The tarot can be used as a template, back bone for constructing a narrative, story. It was much sort after even by the churches, despite the controversy and appellations of witchcraft and sorcery; the churches acquired the tarot by any means necessary. There are many stories of the biography of Pamela Coleman Smith who did the art work for the now popular Rider Waite Smith deck of cards. She was given a house by the Catholic church, living as an anchoress she taught clergy about the cards and how to use them. This strategy by the Cabal contingency associated with the church, was disguised and written in the obituary on the small booklet, that in later decks came with the cards. Also was recorded that she converted to Catholicism. Many assumptions grew out of that opportune bargaining from a false premise. The art work inspired many more decks from others worldwide. The Jane Austin deck contains these words; ‘A truth universally acknowledged’ and it is so with the Tarot.
The world of truth card XVII in the Cathar Tarot, secret wisdom of the Perfecti is the representation of the Star tarot card. The Cathar were the Bonnes femmes and Bon Hommes of Gnostic tradition. They had a different perspective than the conditioned and now leading Christian theology formulated in ages past by Paul, Saul a Roman citizen. Rome at that time was the overlord of many countries, peoples and their religion including Israel. The messianic teachers were many and their focus of restoring the kingdom of David,Israel meant the eradication of Rome and it’s kingdom. It from this perspective that Christianity Greco-Roman, Paul’s version came to be as it is now. Far from the truth as known and experienced by the movements initial conception. Christianity is all about reverence for the sun, 12 planets, 12 disciples or disciplines. Always a massive point of conjecture, debate and wars globally.
The star follows the towers card in the series or vignettes of information. No destruction is final. Often called the star of hope. A new beginning, optimism and the return of hope after a period of trial and tribulation to peace. Optimism is usually a blessing, but when it is ungrounded in reality it can become a curse.The star signals a rebirth in any or all aspects of life, relaxing of restraints, be it health, work. travel, relationships. The star shows a female figure with two vessels pouring out the waters of life into the pool of universal consciousness; onto the land which represents matter to revive it. Bringing a new stream of knowledge, inspiration causing mental renewal. Reversed or upside down, dark side of the star indicates pessimism, stubbornness, self doubt, disappointment, bad luck, hopelessness, lack of vision, wrong choices, confusion, danger of trusting to false promises and unrealistic schemes that will lead nowhere. Unselfish aid will be given, divine intervention. Look beyond the moment and you will see the light of a better future ahead.
The water was a blessing,a baptism called the consolamentum for the Cathar parfait, often done prior to death offering them a glimpse of the promised holy life and state of sanctity. Water is a representation of ones emotions, feelings. To draw the light filled healing waters from the divine source, whatever one recognizes as that source; is a gift of the mystic and shaman and seer.
The star represents a moment when light shines upon the way, offering one the opportunity to make the right choice at the right time without fear or mistake. The bird often seen in some of the star cards is the soul resting in the tree of life. The maiden is seen as eternal youth and beauty. Mother nature and identified in the Empress, strength and High priestess card. In the Jane Austin tarot deck for game playing by artist Jacqui Oakley, the jack of diamonds is designated the star, hope. Jane Fairfax in the novel Emma was orphaned as a girl, yet she grows up to sing, play piano, sew and marries happily. In the Regency period of Jane Austin days that was a great accomplishment from humble beginnings.
The Star, Sitara from a Sufi perspective of the tarot is a light of hope in the darkness we all face at some time. The message is one of optimism, renewal, inspiration and faith. The Star is five pointed signifies divine light, the natural form of the human with two arms, two legs and a head and the beginning of life. The same star that is in the Hermits lantern. 7smaller stars some seers name the Pleiades or 7 sisters are the Lataif or subtle body centers called chakras. These details represent balance, alignment in all areas of life and the transcendent light within ones self. The radiance, Nur. It is a call to connect with ones own radiance and optimism, with open heart to receive the light of the stars, gifts of the universe.
The Star in the Mythic Tarot by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene, illustrated by Tricia Newell conveys a story in an attempt to restore the simplicity and accessibility of the original tarot by using the Greek gods imagery and stories. Here the Star is correlated with Pandora. ‘The feminine side of human nature, feeling, instinct, imagination, intuition, which must probe for the truth despite the consequences’. It is a inspired and insightful analogy page 69-71. ‘Zeus sends a chest to mankind with Pandora, is like the apple in the garden of Eden story, something forbidden and impossible to resist. It contains knowledge of the reality of human life which means the death of naivete and child like fantasy; yet it also contains the most precious attribute of the human spirit’
This is an echo of the watchers, fallen wisdom, sky warriors, Elohim and giants, the Titan Prometheus and Epimethius characters and energy that is incorporated in religiosity and gnostic narratives. Extrapolated to Sumerian, Babylonian narratives of Mesopotamia. The Star was symbolized as Innana, Ishtar in the Mesopotamia pantheon of deities. All cultures have their equivalents of this energy and form called by different names peculiar to each peoples in the lands that they reside. Hope is the will to live that arises from the ashes of the fallen tower. Blind hope is not having or taking the necessary steps to build upon that present moment. That is indeed a skill The fool card amidst the rubble of destruction, in confusion and collapse of old attitudes and structures, the potent star of Hope arises. A new beginning, a new journey.
The Economic Times quote ‘It is utterly impossible to build my life on a foundation of chaos and suffering, finding light in darkness’ by Anne Frank.
More insight:
Time travel is dangerous a British movie.
The Zealot book by Reza Aslan
Greek mythology
Egyptian mythology
Babylonian, Sumerian narratives.
The Eden series by Paul Anthony Wallis
5TH Kind.TV Annunaki, Elohim, watchers
The Mythic Tarot
The kabbalah, Qaballah.
Posts that can be read at this site:
The Vagus nerve
Anandaphasia
Medusa
The Light of Asherah
The Golden Bowl