3908 – Alpha Omega Tracing Board 21st key Universe tarot card

Museum classification:

Ritual Magic

Size:

24cm x 30cm

Information:

These tracing board diagrams were most likely used as a way to test the knowledge of the members of the order of Alpha et Omega (initially called The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) and allow them to progress further up into higher levels (grades) in the order. It appears that some, if not all, of the boards were hung in the temple during rituals of the inner order. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

The front side of the board has a female form with a single length of cloth covering her. She also has a moon and star motif on her head, presumably as a connection to the universe. She is holding a wand in each hand, but as Major Arcana card, she does not fall into the suit of wands. On top of her there is a heptagram, which is a widely used symbol in alchemy. The use of this seven-sided shape can refer to the number of planets or creationism, amongst other things. Surrounding her is an orb made up of 10 larger rings, and a great number of smaller ones that presumably represent the number of tarot cards. In the corners, there are motifs to symbolise different signs -  the bull for Taurus; the lion to Leo; the eagle to Scorpio; and the man to Aquarius. These four aspects can also represent the four elements, four the watchtowers, four points of the compass, the four evangelists, and the four horsemen.

The reverse of the card reads 'Grade of Theories: 32nd Path of ת' (underlined). The symbol ת signifies immortality and salvation. Underneath, it says 'The 21st Key of the Tarot or The Universe. 4. First Point. Altar. 2=9.'

The "2=9" inscription pertains to the structure and grading of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (also known as Alpha et Omega, or the A.O.).

The structure of the Golden Dawn:

First Order
Introduction—Neophyte 0=0
Zelator 1=10
Theoricus 2=9
Practicus 3=8
Philosophus 4=7
Intermediate—Portal Grade

Second Order
Adeptus Minor 5=6
Adeptus Major 6=5
Adeptus Exemptus 7=4

Third Order
Magister Templi 8=3
Magus 9=2
Ipsissimus 10=1

 

 

The Tree of Life is a representation of the entirety of creation. The Tree is composed of ten spheres - referred to as the Sephiroth/Sefirot as a whole, each sphere denoting a universal quality, such as wisdom or beauty.
"Within the beliefs of the Golden Dawn, each sephira (the singular) has associated with it a number, a divine name of God in Hebrew, an archangel, an order of angels, a colour, and an element (from the Aristotelian four elements) along with other symbols. This array of ten spheres is connected by 22 paths, which are also numbered. In a manner similar to the sephiroth, the associations for the 22 paths connecting them include the assignment to each of one of the 22 Hebrew letters of their alphabet, one of the 22 Major Arcana tarot cards, a divine name of God in Hebrew, and an elemental association. (...) The numbering of the sephiroth and the paths, and the term “sephiroth” are both derived from the Sepher Yetzirah, an early Jewish mystical text which refers to the sephiroth as the ten primal numbers (one through ten) and also to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in conjunction with these first ten numbers."

 

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Card and ink

Copyright ownership:

MWM

These tracing board diagrams were most likely used as a way to test the knowledge of the members of the order of Alpha et Omega (initially called The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) and allow them to progress further up into higher levels (grades) in the order. It appears that some, if not all, of the boards were hung in the temple during rituals of the inner order. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

The front side of the board has a female form with a single length of cloth covering her. She also has a moon and star motif on her head, presumably as a connection to the universe. She is holding a wand in each hand, but as Major Arcana card, she does not fall into the suit of wands. On top of her there is a heptagram, which is a widely used symbol in alchemy. The use of this seven-sided shape can refer to the number of planets or creationism, amongst other things. Surrounding her is an orb made up of 10 larger rings, and a great number of smaller ones that presumably represent the number of tarot cards. In the corners, there are motifs to symbolise different signs -  the bull for Taurus; the lion to Leo; the eagle to Scorpio; and the man to Aquarius. These four aspects can also represent the four elements, four the watchtowers, four points of the compass, the four evangelists, and the four horsemen.

The reverse of the card reads 'Grade of Theories: 32nd Path of ת' (underlined). The symbol ת signifies immortality and salvation. Underneath, it says 'The 21st Key of the Tarot or The Universe. 4. First Point. Altar. 2=9.'

The "2=9" inscription pertains to the structure and grading of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (also known as Alpha et Omega, or the A.O.).

The structure of the Golden Dawn:

First Order
Introduction—Neophyte 0=0
Zelator 1=10
Theoricus 2=9
Practicus 3=8
Philosophus 4=7
Intermediate—Portal Grade

Second Order
Adeptus Minor 5=6
Adeptus Major 6=5
Adeptus Exemptus 7=4

Third Order
Magister Templi 8=3
Magus 9=2
Ipsissimus 10=1

 

 

The Tree of Life is a representation of the entirety of creation. The Tree is composed of ten spheres - referred to as the Sephiroth/Sefirot as a whole, each sphere denoting a universal quality, such as wisdom or beauty.
"Within the beliefs of the Golden Dawn, each sephira (the singular) has associated with it a number, a divine name of God in Hebrew, an archangel, an order of angels, a colour, and an element (from the Aristotelian four elements) along with other symbols. This array of ten spheres is connected by 22 paths, which are also numbered. In a manner similar to the sephiroth, the associations for the 22 paths connecting them include the assignment to each of one of the 22 Hebrew letters of their alphabet, one of the 22 Major Arcana tarot cards, a divine name of God in Hebrew, and an elemental association. (...) The numbering of the sephiroth and the paths, and the term “sephiroth” are both derived from the Sepher Yetzirah, an early Jewish mystical text which refers to the sephiroth as the ten primal numbers (one through ten) and also to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in conjunction with these first ten numbers."