Stubborn strength, toil, endurance, placidity, manifestation, explanation, teaching, goodness of heart, help from superiors, patience, organization, peace.
ו
ATU V
ATU V The Hierophant
The Magus of the Eternal
The Hierophant
The Magus of the Eternal
This card is referred to the letter Vau, which means a Nail; of this instrument nine appear at the top of the card; they serve to fix the oriel behind the main figure of the picture.
The card is referred to Taurus; therefore the Throne of the Hierophant is surrounded by elephants, which are of the nature of Taurus; and he is actually seated upon a bull. Around him are the four beasts or Kerubs, one in each corner of the card; for these are the guardians of every shrine. But the main reference is to the particular arcanum which is the principal business, the essential, of all magical work; the uniting of the microcosm with the macrocosm. Accordingly, the oriel is diaphanous; before the Manifestor of the Mystery is a hexagram representing the macrocosm. In its centre is a pentagram, representing a dancing male child. This symbolizes the law of the new Aeon of the Child Horns, which has supplanted that Aeon of the "Dying God" which governed the world for two thousand years. Before him is the woman girt with a sword; she represents the Scarlet Woman in the hierarchy of the new Aeon. This symbolism is further carried out in the oriel where, behind the phallic headdress, the rose of five petals is in blossom.
The symbolism of the snake and dove refers to this verse of the Book of the Law---chap. I, verse 57: "there are love and love. There is the dove, and there is the serpent".
This symbol recurs in the trump numbered XVI.
The background of the whole card is the dark blue of the starry night of Nuit, from whose womb all phenomena are born.
Taurus, the sign of the Zodiac represented by this card, is itself the Bull Kerub; that is, Earth in its strongest and most balanced form.
The ruler of this sign is Venus; she is represented by the woman standing before the hierophant.
Chapter III of the Book of the Law, verse xi, reads:
"Let the woman be girt with a sword before me." This woman represents Venus as she now is in this new aeon; no longer the mere vehicle of her male counterpart, but armed and militant.
In this sign the Moon is "exalted"; her influence is represented not only by the woman, but by the nine nails.
It is impossible at the present time to explain this card thoroughly, for only the course of events can show how the new current of initiation will work out.
It is the aeon of Horus, of the Child. Though the face of the Hierophant appears benignant and smiling, and the child himself seems glad with wanton innocence, it is hard to deny that in the expression of the initiator is something mysterious, even sinister. He seems to be enjoying a very secret joke at somebody's expense. There is a distinctly sadistic aspect to this card; not unnaturally, since it derives from the Legend of Pasiphae, the prototype of all the legends of Bull-gods. These still persist in such religions as Shaivism, and (after multiple degradations) in Christianity itself.
The symbolism of the Wand is peculiar; the three interlaced rings which crown it may be taken as representative of the three Aeons of Isis, Osiris and Horus with their interlocking magical formulae. The upper ring is marked with scarlet for Horus; the two lower rings with green for Isis, and pale yellow for Osiris, respectively.
All these are based upon deep indigo, the colour of Saturn, the Lord of Time. For the rhythm of the Hierophant is such that he moves only at intervals of 2,000 years.
The card is referred to Taurus; therefore the Throne of the Hierophant is surrounded by elephants, which are of the nature of Taurus; and he is actually seated upon a bull. Around him are the four beasts or Kerubs, one in each corner of the card; for these are the guardians of every shrine. But the main reference is to the particular arcanum which is the principal business, the essential, of all magical work; the uniting of the microcosm with the macrocosm. Accordingly, the oriel is diaphanous; before the Manifestor of the Mystery is a hexagram representing the macrocosm. In its centre is a pentagram, representing a dancing male child. This symbolizes the law of the new Aeon of the Child Horns, which has supplanted that Aeon of the "Dying God" which governed the world for two thousand years. Before him is the woman girt with a sword; she represents the Scarlet Woman in the hierarchy of the new Aeon. This symbolism is further carried out in the oriel where, behind the phallic headdress, the rose of five petals is in blossom.
The symbolism of the snake and dove refers to this verse of the Book of the Law---chap. I, verse 57: "there are love and love. There is the dove, and there is the serpent".
This symbol recurs in the trump numbered XVI.
The background of the whole card is the dark blue of the starry night of Nuit, from whose womb all phenomena are born.
Taurus, the sign of the Zodiac represented by this card, is itself the Bull Kerub; that is, Earth in its strongest and most balanced form.
The ruler of this sign is Venus; she is represented by the woman standing before the hierophant.
Chapter III of the Book of the Law, verse xi, reads:
"Let the woman be girt with a sword before me." This woman represents Venus as she now is in this new aeon; no longer the mere vehicle of her male counterpart, but armed and militant.
In this sign the Moon is "exalted"; her influence is represented not only by the woman, but by the nine nails.
It is impossible at the present time to explain this card thoroughly, for only the course of events can show how the new current of initiation will work out.
It is the aeon of Horus, of the Child. Though the face of the Hierophant appears benignant and smiling, and the child himself seems glad with wanton innocence, it is hard to deny that in the expression of the initiator is something mysterious, even sinister. He seems to be enjoying a very secret joke at somebody's expense. There is a distinctly sadistic aspect to this card; not unnaturally, since it derives from the Legend of Pasiphae, the prototype of all the legends of Bull-gods. These still persist in such religions as Shaivism, and (after multiple degradations) in Christianity itself.
The symbolism of the Wand is peculiar; the three interlaced rings which crown it may be taken as representative of the three Aeons of Isis, Osiris and Horus with their interlocking magical formulae. The upper ring is marked with scarlet for Horus; the two lower rings with green for Isis, and pale yellow for Osiris, respectively.
All these are based upon deep indigo, the colour of Saturn, the Lord of Time. For the rhythm of the Hierophant is such that he moves only at intervals of 2,000 years.
| Also see ATU V: The Hierophant according to: | ||||
| Tarot de Marseilles (Gebelin) | Eliphas Levi | Golden Dawn (Regardie) | Aleister Crowley | Frater Achad |
777 for key 16
I
Key Scale 16
II
Hebrew Names of Numbers and Letters Vau
III
English of Col. II. Nail
VI
The Heavens of Assiah Shar
VII
English of Col. VI. Taurus
VIII
Orders of Qliphoth Adimiron
X
Mystic Numbers of the Sephiroth 136
XI
Elements (with their Planetary Rulers) Venus Earth Luna
XII
The Tree of Life Pathjoins 2–4
XIII
The Paths of the Sepher Yetzirah Triumphal or Eternal One
XIV
General Attribution of Tarot The Hierophant
XV
The King Scale of Colour (y) Red orange
XVI
The Queen Scale of Colour (h) Deep indigo
XVII
The Emperor Scale of Colour (v) Deep warm olive
XVIII
The Empress Scale of Colour (#) Rich brown
XIX
Selection of Egyptian Gods Asar, Ameshet, Apis
XX
Complete Practical Attribution of Egyptian Gods Osiris
XXI
The Perfected Man Ba-Neb-Tattu—The Shoulders
XXII
Small selection of Hindu Deities Shiva (Sacred Bull)
XXIII
The Forty Buddhist Meditations Dark Blue K
XXIV
Certain of the Hindu and Buddhist Results Success in Hathayoga, Asana and Prana-yama
XXXIV
Some Greek Gods [Heré]
XXXV
Some Roman Gods Venus [[Hymen]]
XXXVIII
Animals, Real and Imaginary. Bull (Cherub of E)
XXXIX
Plants, Real and Imaginary Mallow [[all giant trees]]
XL
Precious Stones Topaz
XLI
Magical Weapons The Tripod
XLII
Perfumes Storax
XLIII
Vegetable Drugs Sugar
XLV
Magical Powers [Western Mysticism] The Secret of Physical Strength
XLIX
Lineal Figures of the Planets, &c., and Geomany Amissio
LI.II
Numeration of Col. LI. 400
LI.III
English equivalent of Col. LI. U
LIII
The Greek Alphabet Ϝ ϛ
CXXXVII
Signs of the Zodiac ♉ Taurus
CXXXVIII
Planets ruling Col. CXXXVII. Venus
CXXXIX
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Day Rayel
CXL
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Night Totath
CXLI
The Twelve Tribes Ephraim
CXLII
Angels ruling Houses Toel
CXLIII
Twelve Lesser Assistant Angels in the Signs Araziel
CXLVI
Angels of the Decantes (Ascendant). Kadamidi
CXLVII
Angels of the Decantes (Succedent). Minacharai
CXLVIII
Angels of the Decantes (Cadent). Yakasaganotz
CXLIX
Magical Images of the Decans (Ascendant) A woman with long and beautiful hair, clad in flame-coloured robes
CL
Magical Images of the Decans (Succedent) A man of like figure (to the ascendant), with cloven hoofs like an ox.
CLI
Magical Images of the Decans (Cadent) A swarthy man with white lashes, his body elephantine with long legs; with him, a horse, a stag, and a calf
CLII
Perfumes (Ascendant) Costum
CLIII
Perfumes (Succedent) Codamorns
CLIV
Perfumes (Cadent) Cassia
CLV
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Ascendant) Gamigina
CLVI
Magical Images of Col. CLV. Little horse or ass.
CLVII
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Succedent) Marbas
CLVIII
Magical Images of Col. CLVII. Great Lion.
CLIX
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Cadent) Valefor
CLX
Magical Images of Col. CLIX. Lion with ass’s head, bellowing
CLXI
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Ascendant) Raum
CLXII
Magical Images of Col. CLXI. Crow.
CLXIII
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Succedent) Focalor
CLXIV
Magical Images of Col. CLXIII. Man with gryphon’s wings.
CLXV
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Cadent) Vepar
CLXVI
Magical Images of Col. CLXV. Mermaid.
CLXVII
Egyptian Gods of Zodiac (Asc. Decans) Serapis
CLXVIII
Egyptian Names of Asc. Decans Asicath
CLXIX
As Col. CLXVII (Succedent) Helitomenos
CLXX
As Col. CXVIII (Succendent) Virvaso
CLXXI
As Col. CXLVII (Cadent) Apophis
CLXXII
As Col. CXLVIII (Cadent) Aharph
CLXXIII
Genii of the Twelve Hours (Levi) Sisera, Torvatus, Nitibus, Hizarbin, Sachluph, Baglis, Laberzerin
CLXXV
Hebrew Letters ו
CLXXVI
Numerical Value of Col. CLXXV. 6
CLXXVII
Geomantic Intelligences Asmodel
CLXXIX
Numbers printed on Tarot Trumps 5
CLXXX
Title of Tarot Trumps The Magus of the Eternal.
CLXXXI
Correct Design of Tarot Trumps Between the Pillars sits an Ancient *
CLXXXII
The Human Body Shoulders and Arms
CLXXXIII
Legendary Orders of Being Gorgons, Minotaurs
CLXXXIV
Numeration of Arabic Alphabet 6
CLXXXV
Numeration of Greek Alphabet 6
CLXXXVI
Diseases (Typical) Indigestion