Paul Foster Case: BOTA & the Tarot as Spiritual Path

BY NICOLE LAU

Paul Foster Case (1884-1954) transformed Western esoteric education by creating the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA), an organization that made serious initiatory training accessible through correspondence courses. Unlike secret societies requiring physical presence and personal initiation, BOTA offered structured self-study combining tarot, Kabbalah, alchemy, and meditation. Case's systematic approach, emphasis on color and sound as spiritual tools, and practical exercises made esoteric knowledge available to thousands worldwide. His legacy continues today through BOTA's ongoing work.

From Musician to Occultist

Case's path to esotericism combined musical talent with mystical seeking:

Early Life (1884-1918):

Musical prodigy: Born in Fairport, New York, showed exceptional musical talent from childhood, became a professional organist and composer, and developed perfect pitch and synesthesia (seeing colors when hearing sounds).

Early mystical experiences: Had spontaneous visions and psychic experiences, sought to understand these through study of occultism, and discovered tarot in his early twenties.

Self-taught occultist: Read extensively—Waite, Lévi, Papus, Westcott, and studied Kabbalah, alchemy, and Hermetic philosophy independently.

The Alpha et Omega (1918-1922):

Joining the Golden Dawn: In 1918, Case joined the Alpha et Omega (Mathers' Golden Dawn offshoot in America), quickly advanced through the grades, and became Praemonstrator (chief instructor) of the American temple.

Teaching innovations: Case began developing systematic tarot instruction, emphasizing practical meditation over ceremonial magic, and creating structured lessons for students.

The break (1922): Conflicts with Moina Mathers (who led the Order after her husband's death) over teaching methods and authority led Case to leave and found his own organization.

Founding BOTA (1922):

The vision: Create an organization offering serious esoteric training through correspondence, making initiatory knowledge accessible to anyone, anywhere, and emphasizing practical spiritual development over ritual and ceremony.

The name: Builders of the Adytum—the Adytum being the inner sanctuary of ancient temples, the Holy of Holies. BOTA builds the inner temple of consciousness.

The method: Structured lessons sent by mail, practical exercises and meditations, and progression through grades based on completion and understanding.

The BOTA System

Case created a comprehensive training system based on tarot, Kabbalah, and Hermetic philosophy:

The Curriculum:

Fundamentals: Introduction to tarot, Kabbalah, and Hermetic principles, basic meditation techniques, and understanding of correspondences (color, sound, number, symbol).

Tarot Keys: Detailed study of all 78 tarot cards, meditation on each card using specific techniques, and coloring the cards as active meditation (BOTA provides black-and-white outlines).

The Tree of Life: Systematic study of the Sephiroth and paths, understanding the structure of consciousness, and practical application to spiritual development.

Advanced work: Alchemy, sound and color meditation, and integration of all teachings into daily life.

The Tarot Deck:

Based on Rider-Waite: Case's deck follows the RWS structure but with modifications based on his understanding of Golden Dawn teachings.

Black and white: BOTA cards are provided as black-and-white line drawings. Students color them according to specific instructions, making coloring an active meditation and study process.

The purpose: Coloring engages multiple levels of consciousness—intellectual (understanding the symbolism), emotional (connecting with the imagery), and physical (the act of coloring). This multi-level engagement deepens understanding and integration.

Color and Sound:

Case's innovation: He developed detailed correspondences between tarot cards, colors, musical notes, and Hebrew letters, creating meditation techniques using color visualization and sound vibration.

The theory: Color and sound are vibrations that affect consciousness. By meditating on specific colors and tones, you can activate corresponding aspects of consciousness and energy.

Practical application: Each tarot card has specific color attributions. Meditating on the card while visualizing its colors and intoning its corresponding sound creates a powerful transformative practice.

The Pattern on the Trestleboard

Case's most famous teaching is the Pattern on the Trestleboard—a concise statement of Hermetic philosophy:

The Text:

"0. All the Power that ever was or will be is here now.

1. I am a center of expression for the Primal Will-to-Good which eternally creates and sustains the Universe.

2. Through me its unfailing Wisdom takes form in thought and word.

3. Filled with Understanding of its perfect law, I am guided, moment by moment, along the path of liberation.

4. From the exhaustless riches of its Limitless Substance, I draw all things needful, both spiritual and material.

5. I recognize the manifestation of the Undeviating Justice in all the circumstances of my life.

6. In all things, great and small, I see the Beauty of the Divine Expression.

7. Living from that Will, supported by its unfailing Wisdom and Understanding, mine is the Victorious Life.

8. I look forward with confidence to the perfect realization of the Eternal Splendor of the Limitless Light.

9. In thought and word and deed, I rest my life, from day to day, upon the sure Foundation of Eternal Being.

10. The Kingdom of Spirit is embodied in my flesh."

The Structure:

Ten statements: Corresponding to the ten Sephiroth on the Tree of Life, each statement affirms a spiritual truth and aligns consciousness with divine reality.

Daily practice: BOTA students recite the Pattern daily, meditating on each statement and its corresponding Sephirah.

The purpose: Reprogramming consciousness through affirmation, aligning personal will with divine will, and building the inner temple through repeated contemplation.

Case's Teaching Philosophy

Accessibility:

No prerequisites: Anyone sincerely interested can study BOTA lessons, regardless of background, location, or prior knowledge.

Self-paced: Students progress at their own speed, taking as long as needed to master each lesson.

Affordable: BOTA keeps costs minimal, making esoteric education accessible to those of modest means.

Practical Emphasis:

Daily practice: Case emphasized regular meditation and study over dramatic rituals or ceremonies.

Integration: The goal is to integrate spiritual understanding into daily life, not escape into mysticism.

Results-oriented: The teachings should produce tangible results—increased peace, clarity, effectiveness, and spiritual awareness.

Scientific Approach:

Systematic method: Case presented esotericism as a science with laws and principles that can be studied and applied.

Verification: Students are encouraged to test the teachings through practice and verify results personally.

Rational mysticism: Spiritual development should engage the intellect as well as intuition and feeling.

The Constant Unification Perspective

Case's system demonstrates universal constants through Western framework:

• Tarot = Universal wisdom: The 78 cards encode the same spiritual truths found in all traditions—different symbols, same realities
• Tree of Life = Consciousness structure: The Sephiroth parallel chakras, planetary spheres, and levels of consciousness across traditions
• Color and sound = Vibrational medicine: Using color and sound for spiritual development appears in all traditions (mantras, visualization, sacred art)
• The Pattern = Affirmative prayer: Similar to Buddhist vows, Hindu mantras, or New Thought affirmations—aligning consciousness with truth through repetition

BOTA's Influence and Legacy

Organizational Success:

Worldwide reach: BOTA has served thousands of students across six continents since 1922.

Continuing operation: Still active today, offering the same correspondence courses Case developed.

The model: BOTA demonstrated that serious esoteric training can be offered through correspondence, inspiring other organizations to adopt similar methods.

Educational Impact:

Systematization: Case organized tarot and Kabbalah into a clear, progressive curriculum.

Accessibility: Made esoteric knowledge available to those who couldn't join physical lodges or move to esoteric centers.

Practical methods: Provided specific exercises and techniques, not just theory.

Tarot Contribution:

Coloring meditation: The practice of coloring tarot cards as meditation became widely adopted.

Systematic study: Case's detailed card-by-card analysis influenced how tarot is taught.

Spiritual emphasis: He reinforced tarot as a spiritual development tool, not just divination.

Practical Applications

The BOTA Method for Self-Study:

1. Daily Pattern recitation: Begin each day by reciting the Pattern on the Trestleboard, meditating on each statement.

2. Card study: Study one tarot card at a time—read about its symbolism, meditate on the image, and color it if using BOTA cards.

3. Practical application: Notice how the card's principles manifest in daily life. Keep a journal of insights.

4. Regular practice: Consistency matters more than intensity. Daily practice, even brief, produces results.

Color Meditation:

Choose a card: Select a tarot card to work with.

Study the colors: Learn the specific color attributions for that card.

Visualize: Close your eyes and visualize the card in its proper colors, as vividly as possible.

Absorb: Imagine the colors entering your consciousness, transforming and aligning you with the card's principles.

Sound Meditation:

Learn the tone: Each Hebrew letter (and thus each tarot card) has a corresponding musical note.

Intone: Chant or hum the note while meditating on the card.

Combine: Advanced practice combines color visualization with sound vibration for powerful effect.

Case's Major Works

The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947):

Content: Comprehensive guide to tarot symbolism and practice, detailed explanation of each card, and practical meditation techniques.

Significance: One of the most influential tarot books ever written, still essential reading for serious students.

The True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order (1927):

Content: Case's vision of the true Rosicrucian tradition as an invisible college of adepts, not a physical organization but a spiritual fellowship, and the path to joining through inner development.

Highlights of Tarot (1931):

Content: Concise introduction to tarot, accessible to beginners, and emphasizing practical application.

Criticisms and Limitations

Rigid structure: Some find BOTA's systematic approach too structured, preferring more intuitive or eclectic methods.

Slow progression: The correspondence course can take years to complete, requiring patience and persistence.

Limited personal contact: Correspondence study lacks the personal guidance of a living teacher.

Christian emphasis: Like Waite, Case's Christian mystical interpretation doesn't resonate with everyone.

Conclusion

Paul Foster Case revolutionized esoteric education by creating a systematic, accessible correspondence course in Western mysteries. Through BOTA, he made serious initiatory training available to anyone with sincere interest and dedication, regardless of location or circumstances.

His emphasis on tarot as a spiritual development tool, his innovative use of color and sound meditation, and his practical, results-oriented approach influenced generations of students. The Pattern on the Trestleboard remains a powerful daily practice for aligning consciousness with spiritual truth.

For modern seekers, Case offers a proven path of self-study combining intellectual understanding, meditative practice, and practical application. His work demonstrates that esoteric knowledge, properly systematized and taught, can transform consciousness and life.

In our next article, we'll explore Case's masterwork The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages in depth, examining his comprehensive system for understanding and working with the tarot as a tool for spiritual development.

---

This article is part of our Western Esotericism Masters series, exploring the key figures who shaped modern mystical practice.