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The science fiction movie The Matrix is known to contain many philosophical, religious and mythological references.
This clip is to show how the very structure of the movie also has a very close connection to an esoteric divination system called the Tarot.
The Tarot is a set of cards. Its 22 trumps are interpreted, by some esoteric believers, as a sequence: "The Fool's Journey."
The Matrix can be seen as an illustration of this journey. So let's examine the parallels.
The first card, The Fool, shows a chasm - that Trinity jumps across - and The Fool is the oblivious man
just like Mr Anderson who sleeps unaware of the dangers that approach him.
Starting here, Mr Anderson is called Neo.
Neo is the "One" as in "The Chosen One".
But card number one is also The Magician who can shape the world using super powers.
This is what Neo is going to be.
The High Priestess gives access to ecstasy and to the mysteries.
She is the way out: out of Neos room, out of the mundane world, associated in the movie with psychedelic drugs.
The Empress, card number three, introduces Trinity.
Both the card and the character represent femininity, love and power.
The Emperor is male dominance, represented in Morpheus. He is wise, strong, confident and a leader for the less powerful.
The Hierophant, the agent, is the defender of the present order that he believes to be the only right one.
Significantly, all agents in the movie have five letter names in the script: Jones, Smith and Brown.
The Lovers are a card both of love and of choice. In this scene, Neo decides to come along only because Trinity wins him over.
Card number seven is The Chariot, the card of success, departure and travel.
Here Neo departs from the world and enters a new one, successfully.
The next card is Strength and really quite straightforward.
The next card is Strength and really quite straightforward.
Here Neo gains power that he will need later.
Strength in the form of Kung Fu skills and knowledge about the matrix.
This scene establishes
that Neo is alone,
as is the Hermit.
Significantly,
all extras in this scene are twins or doubles.
all extras in this scene are twins or doubles.
all extras in this scene are twins or doubles.
Only Neo and Morpheus are original.
With the Wheel of Fortune, twist of fate and external superior powers are signified.
With the Wheel of Fortune, twist of fate and external superior powers are signified.
In the movie, those are the hunter droids, which threaten to strike, but don't, because they know
In the movie, those are the hunter droids, which threaten to strike, but don't, because they know
In the movie, those are the hunter droids, which threaten to strike, but don't, because they know
In the movie, those are the hunter droids, which threaten to strike, but don't, because they know
about the traitor who is aboard.
Justice, commonly depicted as female, gives judgement of objective facts, rationally and responsibly.
Justice, commonly depicted as female, gives judgement of objective facts, rationally and responsibly.
Justice, commonly depicted as female, gives judgement of objective facts, rationally and responsibly.
Justice, commonly depicted as female, gives judgement of objective facts, rationally and responsibly.
In the movie, so does the oracle.
In the movie, so does the oracle.
Car twelve, the Hanged Man, find Neo and friends hanging in the wall.
Car twelve, the Hanged Man, find Neo and friends hanging in the wall.
Car twelve, the Hanged Man, find Neo and friends hanging in the wall.
Car twelve, the Hanged Man, find Neo and friends hanging in the wall.
This card stands for self-sacrifice for the greater good or for an ultimate purpose.
This card stands for self-sacrifice for the greater good or for an ultimate purpose.
Which is what Morpheus does.
The Death card, signifies the end and loss of things or people.
The Death card, signifies the end and loss of things or people.
Here Cypher kills several teammates before succumbing to death himself.
Here Cypher kills several teammates before succumbing to death himself.
Temperance is the Tarot card for careful decisions, harmony and synthesis.
Temperance is the Tarot card for careful decisions, harmony and synthesis.
Temperance is the Tarot card for careful decisions, harmony and synthesis.
Neo and Trinity work together here
planning and preparing to free Morpheus, by packing a lot of guns.
The Devil is evil, hatefulness and disgust, as well as bondage and torture.
The Devil is evil, hatefulness and disgust, as well as bondage and torture.
The Devil is evil, hatefulness and disgust, as well as bondage and torture.
The Devil is evil, hatefulness and disgust, as well as bondage and torture.
This is the role that Morpheus has to play here, as he ist told by Agent Smith just how horrible he is.
This is the role that Morpheus has to play here, as he ist told by Agent Smith just how horrible he is.
The Tower is destroyed, and means destruction. Of course a lot of that happens here.
The Tower is destroyed, and means destruction. Of course a lot of that happens here.
The Tower is destroyed, and means destruction. Of course a lot of that happens here.
Why was Morpheus not held in a prison, or in an army camp?
Why was Morpheus not held in a prison, or in an army camp?
Maybe it's because the movie wants to show a tower destroyed.
Maybe it's because the movie wants to show a tower destroyed.
The Star, card seventeen, is hope, faith, trust and optimism.
Neo believes in himself, which enables him to defeat the agent.
Neo believes in himself, which enables him to defeat the agent.
The Moon is the card of nightmares, fear, confusion and anxiety.
The Moon is the card of nightmares, fear, confusion and anxiety.
The Moon is the card of nightmares, fear, confusion and anxiety.
Here Neo is in flight, pursued by agents and suffers apparent and nightmarish defeat.
Here Neo is in flight, pursued by agents and suffers apparent and nightmarish defeat.
Here Neo is in flight, pursued by agents and suffers apparent and nightmarish defeat.
But next is The Sun, which stands for joy, enthusiasm and assurance.
But next is The Sun, which stands for joy, enthusiasm and assurance.
But next is The Sun, which stands for joy, enthusiasm and assurance.
But next is The Sun, which stands for joy, enthusiasm and assurance.
It is Trinity's effortless victory over her fears and over the overwhelming enemy.
It is Trinity's effortless victory over her fears and over the overwhelming enemy.
The Judgment card stands for justice, resurrection from the grave and deliverance from evil.
The Judgment card stands for justice, resurrection from the grave and deliverance from evil.
The Judgment card stands for justice, resurrection from the grave and deliverance from evil.
The Judgment card stands for justice, resurrection from the grave and deliverance from evil.
Here Neo is resurrected, and triumphs.
Here Neo is resurrected, and triumphs.
With The World, the journey is complete. Neo announces that he will show people a new world
With The World, the journey is complete. Neo announces that he will show people a new world
With The World, the journey is complete. Neo announces that he will show people a new world
and the movie ends, as does the Tarot trump sequence.
and the movie ends, as does the Tarot trump sequence.