The purpose of this page is to explore the Christian non-predictive elements of the Tarot based on lore that was well known in fourteenth and fifteenth century Europe, the period in which the first tarot cards make their appearance. The so-called major arcana consist of 22 picture cards.The symbols followed here parallel the Tarocchi Mantegna (1460) attributed to Andrea Mantegna (1432-1506) English Page some prints of which are found in Ludovico Lazzarelli, De Imaginibus Gentilum Deorum, fifteenth century, Vatican Museum, and are indicated in parenthesis. However there is a resemblance in the figures found in the Mantegna Chapel "Interessanti sono le figure femminili, che ricordano da vicino alcune carte del mazzo di Tarocchi del Mantegna, come ha acutamente osservato Giannino Giovannoni." The history of this tarot is in dispute. See Mantegna 31 (in Italian) for a discussion of the Tarocchi.

• The first set of seven (1-7)

• The second set of seven (8-14)

• The remaining cards (15-22)

"...all things shall be made anew, the heavens, the stars, this world and our bodies shall arise again." Thomas Bradwardine, De Causa Dei, 14th century.

"It is not enough to build a perfect model of the world or to look at it: we must also bring it within ourselves through intense meditation ( 'not only contemplating but also refuting it in the mind' ) and the contemplation of the painted image in the rooms in which we live -- Man...must synthesize himself and so realize perfect harmony by identifying himself with the life and with the power of every thing." Marsilio Ficino, Liber De Vita, "On Making a Figure of the Universe," III, 19, 15th century.

• The first seven images of Being shows us Christian men and women definining themselves in the world.

The Fool

There are two patrons of beggars (Misero I):JPEG image 136x242 pixels

Symbol - a biting dog is shameless wrath. "The mildness in you let not wrath consume." John Chrysostom, Homily 17,  Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles..

Saint Giles JPEG image 300x207 pixels (c. 712).is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers whose shrine site was a pilgrammage goal. He is the patron saint of lepers, beggars and those afflicted by a sudden misery. 

Saint Alexis  (c. 5th century) A "Man of God" who lived as a beggar unrecognized by his father although living within his staircase for 17 years.

The Magician

Saint Eligius of Noyon JPEG image 586x343 pixels (588-659) (Artisan III) JPEG image 136x238 pixels is the patron of metalsmiths (Artixan III). He was himself a metalsmith noted for his Excellent work (Paris). He ransomed numerous slaves, built churches and monasteries. 

Symbol - the hammer is a symbol of divine skill that shapes and forms metal,.the hammer of God. Jack Tressider, The Complete Dictionary of Symbols, p. 220.

"To give artistic form to the shapeless mass of metal the processes employed are casting and hammering or chiselling. In the former process the metal is brought to a liquid state and poured into a hollow form, which has previously been prepared by pressing a solid model into a yielding mass. Hammering was of greater importance. By means of hammers the sheet of metal is hollowed out and in this way given plastic form. Very closely connected with hammering is the art of engraving this consists in directing the blow of the hammer not directly upon the metal but transmitting it by means of small steel chisels." For more see Metal-Work in Service of the Church.

"What the Magus does with his techniques, nature accomplishes naturally by making man." Magic celebrates the union of sky and earth. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Conclusiones.

"The Bishop of Barcelona pronounced (1489) before he became Bishop. The Magician is an experimenter, not a scientist. Between the practical moment and the theoretical moment there is no connection." Pico, Dispotationes.

The Priestess

Saint Brigid of Sweden JPG  image 450x283 pixels (1303-1373)  was a prophetess who denounced the King and Queen of Sweden. She had visions in which she believed Christ Himself appeared to her. Her writings were widely circulated. Following a vision, she demanded Clement VI return to Rome from Avignon. She went to Rome in 1349 and was noted for her concern for the poor, her holiness and her unceasing efforts to get the Pope to return. She also denouced Urban V (Blessed Urban V) who did return to Rome in 1370 (he approved her Constitution for the Brigittines). When Gregory XI returned to Avignon, she denounced him.

Sr. Manfreda Visconti was elected by the Guglielmites, named for Guglielma of Bohemia (d. 1281), to be their papess. She was burnt at the stake in 1300. The year 1300 was to usher in a new era of female popes with Manfreda officiating a mass at Ste. Maria Maggiore. Joachim de Flora had predicted the coming of a new age. The year 1300 was declared a Jubilee Year by Boniface VIII. It was also the year that Dante had his "vision: of Inferno Panderers," l.30, Canto XVIII, Circle 8.

The Empress

Saint Pulcheria (399-435)  was named regent for her brother the Emporer Theodosius and she was named Augusta in 414. She took a vow of virginity and established a monastic-like court from whence she ruled the Empire. Theodosius married Eudocia (who supported Nestorius). Pulcheria remained orthodox, was banished from court and then recalled. Theodosius then supported Eutyches and the Robber Synod. Pulcheria supported Pope St. Leo. On the death of Theodosius, following a fall from his horse, Pulcheria was named Empress. She married Marcian who agreed to respect her virginity and they ruled together. Leo credited her with overcoming the two heresies.

The Emporer

The Holy Roman Emporer (Imperator VIIII) JPEG image 136x241 pixels a brand of old roman imperium and Christian caesarism. Charlemagne's canonization was promoted by Frederick Barbarossa.

Ludus de Antichristo is a 12th century play that exalts the emporer as a shield against the antichrist. The play has two coronations: the surrender of the imperial crown to Christ the King by the Emporer, and the attempted self-coronation by the antichrist.

The Pope

Urban V Blessed BMP image 248x174 pixels (1310-1370) was elected Pope  (Papa X) JPEG image 137x238 pixels in 1362. He made peace with Barnabo Visconti (1364) and undertook church reform. He returned the papacy to Rome from Avignon at the urging of Charles V and Saint Brigid - who predicted correctly his death if he left Rome.

The Pope is referred to as the representative of Christ (Vicarius Christi), the Lord's annointed (Christus Domini), the God of Pharoah (Deus Pharaonis). Bernard of Clairvaux.

The Lovers

Paolo (Malatesta) and Francesca (de Rimini) JPEG image 401x300 pixels are the lovers in Dante's Inferno. Locked blindly into their own guilt, say their spirits, "We are one in Hell as we were above." But they have or find no pleasure or comfort in one another in death. Other representations in art Digital Dante.

The Chariot

Mars (Marte XXXXV) JPEG image 135x244 pixels was the first patron of the city of Florence. When they converted to Christianity, the Florentines tore down his equestrian statue and built a church on the site of his temple. 

Symbol - the sword of the spirit is the active weapon a Christian has  to discern truth from falsehood.

• The second set of seven images of Being shows us forces that act upon Christian men and women from within.

Fortitude

Fortitude (Forteza XXXVI) JPEG image 133x237 pixels is a gift of the Holy Spirit; it is the strength of soul by which we overcome fear of not doing right or of criticism. It is manifest in the character of an individual who acts rightly and does not succomb to temptation. Fortitude aids us in living a Christian life. One of the four cardinal virtues. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

Symbol -the  lion, it was believed, slept with its eyes open an ever-watchful creature.

The Hermit

Saint Anthony (251-336) JPEG image 266x367 pixels  gave up his inheritance to live in a tomb and live on bread and water. In 285 he went in search of greater solitude. After twenty years, he emerged to found a colony of ascetics - the first Christian monastery.

Picatrix a work on Hermetical knowledge has Hermes [Trismegistus] say, "When I wanted to reveal the science of the mystery of the process of creation, I found a dark cave, full of shadows and winds.... I could not keep my lamp alight because of the force of the winds. Then a being appeared to me in my sleep whose aspect was one of great beauty. I said to me: 'take a light and put it in a glass lantern....', III,6.

Also in the Works of Leonardo da Vinci he mentions an encounter with a cavern that he experienced "...fear of the threatening dark cavern, and the desire to see whether there be any marvelous thing within it." Works, II, p.324.

The Wheel

Saint Catherine JPEG image 219x584 pixels is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. She converted the wife, officers, soldiers and philosophers of the Emporer Maxentius to Christianity - all of whom he put to death. He condemned Catherine to the spiked wheel which miraculously broke. She was then beheaded. Her whole body was brought to Sinai Mountain, c. 310.

In Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur [1469] King Arthur in a dream sees himself seated atop a high wheel where he has been placed by a beautiful woman. She asks him what he can see - he replies "The entire world." She then pushes him to the ground observing that earthly pride being what it is, everyone has to fall. Later, a dream vision of the wheel fortells his death.Le Morte d'Arthur, II, iii.

Justice

Justice (Iusticia XXXVII) JPEG image 137x242 pixels is the means by which we - having regard for Law and Duty, give everyone his due - that is what is owed him as a human being. Justice includes subordinate virues of obedience, truthfulness and gratitude. One of the four cardinal virtues. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

Symbol - the crane kills snakes and is therefore a good companion to have as you battle against evil and injustice..

The Hanged Man

Saint Dismas (first century) is the Good Thief of Calvary and the patron of prisoners. A myth of the Middle Ages from the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy says that Dismas (Titus) was "one of two thieves" who held up the Holy Family on their way to Egypt. Dismas bought off his companion in crime (Gestas, or Dumachis) with forty drachma to let the family proceed unmolested, whereupon the infant Jesus predicted they would die together and Dismas would accompany him to paradise. The Pocket Dictionary of Saints.

Death

(Saturno XXXXVII) JPEG image 138x241 pixels "Oh Egypt, oh Egypt! Of your religions there will remain only thy fables, still incredible to future generations...shadows will be placed before light, death will be judged to be more useful than life." Giordano Bruno, The Expulsion of the Triumphant Beast, trans. A. D. Imerti, Rutgers University Press, 1964, p. 241.

Symbol - the scythe is an emblem of Time is  the instrument by which the souls whose time has come are gathered.

Temperance

Temperance (Temperancia XXXIIII) JPEG image 137x244 pixels prompts us to moderation and self-control in our actions and thoughts - particularly in the pleasure of the senses. It helps us to create the proper spiritual climate so that we can respond to God. One of the four Cardinal Virtues. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 

Symbol - the ermine was said to prefer death over staining the purity of its white coat as the Christian preferred purity to sin. 

• The last eight images of Being depict the relationship of Christian men and women to the Divine.

The Devil

Satan (the devil) retains his knowledge which he uses to test the good and for his own confusion. He falsely accuses. The mystery of God's incarnation is hidden from the devil and humankind (i.e., the Virgin birth).

The Tower

Saint Barbara JPEG image 420x300 pixels (fourth century) is the patroness of sudden death. The daughter of a pagan paynim, Dioscurus (at the time of the Emporer Maximian), who refused her father's demand that she marry. She lived in a tower during her father's absence and had three windows constructed to explain or represent the trinity. Her angry father took her before a judge. She was tortured but did not recant her faith. Her father then took her to a mountain and beheaded her, after which he was struck by lightening. The Dictionary of Saints. In Provence, France, wheat is germinated on December 4, Saint Barbara's day.

The Star

Saint Dominic GIF image 200x266 pixels (1170-1221)  is the patron saint of astronomers and his symbol is the star. (Astrologia XXViIII) JPEG image .137x242 pixels The five-pointed star represents Jesus' birth and incarnation.

The Moon

The Moon (Luna XXXXI) JPEG image 137x243 pixels. Urim and Tummim (the Moon in the first quarter and the third quarter respectively). These are inscribed on Aaron's breastplate and he used them to divine the Will of God. The breastplate was a span square and made of linen. Exodus, XXVIII, 30.

Saul asked God to indicate the guilt of himself or Jonathan by Urim and that of the people by Thummim or Tummim. 1 Samuel, XIV.

The custody of Urim and Tummim was given to the high priest. It would seem that the priest asked one question at a time which was answered by "Yes" or "No."

The Sun

The sun (Sol XXXXIIII)  JPEG image 139x246 pixels

Prudence

Prudence (Prudencia XXXV) JPEG image 138x245 pixels enables us to judge rightly about an act of virtue and is basic to the performance of all virtuous actions. In the natural order it is acquired through trial and experience. In the supernatural order it is infused at baptism and exercised through sanctifying grace. It gives us the ability to see God's will in all things. One of the four Cardinal Virtues. The Catholic Encyclopedia.

Symbol - the dragon is a supernatural creature whose blood was thought to have healing powers.

Judgement

The Resurrection of the Dead,

The World

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