I'd like to know if it could be possible for you to post here the pythagoric meanings for the 10 numbers. I've seen in the website the explanation only for the number four and i'd like to know them all.
I would also like to ask you about the three systems published in this website...i recently read the book "Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage", by Paul Huson where he stated that the oldest meanings for the tarot cards belong to Picatrix (astrological association), Pratesi (1750) and then Etteila. Is it correct? Is there any document stating the uses of the three methods posted here?
Thank you very much
Sebastian

Hello,

Thank you for your question.
I will ask Paul about this.
He may be very busy this week.

Hello Sebastian --

Thank you for your interest. Indeed, a comprehensive article on the meanings of the Numbers is due soon. As you have gathered, the site is a work in progress.

Regarding the Picatrix: To be clear, the Picatrix did not directly inform Tarot Minor Meanings, but instead described the system of astrological decan meanings (36 total) of the astrological wheel for magical purposes. Then, the Golden Dawn Society superimposed these meanings on the Minors.

Next, Franco Pratesi was a cartomancer of of 1750. His meanings refer to a tarocchi deck of 35 Bolognese cards.

Finally, Etteilla used a "piquet" deck, more akin to the modern playing card decks of a reduced number of cards, and he used cartomantic traditional meanings. Later, he was exposed to Tarot and attempted to integrate the two.

Of course, "different strokes for different folks". Indeed, one may use whatever overlay one wants with the Tarot de Marseille, especially given its iconicity. We find Pratesi's and Etteilla's meanings to be often idiosyncratic and not derived from a system internal to the TdM (such as Majors or Number). This is why we promote these methods of Minors being associatd with Majors or Number. We do not promote the Golden Dawn applications, because these have more than enough airtime, but more importantly, post-date the TdM.

Papus (Gérard Encausse) in 1889 promoted number + suit methods for the Minors; later, Paul Marteau of the Grimaud company in 1949 certainly proliferated this tradition throughout Europe.

In fact, the Minor Arcana of the Tarot de Marseille have been...well, minor in importance in the tradition of the TdM throughout Europe. So, the archaeological dig for the Über meanings of the Minors may come up empty-- we may have to look beyond Etteilla and company.

I'm no expert, but I think a common understanding of the Pythagorean structure is:

1 - the monad, the essence or divinity, the unity of the idea, passive not active, pure potential which is so full it overflows into. . .

2 - the dyad, wisdom or logos coming out of the One, static balance, passive but won't last, it will overflow with being into. . .

3 - the triad, stable manifestation, first completion, first structure, creation itself -- the cosmos coming out of the overflow of being into logos

4 - the tetrad, foundation, the square, rational order, justice, harmonious proportion, a "divine" number to Pythagoras that signified the elements of nature and the cosmos

5 - the pentad, number of Apollo, "the fifth element" of spirit acting in the world, thus wordly power (as in the pope, who is the controlling spirit exercising authority and having effect in the material realm)

6 - the hexad, harmony, beauty, symmetry, luck, lasting balance, partnership, relationship, "marriage" so to speak

7 - the heptad, another divine number that breaks down into 3 for creation, 4 for the rational order of the world. Thus it is synthesis and represents plenty, success, feelings & instincts

8 - the ogdoad, equilibrium, stable balance (unlike the unstable balance of the dyad), as the "double 4" it is a good number, solidity, but it is active and in motion without falling apart.

9 - the ennead, the limit (since all numbers can be made up of 0-9), the goal, the highest summit of matter

10 - the decad, the end of the cycle, the highest summit of spirit, perfection, being the end it is also signals a movement towards the new beginning in the cycle (since Pythagoras believed in reincarnation), all things will flow back into the monad.

I welcome all comment and correction, as Pythagoras had an entire "world system" that can be hard to summarize. Hope this helps!

There is some new material under Tarot Meanings in the article on the Meaning of the Numbers.

We take the numbers from 1-3, to get us started, and salivating, I hope.

Paul

I am currently reading "The Theology of Arithmetic" which is quite fascinating.

Does anyone else have this book?

Maybe we can have a book study in this Topic?

Squigglybeans wrote:

QUOTE:
I am currently reading "The Theology of Arithmetic" which is quite fascinating.

Does anyone else have this book?

Maybe we can have a book study in this Topic?

I have been waiting for it in the mail for like ten zillion years and just got email from the amazon that they cannot fulfill the order...so of I go to search for a copy again.

SteveM

Did you try amazon.com instead of amazon.uk? They have 12 used & new!

Theology of Arithmetic amazon.com US

I have the book.
It is a skinny little thing.
I found the Pythagorean Tarot site's information far more meaty and helpful.
But, the book was helpful, as well.