Meditations on The Tarot #1 - The Magician, The High Priestess, and The Empress
I’ll like to introduce a new series of video essays based on my summer reading of the 700-page spiritual classic, entitled Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism by the anonymous author whom everybody now knows was Valentine Tomberg.
This is not a summary of Tomberg’s work per say, but rather my own idiosyncratic reading of the Tarot partly inspired by Tomberg’s work. This series aims to explore Tarot symbolism—and is a contemplation of the meanings of the main archetypes presented in the Tarot card deck. As a longtime practitioner of Tantric Buddhism, an intensely symbolic and, dare I say, magical path—I’m on a journey to understand the symbolism of western esoteric systems. Tarot and Tomberg’s book seemed like a fun place to start.
The Tarot, the origin of playing cards as we know them, constitutes a series of what are called arcanum, which means ‘mysteries’ or ‘secrets.’ In most Tarot decks, there are 22 major and 56 minor arcana. Here I will follow Tomberg and examine the major Arcanum exclusively. But unlike Tomberg, whose source is the original Marseilles Tarot, I will use the more popular and accessible Rider-Waite version, created by golden dawn esotericist A. E. Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in the early 20th Century.
Parallax Sangha #1
What is Parallax Sangha?
Formerly the Maniphesto Media Academy and now part of the Parallax Academy—Parallax sangha is an online school dedicated to the study, practice, and contemplation of mind, body, and soul. In other words, we are a convivial network of friends, writers, teachers, and podcasters offering online study circles and public events. Note: we use the Buddhist word 'sangha' to indicate a sacred community which runs through gifts and donations; however, we are not a church or temple and don’t promote any particular religion.
Inner work
Firstly, our move from Maniphesto to Parallax will allow us with greater autonomy and to invite women into the fold—since there is no reason for our content to be limited to men. On the other hand, we have kept a men's circle for those interested in men's work and have plans to work with women and women's groups. Traditional communities have always recognized the virtue of both separate and combined spaces for men and women. In this next stage of our development, we aim to work with differentiated and undifferentiated groups.
Inner work is the ‘sacred’ aspect of Parallax Sangha and this year there will private and invite only groups, as well as out public ‘profane’ events. We welcome the application of new members to our sacred community, who will have to 'pass the test' of maturity and friendship. The private meetings include a study group, a men's group, and a cinema club at the moment. New groups are arising, and we encourage our members to create their own unique projects. We also offer personal online coaching and mentoring for those who are interested.
Outer work
Besides private sessions, we will continue to offer public bi-weekly online events and podcasts with Q&A, which are open to everyone. For these, we will invite the most vital thinkers, philosophers, and luminaries of the day. Furthermore, besides our weekly online meetings and events, we will gather a couple of times a year somewhere in Europe for some serious conversation, fun, and games.
Our syllabus this year will revolve around 3 main areas we have named
1. Soul and psyche
2: Magic and religion
3: sex and art
This will involve a study of classic psychoanalysis, esoteric religion, and the humanities in general. Rather than work with a linear syllabus like last year, we will spiral between philosophy, art, and religion and try to integrate our most powerful themes. Furthermore, we will look at the hidden or esoteric traditions, including Western Hermeticism, Jewish and Christian symbolism, and Tantric and Sutric Buddhism.
In our ecstatic and experimental first-year launch, we studied unrepresented and politically incorrect thinkers like Marshal Mclhuen, Réné Girard, and Ivan Illich; we hosted people from all over the ‘so-called’ liminal web: philosophers like Jonathan Pageau, Alexander Bard, and John Vervaeke. In short, we created a vibrant community. By the end of the year, we began to reinvent ourselves and give our members greater creative autonomy and involvement in the group.
Vision
Within the reinvention of education in the digital age today, the aim of Parallax Sangha is to cultivate deep and convivial learning friendships, which were always at the heart of the humanities and authentic education in general. Our mission, in the age of technocrats, netocrats, and robot managers—and while the present world system threatens to collapse—is to be a bright island in the digital fog.
Today we are living in apocalyptic times. However, the root meaning of apocalypse is to 'uncover' or 'reveal' dharma or truth, and perhaps we are truly living in a 'meaning apocalypse,' even more, than a mere 'meaning crisis, which is John Vervaeke's understated term. Paradoxically, the 'meaning apocalypse' and the seismic paradigm shift, provide a unique opportunity for deep education and personal development.
If you are an innovative and curious seeker who likes to think deeply and play seriously, please apply to Parallax Sangha or join us at one of our public events.
Contact: andrewpgsweeny@gmail.com
About Parallax
Parallax is a European online media platform offering constructive and fresh perspectives for the post-post modern age. We publish essays and podcasts, webinars and lectures, and are a hub for original and heterodox thinking.
The word ‘parallax’ stems from the old greek παράλλαξις parállaxis, which means to shift the viewpoint of the observer. The name suggests psychoactive and alternative sense-making, as opposed to mainstream narratives and ideologies.
Through our work with various European ‘digital tribes’, we create media and Bildung (education), and promote social, cognitive and spiritual development. Moreover, we aim to provide a European counterpoint to the dominant anglo-saxon narratives.
How can you Help Parallax?
Make a donation via Patreon and Paypal, subscribe to our newsletter, or just share.
Contact and submissions, please write to redaktion@parallax-magazin.de
Lecture Series
Parallax Podcast
Parallax Youtube
© 2020 Andrew Sweeny. See privacy, terms and information collection notice