Alobar
Fleur-de-lys - royalty, illumination. it also appears on the Emperor. the crown is symbolically similar (and try saying that three times fast!).
the fleur-de-lys can also represent the unity of mind, heart and spirit.
it's all the birds in this card that fascinate me.
generally, anything with wings represents spirituality, and there are many here!
the swan, in particular, is transformation. the Empress is looking forward towards a dove (wisdom, the soul), but behind her head is a sparrow (history, the past).
and the Phoenix is, once again, transformation. the two heads facing each other (as on the Emperor's shield) represent a sense of history AND future... completion.
the shield itself is a symbol of defense.
the 'dot' in the center of the circle is actually a crecsent moon (feminine). it being encircled with the heads of the Phoenix (transformation) symbolise to me the nurturing aspects of motherhood. we see this also in the way the swan is nurturing her young.
and the bees (more winged creatures!), also seen on the Emperor, are interesting.
the Egyptians saw the bee as the 'giver of life', and therefore a symbol of life, death and rebirth. the Greeks saw them as immortality. the Great Mother (Cybele) was also referred to as 'Queen Bee'. in Greece the bee was also associated with the Oracle at Delphi, and so may symbolise prophecy here (that 'looking forward to the future' thing again).
i LOVE this deck!
the fleur-de-lys can also represent the unity of mind, heart and spirit.
it's all the birds in this card that fascinate me.
generally, anything with wings represents spirituality, and there are many here!
the swan, in particular, is transformation. the Empress is looking forward towards a dove (wisdom, the soul), but behind her head is a sparrow (history, the past).
and the Phoenix is, once again, transformation. the two heads facing each other (as on the Emperor's shield) represent a sense of history AND future... completion.
the shield itself is a symbol of defense.
the 'dot' in the center of the circle is actually a crecsent moon (feminine). it being encircled with the heads of the Phoenix (transformation) symbolise to me the nurturing aspects of motherhood. we see this also in the way the swan is nurturing her young.
and the bees (more winged creatures!), also seen on the Emperor, are interesting.
the Egyptians saw the bee as the 'giver of life', and therefore a symbol of life, death and rebirth. the Greeks saw them as immortality. the Great Mother (Cybele) was also referred to as 'Queen Bee'. in Greece the bee was also associated with the Oracle at Delphi, and so may symbolise prophecy here (that 'looking forward to the future' thing again).
i LOVE this deck!