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| Servants of
the Light Tarot -
Hierophant |
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 vigour, 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 aloner 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
intellectualised card, a card of spirituality disciplined. The
Australian Hierophant is completely unintellectual - 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
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