The Opening of the Key With the Langustl Tarot
The Opening of the Key First Operation Instructions
The Opening of the Key (OOTK) is a Golden Dawn operation that scours the entire tarot pack to reveal hidden correspondences between cards, elements, and stages of the querent’s life. It is divided into five operations, each exploring a deeper layer of the pattern. This version follows the First Operation, governed by the four elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth.
Sequence of Play
1. The Deck is Shuffled and Divided into Four Piles—representing the Four Elements:
- Fire: Wands
- Water: Cups
- Air: Swords
- Earth: Disks
2. Choose a Significator—the card that represents the querent. This is usually selected by astrological attribution (a Court card matching the Sun sign) or intuition. Once chosen, it is secretly placed within one of the elemental piles.
3. The Pile Containing the Significator is Chosen for the Reading—the other three are set aside. The chosen pile will reveal the line of destiny currently in motion.
4. The Cards Are Counted from the Significator—counting proceeds right (forward) or left (backward) according to the direction the figure on the card is facing. The count includes the current card and follows the value of this card:
- Ace = 11
- 2–10 = Face Value
- Princess = 7, Prince = 4, Queen = 4, Knight = 4
- Trumps = 3 for elemental cards (3 cards), 9 for planetary (7), and 12 for zodiacal (12)
Counting continues through the pile, wrapping around as needed. Each card selected is lifted aside, no longer part of the active count.
5. Seven Cards Are Revealed—these form the opened key: the significator and six others discovered through counting. They describe the querent’s current conditions, influences, and trajectory. The order of discovery corresponds to the unfolding sequence of events or realisations.
6. Interpretation—examine dignities (friendly or hostile elements), elemental relations, and astrological attributions. Fire strengthens Air and is weakened by Water; Earth stabilises yet confines. Each card interacts with its neighbours to form a chain of motion and resistance.
You can read each step of this reading as significant. Your elemental pile reveals the overall theme, and the direction faced shows whether the reading is focused on the past or future, inner self or outward persona. Then you can read the story of which cards are selected or discarded on your way to interpretting the final seven cards.
Step 1 — Choose Your Significator
