Liz C
I've done a bit of internet research on some of the symbolism in the RWS High Priestess card, and as a result I have a few questions. Hoping some religious, history and/or tarot buffs might be able to help me. First I'll state what I found, then I'll state my questions
The pillars B & J are the pillars Boaz and Jakin (Jachin) situated at the entrance of the First Temple of Jerusalem built by King Solomon. Solomon's Temple apparently housed the Ark of the Covenant (which held the Ten Commandments; Gods law). The Ark of the Covenant was kept inside the Holy of Holies, an inner sanctuary, the most sacred place within the temple. From my albeit brief search on the internet, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to pour blood sacrifice over the Ark (or something to this effect ie it was very very very sacred).
The scroll held by the High Priestess is the Sefer Torah, the most important and sacred document in Judaism, revered as the word of God (and said to have been revealed to Moses). The Sefer Torah is a hand-written copy of the Torah, in the form of a scroll. It would only have been written out by a male. And, I believe, in the vast majority of Orthodox congretations, only men are called to read the Torah to the congretation (although things may be changing in this day and age?). It contains 613 commandments from God; some are things that should be done; some are things that are forbidden, not to be done. I read that torah means teaching, instruction or *law*.
Following are my questions:
1) Why specifically did Waite want to make reference to Solomons' Temple in the HP card? (I realise this is probably not known). I can see the spiritual connotations, ie entering the temple is akin to delving within to know your own sacred Inner Self; I can see the spiritual metaphors. But I was wondering why he chose to make reference to THAT temple specifically? It it simply because of the Christian culture he grew up in?
2) According to religous belief Solomon's Temple held the Ten Commandments (God's word/law). The Torah has 613 commandments (God's word/law). **Why is the High Priestess holding these religious laws on her lap, and sitting outside the temple containing these religious laws?**
I thought The Hierophant was more interested in keeping, upholding and passing down RULES or LAWS, than the High Priestess. To me, laws, even religious ones, are more the world of The Hierophant.
I tend to see the veil on the card as the Maya Veil. So could the message of this card be that in order to pierce the veil, and experience the Inner Self, we ultimately need to *give up* these rules or laws, and move beyond them, and all sense of good/bad, right/wrong, to know God? Aren't rules and laws just another aspect of the Maya Veil, in that they make us feel separate and distinct individuals, separate from God, good or bad (sinners)? (The opposite of I AM THAT).
Are the religious symbols on the card (B & J, the cross on her chest, the Torah) symbolic of religious orders? Are they meant to be used on our spiritual journey, or are they things to let go? I like the idea of religion as a boat to use to cross the river, but once we've crossed the river, we let go of it, as we are Free.
3) Why does Waite show a woman holding the Sefer Torah? From my brief bit of internet research, I got the definite impression, particularly in ancient times, that only men made copies of and studied and read from the Torah. On Wikipedia it says, "Women were historically exempted from any study [of the Torah] beyond an understanding of the practical aspects of Torah, and the rules neccessary in running a Jewish household, both of which they had an obligation to learn." But I get the impression that a woman would not have been able to hold the Sefer Torah, or read from it directly (?) So the image of a woman holding the Sefer Torah is just a bit naughty isn't it? (from the point of view of Orthodox Judaism). And only a male High Priest would have been allowed to enter the Holy of Holies inside the temple (where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept).
Could this have been done to show the hidden treasure/concealment aspect of this card? ie approaching areas that are normally *hidden* or *concealed* from us, approaching a closed-off area (this is particularly so for women?)
4) I believe I may have read somewhere, that the pillars B & J could be plants. On the card, they look quite like the stalks of lilies, with the lotus at the top of the stalk (check out the design at the top of the columns). Also you have the pomegranates and palms on the veil. I see all these as references to Mother Nature as the Maya Veil.
I read somewhere on the internet that Solomon's Temple courtyards were full of trees, flowers and fountains, because the temple was meant to be a recreation of the Garden of Eden. I also read that Solomon made an alliance with the Pharoah King of Egypt and married his daughter, and that hence, one might expect a certain amount of Egyptian taste in the court. Egyptian motifs include lilies and lotus flowers, and palm trees (I'm sorry I don't have the reference).
So the two pillars could be lily plants, and a further reference to Mother Nature as the Maya Veil? That it is hard to know the Truth, when surrounded by apparent duality and separateness (Mother Nature).
5) I've read some associations of the porch/entrance of the temple and pillars with the *birth canal* ie rebirth into the world of Spirit? Does anyone have anymore thoughts, info on this?
What do you think of the Virgin standing in front of and guarding this entrance? (woman's sexual organs) Is she inviting us, or is she guarding the entrance?
6) Pomegranates (on the veil) are referred to in the Bible (1 Kings 7:13-22). Hence the reason why pomegranates are a frequent motif in Christian religous decoration (?). Does anyone know what Christians associate with the pomegranate fruit?
I'm aware that in Judaism the Torah is assciated with the pomegranate, as it is meant to have 613 seeds. But what do Christians associate with the pomegranate, if anything? Just curious.
7) Lastly, how do you think that CYCLIC PROCESSES (Moon) apply to this card? I'm particularly interested in the relevance of CYCLES.
Well, I think I better stop here
All insights greatly appreciated!
Liz.
The pillars B & J are the pillars Boaz and Jakin (Jachin) situated at the entrance of the First Temple of Jerusalem built by King Solomon. Solomon's Temple apparently housed the Ark of the Covenant (which held the Ten Commandments; Gods law). The Ark of the Covenant was kept inside the Holy of Holies, an inner sanctuary, the most sacred place within the temple. From my albeit brief search on the internet, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to pour blood sacrifice over the Ark (or something to this effect ie it was very very very sacred).
The scroll held by the High Priestess is the Sefer Torah, the most important and sacred document in Judaism, revered as the word of God (and said to have been revealed to Moses). The Sefer Torah is a hand-written copy of the Torah, in the form of a scroll. It would only have been written out by a male. And, I believe, in the vast majority of Orthodox congretations, only men are called to read the Torah to the congretation (although things may be changing in this day and age?). It contains 613 commandments from God; some are things that should be done; some are things that are forbidden, not to be done. I read that torah means teaching, instruction or *law*.
Following are my questions:
1) Why specifically did Waite want to make reference to Solomons' Temple in the HP card? (I realise this is probably not known). I can see the spiritual connotations, ie entering the temple is akin to delving within to know your own sacred Inner Self; I can see the spiritual metaphors. But I was wondering why he chose to make reference to THAT temple specifically? It it simply because of the Christian culture he grew up in?
2) According to religous belief Solomon's Temple held the Ten Commandments (God's word/law). The Torah has 613 commandments (God's word/law). **Why is the High Priestess holding these religious laws on her lap, and sitting outside the temple containing these religious laws?**
I thought The Hierophant was more interested in keeping, upholding and passing down RULES or LAWS, than the High Priestess. To me, laws, even religious ones, are more the world of The Hierophant.
I tend to see the veil on the card as the Maya Veil. So could the message of this card be that in order to pierce the veil, and experience the Inner Self, we ultimately need to *give up* these rules or laws, and move beyond them, and all sense of good/bad, right/wrong, to know God? Aren't rules and laws just another aspect of the Maya Veil, in that they make us feel separate and distinct individuals, separate from God, good or bad (sinners)? (The opposite of I AM THAT).
Are the religious symbols on the card (B & J, the cross on her chest, the Torah) symbolic of religious orders? Are they meant to be used on our spiritual journey, or are they things to let go? I like the idea of religion as a boat to use to cross the river, but once we've crossed the river, we let go of it, as we are Free.
3) Why does Waite show a woman holding the Sefer Torah? From my brief bit of internet research, I got the definite impression, particularly in ancient times, that only men made copies of and studied and read from the Torah. On Wikipedia it says, "Women were historically exempted from any study [of the Torah] beyond an understanding of the practical aspects of Torah, and the rules neccessary in running a Jewish household, both of which they had an obligation to learn." But I get the impression that a woman would not have been able to hold the Sefer Torah, or read from it directly (?) So the image of a woman holding the Sefer Torah is just a bit naughty isn't it? (from the point of view of Orthodox Judaism). And only a male High Priest would have been allowed to enter the Holy of Holies inside the temple (where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept).
Could this have been done to show the hidden treasure/concealment aspect of this card? ie approaching areas that are normally *hidden* or *concealed* from us, approaching a closed-off area (this is particularly so for women?)
4) I believe I may have read somewhere, that the pillars B & J could be plants. On the card, they look quite like the stalks of lilies, with the lotus at the top of the stalk (check out the design at the top of the columns). Also you have the pomegranates and palms on the veil. I see all these as references to Mother Nature as the Maya Veil.
I read somewhere on the internet that Solomon's Temple courtyards were full of trees, flowers and fountains, because the temple was meant to be a recreation of the Garden of Eden. I also read that Solomon made an alliance with the Pharoah King of Egypt and married his daughter, and that hence, one might expect a certain amount of Egyptian taste in the court. Egyptian motifs include lilies and lotus flowers, and palm trees (I'm sorry I don't have the reference).
So the two pillars could be lily plants, and a further reference to Mother Nature as the Maya Veil? That it is hard to know the Truth, when surrounded by apparent duality and separateness (Mother Nature).
5) I've read some associations of the porch/entrance of the temple and pillars with the *birth canal* ie rebirth into the world of Spirit? Does anyone have anymore thoughts, info on this?
What do you think of the Virgin standing in front of and guarding this entrance? (woman's sexual organs) Is she inviting us, or is she guarding the entrance?
6) Pomegranates (on the veil) are referred to in the Bible (1 Kings 7:13-22). Hence the reason why pomegranates are a frequent motif in Christian religous decoration (?). Does anyone know what Christians associate with the pomegranate fruit?
I'm aware that in Judaism the Torah is assciated with the pomegranate, as it is meant to have 613 seeds. But what do Christians associate with the pomegranate, if anything? Just curious.
7) Lastly, how do you think that CYCLIC PROCESSES (Moon) apply to this card? I'm particularly interested in the relevance of CYCLES.
Well, I think I better stop here
All insights greatly appreciated!
Liz.