The card of the highest priestess that reminds Margy of Alice in Wonderland has many Middle Easter/Islamic imagery, with the moon on her right feet and the moon-like ornament in her head. Also the pomegranates are Middle Eastern.
Your explanation of this card has given me an idea for a writing I am musing on. I see now a connection of topics and approaches that I didn't see before, and I like it. Thanks!
In case it's of interest, the B and J, and some of the other symbology, come from the Bible description of building Solomon's Temple in 1 Kings 7 (B & J named in v 21):
13 Now King Solomon invited and received Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, whose father, a man of Tyre, had been an artisan in bronze; he was full of skill, intelligence, and knowledge in working bronze. He came to King Solomon, and did all his work.
15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one, and a cord of twelve cubits would encircle it; the second pillar was the same. 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were nets of chequer-work with wreaths of chain-work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars; seven[b] for one capital, and seven[c] for the other capital. 18 He made the columns with two rows round each lattice-work to cover the capitals that were above the pomegranates; he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits high. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection that was beside the lattice-work; there were two hundred pomegranates in rows all round; and so with the other capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the south and called it Jachin; and he set up the pillar on the north and called it Boaz. 22 On the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.
It's funny how that bit about the names stuck in my head from years ago – probably because it seemed so odd to name pillars and they were, to me, odd names.
I'm finding this series fascinating, It offers a lens through which to view all sorts of other fields of interest. I've been looking through my collection of art images and seeing how they might relate to particular cards as a way of exploring both the image and the card.
Ah I love this! I have a notebook (that works more like a giant file folder), where I have one page for each card and have been tucking in ephemera, notes, and images related to each card over the years. It’s a great way to build a personal language / system / set of symbols for meaning-making!
The card of the highest priestess that reminds Margy of Alice in Wonderland has many Middle Easter/Islamic imagery, with the moon on her right feet and the moon-like ornament in her head. Also the pomegranates are Middle Eastern.
Your explanation of this card has given me an idea for a writing I am musing on. I see now a connection of topics and approaches that I didn't see before, and I like it. Thanks!
Love this! Happy writing, Gloria ✍️
In case it's of interest, the B and J, and some of the other symbology, come from the Bible description of building Solomon's Temple in 1 Kings 7 (B & J named in v 21):
13 Now King Solomon invited and received Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, whose father, a man of Tyre, had been an artisan in bronze; he was full of skill, intelligence, and knowledge in working bronze. He came to King Solomon, and did all his work.
15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one, and a cord of twelve cubits would encircle it; the second pillar was the same. 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were nets of chequer-work with wreaths of chain-work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars; seven[b] for one capital, and seven[c] for the other capital. 18 He made the columns with two rows round each lattice-work to cover the capitals that were above the pomegranates; he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits high. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection that was beside the lattice-work; there were two hundred pomegranates in rows all round; and so with the other capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the south and called it Jachin; and he set up the pillar on the north and called it Boaz. 22 On the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.
So interesting! Thanks for sharing, Janet. This stirs distant memories from Sunday School long ago! Love how many traditions are syncretized in tarot.
It's funny how that bit about the names stuck in my head from years ago – probably because it seemed so odd to name pillars and they were, to me, odd names.
I'm finding this series fascinating, It offers a lens through which to view all sorts of other fields of interest. I've been looking through my collection of art images and seeing how they might relate to particular cards as a way of exploring both the image and the card.
Ah I love this! I have a notebook (that works more like a giant file folder), where I have one page for each card and have been tucking in ephemera, notes, and images related to each card over the years. It’s a great way to build a personal language / system / set of symbols for meaning-making!