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:
- Aleph – Air
- Beth – Mercury
- Gimel – Moon
- Daleth – Venus
- Heh – Aries
- Vau – Taurus
- Zain – Gemini
- Cheth – Cancer
- Teth – Leo
- Yod – Virgo
- Kaph – Jupiter
- Lamed – Libra
- Mem – Water
- Nun – Scorpio
- Samekh – Sagittarius
- Ain – Capricorn
- Peh – Mars
- Tzaddi – Aquarius
- Qoph – Pisces
- Resh – Sun
- Shin – Fire
- 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:
- Saturn
- Jupier
- Mars
- Sun
- Venus
- Mercury
- Moon
We see this order in the Sephiroth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life:
- Saturn – 3 Binah
- Jupier – 4 Chesed
- Mars – 5 Geburah
- Sun – 6 Sun
- Venus – 7 Netzach
- Mercury – 8 Hod
- 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:
- Beth – Saturn
- Gimel – Jupiter
- Daleth – Mars
- Kaph – Sun
- Peh – Venus
- Resh – Mercury
- 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:
- Beth – Saturn – The Universe or World
- Gimel – Jupiter – The Wheel of Fortune
- Daleth – Mars – The Tower
- Kaph – Sun – The Sun
- Peh – Venus – The Empress
- Resh – Mercury – The Magus
- 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.