Aces in most Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) style decks show a Divine Hand dispensing gifts that are the elements of our existence in this world. The symbols of the four elements are usually a cup, a sword, a wand, and a coin (pentacle).
However, in The Jewish Tarot, the cards show a human hand engaged in the order of havdalah, a ritual that is observed at the end of Shabbat and other biblically mandated holidays. The ritual begins after sunset, when three stars are visible in the sky. Havdalah brings joy at what might seem a time of sadness: the ending of a holy day or the departure of Shabbat.
Havdalah separates, or distinguishes between sacred time and secular time. During havdalah, we engage all our senses: hearing, touch, taste, smell, and sight. The acrostic, Yavneh, can be used to recall the order of blessings during the ritual: yayin (wine), besamim (spices), ner (candle), and havdalah (the prayer of separation). Ashkenazim and Sefardim recite the same four blessings during Havdalah, but different introductory passages. (Yavneh is the town where Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai, the ריב״ז, began a school to preserve the Oral Tradition after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple.)
Havdalah is a reenactment of creation, of God creating light and separating it from darkness and water from water. Arieli’s Aces emphasize that humans are partners in creation and that our actions here affect the divine realm. “As below, so above.” Divine Light descended the Tree to create the universe, and in response, we strive to bring light back up the Tree, and to reunite the Divine Presence with the Holy One of Blessing. (Reflecting this, the directions associated with the elements used in the ritual are addressed in counterclockwise direction.)
In the RWS and the Arieli Tarot, the Aces are assigned to כתר, Crown, the highest sefirah on the Tree of Life. Keter is the first place on the Tree where Divine energy enters creation. As a literal crown sits upon the head, this sefirah is metaphorically above the human mind’s abilities to comprehend it. The gifts represented by the Aces are more awesome than we usually recognize.
Ace of Goblets
Element: Water
Direction: South
Arieli’s Ace of Goblets shows a human hand holding a Kiddush cup upon which are engraved, in Hebrew, words from the first blessing of Havdalah, “Who creates the fruit of the vine.” The cup is filled to overflowing, representing both our desire for abundance and the actual abundance the Divine has already provided. Oddly, the sky in this card shows that the ritual has begun during daylight.
The elemental assignment of Water to the suit of Cups also suggests a connection to an introductory prayer of the havdalah ritual. “You will draw water joyously from the wellsprings of salvation,” and references the Water Drawing Ritual that was performed during Sukkot when the Temple still stood.
Arieli assigns these meanings to his Ace of Goblets:
Upright: sensitivity, mental depth, pleasure, a source of blessing and abundance, spiritual harmony, extra-sensory perception
Reversed: an excess of emotion that may cloud the mind, lack, intoxication
The RWS Ace of Cups shows the Holy Grail and other Christian imagery. Four streams of water overflow the brim into a lily pond. Each droplet around the falling water looks like the letter yud (י), which is said to represent divine grace.
Generally, the Ace of Cups indicates the gift of emotions, emotional awareness, compassion, creativity, a new love, and healing. It can also indicate repressed emotions, the mistrust of one’s own intuition, or the need for spiritual nourishment.
The contemplated Raziel Tarot version of this card will show the silver goblet of Yosef the Diviner. (B’reisheet, Genesis, 44:1-5)
A biblical verse for this card might be: My cup runneth over. - Tehillim (Psalms) 23:5
Element: Air
Direction: East
Arieli’s Ace of Swords shows a human hand holding a fragrant myrtle branch, and a tablecloth embroidered with the words, “Who creates varieties of spices,” from the second blessing of the havdalah ritual. In the background a night sky is speckled with stars.
The elemental assignment of Air to this suit is indicated by besamim, the spices that we smell during havdalah, to revive the spirit which is saddened by the departure of the extra soul (neshama yetaira) each of us received on Shabbat, and to renew our love for this world.
The sense of smell is connected to memory and to our souls. After God created the first human from the earth, he “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” Tradition says that Moshiach will rely on the sense of smell to judge the fitness of the world and that he will arrive in the month of Cheshvan, which the Sefer Yetzirah associates with the sense of smell.
Arieli assigns these meanings to his Ace of Swords:
Upright: sharp mind, discernment, courage, determination, decisiveness, and powers of persuasion
Reversed: recklessness, sarcasm, cruelty
The RWS Ace of Swords shows a Divine Hand holindg a sword. A crown and garlands encircle the tip of the upraised sword and six yuds (י) hover above the griYud is the first letter of the Divine Name and represents grace.
Generally, the Ace of Swords indicates the gift of intellect, mental clarity and energy, articulate speech, idealism, spiritual strength, and victory. It can also indicate aggression, cruelty, deception, confusion, sorrow, a failure to think things through, or an awareness of the suffering of life.
The contemplated Raziel Tarot version of this card will show the Sword of David.
A biblical verse for this card might be: And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, ‘See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. - Breisheet (Genesis) 27:27
Element: Fire
Direction: North
Against a sky still glowing brightly from sunset, a human hand holds a multi-wicked havdalah candle above a tablecloth that is embroidered with the Hebrew words, “Who creates the lights of the fire.” That is the third blessing of havdalah. The multi-wicked candle represents the letter shin (ש), which the Sefer Yetzirah associates with the element of fire.
The creation and use of fire, prohibited on Shabbat, marks the end of Shabbat. When darkness first descended in Gan Eden, Adam and Eve were afraid, but God taught them to make fire by striking two stones together. Each Motza'ei Shabbat, we are reminded of our ability to combat darkness. While we say the blessing for making fire, we gaze at our fingernails to see the reflected light of the havdalah flame, this is a reference a myth in which Adam carried light down from heaven in his fingernails. The elemental attribution of fire to this suit also suggests a connection to the introductory prayer of the havdalah ritual. “The Jews had light, happiness, joy and honor, may we have the same.”
Arieli assigns these meanings to the Ace of Candles:
Upright: desire, energy, impulsiveness, aspiration, ambition heat, joy
Reversed: irritability, pride, arrogance
In the RWS Ace of Wands, a hand emerging from a cloud, holds a staff, reminiscent of the flowering rod of Aaron, the high priest. In the distance, a river and a castle on a hill are dimly visible.
Generally, the Ace of Wands represents the gift of spirit, life force, inner strength, sexual desire, desire for growth, optimism, and inspiration. It can also indicate hesitation, setbacks, lack of motivation, not trusting your instincts or your ability to heal.
The Ace of Wands contemplated for The Raziel Tarot will show the staff of Aaron.
A biblical verse for this card might be: For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? - Dvarim, Deuteronomy 5:22
Ace of Coins
Element: Earth
Direction: West
The Arieli Ace of Coins shows a human hand holding a large coin inscribed with a Magen David. Below is a tablecloth embroidered with the Hebrew words, “Who distinguishes between the sacred and the secular.” Light from the setting sun is discernable on the horizon.
The suit of Coins represents the element of Earth. Arieli notes that, although no coin is used in havdalah, the ritual is a transition from sacred time when work is prohibited to ordinary time. In other words, havdalah welcomes the possibility of joyfully resuming work, creativity, and earning.
Arieli assigns these meanings to the Ace of Coins:
Upright: pragmatism, realism, practical experience, material resources, patience, resilience, tradition or anything else you can rely on
Reversed: apathy, laziness, inflexibility, fixation, inflexibility
In the RWS Ace of Pentacles, a hand emerges from a cloud, holding a large disc inscribed with the Seal of Solomon. Below, a path leads from a garden through a leafy arbor to blue mountains in the distance.
Generally, the Ace of Pentacles represents the awe-inspiring gift of the physical world. The Golden Dawn changed the suit from Coins to Pentacles as a reminder of the divine within the physical realm. This card indicates prosperity and sanctuary, a new path you can choose, or a chance to plant a seed. In some way, you are responsible for creating this new opportunity. The Ace of Pentacles implies both bounty and hardship. Reversed, it may suggest ingratitude, lack of planning, or a false sense of security. Whenever a Pentacle represents money, it is important to be wary of greed and to remember: “Justice, justice, shalt thou pursue.” (Dvarim, Deuteronomy, 16:20)
In the version contemplated for The Raziel Tarot, the Ace of Wands will be Seal of Solomon.
A biblical verse for this card might be: We will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. - Micah 4:5
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