The Essence Of The Taro
by an Anonymous Author
The Second Septenary
The ascending and active (+) ternary, shows us the spiritual path of the victor from the 1st septenary. Balanced with Justice, the Fool's path is illuminated by the lamp of Hermes, with realization and the divine illumination, he trusts in the path and gives himself fully and willingly.
The descending and passive (-) ternary, the Wheel acting with the strength of the Fool's realizations, will bring him to the sacrifices he makes and the trials he undertakes. He knows that the Wheel will always turn and that Death is inevitable, he trusts in the wheel that when he is purified and refined he will at one point reintegrate with the absolute.
This 2nd septenary is completed with the 13th card, Death. We know of the idea of immortality from the 1st septenary, and in Death too, immortality is reflected. Though Death at this level does not necessarily just mean a physical death, but that process of refinement of the spirit, and everything else, as it reaches the point of reintegration. This is also reinforced by its number value, 13, 1+3=4=1.
A common aspect among the images and ideas of this septenary is that of the Spirit. The transition with the victor from the 1st septenary, to the second we see that he is confronted with internal conflicts which must be balanced and working through that alchemical process works towards reintegration.
Again notice, in the 2nd septenary, the middle column of cards, all equal to 1. The 7, 10, and 13.