Unlike the King/Knights, Queen and Princes, the Princesses do not have an astrological attribution. See the Pole Star for more detailed arguments. The Princesses are associated with Kether, particularly the Aces. Although they are attributed to the four elements, they are part of Malkuth, which as we have seen has indeterminate status, a characteristic discussed here. The Princesses have a unique status within the Tarot. The ‘Mother Letters’ represent Fire, Water and Air – Earth is not represented. In Kabbalah, the element Earth does not really exist.
There is the objection that Malkuth represents Earth, but this is illusory. The Tens are an appendage to the Tree of Life, and in Papus’ system have an indeterminate outcome depending on ‘the card which follows it’. Papus describes the Aces as ‘commencement of commencement’, or in other words, beginning of the beginning. When considering Elemental Dignities, we need to do the same. This indicates that the Aces are Spirit, not the elements themselves. They represent the Radical or Root-Force and are said to be placed on the North Pole of the Universe, wherein they revolve, governing its revolution, and ruling as the connecting link between Yetzirah and Assiah. The first in order and appearance are the four Aces, representing the force of the Spirit acting in, and binding together the four scales of each element and answering to the Dominion and Letters of the Name in the Kether of each. The Golden Dawn describes the Aces as the ‘Roots of the Powers of the Elements’: Chokmah is “The Point: distinguishable from 1 other.” It is only when we get to Binah that a relationship is established – The Point: defined by relation to 2 others” Minor arcana Kether is described as “The Point: positive yet indefinable”. The balanced appearance of the four elements is a sign of Akasha, known as Osiris in Enochian chess. Most depictions shows the Magus having mastery over the four elements, which is an attribute of Spirit. The Magus has a slightly different status. Note also that the Fool is attributed to Air, but when we consider the YHVH attributions, this Atziluthic level is Fire. Air is attributed to the Fool, but it is defined as RVCh, Spirit. Columns VI and VII show that there is no elemental attribution for these Paths. Liber 777 is interesting in this respect.
Likewise, the High Priestess as the Moon brings change and fluctuation. The Fool is associated with Uranus, a planet that brings instability and change in whatever region of the horoscope we find it. Astrologically, the Magus is associated with Mercury, a planet that does not have an elemental attribution – it takes on the attributes of the sign or house it resides in. The Fool, Magician and High Priestess are associated with Paths on the Tree of Life that originate from Kether, the Crown, which is beyond the four elements. Since I doubt you have seen such a group before, here is some internal evidence from the Golden Dawn, Tarot and Kabbalah that it exists. All are associated with either Kether or Malkuth, and as we know, ‘Malkuth is Kether, but after another way’. To begin, here are the cards that are in the class of Spirit or Akasha: Supernal – MajorĮach group of the Tarot is represented in roughly the correct proportions – three Major arcana, eight Minor arcana and four Court cards. Kabbalistic knowledge and the teaching of Tarot gives us clues that this interaction is not as rigid as the rules of Elemental Dignities suggest.
The Rules of EDs are clear, but it seems that some hint at greater and profound transformations happening within the reading, which give the Reader clues about how to advise on spiritual transformation for the Querent. The study of EDs is the study of the transformation of energy through the four elements. Having worked with Elemental Dignities for years, I have noticed certain anomalies, but it has taken time to clarify the rules which might explain them, once I got past the idea that it was my experience that was at fault. When we deal with the energy levels of a greater number of cards, we see a hierarchy of dignity developing. Each card interacts equally with each other, but the outcome can be stronger or weaker, more active, or less passive, depending on the surrounding cards. When we read Tarot using Elemental Dignities, the four elements are a fundamental aspect of the teaching. The Golden Dawn hints at such but does not give details. The truth is, there may well be five categories of Tarot not four. For those of you who are comfortable with using Elemental Dignities and feel the need to be stretched, here is one way the system can be developed.