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|
The World
| DETAIL | OCCULT | TRADITIONAL | 15th CENTURY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four beasts | Westcott | T de Marseille | |
| Only Heads | Wirth | Minchiate | |
| No Wings | Falconnier | ||
| Lower animals face viewer | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| Upper animals face each other | Etteilla III | Vieville | |
| Clouds | T de Marseille | Charles VI | |
| Wreathe | Wirth | T de Marseille | Rothschild |
| Oval | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| Ribbons | Wirth | T de Marseille | Rothschild |
| Two Ribbons | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| Red Ribbons | T de Marseille | ||
| Lemniscus | Wirth | T de Marseille | Rothschild |
| Female | Wirth | T de Marseille | Charles VI |
| Mature | Wirth | T de Marseille | Charles VI |
| Purple Drape | Etteilla | Piedmontese | |
| Dancing | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| On Right Foot | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| Left Foot Behind | Wirth | T de Marseille | |
| Two Wands | Westcott |
Notes
- The wreath forms the number “0,” thus balancing the Fool “0” at the
beginning of the trumps. The shape also may refer to the Tattwa for Spirit. On the
other hand, the cross made with the legs and the triangle made with the arms
inverts the image on the Hanged Man, symbolizing that the mystical journey is
completed.
- Purple drape - This card is assigned to Saturn in the Golden Dawn
system, and the color of Saturn is indigo (Regardie, p 241).
- The figure’s arms form a triangle, and the legs form a cross. The
triangle and cross combine to make an important symbol in the GD initiation rituals.
The triangle and cross also form a septernary and the World card completes the third
septernary of the Trumps.
Based on original research by Robert V. O'Neill. To add to this collection of information, please email
Robert V. O'Neill.
Additional Tarot History Resources Related to
Sources of the Waite/Smith Tarot Symbols
| Holly's Rider-Waite Site | A. E. Waite | |
| The Hermitage: A Tarot History Site | Villa Revak |