Gonna learn Thoth if it kills me - Majors

[Aeon418]

Originally Posted by similia

But they always look a little out of place to me. I'd love to hear some theories about them.

The Priestess represents the Eternal Virgin. She is THAT which can never be defiled or violated. To use a very imprecise word, Spirit.
Khabs am Pekht - Astron Argon - 451.

But this card shows the descent of Spirit into matter. The gems, fruits and flowers at the bottom of the card are symbolic of this. Also it's important to remember that this card crosses the path of Daleth and the Empress. It's almost as if un-manifest Spirit is birthed through the "door" of the Empress into manifestation below the Abyss.

Gimel(3) + Daleth(4) = 7 Zain, Sword. Duality!

[Alan Ross]

Originally Posted by Abrac

The "goggles" have the appearance of a lemniscate

Snuffin also sees them as a lemniscate and suggests that they signify her omniscience. That makes sense to me. The lemniscate is the mathematical sign for infinity, so that would make the High Priestess all-seeing.

Originally Posted by nicky

This is one of the cards I really like art wise. I love how she appears to pull the webbing of the universe with outstretched hands.

I've seen the "webbing" referred to as her veil, but I love the image of the "webbing of the universe." It's a wonderful concept.

Originally Posted by nicky

Bow and arrow on her lap may refer to Artemis and her pure state, being as our Priestess presides above the abyss.

Crowley has the following to say: "The card represents the most spiritual form of Isis the Eternal Virgin; the Artemis of the Greeks... Upon her knees is the bow of Artemis, which is also a musical instrument, for she is huntress, and hunts by enchantment." I don't think I've seen the High Priestess portrayed as a musical siren before, but I see "enchantment" as another link to the moon.

Alan

[Yygdrasilian]

Originally Posted by Aeon418

But this card shows the descent of Spirit into matter. The gems, fruits and flowers at the bottom of the card are symbolic of this. Also it's important to remember that this card crosses the path of Daleth and the Empress. It's almost as if un-manifest Spirit is birthed through the "door" of the Empress into manifestation below the Abyss.

The path of the Arrow is, I suspect, a two-way street. For our way "down" the Virgin goddess uses that bow in her lap to launch us "over" the threshold - that is why her hymen is still intact when we ascend to the PortaL.

But let's not skip too far "ahead"... or was that "behind"? It's difficult to tell the beginning from the end on a lemniscate.
This confusion is increased when assuming progression through the cycle of Trumps adheres to a linear sequence.

[nicky]

The crystals at the bottom of the card...couldn't they represent earth or Malkuth, which is the bottom of the path that originates from Kether though the Priestess to us? I have to think they are there for more than an assorted gathering of seeds and pods etc.

Nicky

[cardlady22]

Look at info on the Platonic Solids regarding the specific shapes. See anything you like in that regard?

Very much a manifestation thing. They form in the earth, carry energies, can be used for healing & magick, etc.

[Le Fanu]

I always feel that those crystals have something to do with refraction, light refracting through, breaking up, as if through prisms, as light passes through a veil.

Crystals as a kind of veil separating light.

[nicky]

Originally Posted by cardlady22

Look at info on the Platonic Solids regarding the specific shapes. See anything you like in that regard?

OMG that is such a Thoth type answer... lolol... seriously (and truly no offense meant) what the heck are platonic shields? The only thing I know about Pluto is that it squared my ascendant for nearly 2 years and I am still recovering.

[nicky]

Priestess .. at the bottom of the card, behind the camel, one of the leaves, pods, whatever seed thingies, has an almost tunnel look as though the camel has traveled from up above and came out through the higher realm at the top of the tree to us down here in the real world (ok ok its all real or all not real whatever) but I like this..the camel appears to be walking as though it came out of that tunnel...

I would use this image in a reading to look towards manifesting in real time things currently in one's subconscious. I always think of the HP as being about trusting intuition etc, and this would be even more they type of message IMHO.

[thorhammer]

Originally Posted by nicky

OMG that is such a Thoth type answer... lolol... seriously (and truly no offense meant) what the heck are platonic shields? The only thing I know about Pluto is that it squared my ascendant for nearly 2 years and I am still recovering.

No, not Plutonic Shields Platonic Solids! I'd say it has something to do with Plato (?) and the forms of crystallisation - chemistry. Angles of refraction, cleavage, that sort of thing.

\m/ Kat

ETA: Well, I was kinda close Platonic Solids - for a start

[Always Wondering]

Originally Posted by cardlady22

Look at info on the Platonic Solids regarding the specific shapes. See anything you like in that regard?

Very much a manifestation thing. They form in the earth, carry energies, can be used for healing & magick, etc.

I've always wondered about those crystals. I found and like this.

Originally Posted by wikipedia

There are many spiritual beliefs associated with the Flower of Life; for example, depictions of the five Platonic Solids are found within the symbol of Metatron's Cube, which may be derived from the Flower of Life pattern. These platonic solids are geometrical forms which are said to act as a template from which all life springs.

An introduction to the rest of the cards maybe?

Originally Posted by Book of Thoth

The trumps O and I are hermaphrodite. The remaining fourteen trumps represent these Primordial Quentessences of Being in conjuction, function or manifestation.

Thanks cardlady22

AW