Ancestral Path - Ace of Staves
By Julie Cuccia-Watts; book by Tracey Hoover
Publisher: US Games Systems, Inc.

Book says:
"An elaborately stylized ankh dominates the foreground, an embodiment of the suit qualities of the Staves (the flame/fire of inspiration and creativity, of life and growth). This golden scepter is banded in ebony and ringed with semi-precious stones (lapis lazuli, carnelian, and amber); a quartz crystal is embedded in its center. The ankh thrusts itself away from the desert, a statement of the determination of life to overcome death through resurrection, and rises majestically over the Valley of the Kings. The great pyramids glisten in the noonday sun, guarded by the magnificent sphinx. A burning brazier smokes to the left of the ankh scepter, representing the fiery element of the Stave suit.

Meanings: Elemental fire, flame, light, warmth, and energy. Growth, enterprise, beginnings, potential. Activity, initiative, creativity. Conversely, the destructive, burning use of fire or light. Stagnation, stunted potential, blighted growth, malaise."

One of the things I love about this deck is that the Staves (and Sacred Circles) are symbolized by a variety of items. So often we think of wands as sticks, staffs or cudgels, but this one is a fine piece of craftsmanship, fit for a pharoah. If I examine the card on its own merit -- i.e., not in comparison to the rest of the deck or to others decks -- I'm taken away from mainstream meanings. I get the sense of two things: eternity and reverse creativity (maybe not the best phrase; I'll explain in a minute).

Eternity -- As well as signifying Man and Woman (horiz.) and God (above) and Earth (below), the ankh is well-know as a symbol of life, esp. eternal life. The Egyptian monuments are "eternal." Their true age is questionable, but I'm safe with saying 4500 years old, at the very least and about five times that at the most. Either way, it's too many years for a limited human being to get their mind around. Man could just as well conceptualize 4500 years with his finite mind as eternity. How long is a billion seconds? (Yes, this *is* a test!) Yet, we long for eternity, and tell stories about it. Why? Where does that come from?

Reverse creativity -- What I mean by this is, not what *is* the inspiration, but what *was* the inspiration. What was the inspiration for the pyramids, the sphinx? Eternity, for one (or two). The monuments, regardless of their meanings and purposes, were intended to last as long as possible. Perhaps the pharoahs who were allegedly (to be) buried there obtained eternal life. Their monuments certainly did. The Great Pyramid is like a giant 3-D puzzle. Who came up with that, and how, and why? Dang, I bet they had job satisfaction! (And maybe still do? Or will?)

This is a kind of reverse, past-looking way to see the Ace of Staves. But it still fits in with my main interpretation of this card as "life-affirming" (creation, procreation, after-life, etc.).

One Love All Love
Moonchild