Absolute Key to Occult Science The Tarot of the Bohemians The Most Ancient Book in the World. For the Exclusive Use of Initiates By PAPUS [Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse, b. 1865 d. 1916] Original Title: Clef absolue de la science occulte Translated from the French By A. P. Morton London, Chapman and Hall, Ltd. [1892]

Ebook version by G.D.M., www.fuocosacro.com [2007] This work is not copyrighted.

To The Occult Science AND TO ALL ITS DISCIPLES.

THE Tarot pack of cards, transmitted by the Gypsies from generation. to generation, is the primitive book of ancient initiation. This has been clearly demonstrated by Guillaume Postel, Court de Gébelin, Etteila, Eliphas Levi, and J. A. Vaillant. The key to its construction and application has not yet been revealed, so far as I know. I therefore wished to fill up this deficiency by supplying Initiates, i. e. those who are acquainted with the elements of occult science, with an accurate guide, which would assist them in the pursuit of their studies. The uninitiated reader will find in it the explanation of the lofty philosophy and science of ancient Egypt; whilst ladies are enabled to practise the use of the divining Tarot, by methods which we have rendered easy in Chapter XX. The book has been so arranged that each part formsa complete whole, which can, if necessary, be studied separately. I have used every effort to be as clear as possible; the public that has warmly welcomed my other books will, I hope, forgive the imperfections inherent to a work of this kind.

THE "GENERAL KEY TO THE TAROT," GIVING THE ABSOLUTE KEY TO OCCULT SCIENCE. PAGE I.--INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE TAROT: Approaching End of Materialism--Synthesis--The Occult Science--The Secret Societies--The Cultus--The People, Transmitter of Esoterism--The Gypsies--The Sacred Word of Freemasonry--Our Work 8 II.--THE SACRED WORD YOD-HE-VAU-HE: The Kabbalah and the Sacred Word--The Yod--The He--The Vau--The 2nd He--Synthesis of the Sacred Word 14 III.--THE ESOTERISM OF NUMBERS: The Theosophic Numbers and Operations--Signification of the Numbers 19 IV.--ANALOGY BETWEEN THE SACRED WORD AND NUMBERS: The Kabbalistic Word and the Series of Numbers--Explanation of the Tetractys of Pythagoras--Figuration of the General Law 23 V.--THE KEY TO THE MINOR ARCANA: Formation of the Tarot--Study of a Colour--The Four Figures--The Ten Numbers--Affinity between the Figures and the Numbers--Study of the Four Colours--A Comprehensive Glance over the Minor Arcana 27 VI.--THE KEY TO THE MAJOR ARCANA: The Major Arcana--1st Ternary--2nd Ternary--1st Septenary--2nd Septenary-The Three Septenaries and the Ternary of Transition 47 VII.--CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MAJOR AND MINOR ARCANA: Domination of the 1st Septenary--Affinities of the 2nd Septenary in the Tarot, Card by Card--Ditto of the 3rd Septenary--General Affinities--Affinities of Yod, He, Vau, and of the 2nd He 57 General Figure giving the Key to the Tarot 67

SYMBOLISM IN THE TAROT. APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL KEY TO THE SYMBOLISM.

VIII.--INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF SYMBOLISM: The Symbols--The Primitive Terms--Key of Symbolism--Definition of the Sense of one of the Symbols--General Law of Symbolism 68 IX.--HISTORY OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAROT. INQUIRY INTO ITS ORIGIN: The Tarot is an Egyptian Book--Its Transformations-- Mantegna's Pack--Venetian Tarot--Florentine Tarot--Bolognese Tarot--Hindu Tarot--p. xi Chinese Tarot-Modem Tarots--Etteila--Marseilles--Besançon-- Watillaux--Oswald Wirth--Italian and German Tarots--Constitution of the Symbolism of the Tarot--The Primitive Hieroglyphic Signs--The 22 Hebrew Letters 76 X.--THE SYMBOLICAL TAROT. THE 1ST SEPTENARY. ARCANA 1 TO 7. THEOGONY: Scheme of Work--Key to the 1st Septenary--The 1st Card of the Tarot the Origin of all the others--The Three Principles of the Absolute-- The Trinity--Figure of the 1st Card and its Affinities 91 2nd Card--The High Priestess (Beth) 103 3rd Card--The Empress (Gimel) 106 4th Card--The Emperor (Daleth) 110 5th Card--The Pope (He) 114 6th Card--The Lovers (Van) 118 Summary--Constitution of God 122 XI.--2ND SEPTENARY. ANDROGONY: Key to the 2nd Septenary 123 7th Card--The Chariot (Zain) 125 8th Card--Justice (Cheth) 128 9th Card--The Hermit (Teth) 132 10th Card--The Wheel of Fortune (Yod) 135 11th Card--Strength (Kaph) 138 12th Card--The Hanged Man (Lamed) 141 Summary--Constitution of Man 145