Kismet Way Of The Sword Booklet Divinations Only

“A Rock And Roll Divine Comedy”

Divinations Booklet CRYPTOGRAPHIC TAROCCHI BOOKLET CREATED AT LONDA FIRENZE STUDIO a FIRENZE ITALY INSPIRED BY SONGWRITER & BASS LEGEND PETE WAY & FLORENCE, ITALY’S SUPREME POET DANTE ALIGHIERI ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS

PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 1

KISMET, WAY OF THE SWORD “A Rock And Roll Divine Comedy“ ©2019 Londa R. Marks Created at Londa Firenze Studio Florence, Italy - Est. 2014

“La Folie Ou L’Alchemiste”

Madness or Alchemist

Revised Edition May 2021 Published By Alchemist Publishing LLC PO Box 772, Southern Pines, NC 28388 Major & Minor Arcana Complete Kit ISBN: 1-935615-70-X 978-1-935615-70-5 Major Arcana ISBN: 1-935615-96-3 978-1-935615-96-5 Created at Londa Firenze Art Studio 50123 Firenze, Italy www.LondaFirenze.com

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Special thanks to contributed photos of rock band UFO and Pete Way from photographer Mike Patton Nashville, TN.

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Tarot Decks By Londa R. Marks Published by U.S.Games Systems, Inc. • LONDA TAROT • CROW’S MAGICK TAROT • CROW’S MAGICK TAROT DECK/BOOK SET ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This deck’s divinations, montages and surrealistic inspiration and images may have been drawn from various sources including but not limited to original ideas, some entries from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia which may not have been reviewed by professional editors and is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons

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PROJECT INFORMATION ©2019 Londa R. Marks ISBN: 1-935615-70-X 978-1-935615-70-5 www.worldoftarot.com www.londarmarks.com Designed & Written By: Londa R. Marks Concept: Londa R. Marks Subject of Title: Visionary Fiction & Metaphysical Art Style: Montage, Surrealism, Metaphysical Theme: Harlequin-esque, theatrical, rock music, mythological, mystical surrealism.

Tarot Reader Level: Advanced Title Subject: Fiction, Visionary & Metaphysical Kismet, Way Of The Sword, Tarocchi Complete Kit Of Books and Deck Kit Includes: • 80 Cards Major Arcana & Minor Arcana • 22 Cards Major Arcana cards • Cards sized: 2.75” x 4.75” • 2 extra cards per kit • 5 booklets sized: 2.75” x 4.5” • Digital and printed booklets • Physical kit packaged in a beautiful box • Limited edition 99 (digital & print combined • Signed & numbered • Certificate of authenticity • Historic charting

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Introduction A Cryptographic Portrayal of a Rock and Roll Divine Comedy

As Dante Alighieri points out in his body of work, this too includes hidden meanings not accessible to everyone.

K

ismet, Way Of The Sword cryptographic tarocchi presents staged theatrical scenarios that can activate creatively charismatic choices for the reader while revealing unexpected answers to any querent’s questions.

Tarot as the magical instrument here is highlighted with Dante Alighieri’s romantically poetic Middle Ages words, montaged with art from his Divine Comedy and as Dante points out in his body of work this too includes hidden meanings not accessible to everyone but will be understood by only one who is able to penetrate into the depth of the essence of dynamic visuals of rock music lifestyles woven among mythological and harlequin-esque characters and scenes.

It is a deeply Utopian cryptographic portrayal of an artist depicting herself as Music Muse central to a Rock Star and Supreme Poet to enliven a Kismet realization; a surrealistic Rock and Roll Divine Comedy, by Way Of The Sword.

Kismet Artist Londa Rae Marks was born February 26, 1952, 10:11am in Marietta, Ohio, the first settlement in the northwest territory. Brief astrological summary: Pisces sun, Pisces moon, Taurus ascendant, Capricorn mid-heaven.

On her birthday February 26, 2014, in Florence, Italy, by a fluke or by the hand of kismet, Londa acquired her studio on Via della Spada (Way Of The Sword) - that afternoon at 3PM. Via della Spada, one of a trio of streets shaped like three swords or a Y — with Via delle Belle Donne the right blade, in between is Via del Sole and Via della Spada the left blade and leg of the Y. The three streets connect to Via del Morro. Bella Donna happens to be the title of a UFO song. Morro happens to be the name of a street that connected to Calimali (another street nearby in Firenze) the street Londa lived on in Woodland Hills, California connected to Morro also, where Hawk rock band was developed. On Via della Spada where her studio is: Art, Music & Technology based on Cryptography; The Art of Writing Codes or Solving Codes is the underlying foundation of Londa R. Marks Studio, Firenze, Italy.

The harlequin theme of Kismet, Way Of The Sword, includes a harlequin-esque style that founder of rock band UFO Pete Way has adhered to for stage wear much of his life. His style has been emulated by top rock stars like *Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and *Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.

It is the hawk who leads the way for Londa, a co-founder of glam rock band Hawk in Los Angeles CA during the 1980s.

The name Hawk was given to the rock band by her ex-husband, Hawk guitarist, Doug Marks, who came up with the name one morning while walking in the hills with vocalist Charles Morrill where they lived on Calimali Rd. Hawk has become a relentless spirit guide offering omens and is seen throughout this deck along with crows and other birds. The band is no longer together but the official Hawk Facebook page founded in 2012 by Londa is still run by her and Doug Marks still sells the Hawk album Londa designed. Crow’s Magick Tarot is a deck Londa created in 1997 for U.S. Games Systems, Inc., also due to her love of crows and how she sees them as a messenger from the magickal plane in the universe, always bestowing messages and great thoughts to us mortals.

Harlequin role was definitively popularized by the Italian actor Tristano Martinelli in 1584–1585. The Harlequin is characterized by his chequered costume. The name Harlequin, derived from a demon called Alichino, was cited by Dante Alighieri in Inferno - part of the “Divine Comedy.” Alichino, a member of the Malebranche’s mission is to guard Bolgia Five in the Eighth Circle, the Malebolge - the eighth circle of Hell. Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy” also includes his love of music.

Throughout Dante’s Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso began in 1308 and completed in 1320. In his “Divine Comedy” many parallels to the theatre of rock music and art are found. Born in the year 1265 in the city of Florence, Dante Alighieri has been long considered one of Italy’s first romantic figures and greatest poets.

Throughout this deck are images of rock god bass legend Pete Way, Supreme Poet Dante Alighieri and Visionary Londa R. Marks.

Experience the artists adventures of their Kismet, Way Of The Sword.

* References

Nikki Sixx, Mötley Crüe @nikkisixxofficial April 10, 2014 “Pete was a huge influence of me as a bass player from his early days in UFO and he is one of THE great REAL rock ‘n roll stars we have had.”

Source Steve Harris, Iron Maiden “I’ve been influenced by many bands but UFO was one of my favorite bands, that’s for sure. Pete way for me particularly, playing and posing.”

Source

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Kismet, Way Of The Sword - Cryptographic Tarocchi

Reading Digital Tarot Deck & Divinations Cryptography & Digital Tarot Readings “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” —Arthur C. Clarke Art, Music & Technology is Cryptography: The Art of Writing Codes or Solving Codes; the underlying foundation of the author / artist Londa R. Marks Studio, Firenze, Italy.

Tuning into the frequencies of the universe with digital technology tarot through ‘sending’ and ‘receiving devices’ (mobile devices), can open unexpected and unknown channels for receiving otherworldly messages, information and connecting with appropriate cosmic guides that resonate with this digital tarot reading while revealing deeper meanings not only for you but also for those you are connected with on earth. After all, isn’t that what we use tarot for, tuning into the universe? It can be a clearer and broader path with technology and frequencies than with paper.

Tarot includes important messages within its code, cryptography and frequencies universally structured and intertwined with our souls. Digital Tarot Readings bring us one step closer to being in sync with frequencies of the universe and its specific messages for us independently and collectively.

How To Perform Digital Tarot Readings We are all at-one with our technology devices because we intuitively know our ‘messages’ are there, all messages, not just with Planet Earth but with the universe too. So, instead of shuffling paper tarot cards, go a step further and ask the universe to tell you what page numbers in Kismet, Way Of The Sword Digital Tarot have your cards’ answers for your tarot reading questions.

• Ask the universe for 6 page numbers from list on the right for your digital tarot reading. Either remember the numbers or make note of them.

• Select each page number matching the numbers that came to you. These page numbers are your cards with its divination for your Digital Tarot Reading.

• Instead of reversed cards use the reverse divination in the reading to alert the querent that this could occur.

6-Cards Layout Guide All cards sum up your Digital Tarot Reading 1. First position card represents the nature of your question.

2. Second position card represents what is influencing your question.

3. Third position card is what has past and influenced your question.

4. Fourth card influences your future in relation to your question.

5. Fifth card has to do with the hopes of the outcome.

6. The sixth card influences all cards and outcome.

Digital Tarot https://issuu.com/store/publishers/alchemistpublishing/issues/kismet-wayofthesword-digital-tarot-kit-2nd-edition

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Choose Tarot Card Page Number The page numbers on this list correspond to a tarot card from Kismet, Way Of The Sword Major Arcana or Minor Arcana cards. Select 6 page numbers to do a 6 Card Layout Reading or select any numbers for custom tarot reading.

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

Kismet, Way Of The Sword

World Of Tarot® Digital Tarot Readings Digital Cards & Divinations Card on left page. Divinations on right page (as seen below).

Divinations Kismet, Way Of The Sword Tarocchi includes Major & Minor Arcana cards with divinations.

Examples:

Click to Turn Page

Search Digital Cards & Divinations

Click For Full screen

Page Numbers

Slide to Page Numbers

Enlarge/Reduce Page Images and Text

Cards & Divination Example

Tarot Tip The Major Arcana conveys a higher purpose.

The Minor Arcana relates to everyday matters.

Roman Numerals 1I 2 II 3 III 4 IV 5V 6 IV

7 VII 8 VIII 9 IX 10 X 11 XI 12 XII

13 14 15 16 17 18

XIII X IV XV XVI XVII XVIII

19 20 21

XIX XX XXI

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Kismet, Way Of The Sword - Cryptographic Tarocchi

How To Read a Printed Tarot Deck Quick 3-Card Layout • Shuffle your deck of cards while thinking of a question you would like it to shed light on.

Sometimes a card will fall out while shuffling. Put that card in its proper position; past, present or future — if using a 3-card layout for your reading. If more than one card falls out you could either use three of the cards or put them back in the deck and shuffle again until one card falls or when you feel you should stop shuffling and want to pull a card.

• Skilled card readers understand fundamentals of tarot while evaluating card layout perspectives and assimilating answers discovered from the tarot deck’s art. Collectively a richly insightful evaluation can be realized for what the layout wants to convey.

• Refer to the booklet for its particular divinations but rely on card details, its art, characters, colors, numbers, symbols and feelings you receive from each card to help determine its meaning and story. Each card in itself is a mood, a stage, a world.

Quick 3-Card Reading Example of a 3-card layout tarot reading with the cards: Present: It may feel like you took a chance and threw the dice which is turning into a chaotic situation. Past: Looking back, a decision was made. The number 3 may have played a role in a decision but there were signs of karmic fate.

Future: Ultimately, it is obvious that the past and present were supposed to happen as they did. This will be realized in an outcome better than expected.

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE

Example Divination References:

III STAVES Divination: Number 3 factors into project decisions. Foresight per future.

PAGE OF DICE Divination: Hell is a region characterized by noise: its proper sound is “shrieks, moans, and lamentation.”

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XIX ILLUMINI Divination: Positive mind altering experience.

Exceptional outcome. Soul changing for the better. Unexpected gifts.

KISMET WAY OF THE SWORD A Rock And Roll Divine Comedy

LIMITED EDITION 99 TAROCCHI KIT Inspired By Bass Legend & Songwriter Pete Way & Florence, Italy’s Supreme Poet Dante Alighieri. Created by Florence, Italy visionary Londa R. Marks.

Complete Tarot Kits available in digital and paper kits Includes 78 Tarot Cards & In-depth Booklets. www.wayofthesword.com

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DIVINATIONS

Major Arcana

Kismet, Way Of The Sword 0 - XXI Major & Minor Arcana • The Major Arcana conveys a higher purpose.

• The Minor Arcana relates to everyday matters.

The Difference Between Magic & Magick • Magic is what a magician does on stage.

• Magick is connecting with metaphysical energies.

Historically, the Major Arcana are is also known as trumps. There are usually 22 such cards in a standard 78-card pack. They are typically numbered from 0 to 21. The trumps originally had little mystical or magical import. The terms “Major” and “Minor Arcana” are used in the occult, and divinatory applications of the deck as in practicing Esoteric Tarot. The Major Arcana originally had simple allegorical or esoteric meaning, mostly originating in elite ideology in the Italian courts of the 15th century when it was invented.

By the 19th century, the tarot came to be regarded as a “bible of bibles,” an esoteric repository of all the significant truths of creation. The trend was started by prominent Freemason and Protestant cleric Antoine Court de Gébelin who suggested that the tarot had an ancient Egyptian origin, and mystic divine and kabbalistic significance.

The Major Arcana are considered the most important group of cards in the tarot. To some, they represent universal archetypes. To others, they represent the spiritual quest of enlightenment.

They are magickal and special and yet they also represent our everyday lives and experiences. There are many aspects to the Major Arcana and it would be wrong to classify them from just one perspective.

Like the rest of the tarot, the Major Arcana are multi-faceted and multi-talented and should be allowed to express themselves in many different ways, from predictive tarot reading, to psychological explorations; from tarot spells and magick to its original purpose – as a game.

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0 KISMET Divination

AIR - AQUARIUS - URANUS - WINGED SWORD - ANKH

In the middle of the path of our life I found myself in a dark forest, having lost the way...”

—Dante Alighieri Opening line of the “Divina Commedia” Ah me! How hard a thing it is to say What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, Which in the very thought renews the fear. So bitter is it, death is little more; But of the good to treat, which there I found, Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

I have seen you.

I do not know how to redirect how I entered you, So full was I of slumber at the moment In which I had abandoned the true way.

But after I had reached a mountain’s foot, At that point where the valley terminated, Which had with consternation pierced my heart, Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders Vested already with that planet’s rays Which leadeth others right by every road.

Then was the fear a little quieted That in my heart’s lake had endured throughout The night, which I had passed so piteously And even as he, who, with distressful breath, Forth issued from the sea upon the shore, Turns to the water perilous and gazes; So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, Turn itself back to re-behold the pass Which never yet a living person left.

After my weary body I had rested, The way resumed I on the desert slope, So that the firm foot ever was the lower.

And lo! almost where the ascent began, A panther light and swift exceedingly, Which with a spotted skin was covered o’er!

And never moved from before my face, Nay, rather did impede so much my way, The time was the beginning of the morning, And up the sun was mounting with those stars That with him were, what time the Love Divine.

CANTO I. INFERNO, DANTE ALIGHIERI Typically shown as a Jester or The Fool, the harlequin character in 0 “Kismet, Way Of The Sword,” is one of several harlequin’s throughout the deck that shows up when we need them — need them, not necessarily want them. 0 “Kismet, Way Of The Sword,” is a card that symbolizes a soul’s journey powered by belief; fate, destiny. It is a play, a stage, scenes, possibilities, affirmations; a visionary perspective. Mythological messages and metaphysics of the divine wisdom are derived from the carefree harlequin.

Kismet’s trunk is always packed for the next adventure and carries a large key because Kismet’s travels and risks have brought large knowledge - a key to making new decisions. A crow flies along for ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 11

the ride paying his way by revealing omens.

The choice is always: “La Folie ou L’Alchimiste : Madness or Alchemist.”

Far away a light suddenly appears from which a stranger comes to help the author. It is the soul of Virgil. —Divine Comedy Card upright keywords: Alchemist, fate, journey, destiny, grandiose achievements, grandiose losses, seeker, traveler, risk taker, wanderer, freedom, independence, sacrifice.

Card reversed keywords: Madness, mistakes, missed chances, stability, stifled, bored, regret.

I MAGICIAN Divination

EARTH - AIR - FIRE - WATER - MERCURY

The Magician evolves from kismet’s esoteric tradition. Every omen that kismet reveals is a tool to master and makes him a better Magician to teach others or set masterful examples. The Magician understands technique but relies on intuition, emotion and passion to express his wisdom. Naturally, an element of technique is employed but the Magician is wise and realizes that human nature wants what is desired; a magical experience.

Mastering tools is never truly accomplished, only levels of mastery. Lifetimes of service to the tools and new tools emerging along the way require sacrifices to achieve magical results. ’T is true that I was conjured once before down here by magic of that wild Erìchtho, who used to call shades back into their bodies.

“O, of the other poets honour and light, Avail me the long study and great love That have impelled me to explore thy volume!

Thou art my master, and my author thou, Thou art alone the one from whom I took The beautiful style that has done honour to me.

CANTO I INFERNO, DANTE ALIGHIERI “Now let Medusa come! We ’ll turn him thus to stone!”

INFERNO IX And I to him: “Poet, I thee entreat, By that same God whom thou didst never know, So that I may escape this woe and worse, “Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said, That I may see the portal of Saint Peter, And those thou makest so disconsolate.”

Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.

CANTO I. INFERNO, DANTE ALIGHIERI Card upward keywords: Tools, Master, Talent, abilities, skills, achievements, alchemy, application, action, curiosity, lessons, omens, messages, confidence, wisdom, obsession.

Card reversed keywords: Abuse of talent, disinterested, squandering time, giving up, use of tools/ knowledge for negative purposes.

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II-XXVI LONDA Divination

WATER - PISCES - NEPTUNE - MOON

Typically named: II The High Priestess, visual artist Londa R. Marks named this card after herself with her birthday 2/26 because this deck is about art, artists, music, what happens at Londa’s Firenze Studio and the stamina to make something grand happen; all of which Londa has spent her entire life devoted to, at all costs, like many artists do, and much like a High Priestess or a Mythological Goddess would. It is about the achievement of her studio in Firenze, a lifetime of persistence, the culmination of determination and drive to be good enough in her own eyes to call herself an artist.

Although, a little late to the Renaissance at least she is surrounded by the best even if she just lives in their graveyard.

The secrets of the universe are maybe better left as secrets since secrets can motivate. And, only glimpses are really ever shown anyway, but the journey of curiosity can cause historic creations. The High Priestess is often silent because the mystery that comes with magnificent knowledge can be overwhelming to others. She is tenacious and driven. Strong but calm and loving with a soft heart yet has the ability to stay in control in order to get others through their dilemma or simply offer insightful possibilities based on intuitive direction from our incredible universe.

She knows her mission in life and conveys needed messages, articulates visually so it can be understood by those pure seekers. She knows and sees what other’s purpose is and how to work with it and achieve an artistic fulfillment like she has from her journey. A natural inclination towards ancient mysteries of tarot has brought thought provoking realization that tools outside of the normal way of thinking are needed. And, in Florence, Italy where ancient knowledge, code and symbolism is the way of life, her cache of insight is nurtured.

Once again, the spirits have called her to be available for those who really need her. Though she resisted, metaphysical gifts are not free. Work doesn’t just end with a completed project. With each batch of knowledge gained from a truly magnificent source it must be shared in some way. Kismet has its way of owning you. Once you go through the door, you cannot return. The power bestowed upon her is not hers alone. She is chosen to share these treasures because she can do so in a comprehensible way propelled by Dante Alighieri’s wave of thought: Dante vows to write nothing further of Beatrice until he writes “concerning her what hath not before been written of any woman.” The promise is fulfilled in La Divina Commedia, which he composed many years later, expressing his exalted and spiritual love for Beatrice, who is his intercessor in the Inferno, his goal in traveling through Purgatory, and his guide through Paradiso.

At first sight of her, in Purgatorio, he is as overwhelmed as he was at the age of nine, and he is dazzled by her presence throughout the journey, until she ascends again to her place in heaven. This expression of sublimated and spiritualized love ends with Dante’s total absorption in the divine.

(Britannica) Card upward keywords: Noble heart, mystical, mysteries, mythology, understanding and acceptance, philosophy, strength, teaching, humanism, metaphysics, intuition, morality, way of life, arts and science, philosophy, cryptographics, symbolism, code, spirituality, integrity.

Card reversed keywords: Lack of compassion, abuse of power, selfishness, superficiality.

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III MUSE Divination

EARTH - TAURUS - VENUS - POLYHYMNIA - MUSE

While Polyhymnia, a siren, plays her song among magical activities the muse of astronomy, Urania, daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne, known for accurate predictions by seeing the arrangement of the stars. She is considered to be Universal Love who inherited Zeus’s majesty and the beauty of her mother Mnemosyne. Greek mythology is rich with gods and goddesses, but none have been as influential as the nine Muses who were created to give inspiration, knowledge, artistry, and music to the ancient world. Muses are a personified force or source of inspiration for creative artists. Polyhymnia was one of the nine Greek muses of sacred religious music and poetry and sometimes thought of as the muse of thinkers and geometry because she herself is such a deep thinking person. Compared to the other muses Polyhymnia was very serious and conservative. She is always shown wearing a long modest dress with a cloak like veil. A circle of 12 stars radiates from her sword representing the 12 zodiac signs she understands well. Greek thinkers give credit and praise to Poyhymnia saying that it is she who helped inspire them to think great things. Polyhymnia means “the one of many hymns.”

She is also sometimes credited as being mentioned in Dante’s epic poem Divine Comedy (Paradiso, Canto XXIII, Line 56). The siren song was a promise to Odysseus of mantic truths; with a false promise that he will live to tell them, they sing. Once he hears to his heart’s content, sails on, a wiser man. We know all the pains that the Greeks and Trojans once endured.

Song that as greatly doth transcend our Muses, Our Sirens, in those dulcet clarions, As primal splendour that which is reflected.

And as are spanned athwart a tender cloud Two rainbows parallel and like in colour, When Juno to her handmaid gives command, (The one without born of the one within, Like to the speaking of that vagrant one Whom love consumed as doth the sun the vapours,) Muses are usually not chosen but arrive at the right time and the allure is usually for both the receiver and the muse. This may be attributed to biophotons. Muses tend to know when they are needed even if subconsciously and can be disturbed by those provoking vibrations that show up unexpectedly. IT’S KISMET! It’s Biophotons. Biophotons (from the Greek βίος meaning “life” and φῶς meaning “light”) are photons of light in the ultraviolet and low visible light range that are produced by a biological system. Quantum entanglement says that 2 entangled photons react if one of the photons is affected no matter where the other photon is in The Universe without delay.

Card upright keywords: Inspiring, mother nature, fruitful, natural attraction, siren’s songs, bringer of light and truth, guide, philtre - love potion.

Card reversed keywords: Vacuous allure, quick ending infatuation, miscarriage, disruption of time.

IV MYTHOLOGICAL GOD Divination

Fire - Aries - Mars - Ankh

Achievement has been gained and a bow has been earned. Though he bows with honor he almost drops to the ground from exhaustion. The artist is powerful but “Kismet, Way Of The Sword,” has made him humble and prepared for historic record.

On this stage visitors to Il Porcellino put a coin into the boar’s gaping jaws, with the intent to let it fall through the underlying grating for good luck, and they rub the boar’s snout to ensure a return to Florence, and stop by the street musician to drop a few more coins in appreciation for entertaining gestures.

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In Circle 4, Dante also encounters Avicenna, a Persian polymath, and Averroes, a medieval Andalusian polymath known for his commentaries on Aristotle’s works. Dante and Virgil depart from the four other poets and continue their journey.

Canto IV Dante wakes up to find that he has crossed the Acheron, and Virgil leads him to the first circle of the abyss, Limbo, where Virgil himself resides. When Dante asked if anyone has ever left Limbo, Virgil states that he saw Jesus (“a Mighty One”) descend into Limbo and take Adam, Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, and Rachel (see Limbo of the Patriarchs) into his all-forgiving arms and transport them to Heaven as the first human souls to be saved.

Dante encounters the poets Homer, Horace, Ovid, and Lucan, who include him in their number and make him “sixth in that high company”. They reach the base of a great Castle – the dwelling place of the wisest men of antiquity – surrounded by seven gates, and a flowing brook. After passing through the seven gates, the group comes to an exquisite green meadow and Dante encounters the inhabitants of the Citadel. These include figures associated with the Trojans and their descendants (the Romans). Dante next encounters a group of philosophers, including Aristotle with Socrates and Plato at his side, as well as Democritus, “Diogenes” (either Diogenes the Cynic or Diogenes of Apollonia), Card upright keywords: Persistance, backbone, loved by all whom he has fortified, inspirational, stable, powerful position, wise, harnessed authority yet humble remembering where he came from.

Card reversed keywords: Unfulfilled dreams, empty retirement.

V HIEROPHANT Divination

EARTH - TAURUS - VENUS - INDULGENCES

The god-like harlequin upon his Romanesque throne connecting to the supreme authority awaits to answer prayers submitted to his indulgences payment boxes. Drop a note with a coin to buy some of the harlequin’s time and clout, prayers and songs to the spirits for attention to his requests. Eyes are nailed shut so he cannot see to judge but listens to pleas for penance.— Sinners acquire certain liabilities: the liability of guilt and the liability of punishment. An indulgence, a song, is “a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins.” It might even reduce the “temporal punishment for sin” after death, in the state or process of purification called purgatory.

When Beatrice first refers the author by name in the composition, she calls him “Dante”. That part is the 55 in the composition (5 + 5 = 10). Before the following part there are 54 songs 5 + 4 = 9 and then 90` 9 + 0 = 9.

Dante seeks to emphasize that his God is a God of love, even though He created an underworld designed to torture sinners. The inscription atop the gates stresses that God was moved by justice, wisdom, and love when He created hell.

Beatrice’s explanation in Canto 2 for why she does not fear for her safety as she travels through hell: ‘’I am so fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!

That any suff ’rance of your misery Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire Assails me.’’

In this passage, we have another example of Dante’s emphasis on the love and grace of God. Beatrice is so confidant in God’s protection of her, that she is clearly not concerned about the horrors that she sees around her in the underworld. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 15

Card upright keywords: Invocations, enchantment, promise of eternity and forgiveness, feeling better from the hand of a god, payment for penance.

Card reversed keywords: Exorcism, criticism, judgmental.

VI ECHO Divination

AIR - GEMINI - MERCURY - SERPENT TREE

Marassa are the divine twins in Vodou. They are children, but more ancient than any other loa.

“Love, truth and justice directed by reason, mysteries of liaison between earth and heaven and they personify astronomic-astrological learning. They synthesize the vodou Loa as personification of divine power and the human impotence. Double life, they have considerable power which allow them to manage people through their energies. They are children mysteries. They are also referred to as “mystères” and “the invisibles” and are intermediaries for the “good God”)—the Supreme Creator, who is distant from the world—and humanity.

Unlike saints or angels, however, they are not simply prayed to, they are served, they are loved, and these twins love. But they are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct songs, dances, ritual symbols, and special modes of service. The loa are not deities in and of themselves; they are considered intermediaries for, and dependent on, a distant Bondye. They belong to the theatre of drama and rituals with an echo of sacred rhythms in the background enchanting the players and audience with a mesmerizing atmosphere and chemical cocktails laced with pheromones. A harlequin mask lays on the floor, like an enticing pile of gifts, with tarot cards to choose from and receive predictions of either yes or no answers.

Love, which in gentlest hearts will soonest bloom seized my lover with passion for that sweet body from which I was torn unshriven to my doom.

Love, which permits no loved one not to love took me so strongly with delight in him that we are one in Hell, as we were above.

Love led us to one death. In the depths of Hell Caïna waits for him who took our lives.”

This was the piteous tale they stopped to tell.

Card upright keywords: Love laced with drama and theatrics, echo of familiarity. Echo of Psyche and Eros, mesmerized. Zeus made Psyche immortal so that two lovers could be together forever.

Card reversed keywords: Trials, rehearsals, promises.

VII THUNDERBIRD SOUL Divination

WATER - CANCER - MOON - TIME CHANGES

On this stage of dreams Zeta Leonis is guided by the energies of his guitar, his magickal tool that speaks to him. He is intuitive and can be taken or takes others to the zone with his musical vehicle.

Zeta Leo, ζ is a third-magnitude star in the constellation of Leo, the lion. It forms the second star (after Gamma Leonis) in the blade of the sickle, an asterism formed from the head of Leo. Zeta is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet but in the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 7. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Zayin, letters that arose from zeta include the Roman Z and Cyrillic З. The musician character is Pete Way whose signature bass guitar is the Thunderbird. 7 is the day Pete Way was born in August. He is a Leo. 16 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

Dante’s seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above lead to the Purgatorio notable for demonstrating the medieval knowledge of a spherical Earth.

During the poem, Dante discusses the different stars visible in the southern hemisphere, the altered position of the sun, and the various time zones of the Earth.

The figure 7 has an important place; it is used in 7 terraces of Purgatory. In many religions figure 7 is associated with divine power. It also symbolizes the 7 days, the seven phases of the moon, 7 days of creation from nothingness and the 7 planets known in ancient times. In the Kabbalah 7 sefirot (Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malkuth) describe the primary and secondary conscious divine emotions. The sefirot of the left side and the sefira of Malkuth in Kabbalah describes a vessel that receives the outward male light.

Card upright keywords: Vehicle for transformation, world class achievement, excellent performance takes one to the universal zone where intuition is nurtured.

Card reversed keywords: Empty stage, no audience.

VIII CREED Divination

AIR - LIBRA - SUN - CONVICTION - INFINITY

A wild cheetah faithfully guards a strong willed female notifying her of its loyalty and strength to her prowess. She holds a heavy sword among an idolizing audience and chess pieces surround her.

One of them holds a scale reminding to balance ideas. An ancient card game book includes instructions and rules for ways to play the game but the larger than life chess pieces indicate that big risks can produce magnanimous results if done so in a fair manner.

Perfectly paired artists align with each other on a stage to produce spectacular creative results wining the scene by emitting uncommon, enchanting, seductive sounds, thoughts, ideas and feelings in an abstract theatre; energies ablaze from power moves.

Much like Dante’s ability to transcend the traditional limits of art he derived from his innate strength. The Divine Comedy illustrates Dante is a master storyteller. The poem is a spellbinding journey. The Divine Comedy, Dante’s great poem is the fantastic story of his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise; an arduous task that takes great strength, determination, and conviction with any artistic destiny.

Card upright keywords: Statement of faith, code, equity, standing firm in shared beliefs. Presence and energies, frequencies, fairness.

Card reversed keywords: Unfair approach, missed chances, replay, start again, loss.

IX VACANT WAY Divination

EARTH - VIRGO - SATURN - GATE KEEPER

As a child Londa would draw out her visions as original characters and scenes. Scenes seemed to come to life in some way, either through dreams, Catholic school mates or church props. She designed fashion first inspired by Italian Renaissance and actress Sophia Loren. Her scenes were similar to tarot cards and included women dressed eloquently in fashions she created. Scenes were titled like one she drew with a fashion model standing at a Y shaped street like where Londa lives in Italy now. Londa placed a sign on the street titled, “Vacant Way.” Little did she know she would be living on Way Of The Sword in Florence, Italy 50 years later where fashion is also prevalent. But art has a type of supernatural power to it. Art is a type of affirmation. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 17

In this card the visual artist stands vigil over parallel worlds seeing a musician on one level and her on the other, both reflecting their realms, both becoming the light encased in magick solitude. In Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy there are nine circles in Hell. Later, there are nine spheres in heaven as well. The number three was the number of God, a number Dante emphasizes throughout ... and nine is the number of miracle, as every reader of the Vita nuova knows. Sequencing and numerology was quite complex in this preeminent work of Italian literature. The structure of the poem is quite complex, with mathematical and numerological patterns. He is fascinated with the number 3; along with the numbers 7 and 9 are throughout the poem.

Love which is gentlest treats teats will Soonest bloom…

Love permits no loved one not to love…

Love led us to death Card upright keywords: Light, standing vigil, standing by your ideas, magick solitude.

Card reversed keywords: Missed chances, replay, start again, loss.

X WHEEL OF DREAMS Divination

FIRE - SAGITTARIUS - JUPITER - LUCK

Typically, this card is titled Wheel of Fortune but it really is about a Wheel Of Dreams. To each person fortune is different. Though money can come from achieving dreams true fortune is having built dreams into reality for many years and seeing those dreams come to life and others finding value in them. Anything Londa has achieved, tarot decks, music magazines, products, has appeared magickal to others. However, a secret about something magickal can be described like this: Londa’s son exclaimed to her about the place he moved to. He said it is magickal! She told him it is not magickal, it looks magical because it was built by hard working, sacrificing people who wanted a community that was magickal-like. And, that is magick. That is what magickal dreams are made of, sacrifice and hard work. Money is nice but it is not as rewarding as having built something that looks magical to others.

It is believed that Dante Alighieri suffered from narcolepsy, a sleep disorder which may have been a source of creativity as narcolepsy sufferers often report very lucid dreams. He built these dreams and one of the dreams including The Divine Comedy, completed in 1320, a year before his death in 1321. It is widely considered to be the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of the greatest works of world literature. It helped establish the Tuscan language, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language. It is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

Card upright keywords: Magick, dreams, ideas, hard work, creative thinking, rewards.

Card reversed keywords: Lethargy, wanting something handed to you, superficial reasoning.

XI FORTITUDE Divination FIRE - LEO - STAR - INFINITY

Fortitude is an important element in achievement but vibrations from others who are on the same wave length as you can become the difference between mediocre and mythic.

When you have the same type of fortitude, thinking and ideas as someone else that you are close to or working with there is a positive charge of frequencies that you either draw from or magnetize to 18 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

yourself — and vice versa. Add to that Fortitude, bravery, being firm in educated decisions, following through regardless of how hard it is — is what makes things happen, that and sometimes working harder than anyone else. But that comes from having the fortitude to do so. It is not as easy as it sounds but worth it.

Throughout Purgatorio, stars symbolize the light of God’s grace. In particular, the stars symbolize different virtues that are reflective of good, godly behavior. At the beginning of the poem, four stars hang in sky. They represent the “cardinal” or “natural” Virtues of justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude.

Lombardo, a soul in Purgatory, explains, “the stars initiate” human behaviors—that is, to some extent, humans are naturally predisposed to behave in certain ways—but this isn’t the full story.

Lombardo argues that God imbued humans with the ability to discern right from wrong and then choose accordingly, which is also known as free will.

This final prayer is made, O dearest Lord, not for ourselves (we now have no such need).

We speak for those behind us, who’ve remained.’

Then praying, for themselves and us, ‘God speed’, these shadows made their way beneath such loads as sometimes in our nightmares can be seen.

We surely ought to help them cleanse the marks that they bore hence – till, light in weight and pure, they’ve power to rise towards the wheeling stars.

Canto 11, Divine Comedy Card upright keywords: Courageous, divinity, stamina, steadfastness, mythic proportions.

Card reversed keywords: Adversity, danger, weakness.

XII LIMBO Divination

FIRE - LEO - STAR - INFINITY

Being in a situation where no progress is made no matter how much sacrifice has happened can seem like a Gothic plot straight out of the dark ages. This is when things can turn around though if fortitude is applied. As difficult as anything is, forcing self to get up and keep going can cause one to transcend above it all. If you feel all is lost think about how short life is and be curious enough to just see what does happen - it will all be over soon enough and what you take into the next life can be a series of problems you may have to spend the next life sorting out if not resolved now. The most important lessons I have learned is fairness to self and others, consistency, longevity, building, getting through the darkest times, using limbo times to create something of value because that helps you rise above it all like a phoenix. It is rewarding to shape-shift through it - not necessarily financially but becomes a facet of what your life is about and what you have created so you can see who you really are.

Limbo, the extreme edge of the infernal ravine houses souls of virtuous pagans and children who died without baptism, who did not sin but are excluded from salvation; they do not suffer any pain, but are suspended and live in the unattainable desire to see God, continually moaning making the dark air of the Circle tremble. In Canto II of the Inferno Virgil tells of how Beatrice had descended into Limbo to induce him to help Dante in the forest, described in Canto IV. The two poets meet the souls of four poets (Homer, Horace, Ovid and Lucan), then visit the castle of the “great spirits,“ or the souls of the pagans who distinguished themselves particularly in life. A halo of light surrounded by seven walls and a small river where Virgil explains to Dante that the souls of the biblical patri©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 19

archs remained in Limbo until the Resurrection of Christ who then went down to Hell to take them all to Heaven.

Card upright keywords: Force self to be your best self. Solving problems, finding solutions, transcending.

Card reversed keywords: Trapped, bound by negative thoughts and energies.

The Picture Of Dorian Gray, In The Realms Of Dante’s Limbo The Irish writer, playwright and poet Oscar Wilde understood life as a work of art and, as he said on numerous occasions, was in his life where he had put all his genius, while in his work only his talent. He liked to look at himself in the mirror of The Divine Comedy and compare his vital moments with those of Dante Alighieri’s work. His life is the perfect drama of someone who has achieved everything the world can offer and then suddenly lose it. —Javier de Isusi, Oscar Wilde’s Divine Comedy “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

—Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray “Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.”

—Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray “I have grown to love secrecy. It seems to be the one thing that can make modern life mysterious or marvelous to us. The commonest thing is delightful if only one hides it.” —Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” —Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

XIII DEATH MASKS Divination

WATER - SCORPIO - SATURN - MARS

Is it the last act of our lives or is death a regenerator from this life to another?

Masks used in a theatrical way hide one type of personality and convey a different one. The death mask symbology of Lorenzo de Medici and Dante Alighieri represents a life once lived that contributed historical value for many centuries thereafter; still living and inspiring as the person they were but may also be living as a different human being now; someone who has shed one shell to accommodate another.

The main character representing Death on this card is shown as a harlequin but with Girolamo Savonarola’s eyes. As he was in the 15th century arrogantly he stands in the center of a chess game acting cocky but hidden in his costume he is bullying behind a harlequin mask and cockily announcing the fact that he was able to dispose of their lives - he thought - by having his bonfire of the vanities and destroying priceless works of art out of competitive jealousy and enviousness which Lorenzo and artists like Dante represented.

The irony is, Giraolamo was hung and burned in the centre of the Piazza della Signore where he held his envy built bonfire, and his body parts were thrown into the magnificent Arno river, eaten by the fish and bottom feeders. So, yes, checkmate Girolamo; Kismet! - You chose the wrong side of the blade!

Dante Alighieri believed everyone is responsible for their own future and have to deal with the consequences. The Divine Comedy Inferno, actions always have a consequence, now or in the long term.

20 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

Card upright keywords: Esoteric principals of death can simply be related to using the knowledge that one day we must die, and then we may have to pay for our actions in this life, so today we must live our best life. We may need that best part of ourselves again in another lifetime.

Card reversed keywords: Arrogance boomerangs harshly.

XIV VISIONARY Divination FIRE - SAGITTARIUS - SATURN - CHALICE

Two artists, two visionaries shown: Londa R. Marks and Pete Way, hovering over the Arno river with bridges stitching together the Oltrarno and Firenze Centre: the underworld where consciousness somehow intertwines with pure seekers of a realm of the Renaissance, either from those artists who lived then or from their own past life selves. A crow watches and guards them on their journey.

The fool card falls in the air to signify the risks taken and the risks ahead but belong to part of the Renaissance remnants with two crystal skulls holding an elixir of memory and, “The Book Of Waysted,” with all its trinkets and reminders of youth - a bible of artists, proudly exclaiming its anthem: The Book of Waysted “And the band decreed You won’t get out alive.

And the fans cried, We don’t want out anyway.”

Appropriately so, ironically so, this anthem can apply to all aspects of art and artists. Artists have fans, artists are usually fans of other artists and none of them can escape Kismet and honestly, don’t want to.

“Through me the way is to the city dolent; Through me the way is to eternal dole; Through me the way among the people lost.

Justice incited my sublime Creator; Created me divine Omnipotence, The highest Wisdom and the primal Love.

Before me there were no created things, Only eterne, and I eternal last.

“All hope abandon, ye who enter in!”

-Dante, ‘Inferno’ Canto III The journey Dante takes, as all artist’s take, is a psychological one, as much as a metaphysical one.

The particulars, while informed by Christian belief, are predicated on much deeper elements of the human condition, expressed masterfully by Dante throughout the Commedia.

Card upright keywords: Insight and vision, creative way of life, music and art; The Principle of Vibration: Nothing rests; Everything moves; Everything vibrates.

Card reversed keywords: Ignoring intuition.

©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 21

XV DIVINE COMEDY Divination EARTH - CAPRICORN - SATURN - DEMON

Divided into 3 parts, Inferno, Paradiso, Purgatorio, the great story by Dante Alighieri, the father of language, describes his journey through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In this work, Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth. After passing through the vestibule, Dante and Virgil reach the ferry that will take them across the river Acheron and to Hell proper. The ferry is piloted by Charon, who does not want to let Dante enter, for he is a living being. Virgil forces Charon to take him by declaring, Vuolsi così colà dove si puote / ciò che si vuole (It is so willed there, where is power to do that which is willed), referring to the fact that Dante is on his journey on divine grounds.

In similar struggles, on divine grounds, fiercely trying to carry out their fateful journey the visual artist holds a medieval blade inscribed with music, the musician uses his magickal tool to push through the circles of hell to achieve artistic musical goals. They both align with each other’s vibrations clinging to each others powers, relying on each others strength to achieve magnanimous dreams. A radiant light beckons. The way is shown but suddenly is jealously overshadowed by an evil angel with sharply honed wings of hatred and vengeance arriving to thwart any attempts into the light so the creators remain on the edge of nine circles of torment.

Card upright keywords: Inferno, Paradiso, Purgatorio, vision and sound, determination, unstoppable with severe prices to pay.

Card reversed keywords: Stress, tension, extreme efforts.

XVI DANTE’S TOWER Divination

FIRE - ARIES - MARS - METAMORPHOSIS

Divided into 3 parts, Inferno, Paradiso, Purgatorio, the great story by Dante Alighieri, the father of language, describes his journey through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In this work, Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth. After passing through the vestibule, Dante and Virgil reach the ferry that will take them across the river Acheron and to Hell proper. The ferry is piloted by Charon, who does not want to let Dante enter, for he is a living being. Virgil forces Charon to take him by declaring, Vuolsi così colà dove si puote / ciò che si vuole (It is so willed there, where is power to do that which is willed), referring to the fact that Dante is on his journey on divine grounds.

In similar struggles, on divine grounds, fiercely trying to carry out their fateful journey the visual artist holds a medieval blade inscribed with music, the musician uses his magickal tool to push through the circles of hell to achieve artistic musical goals. They both align with each other’s vibrations clinging to each others powers, relying on each others strength to achieve magnanimous dreams. A radiant light beckons. The way is shown but suddenly is jealously overshadowed by an evil angel with sharply honed wings of hatred and vengeance arriving to thwart any attempts into the light so the creators remain on the edge of nine circles of torment.

“From there we came outside and saw the stars. But the stars that marked our starting fall away. We must go deeper into greater pain, for it is not permitted that we stay. Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” – Dante Alighieri, Inferno Card upright keywords: Inferno, Paradiso, Purgatorio, vision and sound, determination, unstoppable with severe prices to pay.

Card reversed keywords: Stress, tension, extreme efforts.

22 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

XVII STARS Divination AIR - AQUARIUS - URANUS - STAR GODDESS

Julia Zenobia, third century Queen of Palmyrene Empire in Syria founded the Neo-Platonic school in Apamaea. Julia was a cultured monarch and fostered an intellectual environment in her court, which was open to scholars and philosophers and was discussed in Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Platonic Academy during the 15th century Renaissance. Marsilio Ficino, Medici astrologer, also translated Dante‘s state theoretical work De Monarchia into Italian, work that was also burned in the “Bonfire of the Vanities” in 1497.

This card takes on Julia Zenobia’s spirit with the artist fiercely holding Dante’s Dagger while Sopdet, ancient Egyptian name of the star Sirius and its personification as an Egyptian goddess, assists in her loyal stance staking claim to the power of the stars in order to channel those energies to the worthy musician nearby keeping him high above admirers and competitors because she knows of his adherence to his burning intuition, brilliant starlight, unique personality and natural abilities which requires him to be unattainable; all of which makes a star, a star like those artists of the 13th and 14th centuries fighting to keep their arts, ideas and work remaining on a starlit pedestal of history.

“I saw a point that shone with light so keen, the eye that sees it cannot bear its blazing; the star that is for us the smallest one would seem a moon if placed beside this point.” —Dante Alighieri Card upright keywords: Positive energies, white light and frequencies drawn from the stars, keeping a bright light bright. Beyond comprehension.

Card reversed keywords: Unused talent, overly egotistic, ungrateful.

XVIII LUNA Divination

WATER - CANCER - MOON - LIGHT

The happy harlequin is enjoying some fun time at a festival but will later fight with delirium; a price to pay for excess. But never-mind, because right now the full moon stokes up a side of him that he usually hides but can help him flourish in his work. He is part of a road crew needing a break from the serious side of managing structure and architecture of a stage. Now he plays a bit and sends his exhaustion to the ethers of absinthe and the green genie. The partially hidden moon shoots some of its energy to the skull of a crow who signals that life as we know it is short so imbibing now relieves his stress and even fortifies his cache of knowledge in a mystical way while elements of the moon’s residue dance around him with memories that have fondly become part of his personality.

First Sphere (The Moon: The Inconstant) (Canto II, Divine Comedy): Yet an experiment, were you to try it, could free you from your cavil, and the source of your arts’ course springs from experiment The waxing and waning of the moon is associated with inconstancy. Consequently, the sphere of the Moon is that of souls who abandoned their vows, and so were deficient in the virtue of fortitude.

(Canto IV, Divine Comedy): for will, if it resists, is never spent, but acts as nature acts when fire ascends, though force a thousand times tries to compel.

So that, when will has yielded much or little, ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 23

it has abetted force as these souls did: they could have fled back to their holy shelter.

Card upright keywords: Psychological seduction.

Card reversed keywords: Ignoring talent, overly egotistic, not comprehending.

XIX LA LUCE Divination

FIRE - LEO - SUN - VITA

Music is an artistic demand that can be exhilarating when an extension of feelings bond with a musicians’ creation of sounds and frequencies. On XIX La Luce, artist Pete Way is immersed in a world he creates with his musical emotions that shine a very illuminating light for those who know how to experience him.

Every 500 years or so someone comes along that wields a type of powerful inspiration that affects artists and their followers. Dante Alighieri 700 years ago and Lorenzo de’ Medici 529 years ago was like that. His affect, his energy, his biophotons and fateful existence affected some of the world’s greatest Renaissance period artists. Still, not many know who Lorenzo de’ Medici was. Yet, still, some of the greatest influence is executed that Lorenzo inspired. Those few artists who are affected enough by that one leader instinctively feel a desire to burn out an extension of that leader, and maybe they are an extension of that leader.

About 500 years later, like a spiritual tradition, Pete Way enters. He is one of those rare, uniquely talented artists and leaders whose biophotons ignited the 1970’s rock community influencing and inspiring many artists from then to today; those who instinctively and intuitively know, they are here for historic purposes, and are a reminder that Pete Way fired all cylinders, shook and rocked his peers like few others have, still does, and reinvents himself time and again as if he is his own work of art; well, he is. Nikki Sixx and Steve Harris are just two of those Pete Way emulations in the small but effective circle of today’s “Renaissance” artists affected by Pete Way’s fiery aura, vibrant energy, intuitive frequencies with the universe and unstoppable knowing he has a mission to accomplish — at all costs.

“Only those two lights that ascended wear their double garment in this blessed cloister.

And carry this report back to your world.”

(Paradiso 25.127-29) Card upright keywords: The light. Mind altering experience for the positive. Exceptional outcome.

Soul changing for the better. Gifts.

Card reversed keywords: Illusions at first but turns around. Slower growth than expected but growth.

XX GAMES OF LIFE Divination

FIRE - SAGITTARIUS - PLUTO - REBIRTH

On a life sized chessboard-stage a tired and bored defacto judgmental authority figure is stationed where he feels it is his duty to determine if others are worthy of playing the next game and if they should be moved to a higher winning level or demoted to a lower level. Players, props, mannequins and statues take their positions at this event to audition.

24 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

An astrolabe reminds us of all the different kinds of problems in astronomy, convoluted astrological chaos and cryptographic clues that can affect the nature of the game. Colors, atmospheric conditions, numbers and Roman numerals aid in formulating divinations so the players can predict the outcome or circumstances that could occur. Curiosity seekers calculate how to play the games of life in order to get approved by Judgment. All are caught in a level awaiting and theorizing the nature of God and reincarnation, awaiting a chance to ‘get it right’ in their next life. In the light to lift off towards a grand entrance is bass legend Pete Way. When Dante Alighieri’s concern of the afterlife in Divine Comedy included his choice of Virgil as his guide through hell and purgatory. Virgil described the descent of mythological Trojan hero Aeneas into the underworld. By beginning his own descent on Good Friday, Dante created a blend of Christian traditions with the model of epic pagan heroes who journeyed into the underworld. He presented Virgil as one who already knew the way, or as one who was fit to guide the new initiate in this cycle of symbolic death and spiritual rebirth.

Card upright keywords: It’s ‘right’ now, all answers bring more questions never answered. Nothing is for sure, we only make our moves.

Card reversed keywords: Determined to do it the ‘right’ way.

XXI WAY OF THE SWORD Divination

FIRE - WATER - EARTH - AIR - PARADISO SEMPRE

WORLD OF TAROT reached!—by “Kismet, Way Of The Sword, because the artist chose Alchemiste instead of Madness—or, maybe they are the same thing.”

Artist reached the World Of Tarot in the last part of her life; her power spot. Was it really kismet or destiny? Was it fate? Were all spots along the way power spots? Did she create her existence and her way there?” Is our life chosen by us or by our own design? Or, is it both fate and hard work? Kismet happens through hard work but the hard worker does so because of being driven to make something happen. Willingness does not allow anything to stop someone.

And, now, the artist holds close to her heart her most treasured gift in life: an original nail, centuries years old, from Villa Medici Cafaggiolo in Mugello valley near Londa, Italy in the Metropolitan City of Florence and central Italian region of Tuscany. The ancient nail was given to her a year after arriving in Florence and her visit to the castle. It is from the property owners of what was Lorenzo de’ Medici’s home where he grew up and was originally owned and established by his great grandfather Averado de’ Medici in 14th century. The nail is symbolic of foundation, permanence, home.

In Purgatorio, an allegory telling of Dante’s journey through Heaven, guided by Beatrice, who symbolizes theology Paradiso is depicted as a series of concentric spheres surrounding the Earth, consisting of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile and finally, the Empyrean - the highest heavenly sphere in ancient and medieval cosmology consisting of fire and or liquid light. In early 14th century this represents the soul’s ascent to God. Card upright keywords: Major achievement, worldly accomplishments, change of life, change of residence, finding the right spot in life, knowing where you are ‘truly’ from and where you are supposed to be, finding that location where your star dust first landed and reconnecting with it.

Card reverse keywords: Believe me when I say, it is not luck. Do not rely on luck, rely on hard work and extreme effort. Weakened power. Not at your power spot.

Shamans See Power Spots Clearly “In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is not time for regrets or doubts... Find your spot of happiness and you will find your power.”

—Carlos Castenada’s Shamanic Indian friend Don Juan ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 25

Minor Arcana

Kismet, Way Of The Sword SUIT OF SWORDS Part of the “Minor Arcana” Swords, like the other tarot suits, contains fourteen cards: ace (one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king.

The tarot suit of swords represent logic; mind and thoughts. The tarot suit of swords’ very nature is that of being aggressive and warlike.

Swords people are great thinkers. Study, law courts and libraries, any type of research, academia, the sciences, are magnets to air signs. Learning for them in any capacity is highly appealing. According to Dante’s house museum, it was used by a soldier during the Battle of Campaldino—perhaps, even,

by Dante himself (hence it being labeled “Dante’s Dagger”).

It was chosen for the Suit of Swords to include even more of Florence, Italy’s spirit of poet Dante Alighieri in Kismet, Way Of The Sword.

Tarot cards were originally designed for card play and are still used throughout much of Europe to play various Tarot card games. However, in English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes.

Element of swords is that decisions are made based on facts.

ACE OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Finding a way through dream echoes and mirroring memories.

In ancient Pompeii, Italy, little white stones set into the street paving catch the moonlight to help citizens get home in the dark. Piazza Dante is a large public square in Naples, Italy, named after the poet Dante Alighieri where tourists to Pompeii arrive before visiting the Archaeological Site. The square is dominated by a 19th-century statue of the poet Dante, sculpted by Tito Angelini. Dante’s Dagger is stationed at a Y shaped street in Pompeii; the entry gate to the stadium where Pink Floyd has executed great conceptual works and attempts to artistically merge artful images, spirit and music celebrating the historical period in which the last thing missing from their art is precisely those who lived there then - though still find a way to arrive again among frequencies of the performers magick: their music.

In a vision, a dream of herself in Pompeii during 78 BC, Londa rode a horse into a stadium event as if she were Diana The Huntress; determined, strong and intent upon delivering an urgent message.

She rode into the very stadium that Pink Floyd has played; those musicians who also had a past life there and return to embrace the memories they mirror and gather their ancient powers. Pompeii, like Florence, Italy has a way of claiming their own - or vice versa. Though it is a gift, it comes with heavy responsibility and the artists are frequently reminded of it. Among other lives in Italy, past and present, and after living in Florence for a couple of years in this lifetime artist Londa R. Marks had a dream revealing where she lived in Pompeii. The altered state of consciousness turned into a trance; a reflection soaked in shadows of an ancient stone residence produced a figure who emerged and embraced her whispering, “It is not our time. You have work to do.”

Card upright keywords: Merging time zones and parallel worlds. Shadows. Connecting the dots.

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Supernatural disclosure by Way Of The Sword. Purposeful messages. Altered state of consciousness.

The sword of truth. Rising.

Card reversed keywords: Stealth code.

II OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Desperately worshiping Venus, Dante and Virgil pray for guidance.

In parallel worlds a curious but indifferent artist channels a vision out of time to watch Purgatorio adventures unfold while remembering that she is only the artist as medium receptive to the messages she must articulate, “Tai nella facccia io non lo soffersi” (I do not suffer it) from Purgatorio IX. Canto IX, in which the actor places one of his significant dreams; and then how they came to the entrance of their own purgatory, describing how in the entrance of purgatory, “I found an angel who with the point of the sword he carried in his hand and wrote in the forehead of Dante: seven P,” perhaps in memory of his first troubles.

Behind the artist in Purgatorio an entertainer from another realm of time contemplates his oracle cards laid out on the ground in front of him. Emphatically, he predicts the artist will weave together Italian history and mythology with the Divine Comedy of music, art and theatre. in Canto XX, fortune-tellers and soothsayers must walk with their heads on backwards, unable to see what is ahead, because that was what they had tried to do in life: Canto XX, Divine Comedy 1308 - 1320 They had their faces twisted toward their haunches and found it necessary to walk backward, because they could not see ahead of them. ... and since he wanted so to see ahead, he looks behind and walks a backward path.

(Correlation on following page) White light flashes and a phantom rainbow swirls among intoxicating white tea musk, rose and jasmine scents confirming the scene as an omen of agreement. Ironically, the path of creator also becomes a labyrinth in Purgatorio.

Card upright keywords: Aligning with Purgatorio and Paradiso. Strategically creating an exit from Purgatorio.

Card reversed keywords: Stuck in a labyrinth of Purgatory.

III OF SWORDS Divination AIR

The Three Fates, or Moirai, are a group of three weaving goddesses who assign individual destinies to mortals at birth. Their names are Clotho (the Spinner), Lachesis (the Alloter) and Atropos (the Inflexible). In the older myths, they were the daughters of Nyx, but later, they are more often portrayed as the offspring of Zeus and Themis. In Orphic cosmogony, their mother is said to have been Ananke or Necessity. Either way, they had enormous power and even Zeus was unable to recall their decisions.

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They controlled the mother thread of life of every mortal from birth to death. They were independent, at the helm of necessity, directed fate, and watched that the fate assigned to every being by eternal laws might take its course without obstruction.

In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. It describes how these strings propagate through space and interact with each other.

The entertainer forges through his destiny with unequivocal force and wild embrace as he makes a part of his aura a 12th century Tetragrammaton Triangular Shield of three circles that are related to the Borromean rings used as a symbol of the Trinity. The 1260 allegorical illustration was a symbol of a knight battling the seven deadly sins.

In Dante Alighieri’s Inferno he encounters various sins in the following order (canto number): Lust (5), Gluttony (6), Avarice (7), Wrath (7-8), Heresy (10), Violence (12-17), Blasphemy (14), Fraud (18-30), and Treachery (32-34). The Purgatorio, closely follows the traditional seven deadly sins.

Since Pride is the root of all sins, the souls in Purgatory must be purged of that sin first. As they ascend the mount, they experience less punishments to absolve the other six deadly sins. As they are freed of sinful inclinations, the souls can regain the earthly paradise renounced by Adam and Eve. Card upright keywords: Incarnations of destiny. Thread one’s way, as through a passage or between obstacles.

Card reversed keywords: Feeling lost in this world.

IV OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Purgatory, also known as Purgatorio in Italian, was the second Kingdom of the Afterlife and was a major realm in Dante’s Inferno. Even if someone was baptized, it does not mean they automatically went to heaven, according to Dante Alighieri’s theology. They would first spend time in purgatory until enough prayers and enough masses were said for the souls of those in limbo. The purification that the soul went through would make sense for Dante to have to experience Hell first to finally reach heaven.

“Purgatory is the place in which the human spirit purges himself, and climbing to Heaven makes himself worthy. I did not die and I did not live. These souls waited for their chance to begin their ascent to Purgatory, but remained joyful as their presence here was a clear sign that they were spared from Hell. At the summit was the Garden of Eden where those who completed their time in Purgatory ascended to Heaven. Dante was reunited with Beatrice who became his guide in Heaven. Dante and his guide hear the anguished screams of the uncommitted.” —Dante Alighieri Those who drink from River Lethe experience complete forgetfulness. River Lethe was one of the five rivers of the underworld of Hades. Also known as the Ameles Potamos (river of unmindfulness), the Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld, where all those who drank from it experienced complete forgetfulness. Lethe was also the name of the Greek spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, with whom the river was often identified. Lethe, the river of forgetfulness, is one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld; the other four are Acheron (the river of sorrow), Cocytus (the river of lamentation), Phlegethon (the river of fire) and Styx (the river that separates Earth and the Underworld). According to Statius, it bordered Elysium, the final resting place of the virtuous. Ovid wrote that the river flowed through the cave of Hypnos, god of sleep, where its murmuring would induce drowsiness.

The shades of the dead were required to drink the waters of the Lethe in order to forget their earthly life. In the Aeneid, Virgil (VI.703-751) writes that it is only when the dead have had their memories 28 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

erased by the Lethe that they may be reincarnated. Some ancient Greeks believed that souls were made to drink from the river before being reincarnated, so they would not remember their past lives. The artist holds a page from Purgatorio, Canto XXXIII, which is the last of the second song, where it is said how Beatrice declares to Dante those things that he saw, dealing with and demonstrating future revenge and injury in the aforementioned griffin wagon; and finally, having seen the four rivers of Paradise, they go up to heaven.

Card upright keywords: A necessary intermission. Resting. Releasing. Contemplating experiences and lessons. Replenishing. Rejuvenating. Process of reincarnation.

Card reversed keywords: Giving up.

V OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Theatrics of Dante’s Divine Comedy aligns with similar struggles of any artists life such as these excerpts and figures of speech: “In the Ninth Circle of treachery and in a place of Political Traitors hatefully gnawing away at the flesh in the same manner a desperate dog pulls at stray meat from a bone.”

“As Virgil paused, Count Ugolino switched political parties when it suited him and his own personal desires, not due to morality. Archbishop Ruggieri turned against the Count, his political ally, after he either knowingly or unknowingly killed the Archbishop’s nephew. “In my eyes, I saw where both men deserved to be in Hell.”

“Ugolino found himself imprisoned in a tower. Eight months passed, and Guido I da Montefeltro took power. He decided that the wooden door to Ugolino’s prison cell would be nailed shut, and the keys thrown into a nearby river. Ugolino would ultimately starve to death” — physically and figuratively.

Dante and his guide hear the anguished screams of the uncommitted.

From, The Traitorous Pair - Ugolino and Ruggieri: figures in the Inferno, Dante’s Divine Comedy.

And, similarly, the musician fights off clinging traitors and performs his work.

Card upright keywords: Avoiding traitorous illusions in the Divine Comedy of Art. Card reversed keywords: Betrayal. Solitude.

VI OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Greek mythology tells of Styx as a deity and a river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld, often called “Hades,” which is also the name of its ruler.

The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the center of the underworld on a great marsh, which sometimes is also called the Styx. According to Herodotus, the river Styx originates near Feneos. Styx is also a goddess with prehistoric roots in Greek mythology as a daughter of Tethys, after whom the river is named and because of whom it had miraculous powers.

In Inferno, the first cantica of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Cocytus is the ninth and lowest circle of The ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 29

Underworld.

“Mnemosyne” is derived from the same source as the word mnemonic, which means “remembrance, memory.” Mnemosyne is the mother of the nine Muses.

Dead souls drank from Lethe so they would not remember their past lives when reincarnated. In Orphism, the initiated were taught to instead drink from the Mnemosyne, the river of memory, which would stop the transmigration of the soul.

An initiated artist arrives in a land of previous life instilled with a heavy responsibility.

Card upright keywords: Remembering past life. Resolving unfinished purposes.

Card reversed keywords: Misuse of time.

VII OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante and Virgil arrive on Mount Purgatory. Wondering and worrying about his shadow Virgil reassures Dante, then Dante talks against Florence and falls asleep. When Dante wakes up by the gate of Purgatory, Virgil tells him St. Lucia carried him there in his sleep. Dante and Virgil climb three steps to the entrance of Purgatory and enter Purgatory proper.

On the way from the third to the fourth terrace, Virgil explains to Dante the importance of love in structuring Purgatory. Later, Virgil discourses on love and free will, but admits he can only explain as much as reason will allow. Dante must turn to Beatrice for faith.

On the fifth terrace of the Avaricious and Prodigal, Dante and Virgil meet Statius.

Statius adores Virgil and Virgil allows Dante to tell Statius who he is. On the sixth terrace of the Gluttonous, Statius explains how his conversion to Christianity was inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid.

On the seventh terrace of the Lustful, Dante asks how souls can become emaciated if they don’t require food. Dante is afraid of entering the wall of flame in the seventh terrace but Virgil tempts him with the promise that he’ll see Beatrice on the other side so, Dante walks through the flames where a performer is ghosting the sky and invades their camp as if from another world where this entity has tuned into the past by channeling them, bidding for their knowledge and insight, experiencing what they are in order to take the essence of the experience back to the stage.

Card upright keywords: Creative code. Artistic sacrifice.

Card reversed keywords: Dubious approaches.

VIII OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante’s Dream of the Siren.

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Plato said there were three kinds of sirens: the celestial, the generative, and the purificatory / cathartic.

The Dream of the Siren in Purgatorio 19 as compared to the first dream, whose language is rich and evocative but whose action is fairly simple, Dante is carried aloft, in a terrifying manner, as the 30 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

dream of Purgatorio IX recounts a complex drama. Dante is seduced by a woman, one who calls herself the very siren who seduced Ulysses. Virgil, overtly chastised by the “donna” for having allowed the siren to make such inroads into Dante’s consciousness; he is responsible for “guarding the threshold of assent,” and is therefore emblematic of reason. Virgil proceeds to explain the dream of the siren as in Purgatorio IX, the dream of the eagle. He explains that Dante saw “quell’antica strega / che sola sovra noi omai si piagne,” “that ancient witch who alone causes the weeping above us.” In other words, Virgil aligns the dolce serena with the vices that are purged, “sovra noi”—“(above us).”

Card upright keywords: Feeling trapped and oppressed but addicted to this state due to a knowing that it is right.

Card reversed keywords: Seductive allure. Change is up to the individual.

IX OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante begins the Divine Comedy with, “filled with sleep” or a “weary body.” Throughout the work, Dante Alighieri recounts vivid dreams and brief sleeps then awakens with rested eyes. Sometimes he was overcome by emotion falling to the ground like a dead body.

Narcolepsy, vivid hallucinations, dreams, nightmares and disturbed sleep is found throughout Dante’s work, particularly his 14th-century epic poem where he travels through the Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. On the way, he documented experiences of sudden awake-dreaming transitions, visions and hallucinations, unconscious behaviours triggered by emotional falls.

Dante interpreted his experience of self in the form of his holy target - his work, his world; that which was dictated by this channeled penance, though, like Plato, Dante attributed much of his influence to the heavenly spheres.

The artist awakens from a dream filled with ideas, thoughts, songs and visions. She wants to write a song like the one she wrote and heard in that other world, that dream, no, she wants to visually depict the dreams; she isn’t sure, they all work together, they are one soul. They all come from the same ‘heavenly spheres.’

Card upright keywords: Overwhelmed with ideas, visions and need to coherently deliver what is harvested in dreams, nightmares and visions. Caught in Purgatory.

Card reversed keywords: Harmonic discord.

X OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante looks towards the Purgatoro he invented and the stars and the moon decorating it. He evaluates his journey while holding notes about his experiences and how his world unfolds. Looking at the seashore, at a sapphire sea, a world of light and beauty that takes the place of the “mar sì crudele” (cruel sea) on which the poet’s ship has sailed thus far, the place where all souls, preparing for blessedness, are working to become “new” again: innocent as at birth, innocent as the human race in the Garden of Eden.

In the foreground, the second realm, is a version of the performer who appears tired but rather is grounded by the stage floor and at one with music, in a state of daydreaming for the creation of dif©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 31

ference and the consequent blurring of distinction, he exploits this freedom to the hilt in the creation as an invented space for which there is absolutely no constraint.

Dante oversees artist expression, relates to the subconscious meditation for receiving instruction from other worlds and he too draws from the musicians source while the musician performer draws from Dante’s Purgatorio world.

Card upright keywords: That which appears to be sacrifice is a desired realm. Realizing dreams at all costs.

Card reversed keywords: Nightmares. Misinterpretation.

PAGE OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Nine Circles and Seven Gates of Oceanids.

In Greek mythology, the nymph daughters of the Titan Oceanus (Ocean), were known collectively as the Oceanids. The Oceanids are not easily categorized, nor confined to any single function, not even necessarily associated with water. The Oceanids were the nymphs of springs, and some of the names reflect this aquatic connection, with some having the names of actual springs.

Though most nymphs were considered to be minor deities, many Oceanids were significant figures.

Like Metis, the Oceanids also functioned as the wives (or lovers) of many gods. As a group, the Oceanids form the chorus of the tragedy Prometheus Bound, coming up from their cave beneath the ground, to console the chained Titan Prometheus (god of fire).

Inferno is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century epic poem Divine Comedy. It is followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso. The Inferno tells the journey of Dante through Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In the poem, Hell is depicted as nine concentric circles of torment located within the Earth; it is the “realm of those who have rejected spiritual values by yielding to bestial appetites or violence, or by perverting their human intellect to fraud or malice against their fellowmen.” As an allegory, the Divine Comedy represents the journey of the soul toward God, with the Inferno describing the recognition and rejection of sin.

The esoteric Page consumes and hides omens only to use them if necessary on a ephemeral but complex journey.

Card upright keywords: Enigmatic. Stealth. Disruptive. Indefinable.

Card reversed keywords: Everlasting. Perpetual.

KNIGHT OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante And Virgil In The Ninth Circle Of Hell; The poet’s vision of Hell.

Still journeying toward the center of the Ninth Circle of Hell, Dante becomes aware of a great shape in the distance, hidden by the fog. Right under his feet, however, he notices sinners completely covered in ice, sometimes several feet deep, contorted into various positions. These souls constitute the most evil of all sinners—the Traitors to their Benefactors. Their part of Hell, the Fourth Ring of the 32 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

Ninth Circle, Judecca. Judecca, named after the apostle who betrayed Jesus (Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus with a kiss), is the innermost zone of the ninth and final circle of hell.

The last Ninth Circle of Hell is divided into 4 Rounds according to the seriousness of the sin.

Though all residents are frozen in an icy lake. Those who committed more severe sin are deeper within the ice.

Dante and Virgil advance toward the giant, mist-shrouded shape. As they approach through the fog, they behold its true form. The sight unnerves Dante to such an extent that he knows not whether he is alive or dead. The figure is Lucifer, Dis, Satan—no one name does justice to his terrible nature. The size of his arms alone exceeds all of the giants of the Eighth Circle of Hell put together. He stands in the icy lake, his torso rising above the surface. Gazing upward, Dante sees that Lucifer has three horrible faces, one looking straight ahead and the others looking back over his shoulders. Beneath each head rises a set of wings, which wave back and forth, creating the icy winds that keep Cocytus frozen.

And, the entertainer, a conduit for interpreting the darkness in his mind, gathers all his thoughts, emotions, lessons and inspiration to turn this Hell into a beautiful masterpiece of music.

Card upright keywords: Music in E minor. Hauntingly beautiful approach to art.

Card reversed keywords: Treachery. Trickery. Traitors. Sad cello.

QUEEN OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Dante’s Purgatorio XXVII v. 97-99, “Giovane e Bella in Sogno Mi Parka Donna Vedere Andar Per Una Landa Cogliendo Fiori” (Young and beautiful in dream, a woman seen on the land of the park harvesting flowers) in another time, another world not far away.

Virgil said, “Remember, remember!” (Purgatory XXVII). Time and memory are the currencies of human affect and love: affect accrues over time and is preserved in memory.

The last verse of Purgatorio XXVI, referring to Arnaut Daniel, is “Poi s’ascose nel foco che affina them.” Then he hid himself in the fire that refines them. In Purgtorio XXVII we learn that the refining fire of the seventh terrace must be confronted by every soul who passes beyond the terraces of Purgatory.

My gentle escorts turned to me, and Virgil said: “My son, though there may be suffering here, there is no death. Remember remember! If I guided you to safety even upon the back of Geryon, then now, closer to God, what shall I do? “ (Purgatory XXVII v. 19-24) Time and memory are the currencies of human affect and love: affect accrues over time and is preserved in memory.

Card upright keywords: Gentle poetic soul with powerful resolve. Solutions through common sense and grace. Creative thinking.

Card reversed keywords: Overly determined. Isolation. Depression.

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KING OF SWORDS Divination AIR

Paradiso; Italian for “Paradise” or “Heaven,” is the third and final part of Dante’s Divine Comedy, following the Inferno and the Purgatorio. It is an allegory telling of Dante’s journey through Heaven, guided by Beatrice, who symbolizes theology.

In the poem, Paradise is depicted as a series of concentric spheres surrounding the Earth, consisting of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, the Primum Mobile and finally, the Empyrean. It was written in the early 14th century. Allegorically, the poem represents the soul’s ascent to God. However, for Dante’s benefit (and the benefit of his readers), he is “as a sign” showing various souls in planetary and stellar spheres that have some appropriate connotation.

While the structures of the Inferno and Purgatorio were based around different classifications of sin, the structure of the Paradiso is based on the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude) and the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity).

During the course of his journey, Dante meets and converses with several blessed souls. He is careful to say that these all actually live in bliss with God in the Empyrean: But all those souls grace the Empyrean; and each of them has gentle life though some sense the Eternal Spirit more, some less.

Card upright keywords: Passion, discipline, power. Intuitively knows how to reach the light, the Empyrean.

Card reversed keywords: Indulgence. Self destruction. Misunderstood.

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Minor Arcana

Kismet, Way Of The Sword SUIT OF DICE Part of the “Minor Arcana” dice, like the other tarot suits, contains fourteen cards: ace (one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king. The tarot suit of dice (coins, pentacles) represents hard work, belief in self; trades, crafts, business, material and physical. Steady and dependable, stoic, practical, skilled & skillful; artistic.

Dice are about academia; learning or teaching. This is a sensual suit of scenarios; a party atmosphere though and enjoyment of food and luxury and very much home oriented. Dice can be considered down to earth and immovable in decisions, tenacious and stable but attacking goals to win as long as all details are addressed.

“Bone dice.” “Rollin’ Bones.” The line between divination and gambling is blurred. In the first millennium BC, civilizations in Greece, India, and China all threw dice. In Rome, it was common for gamblers to call out the goddess Fortuna’s name while rolling a 20-sided die during a game of chance.

The next time you find yourself rolling a pair of dice, know that you’re tapping into something primordial keeping alive an ancient tradition that began long before recorded history.

Archaeologists can’t pinpoint the first human who threw dice, but they do know dice-throwing appeared independently all across the populated world. The oldest known dice dates back at least 8,000 years.

Tarot cards were originally designed for card play and are still used throughout much of Europe to play various Tarot card games. However, in English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes.

Element of dice is material, physical & sensual.

ACE OF DICE Divination EARTH

O everlasting Light, you dwell alone In yourself, know yourself alone, and known And knowing, love and smile upon yourself!

That middle circle which appeared in you To be conceived as a reflected light, After my eyes had studied it a while, Within itself and in its coloring Seemed to be painted with our human likeness So that my eyes were completely focused on it As the geometry specialist who sets himself To square the circle and who cannot find, For all his thought, the principle he needs, Just so was I on seeing this new vision I wanted to see how our image fuses Into the circle and finds its place in it, And my own wings were far too weak for that. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 35

But then my mind was struck by light that flashed And, with this light, received what it had asked.

Here force failed my high fantasy; but my desire and will were moved already—like a wheel revolving uniformly.

(From Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy Paradiso – Canto XXXIII: The Final Vision) Card upward keywords: “As one who sees in dreams and wakes to find the emotional impression of his vision still powerful while its parts fade from his mind - Just such am I, having lost nearly all the vision itself, while in my heart I feel the sweetness of it yet distill and fall.” —Dante Alighieri, Paradiso, So pick up from deep thought and prepare to see the reflection of your dream turn into a windfall!

Card reversed keywords: “Fate’s arrow, when expected, travels slow.”

—Dante Alighieri, Paradiso

II OF DICE Divination EARTH

In Dante’s paradise, the nine circles of heaven are an allegory for the angelic hierarchy using the planets of our solar system as names including, in order, “the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, and the Primum Mobile.”

Canto XX, where it concerns the soothsayers and sorceries and the spellcasters, and the origin of Mantua, which dealt with giving Manto an enchantress; and their pain and misery and their poor condition, in the fourth bedlam and many others.

Master poet Dante Alighieri of Florence, Italy loved music. He holds his harp class lyre, to accompany his song and recitation; his poetry.

“Fer the city over that death bone; and for the one who first chose the place, Mantüa appealed without further fate. His thicker people were already out, before the deception from Casalodi da Pinamonte was deceived. But I assure you that if you ever hate to originate my land otherwise, the truth will not lie deceit.“ “You see the sad ones who left the needle, the spool and the spindle, and became divinities; made sickness with herbs and with imago. But he came now, for he already holds the boundary of both sides and touches the wave under Sobilia Cain and the thorns; and the round moon was already yesterday: well ten de ‘remember, because it did not harm you once for the deep forest.“ Yes he spoke to me, and we went to meet each other.

(Excerpts from Canto XX Inferno) Card upward keywords: Straighten your head, straighten up, and see where the land began to appear in Teban’s eyes. Gather your wealth.

Card reversed keywords: So that as pain it remained for the wedges - wishes to cut the first rope.

High tragedy sings in some place: you know it well that you know it all.

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III OF DICE Divination EARTH

“Astrology, the noblest of sciences.”

—Dante Alighieri “O grace abounding and allowing me to dare to fix my gaze on the Eternal Light, so deep my vision was consumed in it!”

Purgatorio XXVII is in many ways Virgil’s canto that purifies a special bond shared by Dante with the mentor who has guided him thus far with reference to his paternal guidance. Later we see that only Virgil - not the new guide Stazio - can induce Dante to cross the flames. When Dante proves intransigent, Virgil knows to refer to Beatrice and he said: “Now you see son, between Beatrice and you is this wall.” (Purgatory XXVII 34-36).

Dante dreams, his third purgatorial dream comes, like the previous two, at a moment of transition.

The first dream figures his being carried up to the gate of Purgatory by Santa Lucia; the second figures the vices of the top three terraces, embodied in the siren; the third dream figures the two forms of bliss - active and contemplative - that humans can seek in their lives.

Card upward keywords: Mastery. Frequencies. Acumen. Lofty vision. Motivated. Turning the page.

Card reversed keywords: “Open your mind to what I shall disclose, and hold it fast within you; he who hears, but does not hold what he has heard, learns nothing.”

—Dante Alighieri, Paradiso

IV OF DICE Divination EARTH

In the Late Middle Ages, most poetry was written in Latin, making it accessible only to the most educated readers. In De vulgari eloquentia (On Eloquence in the Vernacular), however, Dante defended the use of the vernacular in literature. He would even write in the Tuscan dialect for works such as The New Life (1295) and the Divine Comedy; this highly unorthodox choice set a precedent that important later Italian writers such as Petrarch and Boccaccio would follow.

Dante was instrumental in establishing the literature of Italy, and his depictions of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.

That when Peneian branches can incite someone to long and thirst for them, delight must fill the happy Delphic deity.

Great fire can follow a small spark: there may be better voices after me to pray to Cyrrha’s god for aid--that he may answer.

The lantern of the world approaches mortals by varied paths: but on that way which links four circles with three crosses, it emerges. Every nature has its bent, according to a different station, nearer or less near to its origin.

Card upward keywords: Feel more marvel at your climbing than you would were you considering a stream that from a mountain’s height falls to its base.

Card reversed keywords: A living flame stood still. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 37

V OF DICE Divination EARTH

“Those ancients who in poetry presented the golden age, who sang its happy state, perhaps, in their Parnassus, dreamt this place.

Here, mankind’s root was innocent; and here were every fruit and never-ending spring; these streams—the nectar of which poets sing.”

—Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy In the third and the last section of Dante’s epic poem of Divine Comedy, the Italian poet describes his journey through Heaven, the things he sees and people he encounters on the way to the so-called Empyrean, the true home of God, saints, angels and the souls of the faithful.

In the sky that takes most of its light it was I, and I saw things that say neither knows nor can those who descend from there; I was within the heaven that receives more of His light; and I saw things that he who from that height descends, forgets or can.

Dante and Virgil leaning on Homer author of the Iliad and the Odyssey hoping for some insight.

Card upward keywords: Holy warriors. Revel in the work of that great Artist who so loves His art, His gaze is fixed on it perpetually.

Card reversed keywords: Reasons for the dark marks on the Moon. Exile.

VI OF DICE Divination EARTH

Dante’s singing in Hell is exceptional, but for the rest of the poem, his singing is normal.

The exceptional citation of the parody of a metrical Latin hymn Vexilla regis in Hell foreshadows the singing of the metrical hymn Te lucis ante terminum in Purgatory. Here Te lucis is described as being sung facing East, the traditional direction of facing God, and thus it projects a sense of moving to the goal. This hymn in turn becomes a type for the hymn Summe Deus clementiae, sung at the beginning of the seventh terrace. There the souls face a purgation of fire, and sing the hymn together.

Since God is outside of time, and music inside time, music is not an attribute of God. It is inconceivable that God should have sung in the Commedia. To be sure, God is seen as creator of motion, and thus of music, but he is himself unmoved and beyond music. So as Dante approaches the vision of God, there is no more talk of music.

Card upward keywords: By approaching his desire, our intellect deepens so much that behind memory it cannot not speak; for nearing its desired end, our intellect sinks into an abyss so deep that memory fails to follow it.

Card reversed keywords: Truly as much of the holy kingdom as I could treasure my mind, it will now be a matter of my song.

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VII OF DICE Divination EARTH

Canto IX, Antipurgatory: the goalkeeper angel Il canto XIV del paradiso.

Canto XIV, in which Salamone solves anything doubted; and mount in the star of Mars. The fifth part starts here.

From the center to the circle, and yes from the circle to the center, the water moved in a round vase, according to whether it was struck out or inside: in my mind this case I immediately said, yes how the glorious life was silent of Tommaso, for the similarity that arose of his speaking and that of Beatrice, which he liked to begin after. To him he makes trades, and he does not say to you, neither with his voice nor thinking again, or another truth, go to the root. Tell them if the light from which your substance grows, will remain with you eternally as it is now; and if it remains, say how, then: whereby the vision grows together, the ardor that lights up grows, the ray that comes from it grows.

Card upward keywords: O good Appollo, at the last work make me of your valor has become a vessel, as you ask to give the beloved laurel.

Card reversed keywords: O godly force, if you so lend yourself to me, that I might show the shadow of the blessed realm inscribed within my mind.

VIII OF DICE Divination EARTH

Building the Tower of Babel was, for Dante, an example of pride. After being introduced to humility, Dante and Virgil meet the souls of the proud, who are bent over by the weight of huge stones on their backs. As they walk around the terrace, they are able to profit from the sculpted examples of humility. The first of these souls is Omberto Aldobrandeschi, whose pride lies in his descent (“I was Italian, son of a great Tuscan, my father was Guiglielmo Aldobrandesco”), although he is learning to be more humble (“I do not know if you have heard his name”). Oderisi of Gubbio is an example of pride in achievements – he was a noted artist of illuminated manuscripts. Provenzano Salvani, leader of the Sienese Ghibellines, is an example of pride in dominating others (Canto XI). In Canto XIII, Dante points out, with “frank self-awareness,” that pride is also a serious flaw of his own: “I fear much more the punishment below; my soul is anxious, in suspense; already I feel the heavy weights of the first terrace” After his conversations with the proud, Dante notes further sculptures on the pavement below, this time illustrating pride itself. The sculptures show Satan (Lucifer), the building of the Tower of Babel, King Saul, Niobe, Arachne, King Rehoboam, and others.

The poets reach the stairway to the second terrace at noon. As they ascend, the Angel of Humility salutes them and brushes Dante’s forehead with his wings, erasing the letter “P” (peccatum) corresponding to the sin of pride, and Dante hears the beatitude Beati pauperes spiritu (“Blessed are the poor in spirit”, Matthew 5:3) (Canto XII). Dante is surprised to discover that climbing now seems easier than it did before. Virgil tells him that one of the initials has been removed from his forehead by the angel and that the effort will be increasingly lessened as he climbs higher. Dante compares the stairway to the easy ascent from the Rubiconte, a bridge in Florence, up to San Miniato al Monte, overlooking the city. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 39

Card upward keywords: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Card reversed keywords: The highest love we are to have is love for God.

IX OF DICE Divination EARTH

And so, in Cantos XXXI-XXXIII, Dante is shown by Bernard the throne room of God in the Primum Mobile, that point from which the spheres of the universe hanging and which moves them — or, rather, out of love for which all things move. And then Bernard turns his gaze upward, to that vision of God reserved for the blessed: And so my mind, bedazzled and amazed, Stood fixed in wonder, motionless, intent, And still my wonder kindled as I gazed.

That light doth so transform a man’s whole bent That never to another sight or thought Would he surrender, with his own consent; For everything the will has ever sought Is gathered there, and there is every quest made perfect, which apart from it falls short.

The first mirrored the next, as though it were rainbow from rainbow, and the third seemed flame Breathed equally from each of the first pair.

How weak are words, and how unfit to frame my concept — which lags after what was shown so far, ‘twould flatter it to call it lame!

Eternal light, that in Thyself alone Dwelling, alone dost know Thyself, and smile On Thy self-love, so knowing and so known! (Canto XXXIII, ll. 97-105, 115-126) Card upward keywords: And as a second ray it is customary to go out of the first and go up again, even as a pelegrin who wants to return.

Card reversed keywords: Dreams are always markers of transition.

X OF DICE Divination EARTH

The Paradiso is suffused with a transcendent background of harmonious sonorities. These are not merely humanly audible harmonies (musica instrumentalis); rather, increasingly a direct apprehension by the soul (musica humana) of the harmonious order of the cosmos (musica mundana), and this perception increases only as the soul’s capability of grasping it increases; this is suggested when Dante asks, “Why in this wheel the sweet symphony of Paradise is silent, which below through the others so devoutly sounds,” and the answer comes, “You have the hearing as the sight of mortals.”

You are not yet capable of hearing it.

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“Ladies that have intelligence of Love, I of my lady wish with you to speak; Not that I can believe to end her praise, But to discourse that I may ease my mind.

I say that when I think upon her worth, So sweet doth Love make himself feel to me, That if I then should lose not hardihood, Speaking, I should enamour all mankind.”

Sixth Terrace (Canto XXV) Card upward keywords: Bliss.

Card reversed keywords: Renaissance audience and crew stage checks. Procuring security.

PAGE OF DICE Divination EARTH

The source of all motion and light, who will be the final goal of his journey through the heavens, saying that this journey will be the “subject of my song;” the music of Dante’s “song” as it leads to his ultimate vision of God. In Dante’s time, singing is a natural concomitant of poetry: Lyric poetry of Dante’s predecessors, such as Arnaut Daniel, is transmitted with music, and in several places Dante refers to his own activity as song. In such a poem as this on a sacred subject, the liturgy is an apt point of comparison, since the norm at that time was that everything spoken aloud in the liturgy was sung. Music is a prominent feature of the Paradiso; but Dante treats it in all three cantiche—very differently for each one.

At the end of the Purgatorio, the procession with the gryphon is accompanied by transcendent music: “I did not understand, nor is it sung back here, the hymn those people sang then, nor did I endure all its melody.” The traditional notion of the music of the spheres of the philosophers might suggest a monotonous grind of a constant chord, but here the sounding music in the heavens of the planets is produced by the souls who inhabit the turning wheels, singing and dancing. Dance is prominent: “those carols differently dancing, allowed me to judge their richness, being fast and slow.” A carol is a round dance, perfectly suited to the “wheels” being depicted.

Await no further word or sign from me: your will is free, erect, and whole—to act against that will would be to err: therefore I crown and miter you over yourself.”

(Purgatorio XXVII 139-42) Card reversed keywords: Hell is a region characterized by noise: its proper sound is “shrieks, moans, and lamentation.” Virgilio announces that Dante is now free. He has finished purgation and his will is now free, straight, and whole.

Card reversed keywords: And while I sang these notes to him, he accused Constantine of avarice.

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KNIGHT OF DICE Divination EARTH

“As the geometer intently seeks to square the circle, but he cannot reach through thought on thought, the principle he needs, so I searched that strange sight.” —Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy Sacred geometry amplifies our connection to spirit while creating harmony within ourselves, and between ourselves and the outside world. It is often called “sacred architecture” because it underlies everything and is woven into the fabric of all creation. Art and music applies this principle.

“We sullen were in the sweet air, which by the sun is gladdened, bearing within ourselves the sluggish reek; now we are sullen in this sable mire.” (Inferno, Canto VII) The banners of the king advance forward, the mystery of the cross does gleam, where the creator of flesh, in the flesh, by the cross-bar is hung.)

Virgil recites it in the beginning of the final Canto of the Inferno, Canto XXXIX, where he leads Dante through the lowest and final Ninth Circle of Hell. However, Virgil quotes a parodied version of the hymn – he instead saying, “The banners of the king of Hell advance forward.”

Card upward keywords: We astute sullen, over and over they repeat their “song.”

Card reversed keywords: The Sullen cannot sound their songs because they are “submerged” deep beneath the Styx.

QUEEN OF DICE Divination EARTH

...in my dream, I seemed to see a woman both young and fair; along a plain she gathered flowers, and even as she sang, she said: Whoever asks my name, know that I’m Leah, and I apply my lovely hands to fashion a garland of the flowers I have gathered.

To find delight within this mirror I adorn myself; never deserts her mirror; there she sits all day; she longs to see her fair eyes gazing, as I, to see my hands adorning, long: she is content with seeing, I with labor.

Seventh Terrace, has an immense wall of flame through which everyone must pass. As a prayer, they sing the hymn Summae Deus Clementiae (God of Supreme Clemency) from the Liturgy of the Hours, marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer.

Card upward keywords: Spirits of people who dedicated their lives to prayer, climbing up and down a golden ladder.

Card reversed keywords: Faith, love and hope.

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KING OF DICE Divination EARTH

That light supreme, with its fathomless Clear substance, showed to me three spheres, which bare Three hues distinct, and occupied one space; The first mirrored the next, as though it were Rainbow from rainbow, and the third seemed flame Breathed equally from each of the first pair.

How weak are words, and how unfit to frame My concept — which lags after what was shown So far, ‘twould flatter it to call it lame!

Eternal light, that in Thyself alone Dwelling, alone dost know Thyself, and smile On Thy self-love, so knowing and so known!

(Canto XXXIII, ll. 97-105, 115-126) Card upward keywords: The Boss, Boss of Bone dice. “The devil is not as black as he is painted.”— Dante Alighieri Card reversed keywords: “The loser, when a game of dice is done, remains behind reviewing every roll sadly, and sadly wiser, and alone.” — Dante Alighieri

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Minor Arcana

Kismet, Way Of The Sword SUIT OF STAVES Part of the “Minor Arcana” Staves, like the other tarot suits, contains fourteen cards: ace (one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king. The tarot suit of staves represents action, details, energy, strong ego, confidence and commerce. Considered aggressive at times, when they set a goal it is achieved.

Staves are about power; control, and achievement - usually at all costs. Even if they know they are wrong they will die trying to explain why they are right. Fire signs are competitive and professional, collected and in control of most situations they are involved in. These are some of the traits of this suit.

Staves/Wands in Tarot cards are related to astrological signs of Fire: Leo, Sagittarius and Aries.

Wands people are spiritual and charismatic. In music, Staves are a set of five parallel lines on any one or between any adjacent two of which a note is written to indicate its pitch. The are a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces that each represent a different musical pitch or in the case of a percussion staff, different percussion instruments.

Tarot cards were originally designed for card play and are still used throughout much of Europe to play various Tarot card games. However, in English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes. They are often accomplished entertainers or in sports.

Element of staves is drive, ambition and active by nature.

ACE OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Dante’s Treatment of Music in the Divine Comedy is Music as Mirror. Dante utilizes musical imagery as an essential component of his allegory. Influenced by both Christian thinkers and philosophers, Dante viewed scholastic music as an adjunct of religion. In the Divine Comedy, Dante presents auditory allusions as an inextricable factor of the protagonist’s epic pilgrimage through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. Through a progression of anti-music in Inferno to human context in Purgatory to the music of the spheres in Paradise, the musical language of Dante’s Divine Comedy conveys humanity’s innate connection with God, with the universe. Dante is deep in thought with his Divine Comedy poem in the music section wearing his laurel wreath and holding a Stave with laurel growing from it. As if these leaves hold a magical property that connects him to the energies of the universe, time and thought, all the while propelling him through his work journey. In some countries the laurel wreath is used as a symbol of the master’s degree. The wreath is given to young masters at the university graduation ceremony. The word “laureate” in ‘poet laureate’ refers to the laurel wreath.

The medieval Florentine poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, a member of the Sicilian School, is often represented in paintings and sculpture wearing a laurel wreath. In Italy, the term laureato is used in to refer to any student who has graduated. Right after the graduation ceremony, or laurea in Italian, the student receives a laurel wreath to wear for the rest of the day.

Card upright keywords: Scholarly. Important achievements. Erudite.

Card reversed keywords: Learning. Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say. “What was this forest savage, rough, and stern?”

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II OF STAVES Divination FIRE

The Divine Comedy with illustrations by Sandro Botticelli originates from between 1480 and 1490 in Florence and was commissioned by the Italian Renaissance Prince Lorenzo de Medici, Lorenzo il Magnifico’s son. This significant work of world literature was and continually is received in the visual arts. The breathtaking illustrations of this edition are counted among the most famous works by Botticelli. Here, in Lorenzo il Magnifico’s hands he holds one of the works, The Eighth Sphere (heaven of the fixed stars): St. John questions Dante on the third theological virtue—love. Dante regains his sight, stronger than before; The light of Adam appears. Illustration Creator: Sandro Botticelli, Date: c.1480-c.1495. Botticelli’s interest in Dante went much further than even Vasari knew. Sometime late in his career, after he had already achieved local renown in Florence, Botticelli promised his patron Lorenzo an illustrated Divine Comedy on sheepskin with a separate image for each Canto, something no artist had yet attempted; 92 of those illustrations survive, this is one of them.

When the humanist Cristoforo Landino (1425–98) lectured on the poems of ancients and moderns (Horace, Virgil, Juvenal, Persius, Dante, and Petrarch), he often remarked on the “variety” of their style and teaching. The reader, he stated, can at times only be “stunned” (attonitus) by the direction a poem takes. As if following a poetic model, Landino had “variety” mark both his writing and his public career. He moved freely from Latin to Italian, from poets to orators, and from philosophical precepts to the art of writing letters. While seemingly preoccupied with composing dialogues in moral philosophy.

The Platonic Academy of Florence was another invented tradition. Thus already by the time of the first Medici restoration Lorenzo had come to read Plato’s Symposium (as translated by Aringhetti) and discussed Dante. Dante, Botticelli and the Medici philosopher and humanist scholar of Plato proposed a new approach to understanding classical authors. This approach involved Platonic philosophy but also included absorption of other doctrines. The Florentine Platonic Academy’s Neo-Platonism synthesized the works and teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras and other Greek philosophers and applied this to their approach at interpreting the writings of Dante.

Card upward keywords: Philosophy. Motivation. Incubation of Ideas.

Card reversed keywords: Reflection. Preparation.

III OF STAVES Divination FIRE

The energies from the image of entertainer Pete Way is present in the windows in front of Dante Alighieri. Dante lived 1265 – 1321. Pete Way was born August 7, 1951. This image is from late 90’s.

Though Dante is focused on 3 staves and the number 3, Pete’s image energies are so strong they are coming through time 670 years from the future as if Dante’s thoughts were generating an energy wave capable of being heard by someone like Pete for the music aspects of his poetry.

Dante holds his book, his Divine Comedy while contemplating the 3 staves and the importance of the number 3 as it was part of his complex sequencing and numerology in this preeminent work of Italian literature. Fascinated with the number 3, the numbers 7 and 9 are also throughout the poem. He used the number 3 in his poem many times such as: 3 beasts (lion, leopard, she wolf), the 3 realms of the dead, during Easter 1300, Dante was 35 years old in 1300. With similarities to tarot and Dante’s complex system of using numerology allowed for specific sections such as 33 cantos in each book, 34 cantos is in the Inferno, the devil has 3 faces (red, black and yellow), 3 ladies who pray for him (St. Lucia, Virgin Mary and Rachel), the trinity of 3 (God appears as 3 equally large circles: father, son and holy spirit), the last world in each of the 3 parts of the Divine Comedy is “stars” and ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 45

also the 3 rhymes mean every imperfection can become perfection.

Other numbers are actually connected with the number 3: 9 circles of Hell, the 7th circle is divided into 3 rings, the 8th circle is divided into 10 bolgie, the 9th circle is divided into 4 zones, 4 intended levels of meaning (narrative, allegorical, moral and anagogical), in Purgatory an angel uses his sword to draw the letter “P” 7 times on Dante’s forehead, the angel uses 2 keys to open the gates, Dante goes through 7 terraces of purgatory, 7 deadly sins and 9 spheres of heaven. The Divine Comedy is composed of 3 canticas: Inferno (Hell), Purgutorio (Purgatory) and Paradiso (Heaven) (33 cantos).

He wanted the reader to see this as parts of the universe arranged in concentric circles using this structure.

Card upward keywords: Number 3 factors into project decisions. Foresight per future.

Card reversed keywords: Possibilities.

IV OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Dante and Beatrice and the Vault of Stars.

The structure of the three realms follows a common numerical pattern of 9 plus 1, for a total of 10: 9 circles of the Inferno, followed by Lucifer contained at its bottom; 9 rings of Mount Purgatory, followed by the Garden of Eden crowning its summit; and the 9 celestial bodies of Paradiso, followed by the Empyrean containing the very essence of God. Within each group of 9, 7 elements correspond to a specific moral scheme, subdivided into three subcategories, while 2 others of greater particularity are added to total nine.

After an initial ascension, Beatrice guides Dante through the nine celestial spheres of Heaven. These are concentric and spherical, as in Aristotelian and Ptolemaic cosmology. While the structures of the Inferno and Purgatorio were based on different classifications of sin, the structure of the Paradiso is based on the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues.

The seven lowest spheres of Heaven deal solely with the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Fortitude, Justice and Temperance. The first three spheres involve a deficiency of one of the cardinal virtues – the Moon, containing the inconstant, whose vows to God waned as the moon and thus lack fortitude; Mercury, containing the ambitious, who were virtuous for glory and thus lacked justice; and Venus, containing the lovers, whose love was directed towards another than God and thus lacked Temperance. The final four incidentally are positive examples of the cardinal virtues, all led on by the Sun, containing the prudent, whose wisdom lighted the way for the other virtues, to which the others are bound (constituting a category on its own).

Card upward keywords: Four cardinal virtues were recognized by Plato and in the Bible, classical antiquity and in traditional Christian theology: Prudence, Courage, Temperance, Justice.

Card reversed keywords: Different stars visible. The altered position of the sun.

V OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Often, but not always, an encounter such as Dante’s is met with the Astrological activation of the chart angles such as the Ascendant (first house), and Mid Heaven (10th house) along with their corresponding angles and houses (Descendant or seventh house, and the Imum Coli, or fourth house).

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The matching angles of the Ascendant and the Mid Heaven are never far behind because the back needs a front and up needs down. When one is affected the other one is as well. Pluto, in measurement to the Sun, Moon or any number of midpoints are equally influenced by Pluto leading us into the descent of the underworld (Pluto or Hades is the ruler of the underworld).

It is on the night before Easter Sunday, and Dante is thirty five years old when the poem begins (enough time for Pluto to make a major aspect to an angle or planet), and Dante finds himself lost in “sin” (Pluto, Scorpio). Dante is assailed by beasts (a lion, Leo/Sun, ego, and a she-wolf, Mars, Aries), and he finds it impossible to evade them no matter what he tries all the while searching for the “right way” (discipline, Saturn). It is then that Virgil (the psyche, represented by Mercury) begins to lead Dante down into the underworld where each of his sins are “punished” (Saturn, Capricorn) in the inferno (Pluto, Scorpio) which represented the soul (Sun, Leo).

“If you, free as you are of every weight had stayed below, then that would be as strange as living flame on earth remaining still.

And then she turned her gaze up toward the heavens.”

—Dante Alighieri Card upward keywords: “Great fire can follow a small spark: there may be better voices after me to pray to Cyrrha’s god for aid - that he may answer.” —Dante Alighieri Card reversed keywords: “Behave like men, and not like witless sheep.” —Dante Alighieri

VI OF STAVES Divination FIRE

The sixth window behind erudite Cosimo I de’ Medici, a portal through the old universe.

By the time Cosimo came to power in 1537, Dante’s Divine Comedy had suffered a considerable drop in popularity because of the rise of Renaissance humanism, a movement that considered Dante’s use of the vernacular as somewhat crude. While the late fifteenth century had produced a number of commentaries on the Comedy that included maps even of Dante’s three realms - hell, purgatory, and paradise, such efforts were attributable more to the burgeoning field of cartography than to a genuine interest in the content of Dante’s great poem. A number of cultural and political issues inherent in Cosimo’s rise to power, however, caused Dante and his writing to enjoy a Renaissance of their own in the sixteenth century and, to be recast as the vanguard of Cosimo’s cultural project.

If we can hold both New Universe and Old Universe together in our minds, we will be able to have some sense of the “unmoved mover,” of the point “that is enclosed by that which it encloses.”

Card upward keywords: New Universe. Within the heaven of the godly peace revolves a body in whose power lies the being of all things that it enfolds. ( Par. 2.112-14) Card reversed keywords: Old Universe. From the heaven of divine peace you turn a body whose virtue the being of all his contentment lies. ( Par. 2.112-14)

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VII OF STAVES Divination FIRE

By forcing us to complement the circumference model of the universe with a centrist one, Dante is trying to make us come to grips with the paradox of a point that is “enclosed by that which It encloses”: “enclosed by that which It encloses”: “inchiuso da quel ch’elli ‘ ncloses “( Par . 30.12). This point is both center and circumference, both the deep (Augustinian) within and the great (Aristotelian) without. It is the Enclosed that Encloses / the Enclosing that is Enclosed.

Angels never turn their gazes from the face of God and see all things in His eternal present, their sight is uninterrupted by new things, and they have no need of memory (which we use to store the new things once they are no longer new). Forward progress is articulated by our successive encounters with the new.

My eyes, which had been satisfied in seeking new sights—a thing for which they long did not delay in turning toward him.

Card upward keywords: My lady, who saw my perplexity—I was in such suspense — said: “On that Point depend the heavens and the whole of nature.” Overcoming challenging decisions.

Card reversed keywords: The size of spheres of matter, large or small, depends upon the power more and less, that spreads throughout their parts.

VIII OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Pushing forward.

The further into Limbo they travel, the less bleak it seems. Dante describes a brightly-lit castle surrounded by seven high walls and a beautiful moat. Within the walls is an ‘’emerald green’’ meadow of fresh grass.

The Fifth Sphere of Heaven or Mars is home to holy warriors, whose souls are forming the shape of a cross. Paradiso XXVIII is a metaphysical canto, in which Dante considers the universe from a new perspective. Rather than the earth as a point at the center circled by ever larger heavens, he now imagines the universe inverted, with God as a luminous point at the center: I saw a point that sent forth so acute a light, that anyone who faced the force with which it blazed would have to shut his eyes.

Card upward keywords: The ring with clearest flame was that which lay least far from the pure spark because it shares most deeply that point’s truth.

Card reversed keywords: The eighth and ninth were wider still; and each, even as greater distance lay between it and the first ring, moved with lesser speed

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IX OF STAVES Divination FIRE

“This wretched state of being is the fate of those sad souls who lived a life but lived it with no blame and with no praise.

“My son,” the gentle master said to me, “all those who perish in the wrath of God assemble here from all parts of the earth; they want to cross the river, they are eager; it is Divine Justice that spurs them on, turning the fear they have into desire.

A good soul never comes to make this crossing, so, if Charon grumbles at the sight of you, you see now what his words are really saying.”

He finished speaking, and the grim terrain shook violently; and the fright it gave me even now in recollection makes me sweat.

Out of the tear—drenched land a wind arose which blasted forth into a reddish light, knocking my senses out of me completely, and I fell as one falls tired into sleep.

Card upward keywords: They want to cross the river…desire Card reversed keywords: Weeping bitterly.

X OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Halfway through his life, Dante The Pilgrim wakes to find himself lost in a dark wood. Terrified at being alone in so dismal a valley, he wanders until he comes to a hill bathed in sunlight, and his fear begins to leave him. But when he starts to climb the hill, his path is blocked by three fierce beasts: first a LEOPARD, then a LION, and finally a SHE-WOLF. They fill him with fear and drive him back down to the sunless wood. At that moment the figure of a man appears before him; it is the shade of VIRGIL, and the Pilgrim begs for help. Virgil tells him that he cannot overcome the beasts which obstruct his path; they must remain until a “GREYHOUND” comes who will drive them back to Hell. Rather by another path will the Pilgrim reach the sunlight, and Virgil promises to guide him on that path through Hell and Purgatory, after which another spirit, more fit than Virgil, will lead him to Paradise. The Pilgrim begs Virgil to lead on, and the Guide starts ahead. The Pilgrim follows.

A bitter place! Death could scarce be bitterer.

But if I would show the good that came of it I must talk about things other than the good.

(Canto 1: The Dark Forest) Another way, by other ports…carry you. Charon, whose boat bears only the souls of the damned, recognizes the Pilgrim as a living man and refuses him passage.

Card upward keywords: As a man who, rejoicing in his gains, suddenly seeing his gain turn into loss, will grieve as he compares his then and now ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 49

Card reversed keywords: And, everywhere I looked, the beast was there blocking my way, so time and time again I was about to turn and go back down.

PAGE OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Look into my heart, and thy living thou ‘it find; or call, and thy dead will awake in my mind enough that we two are here.

Within the Heaven which most receives His Light I was; and saw what he who thence descends neither knows how, nor hath the power, to tell; for as it draweth near to its Desire, our intellect so deeply sinks therein, that recollection cannot follow it.

As much, however, of the holy Realm as in my memory I could treasure up, shall now become the subject of my song.

Card upward keywords: Make me a worthy a vessel of Thy Power.

Card reversed keywords: O’ Power Divine, if Thou but lend Thyself to me so much, that I may show the blessèd Kingdom’s shadow.

KNIGHT OF STAVES Divination FIRE

The Church Of Dante And Beatrice - at least, in Dante’s mind it is. Dante hears music trailing behind him, pauses with his work and basks in thoughts of how Beatrice has become the catalyst for his life’s work, his purpose, his life.

“Asleep in my dreamland,” God said with a smile Which lighted my soul’s new sky, “The real world is only where thou and I are;” And so my mind, bedazzled and amazed, Stood fixed in wonder, motionless, intent, And still my wonder kindled as I gazed.

That light doth so transform a man’s whole bent That never to another sight or thought Would he surrender, with his own consent; For everything the will has ever sought Is gathered there, and there is every quest Made perfect, which apart from it falls short.

Card upward keywords: “Open thy mind; take in what I explain and keep it there; because to understand is not to know, if thou dost not retain...” —Dante Alighieri, Paradiso Card reversed keywords: “Thy loved ones are dreams in my dreamland.”

—Dante Alighieri, Paradiso 50 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

QUEEN OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Dante and Beatrice and the Vault of Stars.

Beatrice, in one of his illustrations for the Divine Comedy it is shown that Botticelli knew. He knew that Alighieri had hidden three Ptolemaic drawings inside the Poem, and he also knew that, changing the point of view, that cosmic model related to the planet-earth would have given a very long farewell.

Dante Alighieri saw Beatrice frequently after the age of 18, often exchanging greetings in the street, but never knew her well.

In this scene, the musician is hidden in shadows of the bushes playing for the gathering, celebrating the Queen of Staves.

Card upward keywords: “These are the radiances of the perfected vision that sees the good and step by step moves nearer to what it sees.” —Dante Alighieri, The Paradiso Card reversed keywords: Different stars visible. The altered position of the sun.

KING OF STAVES Divination FIRE

Through time and space. “...Because the sacred fire that lights all nature liveliest of all in its own image glows. All these prerogatives the human creature possesses, and if one of them should fail, he must diminish from his noble stature.”

Man from his finite assets never could make satisfaction; ne’er could he abase him so low, obey thereafter all he would, as he’d by disobedience sought to raise him; and for this cause man might not pay his due himself, nor from the debtor’s roll erase him.

By his own ways, renew man’s proper life, and reinstate him so; his ways I say - by one, or both of two. And since the doer’s actions ever show more gracious as the style of them makes plain the goodness of the heart from which they flow, that most high Goodness which is God was fain - even God, whose impressive Heaven and earth display - by all His ways to lift you up again; nor, between final night and primal day, was e’er proceeding so majestically and high, nor shall not be, by either way; for God’s self-giving, which made possible that man should raise himself, showed more largess than if by naked power He’d canceled all; and every other means would have been less than justice, if it had not pleased God’s Son to be humiliated in fleshliness.” —Dante Alighieri, Paradiso Card upward keywords: In its own image glows. Reinstated him so. Impressive Heaven and earthly display.

Card reversed keywords: Humiliated in fleshliness.

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Minor Arcana

Kismet, Way Of The Sword SUIT OF CUPS Part of the “Minor Arcana” Cups, like the other tarot suits, contains fourteen cards: ace (one), two through ten, page, knight, queen and king. The tarot suit of cups represents emotions, feelings, subconscious, creativity, intuition and psychic ability. Considered passive, water can be deep or shallow.

Cups are all relationships; Love, and the pursuit of happiness. Creative expression even though mostly passive and introverted are some of the traits of this suit.

Cups in Tarot cards are related to astrological signs of Water: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio.

The very nature of Cups is seductive and elusive. The element of water rules the Cups. Just as water takes on the form in which it is contained, so too does the meaning of the Cups take on the form of the one who is observing them.

Tarot cards were originally designed for card play and are still used throughout much of Europe to play various Tarot card games. However, in English-speaking countries, where the games are largely unknown, Tarot cards came to be utilized primarily for divinatory purposes.

Element of cups is water, the agility of transcending limits.

Astrological water signs are: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Additionally,

ACE OF CUPS Divination WATER

A medieval wine goblet holds a radiant Mythical White Hawk from another world of strength and courage.

Cæsar in arms, Suetonius says of Cæsar that he was of fair complexion, but had black and piercing eyes. Brunetto Latini, Dante Alighieri’s teacher, says in his Tesoro, of the hawk here mentioned—the grifagno—that its eyes ‘flame like fire.’

And, ‘cursed hawk, preserve thy distance!’ said He is about to claw me on the skin.’

To claw in turn; together then the two Plunged in the boiling pool. The heat knew full well How to unlock their fierce embraces.

From a booklet of magick eleven arcane sigils resembling musical notation bars underline excerpts from La Divina Commedia; Dante Alighieri’s Manuscrito (manuscripts) — 1301-1400, Canto XXXIII of the Paradiso.

The number 13 at top right reduces to number 4. Connected with the number 4: 40, 400, 4000, a geometric sequence; infinite series with finite sums.

The Ace of Cups brings gains with affections and adoration for the object of desire and sharpens the edges of the hardest of heart through grinding and honing the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste, 52 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

and touch, but above all: intuition, in order to synchronize souls.

Heart is planted in the foundation below the cup among emblems from La Divina Commedia; Dante Alighieri’s manuscript, with eternal symbolism.

Card upright keywords: Rapacious. Ravenous. A Holy Divine Truth revealed.

Card reversed keywords: The strongest love is an unspoken truth.

II OF CUPS Divination WATER

Transitional moments in the Paradiso, the Holy Song of the souls of the Heaven of Venus. These souls have just arrived in the third heaven from the Empyrean: Those divine lights leaving the ride first started in them high Serafini; and within those whom I will appear before it sounded “Hosanna” yes, which unique then I was not disappointed to hear again.

A curtain is drawn on a stage where the play is now behind the two becoming one interchanging souls’ energies presenting to spirit, the majesty of white hawks sight and aligning with the seers path through sanctification—making that which is holy, sacred.

In the Paradiso descriptions of clockwork in Canto XXIV (lines 13–18), and Thales’ theorem about triangles in Canto XIII (lines 101–102): Although the image in the farthest glass will be of lesser size, there you will see that it must match the brightness of the rest But already my desire and my will were being turned like a wheel, all at one speed, by the Love which moves the sun and the other stars.

Card upright keywords: One heart, one soul. Ecstacy. Serafini (angels being closest to God.) Card reversed keywords: Timing.

III OF CUPS Divination WATER

Hand notated music of “Sonett von Dante Alighieri” hangs at the doorway above the goddesses, in front of the music god. This music piece is located in Italy. Dante was a contributor.

Accompanied by the singing of angels they walk this distance; that of three volleys of arrows, as before with “tre passi” (three steps). In his most important work, the Divine Comedy, Dante shows his passion for music by giving readers symbols and musical metaphors; through music he addresses the main topic of the poem: the Love of God. The division of music into mundana (the harmony of the spheres and the cosmos), humana (the harmony of the human being) and instrumentalis (music ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 53

performed by the instruments), indicated by the philosopher Boethius. And the sciences of the Quadrivio (astronomy, arithmetic, geometry and music) are the cultural frameworks in which the Divine Comedy unfolds. The Florentine poet conceives the order and proportion of the human being and the universe in perfect harmony but when he speaks of music he leaves the numbers and proportions to give space to sensitivity and feelings. The passion and knowledge of music are also found in another of his works, the Convivio: “Music still draws the human spirits, which they are heart vapors, so that they almost cease from any operation; one is the whole soul when he hears it, and the virtue of all it almost runs to the sensitive spirit that receives the sound.“ The Divine Comedy is a spiritual path that leads from sin to redemption; also the art of sounds follows this path. The infernal noises are “purified” by the melody and harmony to reach the polyphony of Paradise in which the souls cheer with their songs, Dante and Virgil!

Card upright keywords: Paradise. It is not a question of harmony, order, nor of music; Simultaneous noises dominate the infernal circles: “tragic resonating of sighs and tears and high troubles.”

Three cups hold Dante’s books: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso.

Card reversed keywords: Metamorphosis. A new circle; “And a sweet melody ran for the bright air.”

IV OF CUPS Divination WATER

Cultural transmission, textual and oral transmission that carries ideas across cultural boundaries: Stazio in Purgatorio 22 in Inferno 4: “Averoìs, che ’l gran comento feo” (Averroes, who made the great Commentary (Inf. 4.144). Dante thus concludes his roll-call of the great who are excluded though virtuous with philosopher and commentator of Aristotle, responsible for the transmission of Aristotle to the Latin West, a form of cultural transmission of enormous value to Dante personally.

This canto is reserved for the first circle of Hell, which in Dante’s Hell contains the space that theologians call “Limbo.” Dante’s treatment of Limbo is anomalous in the history of the idea of Limbo.

Dante’s treatment of Limbo is in fact radical. The Light of Limbo burns from a radical source.

Dante emphasizes the special status of the souls whom he places in his (non-traditional) Limbo.

Limbo means “edge.” Limbo was imagined by theologians to be a privileged zone of Hell where the only punishment is deprivation. We have now entered the first circle of Dante’s Hell. Dante the poet goes out of his way to exploit the tension between the special status of the souls of Limbo and the reality that this is the first circle of Hell.

Music can shape a world to resemble Limbo and present gifts otherwise not found.

Card upright keywords: A privileged zone of Hell.

Card reversed keywords: Punishment is deprivation.

V OF CUPS Divination WATER

As Dante grew older and matured, and realized that his love for Beatrice would never be consummated, his love for Beatrice turned more into a love of writing. Due to Dante’s maturity throughout 54 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

his life his definition of love evolves depending on his location throughout The Divine Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, or Paradise.

Love is initially mentioned in the first canto of Inferno when Dante the traveler describes the approaching dawn. Dante states, “…when Divine Love first moved those things of beauty” (Inf. I. 40), referring to God creating every living creature on Earth and every object in the universe purely out love and devotion. Dante continues his journey to the gates of Hell, he comes across a sign that states, “…My maker was divine authority, the highest wisdom, and the primal love. Before me nothing but eternal things. Abandon every hope, who enter here” (Inf. III 7-9). Through these gates if one enters where music is found, love, devotion and all trials will be made to those seekers.

Card upright keywords: Highest wisdom, and the primal love is the strength not the sorrow. Sometimes we find love where we least expect it. Inevitable breakthrough. Classical eros, as in Vergil’s Eclogue 10, “omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori” (love conquers all, and we too yield to love.

Card reversed keywords: Regretting past approaches to love. Blinded by Sorrow. Gate of Trials.

VI OF CUPS Divination WATER

Dante is quite explicit about the challenge he poses the reader at the beginning of Paradiso 2. He tells the reader to turn back to shore, lest we get lost as we follow him onto the watery deep. Obviously it is a story about Pluto, both in terms of the journey through the underworld and of path that leads from the deepest of all agonies and suffering in hell to the highest states of bliss and union with the Creator. The initial recipient of Dante’s “Divine Comedy” was Beatrice, who the writer was in love with.

The central point of the poem is the song, where Dante first meets the “perfection.” It’s the 30th song of “purgatory.” 30 is comprised of 3 and 10. If we count from the start, this song is the 64th: 6 + 4 = 10. Before this song there are 63 songs available in the composition (6 + 3 = 9) then 36 (3 + 6 = 9). The poem consists of 145 parts (including the prologue) 1 + 4 + 5 = 10.

Dante’s journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso) with the word “comedy” in the classical sense refers to works which reflect belief in an ordered universe, that results in kismet of an ultimate good. The progression of the pilgrimage from Hell to Paradise begins with the pilgrim’s moral confusion and ends with the vision of God. Beatrice’s speeches of Paradiso 1 and 2—both devoted to illuminating the order of the universe—are complementary, book-ends as it were. The speech on the order of the universe in Paradiso 1 illustrates all of creation returning to the One, whereas the speech on the order of the universe in Paradiso 2 illustrates the One emanating into the many. The heavens actualize being—the actualization of being occurs in the ninth heaven.

In general, “plot” gets harder and harder to pinpoint. At the same time, if effort is made to look for moments of “plot” in order to orient ourselves in what Dante himself will call, in the next canto, the “pelago” (ocean) of his text. In the opening three lines of the last cantica Dante poses both the borderless unity of the “universe” (whose etymology precisely stresses oneness) and the irreducible reality of difference: The glory of the One who moves all things permeates the universe and glows in one part more and in another less.

Card upright keywords: Remember the shore. Contemplate the plot (of D & B - Dante & Beatrice).

Mysticism and symbolism of numbers. Kismet, moved by planets.

Card reversed keywords: Paradox of symbolism. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 55

VII OF CUPS Divination WATER

As a prelude to Paradiso 8 and 9, let us note that we are now in the heaven of Venus, named after the classical goddess of love and eros. Dante features a typology of many kinds of love in this heaven: You loved me very much, and you had good waves; that if I had been down, I showed you of my love more than the branches. ( Par . 8.55-57) You loved me much and had good cause for that; for had I stayed below, I should have showed you more of my love than the leaves alone.

You who ‘ntendendo’ is a poem about conflict, the conflict experienced by the poet between his love for Beatrice — his mystical, spiritual, and poetical interests — and the other chief interests of his life.

Paradiso VIII 93: How can a bitter fruit come from a sweet seed? Voi that ‘tending’ the third heaven move: We turn with heavenly principles of a turn and a turn and a thirst, to whom you of the world already said: ‘You who’ moving the third heaven move ‘. . . ( Paradiso VIII 34-37) Card upright keywords: Poetic desires. Wishes.

Card reversed keywords: Dante’s treatment of the heaven of Venus: a heaven where love is what we expect, and what we want, but not what we receive.

VIII OF CUPS Divination WATER

The door is closed. Hands are emptied, one last cup lays in front of it as a reminder of being finished.

She looks towards a new sound, a new path.

I shine here because this planet’s radiance conquered me.

But in myself I pardon happily the reason for my fate; I do not grieve and vulgar minds may find this hard to see. (Paradiso IX 32-36) The next to speak is the troubadour, “The final soul is the brightest star in this heaven focused on Florence and the Vatican.”

“God can see all,” I said, “and, blessed spirit, your vision is contained in Him, so that no wish can ever hide itself from you.

Your voice has always made the heavens glad as has the singing of the pious fires that make themselves a cowl of their six wings: why then do you not satisfy my longings?

I would not have to wait for your request 56 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

if I could enter you as you do me.”

Card upright keywords: “Sail enchanted and together in Merlin’s boat to its highest level, (Purgatorio XXIII 116).”

Card reversed keywords: This heaven, where the shadow cast by earth comes to a point where the first soul to be taken up triumphed yet ends with despair even as the brightest soul in this sphere.

IX OF CUPS Divination WATER

Nine cups electrified with red energies between “second stories and iconographics;” and Dante displayed red cards in Florence.

On the reverse side of the first wheel: Excelcis (Glory to God) from the mountains infinitas.” The first lines are repeated in reverse for the other side of the wheel.

Or you who thirst, you who are light ... Here you have finished the treatise of paradise and the comedy of dances Aligherii of Firenze. I’m grateful. Amen (h. 187v) Initials in red and black. Capitals in blue and red. Iconographic imagery & symbolism outline the story La divina commedia, Divina commedia from Manuscrito of Author Dante Alighieri (12651321). In ermine tails and rabbit furs, black velvet, diamonds and rubies she is well-fashioned and carrying a page of the Divina Commedia for her pass through metamorphosis in order to awaken on the other side - the good side of karma.

Card upright keywords: Good karma side of wheel. For happy, death or grief, red for love and passion.

Card reversed keywords: Bad karma side of wheel.

X OF CUPS Divination WATER

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) is considered one of the greatest poems of Europe’s Medieval Period. It builds on Thomas Aquinas’s Scholasticism, which linked the secular world of philosophy and reason with the religious world of faith and theology. According to Scholasticism you need both reason and faith to reach truth.

Within the Light’s depths I saw gathered together, Bound by love into a single volume, Pages that lie scattered through the universe Substance and accidents and their relations I saw as though they fused in such a way That what I say is but a gleam of light.

The universal pattern of this knot I believe I saw, because in telling this, I feel my gladness growing ever larger.

One moment made slips my memory more than Twenty-five centuries robbed from the adventure That awed Neptune with the shadow of the Argo. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 57

So my mind, held in absolute suspense, Was staring fixed, intent, and motionless, And by its staring grew the more inflamed.

Within that Light a person is so changed It is impossible to give consent Ever to turn from it to other sights Card upright keywords: But by the sight that gathered strength in me as I gazed on, what was One in appearance was altering for me as I was changing. In the profound and shining-clear existence of the deep Light appeared to me three circles, or nine.

Card reversed keywords: Radiance within that living Light on which I looked.

PAGE OF CUPS Divination WATER

A page from Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia. Foligno (Italy): Johann Neumeister, 1472 reveals that the third cantica of la Commedia by Dante Alighieri of Florence begins called Paradiso Canto VIIII first in that principal author has a problem with the canto invoking poetic science.

To Gloria, he says that a need for you penetrates and shines in one part more and less in others of the sky that takes most light. It was I and you laughing who appreciates and defends our deep intellect so much that retro memory cannot. Truly how much of the kingdom in my mind could make theophorus (bearing or carrying a god) now allow me to make my song.

The Page Of Cups holds The Caduceus Winged Rod With Twisting Serpents. Practitioners of ancient Egyptian medicine would often use snakes as a symbol of protection in their magical healthcare rituals. In ancient mythology, the Caduceus was wielded by several analogous deities within their respective cultures; Hermes in Greek mythology, Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology, and Mercury in Roman mythology. In every case, this serpentine staff represented negotiation and commerce; the two snakes symbolizing a balance in transactions. Within Egyptian and Greco-Roman culture, the Caduceus itself was not in any way considered a symbol of health or protection. The message he holds is poetic, romantic and healing: “Where Mercury returns from the underworld carrying the symbol of medical profession the caduceus, of which guild Dante was a member, and Dante has furthermore dressed up the archangel Michael as Mercury.”

Card upright keywords: From the celestial spheres Mercury containing the name of a god in whose care the individual entrusted draws from his cup of ancient energies flowing towards the soul.

Card reversed keywords: The night was filled with pity for that exceptional desire.

KNIGHT OF CUPS Divination WATER

The underpinning of the Knight of Cups message.

The Divine Comedy, Dante’s description of his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, was written during the last thirteen years of the poet’s life. The Foligno edition, shown here, possessed by the cup, was printed by Johann Neumeister (Florence, Italy 1470-1495), and is one of the two first editions of the Divine Comedy ever published. Thus the Foligno edition was printed only twenty years after the Gutenberg Bible (ca. 1454), which was the first printed European book. This place in the early history of printing is a mark of the great poem’s importance and influence during the Re58 ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC

naissance. This vellum manuscript leaf preserves much of the revelatory and crucial cantos XXXI and XXXII. The manuscript (message) was printed by one of the printers of the Renaissance, publishing not only classical texts of Dante but also the vernacular works of Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

Late in the Purgatory, Beatrice appears, initially rebuking the poet but, Beatrice was the idealized love of Dante’s life.

Card upright keywords: Zephyrus, between worlds breathes life into souls. Then fear was poetically quiet in the heart.

Card reversed keywords: The night was filled with pity for that exceptional desire.

QUEEN OF CUPS Divination A WATER t the beginning that the Commedia verbal forms of cantare are used “to sing” sixty-one different times, and nominal forms of “song” or “singer” (including canto, canzone, cantica, and cantor) fifty-three different times. In addition, note (“notes”) occurs fifteen times; “melody” (melodia, melode), seven times; “hymn” (inno), six times; and “psalm” (salmo/i), four times. At the same time of course, the text repeatedly incorporates quotations from various sung sacred texts (from the Bible, the liturgy, the hymnal, the canon, etc., which appear with frequency and regularity (forty times) in the Purgatorio and the Paradiso. The seventh and final terrace of Mt. Purgatory constitutes the beginning of the key transition from the mountain proper to the Garden of Eden with an extremely important emphasis on singing as penitence on this terrace, as Dante-protagonist is initially attracted by the singing of these penitents: Summae Deus clementiae in the breast to the great ardor then I heard singing which makes me feel no less volger.

Dante recalling the popular legend that Christ’s Cross was formed from the wood of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and The Queen of Sheba to whom it was miraculously revealed that the Savior of the world would some day hang upon this wood refused to set foot on it and warned Solomon of the revelation she had.

This key Matins hymn, associated with Saturday night, 4 is explicitly tied to the cleansing power of fire over lust (in the third stanza), while singing as such is stressed in the process (stanzas two and four). This is also, of course, the seventh (and last) time that a Beatitude occurs. In terms of song, there are two angels associated here with the Beatitude for the only time on the seven Purgatorial terraces. On every other Terrace there has only been a single angel who speaks the Beatitude.

Card upright keywords: Courtly-erotic love. Serves as a guide through the wall of fire. Ascent before the coming of night. Queen of Sheba, named by her grandmother at birth, begins to walk along the river, before she finally pauses, she commands Dante to initiate his experience of the phenomena that will become ultimately the procession.

Card reversed keywords: Careful emphasis on the importance of singing, consider the key role of song in another key transition: the opening presentation of Dante’s vision of the holy procession in the Garden of Eden.

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KING OF CUPS Divination WATER

Music And The Act Of Song In Dante’s ‘Purgatorio’ And ‘Paradiso:’ “I seemed to hear... I wrote them down, Spirit or breath becomes voices.” Since Mt. Purgatory is situated on the Earth, it is explicitly linked to earthly time, which is calculated musically.

The authority of the temporal monarch flows down into him without any intermediary from the Fountainhead of universal authority; this Fountainhead, though “one of the citadel of its own simplicity of nature” (Sonsol. 4.pr.6.8) flows into many streams from the abundance of its goodness.

It is of course a well known critical fact that music plays an important role in Dante’s Commedia starting in Purgatorio 2 and continuing to Parardiso 32. And this key role for music in the Purgatorio and the Paradiso is qualitatively different for each of these two cantiche. In Paradise, on the other hand, narrative time is not meant to be earthly, but celestial, and music thus functions very differently.

As of his wanting your angels make sacrifice to you, singing hosanna, so do their men.

Osanna indicates the singing associated with the advancing procession.

Card upright keywords: Cantando (“singing”). Invocation is overtly generated by song. Justice draws speech from the fount of Wisdome, as does the poet. Paradiso, Canto III: Dante and Beatrice speak to Piccarda and Constance of Sicily. Dante’s Paradiso: Sphere of the Fixed Stars Pt. 3 (Cantos 26-27).

Card reversed keywords: His short final journey is a kind of honorary confirmation; but for the later, this exit involves a passage through the wall of fire.

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Music And The Act Of Song In Dante’s ‘Purgatorio’ And ‘Paradiso:’ “I seemed to hear... I wrote them down, Spirit or breath becomes voices.” Since Mt. Purgatory is situated on the Earth, it is explicitly linked to earthly time, which is calculated musically. ©2019 LONDA R. MARKS PUBLISHED BY ALCHEMIST PUBLISHING LLC 61

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