Arcanum 16 Fragility

Description of the Plate

In the waters of life is the staff of power, the staff of command, and the flail (whip) which represents fragility. The two serpents, the positive and the negative, are on both sides of these symbols.

From the superior part descends the ray of cosmic justice destroying the tower that the Kabbalists call the Tower of Babel.

Arcanum 17 Hope

Description of the Plate

In the waters of life are two triangles, the positive and the negative.

In the middle of the plate is a woman sprinkling the earth with two elixirs (masculine and feminine). On her head is the lotus flower, indicating her developed chakras.

Arcanum 18 Twilight

Description of the Plate

A scorpion within an inverted triangle is in the waters of life. It signifies that we kill the Divine Mother like a scorpion when we spill the glass of Hermes.

In the middle of the plate are two pyramids, one white and the other black, symbolizing the positive and the negative forces. Two dogs, or wolves, one white and the other black, bark at the moon. The white is positive and symbolizes friendship, the black is negative and symbolizes the psychological “I.” They represent the terrible struggle that occurs between the tenebrous forces. The moon by itself represents sex. We should work with the moon to convert it into a sun. The dog also represents the sexual instinct. That is why it is the dog that takes us through the very doors of the Absolute.

Arcanum 19 Inspiration

Description of the Plate

The three flowers in the waters of life represent the three primary forces.

In the middle is a couple holding hands forming the key of Tao.

In the superior part, a radiant sun with seven rays is over their heads, which reminds us of the seven degrees of power of the Fire.

This arcanum teaches us that we attain Final Liberation through transmutation.