Using the Grimaud Tarot deck of Marseilles the direct descendants of the earliest handprinted designs and the basis for most of the later esoteric decks Knight provides an indepth introduction to the tarot deck. He presents nine lessons that combine basic instruction in the mechanics of divination with magical visualization techniques. Perhaps most useful for students of the tarot are Knight's answers to questions raised by former students of his acclaimed Tarot Course. Illustrated. Index. Gareth Knight is one of the major occult practitioners and authors of today. His many books include Experience of Inner Worlds , Magical World of the Tarot , Secret Tradition in Arthurian Legend . The Magical World of the Tarot FOURFOLD MIRROR OF THE UNIVERSE By Gareth Knight Samuel Weiser, Inc. Copyright © 1991 Gareth Knight All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-87728-873-2 Contents Introduction to the TarotThe Fourfold Magic MirrorLesson OneLesson TwoLesson ThreeLesson FourLesson FiveLesson SixLesson SevenLesson EightLesson NineThe Face-to-face ReadingThe Postal ReadingWorking PlanAfterwordThe Four ElementsThe Powers of Inner EarthThe Powers of Higher ConsciousnessThe Powers of the CosmosIndexBibliographyAbout the Author CHAPTER 1 The Spirit of the Tarot In my earlier book on the Tarot called Tarot Magic (Destiny Books, 1990, firstpublished by The Aquarian Press as The Treasure House of Images , 1986) Iacknowledged, in the usual way, all the people who had helped me in writing it,and said: And finally my thanks to the spirit of the Tarot itself. Despite all the abuseit may have bad from less than spotless hands and intentions in the past, itrevealed itself to me as a very wise and gentle source of wisdom andencouragement, deserving much respect. If you have undertaken the study of the Tarot you have probably realized thatthere is more to it than meets the eye. There is in fact a hidden mystery behindthe Tarot; this is why it has fascinated mankind for at least 500 years. Likeall mysteries, this hidden power is not something that is obvious to everyone.Yet it is none the less real for all that, and the way to discover that hiddenreality is to find the key that unlocks the door to the mystery. The key is infact a very simple one. So simple indeed that most people overlook it. It is toapproach the Tarot as if it were a real person. This may sound fantastic but theproof is there for anyone who will try it. If you treat the Tarot like a person,it will respond like a person – a very wise and friendly person, to whom you canturn for advice. Now this requires an act of faith from you. We can show you the key, but it isup to you to put it into the lock of the door and turn it. The secrets of theTarot will then be revealed. If you refuse to take this first step, for whateverreason, then the door to the companionship of the Spirit of the Tarot willremain closed, for only you can open it. It is no good trying to take a kind ofsuperior, 'scientific' attitude and subject the Tarot to psychical orstatistical experiments. The Tarot will not be put to the test in this way. Itopens up, like a friend, only to human warmth and trust. Yet you must still be careful as to how you approach it, for it will deal withyou exactly as you deal with it. If you go to it just for a laugh or a lark, youwill receive only misleading answers, for it will be having a laugh or a lark ofits own at your expense. We have said you will find it to be a very wise person.This means it is not easily fooled. And what is more, it will deal with you foryour own good if you approach it in the wrong kind of way! What is the wrong kind of way? Well there are a number, besides the elementarymistakes we have already mentioned. The more serious offences are trying to pryinto the affairs of other people without their consent, or seeking informationfor evil or malicious intent. If you are so foolish as to try anything like thisyou are likely to find that you are misled in a fashion that brings your ownevil intentions right back on your own head. The Spirit of the Tarot will notallow itself to be abused for evil or selfish reasons and is likely to teach youa sharp lesson if you try to make it do so. Another form of misuse is not so much evil as foolish. This is to begin to relyso much on the Tarot for advice that you are reluctant to do anything withoutasking its opinion first. This is not at all good for you. You are here on thisgood Earth to learn to stand on your own spiritual feet, and that is not done byrelying for advice on every minor decision in your life. If you pester the Tarottoo often in this way it is likely to respond by giving misleading answers, sothat you are led in a circular dance of misdirections until you realize thenecessity and wisdom of learning how to make up your mind for yourself. This maysound cruel but the Spirit of the Tarot has done you the good service, by thismethod, of making you self-reliant. However, if yo