Alobar
Re: Re: The Emperor
yes, that does look like a '4', and that's quite appropriate for the Emperor.
but Crowley's intention for having Lady Frieda depict him in this particular pose was to symbolise sulpher.
from the 'Book of Thoth' (page 77)...
"The Emperor is also one of the more important alchemical cards; with Atu II and III, he makes up the triad: Sulpher, Mercury, Salt. His arms and head form an upright triangle; below, crossed legs represent the Cross. This figure is the alchemical symbol of Sulpher (see Atu X). Sulpher is the male fiery energy of the Universe... "
i think that this 'deliberate blind' arguement is pushed too far in many arguements, certainly those regarding Crowley.
S.L Macgregor Mathers was notorious for doing this to keep vital information from the "uninitiated". but in fact AC seems to have tried to undo alot of these misdirections.
from 'An Introduction to the Golden Dawn Tarot' by Robert Wang (page 22), regarding this exact subject...
"... But Crowley was essentially a rational man who, while maintaining the essence of some of his oaths of secrecy about the Golden Dawn, seems to have felt great righteous indignation about those who purposely distorted high principles under any circumstances."
an admirable trait, to be sure. especially from a man of AC's moral character!
in any case, one of the reasons i love this deck is exactly that i believe he felt it to be his 'magnum opus', as it were, and i think his research and the way it is applied to this deck are genuine. no 'mines' are necessary here, or tolerable!
as far as the sephira, you may have misunderstood me, and i probably wasn't clear on this.
yes, i agree that the 'authority' of the Emperor is divinely inspired, and must therefore originate from Chokmah. and yes, according to Crowley, the path of the Emperor is switched with that more commonly associated with the Star (tzaddi), and does indeed connect to Netzach.
however, in the painting the Emperor is bathed in the rays of the Sun, which is most definitely Tiphareth!
my interpretation of this is that the Emperor is (of course) mortal, and therefore unable to relate directly to Chokmah (or anything from the Supernal!). this 'power' is focussed on him through Tiphareth (the Sun) by way of Netzach (Victory).
i think that had Crowley meant for Netzach to have a more significant role in the interpretation of this card then we would have seen something representing this... Nike, or a crown of laurels, or something. he certainly wasn't shy about symbolism.
but what we DO have is a card that is absolutely inundated with the rays of the Sun. and this cannot be coincidence!
okay then, i will!
but i'm totally wiped out from my waterfall trip, so it will have to wait for another day (and a different forum).
i'll try to post something soon. it was an incredible experience for all involved.
and thanks for the discussion!
rom said:
yes, that does look like a '4', and that's quite appropriate for the Emperor.
but Crowley's intention for having Lady Frieda depict him in this particular pose was to symbolise sulpher.
from the 'Book of Thoth' (page 77)...
"The Emperor is also one of the more important alchemical cards; with Atu II and III, he makes up the triad: Sulpher, Mercury, Salt. His arms and head form an upright triangle; below, crossed legs represent the Cross. This figure is the alchemical symbol of Sulpher (see Atu X). Sulpher is the male fiery energy of the Universe... "
i think that this 'deliberate blind' arguement is pushed too far in many arguements, certainly those regarding Crowley.
S.L Macgregor Mathers was notorious for doing this to keep vital information from the "uninitiated". but in fact AC seems to have tried to undo alot of these misdirections.
from 'An Introduction to the Golden Dawn Tarot' by Robert Wang (page 22), regarding this exact subject...
"... But Crowley was essentially a rational man who, while maintaining the essence of some of his oaths of secrecy about the Golden Dawn, seems to have felt great righteous indignation about those who purposely distorted high principles under any circumstances."
an admirable trait, to be sure. especially from a man of AC's moral character!
in any case, one of the reasons i love this deck is exactly that i believe he felt it to be his 'magnum opus', as it were, and i think his research and the way it is applied to this deck are genuine. no 'mines' are necessary here, or tolerable!
as far as the sephira, you may have misunderstood me, and i probably wasn't clear on this.
yes, i agree that the 'authority' of the Emperor is divinely inspired, and must therefore originate from Chokmah. and yes, according to Crowley, the path of the Emperor is switched with that more commonly associated with the Star (tzaddi), and does indeed connect to Netzach.
however, in the painting the Emperor is bathed in the rays of the Sun, which is most definitely Tiphareth!
my interpretation of this is that the Emperor is (of course) mortal, and therefore unable to relate directly to Chokmah (or anything from the Supernal!). this 'power' is focussed on him through Tiphareth (the Sun) by way of Netzach (Victory).
i think that had Crowley meant for Netzach to have a more significant role in the interpretation of this card then we would have seen something representing this... Nike, or a crown of laurels, or something. he certainly wasn't shy about symbolism.
but what we DO have is a card that is absolutely inundated with the rays of the Sun. and this cannot be coincidence!
okay then, i will!
but i'm totally wiped out from my waterfall trip, so it will have to wait for another day (and a different forum).
i'll try to post something soon. it was an incredible experience for all involved.
and thanks for the discussion!
