Customer Reviews

The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages

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This book, explaining the symbolism of the B.O.T.A. Tarot Keys, is significant for a number of reasons. This was one of the first works in which several Occult secrets about the Tarot-- secrets which, until then, had been closely-guarded by a handful of reclusive Orders and Fraternities-- were revealed to the general public for the first time.

Perhaps most importantly, this was the first book that openly published the correct Hebrew letter attributions of each Key-- publicly linking Qabala and Tarot for the first time. Previous books on the subject had either employed blinds or blatant falsehoods to conceal the correct attributions. Publishing these correct Hebrew letter attributions was a bold step, and although it's hard to imagine today, Case's decision to go public with this information was extremely controversial among Occultists at the time.

This book also revealed the Tarot tableau, a pattern for laying out all of the Tarot Keys which reveals certain relationships and dissimilarities between them-- relationships which might not otherwise be apparent to the casual reader. This tableau was used by the American branch of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn when Case was Praemonstrator of that Order, and like the correct Hebrew letter attributions of each Key, it had never been openly published before.

Last, but certainly not least, this was the first published book to reveal ALMOST ALL of the Tarot attributions on the Qabalistic "Cube of Space" diagram. Until the publication of this book, most Occultists had never even heard of the Cube of Space, had no idea what its attributions were, and couldn't have guessed about how it related to the much better-known "Tree of Life" diagram. (To give you an idea about just how esoteric this subject really is, consider that until the mid-1990's there were almost no other books in print that even mentioned the Cube of Space!)

One of the things that I really like about this book is that it includes Paul Foster Case's only public commentary about his own "Pattern on the Trestleboard," which is sort of like a Qabalistic catechism. Granted, Case's comments are pointedly brief, but they also place "The Pattern on the Trestleboard" firmly in the public domain, where they can be openly discussed with people who aren't members of Case's organization, Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.).

Older editions of this work also include the B.O.T.A. method for Tarot divination-- something that many of its members would be surprised to learn about, since B.O.T.A. repeatedly emphasizes that Tarot is primarily a tool for meditation, not divination! The truth is that Tarot works rather well in either capacity, but using the Keys for divination might distract from a beginning student's more important task of discovering his or her own "Inner Self" through meditation. Case's method of divination is similar in many respects to various Golden Dawn and Crowleyan methods that I've seen printed elsewhere-- but with some interesting, and perhaps not insignificant, differences.

As if this weren't enough to entice the serious Occultist, however, Case's analysis of each of the twenty-two Tarot Keys is nothing short of masterly. This is really the one area in which Paul Foster Case's book towers above almost any other book about the Tarot! Each Key is considered in light of its imagery, the Hebrew letter to which it is assigned, that letter's attribution of the Tree of Life, that letter's mode of Intelligence from the BOOK OF FORMATION, that letter's numerological significance, the Key's astrological associations... and on and on and on. This isn't the sort of book that can be lightly read once and then set it aside-- this is a reference work which should be consulted frequently!

The Keys themselves are lovely. Although B.O.T.A. as an organization resisted printing colored versions of these Keys for many years (Paul Foster Case insisted that coloring your own Keys was an important step in memorizing their exact details), newer editions of this book depict each Key in full glorious color! Even the black and white editions of this book are lovely, however, emphasizing details which might be missed in colorized versions. Based rather closely on A.E. Waite's Tarot, the B.O.T.A. deck departs radically from Waite's designs on a few of the Keys.

If Qabala is the Key to Western Occultism, Tarot is surely the Key to Qabala! This is one of the best available works on Tarot, and Paul Foster Case's masterly analysis of the Tarot Keys can't lead you in the wrong direction. Highly recommended for any Tarot enthusiast!

[...]

SHALOM!

If you take a delight in the esoteric, cryptic, and seemingly irrelevant, pay attention to this book. Case puts every card in its context; he invariably begins by describing its Hebrew origins, its diverse associations, and its symbolic place in the tarot. As with any real tarot book, it is useless without considerable meditation and tarot-work outside of the book; slowly the perspective that he communicates will enrich your understanding of the cards.

This book will be useless to any who haven't gotten the basic gist of tarot already. You see, it is simply a combination of the elements and numerology; numerology is, I think, the richer aspect of the two. Once you have a basic understanding of it, this book has the information to refine that understanding. It can also help to introduce you to the Caballah through the Tarot.

If you aren't too used to tarot cards yet, try buying a book that addresses numerology directly, but very straightforwardly--Case is more straightforward than the old guarde of esoterists, but that won't mean much to a newcomer.

Also, some newfangled Tarot decks don't (I believe) really pay all that much attention to numerology. If that is the type of deck you are reading, this book will be useless to you. Some fairly orthodox decks are the Rider/Waite deck, the Golden Dawn Tarot, and the Thoth deck.

Yet another thing: Case comes at it from the Hebrew side, but the Egyptian side is also extremely relevant. I don't know much about astrology, but word is that side is also suitable..especially for a deck such as Thoth, which has astrological symbols all over the place. Case addresses a bit of astrology.

This book has taught me a great deal and continues to do so. It is not for everyone, still I recommend it extremely highly.

This book is one of the most serious studies on the sybolism of the major arana as designed by Paul Foster Case otherwise known as the BOTA deck, and is quite simular to the Rider- Waite deck, which in my opinion are two of the best decks to start out with. It lays an essential foundation for anyone who seriously wishes to use the tarot for spiritual growth and divination.

The definitive work on the occult Tarot of the Western Hermetic Tradition.

Includes astrological, numerological, colour, Hebrew letter, and musical, correspondences.

Deals mainly with the Major Arcana, and although divination is covered, it is not the book's main emphasis.

I've never read a book so full of erudition, wisdom, practical advice, and clear, concise explanation. My copy goes with me wherever I go.

in L.V.X.

I can not say enough about this book. I have had several copies over the last 30 years. Everytime I return to it, a new layer of knowledge is revealed. I keep a copy at work so that I can meditate on the Keys. The effects of these mediations are profound. This is the good stuff, that has stood the test of time, and comparison to other methods.

Paul Foster Case dedicated his life to enlightening Mankind through his esoteric teachings. He was a leading Adept of the Rosicrucian Order of the Alpha et Omega headed by S. L. MacGregor Mathers. Case joined the A.˙.O.˙. in 1918 after an invitation from the Cancellarius of Thoth-Hermes Lodge, Michael Whitty. Case's fraternal motto in the Order was Frater Perserverantia {perseverance}. Frater Perserverantia advanced through the outer grades, culminating in his initiation into the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis in 1920. Case corresponded with Dr. John William Brodie-Innes {Fr. Sub Spe} and Dr. Israel Regardie {Frater Ad Majorem Adonai Gloriam} about the Cabala, politics of the Golden Dawn lineal succession, Tarot, and overlooked dangers of Enochian magic. Case later established the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A), which continues to exist as an international Order providing comprehensive training in the Western Mystery Tradition, Tarot, Cabala, and Alchemy. Paul Foster Case was a prolific writer and some of his books include: An Introduction to the Study of the Tarot (1920), A Brief Analysis of the Tarot (1927), The True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order (1927), The Book of Tokens (1934), The Great Seal of the United States (1935), The Open Door (1938), and The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947). Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages is an exquisite work of Tarot allegory, Cabalistic symbolism, astrology, and meditation of the Arcana. All students of the Western Mystery Tradition, whether working as Hermits or within the confines of an established Fraternal Order, will find the meditations and astrological correspondences of the Trumps invaluable.

Tarot, published in 1947 is an instant occult classic for students of the interlocking systems of the Invisible Colleges. This classic offers definitive explanations on the arcane alignment of Tarot and numerology, the construction of the Major Arcana, and their attribution to the Hebrew alphabet. Using clear and precise language for an audience of Adepti and Neophytes alike, Case expounds Tarot history and technique for Students of the Arte to apply the principles of Tarot-and the correspondences of symbol, tone, color, musical correspondences, and zodiac to their lives. Case delves deep into the Cabalistic significance of the Major Arcana and does not linger on divinatory practice. The book is most useful for those initiates or practitioners who have an understanding of the esoteric significance of the cards. Frater Case elucidates the symbolism mostly of each Major Arcana card, deepening the students understanding of not only astrological and Cabalistic connotations, but of musical correspondences as well. Music indeed would enrich the meditations behind each Trump, supported by Adept interpretations of the interplay between Zodiac & Tarot. This book, issued for the first time in 1947 by Case's Builders of the Adytum, is the first to use the correct alignment of the Hebrew alphabet with the 22 Trumps. This alignment corrected previous miscalculations, and also was the first thesis to offer the "Cube of Space" tableau, a system almost unheard by Adepti of the Golden Dawn lineages. Case writes on the Tarot: "Tarot divination is not fortune-telling. The practice of fortune-telling is based on the false notion that human life is governed by luck, chance, or fate - by obscure powers at work outside the personality. True divination rests upon the occult truth that the causes of all events in human life are really internal, proceeding from the Cause of Causes, - the Universal Intelligent Energy or Life-power which is the Source, Mover, and Knower behind all the phenomena of the universe." His wisdom and esoteric teaching in this book indicates a true Teacher and pioneer in this purgatorial world.

Case's work follows his predecessors in the Golden Dawn, including Waite, Crowley, and Papus. But Case's work presents the best of these and more. His book is simply the best book published on Tarot and the Caballah, on Tarot and magic, and just on the Tarot

Case's work uniquely lays the foundation by connecting the historical framework of the tarot to its Kabbalistic origins. Case provides a refreshing approach through respect and mysticism in his interpretation of the tarot keys

If you are a Tarot reader, new or old, this is a must have book. Paul Foster Case has writtin many books, however this is one every Tarot reader must have.
In depth meanings of the major trumps. Explains the cube of space and tree of life. Construction of the Tarot and why things are. Numbers and Hebrew wisdom letters.
Very informative. I refer to this book daily to keep me refreshed in the meanings of each card.

I really like the book as it describes the images in the card. Hints by a tarot reader in the past,regarding these matters, but I was never given full details, therefore found this book particularly enlightening. Rachel Pollack does refer as to what to look for, but not in as much detail. The language rather old style, but that's ok.