A Philosophical Essay on Tarot Divination and Human Consciousness

8/12/2019 A Philosophical Essay on Tarot Divination and Human Consciousness

1/134

A Philosophical Essay onTarot Divination

andHuman Consciousness

by David Bruce Albert Jr., Ph.D.


2/134

(c) 2015 by David Bruce Albert Jr.

Contact the author at: [email protected]

!or"# $uoted in thi# e##ay are believed to be in the public doain unle## other%i#e#tated.

&ree o' i'e diara and table# o' card eanin# adapted 'ro *&he Boo" o' &hoth+ by

Alei#ter Cro%ley.

,oe type'ace# u#ed in thi# %or" %ere developed by -evin -in o' -inthin#

http://%%%."inthin#'ont#.co.u" .

rintin Date: 12. January 2015

evi#ion uber: 23


3/134

4. &he &arot and uan Con#ciou#ne##

&he &arot ay be thouht o' a# an art 'or that ha# a variety o' u#e# and eanin#. 4t

can be vie%ed a# a %or" o' art that i# appreciated 'or it# beauty and cople6ity7

irre#pective o' %hatever other 'unction# it iht have. Dependin upon the #peci'ic

&arot dec"7 it can #erve a# a te6tboo" 'or the #tudy o' an e#oteric #y#te. 4t can #erve a# a#tiulu# 'or active iaination or editation7 and it can al#o be u#ed 'or per#onal

analy#i#. !hen any people thin" o' the &arot7 ho%ever7 %hat they are really intere#ted

in i# it# u#e a# an oracle: a ethod o' di#coverin thin# that are norally hidden 'ro

vie%. 8#ually thi# ean# di#coverin thin# that are in the pa#t or 'uture7 or #oe reat

di#tance a%ay7 or 'or #oe other rea#on inacce##ible to ordinary ethod# o' di#covery.

&o under#tand %hat an oracle i#7 and ho% it %or"#7 it i# 'ir#t nece##ary to under#tand

#oethin about ho% con#ciou#ne## %or"#. Consciousnessi# that part o' thepsyche7 or

totality o' all ental proce##e#7 that i# a%are o' it#el' and a%are o' the out#ide %orld.

!hat di''erentiate# con#ciou#ne## 'ro everythin el#e i# it# #el'a%arene## and it#

subjectivity: it# a%arene## that %hat i# happenin i# happening to me7 and that there is a me

'or thin# to happen to7 an individual that i# di#tinct 'ro it# #urroundin# and per#i#t#

a# a #inle7 uni$ue bein over tie.

Con#ciou#ne## norally interact# %ith the out#ide %orld throuh the #en#e# #iht7

#ell7 ta#te7 hearin and touch and thi# proce## o' interaction i# calledperception.

96perience# that con#ciou#ne## under#tand# in thi# %ay are #aid to be immediate7

becau#e there are direct connection# or at lea#t there appear to be bet%een the

e6perience7 the body7 and con#ciou# a%arene##. 4n addition to perception7 con#ciou#ne##i# al#o capable o' introspection havin e6perience# o' it#el'7 and not u#t o' the out#ide

%orld. &houht#7 recollection#7 rea#onin7 and #iilar intro#pective event# iht al#o

be con#idered iediate7 a# they are ob#erved and e6perienced in uch the #ae %ay

a# perceptual e6perience#.

&he purpo#e o' an oracle i# to allo% con#ciou#ne## to di#cover event# that are not

iediate to it7 %hich in the ca#e o' oracle# u#ually ean# #eparated 'ro

con#ciou#ne## in #pace7 tie7 or both. o% the oracle i# able to reveal noniediate

e6perience to con#ciou#ne## reain# a atter o' theory. ;ne #uch theory i# ba#ed upon

the ob#ervation that there appear# to e6i#t %ithin the unconsciousa pree6i#tin iae7or preconition7 o' certain event# o' %hich con#ciou#ne## cannot be directly a%are. &he

unconsciousi# a eneral ter that re'er# to tho#e eleent# o' the p#yche o' %hich

con#ciou#ne## i# not directly a%are7 either becau#e the eleent ha# in#u''icientpsychic

energy %hich can be under#tood 'or thi# purpo#e a# *iportance+ to coe into

con#ciou# a%arene##7 becau#e it ha# intentionally been pu#hed out o' a%arene##7 or

becau#e it i# o' #uch a nature that it cannot be directly under#tood by con#ciou#ne## no


4/134

atter %hat it# level o' iportance.

4t i# thi# la#t cateory o' uncon#ciou# content# that i# o' priary intere#t in

under#tandin ho% an oracle i# able to reveal hidden event#. 4t %ould appear7 ba#ed

upon the re#ult# o' e6perient#7 that %ithin the uncon#ciou# are repre#entation# o'

event# pa#t7 pre#ent and 'uture7 to %hich con#ciou#ne## doe# not have direct acce##.

!hile con#ciou#ne## doe# not directly perceive the#e repre#entation#7psychoid processesin the uncon#ciou# do7 but the#e proce##e# cannot counicate %ith con#ciou#ne##

directly becau#e they involve ode# o' perception and cateorie# o' conition that are

copletely alien to con#ciou#ne##. 4n#tead7 they counicate %ith con#ciou#ne##

indirectly7 #uch a# throuh drea#7 'anta#ie#7 and the iaination. &hi# indirect

counication i# symbolic it# eanin i# cloa"ed in an ab#tract and #eeinly arcane

iaery that can only be under#tood throuh interpretation.


5/134

'ailiar. 4n#tead o' %aitin 'or drea#7 %ho#e iae# can be di''icult7 i' not ipo##ible7

to decipher7 the oracle provide# a readyade #et o' #ybol# 'or %hich con#ciou#ne##

already ha# #oe ba#ic under#tandin. &he oracle then act# a# a tran#lator bet%een the

lanuae o' the uncon#ciou# and the lanuae o' con#ciou#ne##7 u#in a prede'ined #et

o' #ybol# 'ailiar to both.

&he ood ne%# in thi# i# that throuh the u#e o' an oracle7 con#ciou#ne## can ain acce##to uncon#ciou# repre#entation#7 includin tho#e o' pa#t7 'uture7 and di#tant event#7 o'

%hich it could not other%i#e be a%are. &he di''iculty %ith thi# proce## i# that the

#ybol doe# not *%ear it# eanin on it# #leeve+7 but re$uire# interpretation and

analy#i# to have any eanin at all. &hi# interpretation proce##7 called divination7 ha#

both intellectual and intuitive coponent#: it involve# the alinin o' a body o'

"no%lede about the hi#tory and eanin o' the #ybol#7 %ith a #erie# o' #ubective

ipre##ion# and 'eelin# %ith %hich the #ybol# are ibued by the uncon#ciou#.

Divination i# there'ore both rational and irrational at the #ae tie> it could be #aid that

it involve# both a learnin7 and to #oe e6tent an unlearnin7 or %illinne## to

abandon the purely intellectual interpretation o' the #ybol#7 to arrive at anunder#tandin o' %hat lie# %ithin the uncon#ciou#.

Divination there'ore involve# an e##ential parado6: one u#t learn a #et o' eanin# 'or

the oracle?# #ybol# in order 'or con#ciou#ne## to under#tand the7 yet one u#t al#o to

#oe deree abandon tho#e eanin# to the o'ten ab#tract and contradictory

ipre##ion# throuh %hich the uncon#ciou# counicate# it# hidden %i#do. &he

#ituation clo#ely parallel# a #iilar proble in art criti$ue that i# addre##ed by the

concept o' the self-consuming artifact. Accordin to thi# theory7 a %or" o' art #uch a# a

paintin7 a poe7 a piece o' u#ic7 and #o 'orth have no eanin# by the#elve#> the

*eanin+ o' an art%or" eere# throuh a dialectical relation#hip a #ort o' bac"and'orth iveandta"e bet%een the %or" and the ob#erver. A per#on vie%in a

paintin7 'or e6aple7 coe# to it %ith certain attitude#7 e6pectation#7 belie'#7 ta#te#7 and

#o 'orth7 %hich %hen enaed by the paintin7 'ocu# the attention on variou# a#pect# o'

the %or". A# the %or" i# #tudied7 di''erent a#pect# o' it becoe ore or le## iportant7

%hich in turn alter# the %ay the ob#erver vie%# it. &hi# ne% attitude to%ard the %or" i#

then odi'ied by 'urther #tudy7 and the dialectic bet%een the %or" and the ob#erver

continue# until the paintin it#el' vani#he# in the train o' idea# it produce#. &he art%or"

it#el' i# *con#ued+ by it# interpretation7 and thu# the *eanin+ o' the %or" i# not in

the %or" it#el'7 but in the proce## o' interaction bet%een the obect and the #ubect %hovie%# it.

,iilarly7 &arot card# u#ed in divination are #el'con#uin arti'act#. &here i# no

eanin in the card or #ybol it#el' it i# really u#t in" on cardboard. !hen a card i#

vie%ed in a readin7 it call# 'orth certain a##ociation# in the con#ciou#ne## o' the diviner

"ey%ord#7 recollection#7 learned #et# o' eanin#7 perhap# it# #ini'icance in #oe


6/134

e#oteric #y#te7 and in the ca#e o' &arot dec"#7 eanin that ay be #ue#ted by the

illu#tration# the#elve#. But a# the diviner #tudie# the card7 ipre##ion# 'ro the

uncon#ciou# eere that a''ect and alter tho#e idea# the eanin o' the card chane#7

and the diviner coe# to #ee the card a# bein #oethin di''erent than %hat ha# been

eoried. &hi# ne% under#tandin re#ult# in ne% idea# that becoe a##ociated %ith

the card7 %hich are then 'urther odi'ied by ipre##ion# 'ro the uncon#ciou#. &hi#

bac"and'orth dialectic bet%een con#ciou# and uncon#ciou# continue# until the iaeo' the card it#el' vani#he# into the train o' idea# it call# 'orth7 and the#e idea# becoe the

*eanin+ o' the card in a readin. 9ven thouh individual dec"# ay be de#ined

%ith ore o' an intellectual or intuitive bia# #oe dec"# have detailed #yboli# and

iaery that appeal to the analytical 'acultie# o' con#ciou#ne##7 %hile other# are

de#ined to appeal ore to uncon#ciou# intuition both con#ciou# and uncon#ciou#

'acultie# u#t coe into play 'or the dialectical proce## bet%een con#ciou# and

uncon#ciou# to %or".

&hi# idea o' the &arot a# a #el'con#uin arti'act ha# a nuber o' iportant

con#e$uence#.


7/134

u#t *'eel# %ron+ alo#t certainly i# the %ron one to u#e.

Becau#e con#ciou# and uncon#ciou# enae one another durin a readin7 %ithout ever

actually collap#in into one another7 the eanin that eere# 'ro their interaction i#

fractal.


8/134

contact bet%een the cau#e and the e''ect7 either directly7 or throuh an unbro"en chain

o' phy#ical connection#. &o #ay7 'or e6aple7 that pre##in the bra"e pedal causedthe car

to #top7 there u#t e6i#t a phy#ical connection7 or unbro"en train o' connection#7

bet%een the pedal7 the echanical and electronic device# that connect it %ith the

bra"e#7 the bra"e# and the tire#7 and the tire# and the road7 in order 'or pre##in the

pedal to #top the car. ,iilarly7 there u#t al#o be succession7 eanin that the cau#e

u#t precede the e''ect in tie. 4' the car #top# be'ore the bra"e pedal i# pre##ed7 one%ould ordinarily loo" 'or #oe rea#on other than pre##in the bra"e pedal to e6plain

the #toppin.

&he third condition i# regularity7 eanin that event# o' one "ind reularly 'ollo% event#

o' another. Car# enerally do #top %hen the bra"e pedal i# pu#hed7 but the real eanin

o' reularity only eere# %hen the idea o' cau#ation i# u#ed to derive natural laws7

ab#tract principle# in #cience that 'orce thin# to happen in certain %ay#. 4' event# in the

%orld are the re#ult# o' cau#ation7 bound by the natural la%# to happen in certain %ay#7

then it turn# out that the %orld cannot be any other %ay than it i# thin# u#t happen

the %ay they do7 becau#e they cannot happen any other %ay. &a"en to it# philo#ophicale6tree7 thi# idea o' natural la% bound cau#ation i# the corner#tone o' determinism7 the

philo#ophical vie% that everythin that happen# i# the re#ult# o' cau#e# and e''ect# that

cannot be other%i#e than they are. &he entire univer#e i# thu# %oven into a net%or" o'

cau#e# and e''ect# %hich cannot and could not be other%i#e than the event# that

precede the dictate. &hi# include# huan thouht# and behavior7 and thu#

deterini# denie# that there i# any #uch thin a#free will7 other than u#t a# a

p#ycholoical illu#ion. eople 'eel ood %hen the thin" they have a choice7 but the

reality i# that everythin they thin" and do i# ebedded in a %eb o' cau#e# and e''ect#

that deterine outcoe# invariably.

Deterini# ha# any adherent#7 particularly aon tho#e %ho pro'e## a *#cienti'ic+

%orld vie%7 and believe that #cience a# they under#tand it to be i# the #ole ediator

o' 'act and truth. Deterini# %ould indeed be a per#ua#ive theory e6cept 'or t%o

proble#. &he 'ir#t7 a# di#covered hundred# o' year# ao %hen all thi# 'ir#t ot #tarted7

i# that %hile reularity ay be u#e'ul a# a eneral cateory o' under#tandin howthin#

happen7 it cannot be anythin that compelsthin# to happen in a certain %ay. eularity

ba#ically con#i#t# o' t%o part#: observationsthat thin# al%ay# happen in a certain %ay7

plu# the principle o' necessity7 %hich actually compelsthe to happen that %ay.

ece##ity i# a concept 'ro loic u#ed to anipulate ab#tract ter# in e$uation#7 but intryin to apply that #ae principle to actual event# in the %orld7 philo#opher David

ue noted that there is no observation of physical events that can prove an abstract principle .

4' #cience i# to be ba#ed on ob#ervation# o' actual thin#7 and not on ere idea# about

the7 then7 i' there i# no %ay to ob#erve nece##ity7 then it u#t doe#n?t e6i#t it i# a

'anta#y o' the ind7 ipo#ed by the ind on the thin# it #ee#. &houh it iht be a

u#e'ul tool 'or predictin ho% thin# are likelyto happen7 there i# no #uch thin a#


9/134

nece##ity toforcethe to happen in that %ay. And i' that i# true7 then deterini#7 and

the *#cienti'ic+ %orld vie% that re#t# upon it7 are nothin ore than phanta## o' the

ind.

4t #hould be clari'ied that =#cience= i# one thin7 and the =#cienti'ic %orld vie%=7

=#cienti'ic ateriali#=7 and other related philo#ophical interpretation# are another. At

it# root#7 #cience i# an epirical ethod7 %hich ean# that it i# a %ay o' learnin 'ro7and under#tandin7 e6perience. &he variou# =#cienti'ic= %orld vie%# are7 in eneral7

e6trapolation# 'ro #cience into etaphy#ic# they are ta"in %hat i# learned throuh

#cience7 and turnin it into %hat i# 'undaentally a reliiou# #y#te o' belie'# that7 in

the#elve#7 have little to do %ith direct e6perience. 4t i#7 a# ue #ue#t#7 in'errin

nece##ity 'ro ob#ervation7 and i# ore a 'unction o' huan belie' than o' anythin

that can be #cienti'ically #tudied. &here i# nothin in #cience it#el' that denie# divination7

the uncon#ciou#7 or #ubectivity> $uite the oppo#ite7 there i# a #ub#tantial body o'

#cienti'ic evidence that #upport# all o' the#e.

8n'ortunately7 ue?# criti$ue #ee# to underine the validity o' #cience andepirical "no%lede in eneral7 %hich i# a bad thin 'or tho#e %ho believe that learnin

'ro e6perience i# #oethin o' value. A'ter a 'e% 'al#e #tart#7 eran philo#opher

4anuel -ant cae up %ith %hat loo"ed li"e a %or"able #olution. -ant?#

philo#ophical #y#te o' Transcendental Idealismi# a# intricate and cople6 a# any

'anta#tical achine ever could be7 but the i#t o' hi# aruent i# that nece##ity doe# in

'act e6i#t7 but it e6i#t# in the %ay the ind %or"#. ece##ity7 and particularly a# it

applie# to cau#ation7 i# an inherent property o' the %ay the ind under#tand# thin#. ,o

it i#n?t a re$uireent that it be directly ob#ervable> it i# #u''icient that it eere# 'ro

ob#ervation# by virtue o' the %ay the ind %or"#7 becau#e the %ay the ind %or"# i#

predeterined by a #et o' builtin cateorie#7 o' %hich cau#eande''ect i# one. &he 'actthat the ind %or"# at all i# there'ore #u''icient to e#tabli#h nece##ity7 and alon %ith it

cau#ation7 and #cience in eneral a# a ean# o' cla##i'yin and under#tandin

e6perience#.

4t i# ipo##ible to convey the cople6ity and per#ua#ivene## o' -ant?# aruent# in a

#hort #pace7 and hi# deduction o' the cateorie# the vital part o' hi# #y#te that

connect# the ind to the *real %orld+ ha# rai#ed ore than one #et o' eyebro%#7 but it

doe# appear that at the very lea#t7 he did re#cue cau#eande''ect 'ro it# uean

rave. 4' only it could have #topped there i' only #cience could have been "ept a# onepossible%ay to the truth7 aon other#. ,adly7 it didn?t #top %ith that: philo#opher

.!.


10/134

eitgeist the Ab#olute 4dea7 %ho#e character i# re'lected in the thouht#7 idea#7 belie'#7

and hi#torical event# o' the %orld it over#ee#.

e#7 it #ound# cray7 and it i#7 but un'ortunately the eitei#t7 li"e any dictator7 et# it#

po%er 'ro bein believed7 not 'ro bein #ane. !here -antpsychologi!edcau#ation7

a"in it a 'eature o' the %ay one #ee the %orld7 eelpsychotici!edit7 a"in the %ay

the ind %or"# the controllin 'orce o' the %ay the %orld %or"#. A# p#ychoanaly#t CarlJun later ob#erved7 eel?# philo#ophy i# %hat happen# %hen the content# o' the

uncon#ciou# are turned loo#e on the %orld %ithout any #ort o' rational re#traint one

%ind# up believin in *'anta#tic bein# addre##ed in 'anta#tic lanuae.+ -ier"eaard?#

%ord# are #oe%hat le## polite.

!hat ha# all thi# ot to do %ith readin the &arot


11/134

connection# bet%een event# under appropriate circu#tance# u#t a# cau#eande''ect

ay be a cateory o' the con#ciou# ind7 #o iht #ynchronicity be a cateory o' the

uncon#ciou#. And %hile there i# no aount o' evidence7 aruent or e6perience that

%ill chane the belie'# o' tho#e %ho clin to the eitei#t o' outdated vie%# o' #cience7 it

#ee# u#t a# rea#onable to e6pect that %hat i# revealed to con#ciou#ne## by an oracle i#

appro#imatelytrue7 a# it i# to e6pect that the #un %ill appear over the horion

appro#imatelyin the #ae place and at the #ae tie toorro% a# it did today.

4n the liht o' the 'act that #cience ha# evolved beyond ateriali# and deterini#7

can there be a *#cienti'ic+ e6planation o' ho% card# dra%n can re'lect event# hidden in

the pa#t7 pre#ent or 'uture 96perient# #ue#t that there are7 %ithin the uncon#ciou#7

preconition# o' event# o' %hich con#ciou#ne## i# not a%are. &here are7 accordin to

thi# vie%7 repre#entation# in the uncon#ciou# o' the very in'oration that i# inacce##ible

to con#ciou#ne##> i' #o7 then the i##ue becoe# under#tandin ho% to et that

in'oration out o' the uncon#ciou# in a 'or that i# repre#entable to con#ciou#ne##. &he

e##ential proble becoe# one o' #electin the riht #ybol# upon %hich the #el'

con#uin proce## can %or"7 %hich coe# do%n to e6plainin ho% the card# dra%ncan re'lect the eanin o' the uncon#ciou# preconition. . ;ne %ay to e6plain thi# i# to

appeal to the theory o' #uperpo#ition7 an idea 'ro phy#ic# %hich7 in a nut#hell7 ean#

that any #y#te that canbe in ultiple #tate# in 'act e#istsin ultiple #tate# until it i#

ob#erved. 4n ter# o' a dec" o' card#7 thi# ean# that until the card# are actually dra%n7

they are in 'act in no particular order. !hich card i# on top7 i# not deterined until

#oeone actually dra%# it and loo"# at it.

o% riht a%ay7 *coon #en#e+ unlea#he# it# u#ual 'lurry o' obection#. *4t can?t be7

the order o' the card# u#t be 'i6ed be'ore they are dra%n.+ All riht then7 let u#

con#truct an e6perient to te#t thi# theory. o% %ould one do it ho% %ould onedeterine %hether the card# are in any #peci'ic order7 %ithout actually chec"in to #ee

%hat order they are in 4t can?t be done> it i# a ca#e o' ue?# aruent all over aain

there i# no ob#ervation that can prove the belie' that the card# are in any particular

order until they are dra%n. &he belie' that the #hu''led card# are already in #oe

#peci'ic order be'ore they are dra%n i# uch li"e the belie' that the nuber# that %ill

coe up in the lottery are already deterined be'ore they are dra%n. ;h7 i' it %ere only

#o...

But it i#n?t #o7 and the belie' that the card# u#t be in #oe 'i6ed order i# nothin orethan the #ae 'ient o' the ind a# cau#eande''ect. 4t i# u#t another ental re#idue

o' the 1Ethcentury eitei#t that #erve# ore to blind one to the truth than to elucidate

it. 4' one can et beyond that "ind o' preudice7 then it becoe# apparent that there i# no

rea#on to believe the card# are in any particular order until they are dra%n.

4' the oracle i# to have #oe eanin7 the card# u#t be in #oe "ind o' order7 an order


12/134

that connect# %ith the preconitive iae o' the event in $ue#tion %ithin the

uncon#ciou#. 4' the phy#ical act o' #hu''lin the card# doe# not deterine their order7

then %hat doe# !hat the theory o' #uperpo#ition #tate# i# that 'or the card# to be in

#oe #peci'ic order7 there u#t be an ob#erver. &o di#cover %ho that ob#erver i#7

reeber that %hat i# in the uncon#ciou# i# a preconitive repre#entation o' a non

iediate event. *epre#entation+ iplie# that there i# an obect the event in

$ue#tion and a #ubect to %ho that event i# repre#ented. &hat #ubect i# a p#ychoidproce## in the uncon#ciou#7 and it i# not uch o' a leap to #uppo#e that i' #uch a proce##

can connect %ith event# in the pa#t and 'uture7 there i# no rea#on %hy it can not al#o

connect %ith event# in the pre#ent7 #uch a# the #hu''lin o' card#. ,o7 the ob#erver that i#

needed to order the card# i# thepsychoid process to whom the events in the past or future are

represented.

&he order o' the card#7 then7 i# not arbitrary a# it ay at 'ir#t #ee. &he uncon#ciou# ha#

p#ychoid proce##e# that perceive event# throuh cateorie# di''erent 'ro tho#e o'

con#ciou#ne##7 perhap# includin cateorie# li"e #ynchronicity7 'uture event# ta"in

#hape7 and #o on> the#e proce##e# then act a# ob#erver# that can order the card# in adra%. !hatever the obection# o' =coon #en#e= or coonly held belie'# ay be7 the

i##ue here i# not to rati'y preudice# and belie'#7 but to e6plain %hat i# ob#erved to

happen. Fany people %ho practice divination have e6perienced thi# "ind o' alinent

o' card#7 %ith later veri'ication o' event# that actually happen. 4t doe#n?t al%ay# %or"

thi# %ay7 but then aain7 #oetie# it doe#7 and it i# an e6planation o' tho#e ca#e# %here

it %or"# that i# #ouht here. ,oe people %ho read the &arot probably aren?t loo"in 'or

thi# "ind o' e6perience7 and are really readin the card# 'or #oethin other than thi#

"ind o' divination. ;ther#7 ho%ever7 are readin it 'or thi# purpo#e7 and the point here i#

to e#tabli#h the theoretical po##ibility that #uch e6perience# are po##ible7 and to provide

a loical e6planation o' ho% they are po##ible.

Alternatively7 it could be a##ued that the &arot really i# a 'arce that the iae# are

#u''iciently eneral that it doe#n?t atter %hat card# are dra%n7 the uncon#ciou# can u#e

the to counicate %hatever e##ae i# de#ired. ;ther "ind# o' divination

pyroancy7 li#tenin to the %ind7 readin tea leave#7 etc #ee to %or" in thi# %ay7

u#in the apparently rando pattern# in the oracle to brin uncon#ciou# content# into

a%arene##. But then aain7 anyone %ho ha# ever practiced *dreain the 'ire+ "no%#

very %ell that %hat i# #een in the 'ire can ta"e on very #peci'ic eanin that i# 'ar 'ro

rando7 and %ho i# to #ay7 %ithout evidence to the contrary7 that the uncon#ciou# i#n?table to anipulate the 'lae# into a eanin'ul iae7 or that the 'lae# the#elve# do

not reveal a hidden eanin Aain7 the obective i# to e#tabli#h po##ibility and

rea#onable e6planation7 not to e#tabli#h la#t and 'inal proo'.

&o brea" the hold o' deterini# and it# related reductioni#t philo#ophie#7 all one

need# to do i# to #ho% that there are other e6planation# that are con#i#tent %ith


13/134

ob#erved 'act. 4' the e6planation iven above i# rea#onable7 and by *rea#onable+ i#

eant loical and con#i#tent %ith the 'act#7 then it i#n?t ere *luc" o' the dra%+ a# to

%hich card# coe up in a readin> the order o' card# dra%n ay very %ell be the loical

con#e$uence# o' the proce##e# involved in readin and interpretin the card#. &he

in'oration revealed by the oracle i#n?t nece##arily *pure chance plu# vivid

iaination+7 but perhap# the re#ult o' identi'iable and e6plicable proce##e#.

4n connection %ith thi# aruent it #hould be entioned that de#pite the be#t e''ort# o'

diviner#7 divination# o %ron7 and o %ron o'ten. &hi# doe# not ean that divination

i# non#en#e7 or doe# not %or". 4t i# erely a re'lection o' the 'act that the principle# o'

phy#ic# that lie behind the operation# o' divination are relative and not ab#olute7 bein

overned ore by #tati#tical probability than loical nece##ity. hy#ical proce##e# are

=noi#y=7 in the #en#e that they #eldo produce re#ult# that are e6act7 but ore o'ten

produce a clu#ter o' re#ult# that appro6iate the ideal. 4n the ca#e o' the &arot7 thi#

ean# that de#pite the be#t e''ort# and intention#7 card# o'ten coe out in an order that

appear# to be non#en#e. A# %ill be di#cu##ed #hortly7 divination# that =%or"= o'ten

carry %ith then #ubective 'eelin that they are =riht=7 a# oppo#ed to other# that carryno #uch 'eelin#7 and #ee to be nothin but ibberi#h. &hu#7 a layout o' card# that

appear# to be nothin but non#en#e probably i# u#t that7 and thi# i# a con#e$uence o'

the #tati#tical nature o' the very proce##e# that a"e divination po##ible in the 'ir#t

place.

Con#ciou# and 8ncon#ciou#

&he other point that need# 'urther e6planation to coplete the #tory o' ho% divination

%or"#7 i# to provide #oe e6planation o' ho% the uncon#ciou# can be a%are o' event# in

the pa#t7 pre#ent and 'uture to %hich con#ciou#ne## it#el' doe# not have acce##. &he

%hole po##ibility o' there bein any #uch thin a# divination re#t# upon the idea that

there can be repre#entation# o' noniediate event# in the uncon#ciou#7 #o the

$ue#tion u#t no% be one o' %hat the#e repre#entation# are7 and ho% they et there.

,ince cau#eande''ect i# not a po##ibility7 then the e6planation %ill have to coe 'ro

#oe%here out#ide o' the cla##ical eitei#t o' deterini# and ateriali#. 4n 'act7

there probably can?t be a *#cienti'ic+ e6planation7 under#tood a# involvin repeatable

and veri'iable e6perient#7 becau#e the content# o' the uncon#ciou# are purely

#ubective7 and have no eanin in the#elve# until they are interpreted. 4nterpretation

i# a #el'con#uin proce## involvin per#onal p#ycholoical eleent#7 #o there i# no%ay to #ort that out in ter# o' $uanti'iable data. &hat doe# not ean there i# no

e6planation7 nor doe# it ean that it doe#n?t happen> it u#t ean# that a *#cienti'ic+

e6planation ay not be the be#t %ay to o. But then7 no one other than tho#e dedicated

to the eitei#t o' the 1Ethcentury7 %ould #ay that #cience i# nece##arily the only %ay to

the truth.


14/134

4n order to under#tand ho% the uncon#ciou# i# able to counicate %ith con#ciou#ne##7

and e6actly %hat it i# that the uncon#ciou# counicate#7 it iht be be#t to bein %ith

an illu#tration o' the relation#hip bet%een con#ciou#ne## and the uncon#ciou#.


15/134

#ubectivity7 that %hich a"e# each individual uni$ue7 and the content# o' the p#yche

uni$ue in each individual. A# an a#ide7 it i# probably 'or thi# rea#on that the *Gulcan

Find Felt+ ay be an ipo##ibility7 'or the ,el' *encode#+7 #o to #pea"7 the content# o'

the p#yche %ith it# o%n uni$ue #inature7 and thu#7 any attept to *read+ tho#e

content# in any #ort o' obective %ay %ould li"ely yield only arbled non#en#e.

&houht#7 perception#7 'eelin# and idea# are nece##arily your#7 and belon to no one

el#e. ,peci'ically reardin the &arot7 it i# one rea#on %hy the interpretation# o' card#%ill nece##arily vary bet%een di''erent reader#7 'or *eanin+ i# only po##ible in

relation to the interpretive proce##e# o' con#ciou#ne##7 nece##arily #taped %ith the

uni$uene## o' the individual. A# the ,el' i# the ultiate #ource on the individual?#

identity7 and pereate# and a''ect# all o' the operation# o' con#ciou#ne##7 it i# %ell

repre#ented by the 9peror.


16/134

relation#hip %here each individual ha# hi# or her o%n bein7 o%n 'eelin#7 and #o on7

%hich can coe into con'lict7 #o the 9o and the ,el' can 'ind the#elve# at odd#.

,oetie# the individual %ho7 at #oe deep level7 the per#on actually i#7 coe# into

irre#olvable con'lict %ith the deand# o' livin in the %orld. !hen thi# happen#7 tho#e

a#pect# o' the per#onality that are in con'lict %ith the %ay con#ciou#ne## #ee# it#el'7 or

#ee# ho% it need# to appear in order to operate in the %orld7 are repressed7 or 'orced out

o' the a%arene## o' con#ciou#ne##. &houh the#e a#pect# o' the per#onality are 'orcedout o' con#ciou# vie%7 they nonethele## continue to e6i#t7 and continue to 'unction in the

p#yche independently o' con#ciou#ne## a# comple#es. e't to their o%n device#7 the#e

cople6e# can accuulate #u''icient enery to reappear in con#ciou#ne## %ithout

con#ciou# control they #uddenly erupt into behavior7 a# i' out o' no%here. &he

= odd 'eelin# or reaction# to certain #ituation#7

certain drea#7 or even voice# bein heard are other ore e6tree e6aple#. &he action

o' the#e repre##ed cople6e# #ee# 'orein to con#ciou#ne##7 a# thouh there i#

#oeone el#e =in the head= drivin the p#yche. &hi# =#oeone= i# %hat Jun called =&he

,hado%=7 a neative copleent to the er#ona another 'al#e =per#on= created by

con#ciou#ne## to hide %hat it i# a#haed o' or 'ear'ul o' and it# pre#ence and activitycreate# the #ae "ind o' inauthenticity and #tre## a# the er#ona. &hi# "ind o' internal

#tre## can literally tear con#ciou#ne## apart7 and %hen it doe#7 depre##ion7 neuro#i#7 and

'inally p#ycho#i# can en#ue. &he unity that con#ciou#ne## brin# to the p#yche di##olve#7

and p#ychoid proce##e# 'ro the uncon#ciou# can eere into behavior7 o'ten %ith

biarre and di#a#trou# con#e$uence#. &he unity behind the a#" vani#he#7 and %hat

appear# to the out#ide %orld i# a be%ilderin uble o' di#connected cople6e# and

behavior#. &here i# no one behind the a#" to %or" the control#7 only a con'u#ion o'

individual7 di#connected proce##e#. Con#ciou#ne## either vani#he# copletely7 or el#e

can only %atch in horror a# di#connected proce##e# 'ro the uncon#ciou# ta"e control o'

the p#yche. &hi# #tate o' di##ociation i# repre#ented by the


17/134

enery7 #oetie# al#o called libido7 ha# it# oriin# in the uncon#ciou#. Ju#t a# it %a#

nece##ary to u#e the ter 9o in a #oe%hat di''erent %ay than it i# u#ed by other#7 #o

the ter libido al#o ha# a di''erent eanin than the %ay it i# u#ed in edical analy#i#.

4' the uncon#ciou# i# the #ource o' the p#ychic enery that drive# con#ciou#ne##7 then

%hile it i# o'ten thouht that uncon#ciou# and con#ciou#ne## are iniical to one another7

a# eneie# in the p#yche7 in truth the p#yche can only 'unction a# a uni'ied %hole %hen

con#ciou#ne## and uncon#ciou# %or" cooperatively. eturnin to the $ue#tion o' theoriin and nature o' uncon#ciou# repre#entation# i# there'ore really to a#" about the

oriin# o' con#ciou#ne## it#el'.

&he uncon#ciou# #pea"# in t%o di#tinct voice#7 identi'ied by Jun in iber ovu# a# the

,pirit of the Timesand the ,pirit of the $epths7 and both have a role to play in the readin

o' the &arot. Spirit of the Timesi# a direct tran#lation o' the eran %ord eitgeist7 %hich

ha# already appeared in connection %ith eel?# philo#ophy o' Ab#olute 4deali#. 4n

tho#e philo#ophical ter#7 it i# the rei'ication o' huan thouht into obective e6i#tence7

a perver#ion o' De#carte#? 'aou# #ayin into7 *4 believe7 there'ore it i#.+ 4n

p#ycholoical ter#7 it i# an iae in the uncon#ciou# o' %hat Julian Jayne# call# thebicameral mind. &he bicaeral ind i# a phy#ioloical adaptation in the brain to #ocial

behavior. &he ba#ic idea i# that the brain ob#erve# pattern# o' acceptable and

unacceptable behavior aon other#7 then tran#it# tho#e pattern# throuh the #peech

echani## o' the brain a# voice# that coand obedience. &hi# #peech i# o'ten heard

a# the voice o' an authority 'iure7 and #erve# a# a #ort o' autoatic ean# o' the

leader?# coand# bein i##ued in hi# or her phy#ical ab#ence.

o% one iht %onder ho% %ell all the#e coandin voice# %ould o over %ith

con#ciou#ne##7 but the bicaeral ind7 accordin to Jayne#7 actually predate# the

e6i#tence o' con#ciou#ne##. &hat i# to #ay that until relatively recently the la#t t%othou#and year# or #o there never really %a# any #uch thin a# con#ciou#ne##. o #el'7

no eo7 no individuality in the p#ycholoical #en#e. 4ncredible a# thi# iht #ee7

Jayne#? evidence and aruent# are $uite per#ua#ive. 9ntire #ocietie# and civiliation#

%ere built out o' thi# phy#ioloical echani# o' pattern reconition and coandin

voice#. &here #iply %a# no #uch thin a# con#ciou#ne## to thin" 'or it#el'7 or to re#i#t or

re'u#e the coand# o' the *reat eader+ in the head.

!hile the bicaeral ind can be an iportant #urvival echani#7 it can al#o be

ruthle## to tho#e thin# it doe# not reconie a# acceptable. !ar# %ere 'ouht7 countle##nuber# died7 and civiliation# ro#e and 'ell ba#ed upon the phy#ioloical

di#criination bet%een *u#+ and *the.+ !hat could po##ibly have one throuh the

ind o' ,ocrate#7 one %onder#7 that %ould cau#e hi to 'avor death over e6ile &he

an#%er i# that the bicaeral ind orbidly 'ear# any lo## o' orientation7 and rather

than e6perience a lo## o' 'ailiar pattern# and #urroundin#7 it %ould pre'er to de#troy

it#el'.


18/134

&hi# %a# ultiately the do%n'all o' the bicaeral ind. &he bicaeral ind i# a rule

'ollo%in entity7 and %hen the rule# no loner %or"7 it can no loner proce## and i##ue

coand# %hen the 'ailiar pattern# di#appear7 the voice# 'all #ilent. Chane# in the

environent7 iration o' people#7 developent o' trade7 and other 'actor# #o

di#rupted the #ocial and environental pattern# by %hich the bicaeral ind oriented

it#el' that it could no loner operate. &he#e #ae 'actor# nece##itated a certain "ind o''racture i# the p#yche a per#on %ould need to be one thin7 and appear to be another.

&he need 'or a a#" created the need 'or a per#on behind the a#"7 and thi# opened the

door 'or the appearance o' individual con#ciou#ne##.

&here i# a lot in Jayne#? theory that i# open to aruent7 but %hat doe# at lea#t appear to

be riht i# that there e6i#t in the brain phy#ioloical echani## that orient thouht and

behavior to prevailin #ocial nor#. &hat can be a ood thin it "eep# tra''ic ovin

in the riht direction7 'or e6aple7 but it can al#o produce ebarra##in litche#7 %hen

thin# that are *noral+ in one culture are done ca#ually in a di''erent culture %here

they are con#idered unacceptable. onethele##7 becau#e the bicaeral ind ipart# a"no%lede ba#ed on tradition and authority7 it ha# been #ybolied a# the ierophant

o' the tarot. orally thi# "ind o' "no%lede i# tran#itted to the 9o re#pon#ible

'or connectin con#ciou#ne## to the out#ide %orld ore o'ten a# 'eelin#7 de#ire#7

revul#ion#7 and #o on7 rather than a# intellectual content. !hile the Spirit of the Timesi#

the iae in the uncon#ciou# o' the#e phy#ioloical proce##e#7 con#ciou#ne## u#ually

doe# not hear voice#> thi# "no%lede o#t o'ten i# ani'e#ted a# vaue 'eelin#7 or a

#en#e o' %hat i# the riht or %ron thin to do7 %ithout any real rational u#ti'ication.

4ae# in the uncon#ciou# are not *real+7 in the #en#e o' havin an obective7

independent e6i#tence> the repre#entation i# a %ay 'or con#ciou#ne## to under#tand

and interact %ith a ental proce## %ith %hich it cannot directly counicate. &houhthe iae or repre#entation it#el' i# not real7 %hat it repre#ent# i# very real. &he Spirit of

the Timesi# a repre#entation o' a phy#ioloical proce##7 the bicaeral ind7 that

oriinate# in the anatoy and phy#ioloy o' the brain.

&he Spirit of the Timescan be a ood and help'ul thin7 but it can al#o be ercile##ly

puni#hin and horri'ically de#tructive. Becau#e it appeared in evolution prior to the

developent o' individual con#ciou#ne##7 individuality can be a thin $uite iniical to

it7 e#pecially i' that individuality ta"e# a cour#e that divere# 'ro #ocial nor#.


19/134

o' con#ciou#ne##. &hi# %ould include thin# that are accepted %ithout $ue#tion becau#e

they are *#cienti'ic+7 or reected becau#e it i# uded by the bicaeral ind that they are

not7 *#cienti'ic+ bein a aor coponent o' the *odern+ eitei#t7 %hich i#7 in 'act7

the e6ternal obecti'ication o' the Spirit of the Times. ,iilarly7 the habitual and ince##ant

u#e o' *%e+ and *our+ a# the #ubect# o' %ritten or #po"en #entence#7 and the ob#e##ion

%ith7 and endle## chatter over =relation#hip#= and =le##on#= are pure e''luviu o' the

bicaeral ind they are *


20/134

conteporary drea#7 'anta#ie#7 creative proce##e#7 and p#ychiatric di#order#. i"e the

Spirit of the Times7 %hich i# a repre#entation o' thephysiologicalproce##e# o' the

bicaeral ind that interact# %ith pattern# o' behavior it ob#erve# in the %orld7 the

Spirit of the $epthsi# a repre#entation o'psychologicalproce##e# in the uncon#ciou# that

interact %ith #oe other actual thin o' %hich con#ciou#ne## cannot be directly a%are.

4' pattern# o' #ocial behavior are ultiately the obect# o' %hich the Spirit of the Timesi# a

repre#entation7 then %hat are the obect# o' %hich the archetype# o' the Spirit of the$epthsare repre#entation#

&he "ey to identi'yin the #ource o' the Spirit of the $epthsi# to be 'ound in the %ay that

the uncon#ciou# *#pea"#+ in a &arot readin. &he Spirit of the Times7 %hile in it# cla##ical

'or #pea"# to the p#yche in actual auditory hallucination#7 in a &arot readin a"e#

it#el' "no%n a# an oraniin 'orce. 4t i# enerally obectively oriented7 re'errin to

thin#7 #ituation#7 and behavior# in the ob#ervable phy#ical %orld that i#7 thin# that

are iediate7 a# the %ord ha# been u#ed here. A# the priary 'unction o' the

bicaeral ind i# alinin the behavior o' the individual %ith #ocial nor#7 #o the

Spirit of the Times7 %hen it #pea"# throuh the &arot7 doe# #o o'ten in the 'or o'critici#7 udent7 and advice. 4t teache# *le##on#+7 eanin that it in#truct# the

individual in idea# and behavior# that7 one %ay or another7 proote the interation o'

the individual into the #ocial environent. A# it i# obectively oriented7 it i# priarily

concerned %ith thin# a# they are7 or a# it thin"# they #hould be7 and ho% the

individual #hould 'it in %ith %hat e6i#t# in the iediate pre#ent7 or %hat can be

predicted ba#ed upon ob#ervation# o' %hat e6i#t# in the pre#ent. 4t can7 there'ore7 a"e

prediction# or at lea#t rea#onable ue##e# that ro% out o' %hat it can ob#erve. 4t

can7 'or e6aple7 predict that i' you don?t put a# in the car7 it %on?t run7 even i' it can?t

directly e6plain %hy.

!hile any people u#e the &arot in thi# %ay 'or *coun#elin+ or advice thi# i# not

divination a# the ter# ha# been u#ed here. Divination involve# *#eein+ beyond the

liit# o' the iediate7 and beyond %hat can be predicted 'ro the iediate. Fany

u#e the &arot 'or thi# purpo#e7 a# %ell a# 'or in#iht# into %hat ay lie out#ide the liit#

o' the phy#ical #en#e#7 and %hat can be deduced or in'erred 'ro the. ,ince there i#

nothin in the phy#ical ob#ervation o' the e6ternal %orld that can yield thi# "ind o'

in'oration7 divination 'ocu#e# on in%ardne## %hat can be learned 'ro inner

#ource# that o'ten tran#cend tie and #pace7 and have little to do %ith ethical $ue#tion#

o' *'ittin in.+ &hi# i# not to #ay that the Spirit of the $epthsal%ay# #pea"# *nicely.+ &heSpirit of the $epthsdra%# one in%ard7 but %hat i# 'ound in that in%ardne## i# not al%ay#

plea#ant. 4t i# the Spirit of the $epthsthat #pea"# throuh drea#7 and drea# can turn

into nihtare#7 particularly %hen the Spirit of the $epthsand the Spirit of the Timesare

in con'lict. !hen there e6i#t# a ba#ic con'lict bet%een %ho the individual on the in#ide

i#7 and %hat that individual trie# to be7 or u#t be7 in the %orld and thi# i# not

uncoon in a %orld %ho#e eitei#t #ee# controlled by the bicaeral ind then


21/134

the Spirit of the $epthsoe# on the attac". &hat attac" can erupt in behavior a# neuro#i#

or p#ycho#i#7 but o'ten 'ir#t appear# in drea#. A# a brie' a#ide7 huan con#ciou#ne##

#eldo e6i#t# in per'ect balance bet%een the t%o uncon#ciou# voice#. &ho#e %ho#e

con#ciou#ne## tend# to%ard the Spirit of the Timeshave %hat Jun called e#traverted

per#onalitie#7 eanin they loo" to the out#ide %orld 'or orientation and eanin.

&ho#e %ho tend to #ee" a'ter the Spirit of the $epths7 in contra#t7 are introverted

per#onalitie#7 and #hun the obective %orld in pre'erence to #ubective eanin ande6perience. &hu#7 e6travert# deny or conden the u#e o' the &arot 'or di#coverin

*#poo"y oen#+7 %hile introvert# %onder i' the e6travert# have yet received their order#

o' the day 'ro the *reat eader in the head+. A #ad #ituation7 'or there i# roo in the

%orld o' the &arot 'or both approache#.

&he Spirit of the $epths7 then7 'ocu#e# on #ubective in%ardne## a# it# #ource o'

in#piration and in'oration. !hile the Spirit of the Times'ocu#e# on obective #ituation#7

the Spirit of the $epths'ocu#e# ore on #ubective ipre##ion#. &hu# the Spirit of the

$epthsi# ore adept at dealin %ith eneral concept# than *"ey%ord#+7 pre'errin to

develop eanin# throuh intro#pection and intuition7 a# oppo#ed to the pre'erence o'the Spirit of the Times'or 'ittin #ocial behavior into obecti'ied circu#tance#. &he Spirit

of the Timescoand#7 %hile the Spirit of the $epths%hi#per#7 and %hat the Spirit of the

$epths%hi#per# o'ten appear# to have it# #ource in #oethin that lie# 'ar out#ide the

real o' obective reality and #ocial behavior.

4n%ardne## and 8n"no%n

But %hat i# there in it# in%ardne## that could provide thi# "ind o' in#iht ,urely not

anythin in the phy#ical brain7 'or #uch in'oration %ould be liited to the iediate7

or %hat can be deduced or in'erred 'ro it.


22/134

con#ciou#ne## to have any direct coprehen#ion o' #uch a %orld. &he cateorie# by

%hich con#ciou#ne## under#tand# the obective %orld are tho#e that identi'y and

di''erentiate event# and obect# ba#ed upon their phy#ical and teporal di''erence# and

#iilaritie#. !hich i# li"ely the rea#on %hy any intuition# o' #uch a %orld %ould have

to be uncon#ciou# they %ould corre#pond to cateorie# or archetype# in the

uncon#ciou#7 o' %hich con#ciou#ne## can have no direct coprehen#ion. But to #ay that

the uncon#ciou# iht have direct acce## to a %orld in %hich event# are notdi#tinui#hed 'ro one another by #eparation in #pace and tie i# to rai#e a nuber o'

potentially di#turbin i##ue#. &he %ord that i# enerally applied to a %orld or #tate o'

bein in %hich there i# no di''erentiation o' tie i# eternal7 the %ord applied to a %orld

or #tate o' bein in %hich there i# no di''erentiation o' #pace i# infinite7 and the ter that

de#cribe# the e6perience or intuition o' #uch an in'inite and eternal %orld or #tate o'

bein i# mystical e#perience.

!alter ,tace7 in &ie and 9ternity7 hi# de'initive #tudy on the #ubect7 propo#e# the

Intersection Theorya# an e6planation o' y#tical e6perience:

There are two orders, the natural order which is the order of time, and the divine

order, which is the order of eternity. In the moment of mystic illumination the two

orders intersect, so that the moment belongs to both orders. Within that single

moment of time are enclosed all eternity and all infinity.

;ne thin that #hould be pointed out i# that %hile the ter mystical e#periencei# o'ten

u#ed in a reliiou# conte6t7 it need not nece##arily be con'ined to that conte6t. &here i#

nothin in the concept o' in'inity or eternity that nece##itate# or iplie# the e6i#tence o'

any 'or o' #uperior or intendin bein7 nor i# there anythin in either o' tho#e

concept# that denie# it. !hether or not there e6i#t# any #uch bein or bein# i# a#eparate i##ue7 and $uite irrelevant to the $ue#tion o' ho% the uncon#ciou# perceive#

pa#t and 'uture event#.

!hat i# directly relevant to the topic o' divination i# that in order 'or the uncon#ciou# to

have a repre#entation o' event# beyond the liit# o' phy#ical #pace and tie7 it u#t be

capable o' interactin in #oe %ay %ith a %orld very di''erent than that to %hich

con#ciou#ne## i# accu#toed7 a %orld in %hich event# o' the pa#t7 pre#ent and 'uture7

both near and 'ar a%ay7 are directly acce##ible. &he 4nter#ection &heory #ue#t# that it

i# po##ible 'or the uncon#ciou# to do u#t that7 by havin one 'oot in the %orld o' #paceand tie7 and one 'oot in the eternal7 #o to #pea". But to ta"e thi# idea to it# loical

conclu#ion7 it %ould appear7 ba#ed on the ob#erved tiele##ne## o' uncon#ciou#

archetype#7 that perhap# the collective or tran#per#onal uncon#ciou#7 or at the very lea#t

the obect o' %hich iae# in the collective uncon#ciou# are repre#entation#7 i# it#el' thi#

%orld o' the eternal and in'inite. A# elen Chappel #aid in &he !a6in Foon7

*,oe%here in the heart o' the co#o#7 %hat %e call tie ha# no relevance7+ and it i#


23/134

clear 'ro the above that #oe%here in the very heart o' the huan p#yche there e6i#t#

a per#i#tent connection %ith7 and perhap# actual pre#ence o'7 the %orld o' the eternal

and in'inite7 %hich any author# pre'er to li't out o' it# reliiou# a##ociation# by

re'errin to it a# the ;ther ,ide7 ;ther !orld7 ;ut#ide7 the 9ntelechy7 the &ao7 the

8n"no%n7 or7 a# it i# ore popularly "no%n7 the a#en#e o' ipotence and nothinne## a# aain#t overpo%erin iht> the conviction that

one i# con'ronted %ith #oethin over%helinly alive7 vital and active> a #en#e o'

y#tery7 o' %onder over #oethin %hich i#7 in at lea#t #oe re#pect#7 radically other

than the obect# o' ordinary e6perience> and7 'a#cination or attraction. 4t i# 'or the

purpo#e7 aon other#7 o' producin thi# type o' e6perience that the &arot i# o'ten u#ed

in ritual aic. ot every diviner %ill e6perience thi#7 and o#t probably %on?t7 but

tho#e %ho do can be led to deep and li'echanin in#iht#. 4t i# a po##ibility o' %hich

one #hould be a%are7 and even i' a divination doe# not have thi# ipact7 a divination

that oe# %ell %ill u#ually produce #oe deree o' nuinou# 'eelin. 4t coe# do%n to

the ob#ervation that a card readin that *'eel# riht+ probably i# riht7 and a readinthat 'eel# epty and unenlihtenin probably i# u#t that.

Doe# thi# ean every tarot readin i# a y#tical e6perience 4# thi# the only leitiate

u#e o' the &arot ot at all. &here are any %ho u#e the &arot objectively7 in the #en#e

addre##ed by the Spirit of the Times. 4t i# a per'ectly leitiate thin to #ee" in#iht# and

uidance in di''icult or con'u#in #ituation#7 and a# the Spirit of the Timesi# adept at

identi'yin pattern# and trend# in obective #ituation# and ho% one can 'it one?#

behavior to the7 it can be a #ource o' advice that iht not other%i#e be available. But

thi# i# not the only u#e o' the &arot> it can al#o be u#ed subjectively7 'or in#iht intoatter# that have no direct correlate# in the phy#ical %orld. !hether 'or intro#pection

into one?# o%n ind7 or divination into the pa#t or 'uture7 the Spirit of the $epthscan be a

#ource o' other%i#e inacce##ible %i#do. &he atter under con#ideration i# that7 iven

the ob#ervation that divination# and in#iht# do occur7 and there i# aple e6periental

evidence that they do7 then %hat doe# thi# #ay about the nature o' the huan

con#ciou#ne## that #ee"# and under#tand# the#e in#iht#


24/134

Ju#t a# the p#ychic enery that enerie# the 9o coe# 'ro the phy#ioloical

proce##e# that reveal the#elve# to con#ciou#ne## a# the Spirit of the Times7 #o it i# al#o

the ca#e that the p#ychic enery that drive# the ,el' coe# 'ro the Spirit of the $epths.

8ncon#ciou# ipre##ion# oriinatin in the bicaeral ind are ambiguating7 tendin to

a"e one blend in %ith the roup7 %hile ipre##ion# ari#in 'ro the collective

uncon#ciou# are individuating7 tendin to epha#ie one?# uni$uene## a# an individual.&hi# at 'ir#t ay #ee parado6ical7 but it i# iportant to realie that the collective

uncon#ciou# ha# nothin to do %ith the bicaeral ind. &he bicaeral ind i# a

physiological adaptation to social behavior7 %hile the collective uncon#ciou# i# apsychological

adaptation to the Unknown. &he ter collectivere'er# to the 'act that it i# #hared7 a#

anythin eternal and in'inite nece##arily u#t be> the alternative ter transpersonal

ean# that it i# #oethin that doe# not have it# oriin# in the per#onal hi#tory o' the

individual7 but i# nonethele## a part o' the individual p#yche. 4n contra#t to e6perience#

o' the bicaeral ind7 %hich are ba#ically the #ae in everyone7 e#perienceso' the

collective uncon#ciou# are uni$uely your#. our drea# are not anyone el#e?#> even

thouh they ay have coon underlyin oti'# and thee#7 they are nonethele##product# o' the interaction o' tho#e pattern# %ith the ,el'7 and there'ore belon only to

you. &he drea ay be interpretable in ter# o' eneral archetype#7 but the e6perience

o' tho#e archetype#7 and the %ay they ani'e#t in con#ciou#ne##7 i# di''erent 'or

everyone.

&hi# i# a thin that the Spirit of the Times'ind# intolerable. 4ndividuation i# a proce## that

the bicaeral ind in#tinctively rebel# aain#t7 and dra%# upon every po##ible re#ource

to oppo#e it. 4n the pre#ent ae7 the bicaeral ind counter# anythin to do %ith

y#tici#7 and the individuation it proote#7 %ith *odern+ reductive and

de'lationary theorie# ba#ed in ateriali#7 deterini#7 athei#7 and all the other*i##+ %ho#e purpo#e i# to reduce the %orld to %hat it can under#tand. &he %hole

*odern+ eitei#t o' ateriali# and #cience%or#hip i#7 in 'act7 a proection into

reality o' the bicaeral ind?# inability to conceive o' anythin beyond it# o%n

iediate e6perience7 and the idea that *#ociety+ i# real7 and individuality i# an

illu#ion7 i# the #tu'' o' p#ychopatholoy7 not #cience or philo#ophy. By reducin drea#

to *neural di#chare+7 vi#ion# to *hallucination#+7 'eelin# to *cheical ibalance+7 and

the ,el' to ental iae o' one?# place in *#ociety+7 the bicaeral ind collap#e# reality

into it# o%n narro% %ellordered %orld li"e a copul#ive neurotic rearrane# thin# on

a #hel'. Anyone %ho ha# ever had a lucid drea "no%# ho% utterly #tupid the idea thatdrea# reduce to a *neural playbac" o' the day# event#+ i#7 and anyone %ho ha# ever

had a y#tical e6perience7 includin one o' divination7 ha# already run %here the Spirit

of the Timescan never tread.

!hich lead# to the ne6t loical #tep in the #tudy o' the nature o' con#ciou#ne## a# it i#

revealed throuh the &arot and divination. 4' the Spirit of the Timesi# up#et by the


25/134

aruent that the uncon#ciou# ha# it# root# in the 8n"no%n7 then it %ill really be up#et

by the conclu#ion that7 a# the e6i#tence o' con#ciou#ne## depend# upon the ,el'7 and the

,el' derive# it# p#ychic enery 'ro the 8n"no%n7 then it i# an ine#capable 'act that

con#ciou#ne## o%e# it# o%n e6i#tence to the participation o' the 8n"no%n in the p#yche.

4t i# the Spirit of the $epths the voice o' the 8n"no%n it#el' that breathed li'e into

con#ciou#ne## in the 'ir#t place7 and li'ted the huan #oul out o' it# phy#ioloical

pri#on. &he Spirit of the Timesnot only lo#t the evolutionary battle 'or control o' thep#yche7 but lo#t it to the very thin o' %ho#e e6i#tence it cannot conceive7 and

con#i#tently denie#. &houh couched in reliiou# lanuae7 a# %ould be e6pected iven

the circu#tance# in %hich it %a# %ritten7 thi# #hort pa##ae tell# the #tory o' that battle7

and it# outcoe:

So is every man: he is born in vanity and sin; he comes into the world like

morning mushrooms, soon thrusting up their heads into the air, and conversing

with their kindred of the same production, and as soon they turn into dust and

forgetfulness . . . to preserve him from rushing into nothing, and at first to draw

him up from nothing, were eually the issues of an almighty power. Jerey &aylor7 oly Dyin7 (1H51)

&he Ae o' 9ndar"enent

!hat #tarted out a# in inve#tiation into #oethin the p#yche does divination ha#

led to #oe rear"able conclu#ion# about %hat the p#yche is. 4' it i# true that the p#yche

ot to be the %ay it i# throuh an evolutionary proce##7 the ne6t $ue#tion becoe#7

%here i# it oin 'ro here 9volution i# not a oaloriented proce##7 it doe# not do

thin# *in order that...+ and it doe# not #top %ith #oe end point havin been reached

4t i#7 rather7 an onoin proce## o' adaptation. &o %hat7 then7 i# the ne6t thin to %hich

the p#yche u#t adapt

!hat e6actly i# eant by the ter evolutionin the 'ir#t place 4t certainly i# not about

=on"ey# turnin into en.= 4t i#7 in actuality7 a very #iple and #traiht'or%ard idea

that livin thin# adapt to chane# in the %orld they inhabit by chanin the#elve#.

;ne a#pect o' thi# proce## i# that7 in a %orld %here the environent chane# et#

hotter7 %etter7 and #o on the characteri#tic# o' an entire roup o' creature# chane# a#

it trac"# chane# in the environent. 4ndividual# that are better able to #urvive under

chanin condition# reproduce and pa## their characteri#tic# on ore e''ectively thantho#e that don?t do a# %ell in the chane#. An e6aple o' thi# proce## that ha# becoe a

#eriou# edical proble i# that %hen in'ection# are treated %ith antibiotic#7 the 'e%

bacteria that #urvive the treatent o on to ultiply7 and pa## their re#i#tance to the

antibiotic# on. !hat ha# happened i# that %here antibiotic# %ere enerally e''ective at

treatin in'ection#7 no% re#i#tant #train# have eered that are7 in #oe ca#e#7

untreatable7 and in'ection# that %ere 'orerly ea#ily treated have no% becoe li'e


26/134

threatenin.

4t i# throuh a proce## #iilar to thi# that the bicaeral ind 'ir#t e#tabli#hed it#el' in

the huan p#yche. 4n the early day# o' huan e6i#tence7 livin a# a roup in a %orld

'ull o' predator# and ho#tile condition# brouht %ith it a #urvival advantae7 and tho#e

%ho lived in that %ay pa##ed on their abilitie# to do #o includin the nece##ary

phy#ioloical echani## in the brain. 8n'ortunately7 a# the #ocial environent7 andthe cople6itie# o' #urvivin in the %orld becoe ore di''icult to odel in the brain?#

pattern reconition #y#te#7 the bicaeral ind7 by it#el'7 becae le## o' a #urvival

advantae that i# to #ay7 it becae maladaptive7 an actual di#advantae.

&hi# cleared the %ay 'or another type o' p#ychic proce## to ain a#cendancy7 and that

proce## i# %hat i# no% called con#ciou#ne##. Con#ciou#ne## i# a cople6 interaction o'

phy#ioloical7 p#ycholoical7 and perhap# even other #ort# o' #y#te# and proce##e#. 4t#

chie' #urvival advantae i# it# ability to 'unction out#ide the liit# o' it# iediate

environent it can predict and anticipate #ituation# that cannot be directly ob#erved.

!hile the phy#ioloical #y#te# o' the brain can only #ay7 =4 a hunry7 4 need to ather'ood7= con#ciou#ne## can #ay7 =4t iht rain toorro%7 #o 4 had better ather up 'ood 'or

toorro% no%.=

!hile con#ciou#ne## %a# the evolutionary #tep that oved the p#yche beyond the

con'ine# o' it# iediate environent7 ho% e6actly it doe# that reain# a atter o'

#peculation. !hat i# clear i# that %hile phy#ioloical #y#te#7 includin the bicaeral

ind7 are rule-following systems7 the #urvival advantae o' con#ciou#ne## i# that it can

operate a# a rule-breaking system. 4t# ability to peer into the 'uture and #ee %hat the

#en#e# cannot #ee i# due to it# ability to thin" beyond the #iple rule# o' cau#e and

e''ect. !hether throuh vibration# o' icrotubule# connectin %ith $uantu 'oa7nonlinear #y#te behavior7 traver#in #ub#pace %orhole#7 'ractal inter#ection# %ith

the 8n"no%n7 or %ho"no%#%hat ay lie at the botto o' it7 con#ciou#ne## %a# able to

brea" the chain p' phy#ical and cau#al dependency7 and learn to thin" beyond the brain

and it# iediate environent.

All thi# i# 'ine and %ell7 e6cept that t%o developent# have radically altered the

prore## o' evolution. &he 'ir#t i# that huan# have learned to apply technoloy in

order to evade adaptation to chanin environental condition#. 4n#tead o' huan#

adaptin to a chanin environent7 the environent ha# been chaned to adapt tohuan need#. &he #econd proble i# that the odi'ication o' the environent to #uit

huan condition# ha# ultiplied the huan population %ithout any #election pre##ure

'or diver#ity. &hi# ean#7 in a nut#hell7 that the enetic #hi't# in the huan population

that %ould norally occur due to chane# in #urvival re$uireent# are no loner

occurrin. &he#e t%o 'actor#7 ta"en toether7 have e##entially #talled the proce## o'

huan evolution.


27/134

9ven %or#e than thi# i# the 'act that increa#in population den#ity ha# i#olated the

individual 'ro the ean# o' hi# or her o%n #urvival. !here the ability to adapt to

chanin condition# %a# once an e##ential eleent o' huan #urvival7 no% the

increa#in cople6ity o' #ocial interdependence ha# #hi'ted #urvival need# a%ay 'ro

adaptation to%ard accoodation the ability to 'it in to an e6i#tin net%or" o' #ocial

deand#7 in#tead o' the ability to chane in re#pon#e to #hi'tin condition#. &hecon#e$uence o' thi# i# that the rulebrea"in capabilitie# o' con#ciou#ne##7 and the

p#ycholoical re#ource# that enable it includin the concept o' individuality7 are

becoin le## and le## %elcoe in an increa#inly reiented #ocial order.

4ndividuality i#7 in the ind# o' any7 no% =properly= con#idered a ental iae o'

one?# place in #ociety7 a# oppo#ed to #oe 'or o' etaphy#ical identity. ;nce the very

corner#tone o' p#ycholoical e6i#tence7 individuality i# in daner o' bein reduced to

ere =particle# in #pace=7 or blob# o' DA 'loatin in a #ocial #ea.

4ndividuality cannot di#appear a# lon a# con#ciou#ne## i# intact7 but in 'act7 it i#

con#ciou#ne## it#el' that i# in daner o' collap#e a# a con#e$uence o' huanity?#evolutionary #tand#till. &he increa#in pre##ure# o' #ocial order have reinviorated the

phy#ioloical echani## o' the bicaeral ind7 and %here the voice o' the Spirit of the

$epths'ir#t dre% con#ciou#ne## out o' it# phy#ioloical chain#7 that voice i# bein

dro%ned out by the boobo6 #hout# and ince##ant chatter o' the Spirit of the Times. A#

the balance o' enery in the p#yche ha# #hi'ted 'ro center to%ard the bicaeral ind7

the 9o ha# becoe a battleround bet%een the phy#ioloy o' the brain and the

8n"no%n. Con#ciou#ne## becoe# entrapped in a %eb o' #ocial edia and roupthin"

pu#h and #hove7 the 8n"no%n %ithdra%#7 the ,el' lanui#he#7 the 9o #hatter#7 and the


28/134

%or#hip o' obective7 e6ternal entitie#7 and #trict adherence to riid code#.

&he#e coale#cence o' the#e outdated vie%# 'ro centurie# pa#t into the odern

eitei#t7 both invioratin and inviorated by the bicaeral ind they once

challened7 have pluned the odern %orld into an 'ge of (ndarkenment. !here the#e

idea# once #erved to open ind#7 they no% #la the door# o' credibility #hut on

anythin that doe# not 'it %ithin the liit# o' the clo#ed ind# that adhere to the7 andhave becoe the %eapon# o' per#ecution and ridicule aain#t anythin that lie# out#ide

their liit#. All o' thi# bear# the uni#ta"able tradear" o' the bicaeral ind7 and

one doe# in 'act hear7 aon the voice# o' the odern eitei#t7 call# 'or a eneral

return to that very ental #tructure. &hi# i# not #urpri#in7 iven that de'lationary

vie%#7 %hich di#credit anythin that doe# not 'it iediate e6perience7 narro% one?#

thin"in to that %hich i# be#t coprehended and oranied by the bicaeral ind.

And7 it #hould be "ept in ind7 al#o #erve to di#credit7 ridicule7 and hope'ully "eep at

bay7 the very voice o' the uncon#ciou# that once ro#e up and cru#hed the bicaeral

ind?# rule over the p#yche7 and obliterated ti# po%er over huan de#tiny.

,adly7 thi# proce## o' recaeraliation ha# 'ound it# %ay into the &arot7 too. 4t i#7 a#

already entioned7 a leitiate u#e o' the &arot to con#ult the Spirit of the Times'or

advice and in#iht7 but it i# not leitiate to proclai that a# it# only u#e.


29/134

under#tood in ter# o' phy#ical and cheical proce##e# in the brain7 and in ho% tho#e

proce##e# ani'e#t in e6ternal #ocial behavior7 thu# depersonali!inge6perience. and in

hand %ith thi# oe# the belie' that there i# no =inner li'e= there i# no #ubective

eanin7 and everythin in the p#yche i# under#tood in ter# o' #ocial behavior. &hi# i#

becau#e #cience %hich a# every ood ateriali#t "no%#7 i# all about =ea#ureent=

and inner #tate# cannot be ea#ured7 %hile behavior7 a# in runnin rat# throuh ae#

or people throuh turn#tile#7 can be. ,ince %hat cannot be ea#ured doe# not e6i#t7 thenneither #ubective ental #tate#7 not the individual it#el'7 e6i#t#7 a# 'ar a# the =real= %orld

i# concerned. A# Jun once #aid7

The political and social isms of our day preach every conceivable ideal, but,

under this mask, they pursue the goal of lowering the level of our culture by

restricting or altogether inhibiting the possibilities of individual development.

Jun7 C. .7 Archetype# and the Collective 8ncon#ciou#7 13II/1350

erhap# the o#t in#idiou# a#pect o' recaeraliation i# the u#e o' cheical aent# to

actively #uppre## tho#e proce##e# in the brain that proote individuatin e6perience#. 4ti# intere#tin to note that %hile the traditional =p#ychedelic#= are bani#hed under the

#tricte#t o' leal #anction#7 it i# their pharacoloical copleent# that are touted a#

the #olution# to all p#ycholoical proble#. ,uch proble#7 are7 o' cour#e7 =cheical

ibalance#= that need to be corrected.


30/134

the ,el'. 4t i# convenient to #ay that depre##ion i# a biocheical phenoenon7 then

cheically alter the brain and clai a =cure=7 %hen in 'act %hat ha# been done i# the

pharacoloical e$uivalent o' a 'rontal lobotoy one ha# daaed the brain #o that it

can no loner e6perience the 'ull breadth o' con#ciou#ne##. &hi# i# a little li"e #olvin

the proble o' a de'ective %ater pup in an autoobile enine by reovin the pup>

it doe# #olve the proble7 but only 'or a #hort %hile.

&hi# i# al#o %hy drea# mustbe e6plained a# phy#ical and cheical proce##e# in the

brain7 and they mustbe recollection# o' #ocial and obective event#. the

proce##e# o' evolution that 'ir#t introduced the p#yche to the Spirit of the $epthsdo not

run bac"%ard#7 nor i# the 8n"no%n li"ely to di#appear. i"e . . ovecra't?# reat

Cthulhu7 it lie# not dead but dreain7 #leepin in the deepe#t rece##e# o' the huanp#yche %here the phy#ioloy o' the brain can not touch it. 9volution i# a natural

proce##7 and doe# not obey the la%# that the bicaeral ind #ee"# to ipo#e upon it.

&he Spirit of the $epthsi# #till there7 #ho%in it#el' in the depre##ion and alai#e that

pereate# odern li'e7 revealed in lip#e# o' drea# and 'anta#ie#7 and7 on occa#ion7

appearin cryptically in divination# and preonition#. 4t lie# there in the #hado%#7

bidin it# tie7 %aitin 'or the #tar# to be riht 'or it to reeere.

And then %hat &here are t%o po##ibilitie#7 one unthin"able7 and the other

unbelievable. But it %ill be one or the other. &he unthin"able option i# unthin"ablebecau#e the bicaeral ind can not #ee it. Bein a rule'ollo%in entity7 liited in it#

vi#ion by the pattern# it ob#erve# in #ocial behavior and it# iediate environent7 the

bicaeral ind cannot conceptualie the po##ibility o' event# that lie out#ide the liit#

o' it# e6perience. &hi# i# the rea#on that con#ciou#ne## evolved in the 'ir#t place: it#

#urvival advantae coe# 'ro it# ability to envi#ion and plan 'or condition# and event#

that cannot be predicted 'ro pa#t e6perience.


31/134

!hat i# eant by =#urvival advantae= &he botto line i#7 it ean# that tho#e %ho had

con#ciou#ne## #urvived7 and tho#e %ho did not have it did not #urvive. 4' Jayne# i# riht7

all o' the ancient civiliation# %ere bicaeralinded. !hat happened to the 9yptian#7

the Babylonian#7 and other# &he only thin that i# "no%n 'or #ure i# that they are one7

in any ca#e# entire civiliation# vani#hed %ithout a trace. ;ther# #uccubed to 'orein

inva#ion7 and other# to environental di#a#ter o' one "ind or another. ;nce the 'ailiarpattern# o' #ocial behavior are di#rupted7 the bicaeral ind ha# nothin to uide it.

8nli"e con#ciou#ne##7 there i# no autopilot7 no intro#pective #pace to detach 'ro the

iediate environent and conteplate alternative#. &he p#yche 'alter#7 the ind 'ail#7

and nothin i# le't but priitive ropin in the dar"ne##.

Con#ider the 'ollo%in #cenario. ;n ,epteber 17 1E537 a#tronoer ichard Carrinton

%a# a"in #"etche# o' #un#pot# in hi# ob#ervatory7 %hen he noticed that one o' the

bean to brihten. By the tie he 'etched a colleaue to ob#erve it7 the 'lare had 'aded.

,eventeen hour# later7 the chun" o' the #un?# ato#phere that had been blo%n a%ay by

the e6plo#ion #laed into the 9arth?# anetic 'ield. 4n the re#ultin eoanetic#tor7 teleraph line# cauht 'ire7 teleraph e$uipent burned and e6ploded7 operator#

%ere #hoc"ed and counication# circuit# 'ailed. 4t ha# been e#tiated by #oe that i'

#uch an event %ere to happen no%7 the daae done to the 9arth?# electrical po%er

rid# could ta"e up to ten year# to repair. &en year# !hat %ould happen to a city li"e

e% or" i' the po%er %ere cut 'or ten year#7 or even one year ard to #ay7 becau#e

there %ould be no counication# to 'ind out. &he bicaeral ind cannot thin" it

throuh7 becau#e there %ould be no #ocial pattern 'or it to orient it#el'. A# population

den#ity ha# increa#ed7 it# reliance on technoloy 'or ba#ic need# ha# ade it vulnerable7

and the bicaeralindedne## needed 'or it to 'unction ha# blind#ided it to di#a#ter.

,oe have arued that #uch an event %ould #et huan civiliation bac" 150 year#. &hepopulation o' the 9arth in Carrinton?# tie %a# about 1.5 billion. o% it i# over

billion. !hat do you #uppo#e %ould happen i' the technoloy nece##ary to #u#tain #uch

a population i# de#troyed by an event li"e thi# Cthulhu f)htagn*

9vent# that #tri"e out o' no%here7 beyond the bicaeral ind?# ability to conceptualie

the7 are called contingent events. Con#ciou#ne## hede# aain#t continent event#

throuh it# ability to brea" out o' the rule'ollo%in behavior o' the bicaeral ind

it# ability to thin" beyond the iediate7 and it# cau#eande''ect liitation#. 4t doe#

thi# by invo"in chaotic #y#te behavior7 'ueled by the p#ychic enery it receive# 'rothe 8n"no%n. But %hen the Spirit of the $epthsi# #ilenced by an outo'control

bicaeral ind7 eneried by the deand# o' #ocial interdependence7 that advantae i#

lo#t. ollution and overpopulation becoe oral taboo#7 lobal %arin becoe# a

political 'ootball7 %arnin# o' ipendin earth$ua"e# by #cienti#t not y#tic# or &arot

reader# o unheeded7 %hile #ale# o' a##ault ri'le# #"yroc"et7 and abber on #ocial

edia continue# to ultiply. ;ne %onder# u#t ho% uch ood a cache o' %eapon# %ill


32/134

do %hen the %ater #upply 'ail#7 and %on?t be bac" 'or a decade or #o. &here i# no loic

to it7 o' cour#e7 and that i# becau#e loic i# a thin o' con#ciou#ne##7 not o' the re'le6li"e

behavior o' the bicaeral ind. &hi# i# %hy the bicaeral ind ha# becoe

aladaptive: the %orld it ha# created cannot be #u#tained aain#t continent event#7 and

it doe# not have the loical capacity to rea#on it# %ay out o' the proble# it ha# cau#ed.

Con#ciou#ne## Beyond 9ndar"enent

4' the unthin"able i#7 %ell7 unthin"able7 then %hat i# the alternative erhap# the an#%er

iht be 'ound by con#iderin %hat did7 in 'act7 happen hi#torically. !hat happened i#

that the Spirit of the $epths%renched control o' the p#yche 'ro the bicaeral ind7

and con#ciou#ne## %a# the re#ult. 4n the pre#ent ae7 ho%ever7 the dialectic bet%een the

Spirit of the Timesand the Spirit of the $epths%hich 'ored the ba#i# 'or the #tructure o'

con#ciou#ne## ha# becoe a tua%ar7 %ith the #tructure o' con#ciou#ne## bein

'ractured by the deand# o' the phy#ical and #ocial environent. !hat ha# becoe

clear in the pre#ent ae i# that the bicaeral ind i# holdin the proce## o' evolution at

a #tand#till7 and in order 'or the proce## o' evolution to proceed7 it #ee# rea#onable tothin" that one %ay 'or thi# to happen i# 'or the proce## that oriinally dre%

con#ciou#ne## out o' the bicaeral ind in the 'ir#t place7 to proceed. &hi# ean# a #hi't

o' 'ocu# in con#ciou#ne## a%ay 'ro the Spirit of the Times7 to%ard the Spirit of the $epths.

&hi# #hi't i# already incipient in the p#yche de#pite the #tranle hold that the bicaeral

ind hold# over it in the pre#ent ae. &he Spirit of the $epths#till #pea"# in drea#7

'anta#ie#7 druinduced vi#ion#7 and even throuh the &arot7 to tho#e %illin to li#ten.

And no atter ho% #tronly the bicaeral ind obect#7 aon tho#e %ho hear the

voice7 there %ill al%ay# be #oe %ho %ill under#tand.

,ince it i# unli"ely that the phy#ical or #ocial environent# are oin to chane

voluntarily7 and the con#e$uence# o' an involuntary chane are horri'ic7 then %hat u#t

chane i# the p#yche o' the individual. &o e#cape the inevitable con#e$uence# o'

recaeraliation7 con#ciou#ne## u#t evolve beyond it# #u#ceptibility to

recaeraliation. A# unbelievable a# it ay at 'ir#t #ee7 the loic i# nonethele##

#traiht'or%ard7 and it lead# to the ine#capable conclu#ion that 'or con#ciou#ne## to

evolve7 and the con#e$uence# o' recaeraliation to be avoided7 then consciousness must

evolve beyond the body out of which it arose.

;' cour#e the bicaeral ind7 throuh it# reductive and de'lationary conception# o'it#el' and everythin el#e7 %ill o''er every obection7 but a critical analy#i# o' tho#e

obection# reveal# that they all #te 'ro the underlyin belie' that thin# cannot7 and

must not7 chane. Becau#e i' they do7 then the bicaeral ind i# 'ini#hed. But #o it u#t

be7 el#e huanity 'ace# di#a#ter7 and even po##ible e6tinction7 at the hand# o' continent

event# and their con#e$uence#7 the nece##ary condition# 'or %hich have been prepared

by the bicaeral ind it#el'. Beyond the u#ual re'rain o' the eitei#t that there i# no


33/134

8n"no%n7 no uncon#ciou#7 no drea# beyond the phy#ioloy o' the brain7 and #o on7

there have actually eered #oe intere#tin propo#al# a# to ho% the huan ind

iht evolve beyond it pre#ent #tate7 one o' the o#t intriuin bein that the 'uture o'

huanity con#i#t# in afusion of the mind with the technology it invented. 4n #iple ter#7

thi# ean# that the huan ind et# =do%nloaded= to #oe #ort o' coputerli"e

device. &he ind then run# on thi# device7 uch li"e #o't%are run# on the hard%are o'

a coputer. 4n thi# %ay7 %hatever liitation# are ipo#e by the body on the ind canbe overcoe7 a#7 G?erli"e7 the ind direct# the ro%th and cople6ity o' the device it

control#.

4t ta"e# a very hardened ateriali#t to believe that the brain i# uch li"e a coputer7 or

that the ind i# anythin li"e #o't%are7 and the aruent# aain#t thi# point o' vie% are

leion. Chie' aon tho#e aruent# i# that %hile the bicaeral ind i# certainly

coputerli"e7 the %hole point o' con#ciou#ne## i# to behave a# a rulebrea"in entity7

#oethin that alorithic proce##in #y#te# li"e coputer# are #peci'ically de#ined

to avoid. 9ven a oent#? re'lection# %ill reveal that no achine7 or #o't%are7 i# per'ect7

and i' everyone e6i#t# a# a rule'ollo%in entity in a achine7 %ho pre##e# the re#etbutton &he %hole idea o' thi# propo#al i# e##entially to a"e the bicaeral ind the

one and only po##ibility7 %hich %ould coplete the recaeraliation proce##7 po##ibly

'orever. ;r at lea#t until the po%er oe# o''...

4n the end7 %hat one believe# i# it#el' rounded in the p#ycholoy o' the individual.

&ho#e %ho are #%ayed by the Spirit of the Timesiht %i#h they could =upload=

the#elve# into the =cloud=7 and tho#e %ho are ore in tune %ith the Spirit of the $epths

%ould be lad to #ee the et on %ith it. !hether one ta"e# the =edication= and/or

pu#he# the button i# a choice each u#t a"e. erhap# evolution ean# huan

con#ciou#ne## u#t divere> that #oe %ill #tay7 one %ay or another7 loc"ed %ithin thebicaeral ind7 %hile other# choo#e to leave it behind. i"e the proverbial evolutionary

'i#h that %al"ed out o' the #ea7 #oe %ent 'orth7 and other# #tayed behind. &he #ea

cucuber# that #cavene the botto o' the ocean are #till there7 lon a'ter %hatever it

%a# that eered 'ro the %ater %ent on to becoe %hat huan bein# are today.


34/134

;ne o' the ob#ervation# ade in the 'aou# hine e6perient that yielded the 'ir#t real

#cienti'ic evidence 'or divination i# that the attitude o' the #ubect play# a lare role in

the outcoe o' the e6perience. &ho#e %ho believed it %ould %or" had a uch better

#ucce## rate than tho#e %ho did not. 4t i# no #ecret that tho#e %ho believe7 'or e6aple7

that the &arot can yield divinatory in#iht# tend to be uch better at it than tho#e %ho

don?t. &hi# i# due to the #ubective nature o' the proce##e# involved %hat the ind can

do i# deeply tied to %hat it thin"# it can do. &ho#e %ho believe there e6i#t# and8n"no%n are ore li"ely to hear the voice o' the Spirit of the $epthsthan tho#e %ho do

not. Clo#ed ind# are7 to #oe e6tent7 their o%n u#ti'ication 'or %hat they choo#e to be.

;ne path o' evolution ay7 there'ore %ell be7 to arrane the arriae o' the 9pre##

and 9peror in the teple o' the rie#te##7 rather than the church o' the ierophant.


35/134

'iht the individual can #ettle 'or hi or her #el'. !hich voice %ill be the u#e7 i# your

choice alone. All a di#cu##ion o' theory can hope to do i# point out that the choice i#

there.


36/134

44. &arot Divination

avin e#tabli#hed the po##ibility that there e6i#t %ithin the uncon#ciou#

repre#entation# o' event#7 and perhap# other "ind# o' "no%lede a# %ell7 that are

inacce##ible to con#ciou#ne## directly7 attention u#t no% be iven to the proce## by

%hich that in'oration can be ade available to con#ciou#ne##. &hi# proce## i# calleddivination7 the %ord it#el' derivin 'ro =learnin the %ill o' the od#.= !hile it i# not

nece##ary to #uppo#e that the Spirit of the $epthsi# any #ort o' per#onal or intendin

bein7 it clearly i# #oethin alien to con#ciou#ne## in ter# o' %hat it "no%# and

under#tand#.

,tructure o' the &arot

An oracle i# a divinatory ethod that i# u#ed to counicate %ith the Spirit of the

$epths. &he ability o' the &arot to 'unction a# an oracle coe# 'ro it# de#in and#tructure. Althouh there are nuerou# variation# in the de#in o' #peci'ic dec"#7 &arot

dec"# in eneral #hare a coon #tructure that a"e# the &arot dec"#7 a# oppo#ed to

bein #oethin el#e. &ypically the card# o' a &arot dec" are #eparated into t%o

#ubdivi#ion#: the+inor 'rcanaor =le##er #ecret#=7 %hich i# very uch li"e an ordinary

dec" o' playin card#7 and the+ajor 'rcanaor =reater #ecret#=7 a #et o' u#ually 22 card#

%ith the cryptic iae# that ive the &arot i# reputation 'or y#teriou#ne##. &he oriin#

o' the &arot are not "no%n 'or certain> it i# not clear %hether the card# %ere 'ir#t u#ed a#

playin card# that later %ere adopted 'or divination purpo#e#7 or the other %ay around.

&he oriin# o' the iae# 'ound in the Faor Arcana are al#o unclear. ,oe 'ind that a

hi#torical #tudy o' the &arot help# to enhance their under#tandin o' it# eanin#7 but'or the o#t part7 the detail# o' it# oriin probably a"e little di''erence7 a# the #tructure

o' the dec" becae ore or le## 'i6ed %ith the appearance o' echanically printed

dec"#7 and #ub#e$uent re'ineent# ade by individual# and eber# o' variou# occult

roup# and #ocietie# in the year# that 'ollo%ed.

&arot dec"# are available in a %ide variety o' #tyle# %hich7 'or the #a"e o' convenience7

can be rouped into three eneral type#7 the aor di''erence# bein 'ound in the %ay

the card# o' the Finor Arcana are illu#trated. &he *cla##ical+ or *Far#eille#+ #tyle

'ollo%# the pattern 'ro centurie# ao: the Finor Arcana card# re#eble odern

playin card#7 %ith the e6ception that in#tead o' 'ollo%in the odern =


37/134

the card#7 they al#o o''er very little in %ay o' #ue#tion to #tiulate the dialectic o'

interpretation. &hi# can a"e the di''icult to u#e7 but on the other hand7 they have a

certain =char= and 'eelin o' authenticity unatched by ore odern dec"#.

At the other end o' the #pectru are %hat iht be called *illu#trated+ or *de#criptive+

#tyle dec"#7 in %hich the Finor Arcana card# are pre#ented %ith picture# that #ue#t

their eanin#7 #iilar to the Faor Arcana. 4llu#tration# vary in cople6ity> #oebein #iple and cartoonli"e7 other# involvin photoraphic and/or coputer

enerated art%or"7 %ith to %ithout variou# occult or e#oteric #ybol#. !hile the#e can

be ea#ier to read7 they can al#o cau#e di''icultie#7 chie' aon the that becau#e their

de#in# 'ollo% the idea# or teachin# o' their de#iner#7 they ay have a 'ocu# or

epha#i# that con'lict# %ith the idea# or ta#te# o' the diviner. A ore #eriou# proble

i# that the reader ay 'ocu# on the iae a# the eanin7 and u#t accept that the card

ean# %hat it# iae #ho%#7 %hich aount# to readin the card a# a #in and not a

#ybol. &hi# e''ectively halt# the interpretive dialectic7 and reduce# the readin o' the

card# to nothin ore than 'ortune coo"ie#.

Bet%een the#e t%o e6tree# are the *ab#tract+ dec"#7 %ith illu#tration# that rely on

color7 eoetric arraneent#7 and other arti#tic device# to a##i#t in the interpretation o'

the card7 %ithout 'orcin a #peci'ic eanin. Fany o' the#e dec"# incorporate andala

li"e iaery that i# #peci'ically intended to enae the con#ciou#uncon#ciou# dialectic7

uch li"e iae# produced in drea# and active iaination. !hile thi# #tyle o' dec"

ay be a little ore di''icult 'or #oe to learn than a 'ully illu#trated dec"7 it ay al#o

be ore robu#t in it# interpretive capacity7 and ea#ier to read than a cla##ical dec".

Fention u#t al#o be ade o' the trend in odern &arot dec"# to 'ollo% one or another

#y#te o' interpretation7 or #et o' de#inedin eanin#. 4t ha# becoe an un'ortunate#ituation that dec"# are identi'ied a# =#tandard= or =non#tandard=7 ba#ed upon %hether

they 'ollo% one #chee o' eanin# and illu#tration# or another7 =#tandard= o' cour#e

reducin to %hat one con#ider# the #tandard to be. &he deand 'or =#tandard= dec"# i#

enerally heard 'ro tho#e %ho read the &arot in an obective7 #ocially oriented %ay in

other %ord#7 the #ituation ha# all the 'eature# o' the =#tandard= con'lict bet%een the

Spirit of the Timesand the Spirit of the $epths. &ho#e %ho cry 'or con'ority to a #et o'

#tandard# are enerally tho#e %ho read 'or the bicaeral ind7 and have little intere#t

in divination a# it i# bein con#idered here.

&he iportant thin to "eep in ind7 a# already entioned7 i# that the art%or"7 #tyle

and arraneent o' the dec" u#t be #uch that it enae# the con#ciou# and

uncon#ciou# o' the diviner. !hether or not a particular dec" con'or# to #oeone el#e?#

=#tandard= #hould never be the uide to %hat one learn# %ith or u#e#. &he #ole ude o'

%hat a"e# 'or a u#e'ul divination dec" i# %hether or not it %or"# 'or the individual

diviner7 and the only %ay to deterine that i# to actually #tudy and u#e the dec". A#


38/134

%ith any %or" o' art7 one o'ten et# an iediate ipre##ion o' =riht= or =%ron= 'ro

the iae#7 and that ipre##ion i# enerally a better uide to the 'itne## o' a dec" 'or

u#e in divination7 than %hether any individual or roup deterine# it to be %ithin or

%ithout the liit# o' their =#tandard.= &he proce## o' divination involve# a per#onal

relation#hip bet%een the con#ciou#ne## o' the diviner and the uncon#ciou#7 and there i#

no place in it 'or the udent# and opinion# o' other#.

Divination and Feditation

Divination i# not a #ocial activity> it i# a 'or o' editation7 a# the ter %a# u#ed by

alchei#t# o' centurie# ao7 and not a# the ter i# popularly under#tood it ha#

nothin to do %ith attendin cla##e#7 or #ittin cro##leed on a cu#hion a"in 'unny

e#ture# %ith the hand#. &o $uote Jun:

!uland "#$%%& says of this: '(editation: the name of an Internal Talk of one

person with another who is invisible, as in the invocation of the )eity, or

communion with one's self, or with one's good angel.'

4n the ca#e o' divination7 the =4nternal &al"= i# the onoin conver#ation %ith the

8n"no%n7 via it# pre#ence a# the Spirit of the $epthsin the uncon#ciou#. 4t i# not

#urpri#in7 iven that the bicaeral ind denie# the e6i#tence o' anythin in the p#yche

other than it#el'7 that #uch a proce## %ould be et %ith ridicule and condenation.

Divination7 a# %ith any "ind o' #ubective "no%lede or internal conver#ation7 i# both

individual and individuatin7 and thu# #pea"# to a reality that ha# nothin to do %ith7

and ore o'ten than not i# antaoni#tic to7 collective nor# and #ocial behavior. &he

bicaeral ind under#tand# any 'or o' individuation a# a threat to it#el'7 pre'errin to

read %hat i# in the ne%#paper#7 rather than ac"no%lede that there i# ore to

con#ciou#ne## than it#el'7 it# preciou# =relation#hip#7= and the endle## chatter about

#uch. Jun continue#:

In general, meditation and contemplation have a bad reputation in the West.

They are regarded as a particularly reprehensible form of idleness or as

pathological narcissism. *o one has time for self+knowledge or believes that it

could serve any sensible purpose. We believe eclusively in doing and do not

ask about the doer, who is -udged only by achievements that have collective

value.

4t i# %ell to reeber that %hat one #ee# a# =#ociety= ha# ore to do %ith a certain

p#ycholoical type7 than it doe# %ith any "ind o' obective or #ubective reality. 4t #tand#

to rea#on that the p#ycholoical type# that bu#y the#elve# %ith =relation#hip#= %ill be

the one# on proinent di#play in the public vie%7 'or the Spirit of the Timesthrive#

aon#t o##ip and chatter. &ho#e %ho are ore in tune %ith the Spirit of the $epths


39/134

"eep their voice# o#tly to the#elve#7 'or it i# in the #ilence o' internal conteplation

that the Spirit of the $epths#pea"# o#t clearly. !hat =everybody "no%#= and

=everybody believe#= re'er# o#tly to %hat e6traverted p#ycholoical type# "no% and

believe7 and there'ore the eneral #ocial di#approval o' divination i# a loical

con#e$uence o' it# perceived threat to the bicaeral ind7 and ha# nothin to do %ith

it# authenticity7 validity7 or individual eanin'ulne##.

&o carry thi# point a bit 'urther7 i' one loo"# at the chatter in the popular edia about

the &arot7 one iht %ell coe to the conclu#ion that divination ha# all but been

abandoned in 'avor o' o##ip and chatter about =relation#hip#=7 and in the popular

edia7 thi# i# probably true 'or the rea#on# already entioned. &he bicaeral ind7

and it# a##ociated voice in the p#yche7 the Spirit of the Times7 doe# not under#tand7 and a#

a atter o' #urvival u#t nece##arily deny the e6i#tence o'7 anythin that doe# not 'it i#

perceived pattern# o' #ocial behavior. &hi# doe# not ean that tho#e thin# do not e6i#t

that there i# no 8n"no%n7 no


40/134

A #iilar "ind o' =reality= chec" can be run aain#t the &arot. &he Spirit of the Times

#p

Documents

A Philosophical Essay on Tarot Divination and Human Consciousness