The Tarot of Eli-2-, LLC: The Rider-Wait-Smith Tarot-0- The Fool & The B.O.T.A. Tarot-0-The Fool

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Dr. Arthur Edward Waite ( 1857-1942), the initiator of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, was not only a genuine scholar of Western Hermetic Occultism, he also was a world renown publisher. His published works included, The Holy Kabbalah and The Key to the Tarot, both first issued in England. Waite stated in The Key to The Tarot that; " The true Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other language and offers no other signs."

Although the precise origin of Tarot cards in antiquity remains obscure. Court de Gébelin writing in Le Monde Primitif in 1781 advances the theory that Tarot cards are derived from an ancient Egyptian book, The Book of Thoth. Thoth was the Egyptian Mercury/Hermes, said to be one of the early Pharaohs and inventor of the hieroglyphic system. Gébelin asserts that it is from the Egyptians and Gypsies that Tarot Cards were dispersed throughout Europe. All of this is easily research by the seeker.

The past 2 centuries are ripe with important works on the different aspects of Tarot cards; Gébelin (1781), Etteilla (1783), Levi (1854), Vaillant (1857), Mathers (1888), Papus (1889), Falconnier (1896), Wirth, Waite (1910) Thierens, Case, Crowley (1944), Gray (1960), Knight (1965), Moakley (1966), Doane (1967), and Kaplan (1970), just to name a "few".

Although initiated and supervised by Waite, the unique Tarot Deck known as the "Rider Deck" was hand crafted by Miss Pamela Colman Smith, an artist and fellow member of The Order of the Golden Dawn. Although born in Jamaica, by age 21 Miss Smith was established in England as a theatrical designer and illustrator. She collaborated with William Butler Yeats on stage designs and worked with William's brother, Jack Yeats on the illustration and publication of a magazine entitled The Broad Sheet before publishing her own magazine, The Green Sheaf which was filled with ballads, pictures, folk tales, and verses.

Most notable difference features of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, as compared to earlier tradition decks is that all of the cards, including the 40 minor arcana numeral cards (pips), are presented in emblematic designs, which are easily read in divination. This is in contrast to the older more ridged forms of swords, batons, cups and coins that were previously used. Waite also believed that the O-Fool, should not be placed between the keys of 20 and 21, but that its more natural placement was before the Magician in attribution to the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet-Aleph. He also transposed the numbers of 2 Major Arcana (Trump) cards: Strength (Force, Fortitude), frequently shown in other Tarot decks as Key XI but is shown in the Rider Deck as Key VIII. The Justice card, traditionally shown as Key VIII, is shown in the Rider deck as Key XI.

No matter what Tarot deck one prefers, one of the most fascinating aspects of Tarot Cards is their personal effect upon the person using them. These effects have been called by Hindu Mystics, as Sidhis- meaning "magic abilities". Hence, Tarot helps create more magic and less tragedy in ones life.

The "Highlights of Tarot", was published by Dr. Paul Foster Case, in 1931. This little booklet is included in the B.O.T.A., tarot deck. It is a reference aid to student members of the Builders Of The Adytum who are engaged in the coloring of the Major Tarot Keys in accordance to the lesson curriculum developed by Dr. Case. This is because Dr. Case believed that when one colored their own cards, that they would take on the personality of the student and thereby, they become inseparably linked to the student. Since you must focus attention on the card details, your brain cells are impressed with the patterns of this "symbolism of the Unconscious", while also building these details into your consciousness. This makes the Tarot keys part of the student's "Self". Becoming the Tarot, is one of the most practical secrets of esoteric psychology (parapsychology).

If you are looking for an easy path into spirituality, you won't find it in Tarot. For this is a "path less walked", as spiritual development is not brought on by external things. It is an inner growth, towards reclaiming our Divine Inheritance and it is upon this principle that Tarot operates most effectively. Therefore, Tarot is not a toy. Nor a presentation of Hollywood based occultism. Rather, 2 main purposes are served by Tarot:

1. It preserves and transmits an esoteric teaching. 
2. It evokes specific mystical, intellectual and emotional responses from the Inner Consciousness of the student who has been taught how to look at it.

After all the great works about "Man know thyself". it is no longer a secret that there exists Occult Teachings that reveal the true nature of the Homo Sapiens Sapiens, and their link to the Universe and the inheritance of a mutual relationship with The Universal Collective Unconscious.

The obvious difference between the B.O.T.A Fool card, is that it is hand colored by the student. The second most obvious difference is the use of a Hebrew letter on the bottom right of the B.O.T.A. Trump cards. This is because Dr. Paul Foster Case is a recognized authority on Tarot and Qaballah.

The use of the Hebrew letter Aleph, meaning Ox, delves deeper into the meaning of this Tarot Trump. An Ox is symbolizes the motive power in agriculture, as they were often used to pull plows. Agriculture is the basis for civilization. Therefore, the ox symbolizes Cultural power, Creative Energy, Life Power, , the vital principles of plants, animals and human kind. All of which comes to us in the form of the Sun. We know this principle as Life-Breath, it is the Greek Pneuma, the Sanskrit Prana, the Hebrew Ruach, the Latin Spiritus; all of which mean "Breath". This meaning is substantiated, by the title of Fool, as this word is derived from the Latin follis -meaning a "bag of wind".  Therefore, they all refer to the Spirit and/or the all pervading Life-Energy. Otherwise, the Rider-Waite-Smith and B.O.T.A, have the same or similar mundane symbolic meanings.

Now that we know the word-Fool- "Breath" -symbolizes that which contains all of the potencies of growth and development we can see that the 0 carries this idea further. O is the symbol for egg and again symbolizes Life-Power and even the Orphic Egg which symbolizes the Universal Infinite Life Power.

The Sun refers to the One Force (The One Energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed and transmitted) that comes from all the Stars/Suns in the Multiverse.

The mountains pictured on both cards, represent the abstract mathematical conceptions which are behind all knowledge of Nature; hence, seemingly cold and uninteresting to many. Like the meting snow feeds the creeks and rivers below. So will the Ageless Wisdom of the Divine Creative feed your consciousness and make fertile your mental imagery, thereby, transforming your life. I AM, is you True Existence, but what you think you are, is all assumption/imagination.

The Fool represents the eternal youth, that is Spirit/Soul. On both cards this eternal youth is shown as he stands at the height of his power, and presenting an attitude of confidence, trust, and joyful aspirations. The wreath of Victory around his head also symbolizes the vegetable kingdom. The Wand is the Will of the Divine (I Will BE) and the wallet is Memory. The white rose represents purified desire. On both the Rider-Waite-Smith and B.O.T.A. cards, the unique garments of the Fool consist of a white undergarment and a black outer one which is lined with red. White is purity, truth, wisdom. It is covered in the black of ignorance and delusion which is lined with passion, action, and desire. Not easily seen, is the girdle of 12 ornaments, showing only 7, it represents Time-Space. Astrologers will find the contemplation of this next symbology of great interest. The wheels which ornament the outer garment are 8 spoked and they symbolize the whirling motion by which the One Force manifests itself (Will to Force). The little white dog represents the intellect of the body, the reasoning survival mind of the subconscious. It is a faithful companion, but must have a master.

When thrown in a Divination, both The Rider-Waite-Smith and B.O.T.A. cards imply:

• Folly.
• Mania.
• Extravagance.
• Intoxication.
• Delirium.
• Frenzy.
• Bewrayment.
• (All of which lead to the Mystery of Dionysus. Where extremes lead to Higher Mind)

If reversed:

• Negligence.
• Absence.
• Distribution.
• Carelessness.
• Apathy.
• Nullity.
• Vanity.

Thank you for your interest, comments, and supportive donations. May you live long and prosper.