Exploring the Tarot via the Splendor Solis

Please join our discussion group on the Splendor Solis and the tarot! The Splendor Solis is a 16th c. illuminated manuscript by Solomon Trismosin with 22 color plates outlining the steps of the alchemical Great Work.

In this, our third session, we will examine the third and fourth plates along with the tarot's High Priestess and Empress cards.

Reading Assignment
Please read for Apr 8:
The Second Treatise from Splendor Solis by Solomon Trismosin, trans. J. K., pp. 21-24 plus the Descriptions of the Third and Fourth Pictures, on pp. 62-64 of the pdf (43-45 as numbered in the text). https://ia800708.us.archive.org/26/items/SplendorSolisAlchemicalTreatisesOfSolomonTrismosin...Including22/SplendorSolis.pdf

I also find it interesting to consult the following commentaries:
Mythcrafts: Plate 3 and Plate 4.

And Moleiro: Plate 3 and Plate 4.

General Description
First, let me say: There is absolutely no correspondence between the 22 images of the Splendor Solis and the tarot's Major Arcana. Stephen Skinner makes this painfully clear in his Introduction to the 2019 edition of "The World's Most Famous Alchemical Manuscript." However, that is also true of the tarot's relationship to kabbalah, and yet anyone who does the work to meditate on the connections reaps generous rewards. I propose that in the spirit of exploration, we examine the text and images of the Splendor Solis and see how they can inform our understanding of the Major Arcana.

Arousing Skinner's scepticism, some authors definitively correlate the alchemical illustrations to the tarot. In fact, following the threads, it turns out that S. L. MacGregor Mathers had a particular fascination with the Splendor Solis. He and his wife Moina were the driving force behind the Golden Dawn's tarot curriculum, which influenced A. E. Waite, Pamela Colman Smith, and Aleister Crowley. The Splendor Solis most certainly was not influenced by tarot. But it seems almost certain that 20th century tarot was influenced by the Splendor Solis.

Group Format
Our examination of the Splendor Solis and tarot will be based on collegial discussion. I propose that we meet once a month.

Starting this month, we'll try to explore two chapters, plates, and cards in a session and see if two hours is enough time. If so, we'll continue at that rate and attempt to conclude our monthly study in the course of a year.

Because this is a discussion group and not a class, everyone attending will be expected to read the assignment and participate in the discussion. This is not a sit-back-and-learn presentation. Rather, it is an exchange of ideas and insights, as well as a slow pondering of questions.

To that end, this group is not for beginners, but instead for those already familiar with the symbolism of the tarot. It is for intermediate or higher level tarot readers who would love to explore the symbolic provenance of the tarot.

Required Text
The required text is Splendor Solis by Solomon Trismosin, trans. J.K., 1920. It can be found on Archive.org: https://ia800708.us.archive.org/26/items/SplendorSolisAlchemicalTreatisesOfSolomonTrismosin...Including22/SplendorSolis.pdf

Optional Resources
If you would like a more recent translation, consider:
Splendor Solis, The World's Most Famous Alchemical Manuscript by Stephen Skinner, Rafal T. Prinke, Georgiana Hedesan, and Joscelyn Godwin. https://www.amazon.com/Splendor-Solis-Illuminated-Guide-Alchemy/dp/1786782057/

I also highly recommend the edition, sadly out of print, with the Godwin translation and commentary by Adam McLean, Phanes Press 1991. You might be able to find used copies available for a reasonable price.

Also, there is a tarot deck:
Splendor Solis Tarot by Marie Angelo. It's not necessary for our studies, but fun to have. https://www.amazon.com/Splendor-Solis-Tarot-Alchemies-Mithraic/dp/1999306104

Group Facilitator
Joy Vernon is an astrologer and tarot reader in Burien, Washington. She formerly served as the Organizer of the Denver Tarot Meetup and Denver Tarot Geeks and now runs the Greater Seattle Tarot Meetup. Over the past ten years, Joy has published more than 300 free articles on tarot, astrology, qabalah, Reiki, and meditation on her blog Completely Joyous (https://joyvernon.com/blog/).