Hello, Payewacker,

I appreciate so much your efforts to answer my questions.  I enjoy communicating with someone of such obvious sincerity and good will.  I am an old magician who has traveled down many strange paths.  I'm afraid that over the decades I've come to view all of humanity as sheep.  This is not said cynically but, rather, sadly.  Realizing with painful clarity that I am just as much a sheep as anyone else, I have learned to walk with caution and ask many questions.  Clearly, you have come to some pointed conclusions regarding the meaning of Tarot and a wide range of other esoteric knowledge.  I assume from what you have said that you hold to some from of satanism as a central guiding influence.  I hope you won't mind a mildly epistemological question that I ask myself quite regularly.  How do you know that what you believe is true?  Somehow I find it hard to imagine that a satanist would allow herself to be guided by blind faith.  I am always interested in evidences.

Hi Jaggedblade,

I think anybody, blindly following a certain religious grouping can be seen as sheep yes. Religion has been a driving force behind a lot of cruelty etc. and also a point of great discussion, and disagreements. I am Wiccan and i'm sure you may also be?

Alistair Crowley has been branded a Satanist on many occasions of which he wasn't. Being a Magician yourself indicates that the practicall application of Magic manifests itself in the Mundane world, my perception regarding this has always been "the workings of Magick is mostly in the spiritual realm, the influence however in the mundane", therefore your statement regarding evidence is a founded argument.

Satanism "per say" became a defined religion in 1965 with La Vey, of which he was also the destroyer in 1975, actually proclaiming "No Satan exist" but his founded "religion" was merely his own "club" and actually only became a money making splinter. That was then when the Temple of Set was formed with a host of other groups proclaiming themselves as Satanists. But we need to be Carefull not to include them into the Antichrist belief system. As Christianity is a fanatical splinter of Gnostisism, and is a intollarant religion, so is all others, some live in peace and let each go their own way other will rather kill you than see the sun shine on you as well. However forms of Satanism were practised even in the time of the old testament, The Amonite God, being Ba'al, or better known as Moloch, research the way of worship of this one, your hairs will stand on your back. An archeological fact!!

Therefore "Satanists" adopted a lot of Wiccan systems and rituals. It is said that they are not scared of even the strongest Bible punching reverant or Pastor, but yet the Wiccans gives them a run for their money!!!

Now why the belief in the Moon as the Goddess, the Moon is representative of not only "mysteries" but also a direct influence regarding the planting and growing cycles, so we can perhaps also link it to the Emresse's fertility. The Sun (God) a reality without which most life forms will not exist.

How do we qualify the link between Tarot and the occult or spiritual development? A good question!! There are so many theories.   On this topic, we see that many systems of divination stretches to as many generations, my basic theory is to start at the old schools of Dionyssus and Zoroaster, in this we see astrology developed, we then journey through Hermes Transmigistus and Pythagoras, possible Egyptian link to transferring information in the cards for students and clergy when a singular God was adopted in Egypt. Another theory was also linked to the Knights Templar, in their system of lending money? There are so many theories, in fact most of them have been debated, but agreement to disagree, was reached.

The earliest Tarot was found in the fourteen hundreds, then further developed and eventually the Tarot of Marseilles was found.

I don't hold to a form of Satanism and are pro-christian, my theary is that satan as described in the Bible is more a negative force of which different archetypes exist to clasify differing areas of influence. Therefore with this influence i read the Devil card as this, because it reflects bondage as a controlling force, self imposed with the actual block to acheive golas etc.

Blessed be

Greetings again, Payewacker...and, once again, thank you.

No, I am not a Wiccan.  But, the connections you make are interesting.  My question relates more to personal evidences.  I doubt that very many people espouse a belief system without some kind of confirming experiences that prove that what they have chosen to believe is true.  I think people are searching for transformative power.  Of course, such power can be defined in many ways.  Many of the oldest traditions speak about "rebirth."  For example, as I'm sure you know, it was an essential element of ancient Mithraism and the list goes on and on. Aren't there implications of "rebirth" in Tarot as well?   Have you experienced some form of this through your system?

Hi Jaggedblade,

Mithraism has links to Zoroasterism as well and was mainly practised by the Romans, although mitraie were found as hig as today's Hungary. Their belief system of transcending the different levels can be seen as incarnations of different levels of spiritual enlightenment. When i started with Tarot i would say, i wasn't all that patient. What i found to be happening, is times that you "ponder", i don't want to call it meditation.

In that sense Tarot has taught me to look beyond what you are presented with, the facevalue is normally totally different? You seem to receive a lot of insights, normally overlooked. I would like to use the term "wisdom" is what you experience.

Blessed be