0 ALEPH  The Fool
I am Alpha, without Omega
The vagabond ever searching for the new horizon.
I care not where I have been; nor where I go
There is so much in the world to know.

I am forever young and my free spirit for adventure never fades
I see the wonder in all of life and marvel at the perfection.
My mind's imagination is the fire of inspiration
I am consumed by pure desire to know.

I give life to the spiral wheel
I am the discoverer of mysteries awaiting.
Nothing will be unknown to me…
I have only to seek the as yet inexperienced path.
 

1 BETH  The Magician
I am divine will manifest in the world
My knowledge of 'self' brings the understanding of power.
Fire, Water, Earth and Air obey my word.
As it is above, it is also below -- eternally.

I am the link of knowledge in the chain of the universal source
Forged from the very elements I use for creation. 
I know the world's schedule of seasons; days and hours 
I am master of communication and speak the language of Life's Magick.

I am cause and causation; creator and transformer.
I am action and reaction.
My tools are Wand, Cup, Pentagram and Sword
My will is power in the world.
 

2 GIMEL  The High Priestess
I am at the center of all matters.
Keeper of knowledge both hidden and known, between the planes of existence.
Truth without emotion or bias.
I am wisdom.

I am the serene and eternal Virgin.
Veiled to all but those who seek me.
The triple moon is my crown and symbol of authority.
I speak directly to the subconscious.

I am unchanging yet know the duality of life
Seek me in the child like innocence of your heart
The soul which is never tarnished.
Be still and listen for my soft, twinkling voice.

3 DALETH The Empress
Through me is the doorway to life and form
Pregnant with boundless energy.
Love's expression is my gift.
I am the Mother.

I am the fertile and tended garden
Seeds of thought take root and thrive.
Emotions, impressions and ideas are harvested here
Weeds of illusion, doubt and fear eventually wither and die.

I am the heart of all beliefs.
Love unites and anger divides.
Take care what seeds are planted in my rows
But never underestimate the power of Love.
 

4 HEH  The Emperor
I am the essence of reason.
My unblinking eyes are windows to the conquering world.
My visions  provoke action.
I am lord and master over myself.

Deeds count more than words.
My intellect dominates over my emotions.
Thoughts and actions born from reason and far sightedness
Placed the mantle of leadership upon my shoulders.

I am the nurturing Father; supportive and protective.
My lap is ample for warm security and dispensing worldly wisdom hard won.
My light dispels darkness and fears in others.
I am the guide and encourager of excellence.
 

5 VAV  The Hierophant
I am the Nail that binds all pieces together to form a whole.
I am the teacher of all people and not reserved for initiated students.
Students are not called or forced to my religious class.
I sit quietly and wait knowing all will come to me in their own time.

Do not seek me from without; I can only be found within 
My lessons are multidimensional for the student's choice value.
I teach the law of 3s and ask them to consider the questions of life.
There is no one right answer and students write their own notebook.

My students apply their studies to the physical world
Their concept of my teachings are used in everyday life.
In theory of this practice I do not worry.
I pray they use the knowledge as a balanced, measuring tool; and not to extremes.
 

6 ZAIN  The Lovers
I am the sword of understanding.
Which divides myself into two.
The conscious separated from the subconscious.
The gift of choice in relationships was thus conceived.

How intricate are the intertwining dances of relationships
Together, yet apart; the wanting of closeness and the need to be alone.
There need not be binding restrictions to the limits of love
Save what you wish to impose for comfort sake.

Love can be all or nothing, sating or starving.
Love can complete or fracture.
The two can be one again or remain as a separate halves.
The choice is yours and yours -- dual and mutual.
 

7 CHETH  The Chariot
I am the self of defense and protection in darkness.
I am the measure used with others as friend or foe.
Wear me as a mask for others to see; for you to hide behind and think.
I share in your successes and failures.

I will be your barrier in engagements.
I will hold your shield or offer a hand in friendship at your will.
Coiled and ready I ask the question,
Be bold and win the day, or wait and fight another day?

Take care though how long you let me sit
And wait for your directions.
I answer well to decisive, don't-look-back action
But may tear you apart if there is guilt or indecision.
 

8 TETH  Strength
I am the serpent once deviled and demeaned.
I led you out to experience and will lead you home again.
The lesson that I symbolize is old and nothing new,
Learn to tame your beast inside and your spiritual self comes through.

True power is not found outside yourself, 
Though many look and try to assert.
Pretty words of explanation or excuses,
Impresses and amuses the masses perhaps, but not me.

For you and I both know the truth and where one day you go,
Be it several lifetimes till you do.
The smoke screen battles may rage without,
But the real war is won from within.
 

9 YOD  The Hermit
I am the creative hand that shows the way to others.
Old and cloaked to the night; walking stick in hand to clear the way
Waiting for those just out of sight to catch up with me,
I stop along the path of life and reflect upon my past.

While holding my star lantern high and peering back into the gloom, 
I consider in meditation all that has led to this place in time.
Images flash before my eyes, ones of satisfaction and of shame
The sum of my life to the present, and glimpses of that which has yet to be.

The past is done, the road beckons forward and words are whispered to me
"Teach the ones coming to avoid the stones on the path.
Ask and listen to those ahead so you do not stumble much.
And remember the wisdom of reflection has always been to Know Thy Self."
 

10 KAPH  The Wheel Of Fortune
As a youth, I would reach for the brass ring on the spinning Wheel.
Luck and fortune were never far from my grasp.
I relied on the Wheel to be kind and generous,
For after all, we were young, "..and sure to have our way".

The Wheel turns. 
Luck and fortune became items that should be created by my self.
I did not rely on the a spin of a wheel to hand them out on whim.
Control and make one's destiny was certainly the answer.

And the Wheel of Life turns and turns.
I clearly see the symbols of unchangeable reality and the law of cause and effect.
I am flexible in the constancy of change and evolution of life.
I pray to my Goddess to complete my personality for the next spin on the Wheel. 
 

11 LAMED  Justice
I am the Lady who dispenses Justice.
No blindfold for me as I see and know all deeds.
My sword penetrates the spirit and gives immediate knowledge for action.
The scales create equilibrium. 

Do not fear my justice for I am here to help all who enter my hall.
Where my scales dip, I will add education and enlightenment to the other side.
Where necessary, my sword will cut old, clinging and moldy notions from you.
There is no pain, only peace of mind.

My task is to balance and create harmony within.
From me comes understanding and the inspiration to create with new practicality.
I will replace outworn patterns with realistic goals.
Come, lets talk and I will adjust the your carried load.
 

12 MEM  The Hanged Man
The blood rushes to my head, I am fearful and disoriented.
Slowly, ever slowly, I let go of my physical worries and the need to control around me.
I hear a roaring in my ears; it is the sound of sea.
Water rushing onto the shore….soothing and cleansing my mind.

From my new position, I gain a different perspective of my life and choices.
It is not so necessary for me to be ahead or heard above others.
Patterns from my life emerge and float before me.
They are not so important anymore or needed.

I surrender old methods born from anger, bitterness and pain from my experiences.
One by one, they are broken and I am filled with a sense of new found freedom.
Self placed barriers are gone and I feel unbridled love for the world.
I am reborn in mind and spirit and reach out to the universe.
 

13 NUN  Death
The sun rises above the water, yet there is no sound of birds or morning.
The dark, hooded man rides slowly and silently towards me.
The horsed figure stops in front of me and we look upon each other.
I have no fear of him though I know his name is Death.

Suddenly a fish breaks the still surface of the water; flashing sides in the sun.
Brilliant colors against the sun momentarily transform the gray landscape.
Death bends forward and offers me a perfect rose.
I take it above his bony hand and prick my finger on a thorn.

I remove my clothes and finery; the trappings of the old life I leave behind.
I kiss and place the rose on the pile -- a promise of life given.
The flower wilts before my eyes -- the promise life remembered.
I walk to the west; taking nothing but myself; to the realm of rebirth.
 

14 SAMEKH  Temperance
I am synergy in action.
I am an enigma as I stand both on land and in water.
I am the support of the spirit.
The river of life flows past me and over me.

Behold my two cups named Life and Rebirth.
They contain the essence of perceived opposites.
I pour between the cups with ease from one to the other
And never spill a drop.

I combine and blend the self's physical and spiritual ingredients; 
Spirit into matter and matter's expression from spirit.
I am the promise giver and keeper of the Tarot.
Follow the stream and know your past, present and future.
 

15 AYIN  The Devil
I am the eye that sees all places.
Both light and darkness are under my gaze.
I have dominion over each and both, for they are one in the same.
My nature has dual aspects but I am not divided into two.

From darkness came light and life.
And light casts a shadow.
All life returns to the darkness of the cauldron to be reborn.
The forces are balanced and neither can exist without the other.

I am the Tempter and the Deliverer. 
For I am attraction and resonance.
From me comes creative energies without limit.
Rather than fear; rejoice, laugh and don’t be too serious.
 

16 PEH  The Tower
I am the mouth and voice of the divine.
My word immediately topples towers and glass houses.
Falsehoods can not stand before me; real or imagined.
I am the wake up call you cannot avoid.

I clean out the self's closets; out with the old and in with the new!
I tear away stagnation and paralyzing procrastination. 
My task is not so much destroying,
As that of sculpting or rebuilding from the old foundation.

I am Truth within blinding lightening.
Be prepared to change your life when I call to you.
And do not think it the end of the world,
For the word I speak is "Enlightenment".
 

17 TZADDI The Star
The waters of life is my fishing pond.
I am the fish hook that snares the seeking self.
You do not seek me; rather I seek you.
I replace terror with courage; and despair with star-studded hope.

No setback or destruction is ever truly final. 
I am the gate through the depths of darkness,
Into the glittering light of pure and clear perception.
And self contemplation happens from my touch.

I pour Inspiration and Confidence from my ewers.
From these comes trust, love and respect in and for your self.
The self is humbled, worthy and open,
And becomes a working vessel for the Goddess.

18 QOPH  The Moon
I am the back of the head; more looking than actually there.
I am also known Karma, 
"Work that needs to be done."
I link the chains of past and future into the present.
I am the power of the choice of 3,

I can create new possibilities and realties
Or choose to stay where and as I am 
Or be done with old ones that do not serve me
I also change my mind a lot.

I speak to the subconscious in dreams within dreams. 
And I whisper partial intuitions. 
But my messages can be inconstant and deceptive.
I change in my circled orb and few can claim to know the real me.
 

19 RESH  The Sun
I am the face that radiates bliss.
Perfect harmony and balance of all nature within.
My joy brings forth abundance and plenty.
Dance in my light and smile!

I am the squeal in the unexpected gift.
I am the sense of pride in achievements.
I am the disk that shines with your successes.
I am the heat within that glows with your joys.

I am the satisfaction for a job well done.
I am the trust and promise that binds.
I am the reward of a friendship.
And I delight in simple pleasures.
 

20 SHIN  Judgement
I am the tooth or fang.
I am the encompassing circle; that has no beginning or end.
I am self perpetuating flame and fueled by desire.
Awaken from your complacency and slumber!

I will pull you back 
So you have eyes to see,
The total of the forest,
And the difference of the trees.

All ending have beginnings,
So the cycles of life go
Do not strain against these bonds
But rather, learn to tap this flow.

21 TAV  The World
I am the conclusion of this journey,
Though there really is no end.
I am the mark in the tally,
And a new journey begins my friend.

I have mastered the lessons of the elements, 
And seen behind the veil.
Curiosity answered by knowledge,
I understand me well.

I searched everywhere for pieces.
I followed clues I thought were mine
I found Self was also on the journey, 
And was in me all the time. 
 
 

 - Olympias
Completed August 7, 1999