Kepler’s Art of the Tarot Arcane Musings on Life Choices Volume 1 by Kepler Szul the Mystran 4th Tarsahk, 152 since the Founding of Sanctuary

Historical Introduction In my youth, I bought a very old tattered book from a sea-merchant that visited the port of Luskan where I once worked. He told me that the tome had been stolen from Candlekeep by its last owner. Though I did not believe this merchant’s story, I did come to understand that he had no idea of the true value of the tome he sold to me. It looked like a dirty old throw-away diviner’s manual.

If memory serves me correctly, this small tome was the Tarok Arcania composed at the Sea Tower of Nernessar by Ahghairon, in the Year of the Flying Steed, 943. History books in the bookshops at Waterdeep suggest Ahghairon was a War Wizard that once protected Waterdeep.

Obscurely enough, Ahghairon claimed that the entire Tarok “came like dictation” one night while staying with a friend in the Sea Tower. The wizard was recovering from what he called a sickness of the heart.

Ahghairon also presented the extraordinary notion that while convalescing in this Sea Tower, he witnessed the re-birth of a star called ‘the N'landroshien’ in his mind’s eye. It was during this vision that he ‘heard’ the Tarok arrive. His testimony is that this star had been recorded by ancient elven astronomers at Silverymoon. Such are the claims of wizards.

I owned this little tome for the good part of ten years until it was stolen from me. I always marvelled at its purported simplicity of purpose – to reveal the comings and goings of the soul.

I have read numerous other trifles on the Tarot during my wanderings, none as useful as the Tarok Arcania.

Here, I humbly submit to you, my memories of this work, as best as I can record them, for works such as this are rare as I have found in this ‘Dark place. There is of course a commingling of ideas in this volume between Ahghairon's original work and my own experiences as a card reader. May this work ably provide you with comfort in times of both doubt and joy. May the path you Seek be revealed to you.

Symbols Keep in mind the symbols on the cards can be combined in numerous ways. Rely on your intuited thoughts to guide you as to the right interpretation.

Tarot Allow and trust that what is revealed to you by using the cards will be the truth.

To use the deck: simply hold a question in your mind, shuffle the cards, and draw a single card. Each card has a symbolic picture on it. Use the picture to stimulate assocations, circumstances, past and present life events, thoughts, feelings, colors, tastes, smells sights and sounds that will suggest to you what the questions fully entails.

Remember – in life there are no accidents: everything happens for a reason, even if you are not fully aware of the true purpose of life events. Think of it as your Higher Purpose. Your fate is not carved in stone. You can change it. Listen to your heart. Listen to your God. Expect the right answer to arrive for you. This is not dogma.

Method 1: Ask the enquirer (You, or another person) to hold the question they want an answer to in their mind. This begins to reveal the Woven connection between reader and client. Shuffle the deck. Choose one card. Relate the symbols to bring further light to the enquiry. Continue to choose one card at a time until the enquirer is satisfied that an answer has been reached.

The Major Tarok Twenty two cards in any arcane deck refer to wider themes and often indicate significant events. In a simple way, I have noted beneficial or extreme outcomes related to each card. The current qualities of, and choices made by, the enquirer may also be reflected in the cards chosen. One begins life as a fool, yet by moving through the Tarok we can learn to conquer the Abeir-Toril that lies within and without.

The following is a list of some suggested interpretations of the symbols on common tarot decks: • 0. – The Fool – Holy innocence, beginnings, foolishness, a jester, trust. Stupidity, naiveté. • I.. – The Wizard – Holder of all elements, magic, eternal return, subterfuge, a divine trickster • II. – The Priestess – Young royal, fertile, virgin goddess, vision, insight. • III. – The Empress – A ruler, mother, nature. • IV – The Emperor – A benevolent ruler. Wise active co-operative leader. A tyrant. • V. – The Heirophant – High Priest, Mage. A great mystery. Profound knowledge used for good or ill gain. • VI – The Lovers – Union of opposites. Love. Walking between worlds. • VII – The Chariot – A trade or ore cart. Self-sufficiency. Loneliness. • VIII – Strength – A lion, a panther. Overcome great odds by sublimating emotions. Wild, chaotic energy. Jealousy. • IX – The Hermit – A druid grove. Quiet, secret, hidden force of will. The secret will rot if it is not revealed in good time. • X – Wheel of Fortune - Luck. Grace. Turning a wheel of choices. Medicine. Change of fortune, ill health. Loss of coin. Seemingly bad choices. • XI – Justice – Law, the Balance, weight, weighing. Adjustment towards balance. Chaos, injustice. To walk unbalanced in life. • XII – The Hanged Man – Sacrifice of Body, of Mind, of Ideals. Sometimes a voluntarily sacrifice to achieve an alternate state of awareness or being. • XIII – Death – Often a symbolic death. (similar to XII above) Shedding an old skin. Can be literal death. Radical change. • XIV – Temperance - Balance. Beautiful Wisdom. A Higher Power. Transmutation In-Between. • XV – The Devil – The unknown. Unity of opposites. Guardian of the Mysteries. Honourable severity. Purifying fire. Lord of Animals. Keeper of the Threshold. Initiator. • XVI – The Tower – Purified by lightning. Enlightenment. Release from form. Destroyer of corruption. Breakdown of false or oppressive principles. • XVII – The Stars – Augers hope, rebirth, healing, salvation. Universal truth. Grace. Profound impulse. • XVIII – The Moon – Selune. States of consciousness prior to full control. Illusion or insight? The beacon in the dark. Unseen influence. Matters relating to birth, death, dreams, desires. • XIX – The Sun – Home. The Surface. Sol. Equal light of Sun and Moon – the Way. Knowledge of life. New meaning. Beneficial aspect. Success. Sacred. • XX – Judgement – Resolution of some matter. Completion of transformation. Judgement having far-reaching effects. Conclusion of wise counsel. From Underdark almost to the Surface. Change, renewal, decision, termination. • XXI –Abeir-Toril – Upon completion the prize is the Realms. End that becomes the beginning. Money, wisdom, love. Material concerns. Victory. Direct communion with divine sources and a destiny revealed. All elements. Omni. The Universe. The Multi-verse.