The Essence Of The Taro
by an Anonymous Author
The Third Ternary
The third ternary, arcana VII, VIII, IX.
We start the third ternary with the septad, the Chariot, is the Yod, active (+) force of the ternary. His active qualities are displayed by standing in the chariot, and his right hand he holds a scepter to represent the Will. The chariot is pulled by two mysterious sphinx, often displayed as one light and the other dark, hint at the mysterious forces which give momentum and movement to our activity.
The attributes inherited from the result of the previous septenary, are played out in the victor, bythe symbol of the duality of the sphinx pulling the chariot.
The ogdoad, the Justice, is the 1st He, passive (-) force of the ternary. This image shows a woman seated on a throne with two high points behind her, which her presence neutralizes, or becomes the agent of those forces. In her left hand she holds a scale, weighing the events of the karmic record for the manifestation which the victor has brought forth. In her right hand, she holds the sword with which justice is delivered. The blade is held in a non-threatening manner, along with her gender and position, this suggests a passive quality.
Together, the septad and the ogdoad, are neutralized by the ennead, the Hermit. The Hermit is the Vau and is, of course, neutral (=). The image shows a man wise from his long journey, the cycles and trials of life, yet at this part of this path, he has realization. He holds in his right hand the lamp of Hermes, to illuminate his way, in his left hand he has a staff to steady himself.
This image is very important, the value 9 is the horizon, and the lamp of Hermes will illuminate this idea. Nine, multiplied by any number, will result in 9. This is easily demonstrated with a slight detour from the subject.
| 1x9=9 | ||
| 2x9=18=1+8=9 | 3x9=27=2+7=9 | 4x9=36=3+6=9 |
| 5x9=45=4+5=9 | 6x9=54=5+4=9 | 7x9=63=6+3=9 |
| 8x9=72=7+2=9 | 9x9=81=8+1=9 | 9x10=90=9+0=9 |
If we look at the progression of the values from the set above, we can see that the number in the tens place starts at one and ascends, while the number in the digits place descends. Further, when we reach 5, the mid point of the decad, the values become mirror reflections. 5X9=45 and 6x9=54, 7x9=63 and 4x9=36, and so on.
This importance of this idea is shown by the time weathered man, holding the lamp of Hermes. From this perspective, in the darkness, we can only see that which is illuminated before us. The horizon is visible all around us, yet we are comforted by the aid of our staff and the light of our lamp, as we walk our path of realization.
The 2nd He of the Tetragrammaton, the Wheel of Fortune is active/passive (+/-). It is in this transition and the next ternary that the qualities of this ternary and the previous septenary come together on our paths. Thus we begin the transition from involution to evolution.