The Servants of the Light Deck:

The Priest sits in a temple-space, as is evident by the black-and-white chequered tiles of the floor, often used in temple-space to indicate the union of opposite polarities. This union is developed further in the columns on either side of him: whereas the High Priestess was flanked by black and white pillars, the black and white pillars in the Priest's temple have been merged into a mid-grey. Polarity is still indicated, however, by creeping vines on both pillars: the right bearing the red flowers of the material world, the left bearing the white flowers of the non-material world. The Priest's left hand rests loosely on a staff shaped like the multiple-cross of Russian Orthodoxy as he sits on a grey throne that looks particularly uncomfortable. On the backs of his hands and his feet are tattooed even-armed crosses: this symbol is picked up in the bolts of the throne and on the two crossed keys between his ankles. There is another object, white and apparently made of fabric, that I do not understand (I sometimes have visual dyslexia) between his feet. His under-robe, representing his inner self, is the white of purity, his outer robe is red, signifying vigor, connection with life and blood-mysteries. An elaborate neck-dress of lapis lazuli and gold indicates wealth: his shaven head has a gaunt face, gaunt with over-fasting, perhaps, despite his well-muscled arms indicating health. He is a loner in a large sacred space, looking into the eyes of the observer, forcing us to come to grips with our own spirituality.

The Granny Jones Deck:

Holding a trefoil pendant in his right hand, this very young Hierophant leans against the trunk of a tree in a pose of great love - and indeed, his lower body has grown into the ground, becoming one with the clump of trees surrounding him. A smudge of blue and green is just visible between the many massive tree-trunks - no foliage at all is visible. This is a card of curves and grace - a card where the Hierophant is one with his environment, blended indistinguishably with it and loving it ecstatically. Of all the cards in this deck, this is one that you do not see in the ordinary way and do not think about in the ordinary way - you just feel it.

The Priest of the SOL deck is a very intellectualized card, a card of spirituality disciplined. The Australian Hierophant is completely non-intellectual - the being himself is vegetative and doesn't even feel particularly masculine. There is little to compare except for a sense of steadfastness of purpose and purity.

... All the answers to life's Mysteries are to be found in a glass of milk.

Nisaba Merrieweather
nisaba@primus.com.au