777, CLXXXI.
Correct Design of Tarot Trumps.
A wheel of six shafts, whereon revolve the Triad of Hermanubis, Sphinx, and Typhon *
Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas (from notes on the above, pg 39)
Curious... Crowley seems to be breaking from his earlier attribution in 777; here he attributes:
Hermanubis = Sattva
Sphinx = Rajas
Typon = Tamas
Also note that in the Rite of Jupiter, the Sphinx (Ecstasy) acts as the balance between sloth (Typhon) and activity (Hermanubis). This would seem to imply that the Sphinx is represented by the Mercury, Typhon by Salt, and Hermanubis Sulpher.
PERHAPS (big shot in the dark), the key is that this card may represent the changing Aeon's? The Aeon's revolve and Crowley mentions: "This Sphinx represents the element of sulphur, and is exalted, temporarily, upon the summit of the wheel."
Also note that in the AEON card, Crowley states:
...the letter Shin, which refers to Fire. The card therefore represented the destruction of the world by Fire. This was accomplished in the year of the vulgar era 1904, when the fiery god Horus took the place of the airy god Osiris in the East as Hierophant (see Atu V).
So in the past, Mercury (Air) was exalted. Now Sulphur (Fire) is exalted. So that takes care of why Sulphur is at the apex of the triangle and Mercury is on the base line. Now why keep Sattvas at the top, instead of revolving it along with Sulphur?
Quick aside: take a look at the 3 of disks:
The base is formed by three wheels-Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt; Sattvas, Rajas, and Tamas in the Hindu system; Aleph, Shin, and Mem-Air, Fire, and Water-the three Mother letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
(based on the order of words in the sentence - which may signify nothing)
Mercury = Sattvas = Aleph = Air
Sulphur = Rajas = Shin = Fire
Salt = Tamas = Mem = Water
Perhaps some clue is in the cards that represent these 3 "things":
The Fool Card:
This card is attributed to the letter Aleph, which means an Ox, but by its shape the Hebrew letter (so it is said) represents a ploughshare; thus the significance is primarily Phallic. It is the first of the three Mother letters, Aleph, Mem, and Shin, which correspond in various interwoven fashions with all the triads that occur in these cards, notably Fire, Water, Air; Father, Mother, Son; Sulphur, Salt, Mercury; Rajas, Sattvas and Tamas.
(based on the order of words...)
Fire = Father = Sulphur = Rajas
Water = Mother = Salt = Sattvas
Air = Son = Mercury = Tamas
The Emperor Card:
The Emperor is also one of the more important alchemical cards; with Atu II and III, he makes up the triad: Sulphur, Mercury, Salt. His arms and head form an upright triangle; below, crossed legs represent the Cross. This figure is the alchemical symbol of Sulphur (see Atu X). Sulphur is the male fiery energy of the Universe, the Rajas of Hindu philosophy. This is the swift creative energy, the initiative of all Being.
The Empress Card:
In this card, she is shown in her most general manifestation. She combines the highest spiritual with the lowest material qualities. For this reason, she is fitted to represent one of the three alchemical forms of energy, Salt. Salt is the inactive principle of Nature; Salt is matter which must be energized by Sulphur to maintain the whirling equilibrium of the Universe.
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