# The Tattwas: The Hidden Keys to the Astral and the Court cards The Tattwas, those enigmatic elemental symbols from the esoteric traditions of India, are one of the most overlooked yet potent tools in the arsenal of the Western occultist. They are not just quaint diagrams from some obscure mystical school; they are the very gateways to the astral, the mechanisms by which one can pierce the veils of perception and move beyond the mundane world into the vast landscapes of the inner planes. At first glance, the Tattwas appear deceptively simple. There are five primary symbols, each representing an element: - Akasha (Spirit): A black or deep blue oval, the quintessential etheric void, the potentiality of all things. - Vayu (Air): A blue circle, representing motion, intellect, and the shifting winds of thought. - Tejas (Fire): A red equilateral triangle, the consuming force, the divine spark of inspiration. - Apas (Water): A silver or white crescent, the fluid and reflective realm of emotion and intuition. - Prithivi (Earth): A yellow square, the foundation, the material plane, the solid form. These symbols, derived from the Samkhya philosophy of Hinduism, were later adopted by the Theosophists and, more significantly, integrated into the Western esoteric tradition. The Golden Dawn made extensive use of them, recognising their potential as portals into the astral realm. Those who understand the mechanics of Tattwa visioning can employ these symbols as doorways—each unlocking a different elemental reality, where one may encounter spirits, receive insights, or undergo transformative initiations. Aleister Crowley incorporated the tattwas into the Five of Disks ### The Tattwas and the Tarot For the Tarot adept, the Tattwas offer an intriguing method of deepening one’s connection with the cards. Each minor arcana card can be attributed to an elemental energy, and by meditating upon the corresponding Tattwa, one can step into the world of the card itself. Consider the Ace of Wands—pure Tejas, the first spark of Fire. A prolonged gaze upon the red triangle, combined with disciplined breathwork, can ignite the visionary state in which the essence of the Ace of Wands reveals itself. The court cards, too, yield their secrets through this method. The Knight of Cups, embodying the airy aspect of Water, finds his gateway through the silver crescent surrounded by the blue circle—Vayu and Apas intermingling, the intellect steering the tides of emotion. When one properly understands these correspondences, the Tarot ceases to be a mere tool for divination and instead becomes a living system of initiation, an astral vehicle by which the magician may travel into realms both known and unknown. ### Tattwa Meditation and Visioning The practice itself is deceptively straightforward. One begins by focusing upon a single Tattwa, ideally painted in its proper colour upon a card or paper. The gaze should remain fixed, unblinking, until the after-image of the symbol burns itself into the mind’s eye. Closing one’s eyes, the practitioner allows the after-image to shift—often, it will take on its complementary colour (for example, the red triangle of Tejas may appear as a green after-image). This is the key to entry. At this stage, the adept visualises the symbol expanding, transforming into a great portal. Stepping through, the visionary work begins. The elemental realm unfolds itself before the inner sight—landscapes, entities, lessons. These journeys are not to be taken lightly. Each Tattwa world has its denizens, its own laws. Some spirits will be eager to teach; others will test or mislead. The wise magician does not take everything at face value but questions, analyses, and cross-references experiences with other occult work. One of the most profound applications of Tattwa visioning is in conjunction with ceremonial magic. By opening a Tattwa gateway before invoking a deity or spirit, one aligns oneself with the appropriate elemental current, ensuring a far more potent working. The Golden Dawn used such methods extensively, and those who have followed in their footsteps know the efficacy of this approach. ### Practical Applications in Ritual and Daily Work Beyond visioning, the Tattwas serve as powerful keys in ritual work. Each Tattwa relates to a particular force: - **Akasha** is the realm of divine connection and spirit work. Meditating on Akasha before beginning any magical working allows for a heightened sense of attunement. - **Vayu** is ideal for workings involving the intellect, speed, and communication. If one desires insight into a difficult problem, a session with Vayu will often bring sudden clarity. - **Tejas** is the fire of transformation and will. Any working involving passion, strength, or destruction can be augmented by invoking Tejas. - **Apas** governs the emotions, the subconscious, and the dream world. It is invaluable for dream work, divination, and understanding one’s own inner depths. - **Prithivi** anchors, grounds, and stabilises. It is the perfect aid for manifesting results in the physical world. A deeper application involves combining Tattwas, much like the interplay of elemental dignities in the Tarot. One might, for instance, balance the excessive fire of a situation (Tejas) with water (Apas) or strengthen an unstable condition by introducing the grounding force of Prithivi. Those who have experimented with the fusion of Tattwic energies know that this is no mere intellectual exercise—it produces real, tangible effects in both the inner and outer worlds. ### The Hidden Doorways There is yet another mystery concealed within the Tattwas. Those who persist in their studies will eventually find that the five elemental symbols are but the surface of a deeper system. Within each Tattwa is nested another, subtler Tattwa—Fire of Air, Water of Earth, Ether of Fire, and so on. These sub-elements hold the key to more nuanced workings, offering specific keys for certain forms of magic. The adept who unlocks these nested layers can fine-tune their spiritual practice with great precision. The difference between Water of Water and Water of Air is significant: one is the deep ocean of the unconscious, the other is the mist and vapour of ephemeral thought. Such distinctions may seem pedantic at first, but in practice, they determine the very nature of the experience one undergoes. ### Final Thoughts In the modern occult revival, the Tattwas remain a largely untapped resource. While the Golden Dawn and certain Theosophical schools laid the foundation, few have truly explored their potential beyond mere intellectual curiosity. But for those who dare, the Tattwas offer a system as profound as the Tarot, as potent as Enochian magic, and as direct as the most powerful of visionary techniques. To ignore them is to overlook one of the great doorways of Western esotericism. To embrace them is to wield a key that unlocks not only the astral, but the very fabric of reality itself.