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The Book of Tokens, Tarot Meditations

Written by Paul Foster Case The Book of Tokens, Tarot Meditations has been described as "the Bhagavad-Gita of the West"

It presents twenty-two meditations--Evocative poetry addressing each of the Hebrew letters--touching upon the 22 paths of the Tree of Life concealed in the letters of the Hebrew Alef-Bet and their associated Tarot Keys. It includes full color plates of the B.O.T.A. Tarot trumps. Each meditation is usually about 3 pages long followed by 2 pages of commentary.

Second verse from the meditation on Tsaddi (the star)

"Men think they seek me,

But it is I who seek them,

No other seeker is there than myself,

And when I find mine own,

The pain of questioning is at an end.

The fish graspeth the hook,

Thinking to find food,

But the fisherman is the enjoyer of the meal."

First verse from the mediation on Samekh (temperance)

"I AM the support of all that enter into existence.

Upon me all depend. And I fail not.

This have I declared unto thee in various ways,

But listen now to my words again."

Here is the beginning of the commentary on Samekh

"SAMEKH, pronounced sawmek. Transcribed as "S". The number 60. Meaning: Prop,Support. The Intelligence of Probation or Trial."

The commentary for each path begins like this and then is followed by specific commentary on some of the verses from the meditation.

According to Jeannette Roth:

"Paul Foster Case - founder of the Builders of the Adytum and creator of the B.O.T.A. tarot - composed a series of twenty-two tarot 'meditations' that, in fact, remain today among the most masterful examples of tarot-inspired poetry. In his classic Book of Tokens, tarot's images and its constellations of symbols become powerful verses which are both captivating and instructional. Consider this excerpt from 'The Meditation on Vav' (The Hierophant):

"'I am the revealer of all mysteries

"'None other is the Teacher of any man.

"'     These words that thou readest,

"'     Whose words are they but mine?

"'I have brought thee before me to instruction

"'And whether thou receivest it willingly or unwillingly,

"'Know that because thou hast this day heard or read

"'     these words,

"'Thou art henceforth consciously united to me.

"Here, once again, we see the 'cycle' in action, as Case's words inspire further thought and reflection, becoming the 'seed' of the reader's inner or overt creative processes." Article on Tarot

See also for examples on how to use these meditations

Category:Tarot