Dark Tarot by Tim Ozpagan

An Investigative Study of an Approach to Magick. In the dark we do not see, but we feel things. It is in the dark that we conjure the soul of Night and dream-up the spirit of the ‘other’, who is not outside of us, but within. The Dark Tarot it's concept and design were created by Tim Hartridge © 1984

Part 1

Whenever the topic of the Dark Tarot comes up I am gripped by a juxtaposition of emotions. At the one end I am enthused and excited by this system of magickal work, and at the other end I experience a feeling of frustration about where to begin in explaining what it is. I’ve found it’s a bit like trying to describe the storyline of a movie: if at first you go directly into all the in’s and out’s you may wind up boring your listener. I find it best just to say instead, “You need to see it.”

However, when pressed for an explanation I

Q. So what can you do with the Dark Tarot?

describe the Dark Tarot simply as a unique

A. You can use it as a way to ‘divine’ a

blend of Divination and Magick. Seeing we are

magickal procedure for the accomplishment

talking about it, I’d ask that anyone interested

of anything. Those with a more Thelemic

in exploring it with me be prepared to put aside

orientation to magick might use such an

all the more generally accepted interpretations

operation in the furthering of ‘True Will’, where

of the Tarot, for this is not ‘fortune telling’.

as those with a Wiccan or Shamanic approach to magick might use it for ‘Initiation’ or simply

The role that any physical Tarot cards might

the acquisition of some particular need.

play is more as a divining tool to the real work - the practice of Magick. The cards play a duel role in this process - which is part divinatory

Q. Are there any practical principles to using the

and part ritual. Together they form a magickal

Dark Tarot? A. There are, and there is also a fundament

formula which is used to create an operation of

difference in ‘who’ can use it too. The theory

ritual invocation or evocation. I should briefly address some basic questions

works like this: the Witch or Magician

before we try exploring what’s involved in a

theoretically is in-touch with a sense of their

Dark Tarot working.

personal Destiny - they intuit their True Will. Therefore when the Witch/Magician draws the

Q. Why the name ‘Dark’ Tarot?

Tarot cards in regular reading there will be

A. The quick answer is - anything that

(theoretically) nothing new in what they see, or

deals with the ‘Occult’ or the ‘hidden’ aspect of

at least nothing they weren’t already intuitively

esoteric practice is ‘dark’. There is certainly no

aware of. Now in contrast, any ordinary person

sinister notion here, although the ‘dark’ theme

drawing the cards for a reading will have an

does seem to haunt me.

entirely different reaction. They are apparently

not aware of their destiny and so are simply

A. When I initially began using the Dark

‘amazed’ with the reading. In other words,

Tarot I was very much aware of how limited my

before the reading they could not see or intuit

life experience was. I concluded that there was

what Fate had in store for them.

probably vital information in the cards which I would not see, especially if all I was using

Q. Okay, a Witch or Magician ‘theoretically’

was an orthodox interpretation. After all, this

already knows what’s in the reading. Doesn’t this

‘reading’ was supplying me with information

make the idea of even doing a reading redundant?

about something which I had yet to experience,

A. No, because at the same time the cards

my Destiny. I had to find a way to free myself

also supply the Witch/Magician with the

up from any bias and begin to open myself up

practical occult or ‘dark’ formula in how to take

to unknown, ‘dark’ possibilities.

a consciously active role in the accomplishment

I decided to try trance and intuition as a chief

of their True Will or Destiny. (This is done via a

source for exploring the Dark Tarot. I began

simple formula described in some detail later).

devising a set of Tarots through a combination

Now this is another key point to the Dark

of numerous trance journeys as well as drawing

Tarot - if the oracle can reveal something of

upon certain magickal experiences. These were

the inner workings of Destiny or True Will to

descriptive images rather than drawn pictures.

the Witch/Magician, it is this inner or occult

By working with my recorded descriptive

component that we want to get at and use.

‘pictures’ rather than drawn images I was

Therefore the ‘Dark’ Tarot can reveal not only

able to keep adding to them as I gained more

glimpses of the hidden forces at work in a

experience in the trance journeys.

Witch’s life, but also provide valuable clues

Later, I also created a basic table of

to the means of it’s accomplishment. Indeed,

correspondences which assisted me in developing

theoretically there would be nothing to prevent

my ritual procedures. (I’ll reproduce this later.) Okay, we’ve probably talked enough. I’d like

the Witch/Magician from directly invoking it. This idea that you could divine True Will or

to introduce you to the Dark Tarot in a sequence

Destiny and have the means to invoke it was

of logical stages. The first step to be taken is the

frankly something which frightened me; if only

divining of the Tarot by selecting 3 cards needed

because once you ‘knew’, what excuses would

for the work ahead.

you have to not getting on with it!? The idea

First steps:

that you might say, “Hey, can’t I leave it ‘til next full moon?” bemoans a certain lack of sincerity

Take any ordinary Tarot deck and separate

and personal integrity in your magickal work

the 22 trump cards from the minor part of the

don’t you think!?

deck. You’ll only be using these 22 cards from the Tarot. Formulate a question about one of the

Q. How do you obtain an interpretation of the

following: a. Something related to your life and

cards?

how to achieve it. b. What do I need to do in my

with both hands and stack them neatly in one

life? c. or something more specifically related

pile.

to the practice of witchcraft such as - How

Next, again using the left hand, cut the deck

may I evoke a familiar spirit?; or d. You may

into three. Now turn over the top card on each

also simply allow destiny to offer you insight,

of the three piles. Record these cards and the

although I do not recommend this as a starting

order they appear in from left to right. This is

point; and finally e. Any other issue not covered

quite important to do because we’ll be working

by any of the above.

in the strict order they appear in.

Take the 22 trump cards place them face

Using these cards you will be performing a

down in front of you and using your left hand

trance journey and working with a new set of

spread, mix and shuffle the cards on a flat

motifs than might appear on any physical Tarot

surface. Put plenty of you into this moment and

deck you are using.

allow the cards to shuffle completely at random - all the while contemplating your question. When you have finished, gather the cards up

Part 2 You have, or are about to choose three cards for

completely natural. I’d even go so far as to say

your Dark Tarot working. Perhaps I should draw

that during the divinatory process a mutual

your attention to the importance of allowing

relationship emerges between you and cards.

‘chance’ to play a full role in this process. In the

So why divine the future from the cards in

method I described previously, I say to allow the

order to practice magick? Because I think you

cards to fall completely at random. I am quite

can influence the future, or at least influence

a fatalist when it comes to such things and am

any potential destiny shown in the cards. After

also big on the Jungian concept of synchronicity

all, it’s not really Fate until it’s all over. While

- the meaningfulness in apparent randomness.

I think it is possible to influence a possible outcome before it happens, I need to ask “Would

DESTINY

you want to?”, especially without knowing the

What I am suggesting here is that there is

complete picture. And besides, Fate has a funny

significant and meaningful consequence to the

way of getting what She wants anyway. (Maybe

cards you draw. It is important to feel you are

I am a Fatalist after all.)

‘in-sync’ while shuffling and drawing the cards.

However when it comes down to it I am

I suppose the suggestion that you can be ‘in-

not suggesting that one should try to change

sync’ may be a convenient explanation, but for

things, quite the contrary. I am proposing

anyone who has worked with the Tarot it seems

that we nominate to accept our Destiny,

or to put it poetically, submit to Initiation at

combine the three components into a magickal

the hands of the Goddess Fortuna. Presuming

working of evocation or invocation and thereby,

you are prepared for the ordeals, challenges

if successful, manifest your destiny or desired

and transformation necessary. The method of

goal.

using the Dark Tarot then lays open a way of magickal work to aid manifesting Destiny in a

The Sigils and Spells and Sorceries

more purposeful way. Perhaps then what I really

The first card in our undertaking connects us

mean by ‘Destiny’ is really ‘Initiation’.

to the Sigil of the working. Sigil comes from

In summary then, there are really two distinct

the Latin word ‘sigilum’ meaning ‘sign’. In a

areas of use here for the cards in a Dark Tarot

Dark Tarot ritual this card will be particularly

working. The first is divining personal destiny

related to signs or seals; symbols which contain

which we’ve been discussing, and the second is

a particular energy. The full definition of Sigil

to use the cards to ‘divine’ a magickal method

in the Dark Tarot not only includes all icons

to achieve some more limited goal.

or signs, but also any ‘forms’ or ‘objects’. This especially includes any ritual objects,

Sigil, Spell, Sorcery

for example - magickal tools, robes and the

In part one I asked that once you had shuffled

like. Equally, the Sigil card relates to colours,

the cards that you should cut them into three

perfumes, gems, metals, herbs, alphabetic

piles and turn over the top three cards. You

letters, digits, and spirit images or forms (eg. of

should then make a note of the cards in the

deities, totem animals, kinds of familiar spirits,

order they fall, from left to right. These three

etc). It especially reveals the psychic dimensions

cards form the basic components of a Dark

or ambience which are active, and equally any

Tarot working and are known as Sigil, Spell and

physical locations analogous to the particular

Sorcery respectively.

card.

The practice of dividing the cards in three

The remaining two cards are used to divine

is an ancient one, having reference mainly to

the ‘Spells’ and ‘Sorceries’. Briefly, once all

three parts of time - the Past, Present and Future.

the attributes of the three cards have been

For the purpose of a Dark Tarot working though

identified they are then combined to assist you

the three cards divide our magickal work into

in a magickal operation. In other words, via the

three interacting components.

Dark Tarot ‘reading’ you can divine the forces in operation, identify the components and using

Briefly, Sigils are the forms and symbols; the

these ‘invoke or evoke’ them into your life.

Spells are any words or sounds; and lastly, the Sorceries are the rituals or acts. As a comparative

On a mundane level the Dark Tarot may

reference, in the Oriental esoteric traditions these

act in much the same way as one would use a

translate as Yantra, Mantra and Tantra. The

traditional set of ‘Tables of Correspondence’.

method of working in a Dark Tarot operation is

These are tables which tell you for example that

to determine the meaning of the cards and then

‘Love’ corresponds to the planet ‘Venus’, which

in turn corresponds to the colour ‘Green’ and

and applying the elements by formula you’d

the gemstone ‘Emerald’, and so on.

end-up ‘short circuiting’ the whole practice.

Even if you adopt this rather literal approach

Consequently, you would be unlikely to

to divining the Correspondences, you could

succeed. You certainly wouldn’t have discovered

theoretically collect all the various components

the hidden or ‘dark’ significance of the cards

to use as your ‘Sigil’, your ‘Spell’ and your

as they relate to you. Dare I over stress the

‘Sorcery’ and produce a magickal working.

point - I have called this method of magickal

BUT, there would be just one problem with

work the ‘Dark Tarot’ precisely because it is

approaching the work in this formulaic and

concealed or occulted from your consciousness.

mechanical way - it could apply to anyone and

As a consequence in order to divine the

that’s not how the Dark Tarot works.

hidden meaning, resort must be made to the

In order to use the Dark Tarot the whole

unconscious in discovering destiny’s secrets.

operation must be very intuitive and specifically

Trance I found was the best method to utilise

personal to you. You must ‘divine’ the meaning.

and so I employ a sort of specialised ‘vision

If all you were doing was looking up some tables

quest’ - described next.

Part 3 From “Faust” Act II Mephistopheles says: “To

a key part of the equation. Collectively these

gain your end, the act must be your own. For where

catalogues have become known as the ‘Tables of

your ghosts and phantoms choose to dwell Your

Correspondence’.

sage philosopher’s accepted well. His art and favour,

Now as useful as these Tables might seem it

spread for your delight, Will bring a dozen novel

was precisely this type of moribund inflexibility

ones to light. Unless you err, naught can be truly

that was stagnating my magickal work before

known. If life you want, then find it as your own.”

I began exploring the Dark Tarot. If I were to

- Goethe

break through and reconnect to something more authentically a part of my own psyche, then I

Correspondence and Trance

would need to approach things very differently.

From among the Western Mystery schools

I decided trance would be my main method in

the Qabalistic traditions have long been

the acquisition of magickal knowledge. I devised

at the forefront in tabulating the values and

a type of ‘vision quest of the Tarot’ which would

attributes of the Tarot. In particular the Order

induce trance. My experiences were direct and

of the Golden Dawn and the various off-

very personal. Naturally I recommend anyone

shoots were quite fastidious in the cataloguing

seeking to apply an authentic use of the Dark

all the sympathetic elements to be found

Tarot to use this or similar methods.

within a specific sphere and the Tarot plays

Psychic Doorways

and begin to form the images which will become

Most witches and magicians are probably

your own personal ‘Dark Tarot’.

familiar with the practice known as ‘astral

Can you see what this method of work

doorways’. This is where you use an image such

will do for you? From such trance experiences

as a Tarot trump as a ‘doorway’ and attempt to

you’ll begin to create your own ‘hidden’

project your consciousness into card’s psychic

Tarot, and through exploring the Unconscious

counterpart. The idea being, to make contact

or ‘Underworld’ in trances you’ll create an

with the psychic reality that the card represents.

authentic ‘Dark Tarot’. In a sense, the only

In a Dark Tarot working your next task after

legitimate way you can work with the Dark

drawing your cards is to undertake a trance

Tarot is to undertake a vision quest for each card

journey of each card and to retrieve clues to

you draw, and then searching for the hidden

three areas of your magickal work (ie. sigil,

keys - your sigils, spells and sorceries - combine

spell, and sorcery).

them in a magickal working.

Through doing this trance work you’ll also begin to build your own set of ‘correspondences’

Forbidden Images I knew from my own past experiences though that if all I did was to use the images from the regular Tarot I wouldn’t get far. I would get stuck and languish in the predictable, in things too familiar. I needed to connect to the Tarot at deeper level, maybe even things which would shock me awake. I needed a new energy to inspire this work so I could tap into fresh potential. I decided to created a new set of images for my Tarot. I commenced by drawing from a combination

nocturnal. I conceived a new set of names to

of my own trance experiences and some past

these icons to further break with the predictable

‘unusual’ magickal workings. I also combined

while still adhering to relevant principles.

icons and images from the ‘forbidden’ and left-

Gradually I synthesised the experiences down

hand path traditions - the Gothic, the Medieval,

into compact images which activate the psychic

as well as past and present Witch-cult practices

atmosphere necessary as an entry point for

and Alchemy. I also used the ritual themes from

trance and vision quests.

Eastern Tantra, other sexual magicks and even Voudoun - everything associated with the Cults

The following became my Dark Tarots presented

of the Shadow, everything considered ‘dark’ and

here in abbreviated descriptions:

Dark Tarot Images 0 The Lunatic (The Fool) A lonely deserted

7 Initiation (The Chariot) Yogic and Tantra

path lit by moon light, the wastelands. A lone

practices. Comets and meteors. A rite of

man walks starring at the moon. A dreamer,

Initiation by tribal ordeal.

sleepwalking. 8 Enchantress (Strength) A crescent moon 1 Sorcerer (The Magician) Within a ritual

hanging low in the western night sky, tinged

chamber a Sorcerer prepares elemental and

red with the ochre of desert dust. An energetic

familiar spirits for their night errands. Sigils of

redheaded woman riding her male partner.

desire, projections. 9 Hermeticist (The Hermit) A silent darkened 2 Vampyre (The High Priestess) An open

room in which is seated a silhouetted figure. A

coffin in a crypt or sanctuary, in which lays

powerful force emanating from beyond. Solo

a female vampyre. Trance, astral states of

sexual sorcery. Manual stirring of ojas in a

consciousness, forbidden knowledge.

partner.

3 Witch (The Empress) A Witch or Mambo

10 Time (Wheel of Fortune) A dark spiralling

within her ritual chamber preparing to open

goddess from whom emanates a vortex of

forces upon the physical plane. Fetishes.

irresistible power. Development of chakras. Awakening the Kalas.

*17 Yoni (The Star) A star-strewn, night sky. A dark bedroom in which lays a naked negress. A

11 Adjustment (Justice) Invocation of destiny

black hole in space, absorption of all light and

or karmic forces. Ancient Egyptian rites of

energy.

passage.

5 Black Magician (The Hierophant) A priest

12 The Abyss (The Hanged Man) The Spider

making preparations for a funereal rite. A dark

Sorcerer whose victim may be killed, saved for

figure who is hidden by the cowl of his robe.

later use, inter-acted with, played with or freed.

Withholding knowledge.

Secret venoms and fetishes.

6 Sex Magicians (The Lovers) An Arabian

13 Necromancer (Death) A sĂŠance circle in

boudoir, heavy incense burning, within two

which a spirit appears in the centre. A abbey

naked people sit starring into each others

ruin and graveyard whose entrance is a half

eyes. All around them lay the naked bodies of

open gate.

unconscious individuals.

Part 4

14 Alchemist (Temperance) A Magus massaging sensually a priestess. Within the

Journey of Many Returns

shrine appear dew drops upon the altar. An elixir.

While not completely abandoning the 15 Master (The Devil) A Witches’ Sabbat and

traditional Tarot tables of correspondences,

invocation of the Beast. Dark and unseen forces

I started to relegate them to a position of a

erupting. Kaos magick and sexual sorcery.

backdrop to my own direct experiences. That way I could use the traditional Tarot attributes

16 Phallus (The Tower) Dionysian excess.

more as an archetypal or mythical shadow-

Shattering of forms. Blasphemy acts.

imprint, while my own experiences would be more personally authentic and relevant to my state of being at the time.

*4 Geomancer (The Emperor) The hidden

My original ‘images and icons’ of the Dark

forces of the dragon tracks both within and

Tarot (described in Part 3) became my basic

without.

knowledge base or platform to start from for 18 Familiar Spirits (The Moon) Sorcerers

trance experiences. Each journey I do for a

assume animalistic form and perform acts of

working adds more knowledge and energy to the

lunar sorcery. The Mass of Amrit. Evocation of

cards. As does initiating others into the work,

the forgotten powers.

helping me to develop a greater understanding of the cards and magick. Meanwhile, the regular

19 Vortex (The Sun) An eclipse, a black sun,

Tarot and their correspondences act in the role

a neutron star. The desert of Set at night.

of supportive material and for the purpose of amplification.

20 Awakening (Judgement) Dark sorcery

The practical method I continue to use for

overthrowing the status quo, the forces of

doing trance journeys and retrievals involves

change. Evocation of the Dark Self. Cults of the

the use of a small ritual gong and an electronic

Shadow.

amplifier. Although a drum or other ‘drone’ instruments can equally be utilised. As can such

21 Underworld (The World) The domain

recordings as “Well of Souls” by Steve Roach and

of the living dead, the eternal myth, Never

Vidna Obmana, “Elysian E” by Michael Stearns

Neverland. A dark universe, in which the

or “Zeit” by Tangerine Dream.

Dreamer awakens.

Dark Vision Quests Most contemporary practitioners of magick

Note: (*17 / *4 are transposed according to

and witchcraft will have either experienced or

Thelemic convention.)

heard of the practices of ‘Vision Quests’. This

is particularly relevant among certain Indian

private initiation. This visionary work was

tribes of America. During the 1980’s writers

usually preceded by a simple ritual form: a

such as Dr Michael Harner described his own

Circle casting, sensual anointing of sabbat oils,

initiation into the Shamanic experience in his

imbibing of chalice wine, strong incense, and

book the ‘Way of the Shaman’. The method

submerging dancing around a fiery cauldron ‘til

utilised is a simple, but effective technique of

collapse and thence into trance accompanied by

using a monotonous drum rhythm to aid in a

the gong. The Dark Tarot trump this particular student

shift of consciousness thus producing the onset

drew was the ‘Lunatic’ (the Fool 0). The depicted

of trance. Another author and Occultist, Kenneth Grant,

image is described as: “A lonely deserted path

has also described the potent effects of trance

lit by moon light, the wastelands. A lone

in rituals. In particular he relates experiences

man walks starring at the moon. A dreamer,

from the secret tantric style trance practices of

sleepwalking.” After the ritual prelude the

an Oriental sect known as ‘Cult of Ku’. In their

student-witch uses this scene to commenced her

occult rites a gong is ceaselessly struck producing

vision quest. (The descriptive titles are her own.

a shift in the psychic atmosphere of the temple.

Although she divides the narrative into three

The vibrations cause the priestess of the cult to

parts, in fact each part just flowed from one

transform and become a multiform vehicle of

scene into the next. The text is given with her

the Goddess uniting with her devotees in ecstasy.

permission.)

The method I prefer to use combines all of these above techniques, using a small gong

1. The Altar:

which I amplify via a microphone and then

I am standing in a room which appears to be

add a digital delay. The effect of which produces

part of a ruined gothic period style building.

an echo when the gong is struck. By using a

The walls are stone and shaped into arches, the

steady rhythm of percussive strikes upon the

ceiling open to the night sky. The room is dimly

gong a whirling wall-of-sound soon produces an

lit and in the centre is a raised stone altar. I

irresistible energy submerging one into a trance

move toward it, clothed in a white diaphanous

world.

gown open at the front. Lying down on the altar

With these trancing-gong rhythms I combine

the gown falls away and I wait. I feel rather

the projection of consciousness into the psychic

blissful and open (perhaps a little naive!). A

scenery of the ‘Dark’ trump with which I am

figure in a brown hooded robe moves toward

working and submit myself to the experience.

the altar and produces a ceremonial dagger

When executed correctly this lays open a way

which he takes in both hands and beginning

for any possibility, the more unexpected the

at my breast bone slices my torso down the

better.

middle to my lower abdomen. He stands back

The following is an example of one such

and through the opening a stream of white light

experience undertaken by a witch during

emerges. The opening widens and the stream

of light extends up through the ceiling, into the

for me - if it could work so well for her it could

sky. Then a dove flies out of the opening, up

work for any one.

through the stream of light. I can see a small

figure sews me up in a zig-zag fashion with

Part 5 Applied Magick: How to evoke a Familiar Spirit.

some brown string. He is gone and I am left

As pointed out previously the Witch may utilise

alone in the ruin. I feel empty and lost. After

the Dark Tarot for guidance in fulfilment of

some time I look down and notice a frog sitting

any desire, as well as the larger issues related

at the base of the altar.

to his/her Destiny. Previously I have suggested

red multifaceted gem in my lower abdomen. The stream of light then ceases and the hooded

that the two may really be indelibly linked, but

2. The Leopard:

to illustrate how I’ve used the Dark Tarot in a

In the darkness the head of a leopard appears,

simple and practical way I offer the following

holding an egg shaped emerald in its mouth.

example to the student.

It appears to be the top of a staff, fashioned in

In historical records Witches are often

gold and slowly spins, moving toward me.

described as associating with a Familiar Spirit. This is a special type of ally or spirit helper.

3. The Snake:

Sometimes the Familiar may even take the

Against a backdrop of darkness, a cauldron

role of the Witch’s spiritual guide. Using my

appears. Writhing up from its centre is an

method of Dark Tarot divination I offer a way to

emerald and ruby encrusted gold snake.

formulate a magickal working for the evocation of a Familiar spirit.

Comment

The first step is to express your request as a

The person who was doing this Dark Tarot work

simple and direct question - “How may I evoke

had not long been studying with me. She was in

a Familiar Spirit?” Next, while concentrating

fact still receiving even basic instruction on circle

upon the desire you shuffle a deck of the 22

work. This visionary example was rather typical

Tarot trumps and draw the three cards.

of many her experiences, where the imagery

As you now understand the first card is

was rich in content. What struck me about

representative of the Sigil or sign by which I may

these visions was not their dramatic nature,

evoke the Familiar. My second card is the Spell

but their purity. There doesn’t appear to be any

or sound by which I may call the spirit; and the

conscious Ego construction, everything flows

third card will show me a rite of Sorcery to be

quite spontaneously. In fact, the visions felt free

used in the work of evocation. By combining the

and uninhibited. I think particularly because

ingredients of the three Tarot trumps, a complete

this person had no real orthodox magickal

method for the evocation of a Familiar Spirit will

training that I found this quite encouraging and

have been divined. My

it helped validate this system of magickal work

selection

was:

XIV

Alchemist

(Temperance) for the Sigil; I Sorcerer (The

signs, symbols and actual sigils, as well as

Magician) for the Spell; and 0 Lunatic (The Fool)

correspondent colours, numbers, perfumes and

for the Rite of Sorcery.

incense, magickal tools, textures, shape, form

In order to begin the work I undertake three

and appearances, stones, plants and animals.

separate trances for each card. My dark vision

Examples of other elements which could

quests enable me to more fully explore the

be drawn from the vision include: an azure

energies of the Familiar I’m destined to interact

light, the naked priestess, a target, and a heady

with, as well as directly experiencing its nature

perfume.

as a psychic reality.

I Sorcerer

For the sake of brevity I have condensed the experiences. (You may wish to review the

Spell Trance-Vision:

descriptions of each Dark Tarot trump I gave in

Again I immediately identify with key figure,

Part 3. Each card’s image will act as my entry

this time in the role of the Sorcerer-magus. I/He

point.)

is exhaling in the manner of someone with a frosty breath. There is a serpent like hiss to this

XIV Alchemist

exhalation and I feel a word trying to form

Sigil Trance-Vision:

in my throat. A powerful energy feels to be

I enter the scene and am immediately aware

erupting, almost as though it were trying to be

of identifying with the Alchemist-magus. I am

expelled from the gut and throat. Previously I

immersed in an azure light. I am walking in a B-

had noted the 3 letters which correspond to my

line toward a naked priestess who is outstretched

three cards - they are SBA. I now spontaneously

on a target (just like one of those knife throwing

remember these and they are hissed out as the

acts seen in a circus). In my hand I hold short

word “Sheba”.

cross-bow arrow. I notice she is very flushed, perspiring with beads of sweat and emitting a

Spell Analysis:

heady, though not unpleasant perfumed odour.

The Sorcerer-magus has chosen “Sheba” to be hissed as the spell of evocation for my

Sigil Analysis:

rite. I also note from the Tables (see below)

One of the strongest symbols which came

that this card corresponds to the key of “E”,

up in the Alchemist (Temperance) vision

with any “chattering” or “tittering” sounds (its

was the ‘arrow’. Now it should be noted that

Mercurial quality). Because of this fact I decide

the Qabalistic correspondence to this card is

to use a calabash in the rite. This calabash is

Sagittarius, the archer (see tables below). Using

a simple seed rattle from West Africa, which

this as a starting point I decide to construct an

can produce the right “chattering” sound to

arrow fetish as a physical sigil for my rite of

the accompaniment of my spell, “Sheba”. (I’d

evocation.

also like to draw your attention to the similarity of this ‘spell- word’ to the name of the fabled

Also under the heading of Sigil are included:

Queen Sheba, an Arabian beauty who charmed

- I decide to be very careful that no-one is about

King Solomon, and probably reveals qualities

when I open my eyes!).

which resonate naturally in the spell.) Now apart from words and music, also under

Sorcery Analysis:

the category of Spells fall such things as rhythms

The Sorcery card is correspondent to such

and any sort vibrational resonance, particularly

things as specific types of magickal powers

any natural sounds like wind, rain and thunder.

or operations. My experience from this card

Something else which is less obvious to the

revealed a strong hypnotic and dreamy quality,

category of ‘Spells’ is Time. This is because any

and so I could try using any ritual acts, dance

Spell, like music consists of sounds which are

or movement which might induce this as part

arranged in Time as a sequence.

of my ceremony. I also assess that my Familiar may be cable of some mischievous acts,

Because of this fact your Spell card may

especially in affairs of the heart.

reveal various types of Time. Eg, solar-terrestrial day and night, dawn and dusk, or Lunar cycles,

This card is under the rulership of Air

or even stellar-planetary time periods. Any of

and also lunar forces, together these denote

these factors could be taken into account. For

the Moon’s power over dreams and thought.

example, the Sorcerer card is correspondent

Psychically these are known as ‘thought forms’

to Mercury which in turn is attributed to

and can be expressed in acts of creating ‘astral

Wednesday. So a chosen time for a final Dark

globules’ (see table notes). While on a mundane

Tarot working can even be divined.

level we can see how Puck-like love spells could be cast with the aid of this Familiar’s influence,

A final note about the Spell: Even if I hadn’t

there is also another side to the Lunatic.

deduced a word, such as “Sheba” there was

The Lunatic/Fool or ‘Outsider’ who’s

never the less the ‘hiss’ of breath from the Sorcerer and so I could have simply used this.

powers come from ‘outside’ or the ‘otherside’ may impress upon the unawakened Dreamer

0 Lunatic

many unthought of dreams. The Dreamer thus

Sorcery Trance-Vision:

impregnated with such thought forms may

A dreamy, lunar quality seems to envelop me as

act as a medium for inspired thought. If for

I enter into the Lunatic’s province. It is as though

example this were to be acted upon oneself, you

I am in a dream-bubble. I feel blown along by

might become the vehicle for the channelling

all sorts of foolish thoughts – some comic, but

of thoughts from the otherside to the mundane

many sexy. I am reminded of Shakespeare’s

world.

‘Puck’ from a “Mid-summer Night’s Dream”. In the play he placed a drop of juice from a

Dark Rites of Dwaal

strange poppy upon the dreamers’ heads and

Interpreting the overall message of the Dark

they fall madly in love with next person they set

Tarot symbolism is a subjective experience. I

eyes upon - it is riotous and crazy (loco = mad

naturally warn the Student not to be too Ego-

centric, but to try be as objective as possible. The

ruin of an old farmhouse or barn. I enter within

last thing you want to do at this stage is to short-

it walls, but the roof is open to the night sky. I

circuit the whole thing by being too biased or

see the back of the Alchemist cum Sorcerer cum

conservative. Try to learn from this experience

Lunatic. Laying on the ground in front of him is

and don’t forget Witches are ‘heretics’ at heart.

a sleeping priestess. I merge identifying with the

By all means investigate the cards thoroughly,

magus. In my right hand I am holding the Blue-

but in the words of Durban’s natural mystic

Arrow fetish and in my left the seed-calabash.

Madala Kunene “...each dreamtime journey

At one end of the arrow is bright yellow feathers

or dwaal is different”. (‘Dwaal’ means to be

which are attached to a blue shaft. A sharp steel

confused or to take a journey with no fixed

tip is at its head. I am now squatting down in

destination.)

front of the priestess, she is laying on a deep blue velvety cloth. I can see under her body an

Treat this as though you are about to

irregular eight-sided figure, traced in yellow.

undertake Initiation. Keeping the following points in mind will assist you in your Dwaal:

As I gaze at her I feel completely mesmerised

1. Expand your understanding of the cards via

by the whiteness and beauty of her body against

study of their correspondences (see tables below);

the blue cloth. Holding the arrow in my right

2. Combine them in a visualisation as an aid to

hand I extended the feathered-end toward the

dreaming-up your working; 3. Finally, adapt,

priestess. A shiver spontaneously runs down

prepare and perform an actual rite using all

my left arm into the calabash. At the same

your new discoveries. Keep your ideas to the

time a powerful serpentine ripple flexed the

point. 4. Expect transformation and changes

muscles through my torso finishing in my head

in yourself. A Dark Tarot working is usually

and a compulsive gust of air from my breath,

marked by a time of personal Initiation and

I hiss “SheeeBAaa”. The word is expelled in a

changes which are rarely simple or smooth

long breath over the priestess. I am now naked

sailing.

and hang suspended horizontally above the body of the white priestess. A weird sort of

The Final Trance

psychic container seem to hold us together for a

Alchemist, Sorcerer, Lunatic. In the final stage

moment and then I find myself back in front her

I combine the three components of my rite –

again. Using feathered arrow I stroked over the

Alchemist, Sorcerer and Lunatic. I arrived at the

erogenous zones of the her body. Little trickles

following visualisation-trance experience and

of perspiration moistened feathers. A dew is

outline for a ritual.

formed on her vaginal lips and I catch this with the steel tip of the arrow.

I am wandering a lonely, isolated path. For some reason I am aware it is in the early hours

At this point I suddenly become aware of a

of a Wednesday morning (Mercury-Sorcerer).

number of key points. At the same time I moved

The moon is visible, but hangs low in a mist

from a trance state and became consciously alert

shrouded night sky. Ahead of me is the sheltered

of the following: The Alchemist-Sorcerer-Lunatic

is the familiar Spirit. I have embodied him or

pattern on it and used this as a ritual mat or

evoked him from within my unconscious, but

‘circle’ in which to operate. I enlisted the aid

he requires a powerfully erotic rite to stimulate

of a Priestess who could aid me in incubating

any latent powers. He has a contra-sexual

the ‘dew’. We celebrated the rite as a type of

soul-mate in the form of the ecstatic- dreaming

mysterium coniuntio. I successfully invoked the

priestess. When their coconsciousness is raised

Familiar and had it act through me as medium.

in a mutual trance or seance they stimulate

The progeny manifested from outside my own

each other and produce a honeyed ‘dew’ which

limited experience and began living their own

contains their latent powers. The arrow-fetish

existence, but I felt transformed through the

may be useful as a type of magician’s wand or

experience.

dart to hold the erotic-psychic charge. The key to building an effective rite of

A general list of Tables of Correspondence for

evocation ultimately lies in how keen your

the Dark Tarot follow. This brief list of Tables of

intuition, research and imagination is. Where

Correspondence is drawn from researches which

research is highly valued by the rational mind

combine the writings of Kenneth Grant, Crowley

it will be via your irrational intuition and

and the Golden Dawn with my own set of Dark

imagination that the hidden or dark knowledge

Tarot trumps attributes. I have left these tables

may come. Fantasies are more often discarded as

until last because of the erroneous tendency by

fanciful, but in this work free reign is given over

most students to rely upon this reference to work

to the imagination in order to draw out the most

out an interpretation. Hopefully all that I have

from the unconscious. Trance-visions like these

said before concerning the need for personal

may be compared to an awake dream and is the

work is understood and that these tables will be

means I use to connect with the unconscious.

used as support reference only.

Fetish Rites

More detailed sources can be found in “The

For personal reasons I offer only a brief comment

Qabalah of Aleister Crowley” also known as 777

about the results of this Dark Tarot working.

and Kenneth Grant’s “Nightside of Eden”.

I used as many of the elements from the trance experiences as I felt were necessary and decided to do the following - I treated the working as a rite of self-Initiation. I obtained the various elements needed. The first is the arrow-fetish and I painted it blue. I inscribed with the fetish with the letters ‘SBA’. It will act from this point on as a material basis or contact for the work with my Familiar. I obtained a blue cloth and painted an irregular eight-sided star

No. Path Orthodox Dark Title Tarot

SIGIL (signs, colour, incense, tools, numbers, images)

SPELL (alphabet, sounds, words, etc)

SORCERY (magickal operations, powers, ritual, acts)

0 11 The Fool Lunatic

1,11, 401, Minotaur, swastika, dorje, dagger, fan, galbanum, luminous pale yellow on a square of emerald of gold.

E, winds, Aleph

Creation of Astral Globules, Air

1 11 The Magician Sorcerer

260, a ruin, wand, phallus, gum mastic, indigo vesica rayed with violet.

E, chattering or tittering, Beth

Evocation of Elements, Mercury

2 13 The Priestess Vampyre

393, bow & arrow, camphor, mense, aloes, an open coffin, silver on a black circle.

G sharp, howled, Gimel

Clairvoyance and projection, Moon

3 14 The Empress Witch Mambo

55, cord, sandalwood, myrtle, door or gate, vivid sky blue on a rose circle rayed pale green

F sharp, crooning or lilting, Daleth

Invoking powers, Venus

*17 15 The Star Yoni

1054, censer, asperser, galbanum fish hook, lurid red on glowing red inverted triangle

A sharp, almost inaudible whisperings He

Astrology, Kalas induced clear and cool Aquarius

C sharp, roared, bellowed Vau

Invoking earthly forces Taurus

5 16 Hierophant Black Magician 395, horns, burin, dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bukor blood, red gum, nail, lines of flame on a brown triangle 6 17 The Lovers Sex Magicians

92, tripod, wormwood, D, hoarse laughing, sword, new leather yellow Zain on a mauve vesica

Bi-location Invocation of Horus & Set Gemini

7 18 The Chariot Initiation

640, furnace, onycha, D sharp, splashing fence, dark green-brown Kheth on an amber-hued circle

Casting enchantments Channelling Kalas Cancer

8 19 Strength Enchantress

610, discipline, olibanum serpent, greenish-yellow on a grey arrow-shaped

E, roaring, hissing explosive force Teth

Invoking Totems Leo

9 20 The Hermit Hermeticist

13,1 lamp & wand, narcissus hand, yellowish- green on silver-grey slate

F, lower register, sighing, murmuring Yod

Will Invisibility Virgo

10 21 Wheel Time of Fortune

315, sceptre, saffron palm, rich purple on a blue ground rayed with yellow

A sharp, imperious intonation, Kaph

Material power Changing destiny Jupiter

No. Path Orthodox Dark Title Tarot

SIGIL (signs, colour, incense, tools, numbers, images)

SPELL (alphabet, sounds, words, etc)

SORCERY (magickal operations, powers, ritual, acts)

11 22 Justice Adjustment

671, cross, galbanum ox goad, pale green on rich blue

F sharp, upper register, prolonged Lamed

Karma Libra

12 23 Hanged The Abyss Man 13 24 Death Necromancer 14 25 Temperance Alchemist

307, cup, cross, wine, myrrh, onycha, water, deep blue on an inverted triangle of sea-green 160, pain of obligation, benzoin fish, lurid indigo-brown like a black beetle on a greenish blue triangle 300, arrow, ligum-aloes prop, bright yellow on vivid dark blue, like lightning in a night sky

G sharp, upper register, a shrill stridulation Mem G lower register, bubbling cauldron Nun

Exploration of Qliphoth Water Necromancy Evocation of Hell Scorpio

G sharp, high pitched electric crackling Samekh

Transmutations Alchemy Sagittarius

15 26 Devil Master

237, secret force, lamp, musk, civet, eye, black sigil within an indigo pentagram

A, raucous bleating Ayin Capricorn

Witches Sabbat Evocation

16 27 Tower Phallus

450, sword, pepper, dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood, mouth, bright red on an emerald square

C, lower register, thunder Peh

Awakening Kundalini Works of wrath & revenge Mars

*4 28 Emperor Geomancer 302, cord, galbanum A sharp, chanted Hungan window, white on violet Tzaddi

Manifestation Earth currents, Aries

18 29 Moon Familiar Spirits 266, twilight, mirror, B, watery night sounds ambergris, back of the head, Qoph slug trail silver on a circular stone

Female sexual sorcery Shape-shifting Pisces

19 30 Sun Vortex 406, cinnamon, head, red rayed on amber disc

D, mellifluously (like honey) Resh

Male sexual sorcery purifications, Sol

20 31 Judgement Awakening

500, pyramid, lamp, wand, olibanum tooth, vermilion on emerald

C, sibilant & sinister whisperings Shin

Evocation Aeonic magick, Fire

21 32 World Underworld

1040, sickle, sulphur, assafoetida Tau, sickle, black rectangle

B sharp, hollow reverberation Tau

Works of malediction Saturn /Pluto

The Dark Tarot it's concept and design were created by Tim Hartridge ÂŠ 1984 http://www.witchesworkshop.com