1

The#Occult#Tradition#oI#the#Tarot#in#Tangency
with#Ibn#Arab`s#LiIe#and#Teachings
-HUHHU (O-0RRU
PART#TWO
Toward# the# beginning# oI# this# essay# we# saw# that# the# Ur0Tarotthe# distant# but# direct
ancestor# oI# the# Marseilles# deck# +the# oldest# extant# specimens# oI# which# date# Irom# the
early#eighteenth#century/#though#it#was#probably#standardized#in#the#seventeenth,#and
the#less# remote# progenitor/# also/# oI# the# ruinously# modiIied# Italian0noble# packs# oI# the
early# IiIteenth# centurybecame# widely# known# in# Europe# in# connection# with# the
popular# spread# oI# massproduced# playing0cards# +QDLSHV, QDLEL,# originally# imported
Irom# the# Arab# worldperhaps# via# Jativa/# in# Iormer# Andalusian# territoryby# the
middle# oI# the# Iourteenth# century1# As# both# Elorence# and# Viterbo# +where# FDUWHV
VDUDFHQL were#documented#in#the#46:3s,#are#in#closest#contact#with#the#western#coast
oI#the#Italian#peninsula/#we#may#assume#that#the#QDLEL#oI#those#regions#derived#Irom
or# were/# in# Iact/# the# QDLSHV# oI# AndalusiaSpain1# Since# neither# town# had# access# to# a
port/#one#must#suppose/#Iurther/#that#the#original#transshipments#oI#cards/#probably#by
way# oI# Genoa# and# Pisa/# began# occurring# sometime# EHIRUH their# Iirst# recorded
appearances# inland1# Moreover/# it# can# be# assumed/# as# well/# that# playing0cards# were
early# imported# through# southern# Erench# ports# such# as# Marseilles# and# Montpellier/
and/# indeed/# that# they# would# soon# be# manuIactured# there# as# papermaking# became
widespread# across# the# northwestern# Mediterranean# coast1# Now/# it# was# precisely# the
immediate#descendents#oI#the#deIeated#Albigensian#Cathari#mentioned#in#our#opening
paragraph#who#dominated#the#incipient#papermaking#industry#in#southern#Europe#Ior
centuries1# Could# it# be# those# latter0day# Gnostics`# oI# Provence0Languedoc# who# were
responsible#Ior#the#eIIective#propagation#oI#the#Tarot#by#the#ingenious#entrepreneurial
innovation# oI# combining# the# series# oI# emblematic# trumps/# or# DWRXWV,# with# the# new
2
Iashion# oI# inexpensive# playing0cards?
6:
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jargon#relating#to#the#cardsthe#titles#oI#the#trumps#and#the#name/#Tarot/#itselIcame
to#be#generally#in#Erench/# even#in#other#countries1#And# it#is# very#signiIicant/# I# think/
that#it#was#mainly#in#those#regions#where#the#Cathar#heresy#laid#down#its#deepest#roots
in# the# twelIth# centurycertainly# including# northern# Italy/# Lombardy# and# Veneto
that#Tarot#cards#were#later#to#Iind#their#most#hospitable#reception/#continuing#down#to
the#present#day1
The#Cathari#scenario/#then/#seems#to#me#much#more#plausible#than#the#Eerrara
Triangle`# theory# oI# origin# promoted# by# the# positivist# authors# oI# $ :LFNHG 3DFN RI
&DUGV1
6;
# Their# thesisthat# the# Tarot# was# RULJLQDOO\ a# game# invented# in# Lombardy0
Romagna/# somewhere# in# the# Po# valley# between# Eerrara/# Bologna# and# Milan# in# the
early#IiIteenth#centuryIor#all#oI#its#empirical#pretensions/#is/#as#a#matter#oI#Iact/#QR
OHVV LQYDOLG# than# the# Iirst# wild0eyed# speculations# oI# the# 'imaginary# Magi# oI# Gallic
occultism#as#represented#by#Antoine#Court#de#Gebelinthat#the#-HX GHV 7DURWV#was#a
disguised# giIt# oI# the# Nile# Irom# time# immemorial1# As# explanatory# arguments# both
theories# miscarry# equallythe# Iirst# because/# pretending# to# adhere# to# the# evidence/# it
arrives# at# the# obtuse# Iinding# it# secretly# sought# all# along# +viz.,# that# the# occult`# carto0
mantic# tradition# oI# the# Tarot/# base# though# it# be/# was# baseless,># the# second# because/
although# acutely# intuiting# an# apposite# conclusion/# it# proIIers# as# evidentiary# prooIs
thereoI# the# most# patently# imaginative# Iictions# +rather# in# the# way# that# Schliemann
thought# he# Iound# Troy# by# reading# Homer,1# Eor# there# are# two# curious# ironies# in
connection# with# Court# de# Gebelin`s# discovery# oI# the# Tarot# and# his# 'absurd# theory
that# it# was# the# remnant# oI# an# ancient# Hermetic# %RRN RI 7KRWK=# 4,# that# this# inspired
antiquarian0archeologist/# a# Swiss0born# Protestant# minister# and# Ereemason/# was# not

6:
#Steven#Runciman/#an#early#authority#on#the#Neo0Manichaeans/#Iollowing#the#+unacknowledged,
lead#oI#A1#E1#Waite/#cautiously#opined#that#the#Tarot#does#seem#to#contain#a#Cathar#component1#On#the
reading#oI#Gnostic#paper0watermarks/#see#the#pioneering#studies#oI#Harold#Bayley1
6;
# See# n1,9# in# Part# One# oI# this# article1# The# theory# was# earlier# stated# in# 7KH *DPH RI 7DURW
+Cambridge/# 4<;3,/# by# Michael# Dummett/# the# third# oI# the# triumphery# credited# Ior# $ :LFNHG 3DFN RI
&DUGV.#I#do#not#necessarily#deny#that#'the#game#oI#Tarot#was#devised#or#revised#Ior#Italian#aristocrats
in# the# second# quarter# oI# the# IiIteenth# century# by# clever# people# who# catered# to# aristocratic# tastes# any
more# than# I# would# care# to# question# that# Gottlob# Erege# was# responsible# Ior# the# invention# oI# logical
positivism`#+ProI1#Dummett`s#specialization,1#But#I#do#QRW#agree#that#that#game#has#any#more#to#do#with
the#origin#and#nature#oI#the#Tarot#than#positivism#has#to#do#with#logic#+or#perhaps#the#ProIessor#will#be
inclined# to# concur?,# and# am# content# to# present# occultism`# +the# philosophy# oI# religion/# oI# things
unperceived# but# conceived/# the# 9LD QHJDWLYD# and# creative# mythopoeia# oI# Pythagoras/# Parmenides/
Plato/# Plotinus/# etc1,# as# the# polar# antithesis# oI# positivism`# +the# scientistic# logic0chopping# legalese# oI
Aristotle/#Avicenna/#Averroes/#Aquinas, etc1,1#The#virtual#esoterism#oI#contemporary#logical0positivist
language#exceeds#in#obscurantism#the#worst#excesses#oI#Scholastics#RU#occultists1
3
improbably# himselI# +albeit# unbeknownst# to# himselI,# an# oIIshoot# Irom# the# stump# oI
Montsegurthat# is/# a# scion# oI# those# very# Provenal# proto0protestants# who/# Iour
centuries# earlier/# had# Iacilitated# the# spread# oI# playing0cards# by# their# activities# as
papermakers>#and#5,#that#his#belieI#in#the#Egyptian#origin#oI#the#Tarot#was/#in#a#broad/
roundabout# way/# basically# sound# +inasmuch# as# the# Eimids# oI# Great# Cairo# ZHUH
probably#the#initiators#oI#those#who#invented`#the#Ur0Tarotas#I#will#hypothesize/#at
any# rate/# in# a# moment,/# even# though# he# may# have# had# nothing# to# substantiate# it
beyond# the# enthusiastic# Egyptomania# oI# Ereemasonic# circles# in# pre0Napoleonic
Erance1#Court#de#Gebelin#had#good#reason#to#believe#he#had#uncovered#a#true#Rosetta
Stone# oI# occult# hierosophy/# but# it# would# not# begin# to# yield# up# its# wellsprings# oI
wisdom# until# touched# by# the# wand# oI# Eliphas# Levi`s# researches# in# the# Iollowing
century1
I# have# suggested# that# the# children# oI# the# seemingly0vanquished# Albigensians
took#their#revenge#on#the#orthodox#establishment#oI#Europe#in#the#Iourteenth#century
through# their# promotion# oI# the# Tarot/# the# 'Devil`s# picturebook/# by# means# oI# the
handy# new# device# oI# playing0cards# +Ior# the# blood# oI# Abel# is# the# vocal# spirit# oI
cartomancy,1#But#who#were#those#indomitable#Gnostic0Christian#heretics#who/#at#one
point# around# the# beginning# oI# the# thirteenth# century/# appeared# on# the# verge# oI
permanently#replacing#Roman#Catholicism#in#Languedoc#and#other#isolated#mountain
enclaves#Irom#the#Pyrenees#to#the#Piedmont?#Only#Irom#the#historical#perspective#oI
modern# times# has# it# been# Iully# appreciated# that# what# was# known# as# the# Albigensian
sect# in# Erance# was# merely# the# latest/# westernmost# consolidation# oI# a# powerIul
missionary#movement#+the#same#called#3DWDULQL#in#northern#Italy,#that#had#its#base#oI
operations#in#the#Balkans#and#Dalmatia/#where#it#went#by#the#name#oI#%RJRPLO]YR
the#teachings#oI#Bogomil#+#7KHRSKLORV/#beloved#oI#God`,/#a#tenth0century#Bulgarian
preacher0priest1
6<
# The# essence# oI# Bogomilism# was# a# puritanical# reIormism# and
paciIistic#nationalismin#eIIect/#the#Gnostic#seed#oI#the#great#Protestant#transIorma0
tion# oI# Christendom/# both# theologically# and# politically/# representing# the# Iirst# Iaint
morning0redness# in# the# sky# that# would# in# due# course# incarnadine# the# world# with# the
light# oI# Iree# thought1# The# Bosnian#Gnostic#church/#in# its# turn/# simply# constituted#the

6<
#Bogomilism#became#the#oIIicial#state#church#oI#Bosnia0Herzogovina#during#Ibn#Arab`s#liIetime
+but# within# three# centuries# the# whole# region# would# be# Muslim,1# Both# the# monarchian# Gnosticism# oI
Bosnia#and#the#more#radically#dualist#Dragovitsan#sect#oI#Dalmatia#were#vigorously#evangelistic/#with
important#missions#in#northern#Italy#and#southern#Erance1
4
westernmost# Balkan# extension# oI# the# same# revolutionary0evangelistic# tendency# that
had#Iound#expression#as#Paulicianism#among#the#Armenians#oI#Asia#Minor#since#the
seventh# century1# When# Arab# Muslim# armies# crossed# the# Taurus# mountains# into
Anatolia/# heading# Ior# Constantinople/# they# came# in# contact# with# the# anti0Byzantine
Paulicians/# who# made# common# cause# with# them/# establishing# their# military# head0
quarters#at#Tephrice#+Divrig,/#near#present0day#Malatya1#The#Paulicians#had#much#in
common# with# the# important# second0century# charismatic0apocalyptic/# or# pentecostal/
sect# oI# Montanists# in# Phrygia# +oI# which# Tertullian# was# a# member,/# whose# second
leader# was# the# prophetess/# Maximilla1# But# all# rightly0guided# schools# oI# Christian
Gnosis# are# illuminated# by# the# magisterium# oI# the# beloved# disciple/# Prester# John/# as
we# have# seen1# Thus/# it# would# be# possible# to# trace# an# unbroken# chain# oI# Gnostic
movements# Irom# Patmos# to# Provence/# Irom# the# beginning# oI# the# Christian# dispensa0
tion# down# to# the# time# oI# Ibn# Arab# and# Erancis# oI# Assisi/# and# to# hypothesize# an
evolution#oI#the#Tarot#out#oI#the#'little#book#+ELEODULGLRQ,#oI#John#the#Divine/#which
tasted#'sweet#as#honey#in#the#mouth#but#turned#the#stomach#sour#+see 5HY. 43=#<,1
But#let#us#backtrack#a#moment#and#careIully#consider#a#particular#qualiIication
we# must# make# in# our# Cathari# hypothesis1# It# is# plausible# to# conjecture# that# the# latter0
day#Albigensians`#were#the#shrewd#marketeers#who#thought#to#combine#the#symbolic
Tarot#trumps#and#the#Arabian#QDLEL/#and#they#evidently#had#the#means#and#disposition
to# manuIacture# and# distribute# the# new# product1# But# Irom# that# it# does# not# Iollow# that
those# particular# sectarians# were# the# actual# creators# oI# the# Tarot/# and/# despite# some
signiIicant#indications#that#they#PD\#have#been#+which#I#will#discuss#in#a#later#study,/
I#do#not#think#that#they#were1#The#Tarot#system#implicit#in#this#article#is/#H[ K\SRWKHVL,
an# esoteric/# occult# doctrine# corresponding# to# what# ,VPnO# Shites# call# 7DOP/# the
special# education/# or# educement# +ex0doctrination,/# oI# the# impeccable# Imm# revealed
only# to# initiates1# Many# academic# authorities# deny# that# the# Cathars# had# such# a# secret
doctrine#or#were#occultist`#in#that#sense/#ignoring#the#rather#determinant#Iact#that#they
are# not# privy# to# the# actual# credo# oI# the# SHUIHFWL +initiates,# but# only# their# public
teachings# promulgated# among# the# FUHGHQWHV# +believers# who# had# not# yet# received# the
spiritual# baptism/# or# FRQVRODPHQWXP,1# Be# that# as# it# may/# it# does# seem# to# me# that# a
distinction# can# be# made# between# Cathar# Gnosticism# as# we# have# received# it# and# the
secret# doctrine# oI# the# Tarot# +as# we# can# conceive# it,# which/# in# some# ways/# resembles
the#diIIerence#between#generic#Immism#+represented#now#by#Twelver`#Shism,#and
5
the#distinct/#esoteric#doctrine/#or#7DOLP/#oI#the#Sevener`#Ismls1
73
#Without#hoping
to# convince# any# who# need# convincing/# I# would# hypothesize# a# more# direct/# more
GHOLEHUDWH#connection#between#the#European#and#the#Near#Eastern#spheres#oI#activity
than#the#centuries0long#chain#oI#association#outlined#in#the#preceding#paragraph1#And
what# more# likely# candidate# to# qualiIy# as# such# a# connecting# link# between/# precisely/
Erance# and# the# Levant/# or# 2XWUHPHU,# than# the# Crusader# order# oI# Knights# Templar/
Iounded#by#nine#Erench#nobles#in#Jerusalem#in#444<?#Erom#that#time#until#45<4#when
the# last# Latin# military# outpost# in# the# Holy# Land/# Castle# Pilgrim/# was# abandoned/# the
Knights# Templar# Iully# participated# in# the# highest# aIIairs/# religious# and# political/# oI
two# worlds/# the# Christian# and# the# Islamic1# In# this# almost# unique# pivotal# position# in
Christendom# there# was# only# one# conIessional# entity# that# resembled# the# Templars# on
the# Islamic# sidethe# 1L]nU# Ismls# oI# Syria/# commonly# known# as# the# Assassins`
+coll1/#DVKVKnVKQ,/#Iollowers#oI#the#Old#Man#oI#the#Mountain/#or#6KD\NK DO-MDEDO1
74
Even# iI# the# generous# reader# will# allow# that# a# Erankish# nobility# with# some
experience# oI# the# Crusades# would/# indeed/# represent# an# ideal# milieu# in# which# the
Tarot#might#have#originated/#there#is#no#prooI/#oI#course/#that#the#Templars#were#the
speciIic# agency# responsiblemuch# less# that# the# Ismls# were# involved1# The
hypothesis#that#I#oIIer#is#merely#that/#an#hypothesis/#but#it#is#one#that#is#plausible/#and
it#is#not#without#some#circumstantial#warrants1#The#key#description#oI#the#Tarot#is#that/
like# the# $SRFDO\SVH# oI# St1# John/# it# is# a# book`#the# chapters# oI# which# number# twenty0
twothat# is/# three# series# oI# seven/# plus# one1# I# have# indicated# how/# among# other
things/# the# three# septenaries# correspond# to# the# twenty0one# centuries# oI# the# historical
era#common#to#the#Judeo0Christian`#and#Islamic#civilizations#up#to#the#present#day
the#Iirst#heptad#relating#to#Greco0Roman#antiquity/#the#second#to#the#Muslim#peoples
+Arabs/# Persians# and# Turks,# oI# the# medieval`# period/# and# the# third# to# the# European
nations# +chieIly/# Erance/# Germany# and# England,# oI# modern# times1# Such# a# tri0phase

73
#To#give#an#example#oI#evidence#that#the#Tarot#is#not#strictly#Cathari=#the#trump#card#entitled#The
Judgment# +which# actually# represents# a# resurrection/# or# initiation,# does# QRW# appear# to# depict# the
FRQVRODPHQWXP# as# we# know# it# Irom# descriptions1# On# the# oIt0neglected# distinction# between# actual
esoterism#+WDOP\DK,#and#the#general#'dis0allegorization#oI#WDZO#+exegesis,#which#is#the#more#proper
understanding# oI# the# term/# EnLQ\DK,# see# W1# Ivanow/# %ULHI 6XUYH\ RI WKH (YROXWLRQ RI ,VPDLOLVP
+Leiden/#4<85,/#pp1,5681
74
# Many# researchers# +most/# unIortunately/# not# critically# qualiIied,# have# pointed# to# the# interesting
similarities/#both#doctrinal#and#structural/#between#the#Templars#and#the#Assassins1#Eor#students#oI#Ibn
Arab# it# is# worth# keeping# in# mind# that# the# period# oI# TemplarAssassin# communication`# spanned
precisely# the# liIetime# oI# the# Shaykh# al0Akbar/# who# witnessed# the# deIinite# beginning# oI# the# demise# oI
both#organizations1
6
sequence# in# itselI/# iI# accepted/# highlights# the# central# importance# oI# the# Islamic
component# in# the# scheme1# Moreover/# when# we# consider# the# centre/# or# pivot/# oI# the
chronological# system/# the# brilliant# )nLPLG G\QDVW\ RI 1HZ (J\SW LQ WKH HOHYHQWK
FHQWXU\,
75
we# Iind# that# not# only# the# Iorm# but# the# very# content# oI# Tarot# doctrine# is
present# in# germ# in# ,VPnO theosophy# +as# represented# in# the# encyclopedic# 5DVnLO
,NKZnQ DO-DIn,1# The# Eimids# oI# Egypt#reached# the# zenith# oI#their# achievements#in
power/#prosperity#and#cultural#wealth#during#the#long#and#glorious#reign#oI#the#Caliph
al0Mustanir#+4369<7,/#whom#Muslim#historians#accuse#oI#Iorming#a#secret#alliance
with# the# invading# Crusaders# +to# stave# oII# the# more# dangerous# threat# oI# the# Saljqs,1
Although# the# Egyptian# empire/# like# the# cultivated# greenhouse# Ilower# that# it# was/
quickly# withered# aIter# the# dissensions# Iollowing# this# period# oI# living# dangerously`/
the#all0conquering#genius#oI#the#cosmopolitan#$]KDU#radiated#its#splendour#Irom#India
to# Andalusia# +where# Ibn# Masarrah# al0Jabal# may# have# operated# as# an# early# Eimid
agent,#as#long#as#the#historical#window#oI#opportunity#remained#open1
Among#the#most#signal#qualities#oI#Eimid#culture#in#Egypt#was#the#creativity
oI#their#experimentation#and#accomplishments#in#the#Iield#oI#Iine#arts1#Indeed/#as#we
noted# earlier/# Richard# Ettinghausen# has# adduced# tangible# evidence# that# the# oldest
extant# playing0card# identiIied# outside# oI# ChinaIndia# may# be# EimidoI# which# the
existing#Mamlk#packs#are#mere#copies#+see#n1,6#in#the#Iirst#part#oI#this#article/#-0,$6/
vol1#XXXI,1#In#line#with#our#argument/#then/#I#would#hypothesize#that#the#real#creators
oI#the#Ur0Tarot#+or/#rather/#the#8PP DO-NLWnE#underlying#it,#were#the#Eimid#Ismls
oI# Cairo/# who# passed# the# precious# treasure# on# to# their# Templar# beneIiciaries# in
Jerusalem# VXE URVD1# OI# course/# this# intriguing# theory# presupposes# that# the# Eimid
invention# comprised# the# prototype# oI# the# set# oI# emblematic# images# oI# the# Tarot# and
not# just# the# PLQRU DUFDQD,# the# pip0cards# oI# the# ordinary# IiIty0two# card# deck# as
represented#in#the#surviving#Mamlk#and#Saljq#or#Ayybid#specimens1
76
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75
#The#crucial#signiIicance#oI#the#eleventh#century#is#also#evident#in#the#Iact#that#the#movement#oI
the#Crusades#began#thenexactly#one#thousand#years#aIter#the#destruction#oI#the#Temple#in#:3#C1E1#On
the# rumoured# relations# between# the# Templars# and# the# Eimids# oI# Cairo/# see# the# very# suggestive
Iootnote#on#pp1,4634#oI#7KH %URWKHUKRRG RI WKH 5RV\ &URVV.
76
#I#realize#that#this#hypothesis#might#appear#to#contradict#my#previous#suggestion#that#the#Cathars
oI# southern# Erance# were# the# Iirst# to# combine# the# Tarot# trumps# and# the# ordinary# QDLEL# in# the# Iirst
decades#oI#the#Iourteenth#century/#but#the#latter#innovation#would#have#resulted#in#an#actual#marketable
product/#whereas#the#proto0Tarot#that#I#attribute#to#the#Eimids#oI#Egypt#may#well#have#existed#in#only
one# unique# exemplar# which# may# or# may# not# have# been# integrally# associated# with# a# pack# oI# ordinary
cards1# In# any# case/# the# earlier# Egyptian# model# would# not# have# been# known# +though# perhaps# it# was
heard#oI,#by#the#later#European#innovators`1
7
sceptic#will#object/#there#is#no#actual#prooI1#But#I#would#point#out#that#such#Iigurative
images# as# we# have# in# the# Tarot/# some# oI# them# suspiciously# resembling# angelic# or
DeiIorm# icons/# could# hardly# be# expected# to# survive# in# the# sternly# iconoclastic# world
oI# Islamdom# apart# Irom# the# sort# oI# secretive/# exclusive# society# that# would# have
careIully# preserved# them# Irom# the# glare# oI# outsiders1# Even# the# rare# non0Iigurative
Mamlk#cards#which#have#come#down#to#us#could#only#have#remained#intact#as#they
did# as# part# oI# the# royal# Ottoman# eIIects# +war0spoils# acquired# Irom# the# conquest# oI
Egypt# in# 484:,# maintained# in# such# special# preserves# as# the# Topkap# Saray# Museum1
Only#with#the#coming#oI#the#age#in#which#the#iconophilist#peoples#oI#Europe#acquired
the# technical# and# material# means# oI# mass0printing# could# Tarot# cards# become# the
popular#vehicle#oI#imagination#that#we#know#today1#Nevertheless/#the#diligent#student
oI#Tarot#symbology#might#hope#to#uncover#VRPH#Iaint#trace#oI#a#prior#Islamic#imagery
in#the#cardsiI/#indeed/#the#people#oI#our#Beloved#GLG#once#encamp#in#this#place/#as#I
believe1#The#small#piece#oI#evidence#lying#unremarked#in#our#tableau#oI#The#Sun#that
I#will# now#oIIer#Ior#the# reader`s# consideration#may#be#Iound#just# convincing#enough
to#sustain#hope#that/#truly/#there#is#nothing#hidden#that#will#not#be#revealed/#or#lost#that
cannot#be#recovered1
OI# all# the# texts# upon# which# we# drew# to# cast# light# on# the# imagery# oI# the# two
human#Iigures#in#Atout#XIX#+illustrated#in#Part#One/#p1,9:,/#only#the#Gnostic#*RVSHO
RI 7KRPDV#provided#us#with#an#explicit#description#oI#the#disciples#as#FKLOGUHQ#+see#at
nn1,55#and#56#in#Part#One/#p1,:8,and#it#is#virtually#impossible#that#the#Tarot#tableau
could# be# based# on# that# work# +since/# oI# course/# it# was# not# rediscovered# until# the# last
century,1# The# apocalyptic# symbolism# Irom# 0DUN 47=# 84# oI# 'a# young# man# # with
nothing#but#a#linen#cloth#wrapped#around#his#waist#and#the#innocent#child#seated#on
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apply# to# his# ROG# age1# None# oI# these# Christianate# passages# by# themselves# then# would
seem#to#adequately#account#Ior#the#depiction#oI#two#boys/#apparently#twin0brothers/#in
the#Sun0card1#But#an#even#more#striking#omission#therein#is#the#ZDOO=#not#a#single#text
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79
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11
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the#chapter#Ieaturing#the#so0called#'man#Irom#Tabrz/#which#relates#very#allusively#to#the#symbolism
oI#the#major#Iigures#in#the#6UDK#oI#the#Cave#+Iound#on#pp1,58:#HW VHT.#oI#the#translation,#leaves#rather
much#to#be#desired/#I#am#aIraid1#Eortunately/#we#will#not#have#to#deal#with#that#chapter#in#this#article1
14
Thrice0Great#Master#treats#in#greatest#detail#the#symbolism#oI#the#qur`nic#parable#oI
Moses# and# al0Khadir# that# we# have# been# considering1# In# one# oI# the# Iinal# chapters# oI
that# book/# called# by# the# translator# 'Microcosmic# Correspondences# concerning# the
Seal2Mahd/
88
# Iourteen# sections# are# divided# into# two# eachone# representing# the
external# world/# the# macrocosm># the# other/# the# interior/# or# microcosmoI# which
seven/# at# least/# allude# speciIically# to# the# precise# passage# Irom# the# 6UDW DO-.DKI# that
would# appear# to# have# been# illustrated# in#the# Tarot# tableau# oI# the# Sun1# Not# only# that/
but# in# one# oI# the# sections/# the# IiIth/# the# author# oI# 7KH# )DEXORXV *U\SKRQ# uses
language# that# almost# seems# to# reIer# H[SOLFLWO\# to# the# rather# recondite# meaning# which
we# attached# to# the# last# chapter# oI# St1# John`s# Gospel# and# thought# that# we# Iound
graphically# depicted# in# Atout# XIX# +see# Part# One/# p1,9;,1# Could# this# not# signiIy# that
Ibn# Arab# is# actually# making# Iurtive# reIerence# to# an# esoteric# vehicleperhaps
derived# ultimately# Irom# the# ,VPnO\DKsomehow# corresponding# to# this# page`# oI
the# Ur0Tarot?# Whether# or# not# such# a# strong# case# Ior# the# Eimid# hypothesis# can# be
sustained/#there#is#no#question#that#the#penetrating#exegesis#oI#6UDK ;9,,,,#verses#98
;5/# that# Ibn# Arab# adumbrates# in# this# portion# oI# the# $QTn PXJKULE# can# be# quite
proIitably#applied#to#explicate#DOO#oI#the#salient#imagery#oI#the#Tarot#Sun0card1#Thus/
in# Section# 6# oI# the# aIoresaid# chapter# +pp1# 7;:;;,/# the# microcosmic# Sun# oI# mystic
man`s# reality# +VKDPV DTTL-ND,# is# said# to# have# two# risings# +PDODnQ,an# external/
perceptible# one# which# is# in# the# East`# +# the# phenomenal# appearance,# oI# his
conditioned# physical# existence/# and# an# inner/# occult# motion# which# is# inherent# to# the
individual# nature#but# is# not# overtly#evident#in#liIe#until# the# advent# oI# the# predestined
time#+DO-DMDO,/#when#the#Genius0Sun#will#rise#to#consciousness#out#oI#the#West`/#the
noumenal# Essence# oI# one`s# transcendent# being1# The# Iirst# solar# orbit/# that# oI# natural
constraint/# is# personiIied# by# Pharaoh2DO--DEEnU# in# Atout# XV/# while# the# second# is
represented# by# the# inverse# reIlection# oI# that# in# the# Triumphant# Sun1# As# long# as# the
Divine#Light#abides#in#eclipse/#as#it#were/#unmaniIest/#the#door#oI#repentance#remains
open# to# the# children# whose# lives# may# still# be# changed1# But# when# the# Dawn# breaks
there#can#be#no#more#hope#in#time#or#space1
In#Section#7#+pp1#7;;;<,/#Ibn#Arab#declares#that#this#apocalyptic#'Sun#oI#the
West/# which# is# a# metonym# oI# the# rightly0guided# Mahd# and# the# universal# Seal# oI
sainthood# +namely/# Jesus,/# is# also# no# less# than# the# Divine# 'hidden# Treasure# +DO-NDQ]

88
#,ELG1/#pp1,7;78371
15
DO-NKDI,# in# the# Western# Oceanthe# latter# being# the# primordial# Elemental# world# in
the#macrocosm#and#the#very#Heart#oI#God`s#servant#in#the#microcosm1#Here#the#EDU
DO-JKDUE2DO-PX/# the# Atlantic# Oceana# variant# symbol# Ior# the# wall# in# our# Sun0
cardemblemizes#the#human#Heart/#the#only#locus#capacious#enough#to#encompass`
the#Divine#Presence/#according#to#the#well0known#DGWK TXGV=
Neither#My#earth#nor#My#heaven#can#contain#Me>#|but|#the#Heart#oI#My#IaithIul
servant#comprehends#Me1
Now/#it#is#important#to#recognize#that#only#by#virtue#oI#the#arcane#Treasure#concealed
under# the# obscuring# wall# can# the# latter# Iigure# in# 6UDK ;9,,,# +and# Atout# XIX,/# the
wall/# be# thematically# conIlated# with# the# all0surrounding# Western# Sea/# as# Ibn# Arab
does#in#this#section1#Eurthermore/#it#is#only#because#oI#the#description#oI#the#Treasure
as#an#DSRFDO\SWLF 6XQ RFFXOWHG LQ WKH :HVW#that#the#symbolism#oI#the#Atlantic#Ocean
can#apply1#But#Ibn#Arab#could#not#have#made#these#associations#on#the#basis#oI#the
Qur`n# alone/# so# where# did# he# derive# the# graphic# idea# oI# a# revelatory# Sun# being
interred# under# a# wall# until# the# Iullness# oI# time?# I# am# not# aware# oI# such# a# peculiar
motiI# Iinding# expression# in# any# published# work# prior# to# the# )DEXORXV *U\SKRQ# +or
aIter#it/#Ior#that#matter,1#II#that#notional#image#is#what#we#see#represented#in#the#Tarot
Sun0card/# then/# how# can# we# account# Ior# a# European# designer# oI# the# tableau/# in# the
Iourteenth# century# +or# almost# any# time# thereaIter/# Ior# that# matter,/# exhibiting
Iamiliarity#with#an#Arabic#mystical#work#which#was#not#to#be#translated#into#a#western
language#until#the#modern#era?#Would#it#not#make#more#sense#to#surmise#that#our#SI
author#was#himselI#reIerring#to#an#antecedent#modelnamely/#the#Eimid#prototype/
or#8PP DO-NLWnE/#upon#which#the#Templar#Ur0Tarot#would#be#based?#I#do#not#pretend
to# have# a# shred# oI# direct#testimony#to# support# such# an# explicit# theory/# but#I# do# think
that# the# circumstantial# evidence# adduced# here# bolsters# the# plausible# hypothesis# we
have#been#working#under#and#allows#us#to#continue#in#the#expectation#that#more#might
eventually#turn#up1
Indeed/# we# have# yet# to# consider# what# I# take# to# be# the# strongest# textual
indication#that#Ibn#Arab#ZDV#cognizant#oI#the#speciIic#esoteric#interpretation#oI#-RKQ
XXI=,4;# that# underlies# the# iconography# oI# the# two# young# boys# in# Atout# XIX
corresponding# to# the# orphan0twins# who# are# the# subject0matter# oI# the# next# three
sections# oI# the# $QTn# chapter# oI# Microcosmic# Correspondences1# The# IiIth# section
+pp1,7;<<4,#begins#by#stipulating#that#the#Treasure#can#only#be#known#by#'one#who
16
is#a#Spirit/#not#a#body/#the#REAL#teaching#him#Knowledge#directly#Irom#His#Presence
+PLQ ODGXQL-KL,/# as# in# the# case# oI# al0Khadir# +see# 4XU.# 4;=,98,1# As# we# have
established/#the#latter#represents#Buddhi/#the#sixth#+actually/#super0human,#principle#oI
man/#while#Moses#stands#Ior#Manas/#the#IiIthon#the#leIt0hand#pillar/#the#Iirst#rung#oI
the#Soul#above#the#quaternary#oI#Body1#Hence/#Ibn#Arab#explains#that#man#can#have
no#converse#with#Divine#Knowledge#as#long#'as#he#is#in#his#animal#soul`#+QDIVX-KX O-
EDKP\DK,# |the# Iourth06
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+QDIVX O-QDEnW\DK,#|the#third05
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and#quits#the#world#oI#illusions#he#will#be#importunate#in#his#request#to#those#Knowers
oI# the# |occult|# Regulations# +XODPn DO-DNnP,his# Conscious# mind`# +VKnKLGX-KX,
achieving# a# position# where# it# could# seek# its# Unconscious`# +JKnLEX-KX,# in# order# to
learn# its#intentions# and# methods1
89
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QDVDPDK,/#Irees#itselI#Irom#the#extraneous#tyranny#oI#the#ego0theistic#Idol#iconized#in
Atout# XV# and/# passing# beyond# the# Kantian# perceptual# maniIold# +# the# $TXDVWHU# oI
Paracelsus,/#isolates#itselI#in#a#state#oI#transcendental#meditation/#abstracted#Irom#the
senses/#it#naturally#begins#to#reach#out#Ior#contact#with#a#higher#source/#so#that/#just#as
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oIIer# the# hand# oI# Iriendship1
8:
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tableau#oI#the#Sun/#and#I#cannot#but#think#that#our#SI#master#alludes#to#it1
Eor#it#is#in#the#passage#immediately#Iollowing#that#Ibn#Arab#precisely#states
the#secret#meaning#oI#the#mysterious#words#oI#Jesus#to#Peter0Manas=#'You#will#stretch
out#your#hands/#and#another#will#gird#you#and#carry#you#ZKHUH \RX GR QRW ZLOO WR JR1
Now/# the# words# emphasized# here# allude# to# the# constitutional# disinclination# oI# the
discursive# Mind# to# submit# patiently# to# the# dictates# oI# super0rational# Intuition/# which
must# resort# to# contractually# ELQGLQJ its# recalcitrant# brother`# by# the# inviolable
regulations# oI# SI# Courtesy# and# Wisdom# +DNnP DO-DGDE ZD-O-LNPDK,# in# order# to
guide# him# into# the# way# oI# Mercy1# ReIerring# to# the# encounter# oI# Moses0Manas# with
Khadir0Buddhi/#Ibn#Arab#writes=
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comes# upon# him# |the# Unconscious# transcendent/# JKnLEX-KX/# personiIied# by# al0

89
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spirit`1
17
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should# not# be# questioned# on# anything# until# he# had# himselI# made# mention# oI# it|
and# assures# himselI# oI# his# contractual# agreement# +DTGX-KX,1# 7KHQ |DO-.KDLU|
GLVFORVHV WR |0RVHV|# WKH HVVHQWLDO 0HDQLQJV +DO-PDnQ,# WR ZKLFK KLV QDWXUDO
GLVSRVLWLRQ +DEX-KX,#ZDV DYHUVH DQG DJDLQVW ZKLFK KLV RZQ QDWXUH2ODZ#+VKDUX-
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and# he# comes# to# know# that/# verily/# God# has# communicated# His# Truth# and
determined#|all#things|1
8;
Note#that#the#line#italicized#neatly#ties#together#Ibn#Arab`s#incisive#diagnosis#oI#the
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the#other1#II#it#be#objected#that#Ibn#Arab`s# words#reIer#to#Moses# and#al0Khadir/# but
maniIestly# QRW# to# the# two# qur`nic# brothers# who# own# the# wall/# I# will# counter# that
metaphors/# like# Proteus/# cannot# always# be# kept# Irom# metamorphosing1# Keeping# that
in# mind/# it# may# be# that# the# real/# esoteric# relation# between# al0Khadir# and# the# three
inexplicable# actions# is# hinted# at# in# the# Iact/# noted# by# Ibn# Arab/# that# a# GXDO# subject
was#responsible#Ior#'killing#the#boy/#while#al0Khadir#DORQH#disabled#the#'boat/#and
QR# human# agency# was# credited# Ior# repairing# the# wall# JUDWLV1
8<
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requesting#initiation#oI#al0Khadir/#Moses#participates#in#his#own#ritual#slaying#beIore
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binding`# or# girding`/# it# has# a# special# signiIicance# that# we# need# not# go# into# on# this
occasion># but# suIIice# it# to# observe# that# some# Sun0cards# show# the# two# brothers# with
cords#or# halters# around# their# necks# which#remind# one# oI# a# similar#memorial# insignia
worn#by#votaries#oI#the#<D]G#sect1
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symbolically/# Moses# and# al0Khadir# themselves# would# seem# to# be# conIirmed1# There
we#read#that#'he#who#learns#the#reality#oI#that#Treasure#|viz1/#al0Khadir|##shall#erect
his# wall# and# dwell# in# his# house/# demanding# no# recompence# +DMU,# and# giving# a
Reminder# +GKLNU,# to# one# who# had# rebuked# him# |Moses|which# alludes# to# the
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also#to#reveal#+i1e./#re0YHLO,#a#Reminder#+GKLNU,#so#that#the#ignorant#might#UHPHPEHU
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like#hieroglyphics#written# upon#an#open#wall# exposed#to# general#view# but#explicated
only# in# special/# nocturnal# Mystic# ritesis# none# other# than# the# Tarot/# the# most
successIul#paedagogic0mnemonic#instrument#ever#devised#by#human#ingenuity1#Being
to# all# appearances# nothing# more# than# a# mere# game# oI# chance/# a# mental0child`s
Irivolous#toy/#it#is#made#available#to#all#and#sundry#in#the#world/#high#and#low/#Iree#oI
charge1# But# in# reality# it# is# a# UHPLQGHU# to# everyone# who# sleeps# in# the# Cave# oI# this
material#earth/#'and#you#shall#surely#know#its#tiding#DIWHU D ZKLOH1
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oI# Atout# XIX/# the# prominent# Iigure# oI# which# resembles# a# sun0dial# with# seventy0two
rays#marking# out#the# degrees#oI#its#circumIerence1
95
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owners#oI#the#incomplete#wall/#who#embody#the#notion#oI#EHFRPLQJ/#the#dynamism#oI
imperIection/# which# is# the# essence# oI# time1# Only# when# they# reach# their# Divinely0
decreed#maturitythat#is/#when#they#have#evolved#to#realize#their#Iull#potentialwill
the#apocalyptic0revolutionary#Time#oI#Glory/#the#'DZODW DO-,]]/#come#to#be#'on#earth

93
#This#is#a#name#oI#God#in#4XU.#8<=,56#+where#it#is#associated#with#the#appellations/#DO-$]]#and#DO-
0XWDNDEELU,/# but# more# typically# the# term# denotes# a# tyrant/# one# who# brooks# no# rival1# As# I# have
intimated/#in#the#system#oI#the#Tarot#the#epithet#reIers#to#the#symbolic#Iigure#in#Atout#XV1
94
# 4XU.# 6;=,;9;1# Compare# the# sense# oI# 'its# tiding# +QDEDX-KX,# here# and# Ibn# Arab`s# verb/
\XQDEED, and#'tidings#+DNKEnU,#in#the#preceding#quote1
95
#:5#is#twice#69/#the#number#oI#decans#in#the#solar#cycle#oI#the#Zodiac1
19
as#it#is#in#Heaven1#As#Ibn#Arab#writes#in#Section#:#oI#the#Correspondences/#alluding
to#the#qur`nic#brothers#+as#portrayed#in#the#Sun0card,=
When# the# Intellective# spirit# +DO-U DO-DTO,# reaches# the# end# oI# its
waiting`2contemplation# +PXQWDKi QDUL-KL,# and# the# ReIlective# spirit# +DO-U DO-
ILNU,#attains#the#object#oI#its#need`2reIlection#+JKn\DW IDNUL-KL,##at#that#time
the# Holy# Spirit# +DO-U DO-TXGV,# will# arrive# as# a# Commander# +DPU,# and# make
the# Intellective# spirit# a# Minister# +ZD]U,# |to# him|# and# the# ReIlective# one# a
Companion# +VDPU,# |to# the# latter|# and# the# Animal# |spirit|# +DO-D\DZDQ,# a# Seat
+VDUU,#|Ior#them#all|1
96
Thus/# the# leIt0hand/# sightless# orphan# stands# Ior# the# ReIlective# spirit/# the# Iaculty# oI
discursive#thought/#or#reIlection#+ILNU,>#the#right0hand/#seeing#brother#is#pure#intellect/
or# reason# +DTO,/# the# Iaculty# oI# aprioristic# intuition># while# the# glorious# Solar# disc/
representing# the#exalted# Iather# oI# the# youths/#is# the# quasi0Divine# Spirit# oI# holiness1
97
Microcosmically/# the# Holy# Spirit# correlates# with# the# 5 DO-ODIDK# which/# in# the
Iullness# oI# time/# assumes# the# plenary# command# oI# all# oI# its# subordinate# Iaculties/
spiritual# and# intellectual/# mounting/# lastly/# the# vehicle/# or# seat`/# oI# the# lowest
quaternary# oI# human# components/# powered# by# the# subrational/# vital# spirits1# In# the
theoretical0mythic# metahistory# oI# traditional# Islamic# eschatology# these# Iaculties# are
symbolized# as# the# rightly0guided# Mahd# and# his# ministers/# but# in# the# more# practical/
existential# enactment# oI# the# same# reality# in# the# liIe# oI# the# individual# SI# mystic# the
traditionary# Sun# rising# in# the# West`# +VKDPV DO-PDJKULE,# was# sublimated# by# Ibn
Arab# into# a# revolutionary# Iormula# oI# the# Seal# oI# sainthood`# +NKDWP DO-ZLOn\DK,
which#was#ideally#epitomized#in#the#charismatic#personage#oI#Jesus#Christ/#but#could/
obviously/# be# taken# to# apply# to# any# truly# exemplary# Iriend# oI# God`/# or# Saint# +ZDO
$OOnK,such#as#Ibn#Arab#himselI/#to#be#sure1#Eor#that#is#the#whole#critical#import#oI
stressing#the#Iactor#oI#the#progressive#development/#growth/#or#evolution#oI#the#human
spirit#and#intellect#as#personiIied#in#the#orphan#brothersa#notion#which/#ultimately/
could# only# be# given# meaning# and# reality# in# the# birth/# struggle# and# victorious
IulIilment#oI#the#PerIect#Man#by#his#own#Iree/#existential#SelI0creation`1

96
#CI1#,VODPLF 6DLQWKRRG/#p1,7<51
97
# In# the# 7DIVU# oI# al0Qshn#+cited# in# n1,78,# the# orphan# brothers# are# assimilated# to# the# theoretical
and#the#practical#intellects#and#their#righteous#Iather#to#the#U DO-TXGV +see#vol1,,I/#p1,::6,1
20
BeIore# concluding# with# the# $QTn PXJKULE# we# should# note# that# Ibn# Arab
presents#his#key#doctrine#oI#the#revelatory#NKnWDP DO-DZOL\n/#the#Seal#oI#the#saints`/
therein# in# the# context# oI# a# remarkable# chronological# theory# oI# the# Seal`s# appearance
+XKU,#in# the# year# 9;6# oI# the# Islamic# lunar# chronography/# corresponding# to# 45;7# in
the# solar/# Christian# +or# Common,# Era1
98
# That# number# is# arrived# at# by# adding# to# 955
+the# solar# year# C1E1# marking# the# beginning# oI# the# Islamic# era,# the# number# oI# extra
lunar#years#in#that#period/#53/
99
#and#multiplying#the#sum/#975/#by#two/#producing#45;7
+#9;6#A1H1,1#Thus/#the#return#oI#Jesus`#as#the#Seal#oI#sainthood#would#be#to#Muslims
oI#the#seventh#Islamic#century#what#the#advent#oI#Islam#had#been#to#worthy#Christians
in# WKHLU# seventh# century=# the# liberating# renewal# oI# pristine# Revelation1# The# great
Muslim#theorist#oI#historiography/#Ibn#Khaldn/#discusses#this#date#Irom#the#)DEXORXV
*U\SKRQ#at#length#in#his#0XTDGGLPDK,#and#he#goes#on#to#mention#another/#similardate
+9<;245<<,# prognosticated# by# the# celebrated# ninth0century# Arabian# philosopher# and
astrologer/#Yaqb#b1#Isq#al0Kind1
9:
#Although#the#sceptical#historian#sneered#at#the
lack# oI# precise# agreement# between# such# apparently# arbitrary# calculations/# it# is# to# be
observed#that#both#Iigures#are#based#on#the#quantity/#933#+represented#by#the#letter/#/
LQ#$UDELF>#DQG#/#WKH#0HP-Iinal/#which#has#the#Iorm#oI#6nPHNK#>93/#WKH#*UHHN#(@#LQ
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imagery#has#remained#much#the#same/#as#we#have#witnessed1#In#a#later#study#I#hope#to
demonstrate#that#compelling#evidence#oI#a#Tarot`#long#preceding#the#Islamic#versions
is#to#be#Iound#in#Greek#and#Roman#literature/#some#oI#it#antedating#the#Christian#era1
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the# Iox# oI# Tarot`s# origins1# Theology# +the# study# oI# Godly#things,# is# mightily# aided# in
the#quest#by#placing#its#credence#in#the#axioms#oI#Revelation/#which#set#it#high#on#the
mountain0top#Ior#a#commanding#view#oI#the#plane/#but#it#is#Theosophy#+the#wisdom
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out# oI# Central# Asia# across# Persia# and# Kurdistan/# Armenia# and# Anatolia/# over# the
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Veneto/# Lombardy/# Provence/# Languedoc/# Catalonia# and# Valencia1# In# the# journey# oI
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his# teachings/#and# whence# they# would# be# sure# to# Iind# their# way# back# downstream# to
Europe/#the#land#oI#his#earthly#birth1
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