Brief History

 

There is no doubt that the Western Esoteric Tradition, as we know it, was established in Alexandria in the 1st century BCE. It was a fusion between the Greek Mysteries, some Egyptian cults such as Thot, thus associating the most occult aspects of the first religious civilization in the world.

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Preserved by the initiates during the "dark days" of monotheistic intolerance and the ensuing persecutions, the knowledge of the Hermetic and Ogdoadic Tradition reappeared at the end of the 14th century under the impetus of the Greek initiate Gémiste Pléthon. The latter was a Neo-Platonist and Grand Master of this remarkable lineage. As theologian, he took part in the Council of Florence (Italy) organized to bring together the Eastern and Western Christian Churches. In fact, at the request of Cosimo de 'Medici (who was the political leader of Florence at that time), he organized the revival of the Platonic and Hermetic tradition. In short, it can be said that he organized the rebirth of the Western initiatic heritage. He entrusted the Sacred Mysteries and initiations to a circle of initiates led by Marsilio Ficino, who was the founder of the “New Academy” whose headquarters were in the Villa Careggi, near Florence. But the continuation of this Aurea Catena (gold chain) was not enough. It was also necessary to disclose secret teachings and entrust various hidden keys. The Tarot was an extraordinary tool that constituted the outward expression of hermetic doctrine while discreetly providing various practical information. In 1431, a priest named Bessarion was received in the circle of Initiates of Mistra. He studied with Plethon and was initiated to the secret hermetic doctrine. He became the archbishop of Nicaea in 1437. He also participated in the council of Florence. As it is clearly recorded by the historians of the Tarot, it was during the council of Mantua, which was held in the 15th century, that Bessarion, Nicholas of Cues and Pope Pius II secretly conceived the idea of ​​a symbolic card game. It is obvious that what is now known as the “Mantegna Tarot” contains many esoteric keys that are openly Neoplatonic and Hermetic. This symbolic game was not then revealed to the people and its use remained limited to the Inner Order. However, this Tarot was never truly appropriate instrument for the teaching of a symbolic traditional knowledge.

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During this same period, Bonifacio Bembo created a new series of 22 Major Arcana, which were added to the minor arcana that already existed. This Tarot game is today called the Tarot of Visconzi-Sforza. You should not be surprised to learn that Bonifacio Bembo, who designed this game was a Neoplatonist and a student of Plethon. Of course, the decision to use the 22 maps was related to Christian Kabbalah and was not the complete representation of the original system. The complete system remained hidden.

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You should remember that the Tarot today used by esotericists is derived from the Tarot of Marseille and has been used mainly in three ways during the last centuries:

1- Like a simple card game, without any specific esoteric meaning;

2- As a system based on esoteric principles, for the purpose of divination;

3- As a set created to invoke specific invisible forces and generate energies present both in yourself and at universal levels. Each card represents a state of consciousness and a particular energy, which can be invoked and used in a ritual. The Tarot keys you use in divination are also talismans that are connected to older archetypes, they are symbols that can generate specific states of consciousness. However, the classic symbols commonly available in the Tarot of Marseille (or other similar game) limit the energy to which you could access as Theurgists.

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On the contrary, the keys of the Aurum Solis Tarot help to connect to these powers in a more efficient and precise way. Their representations have been preserved in two ways: 1- within the inner Order and 2- visibly in a mysterious church in northern Italy in the city of Rimini. It was here that Sigismund Pandolfe Malatesta brought the remains of Plethon's body. Malatesta was a friend of Pope Pius II. It was under his direct protection that he renovated an old Gothic church, obliterating its Christian characteristics to give it a pagan and neo-Platonic appearance. This “Temple” is full of pagan symbols. Eight chapels (a significant number for the hermetic tradition), as well as 14 sarcophagi on the outer sides of the church are some of the symbols that we can mention here. One of these chapels contains the Sibyls (oracles). An extraordinary Planetary Chapel contains 7 planetary deities and the 12 zodiac signs in their pagan and neoplatonic aspect. The purpose of this Chapel was clearly to expose the traditional system of divine and sacred symbols, used in the internal order. It was a cosmological and theurgic system that allowed the practitioner to perform magical ceremonies, healing and divination.

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It is the ultimate system, reconciling magicians and astrologers. It has a well-identifiable heritage, beginning with the birth of Western tradition and continuing to be transmitted through what is called the Gold Chain of initiates.