Jennifer Reynolds, Contributor
Waking Times

The number is zero, a symbol for infinity, without beginning or end (alpha and omega). Significantly here, its symbol represents the concept of things being cyclic. Although normally interpreted as void and nothingness, a circle is pregnant with potential.

At some point the 22 major cards of tarot came to represent the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, although no one knows the true origin of Tarot. Under this theory, The Fool is the first letter, Aleph, being a very profound and mystical letter. The best way to explain Aleph is to quote Suares:

“Aleph is the unthinkable life-death, abstract principle of all that is and all that is not. Aleph is the supreme energy, subtle, alive, but not existing as itself in the space-time world we know, because it is relative. It is the primal energy, it is in all and all is in aleph. It is beyond definition, incapable of being defined or limited. It can be seen to move at infinite speed and thus evades time. It can be viewed as primal consciousness unknown to itself. ALEPH is to convey the concept of an energy apart from time: timeless. It is there, able-to-be—but it does not exist because to exist is to exist ‘in time’. This timeless energy or power of ALEPH can become projected into existence— into time. But by this, it becomes limited. According to the Qabala, when ALEPH is projected into existence it becomes YOD. Without Aleph, there would be nothing at all.”

“Aleph: a word for the unthinkable: the infinite expansive energy or pulsation of life- death, beyond thought, beyond knowing. Life, because it is the infinite living source of all that is and all that is not. Death, because it is intermittent, not in duration, beyond space-time.”

In today’s quantum physics theory, the concept of ALEPH would be explained as a virtual sea of energy called quantum vacuum. Contrary to its name, it is not empty. Every atom, particle, molecule, cell, organism, and galaxy exists within, emerges from (as energy packets) this sea of energy,

and continually interacts with it. You and I, and everything around us right now have its origins within this energy field and connects us to everyone and everything within it. This sea of energy is one huge collective consciousness of everything that has ever been, and ever will be. All the experiences we have in our lifetime(s), our thoughts, our feelings, are permanently imprinted as waveforms upon this energy-field and will resonate forever.

At the very base of everything that exists is a ball of ‘energy potential’. It is intention that tells this ball of energy potential what it is to become. Intention, which is energy, is the magic ingredient to manifestation. Together, we are co-creators of the universe. Everything is made of energy and every particle of energy is alive with consciousness. Everything from a cell to a planet has a consciousness. The universe is like an ocean of plasma within which exists all that is. Separation is only illusion. It is believed we devised this reality called earth and the human body as a means to evolve.

Aleph in tarot is zero and astrologically speaking, the Fool card is ‘Zero Point Aries’. The point at the very center of a sphere is its ‘zero point’ and the point at the center of the sun symbol represents this zero point. Drawing a line straight left from the center comes to zero point Aries, and for the ancients, the original start of the New Year. ‘New beginnings’ is the definition of this card.

In Revelations, the lamb, which mystically symbolizes the spring equinox at zero point Aries, opens four seals and announces, “Come see”. One by one, four horsemen ride across the face of the earth. These horsemen represent Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, and Aquila (Scorpio) and the four seasons of the year.

The Fool’s robe has many 8 spoked wheels for the 8 spoked wheel of the year. We see the 8 spoked wheel again on the Wheel of Fortune Card. The Fool headed to the manifest world below has put on the garments of time.

“The sun which shines behind him knows whence he came, whither he is going, and how he will return by another path after many days”.

The 8 spoked wheel is also the wheel of Dharma, or wheel of life, symbolizing the core teachings of the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

The Ancients saw the Milky Way galaxy as a serpent of light eating its tail because it looks like a snake with its tail in its mouth.

This snake is called the Uroborus. In the mystical and alchemical sense it represents the eternal return of something re-creating itself in a feedback process. As the Uroborus devours itself, it recreates itself. Alchemically, it represents a never

ending cycle of birth, increase, decline, death then re-birth. Our traveler’s hat alludes to the Uroborus scales. We see these scales again on the World card.

Yearly, at zero point Aries the sun moves above the equator. This marks the end of winter and beginning of spring. But ultimately, God encompasses ALL and is the final Alpha and the Omega.

The zero and the Uroborus are equivalent in their mystical meaning; a never ending cycle; a thing turning in on itself to recreate itself. This is the core principal of perpetuating one’s spiritual growth, the Magnus opus. One addresses one’s spiritual flaws, fears and shortcomings and works diligently to overcome them. One by one they are burned away as dross. Revelations 2:11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.’

The mouth of the Uroborus sits at the galaxies center. On December 21, 2012 the sun aligned over the galactic center marking the end of a 24,000 year- Great Year. The spring equinox of 2014 marks the beginning of the next 24,000 year- Great Year. (see Astrology and the Four Horsemen of Revelations).

This painting by Guido Cagnacci (1601-63) beautifully illustrates the never ending cycle of the Precession of the equinox and its influence upon humanity in the alternately experiences of the Golden and Dark Ages. Similar to The Fool, she holds flowers forward towards an unseen sun; we see the effects of its illumination and shadow. Flowers represent ones spiritual unfolding and are emblematic of the Golden ages. Behind, she holds an hourglass representing Saturn the planet of destruction and decay for the Dark Ages (further away from the beneficial rays of the sun).

“The age of iron has no other seal than that of Death. Its hieroglyph is the skeleton, bearing the attributes of Saturn: the empty hourglass, symbol of time run out…” – Fulcanelli

While ALEPH is the first Hebrew letter of their 22 letter alphabet, the Tau is the last. Its meaning is the perfection of creation. In the background below the sun disguised as rock formation is the Tau. The statement made is “I Am the beginning and the end”. In Greek it is, “the alpha and the omega”. We see the similarity in concept with the Uroborous. On the Fool’s white under-tunic are the Hebrew letters Yod-heh-vav-heh. These letters are mirrored and turned 90 degrees. (read from right to left).

“Many symbols of the Instituted Mysteries are summarized in this card, which reverses under high warrants, all the confusions that have preceded it”. ~ Waite

‘Yod hey vav hey’ is the Hebrew name of God. Yod is the primal vibration, the point of light out of which everything came. All other 22 Hebrew letters come from the Yod, which spins out from itself. It is the seed germ, the fire. The letter Vav means a hook or connecting force. The Divine Light, as Yod, emanated forth and reflected upon itself, that is, it mirrored itself into the lower world, hence the ALEPH being two Yods separated by a connecting Vav; one Yod in heaven and the reflected Yod on earth.

Notice the sleeves representing the two Yods are lined red and scalloped like flickering fire. By touching thumb and forefinger he forms the circle for the Buddhist wheel of law. One arm (Yod) reaches back to source, represented as the sun. It nourishes a white rose representing the unfolding of spirit. The white rose admonishes one to nourish their spiritual growth with proper care and attention. The white rose has similar meaning to the Buddhist unfolding lotus blossom.

The reversed ‘Yod hey vav hey’ being on the white under-tunic indicates the Holy Spirit of God mirrored into the physical. The outer garment would then represent the spirit clothed in flesh as indicated by the wheel of the year (time).

The “big reveal” is that The Fool is the spirit of God made manifest in the flesh; God-man. We are all but the spirit of God manifest in the flesh. Yes, even the homeless drunk in the street is a manifestation of God as are all creatures. To harm or kill any living creature is to injure God himself.

The Fool as ALEPH stands at the precipice between heaven above, and the manifest world below. He is the connecting Vav.

“He is a prince of the other world on his travels through this one”. ~ Waite

The Hebrew letter Hey means “behold” but for Jewish mystics represents the out-breath of God. Genesis says that God breathed life into Adam. The words for ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’ are the same. The overlooked aspect is that when God breathed into Adam he imparted His spirit.

Psalms 33:6 By the Word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”?

Yod hey l Vav hey

Yod hey: primal vibration ~ out-breath (in heaven)

Vav hey: connected to ~ out-breath (on earth)

Everything is connected to the breath of God, the primal vibration, the point of light out of which everything came. Everything is God and comes forth from God, including man – who is God in the flesh.

Jesus is the prototype for the enlightened individual. Being fully awakened, a man understands and knows that he is a son of God. To be “christened” means to be anointed with holy oil. This act of anointing symbolizes the true holy oil, which is in the head.

Psalms 23:5 Thou anoints my head with oil.

Leviticus 8:12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, making him holy for his work.

Matthew 26:7 a woman came to him (Jesus) with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume (spikenard oil), which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

John 11:2 Mary was the woman who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was ill.

On the edge of his outer garment is the letter Shin, also reversed and rotated 90’. The Shin is the dynamic movement of the element Fire. It has the appearance of three raised flames in the shape of three Vav’s. It is the active, expansive and vivifying force in the universe. It is also the symbol of the enlivening of spirit. It is the spiritual fire, the flaming sword.

The numerical number of Shin is 300. Oddly enough, and probably not relevant is that the numerical equivalent of Vav is 6, the number of man. This causes the Shin to have three 6’s; 666.

The name Moses has a central Shin, M Sh H, as does the Hebrew name for Jesus (Greek) being Yeheshuah, Yh Sh Vh. Shin also stands for the Shekinah. Its meaning is the presence of God on earth or a symbol or manifestation of his presence. It is the settling or dwelling of God’s presence. This symbol’s presence solidifies the message that the spirit of God has settled into and dwells within man.

“He is the spirit in search of experience” and “its subsidiary name was at one time the alchemist as depicting folly at the most insensate (unconscious) stage”. ~ Waite

The Fool upon his spiritual quest must become his own master Alchemist. On his robe is an “f” for Fulcanelli, a revered and enigmatic 20th century alchemist and philosopher. Anyone involved with the Great Work, (Magnum opus) had read this material; notably ‘The Mystery of the Cathedral’. The Hermetic interpretation of symbols.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50979161/Fulcanelli-The-Mystery-of-the-Cathedrals http://www.scribd.com/doc/13186681/Fulcanelli-Master-Alchemist

Fulcanelli had this to say:

“The secret of alchemy is this: there is a way of manipulating matter and energy so as to produce what modern scientists call ‘a field of force’. The field acts on the observer and puts him in a privileged position vis-à-vis the Universe. From this position he has access to the realities which are ordinarily hidden from us by time and space, matter and energy. This is what we call the Great Work.”

When asked about the Philosopher’s Stone, Fulcanelli answered:

“…the vital thing is not the transmutation of metals but that of the experimenter himself. It is an ancient secret that a few people rediscover each century. Unfortunately, only a handful are successful…”

The Fool carries valuable (costly) treasures. He will rely (depend) on these spiritual truths which for him represents Toth, Horus, and Osiris. The staff (wand) represents the spiritual support he will need upon his journey. It reaches back to source, represented as the sun (primal fire). His inquisitive (curious) nature has him ever seeking spiritual knowledge. Waite says; he carries a “costly wand from which depends over his right shoulder a wallet curiously embroidered”.

The 7 pearls on The Fool’s belt represent the Pleiades, known as the 7 sisters, as well as being the 7 chakras. Chakras (wheels) are vortexes of energy considered gateways that need to be unlocked. They correspond to plexuses in the spinal column that provide energy to the body and organs. The human body has its equivalent upon an astral template in a dimension behind the physical dimension. When the chakras are open, there is an increased flow of energy inward and upward through the astral spine. This energy flows as an internal “river of life” and may be the origins of the fabled “fountain of youth” that restores health and vitality.

As a cluster of pearls, they represent the pearly “gates” where stands St Peter because Peter, one of the 12 disciples, corresponds to the constellation Aries in the head of the zodiac man.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/114661787/The-Last-Supper-St-Peter-the-zodiac-sign-of-Aries

Then Job answered and said…but how should man be just with God? Which alone spreads out the heavens…Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number…Can you bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades? Or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 9:2-10 & 38:31 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion. Amos 5:8

Meditating on the Pleiadian (sweet) energy enables one to perceive greater spiritual wisdom and divine knowledge. The seeker must first have purified their etheric, astral and mental bodies before being able to integrate with this higher spiritual realm.

The Fool also represents the constellation Orion. For the Greeks, Orion was a great hunter being followed by his companion, the dog-star, Sirius. As Orion, he pursues the 7 sisters of the Pleiades having become enamored with them. But first he must slay the brutish ox of Taurus.

For the Egyptians, Orion and Sirius were equated with Osiris and Isis. The story came to be that the soul of Osiris is the brightest star in Orion, the star Rigel, in his left foot. The soul of Isis resides at Sirius, the dog-star. Osiris and Isis move above and below the horizon simulating death and rebirth. Their souls became the stars in the heavens. They are “stars”.

Barnabas Tiburtius: “If we look at the star map and the position of Orion, Taurus and Pleiades you can see that when Orion conquers Taurus he attains Pleiades, the seven sisters. In Vedic parlance when human creation or divine man (Orion) subdues the Rajasic (passionate) nature symbolized by the (Taurus) Bull, he attained the sattvic guna (attribute) of Divine Wisdom. This wisdom is resident in his own being as the Kundalini rising through the seven chakras, symbolized through Pleiades.”

Revelations 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Revelations 3:11 These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

At the heart chakra there appears to be the sibilance of the “flaming heart” or “sacred heart”. The fourth chakra is also referred to as the Mystical Heart and as the “intelligence of the heart” in Egyptian mysteries. When the heart center awakens impulses of spiritual and altruistic love pours in. This love is expressed as compassion for all of humanity a desire to assist all beings to reach Enlightenment.

As an interesting side note; the Hebrew word Yod is a grasping hand. The word Vav is a connecting hook once used to fasten clothing, but also can mean nail. If you are quick minded, you already get where this is going. The son of God, or in some doctrines God himself, was nailed to the “cross”. This is a double entendre, being understood in two ways.

Yod= hand; Vav = nail.

The symbol of the cross is very ancient, long before Jesus died on one. It originally represented the four corners of the earth along with the two solstices, and two equinoxes. The spirit of God being nailed on the cross, piercing his hands , imprisoned him in time. It was the sacrifice he made so that we may live. This is the answer to how and why you are here and why you are alive. No matter how lowly you may feel, you are divine.

Waite calls The Fool card the “cipher card, numbering nothing”. The definition of Cipher, or cypher, is:

“a method of secret writing using substitution or transposition of letter according to a key. – a secret message. – the key to a secret message”. “I do not suggest that the Tarot set the example of expressing Secret Doctrine in pictures and that it was followed by Hermetic writers; but it is noticeable that it is perhaps the earliest example of this art… it is not a derivative of any one school or literature, but it is a presentation of universal ideas by means of universal types that it represents the Secrete Doctrine. There is a secret tradition concerning tarot, as well as a secret doctrine. Contained therein; I have followed some part of it without exceeding the limits which are drawn about matters of this kind and belong to the laws of honour.” ~ Waite

Waite states point-blank that his Tarot draws on many schools of thought (Egyptian, Greek, Christian, and Buddhism) and represents the Secrete Doctrine. Truth is truth and therefore universal. The ancient Hindu also embodied knowledge of spiritual truths within their pantheon of gods and goddesses (Avatars) in pictorial form seen with items representing their attributes; although at the time of Waite’s writing he did not know this so stated that tarot was “perhaps the earliest example of this art”.

Vishnu has 10 incarnations upon earth; 9 have passed and his 10th is yet to come. He appears at the end of the Dark Ages called Kali Yuga riding a white horse with sword in hand to destroy evil upon the earth and to restore right order (Dharma). His name at that time will be Lord Kalki. This is similar to Jesus returning on a white horse with sword in hand in Revelations 19:11. When one begins to investigate the Hindu religion (world’s oldest), one begins to see Christianity as but a simpler version.

It soon becomes quite apparent that the ultimate origin for the concept of Tarot is none other than Hindu, drawn (sic) from the Vedas.

For more information on Hinduism you can visit here: http://veda.wikidot.com/hinduism Image of Lord Vishnu with his attributes of lotus and conch shell (creative forces) and a discus weapon and mallet/mace (destructive forces).

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