Course XLIII - Teaching 7: Seventeenth to Twentieth-second Tarot Figures: Their Interpretation
Figure 17
The nude woman symbolizes life in its state of preservation. The two amphorae, in her hands, symbolize creation and destruction.
To preserve endlessly one’s life, we have to control quite well the two amphorae of the beginning and end with perfect transmutation, and to transform matter into mind, and mind into matter.
The five stars crowning her head symbolize the five inner powers to use for preserving life.
The other two stars are too subtle and, at certain moment, destroy material life for the sake of spiritual life.
The wilderness is image of uniformity, peaceful indifference, lack of varied panoramas or pairs of opposites, where just the palm tree of immortality blooms, which can be achieved through detachment from material pleasures, but not renouncing to possess life. Also it symbolizes the great art of Astrology.
Figure 18
This figure symbolizes not only earthly night, but also potential life.
The moon is image of a seemingly dead point, which has passed its active force to another center, keeping just its potential part; while the two barking dogs are guardians of the laya centers; they represent efforts of the active matter to absorb and attract force of the potential substance.
Castles denote as it is above, so is below; as it is in the Cosmos, so is in life of man; the potential force is mother of every force already expressed or active, that that force has symbolically confined in inexpugnable castles.
The road mottled with blood denotes the extraordinary value emanated from living men, which can take them from earth to heaven, from small to biggest.
Also, this road is image of Chemistry, of the power of elementals and collective forces.
Figure 19
In the French figure, which is more correct, you see a woman seated that is spinning; it denotes karma, destiny of men.
Through different roads and multiple forms, man becomes spiritually independent; so, from a subaltern individual he becomes a unique being, the man: center of his mental and spiritual system; microcosm in front of the macrocosm; truly made like God.
Also this figure symbolizes that when the man, the Rebel one, the Sun, recognizes his power and divinity, he breaks any ties of karma and gets rid of wheels of causes and effects.
When man achieves his own liberation, finds the true Philosophical stone. He is the cornerstone: Petrus. He is the cornerstone, foundation of his future and destiny, the true Philosophical Stone.
Figure 20
This figure symbolizes reincarnation, resurrection of the flesh. What is dead comes again to life; and the dead live again.
Also it is image of Retrospective Examination and of the plane of the sleeping ones, or sixth plane of the Astral World.
Figure 21
This figure symbolizes Triumph; redemption of the Spirit over the flesh, or matter. A true triumph is not such if it is not complete. The one who controls must have fought any obstacles and overcome them all in order to wear the crown of victory. Laurel symbolizes triumph. The woman, image of a liberated soul, symbolizes her triumph over the four elements, and even over man himself. The four elements are represented by the lion, bull, eagle and earth: respectively, fire, earth, air and water; and the man is represented by the angel. The crescent moon over the head of the woman is image of hidden forces and clairvoyance. At the same time, Triumph is Truth, and Truth has no secrets for the one who conquers it; this is why the woman appears completely nude.
Figure 22
This figure is image of instinctive life. A man overpowered by passion is like a child going after butterflies, or like a madman chased by dogs. Being blinded by the impulse of his passion, he forgets even elementary things. This forgetfulness pays tribute to the flesh that, even for a while, controls completely the spirit. Also this figure symbolizes divination, and even gray or sexual magic.
