol for Earth and Water are triangles pointing downward.

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System 42

Posted on 2007-10-14 by

The sum of the seven planetary numbers is equal to forty two.

42 = 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9

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Dürer’s Melencolia I

Posted on 2007-10-06 by
Melencolia I – Dürer (1514)
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Making canonical magic squares

Posted on 2007-10-06 by

In occult literature treating of magic square talismans, we find usually the same 7 magic squares. These are the ones I call canonical magic squares. Their side length goes from 3 to 9 and they are built using one of the three techniques below. Those three techniques have the interest that you only need to count to be able to build a magic square, there is no need to do any summation.

  1. Making odd size magic square
  2. Making magic squares with side length multiple of four
  3. Making a 6 by 6 magic square

Of course there are many more magic squares than those canonical seven. One example can be found in Dürer’s Melencolia I.

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Summations

Posted on 2007-10-05 by

Summations or triangular numbers is one of the simplest magic skill to master. It is useful in the study of magic squares and gematria.

If we write SUM( 1..n, n) as T( n), “the triangle of n”, we have the following three properties:

T( n)  = n × (n+1) / 2

n² = T( n) + T( n-1)

T( n)² = n³ + T( n-1)² = SUM( 1..n, n³)

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Making a 6 by 6 magic square

Posted on 2007-10-04 by

To create a 6 by 6 magic square, follow these steps:

  1. Mark the diagonals of the square and fill the marked cells by counting from the upper right corner.
  2. Mark a W pattern in the lower half of the square and fill by counting from the lower right corner.
  3. Mark a W pattern in the left half of the square and fill by counting from the upper left corner.
  4. Fill the empty cells by counting from the lower left corner.

First, draw the square and mark the cells located on the diagonals. Those cells are filled with the numbers counted from the upper right corner.

Second, mark a W pattern in the lower half of the square and fill the marked cells with the numbers counted from the lower right corner.

Third, mark a W pattern in the left half of the square and fill the marked cells with the numbers counted from the upper left corner.

Finally, fill the empty cells with the numbers counted from the lower left corner.

The result is a 6 by 6 magic square, the sums of the numbers in each row, each column and each diagonal being equal to 111.

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Making magic squares with side length multiple of four

Posted on 2007-10-04 by

Magic squares whose side length is a multiple of four can be easily created using the following steps:

  1. Mark the cells that belong to the diagonal of all 4 by 4 sub-squares.
  2. Starting from the upper right corner, count each cell, writing the number counted if the cell has been marked.
  3. Starting from the lower left corner, count each cell, writing the number counted if the cell is empty.

If we apply the steps mentioned above to a 4 by 4 square, we first mark the cell located on the diagonals.

Then we fill the marked cells by counting from the upper right cell.

Finally we fill the unmarked cells by counting from the lower left cell.

The result is a 4 by 4 magic square. The sum of the numbers in each row, each column and each diagonal is equal to 34.

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Making odd size magic squares

Posted on 2007-09-30 by

This is one basic technique that can be used to make magic squares whose side length is odd: 3, 5, 7, 9, …

  1. Draw the table.
  2. Put the number 1 below the center cell.
  3. Put the next numbers to the right on the row below, wrapping around when necessary.
  4. When the next cell is already filled, put the next number two rows below, wrapping around when necessary.

So to make a 3 by 3 square, the first step is to draw the table and put the number 1 under the center cell.

Then put the number 2 to the right and below number 1. Number 2 ends up in the upper right cell, as it is necessary to wrap around when the move exceeds the last row of the table. Accordingly, number 3 ends in the middle left cell, after wrapping around when the move exceeds the right column of the table.

As the cell to the right and below number 3 is already filled by number 1, number 4 ends two rows below number 3. With the wrap around, this means the upper left cell of the table.

From then we can resume the below-right move, with one more transition by the 2-rows-below move when the next cell below-right number 6 is already filled by number 4.

When all the cells are filled, the result is a 3 by 3 magic square. The sums of the numbers in each row, each column and each diagonal are all equal to 15.

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