Sinister Tarot Reading

Below is a beta version of a customized tarot reader that uses Christos Beest’s Emanations deck (Major Arcana only for now, used in accordance with a Creative Commons license). There are still some bugs to iron out, but the reader is fully functional. While we believe that tarot is best conducted physically in a sacred space rather than in a digital medium, this is meant to be both an introductory tool for those not familiar with how to use or interpret the Sinister Tarot, in addition to being a fun way to familiarize oneself with the various correspondences of the Septenary spheres, the Dark Gods, and the Tree of Wyrd.

Instructions:

Click an individual card to flip it. Once flipped, click it again for more information about the card.

There are two types of tarot spreads typically employed in the Order of Nine Angles: a "Septenary" spread and the traditional Celtic Cross spread. The one employed here is the Septenary spread, which is structured according to the following diagram:

Each card in this layout corresponds to a Septenary sphere on the Tree of Wyrd:

  1. Moon
  2. Mercury
  3. Venus
  4. Sun
  5. Mars
  6. Jupiter
  7. Saturn

As written in NAOS: A Guide to Modern Magick, these relations should be considered with respect to the energies and correspondences of each sphere. Additionally, it notes the following:

1 are unconscious factors
2 and 3 are the past
4 is the present
5 and 6 are the immediate future
7 is the outcome

In turn, 1-2-5 are negative elements/energies, while 1-3-6 are positive. 1-4-7 are what needs to be done to either bring about 7 or prevent it from arising.

Finally, NAOS notes: "In both this and the Celtic pattern all combinations should be seen as how energies flow and change, or become altered through the other influences present. Intuition should enable the practical manifestation of these energies to be understood - e.g. a particular influence/energy might represent an actual person or event in the client's life."

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ATU XVIII The Moon / 3 Shugara

ATU XVIII The Moon / 3 Shugara

Shugara is the salt/unconscious-level Dark God of the Moon and is associated with the third path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from the Moon to Mars.

A frog reveals human heads
Within its mouth
Furrowed white fields
White, snow laden trees –
Her face, caught by the Moon;
Her eyes came to know the Pool,
Take the spiral staircase to the Blue room …

That which has not yet been confronted within the psyche of the individual; that which is strange, which lies outside the scope of any world view; that which lies within the Dark Pool beneath the Moon and threatens to devour, create madness. A stage which cannot be ignored if further development is saught, requiring a descent to draw out that which is obscure, fearfully hidden: the gateway to the Abyss. A point from which there is no turning back: that which leads to rebirth via death.

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ATU I The Magickian / 9 Binan Ath

ATU I The Magickian / 9 Binan Ath

Binan Ath is the salt/unconscious-level Dark God of Mars and is associated with the ninth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from Mercury to Mars.

Headless
The white angel impaled
By Seven.
Seven bells rung,
The cortege from a black hill
Passed the squatter’s cottage.
Black flame engulfed
Black flame ate the ‘holy’.

Empathy; a flowing with natural forces that are consciously understood. An integration becoming (part of) a greater Wyrd; an awareness that spans Aeons. Actions that prepare the way.

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ATU VII Azoth / 4 Satanas

ATU VII Azoth / 4 Satanas

Satanas is the salt/unconscious level-Dark God of the Sun and is associated with the fourth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from the Moon to the Sun.

The ruby is the password
She of the white robe
Rides the transparent horse
The maiden closes.
On broken legs he steps forth
He becomes the Dragon …

The Menstruum – the Sinister aspect implicit within the ‘homogenous metallic water’: the explosive factor in the delicate balancing of life-enhancing elements. Change by adversity – the ‘Accuser’. The brutal realities that threaten to devour the abstract, the romantic. Insight and control via the understanding of the Primal – or destruction by it.

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ATU XIX The Sun / 15 Velpecula

ATU XIX The Sun / 15 Velpecula

Velpecula is the mercury/ego-level Dark God of Saturn and is associated with the fifteenth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from Venus to Saturn.

Now in the desert,
A jester
Greets the transparent horse
On hill Golden folk
Become fire
The snow melts
The faces of Mountains
The raven with
The woman’s face,
Her gold begets the Blood …

The finding of the Aeon: the height of Imperium – causal structure altered in accordance with long term aims, bearing its own fruits of Change. But these fruits are the final product of a grand age, the final works of the ethos of a race fulfilled. The brink of new possibilities; storm clouds gather with promise of the blood of birth, of the heralding of a Higher associated civilization. The fulfilling of personal Desires and potential, creating intimations/hauntings of further progression. Dissatisfaction causing aspirations to something ‘higher’/beyond – ‘reaching for the stars’.

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ATU VI The Lovers / 12 Karu Samsu

ATU VI The Lovers / 12 Karu Samsu

Karu Samsu is the salt/unconscious-level Dark God of Venus and is associated with the twelfth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from Venus to the Sun.

Sappho dance in still water
Chains and roses in blue
Invoke the Sun
To an arch of fire
Gravestones, butterflies
And rivers of snakes.

The double tetrahedron a nexion created via the union of balancing forces. The sowing of the seed of Change that which may transform and carry evolution beyond the Abyss, and thus beyond ‘self-image’ – or that which may destroy. The invoking of energies that coerce to create something beyond ‘self’.

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ATU X Wyrd / 6 Azanigin

ATU X Wyrd / 6 Azanigin

Azanigin is the salt/unconscious-level Dark God of Saturn and is associated with the sixth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from the Moon to Saturn. Along with those of Lidagon and Nemicu, Azanigin’s path is one of the three hidden paths on the Tree and one of the most important, as Her tarot name (Wyrd) suggests.

In red desert
Three fingers and a skull
Are laid on fur
The stones of a circle
Turn to frogs
The skeleton of a child
The birth of an army
A Nexion is opened.

That which is beyond personal Destiny. That which causes expression of itself via the implementation or provocation of acts which in their design achieve long term aims beyond the causal death of an individual; changing aspects of a society by significant creations and thus changing a whole race of people – fulfilling the destiny or Wyrd of the ethos of a civilization. Acts that inaugurate a new Aeon. The causal nature that is dictated by the essence of things – ‘fate’ etc.

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ATU XIV Hel / 5 Aosoth

ATU XIV Hel / 5 Aosoth

Aosoth is the mercury/ego-level Dark God of Venus and is associated with the fifth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from the Moon to Jupiter.

The Bleeding Earth
From the throats of fools,
in brooks
From the Gate
A red bird
This, the corn needs
Containment of Winter:
The Maiden is ready

Self-possession; knowledge that allows one to consciously improve/evolve and use natural abilities (or ‘gifts’) – such as sexual charisma – to the advantage of personal Destiny and Wyrd, and to confront and resolve those qualities within character which are detrimental. Self-honesty. In early stages of development, such an individual causes unforeseen disruption and resentment amongst others. Beginnings of that which is re-presented by atu III.

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ATU II The High Priestess / 14 Mactoron

ATU II The High Priestess / 14 Mactoron

Mactoron is the sulphur/self-level Dark God of Jupiter and is associated with the fourteenth path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from Venus to Jupiter.

She rows a boat in a black pool
From Her steps:
The Hermaphrodite,
The body drowned.
The Planet of Them
And the first drop
In a white desert
Into clear waters
Aktlal Maka.

Beyond the Abyss: the crossing over and Initiation (in terms of awareness whilst still partaking of a causal existence) into the Lands of the Dark Immortals. A self-awareness that transcends temporal understanding – becoming the essence; beyond opposites.

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ATU XIII Death / 2 Nythra

ATU XIII Death / 2 Nythra

Nythra is the sulphur/self-level Dark God of the Moon and is associated with the second path on the Tree of Wyrd, which leads from the Moon to Venus.

A canal route lined
By white Griffins.
A vortex of grey starless space.
The chalice spills its
White blood
And the Herdsman’s light shines
In the Chamber of the Sphinx.

That which follows hubris; the consequence of attempting to escape that which is ill-fated by Destiny. Personal destruction from self-delusion and the cessation of self-evolution. Energy vortex in the Abyss. The stripping away of the self-image that, if successful, will produce a genuine Master/Mistress; confronting the Chaos within and without.

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