Conversion of astro-data to Major Arcana Symbols: Method 1

[dr. farr]

Following is one of two methods I learned some time ago, for converting astrological data into Tarot Major Arcana symbols.
THIS IS NOT AN ASTROLOGICAL METHOD!
However, this technique can be regarded as adjuvant to, supportive and further descriptive (symbolically descriptive) of regular astrological delineations.

This conversion method can be applied to any element of any variety of astrological chart (natal, synastry, mundane, event or horary chart) when Tarot symbolic "affinities" are desired to be investigated.

This method (allegedly) was developed in the early 1800's by remnants of Ettiella's Society of Thoth (Ettiella was the great popularizer of the "mystic" Tarot in France in the late 1700's), and the method then passed down (orally) within a certain Rosicrucian tradition (a member of which informed me of its history and instructed me in the practical technique)

Method:

-only the 22 Major Arcana Tarot symbols (MATS for short) are used
-basically, the cusp or Part or planet from the regular astrological chart is converted into longitudinal degrees of the ecliptic circle, from 0 through 360 degrees
-the degree and minutes are taken into account
-then, in a numerological process, they are added together as single numbers (the degree and minutes, if minutes are present)

Example: Sun @ 29Aries34:
+Convert into degrees and minutes of the 360 circle: 29Aries34 = 29 degrees 34 minutes
+now add them numerologically: 2+9+3+4 = 18
-the sum = the number of the specific MATS for that astrological position
-the above Sun @ 29Aries34 = 29 degrees 34 minutes = 2+9+3+4 = 18; the 18th MATS = the symbolism connected with the Sun in this chart

-the relevant numbers are 1 through 22; number 22 = the 0 or "Fool" symbol of the Major Arcana
-any sum which goes beyond 22 you continue to add until it is reduced to a number between 1 and 9
(23 = 2+3=5; 24=2+4=6; 25=2+5=7; 26=2+6=8; 27 = 2+7=9; 28=2+8=10=1+0=1; 29=2+9=11=1+1=2; 30=3+0=3
31=3+1=4)
-Special case of 0Aries00: obviously this = 0; therefore this references the 0 MAT symbol, The Fool (same symbol as referenced by the sum 22, above)

Example: Moon @29Pisces59:
+Convert into degrees and minutes of the 360 degree circle: = 359 degrees 59 minutes
+now add this numerologically: 3+5+9+5+9; this equals 31
+31 is beyond the 22 limit; so keep adding: 31 = 3+1=4
+the number of the specific MATS connected with the astrological position of the Moon is therefore the 4th MATS

Basically that's pretty much all there is to making the conversion.

What about reading the Tarot Major Arcana symbols as either "upright" or as "reversed"?
+Determine what part of a sign the planet, cusp/sensitive degree or Part is posited in: that is, in the first part of the sign (0-14:59 degrees) or the second part of the sign (15-29:59 degrees)
+Using the following table:
-if the astrological element is in the first part of a + sign, the MATS would be read "upright"
-if the astrological element is in the second part of a + sign, the MATS would be read "reversed"
-if the astrological element is in the first part of a - sign, the MATS would be read "reversed"
-if the astrological element is in the second part of a - sign, the MATS would be read "upright"

Table of Signs re: + and -

Aries: + Taurus:-
Gemini:+ Cancer:-
Leo: + Virgo:-
Libra: + Scorpio:-
Sagittarius:+ Capricorn:-
Aquarius:+ Pisces:-


I shall be posting several examples of how to do this conversion. It is really very easy to do!

[dr. farr]

TABLE OF MAJOR ARCANA TAROT SYMBOLS

Conversion-sum Number = Major Arcana Tarot Symbol

..#1..The Magician

..#2..The High Priestess

..#3..The Empress

..#4..The Emperor

..#5..The Hierophant

..#6..The Lovers

..#7..The Chariot

..#8..Strength

..#9..The Hermit

..#10..The Wheel of Fortune

..#11..Justice

..#12..The Hanged Man

..#13..Death

..#14..Temperance

..#15..The Devil

..#16..The Lightning-struck Tower

..#17..The Star

..#18..The Moon

..#19..The Sun

..#20..The Last Judgement

..#21..The World

..#22..The Fool (note: same symbol for 0Aries00 = 0 by conversion)

[dr. farr]

An astro-conversion example:

+Suppose we wanted to know the Major Arcana Tarot symbols connected with important elements of President Obama's nativity: say we selected the Part of Fortune (inter-relationship of asc+Moon+Sun), the MC degree (high point) and the ascendant degree (essence of self) How would we determine the affinitive MAT symbols?

:Part of Fortune (in natal chart) @ 27Aries14
Convert: 27Aries14 = 27degrees14minutes = 2+7+1+4 = final sum of 14 = 14th MAT symbol = Temperance; Part of Fortune posited in second half of a + polarity sign (which = a - or reversed reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal Part of Fortune our MAT symbol is:

Temperance (reversed)


:MC (in natal chart) @ 28Scorpio53
Convert: 28Scorpio53 = 238degrees53minutes = 2+3+8+5+3 = final sum of 21 = 21st MAT symbol = The World;
MC in second half of a - polarity sign (which = a + or upright reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal MC our MAT symbol is:

The World (upright)


:Ascendant (in natal chart) @ 18Aquarius03
Convert: 18Aquarius03 = 318degrees03minutes = 3+1+8+0+3 = final sum of 15 = 15th MAT symbol = The Devil; Ascendant posited in second half of a + polarity sign (which = a - or reversed reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal Ascendant our MAT symbol is:

The Devil (reversed)


Thus for key Obama natal elements (Part of Fortune, MC and Ascendant) the Major Arcana Tarot symbols are:

Temperance (reversed) + The World (upright) + The Devil (reversed)

[dr. farr]

Another example:

-My ascendant is 29Taurus 42: what Major Arcana is affinitive to my ascendant?
Convert 29Taurus42 = 59 degrees 42 minutes = 5+9+4+2 = 20; the 20th MATS is affinitive to the ascendant degree; this is The Last Judgement; now, reversed or upright? The ascendant degree is in the second half of a -polarity sign, which means its placement= a +polarity: therefore, The Last Judgement is to be read as upright

-My Venus is at 0Sagittarius01: what Major Arcana symbol is affinitive to my Venus?
Convert 0Sagittarius01 = 240 degrees 01 minute = 2+4+0+0+1 = 7; the 7th MAT symbol is affinitive to Venus (in this astrological placement) The 7th MATS = The Chariot. Is The Chariot to be read upright or reversed? Venus is posited in the first half of a +polarity sign which means its placement = a +polarity: therefore The Chariot is to be read as upright.

[athan]

Interesting....thanks for sharing!

[vanila]

Hey dr. farr very interesting.....

my Sun is at 06.03 Cancer...
so 96.03=9+6+0+3=18
the Major Arcana Tarot Symbol is the Moon(reversed)....
I didn't understand what exactly you mean by reversed and upright..
and how we can interpret the card....
in my natal my Sun is ruled by the Moon...
can you explain it(the meaning) a little more detailed...or there is nothing more to understand than that... please

nila

[PD187540]

Originally Posted by dr. farr

An astro-conversion example:

+Suppose we wanted to know the Major Arcana Tarot symbols connected with important elements of President Obama's nativity: say we selected the Part of Fortune (interrelationship of asc+Moon+Sun), the MC degree (high point) and the acendant degree (essence of self) How would we determine the affinitive MAT symbols?

:Part of Fortune (in natal chart) @ 27Aries14
Convert: 27Aries14 = 27degrees14minutes = 2+7+1+4 = final sum of 14 = 14th MAT symbol = Temperance; Part of Fortune posited in second half of a + polarity sign (which = a - or reversed reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal Part of Fortune our MAT symbol is:

Temperance (reversed)


:MC (in natal chart) @ 28Scorpio53
Convert: 28Scorpio53 = 208degrees53minutes = 2+0+8+5+3 = final sum of 18 = 18th MAT symbol = The Moon;
MC in second half of a - polarity sign (which = a + or upright reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal MC our MAT symbol is:

The Moon (upright)


:Ascendant (in natal chart) @ 18Aquarius03
Convert: 18Aquarius03 = 318degrees03minutes = 3+1+8+0+3 = final sum of 15 = 15th MAT symbol = The Devil; Ascendant posited in second half of a + polarity sign (which = a - or reversed reading for the MAT symbol) so for the natal Ascendant our MAT symbol is:

The Devil (reversed)


Thus for key Obama natal elements (Part of Fortune, MC and Ascendant) the Major Arcana Tarot symbols are:

Temperance (reversed) + The Moon (upright) + The Devil (reversed)



More examples to follow...

Woops..I think your calculation for Scorpio is incorrect. 28Scorp53....Libra, the 7th sign, comes before Scorpio...so 7X30=210 plus 28/53 = 238 deg 53 min.
Is this correct?

[dr. farr]

You are correct!

Scorpio begins @ 210 degrees of the ecliptic and ends @ 239 degrees 59 minutes of the ecliptic (Aries begins @ 0 degrees, Taurus @ 30, Gemini @ 60, Cancer @ 90, Leo @ 120, Virgo @ 150, Libra @ 180, Scorpio @ 210, Sagittarius @ 240, Capricorn @ 270, Aquarius @ 300 and Pisces @ 330)

But in my example calculation I mistakenly gave the ecliptic conversion of 28Scorpio53 as 208 degrees 53 minutes of the ecliptic: it SHOULD be 238 degrees 53 minutes (rather than what I posted)

So-the correct conversion of the MC in the (Obama natal) example would be: 2+3+8+5+3 = 21, which would be the 21st Tarot Major Arcana symbol, the World: since 28Scorpio53 is in the + half of the sign of Scorpio, this would be interpreted as THE WORLD, upright.

Thanks for your observation! I have made the correction to my original example post.

[PD187540]

I wonder if the concept of dwads has any relation to this method. Here's a link that describes what dwads are: http://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum...ad.php?t=17423

The dwad, or underlying influence, for my Capricorn Ascendant is Aries. Using dr. farr's method for 8Cap59:

8 degrees 59 minutes = 278deg 59min = 2+7+8+5+9 = 31 = 3+1 = 4.
Corresponding MATS = The Emperor. What sign is that major arcana card associated with? ARIES.

I found that correlation very interesting. People usually see me as very mature on first impression who means business, gets the job done, leads by example, etc. The MATS for Aries Moon is The Fool....I guess it's good to have the best of both!

[Zaphod]

This sort of thing is a fascinating side-light to our normal practice and serves to tie two wonderful traditions together in a way unique from their usual qabalistic relationship. To answer event-based questions, you could even place the resulting Trumps in a standard 12-house astrological tarot spread, then draw the usual 12 cards from the deck to overlay on it and see how the combination plays out (pre-loading it with your personal constellation, so to speak). I'm doing similar things with astro-geomancy (itself a medieval tradition) and astro-lithomancy, which are also emphatically NOT purely astrological in nature but benefit greatly from the association.

Using the 360 wheel for this reminds me a bit of the derivation of the Sabian Symbols. I'm wondering if numerologically converting the whole degrees to their representative Tarot trumps in this fashion and then correlating each card to its Sabian counterpart would be revealing. (It would be a rather messy match-up since you have 360 of one and only 22 of the other to play with, but who knows how many interesting layers of meaning that might produce.) I for one always found the Sabian system rather impenetrable but this method of study might open it up for me.

[dr. farr]

Thanks for you insightful comments; I too would recommend the books you have listed in your previous post, for further study into Tarot (I have them all in my library, some from back in the 1970's)

Yes, for those with more advanced Tarot knowledge, experimentation with this method I think will yield very interesting results. I have used this method in horary with great effect; variations (such as the one you mentiond) could be used in event and mundane astrology, in natal progressions and Solar Returns. Also Tarot symbol vis a vis Sabian symbol based on degree, might be a revealing area for further study.

There is a second method regarding the conversion of astro-data, but here it is to the Minor Arcana in addition to the Major Arcana; this other method seems to have developed exclusively in relation to horary delineation, but it might have wider applications. I'll outline its methodology in a future post.

Thanks again for your input!

[Zonark]

Interesting method, farr! Currently transcribing my chart with it.