The Cement of the Universe: Hume’s Laws of Association in Tarot and Runes

How does a random draw of cards or a set of ancient symbols reveal deep personal truths? Skeptics often write off intuitive readings as pure coincidence, while practitioners describe them as profound synchronicity.

The 18th-century philosopher David Hume offered a key concept that bridges these two views: The Principle of Association. Hume famously referred to association as "the cement of the universe"—the psychological glue that connects isolated experiences, memories, and sensory inputs into a coherent understanding of reality.

When working with symbolic systems like the Tarot or the ancient Futhark runes, we are actively putting Hume’s associative laws to work, transforming abstract signs into powerful channels of self-discovery.

1. The Three Laws of Association in Action

Hume identified three fundamental mechanisms by which our minds link ideas together. Here is how they operate within symbolic practices:

• Resemblance (Semejanza): The brain naturally connects imagery to lived experience based on visual or structural similarity. Seeing The Empress might instantly evoke the nurturing presence of a maternal figure or the physical vitality of nature, because the visual motifs match your internal concept of creation.

• Contiguity (Contigüedad): Things that occur together in time or space become linked. When two Tarot cards or runes land side-by-side in a reading, your mind automatically seeks the narrative bridge between them. The proximity of the symbols creates a new, combined meaning that didn't exist when looking at them separately.

• Cause and Effect (Causa y Efecto): Hume argued that our perception of cause and effect is built on repeated observation and expectation. In a spread, placing a card in a "future" or "outcome" position activates your mind’s predictive engine, prompting you to trace the logical and intuitive steps leading from your present actions to that potential result.

2. Symbols as Mirrors of the Subconscious

Hume maintained that all complex ideas are built from simpler sensory inputs combined through association. A symbol—whether it’s the Vegvísir compass, a rune carved in wood, or an intricate card image—is a condensed library of simple ideas.

When you look at a symbol during a quiet moment of reflection:

1. The outer visual input triggers a chain reaction of internal associations.

2. Hidden memories, unexpressed emotions, and subtle patterns rise to the surface.

3. The reading becomes a mirror: You aren't reading magical ink; you are reading the associative map of your own mind.

3. Practical Magic: Using Association for Intuitive Clarity

Understanding association allows you to work with symbols more intentionally:

1. Trust the First Connection: The very first memory or sensation that pops into your head when looking at a card is Hume’s principle at work. Don't overthink or filter it out.

2. Explore the Contrast: If two symbols placed together feel contradictory, ask yourself: What hidden bridge is my mind trying to build between these two concepts?

3. Craft Intentional Anchors: Pair specific physical rituals—like lighting a specific incense or touching a textured canvas—with your symbolic practice to build strong, positive associative triggers over time.

Key Takeaway

David Hume showed us that our entire understanding of the world is built on the connections our minds form between experiences. Symbolic tools don't dictate your destiny; they leverage the "cement of the universe" within your own consciousness, allowing you to see the hidden architecture of your inner life.