The First Operation is the first step to an extensive divination method called the “Opening of the Key,” a method associated with the Golden Dawn approach to tarot reading. Paul Foster Case’s book, Oracle of the Tarot (1933) provides a great instructional on the First Operation. A PDF of the book can be downloaded HERE. For a recent publication on “Opening of the Key,” read “The Golden Dawn Opening of the Key Method” by Marcus Katz of Tarot Professionals, linked HERE.
Now I’ve extracted the First Operation method from the Opening of the Key to use contemporaneously with modern approaches to tarot reading.
Selecting the Signifier
There are many ways of selecting a signifier card, also known as the significator. A classic “old school” Golden Dawn approach is to use The Magician for a male and The High Priestess for a female. However, I was taught to use court cards. The following is my court card approach to selecting the signifier:
| Astrol. Signs, Sun Sign Dates |
Suit |
Court Card Signifier |
| Aries, MAR 21 – APR 19 |
WANDS |
PAGE for young female |
| Leo, JUL 23 – AUG 22 | KNIGHT for young male | |
| Sagittarius, NOV 22 – DEC 21 | QUEEN for adult female | |
| KING for adult male | ||
| Cancer, JUN 21 – JUL 22 |
CUPS |
PAGE for young female |
| Scorpio, OCT 23 – NOV 21 | KNIGHT for young male | |
| Pisces, FEB 19 – MAR 20 | QUEEN for adult female | |
| KING for adult male | ||
| Libra, SEPT 23 – OCT 22 |
SWORDS |
PAGE for young female |
| Aquarius, JAN 20 – FEB 18 | KNIGHT for young male | |
| Gemini, MAY 21 – JUN 20 | QUEEN for adult female | |
| KING for adult male | ||
| Capricorn, DEC 22 – JAN 19 |
PENTACLES |
PAGE for young female |
| Taurus, APR 20 – MAY 20 | KNIGHT for young male | |
| Virgo, AUG 23 – SEPT 22 | QUEEN for adult female | |
| KING for adult male |
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