The Holy Grail is an emblem of the the 'Cup of the Waters' or the Rosi-Crucis (the 'Dew Cup'), and it was identified in all records (including those of Egypt and Phoenicia and in the Hebrew annals) as being an upright, centred red cross within a circle.
Alchemists like Paracelsus, John Frederick Helvetius, and the Rosicrucians took an oath to heal human suffering wherever they found it and to take no money in payment. Thus began the Red Cross. Those that would literally travel into enemy lines, into a dark labrynth to save and rescue This same knowledge was preserved in the secret traditions of witchcraft and alchemy.
When tradegy strikes a country, city, or village, have you noticed the immediate care and compassion given by all of humanity in every country after the tragic events. The entire world responds with deep heart-felt words of encouragement and support. The Red Cross has been overwhelmed with blood donors, a metaphor and a symbol of sacrifice.
The word that struck a chord with me was 'Sympathy' - a big difference to the word 'Compassion'. Both words I believe symbolize a nurse making others feel loved and cared for. But doesn't sympathy mean we actually take on another's pain, (empath?) which can drain us and make us feel 'quite' overly sensitive at times. We should not get too emotionally involved with the lessons of those we help. Definitely share your empathy with others but at some point you've got to get on with your own life. A true healer is a conduit for the universal life force who can absorb the negativity into themselves, dissipate it and then release it.
Any other thoughts?
tink
This is an amazingly profound assessment of this symbol. I found a website some time back that gave me my planetary Sabian Symbols, saved it to a doc. and completely forgot about it for over a year while I pursued my Tarot studies. Now that I'm coming back around and expanding my knowledge of Astrology (using Tarot as the hub) I've run into these symbols again.
I have my Sun in Taurus, just over 9 degrees and so appropriately related it to Taurus 10. At the end of my undergrad career I briefly considered applying to med school, but disregarded it. I DID apply to Vet school, but given the circumstances, did not attend. Years later I now find myself working for the government in the area of diseases and ensuring they don't enter into the global food supply. In my own minor way, I work as a "humanitarian".
The above reference to the red cross and the Holy Grail strikes a deep, resonating chord with me as well. My Ascended Master is Mary Magdalene, who was also said to be a renowned healer. It's also said that she retired to the South of France, and it's interesting to note that the League of International Red Cross Societies was founded in 1919 in Paris. For me, she represents the Holy Grail and the Ace of Cups in Tarot. Deep, abiding love (unconditional? Yes, I would say so - as someone else mentioned in these posts) - not to the extend that you drain yourself dry caring for your loved ones, but more so, that no living thing is more or less deserving than the next. The nurse to me says that no injured person, be they friend or foe, is denied medical care. For me, this resonates on a personal level in that, no matter how I feel about an individual personally, if I have skills, talents and abilities that will help a person who has come to me in need, I *cannot* deny them. I also can't walk past a person crying or clearly distraught without asking them if they need help. This is not to say that I cannot place limits on my assistance. A nurse is not a doctor. There is only so much that I can do, but at least I can offer what knowledge I do have to get them started on the path to *recovery* or direct them towards the proper resources to help them.
As far as the reference towards empathic abilities, I would have to agree with this as well. It's been quite a struggle for me to understand this ability and it's function, but also to build protective walls so as not to be overwhelmed by others. As a Taurus, it has become very important for me to meditate daily to ground myself so I don't get swept away by other's emotions. The ability to transmute emotional pain began with my own personal experiences. A wounded nurse is no good to other's if she is injured herself. But I also think that's her strength. She can empathize/sympathize with her patient because she understands not only the "wound", but how it affects everything else in the body as well.
In this respect, and in my case I think, this symbol speaks a lot to me about not being as "indoctornated" by traditional medicine. Doctors have formal education to get the "dr" title, but a *soul nurse* can draw on other therapies like Reikie and Herbs - alternative medicine.
Anyway, I also find it interesting that my Astrological "Birthday" Card is the 5 of Pentacles. Makes me think, in combination with this symbol, that perhaps I'm not the poor lost soul, but the window with the light in it
The sequence of cards (before and after) is interesting too. A Christmas tree with lights, and a row of flowers being watered. The Christmas tree has been cut down, it's going to die and there's no way to avoid that now. But on the other side, you've got flowers growing and thriving from being watered. The theme of resurrection comes to mind, facilitated by the Nurse. The red cross appears on the RWS Judgment card and deals with themes of resurrection too, and similarly, Mary Magdalene witnessed Christ's resurrection too. I wonder what that all could mean?
I'm curious about this part of the post:
Symbols of the 5 Pointed Star (72 degree apart) from Taurus 10 are:
CANCER 22 ~ A YOUNG WOMAN AWAITING A SAILBOAT.
LIBRA 4 ~ A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE SIT IN SPIRITUAL COMMUNION AROUND A CAMPFIRE.
SAGITTARIUS 16 ~ SEA GULLS FLY AROUND A SHIP LOOKING FOR FOOD.
AQUARIUS 28 ~ A TREE FELLED AND SAWED TO ENSURE A SUPPLY OF WOOD FOR THE WINTER.
What does this mean and how do you interpret it? I have Saturn in Libra just over the 4 degree mark. While I do understand that I would look at Libra 5, Libra 4 does factor in, and it's placed within the 5 Star Matrix. Anybody know what that could mean, or where I can go to find out more?