Tiphareth & Tarot: The Four Sixes, Four Princes & the Beauty Sephirah
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Tiphareth’s tarot correspondences connect the sixth Sephirah to the four Sixes of the Minor Arcana and the four Princes, and to the specific Major Arcana cards that govern the paths leading directly from Tiphareth. Understanding these correspondences transforms both the tarot and the Kabbalistic system, revealing the four Sixes as the first harmonious, complete expressions of elemental energy after the disruption of the Fives, and the four Princes as the dynamic, questing expressions of elemental power in its most integrated and most luminous form.
The Four Sixes: Tiphareth in the Minor Arcana
The four Sixes correspond to Tiphareth — the sixth Sephirah — representing the first harmonious, complete, and perfectly balanced expression of each elemental energy after the disruption and challenge of the Fives. The Sixes are the tarot’s expression of the solar king’s radiant beauty — the first genuinely harmonious expression of each elemental energy after the purifying challenge of the Fives.
Six of Wands — Tiphareth in Atziluth (Fire)
Golden Dawn title: “Lord of Victory.” Astrological attribution: Jupiter in Leo. The Six of Wands represents the genuine victory and genuine recognition that are the fruit of creative courage and creative commitment. When it appears in a reading, it signals the Tiphareth energy in the domain of fire — the invitation to receive the solar king’s recognition with genuine grace and genuine humility.
Six of Cups — Tiphareth in Briah (Water)
Golden Dawn title: “Lord of Pleasure.” Astrological attribution: Sun in Scorpio. The Six of Cups represents the genuine emotional harmony and genuine emotional pleasure that are the fruit of genuine emotional development. When it appears in a reading, it signals the Tiphareth energy in the domain of water — the invitation to receive the solar king’s warmth and generosity with genuine openness and genuine gratitude.
Six of Swords — Tiphareth in Yetzirah (Air)
Golden Dawn title: “Lord of Earned Success.” Astrological attribution: Mercury in Aquarius. The Six of Swords represents the peaceful transition and the gentle movement toward genuine intellectual clarity that are the fruit of genuine intellectual courage. When it appears in a reading, it signals the Tiphareth energy in the domain of air — the invitation to allow the solar king’s illuminating light to guide the movement from turbulence to genuine harmony.
Six of Pentacles — Tiphareth in Assiah (Earth)
Golden Dawn title: “Lord of Material Success.” Astrological attribution: Moon in Taurus. The Six of Pentacles represents the genuine material harmony and genuine material generosity that are the fruit of genuine material development. When it appears in a reading, it signals the Tiphareth energy in the domain of earth — the invitation to participate in the solar king’s generous, perfectly balanced flow of material abundance.
The Four Princes: Tiphareth as Dynamic Solar Expression
In addition to the four Sixes, Tiphareth corresponds to the four Princes — the dynamic, questing, intellectually active expressions of elemental power in each suit.
Prince of Wands — The dynamic, visionary, creatively brilliant solar expression in the fire world. The creative visionary who pursues his creative vision with the full force of his solar energy.
Prince of Cups — The emotionally sensitive, artistically gifted, spiritually questing solar expression in the water world. The artistic seeker who pursues his emotional and spiritual vision with the warm, luminous, perfectly balanced quality of the solar heart.
Prince of Swords — The intellectually brilliant, analytically precise, communicatively gifted solar expression in the air world. The intellectual visionary who pursues truth with the full force of his solar intelligence.
Prince of Pentacles — The practically gifted, materially wise, patiently persistent solar expression in the earth world. The practical visionary who pursues his material vision with the steady, luminous, perfectly balanced quality of the solar heart.
The Major Arcana Paths from Tiphareth
The Lovers (Zayin) — Path 17: Tiphareth to Binah — The path of divine choice ascending from the solar heart to the cosmic mother. The Lovers represents the fundamental choice between the higher and the lower, the divine and the human.
The Hermit (Yod) — Path 20: Tiphareth to Chesed — The path of divine wisdom ascending from the solar heart to the divine loving-kindness. The Hermit represents the solitary seeker who carries the divine light of the solar heart upward toward the divine grace of Chesed.
The Hanged Man (Mem) — Path 23: Tiphareth to Hod — The path of divine sacrifice descending from the solar heart to the divine intellect. The Hanged Man represents the willing sacrifice of the solar king — the divine son who gives his life for the sake of all creation.
Death (Nun) — Path 24: Tiphareth to Netzach — The path of divine transformation descending from the solar heart to the divine love and creative passion. Death represents the necessary transformation that the solar king’s purifying light applies to the passionate, creative energy of Netzach.
Temperance (Samekh) — Path 25: Tiphareth to Yesod — The path of divine integration descending from the solar heart to the lunar foundation. Temperance represents the perfectly balanced, harmonious integration of the solar and lunar energies.
Reading the Sixes and Princes Through the Tiphareth Lens
When a Six appears in a reading, ask: How is the divine beauty expressing itself in this domain of the querent’s life? What genuine harmony is being restored after the disruption of the Fives? What solar illumination is being offered?
The Sixes are the most harmonious cards in the Minor Arcana — and Tiphareth is the most luminous Sephirah. Bring that luminosity into your physical space: the Sun Tarot Yoga Mat embodies the solar joy and vitality of Tiphareth, making it the ideal surface for a morning practice that opens the solar heart before a reading. The Moon Tarot Tapestry on your wall creates the perfect visual balance — the solar and lunar energies of Tiphareth and Yesod in dynamic relationship. Record your Tiphareth readings in the High Priestess Tarot Journal, and build a full year of solar practice with the 52-Week Tarot Journey. This practice of integrating the solar king’s light into your daily ritual deepens your connection to the luminous harmony of Tiphareth, and I find that working with the 13 New Moon Rituals alongside my solar practice creates a balanced cycle of intention and manifestation, while the 30-Day Tarot Practice Workbook offers a structured way to embody the solar heart’s wisdom. For those drawn to the deep introspection of the Hanged Man path, the Shadow Work Tarot provides a mirror for the descent into the unconscious, and the Sacred Space Cleanse keeps the field clear for the solar light to shine through.
