On one hand, as the name would suggest, the Tenebrous runic-tarot has features familiar to tarot and rune readers. On the other hand, though, this divination system that I’ve devised also has a number of unique features. Something I therefore wanted to do in my divination series was to provide additional commentary on the system’s omens. This struck me as particularly worth doing where omens may seem superficially similar to one another at first glance. I’ll begin this examination with a comparison between the ones – i.e., 1 Attainment, 1 Communion, 1 Strife and 1 Innovation.

Introduction

The Tenebrous runic-tarot

For those who may haven’t yet read my book, it’s useful to first summarize some basics of my divination system.
What does Tenebrous divination have in common with tarot? It entails a similar number of omens, with similar meanings, arranged in a similar structure thus:

• My equivalent of the major arcana are called archetypes. There are 28 of these in my system. 22 are closely analogous to the traditional tarot; titles and small nuances of meaning may differ, but central meanings and order are little-changed. 6 are creations of my own that I have inserted into certain parts of the traditional sequence. The intent is to capture aspects of a Satanist’s journey that I find inadequately represented by the default trumps.
• My equivalent of the minor arcana are called tropes. These are divided into four suits, which I call kingdoms. Each consists of numbered omens 1-10, which I call phases, and four court-card equivalents, which I call incarnations. Thus in my system, pages are called muses, knights are heroes, queens are witches, and kings are sorcerers. The meanings of all of these omens are broadly-speaking similar to the traditional minor arcana. As with the archetypes, though, nuances differ.

What does the Tenebrous divination system have in common with runes? That all of the above are represented via combinations of glyphs and numbers. Any practitioner can thus make their own set by acquiring wooden tokens etc. and marking them with the appropriate symbols.

At the same time, the system maintains tarot’s rich symbolism, by grouping the omens together into groups of three and representing each grouping with a vision (detailed descriptions are provided in my book) whose imagery combines those three omens’ meanings. Meditating upon these visions is recommended to deepen personal engagement with the system.

The current entry

The current entry’s focus will be on a subset of the tropes of the runic-tarot: the ones. When summarizing the ones in general, my book states:

Ones… evoke emergence… from nothingness. This illumination of what was formerly innate… suggests the mystery-revealing qualities of the Moon.

(Because of the way the system associates certain omens with others, Nine Keys discusses ones and eights together. The ellipses in the quote are where info about eights has been omitted to streamline things for current purposes.)

Ones in all four kingdoms thus share an evident theme: all of them allude to beginnings and potentialities. They have connotations of novelty making itself known in one’s life and of insight into formerly-unrealized sources of promise. As such, they are often affirmative omens.

How are the ones nonetheless distinct from one another? While an answer is implicit in my book’s descriptions, a side-by-side comparison is useful for further clarity. It strikes me in particular as something that novice diviners may benefit from. Hence the current entry’s endeavor.

Let’s then consider each of the ones in turn. I’ll begin by reiterating some highlights of the brief descriptions found in Nine Keys of Abyssal Darkness. I will follow this with additional commentary to draw out further nuances. It’s assumed though that most readers of a post like this one will have my book, as some points may be hard to follow otherwise.

Some of the points made below about elemental associations may be a bit jarring to those accustomed to conventional tarot. Readers who find this distracting may benefit from reading my previous entry about my system’s elemental associations before continuing.

1 Attainment

In Nine Keys

Title: Abundance

Representation: At predawn, a woman gazes into the distance at a mountain that an ominously dragon-shaped cloud descends toward. On her right is a fruit tree and a small number of livestock animals. On her left is a carefully-tended fire and a low stack of rough stones, shaped into a tetrahedron. The part of this vision representing 1 Attainment is the tree and animals.

Connotations: An adequate material foundation exists for one’s intended endeavor. Means may look scanty to a cynical eye, and one must be careful not to squander them. Nonetheless, they are there, and they are enough for one’s purposes.

Tarot equivalent: 1 of Discs

Element: Fire (contra earth in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

The idea that a strong will conquers all is pervasive in Satanism. Realistically though, all worldly doings require additional resources in order to succeed. Such resources include finances, references and connections, social-emotional support, etc. If the fire of the will lacks such fuel to draw energy from, one cannot expect much heat from it.

1 Attainment points to the availability of such resources. Its general message is, “you have enough to proceed, and to succeed so long as you use these resources intelligently”. The vision’s tying 1 Attainment to Qolf, whose rune resembles a seed, is suggestive of the potentiality this omen speaks to. In connection with 8 Attainment (Investment), though, “abundance” does not mean unlimited resources. It is “abundance” only to the eyes of the industrious who are willing to apply themselves.

Usually, this omen is one of assurance. The exception might be if one is asking the oracle about what is lacking in order to attain success. In that instance, its meaning would be that basic needs are not being met – i.e., conditions are therefore unfavorable for what one has in mind. But if received in connection with an enemy’s doings, it may still be favorable to the diviner: the enemy could succeed, but their plans are in the early stages and many mistakes might yet be made. And on the other hand, in some contexts this omen may issue a similar warning to the diviner.

In keeping with the connotations of “attainment,” 1 Attainment refers primarily to external resources. This emphasis makes it more similar to 1 Innovation than to 1 Communion and 1 Strife. The potentiality it refers to, though, manifests predominantly in terms of concrete possessions, things already “mine.” It thus lacks the urgency of 1 Innovation, which I’ll unpack more below.

1 Communion

In Nine Keys

Title: Refreshment

Representation: A celestial figure in a heavenly setting, surrounded by twelve elders, holds the keys to two golden cages. Toward their left, the cage contains a large goblet overflowing with an elixir that turns to cloud at its base. On their right, the cage contains a badly-wounded man whose face is hidden by a hood. The part of this vision representing 1 Communion is the chalice.

Connotations: A new source of pleasure is soon to come into one’s life. One form this may take is a novel acquaintance who provides formerly lacking support. Alternately, it could also allude to discovering a new activity to enjoy, inspiration for a new work of art, etc.

Tarot equivalent: 1 of Cups

Element: Air (contra water in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

Those familiar with the Smith-Waite tarot deck will see at once that 1 Communion draws considerable inspiration from it. Note, however, that Smith-Waite’s depiction of an accompanying communion wafer and dove is evocative of Christianity’s Holy Spirit. Whereas in the vision incorporating 1 Communion, the “holy” element and “refreshment” element are not equated in such a way. To the contrary, the “holy” is shown gatekeeping the “refreshment.” Vhow – the equivalent of the Hierophant – could most charitably framed as protecting the sacrament for the right moment or person. More probably, though, it stands as an obstructor of pleasure, as per a typical Satanic take on traditional religion.

Whereas 1 Attainment offers assurance by enumerating the potentiality inherent in one’s existing resources, 1 Communion speaks more to something new about to come into one’s life. It is not unusual for this to mean a new person (friend, co-worker, lover, etc.) but that is not the only possibility. Another might be a significant change in the kind of relationship one has with someone. Other possibilities are learning a new skill or starting a new project. In all instances, whatever it is can be expected to bring a much-needed burst of joy for oneself. Intellectual stimulation is to be anticipated in addition to positive emotion, though, as per the restlessness of the air element. All things that traditional religion is often negative about… but that never stopped any Satanist.

1 Communion can, parallel to 1 Attainment’s negative meanings, indicate obstructed pleasure in some contexts (e.g., “what is lacking?”). It can also warn that one is distracted by minor amusements, or prioritizes a passing delight over something more substantial. I find it’s generally rare for 1 Communion to mean anything all that negative, though.

1 Strife

In Nine Keys

Title: Insight

Representation: A nude woman rides a red dragon. In one hand is a blindfold newly removed from her face; in the other, a sword pointing valiantly forward. She thereby directs the dragon to use its breath and claws to destroy the thorn barrier enclosing them. The part of this vision representing 1 Strife is the sword.

Connotations: A personal revelation brings an end to a period of inaction. This may entail a dark realization about oneself, a foe one did not realize one had, or confrontation with a truth one had tried to evade. Whatever initial unpleasantness is hinted at here, however, is outweighed by the self-empowerment this wake-up call enables.

Tarot equivalent: 1 of Swords

Element: Earth (contra air in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

While many of the Strife omens point to difficulties, 1 Strife is at least an omen of productive difficulty. The epiphany it points to is especially likely to produce something constructive in the life of a Faustian-minded Satanist. Such a moment may well serve as a firm foundation from which to proceed onward and upward to greater things. Thus, while the sword recalls air’s quality of division, earth’s connotation of “raw material to transform” is no less evident.

That said, the sort of shift 1 Strife points to is typically one that seems minor at first. Striking to the individual, but not a big deal in the grand scheme of things… though hindsight may reveal otherwise. One stumbles upon a passage in a book, or has an unexpected conversation with someone, and perspective shifts. And in response, one begins to direct one’s inner dragon in a just-slightly different direction…

As this description may already suggest, 1 Strife is the most intellectual of the ones. Whereas 1 Attainment is about resources, and 1 Communion has a strong emotional component, 1 Strife concerns ideas. And while Abundance more typically refers to what one already has, and Refreshment to things soon to come, Insight may come either through an encounter with the wholly new or a reassessment of that which is already present in one’s life.

Whether framed positively or negatively in context, “short term discomfort followed by long term promise” is 1 Strife’s typical connotation. Those ever-eager to learn more about themselves thus have little to fear from this omen, regardless of where it appears.

1 Innovation

In Nine Keys

Title: Novelty

Representation: A massive, horned troll sits enthroned, with a naked man and woman chained to the base of his podium, amid a mess of half-eaten food, overturned wine glasses, and other signs of debauchery. In the sky above the ogre is a flaming key, surrounded by eight rays of power, forming a chaos star. From this focal point, eight meteors streak downward, warning of impending apocalypse. The part of this vision representing 1 Innovation is the key.

Connotations: Stagnancy brought to an end via a change in circumstance that disrupts one’s existing habits. May point to an opportunity to seize, or an imposition one ought to try making the best of. Liberation from stasis and the renewal of self-evolution.

Tarot equivalent: 1 of Wands

Element: Water (contra fire in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

1 Innovation initially sounds similar to 1 Strife, both evoking the breaking of stasis. Note, however, the difference between visions. 1 Strife is part of the vision of Tehir, the runic-tarot’s equivalent of Strength. It depicts an inwardly-powerful, self-possessed figure taking firm action (8 Strife’s destruction of the thorns). 1 Strife points the way to that action’s direction. 1 Innovation, on the other hand, is part of the vision of Eyahin, the runic-tarot’s equivalent of the Devil. It depicts figures held captive by their own weakness, decadence, and poor choices, with slim prospects of escaping impending destruction (8 Innovation’s meteors). 1 Innovation is that by which they might free themselves from their chains.

Considering this helps one grasp the following distinctions:

• 1 Innovation has connotations of externality that make it more like 1 Attainment. But whereas 1 Attainment is about resources possessed, 1 Innovation is about action one must take. In this respect, it carries a stronger note of urgency – “act, before the opportunity passes by” – than other ones.
• 1 Innovation is like 1 Communion strongly evoking something that seems new coming into one’s life. But with 1 Innovation, this is less a source of enjoyable pleasure than of medicinal relief.
• 1 Innovation suggests a more badly-needed change than 1 Strife does. This is evident in how, though both visions feature nude figures, Eyahin’s are vulnerable and distressed in a way that Tehir’s is not.

Insofar as its message is, “the key is there, if only you seize it,” 1 Innovation is an optimistic omen. Whether burnt away (traditional fire) or washed away (Tenebrous water), the good news is that past mistakes will be undone. There are thus very few contexts where this omen would strike me as a bad sign.

Concluding thoughts

One might summarize the differences between the ones by considering how they offer different answers to a given question.

If asking something like “what would most help me move beyond the relationship I’ve just ended?”, interpretations might include:

• 1 Attainment: Look for promise elsewhere in your life and invest there for a bountiful harvest in the future.
• 1 Communion: Be open to potential new friends and to participating in new activities that come along.
• 1 Strife: Reflect on if there’s a lesson that needs to be internalized before you can fully move on – maybe one you should have learned before now…
• 1 Innovation: You already know the real problem: you’re still hanging around that person when you shouldn’t. So cut that out right now! It might help if “something” happened to forcibly remove them from your life…

Or, if the question was something like “what’s a positive trait I should look for in a new partner?”, interpretations might include:

• 1 Attainment: They should at least have enough to be solvent – you don’t want to get stuck with a gold-digging mooch.
• 1 Communion: They should bring something fun to the table, whether via their personality, interests, scene, etc.
• 1 Insight: They should challenge you in ways you haven’t been challenged before.
• 1 Innovation: They should be a very different kind of person than what you’ve tried dating before. So keep your eye open for an imminent opportunity – otherwise you could easily miss it!

Of course there’s a certain amount of simplification in this kind of summary, e.g., in a real reading asking similar kinds of questions, I might yet interpret the omens differently due to a range of confounding variables. This still should give a feel though for how, even though all the ones evoke potentialities, they do still mean distinctly different things.

Thoughts – especially from anyone who’s either i) tried the runic-tarot or ii) is familiar with traditional tarot enough to comment on how what I’ve described differs from the ones in that system? Let me know in the comments.