The Fool's Journey
by Ned Hogan, Jr.

it is to see if the heart is true
that one looks to the sky to see

beyond the blue
where words trapped and bent by culture come from worlds that are the same
the very same 'nothing but fate'
and perhaps
if lucky
only true love is blame
I looked out the window suddenly
only my eyes shifted
yes
across the sky
my lonely bird drifted

it must be that the luck is something more
when the the desire of the heart seeks a foriegn shore
to make it not a different thing
no distance will a different name bring
oh, yes
the planet will sing

I lifted a huge[ly thin] bow
and shot the ancient fabled arrow bold
lee
no idea
why
and tipped with a point that need be told
calling like death
to time
the super sonic sparrow
and its trap of the sky

so i sing to you
and declare
I do
that my heart might be true
if we find just one sparrow there

I am so totally lost that I would be honored to have a friend
even though I have no idea if or when
all somethings will end
but i pledge to do my best
to pass the test
and win the fight
against any might
with only the weapon of my smile
on the tip of a lovely arrow bird flying
across my sight
thousands of miles
trying to make itself nothing
because that is what it really is
just a space for a smile to grace
just a place to make
a song that would take
all the nonsense and break
it down
into its basic clowns
like me
that artist of the fake


the already famous retake
of all the cows eating steak

so

I slip quickly away into that only only place
where there are no mistakes
i drop my mouth like the stone it is
as I reach for the sword of words
surrounded
of course
with birds
who are surrounded
of course
with the music that they make
and they swear they will never leave me
and I love them more
for the white and brilliant(lee) disguised lie
their valiant attempt to not forsake
[break,fake,remake,][the ancient ancient lizard lake lake]
now dust on the wind
finding that even the idea of sin
was
the wrong spin
after all
and forgiving me
just forgiving me

Divinations
by cck

Upright:
Chance is on your side. Good fortune awaits. Your destiny will be realized in unexpected ways. Go for it!

Reversed:
Run for cover! Avoid imprudent actions. Endeavors are out of your control and at the whims of fate. Proceed with great caution if at all.

Touchstone
by Arrow

"To be found herein is a great truth, most virtuous, noble, and pure:" "That which is below is a reflection of that which is above. That which is above is a reflection of that which is below. By this knowledge miracles may be seen." "And since all things exist in and issue forth from this omnipresent One, Whom is the potent cause, so are all things born of the nature of this One, by unique adaptation."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thus begins the teachings of the Emerald Table, the 'Tabula Smaragdina' of Hermes Trismegistus, which has for centuries been viewed by alchemists as a key summary of the mystery to their art. This first and foremost lesson posited in this marvel of subtle expression and metaphor describes the law of correpondence: likeness in reflection; that which it begets.
Perhaps you may ask how this Law would have significance concerning The Wheel, and the so-called fickleness of Fortune? After all, the common divinatory meaning to the Trump is 'a turn of events', and often times the outcome may naively be seen as given to chance, or luck. To this regard let us examine the nature of The Wheel, exploring it's tie to the Emerald Table.

What wheel is truly functional if it's circumference is not a perfect circle? And what circle exists that does not have a centralized point? A circle's perfection is defined and expressed by it's central point; the axis of the circle, and by course the circle's arcs when segmented all have perfect mirrored reflections . But, move the pivotal point to any one side, even slightly, and a wheel (the circle) will wobble and veer off of it's concentric orbit. It has no 'balance'.
The center of a wheel is the point of focus around which the movement of the wheel depends for it's stabilty. Regardless of the wheel's number of radii or the velocity of the revolution of the circumference, all fall into a state of supreme equilibrium, unity, and composure at the wheels core.
Though all the elements of nature comprising the alchemical experiment are present and actively at interplay within The Wheel, it is through a centralized focus that the achievement of the initiate is won. That point of focus is as the point of a pin on which a gyroscope is balanced.

What does all of this have to do with the law of correspondence, and so-called fickled Fortune? There is nothing born of chance! As the path is persued, so shall it yield forth. If The Wheel is not pefectly balanced it bounds off of course, and the charioteer is lost amidst the strife of the consequences.

That is the key to this Trump.

The hebrew letter assigned to The Wheel is kaph, meaning a closed hand. The true philosopher's hand is the hand of The Hermit whom's heart is held within it. The heart guides that hand, and it's grasp is it's "focus".

This Trump marks the beginning of the alchemical experiment. Find, and be one with the center! For only therein may the lapis be realized.