The Steampunk Tarot Ebook. John Matthews
People: Who is this person in my life? What aspects of myself are manifesting or are activated? What characteristics are shaping things? Where am I not being true to myself?
☼ Processes: What action or behavior is denoted? What kind of process am I undergoing? What accelerates or delays the changes?
☼ Events: How does this manifest? How will I recognize this? What constellates as a result? What events is my question caught up with?
The worthy philosopher Epictetus reminds us that “The universe is but one great city, full of beloved ones, divine and human by nature, endeared to each other. This is truly seen within the Imperium, as we see from the schematic ground plan set out overleaf.
Courts of the Four Leagues
“Wisdom is the chief and leader: next follows temperance; and from the union of these two with courage springs justice.”
PLATO, Laws 63
The Imperium is governed by the Four Leagues, under the guidance of the Four Regulators, or primary Gods of the Machine: VIII Engineer, XIV Spirit Gauge, XI Brazen Head, and XXI Cosmic Blueprint. Each of these Regulators of the Machine is associated with four other Gods of the Machine, working cooperatively. Each League is also under the jurisdiction of these Four Regulators, and answers to them. At the center are the Technomancer (I) and his Apprentice (0), as the master who imparts knowledge, with the student who is initiated into all the workings of the Imperium and its powers. The diagram of the Courts of the Four Leagues (see overleaf ) shows the Imperium at one glance.
All who would aspire to become apprenticed to the machine and understand the regulation of the Imperium are invited to study this template carefully, for many secrets lie within it. A few of these mysterious laws are outlined on pages 25–27 for you to meditate upon.
Laws of the Imperium
Four Regulators of the Imperium govern four different courts, just as the four seasons of the year succeed each other:
Court of the Engineer is concerned with issues of sovereignty, courage, organization, creativity, fire, and spiritual health. The strength of VIII Engineer is upheld by the four governing executives of the Imperium, who are:
II Aviatrix • III Empress • IV Emperor • V Horologer
The League of Engines supports these four stabilizers of the machine.
Court of the Spirit Gauge oversees issues of devotion, harmony, relationship, love, water, and emotional health. The temperate genius of XIV Spirit Gauge upholds the flow of life, aided by the love, progress, plans, and luck of:
VI Explorers • VII Triumph • IX Inventor • X Time Machine
The League of Submersibles supports this trailblazing foursome.
Court of the Brazen Head oversees issues of discrimination, honor, integrity, struggles and changes, air and mental health. The just insights of XI Brazen Head combine with the powers of the agents of integrity and balanced action:
XII Suspension Tank • XIII Spring-Heeled Jack • XV Cyborg
XVI Stricken Tower
The League of Airships reflects the actions of this fearsome four.
Court of the Cosmic Blueprint oversees issues of wisdom, diligence, means, resources, work, earth, and physical health. XXI Cosmic Blueprint’s wisdom is shared by the four celestial spheres of influence:
XVII Comet • XVIII Moon Voyage • XIX Solarium
XX Regeneration Machine
The League of Leviathans reflects the cosmic influences of this planetary four.
Complementary opposites
As you explore this template of the Imperium, you will notice that the Gods of the Machine each have their own pairings around the central temple, mediating resonant and complementary principles. Within the turning of the machine’s wheels, everyone alive notices these eleven complementary and opposing powers that cause life such joy and difficulty. It is the task of the Apprentice to meditate upon these principles in order to become an intrinsic part of the machine of life. The twenty-two separate principles of the Gods of the Machine are rarely studied in isolation from these pairings in our world.
| COMPLEMENTARY OPPOSITES | PRINCIPLES |
| 0 Apprentice and I Technomancer | novitiate • mastership |
| II Aviatrix and XVII Comet | spiritual path • destiny |
| III Empress and XVIII Moon Voyage | creativity • imagination |
| IV Emperor and XIX Solarium | authority • power |
| V Horologer and XX Regeneration Machine | time • eternity |
| VI Explorers and XII Suspension Tank | love • sacrifice |
| VII Triumph and XIII Spring-heeled Jack | life-drive • death’s closure |
| VIII Engineer and XXI Cosmic Blueprint | strength • wisdom |
| IX Inventor and XV Cyborg | introspection • manipulation |
| X Time Machine and XVI Stricken Tower | mutability • sudden change |
| XI Brazen Head and XIV Spirit Gauge | justice • temperance |
Experience these complementary opposites for yourself by laying out the Gods of the Machine in these pairings. What do you notice? Look at the pair of principles where you are currently embroiled and choose another card from the Legates and Leagues: what action, process, or question shows you the way forward? Answer the Steampunk Wisdom for these cards to gain guidance.
Seven initiations of the Apprentice
The Apprentice experiences seven steps of initiation in the Imperium via the following triads of mentors, who help explore and assimilate these lessons and stages:
1. Triad of Technology Working with the nuts and bolts of power
I Technomancer • VIII Engineer • XV Cyborg
2. Triad of Invention Planning things out and risking the consequences
II Aviatrix • IX Inventor • XVI Stricken Tower
3. Triad of Creation Conceiving how inventions find their place
III Empress • X Time Machine • XVII Comet
4. Triad of Balance Working with control and authority
IV Emperor • XI Brazen Head • XVIII Moon Voyage
5. Triad of Experimentation Trying out the inventions in practice
V Horologer • XII Suspension Tank • XIX Solarium
6. Triad of Commitment Engaging in and testing what is made
VI Explorers • XIII Spring-heeled Jack • XX Regeneration Machine
7. Triad of Harmony Rejoicing in the results and gladdening the Imperium
VII Triumph • XIV Spirit Gauge • XXI Cosmic Blueprint
If you find yourself undergoing any part of the creative or learning processes without clear guidance, these triads can serve as a metaphysical support to your vehicle. Lay out the three cards of your chosen triad, and in the center place one randomly drawn card from the rest of the pack, to represent the issue you are currently carrying. Then, see how these mentors help clarify your way forward.
Now that you have received your primary orientation, you are invited to step deeper into the Imperium. The machine is powering up, and each card is awaiting your attention. Like the Apprentice, you make ready to step into its depths and discover the motivational forces of life at first hand.
♦ PART TWO ♦
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