On one hand, the Tenebrous runic-tarot has features familiar to tarot and rune readers. On the other, 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. I’m continuing this examination with a comparison between the sixes – i.e., 6 Attainment, 6 Communion, 6 Strife and 6 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. 22 are closely analogous to the traditional tarot; titles and small nuances of meaning differ, but central meanings and order are little-changed. 6 are creations of my own that I have inserted into the traditional sequence. The intent is to capture aspects of a Satanist’s journey that I find inadequately represented by default tarot 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 (see Nine Keys for detailed descriptions) 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 will focus on a subset of the tropes of the runic-tarot: the sixes. When summarizing the sixes in general, my book states:

Sixes… deal with reflective self-growth… The prospect of propitious blessings flowing from such affairs for the benefit of all suggests the qualities of Jupiter.

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

My book also glosses sixes in terms of “energy’s positive evolution via the experience of adversity”. The energy of fours leans toward the realm of order, whereas the energy of fives leans toward the realm of chaos. Sixes, then, represent the establishment of healthy balance between these realms.

The acausal incursion of the five is here assimilated into the limitations of matter. But as per Tenebrous Satanism’s appreciation for this-worldly flourishing, such entry into limitation shouldn’t be framed as a tragedy. A better way of seeing it would be as an augmentation of human capacity via a fruitful marriage of acausal impetus ( “as above”) and worldly practicality (“so below”). Such a perspective suggests a Satanic take on the Biblical notion of 666 being the number of a man: whereas Christ secures forgiveness for human weakness, the Antichrist forges greatness via human empowerment.

A unifying concept thus underlies the sixes’ surface-level diversity. At a glance, each seems to evoke themes distinct from the others. Underlying them as a whole, however, is a solid current of Satanic humanism. Reflecting on the sixes can accordingly illuminate important facets of what this concept means in the context of Tenebrous Satanism.

6 Attainment

In Nine Keys

Title: Assistance

Representation: In the foreground, a field is being harvested by peasants, overseen by a capable-looking man on horseback. An battered-looking, elderly aristocrat and a young worker approach the field’s edge, begging for alms. In the background, a masked woman bearing a torch and a basket of apples stands on a distant hill. The two beggars are the part of the vision pertaining to 6 Attainment.

Connotations: Depending on context, a directive either to seek aid, or to offer it. Either way, the notion of “sometimes a little goes a long ways” should be kept in mind. When framed as a warning, this omen may point to unpaid debts or unfair treatment of those one has obligations to.

Tarot equivalent: 6 of Discs

Element: Fire (contra earth in traditional tarot – see here for info about my elemental associations)

Elaboration

6 Attainment evokes the fire which tribes of ancient humans would have huddled around for warmth. As I’ve repeated frequently in this series, humans are social animals embedded in relationality. Overly-individualistic forms of Satanism trumpet their engagement with “nature” whilst seemingly overlooking this. Yes, right-hand-path religions all-too-often guilt humans into self-abnegation for others’ benefit. But swing the pendulum too far the other way, and you become the fundamentalist Christian’s fellow denier of evolution.

Regarding humanism, this omen calls to mind how critical cooperation is to human success. It also warns of oversights that can thwart such cooperation:

• Contra egalitarian idealists, sometimes you need a designated leader (the rider) to coordinate group action effectively.
• Two drivers of neediness are unexpected catastrophe (the old man) and having few resources to begin with (the youth). These realities should be kept in mind instead of presuming that everyone undergoing hard times somehow deserves it.
• The peasants are doing essential work that feeds others. The common denigration of such work as “lowly” suggests sheltered obliviousness.
• It would be wise to consider what the marginalized outsider (the woman) can contribute instead of just presuming they offer nothing.

6 Attainment’s divinatory allusion to unmet obligations needn’t tie in such topics. Often it is just saying either “admit you need help” or “maybe you could be doing a bit more to help others close to you”. Note, however, how both stand as correctives against the extreme commitment to self-reliance typical of Satanists. The practical and philosophical facets of the omen thus converge on recognizing how interdependence can be the foundation of strength, rather than just a weakness to overcome.

6 Communion

In Nine Keys

Title: Rejuvenation

Representation: Inside a ruined cathedral, a tree in blossom grows behind an altar occupied by a beautiful chalice. A knight clad in white and blue has dismounted from the unicorn he was riding to claim this grail. He fails to see the gigantic monster looming over him through the broken windows of the chapel. The chalice and tree are the part of the vision that pertains to 6 Communion.

Connotations: The recovery of things previously forgotten, from which one may draw consolation. Sometimes a warning against sentimental nostalgia, but I have usually found this to be a positive omen, encouraging one to return to nurturing seeds long-ago planted, or to bolster one’s morale amid current difficulties by drawing upon memories of better times.

Tarot equivalent: 6 of Cups

Element: Air (contra water in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

Whereas 1 Communion’s chalice was locked away, here the grail lies out in the open. The sequence between these two visions can be read as a love story’s unfortunate progression: promise (2 Communion), celebration (3 Communion), complacency (4 Communion), separation (5 Communion). Reflecting on my own life experiences, I here recall insights gained during my recent initiation: in youth, one longs for an ideal that seems unattainable; to one’s amazement, one “finds” it after all; slowly one realizes the connection only seemed ideal via overlooking an unresolvable stagnancy at its core, necessitating repudiation; only after passing through this trial does one find oneself able to seize and appreciate the attainable ideal instead.

The “return” 6 Communion points to, then, need not be mere absent-minded slipping-back into childish innocence. It can, instead, invoke a mature ability to look at the past objectively, perceiving both unrealized promises and unlearned lessons.

On a broader human front, 6 Communion can be read as a celebration of optimism. Not the foolhardy optimism that chases spiritual pipe dreams at the expense of vital existence, but one grounded in reality. It seems to me that even in the worst circumstances human beings face, surprisingly few people kill themselves in despair. The Gnostic nihilist frames this as cowardice – and then also does not kill themselves. I, on the other hand, prefer to frame this in terms of Tenebrous virtues such as zeal and perseverance. Surely, if Satan is to revolt against the Almighty and expect a good outcome, he must be an optimist, yes? 6 Communion thus counsels, “even when the unbearable looms (the monster), all is not lost”. Hope, moreover, lies not in external rescue, but cultivating what was previously uncultivated within one’s own memories, resources, talents, etc.

6 Strife

In Nine Keys

Title: Departure

Representation: A terrifying shadow, half-dragon and half-vortex, looms in the sky over a desolate, bone-strewn valley. From the left, a warrior on a winged horse rides forth to attempt futile battle against the abomination. Toward the right, a shrouded woman crouches in a fragile little boat, attempting to escape by sea. The fleeing mourner is the part of this scene that pertains to 6 Strife.

Connotations: Amid great loss and the suffering it brings, there is sometimes no reasonable course of action other than withdrawal. Onlookers may mistake this for dishonorable cowardice, and one may be tempted to guild it with faux nobility. But this is not a time for trying to push pain away with bold new conquests or pseudo-philosophical convolutions. Better to withdraw than to waste yet more resources on a trajectory that leads only into the void.

Tarot equivalent: 6 of Swords

Element: Earth (contra air in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

“Enjoy a short rest, better than a long” and “never love something so much that you cannot see it die” are two Satanic Points of the Order of Nine Angles (ONA/O9A) suggestive of earthly limitation. This is a front on which one sometimes sees a surprising confluence of Satanism and Buddhism. Amid pervasive impermanence, one encounters limits to the extent to which one can “be one’s own god”. Acknowledging the harsh truths of embodied reality entails, among other things, recognizing that at times, such limits must be accepted instead of overcome.

All that said, the tone of 6 Strife is not simply defeatist. A hopeful element is simultaneously present: it is always possible to start over again. Herein we find an affirmation of the existentialist insight that we are not, in fact, bound by our previous experiences. It’s entirely possible to leave the past behind and proceed via making different choices. Many flee from the radical responsibility for one’s own life that this sort of insight implies. The Satanist, in contrast, takes it as a given.

6 Strife’s vision thus counsels that relentless persistence is not always a driver of greatness. When LaVeyan Satanism warns against counterproductive pride, or The Satanic Temple’s tenets mention fallibility, they make similar points. It does no good to pretend victory when the underlying reality is defeat. Better, instead, to accept loss as the first step in adapting to a new reality. One may at first feel as though one no longer knows oneself – as per the concealment of the mourning woman’s face. But insofar as the alternative is total self-surrender to destruction, such temporary disorientation seems a small price to pay.

6 Innovation

In Nine Keys

Title: Victory

Representation: Beneath a sky in which both sun and moon are visible, two armies – one of warriors, one of magicians – clash upon a barren landscape. The horizon seethes with the arrival of a third army: one of monstrous abominations, emerging from a distant sea. High on a central hill, a Valkyrie upon a fiery horse points a sword skyward in affirmation of the conflict. The two human armies and their capable leaders are the part of the vision pertaining to 6 Innovation.

Connotations: Depending upon context, this omen either offers assurance of success, or praises one for having given one’s all in spite of failure. The commonality between both possibilities is the presence of solid leadership, action guided by wisdom, and effective coordination. A situation that will teach much and raise one’s reputation in the eyes of others, regardless of its ultimate outcome.

Tarot equivalent: 6 of Wands

Element: Water (contra fire in traditional tarot)

Elaboration

The water element’s connotations in 6 Innovation’s vision recall the mythos of H. P. Lovecraft. There, water is an element uniquely adjacent to the acausal due to its attributes of darkness and chaos. I do not insist on envisioning the third army as consisting of tentacle creatures. But such a mental image can make an important implication of the vision even plainer: we witness humans first refining their skill to a high degree in competition against each other, such that in theory they would be better-equipped to meet the coming alien onslaught than if they had not first been thus-honed. Innovation, we thus see, is driven by competition, but only achieves the highest good it is capable of if competition is ultimately balanced with cooperation.

That said, this vision’s scenario is still at the competition phase: the monsters are only at the horizon, and the humans still occupied with each other. Our focus falls upon the leaders as two equally-capable opponents whose armies act as extensions of themselves. The omen thereby suggests a situation wherein respecting one’s opponent facilitates learning from them. It also affirms that pride in oneself is warranted insofar as one is indeed marshaling one’s resources for insightful application.

We can thus see that 6 Innovation revolves around the theme of skillfulness. When large-scale forces clash, ideology often conditions us to reduce what is going on to group-level dynamics or other similarly-inexorable forces. It is more “Satanic,” however, to keep one’s eye upon individual choices and the genius that emerges thereby. One is thereby empowered to imitate what works, instead of passively waiting-upon various external loci of control. Such rein-seizing has long struck me as essential to a meaningful image of Satanic humanism.

Concluding thoughts

6 is “a human number” insofar as it evokes the balancing between order and chaos that humans must manage to achieve greatness. Reflection upon this produces two axes:

• Cooperation (6 Attainment) vs. competition (6 Innovation). Cooperation is “order” via promoting the attainment of flourishing via ruling-out disruptive behaviors. Competition is “chaos” via unknown threats driving innovation. Human achievement requires both.
• Hope (6 Communion) vs. realism (6 Strife). Hope seeks meaning – i.e. a limited order – even in the midst of the most severe disruption. Realism admits that sometimes, chaos wins – and not immediately knowing what to do about it is okay. Human endurance of embodied existence’s challenges requires both.

It seems to me that too-often, “extreme” forms of Satanism only appreciate one end of each of these spectrums. The jaded, nihilistic “lone wolf” is the epitome of this. I wouldn’t say said archetype is Satanically-illegitimate, for it’s a logical manifestation of some of the religion’s key values. But it is at times overdominant – and to that extent, overrated. I consider this relevant to why we fail to see the emergence of larger-scale Satanic societies offering a compelling vision of earthly success.

Some will here protest that Satanism is not “for” that – “it’s supposed to be evil!”. But if we are in the right to rebel against God, I think we ought not to have a hard time demonstrating that we can live well outside of God’s rules. Tenebrous Satanism accordingly does not reject humanism as somehow incompatible with esotericism or spirituality. It is natural for all living beings to concern themselves with their own species’ well-being. What the conditions of this look like for humans is something the sixes of the runic-tarot promote healthy meditation upon.

Thoughts? Let me know in the comments.