If we view money in consideration of the above, it would seem quite logical to allocate it to the element of Earth. When money is associated with concepts such as value, security, making a living, and protection from need, it is imperative to view it as the embodiment of earthly qualities. This is especially true when money only-or even just primarily-is understood as a means for purchasing land, property, or mineral resources (gemstones, precious metals, ore).
26 INTRODUCTION
But this coin has a flip side really explained why he diverged norm in categorizing the Coins in ment of Air. His ommitance was to look into the matter after first time.
Let's begin by establishing tics and features of modem-day us to understand the French it to the element of Air. First of
are much more voluminous, b able. Money's nature is more in since only through exchange can value. This holds true for even the precious metals.
In other words, money can nated purpose when it changes for his or her part, must have a · money's transferred value can be thus the acquisition of the mo at a dead end. This is the flow of
and services it has been
used until the transaction is made.
One could view this lack of form of abstraction. Thus
PART I: MOSH
magic may seem to have in this regard. But if you take the
same
world view. Mter all, within the principle of whatof the
fact that the definition- more flexible and liberal than
see it. However, both agree on
one
world out there, and thatvariety
of ways.a debat
e
about ideologies here,one
pragmatic remark from If you can view magic as being it just may result in applie
d to the field of money C�ooventional approaches. In themake
a personal judgmentof Money
consideration of the above, it
to allocate it to the element of associated with concepts such
a living, and protection from view it as the embodiment of
But this coin has a flip side as well: Papus never really explained why he diverged from the conventional norm in categorizing the Coins in the tarot to the ele
ment of Air. His ommitance was reason enough for me to look into the matter after reading his works for the first time.
Let's begin by establishing some of the characteris
tics and features of modern-day money that will enable us to understand the French master's categorization of it to the element of Air. First of all, money is generally quite mobile, a term that doesn't only mean that it con
solidates the high exchange value of other goods that are much more voluminous, bulky, and less transport
able. Money's nature is more in the way of exchange, since only through exchange can money reveal its true value. This holds true for even the rarest coins made of precious metals.
In other words, money can only fulfill its desig
nated purpose when it changes hands. The new owner, for his or her part, must have a guarantee that the money's transferred value can be exchanged further
thus the acquisition of the monetary value cannot stop at a dead end. This is the flow of money as we know it today-the never-ending circulation and exchange of an item of value which has no relation to the goods and services it has been exchanged for, which cannot be used until the transaction is made.
One could view this lack of reference as an extreme form of abstraction. Thus the concept of cashless payment
PART 1: MONEY IN ITS TRUE ELEMENT · 27
becoming increasingly widespread today merely repre
sents the logical development from this first abstraction.
Humans are the only living creature known to have developed this specific form of social interaction.
However, it could also be said that people often expect way too much from this logical process. Even in the age of the Internet and global networking, of com
puterized workstations and communication that relies increasingly on the exchange of digital data, most peo
ple still have trouble making the connection from this abstraction back to everyday, tangible (Earth element) life. For example, the charging of outrageous interest rates was considered to be abominable even in bibli
cal times, and the entire Islamic world was always tied up in various intellectual and financial acrobatics try
ing to avoid the ban on charging interest as defined by the Koran in an attempt to devoutly follow the com
mandments of their religion. In the same sense, a con
siderable part ofWestern society has always had little understanding of the fact that financial speculations
a relatively unproductive activity-are generally much more lucrative than the production of tangible goods.
The more capacity for abstract thinking an activ
ity requires, the better that activity is generally paid.
And since our networked, global economy increasingly encourages the further abstraction of value and pur
chasing power, more and more people will become
eco-28 INTRODUCTION
nomically insignificant in the who cannot keep up with this
When viewed from this notice the fundamental paradigm taking place for quite some
time
dominately earthy concept of
value
closely tied to the element of Air..
is a metaphor," as Canadian media shall McLuhan once said. All of the criteria of the principle of Air:
extreme agility of money; its brief its tireless journey around the
world;
the exchange process that it mental nature, free from emotion allows it to penetrate nearly every without any type of actual
tive false in a materialistic beach example shows, the main symbolism and the language it us to incorporate its diversity and automatically dooming us to failure dictions that inevitably result.
To illustrate this point
using
athe following exercise is
J widespread today merely repre
from this first abstraction.
living
creature known to have form of social interaction.also be said that people often from this logical process. Even in and global networking, of
com-the charging of outrageous interest to be abominable even in
bibli-and financial acrobatics try
on charging interest as defined by to devoutly follow the com-- religion. In the same sense, a con
society has always had little fact that financial speculations
activity-are generally much the production of tangible goods.
for abstract thinking an activ
r that activity is generally paid.
rked, global economy increasingly er abstraction of value and pur
and more people will become
eco-nomically insignificant in the process, especially those who cannot keep up with this virtualization of value.
When viewed from this perspective, one can clearly notice the fundamental paradigm shift that has been taking place for quite some time now from a pre
dominately earthy concept of value to one that is more closely tied to the element of Air. After all, "money is a metaphor," as Canadian media researcher Mar
shall McLuhan once said. All of this, however, fulfills the criteria of the principle of Air: the lightness and extreme agility of money; its brief stay with each owner;
its tireless journey around the world; the abstraction of the exchange process that it embodies; and its funda
mental nature, free from emotion and subjectivity, that allows it to penetrate nearly every aspect of human life without any type of actual participation.
Let me emphasize once again: In our classifica
tion of the elements, there is no objective true or objec
tive false in a materialistic sense. Because as our earlier beach example shows, the main advantage of elemental symbolism and the language it speaks is that it allows us to incorporate its diversity and flexibility without automatically dooming us to failure from any contra
dictions that inevitably result.
To illustrate this point using a practical example, the following exercise is recommended:
PART 1: MONEY IN ITS TRUE ELEMENT · 29
EXERCISE