True Attribution of the Major Arcana part 2

Why is the Chaldean Order preserved n the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the Minor Arcana, but not in the Major Arcana?

In my previous post I raised the question of what the 22 Major Arcana would look like when stripped of all the accretion attached. The primary attributions are based upon the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet which form the basis of the elemental, planetary and zodiacal attributions. The order of the letters of any alphabet rarely require alteration, yet Tarot Masters have seen fit to transpose Teth with Lamed, and latterly Tz and Heh.

Here is the Hebrew alphabet and the astrological attributions:

  1. Aleph – Air
  2. Beth – Mercury
  3. Gimel – Moon
  4. Daleth – Venus
  5. Heh – Aries
  6. Vau – Taurus
  7. Zain – Gemini
  8. Cheth – Cancer
  9. Teth – Leo
  10. Yod – Virgo
  11. Kaph – Jupiter
  12. Lamed – Libra
  13. Mem – Water
  14. Nun – Scorpio
  15. Samekh – Sagittarius
  16. Ain – Capricorn
  17. Peh – Mars
  18. Tzaddi – Aquarius
  19. Qoph – Pisces
  20.  Resh – Sun
  21. Shin – Fire
  22. Tau – Saturn

The zodiac signs run in the natural order = Aries, Taurus, etc. The Mother Letters of Aleph, Mem and Shin are  also non-controversial. The problem resides with the planets as they have no logical order.. Versions of the Sepher Yetsirah give different orders of the planets. This is a strange anomaly, particularly when there has been a constant order to the planets for centuries. The Chaldean Order of the planets is the relative speed of the planets, slowest first, as seen from Earth.

Here is the order:

  1. Saturn
  2. Jupier
  3. Mars
  4. Sun
  5. Venus
  6. Mercury
  7. Moon

We see this order in the Sephiroth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life:

  1. Saturn  – 3 Binah
  2. Jupier – 4 Chesed
  3. Mars – 5 Geburah
  4. Sun – 6 Sun
  5. Venus – 7 Netzach
  6. Mercury – 8 Hod
  7. Moon – 9 Yesod

The Chaldean Order of the planets is the basis of planetary rulerships of the 36 Decanates and the Minor Arcana from 2 to 10.

Restored Chaldean Order

Since there is no logical reason not to have the Chaldean Order in the Major Arcana, let us do that now:

  1. Beth – Saturn
  2. Gimel – Jupiter
  3. Daleth – Mars
  4. Kaph – Sun
  5. Peh – Venus
  6.  Resh – Mercury
  7. Tau – Moon

If you are familiar with the planetary attributions of the Major Arcana, this restored order is probably already doing your head it – it does mine.  Fortunately, the Tarot cards associated are exactly the same:

  1. Beth – Saturn – The Universe or World
  2. Gimel – Jupiter – The Wheel of Fortune
  3. Daleth – Mars – The Tower
  4. Kaph – Sun – The Sun
  5. Peh – Venus – The Empress
  6.  Resh – Mercury – The Magus
  7. Tau – Moon – The High Priestess

Restoring the correct order of the planetary Major Arcana  is the first step in harmonizing the Major and Minor Arcana.