The Fool: Waite's Three Worlds

Papus' categorisation of Tarot parallels a system of Tarot divination used by Waite (The Book of the Secret Word and the Higher Way to Fortune) where the Major Arcana are given three levels of interpretation according to:

• World of Human Prudence
• World of Conformity
• World of Attainment

Human Prudence obviously relates to Man, while Conformity has religious overtones - God, which leaves Attainment related to Universe. Waite has three lists of interpretation of the Major Arcana according to these three Worlds, but omits the Fool in each case. He then says:

As regards the Fool, this card, which has been sufficiently explained already, signifies the consummation of everything, when that which began his initiation at zero attains the term of all numeration and all existence. The card which bears no number passes through all the numbered cards and is changed in each, as the natural man passes through worlds of lesser experience, worlds devotion, worlds of successive attainment, and receives the everlasting wisdom as the gift of perseverance.

Although Waite has categorised three meanings for each Major Arcana, he suggests that with experience these levels can be integrated:

When the Aspirant has become familiar by practice with the inexhaustible deeps of enlightenment which lie embedded in the Tarot Cards, he will find that a triple answer is possible to every question - that is to say, in its relation to each of the three worlds of mystical philosophy.... The three-fold meanings attributed to each of the cards are the key to the whole process, and any operation is not an inquiry into future chances or an attempt to unveil futurity, on however high a plane, but is the analogical and mystical explanation of the law which inheres in the symbols, however combined.

In the specimen readings, he shuffles the Major Arcana only and spreads them in a line (he is using a sequential, not a positional spread reminiscent of the Opening of the Key spread), taking into account any reversed cards. The first and last cards frame the reading as a beginning and end. He then reads the cards in triplets, with the 'centre' card being modified according to the surrounding cards. Waite does not mention Elemental Dignities, nor does he card count as the Opening of the Key spread.

Triads appear at all levels of Waite's system:

• 3 Worlds, paralleling Papus' 3 Worlds
• 3 levels of interpretation for each card
• Cards read in triplets

As Golden Adept, he would also have been aware of the system of Elemental Dignities used in the Opening of the Key Spread.