Three Kings
Inside joke, bit of tarot trivia, too. The image is a Thoth deck, and in its original version, it shipped with three versions of the Magus card, the designer’s original term for the #1 Major Arcana, typically called the Magician.
The faith I was raised in, a gentle and sweet — forgiving — lightweight, nominally Protestant branch of the Christian mythos, and I clearly recall, in the old sanctuary, communion was celebrated with a round loaf of bread, a goblet of grape juice, and candles. If there had only been a bread knife, the image would be complete.
That memory ties a typical Magician card to some elements in the Christian faiths. A refrain from Shakespeare comes to mind, “… by bell book and candle …” with the admonition that I can’t recall the correct play or attribute.
But each of the Magician Cards holds elements, like, there is a Wand (fire), Disks (earth), Swords (air), and Cups (water). The Magician, usually a wand in his hand and his other hand, palm open, pointing down at the table, as if he were chanting, “As above, so below…”
The Magician shows mastery over the four elements. The four elements are represented by the suits of the cards.
Three Kings
Three Kings
In an odd aside, usually delivered in readings, the four suits correspond with our current understanding of the states of matter. Solid, liquid, gaseous, and now, the fourth, where matter becomes energy, fire.
A day without a little quantum physics is a complete loss.
Previously? The Hanged Man.
Three Kings
Thoth Tarot Deck
Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot (Pocket Edition)
astrofish.net/travel
