The Essence Of The Taro
by an Anonymous Author
The First Ternary
The first ternary, arcana I, II, III.
The monad, is the Magus, he is the Yod, active (+) force of the ternary, the father, and is further suggested by standing and holding the wand, the symbol for Fire, in his raised left hand, receiving the Will of God as brought by Hermes. His left hand suggests that this influence is passive, while his right hand is active and working directly with the four suits of the minor arcana.
The duad, the High Priestess, is the 1st He, passive (-) force of the ternary, the mother. Her seated position suggests a passive quality, but still one of authority and patience. That passive quality is required if one is to learn the knowledge contained within the book she holds.
The qualities of the active (+) together with the qualities of the passive (-), will result in the triad, the Empress, the child of the father and mother. She is the Vau, and is neutral (=). When two forces come together, the lesser force will give way to the greater force. Depending on the qualities of the forces involved, the result is the neutralizing agent. Will, the monad, balanced with Knowledge, the duad, give birth to nature, the androgynous child. In the image the person is shown as a seated female crowned with twelve stars to hint at the subtle creative powers of all phases of birth.
Which leads us to the 2nd He of the Tetragrammaton, the Emperor, who is active/passive (+/-). The image shows a man, active (+), though he is seated, passive (-). He is the tetrad, the number 4, the number of form. And he sits upon a cube throne, which represents the perfection of form. As he sits upon the throne, his legs are crossed, further reinforcing the law, the Tetragrammaton. His growth and maturation resulting in realization of the law is the the transitory agent, bringing us to the second ternary.