Through the archway, the Fool emerged into a large room. The other end was unseeable. The floor was checkered black and white and made of marble. A wind blew through the room and he could feel it go right through his bones. He felt some doubts, and thought about turning back and spending more time with the Magician. But then he saw something in the distance and he was compelled to start that way.
Soon enough he had reached The Priestess, who sat on a moon between two pillars. Like the floor, one pillar was black, and the other was white. The woman was covered with a gown like a nun’s habit and she was holding a scroll. She seemed unbothered by the Fool’s presence.
Behind her, between the two pillars, a fan of giant peacock feathers was spread, but they weren’t from her. She was staring at the Fool with so much behind her eyes. The Fool could see that what she did was know. She was the arbiter of knowledge, and this room was also a gateway. This wasn’t the world; it was another step towards the universe that was inviting him in.
She was holding man’s laws, all the written texts, but they meant nothing to her. She didn’t need law to exist.
As soon as he understood these things about her, the Fool wanted to be her student. She seemed to know much more than the Magician. He was awed by her wisdom. He bowed and pleaded to be her student. He felt he must learn a sliver of what she knew.
She reminded him that he has been her student before. She has taught him the ways of wisdom and of shamanism, but he let all the knowledge go. She reminded him also that they spent an eon in these rooms learning law, ethics, philosophy, and the esoteric. She taught him the way of Hermes himself.
The Fool wept. He didn’t remember any of that. He knew that he had been around a long, long time, but there was so much he couldn’t remember. He found the day-at-a-time to be his way. Keeping the past up in his mind was too much work. He had spent his days wandering and empty.
Seeing that his frustrations were with himself, the Priestess agreed to teach him again. He seemed relieved, but she could see his doubt that any of this would stay with him for long. Regardless, she taught him mathematics and the language of the universe.
In knowing the universe, she said, one must understand what the numbers of things mean, for the fabric of reality is built by math. There is a lot of math a mortal can know, but there is math that will always elude knowledge as well.
She started with the simplicity of numbers. One is always a beginning, she said, and the one encapsulates a theme or lesson. When one faces a one, that is seeing a bigger picture: standing back and taking in the whole problem or challenge. The Magician is a one, the Priestess told the Fool, and he showed you the four seasons, the four symbols of the minor arcana, and what those can mean for you.
The Priestess said, I am two. I am a duality. I am a pair. When my peacocks show their feathers it is either in fear, or to attract a mate. I am also balanced. There must be a balance in the universe. There is nothing more magical than the intertwining of two souls to create a life – and a child is only one definition of a life. A life can also be a choice offered. One or the other. Up or down. Yes or no.
You will find three soon, she continued. Three is the number of creation. A group can create and enjoy life. Three is also where growth comes from. Three not only represents creativity, but painful lessons, and learning about yourself, as you will find most of those lessons from trying to be a part of groups of people.
Four is the manifestation of dreams and goals. We need structure to fulfill these ideas. Personal laws will have to be made to create discipline. Through the laws and discipline, we can find stability.
When things change, she went on, we find ourselves at five. Either by life and the universe, or by one’s own course, five is when life becomes unstable. When things become unpredictable we may have to face conflict. This isn’t a negative thing. We survive by sailing through storms, by wondering if there are predators outside of our camp. Five is the number of change.
When communication and cooperation is needed, she said, this is where the number six lives. Six is harmony. To create harmonious cooperation with our group, we must be able to communicate needs and wants. This also means we must listen.
The Priestess paused before continuing. Seven is stopping and reflecting before going on, she said. While at times, a quick course of action is needed, at others a moment of self-reflection and assessment will help us achieve the knowledge we seek. Seven is meditation.
When we get that knowledge, the Priestess said, we use eight as the course of action with the mastery we have unlocked. Eight is not a blind display of movement motivated purely by the hope we will get to the other side, but years of study and practice that allow us to move fluidly towards our goals.
If we practiced right, we come to nine, said the Priestess. The number of fulfillment. Nine is where dreams come to fruition. Nine is seeing our accomplishments towards the end. We have overcome obstacles and challenges to get here. We have attained our dream.
Ten is the end of the cycle, the Priestess concluded. After this number, one will begin again. And if we are truly on a wise path, ten will lead us to a different one instead of leading us to repeat ourselves. You have stayed on a cycle of the same one through ten, Fool, so hopefully, we can get you on a different cycle. We want you to reincarnate as a higher being. This lesson took decades – or a few hours – but when it was over the Priestess knew that this was all she was willing to teach the Fool, and so she parted the peacock feathers to the side and waved her arm through. She was letting the Fool know it was time for him to move on. He must complete the cycle. She was never to be the only teacher. She wasn’t even the first teacher.
The Fool stepped over the moon and walked through the peacock feather gate to the other side. The Priestess watched him go and wondered if she’d see him again. She hoped not. She’s seen him countless times, and every time he didn’t remember being there before. She sat back up on the moon and waited for the next seeker.