The Flowering of an Indigenous Culture

Arabs in Israel, Judah, Samaria, and Gaza appropriated the name Palestinians in 1967 under the leadership of an Egyptian named Yasser Arafat.

Palestinians consist of diverse groups of people. Most of them are descended from 19th and 20th century immigrants from countries now called Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. The few who may have longer ties to the land came with the Muslim invasion and conquest in the 7th century or were Jews forcibly converted to Islam.

Prior to 1967 Palestinians did not share a single culture. Today, they are still in constant feud with one another and they do not even have a style of dress in common with one another. The single unifying foundation of their new culture is not a connection to a land or a people, but a shared hatred for Israel and a desire to kill Jews.

The flowering of Palestinian culture occurred on 7 October 2023.

An interview with a survivor, Deborah Tzarfaty. (Maya Milova)

The Magic in Our Tradition

On Monday, we will gather around our tables with friends and family with the opportunity and duty to perform the mitzvah of retelling the story of our ancient redemption.

How can we recall four-thousand-year-old miracle stories now? While 134 of us are held in brutal captivity! While nine young women, if they are still alive, may be almost seven months pregnant from repeated gang rapes! While war is knocking on our door daily! While the wold world seems to be howling its hatred of us!

How can we transition from our current reality to our traditional celebration? Where can we find words to plead for our deliverance?

Instead of words, we could turn our focus to the fifteen silent ritual actions performed during the seder meal, hoping that these rituals will move G-d to protect and preserve us.

- What will it signify when we lift our glasses of wine but refrain from drinking?
- This year, what will it mean to dip the green vegetable in salt water?
- As our leader breaks the middle matza, what else will we hope or fear may be broken?
- Why will we cover the matza whenever we lift our cups of wine?
- As we diminish our joy by removing drops of wine from our full glasses, what losses will we mourn?
- What will we understand when the leader lifts the full round seder plate and the matzot?
- Will our search for the Afikomen be a prayer for the redemption of our hostages still captive in Gaza?
- And what will we see when open the door for Elijah the Prophet?

May the mute gestures of this seder stir our hearts and reach the heavens, so that G-d will again protect and preserve all of us.

And as for words... that one passage we always skip? This year I will shout it out with tears in my eyes.

My thanks to Bob Silber, a fellow English speaker in Eilat, whose profound insights into this year's seder, inspired my reflections.

"The Mute Book," a chapter from
Ira Steingroot's book, Keeping Passover

Egipcios Kier - 71 Avarice

Avarice, meaning "extreme greed for wealth or material gain," is the title of card 71 in the Egipcios Kier Tarot Deck. The central image depicts a wide-eyed man against a golden backdrop, wearing a valuable necklace. He is engrossed in writing on a tablet, possibly tallying the contents of a warehouse. Nearby, six food jars with large ladles (or tall lids) stand by a table, while six plates or coins rest on a shelf. Stuart Kaplan interprets these as symbols of wealth and sustenance, prompting speculation on whether the man is calculating his ability to provide for his family or scheming to claim another's riches.

A jar decorated with handles shaped like the uraeus serpent fills the lower blue third of the cartouche. The serpent represented royalty, while the jar may allude to canopic jars, traditionally used in Ancient Egypt to hold and preserve internal organs after death. This imagery invites contemplation on mortality and the true essence of life: spiritual growth over material wealth.

In the upper orange third of the cartouche are four symbols: the Hebrew letter tet (ט), resembling a pot with a handle; an elongated oval shape with an opening; a magical letter resembling a lid; and either a waning crescent moon or an eclipse of the moon. If the moon is depicted in eclipse, Kaplan sees it as a reference to the myth of Seth tearing out Horus's eye.

The title field includes an alchemical symbol, sometimes used to symbolize Cassiel (קצפיאל), the angel of Saturn and of wrath, along with the Spanish letter Ñ, which always appears with the numeral 8 in this deck (as do the letters G and X). The symbol of wrath could signify the potential ruin resulting from acts inspired by greed.

Kaplan lists the card's meanings, from the inability to share and greed in its upright position to setbacks and obstacles when reversed. These interpretations serve as reminders to remain mindful of our actions and their repercussions on ourselves and others.

Nelise Carbonare's association of this card with the Three of Pentacles offers a striking contrast. While the latter emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and finding joy in fulfilling one's responsibilities, card 71 underscores the dangers of prioritizing wealth over virtue. While material wealth has its place, the pursuit of it should not overshadow the pursuit of spiritual growth, creativity, and emotional fulfillment. The card's message is to reassess our priorities and align them with our deepest values. Rather than fixating solely on accumulating wealth, the card encourages us to cultivate spiritual richness and inner peace.

Ultimately, card 71 serves as a reminder of the perils of excessive greed and the importance of seeking balance, contentment, and spiritual fulfillment. It urges us to remember our mortality and reassess our priorities so we can strive for a deeper sense of meaning beyond material pursuits.

Egipcios Kier - 36 Initiation

The benevolent figure in card 36, Initiation, has the body of a hippopotamus, the paws of a lion, and the tail of a crocodile; she is Taweret, the Great One. All three of these animals are strong and fierce. However, ancient Egyptians were most impressed with the female hippo’s protectiveness toward her young. Taweret was a popular goddess among ordinary people of ancient Egypt, who saw her as overseeing childbirth, the inundation of the Nile, and rebirth after death.

In this image, Taweret accompanies a confident initiate, probably a woman preparing to give birth. The initiate holds the ankh, symbolizing life, while Taweret grasps the tayet, the girdle of Isis, possibly a fabric version of the ankh. Initiation may signify accepting the responsibility for nurturing new life.

Symbols within the cartouche include the eighteen letter of the Hebrew alphabet, tzaddi, meaning hunter, alongside a letter of a celestial alphabet, and a snake hieroglyph symbolizing feminine energy and birth because of its resemblance to an umbilical cord.

The lower part of the cartouche features a circle enclosing the hieroglyph for rope and a seated figure that appears to be a teacher, suggesting instruction before initiation.

The card's title field incorporates the symbol for Mars, the letter H, and the numeral 9. Mars, suggesting war, contrasts with the card's feminine theme, but perhaps highlights Taweret's fierce qualities. Nine may signify courage or strength. (This numeral appears six times in this deck, always accompanied by the letters H, O, or Y.)

The teacher hieroglyph, the initiate's garment, and Taweret herself are depicted in a startling pink, contrasted against a vibrant yellow background. This color scheme represent feminine powers standing out in bright sunshine.

Stuart Kaplan describes the object Taweret holds as protective amulet made of plaited papyrus. He interprets the upright card as representing childbirth, feminine power, progress, and artistic inspiration, with reversed meanings indicating sterility and financial challenges.

Nelise Carbonare, the Brazilian healer who wrote extensively about this deck, associates this card with the Ten of Wands suggesting themes of responsibility, overwork, blindness. This parallels the idea of a pregnant woman embracing the responsibilities of child-rearing.

Envision yourself as the small human figure, supported by Taweret’s physical presence and wise teachings. Confidently step toward your destiny, embracing both responsibility and empowerment as you continue on this new journey.

An Inquiry with the Oneness Tarot

Upon receiving the Tarot of Oneness, an alluring and beautiful deck, I anticipated having an effortless rapport with it. However, my assumption was challenged during a recent reading using a spread by Arith Harger, where the messages proved elusive.

It was then that my friend, Yael, suggested that I engage the deck in dialogue through a series of questions. In this post, I delve into the insights that emerged from this unconventional interaction.

Who are you?
I am the Queen of Cups gazing into the cup of vision—the primordial sea, our collective soul. Beyond my compassion and understanding, I am also a source of creative solutions.

What kind of questions do you most like to consider?
As the Page of Wands, I am filled with wonder and excitement, preferring questions that are grounded in reality, but that also seek the spark of the divine in this world.

What are your strengths?
As the Nine of Pentacles, I offer a time of serene contemplation and wholeness. I can lift you beyond current limitations, nurture gratitude, and foster a sense of self worth.

What are your weaknesses?
With the Three of Wands, I acknowledge my limitations in the realm of action and implementation of plans. Although I can share my foresight and guidance, I cannot travel the path with you. You must be your own agent of change.

How do you see me?
I see you as the Ace of Pentacles, a seed bursting with potential, brimming with the creative energy and the capacity to nurture growth and abundance—but only if you seize this time!

What can I do to create a strong connection between us?
Make offerings of fresh water to me as Temperance. Recognize me as a bridge between earthly and celestial realms. Cultivate patience, balance, and reverence when interacting with me to create a harmonious bond between us.

What mindset should I take upon myself when I reach out to you so I understand your answers better?
Embody the symbolism of the Ace of Swords by approaching me with clarity of intention and mental focus. Let my insights resonate deeply within you.

In conclusion, these insights shared by the Tarot of Oneness offer me a path to self discovery and self improvement. As I continue to work with this magical deck, I will embrace not just its answers, but the transformative power of inquiry itself.

Tarot of Oneness by Robyn Voisey

INTRODUCTION
The Tarot of Oneness by Robyn Voisey is a captivating reinterpretation of the Pamela Coleman Smith deck, offering the opportunity to immerse yourself in each card's imagery. In this deck, we are invited to be the figure portrayed in the traditional deck. Upon my initial flip-through, the deck's vibrant energy captivated me, with only a handful of cards obviously requiring that I spend more time in them.

QUEEN OF PENTACLES
The Queens—renamed Spirit in this deck—are particularly alluring. Robyn Voisey’s Spirit of Pentacles is wearing the same green dress as Robin Wood’s Queen of Pentacles. Since you are the figure in the card, you can gaze down at the pentacle in your lap and also see an adorable bunny at your feet. The usual interpretation is that the Queen of Pentacles is aware of her life’s limitations, but is grateful for what she does have. In a negative light, she may be overly concerned with money or unable to find satisfaction in her work. When I enter Voisey’s card however, I feel wealthy and lucky. My bare feet soak up the healing energy of the earth, my gown feels rich against my skin, and I feast my eyes on the colors and sights around me.

FOUR OF WANDS
The style of one card diverges from the rest of the deck, but it is a real place. The trippy portrayal of the Four of Wands can be nowhere other than the Nova Music Festival near Re’im. The card’s number, Four, associated with boundaries and borders, underscores the need to ensure one’s safety before celebrating life. The traditional imagery includes a couple near or under a chuppah at a harvest festival, suggesting that their goals are nearly achieved; often the wall of a fortified city is visible in traditional imagery. When we enter Robin Voisey’s card, we are in invited into an altered state, dancing to uplifing music, lovingly reaching out to others, and feeling at one with the universe. However, the association with the Nova Festival adds an underlying sense of vulnerability and anxiety.

TEN OF SWORDS
Many of the cards convey their traditional meaning even more effectively than their traditional counterparts. A particularly stunning example is the Ten of Swords. The traditional Pamela Coleman Smith portrayal features a man face down on the ground with ten swords in his back; incongruently, the traditional interpretation focuses on the end of problems and the imminent sunrise. Robyn Voisey’s more nuanced rendition plunges us into icy waters amidst the wreckage of a ship. A life preserver and other objects nearby offer temporary assistance from drowning, but not from freezing. The rising sun reveals a military ship on the horizon, portending either salvation or destruction. In this card, I feel cold and afraid, but also hopeful and determined to do what I can to help myself.

FOUR OF CUPS
Robyn Voisey’s description of the Four of Cups adheres to traditional meanings, yet her imagery takes us far from that meaning. Instead of the pouting man under a tree, ignoring the three real cups on the ground before him as well as the cup offered by a divine hand, you are shielding your eyes from the blinding sun so you can focus on a small deer in the distance. Because your hand is blocking the light, little color is visible, but at any time you can lower your hand to observe what the sun can reveal. Traditional meanings are lack of passion, resisting change, being self absorbed, failing to see a new opportunity, and the need to honestly evaluate yourself or your situation. The Tarot of Oneness guidebook lists similar meanings:  apathy, dissatisfaction, and withdrawal. Robyn Voisey suggests that you need to change your focus and let down your guard but I can’t help seeing the positive in this card. In her image, we are more active than the person in Pamela Coleman Smith's image; we’ve made a choice to focus on something that the bright sun obscures.

THE SUN
One card that deeply resonates with me is The Sun card! Its traditional imagery often feels disconnected from its meanings of safety and freedom, childlike joy, growth, and honesty. Typically, we see a baby precariously perched on a horse, a scenario more perilous than reassuring; the wall in the background seems more like Plato’s cave than protection and no infant could hold the enormous red banner. At least Robin Wood made the child’s mount a small pony. However, in Robyn Voisey’s Tarot of Oneness, we find ourselves on the back of a white horse that is cantering along a beach, with susurrating waves on one side and a child’s sandcastle on the other—a scene radiating joy, freedom, and (for the moment) security. In this card, we feel able to embrace life's boundless possibilities with exuberance, confidence, and clear vision.

EXTRA CARDS
Voisey's inclusion of five additional cards will hopefully enrich the deck and add valuable insights into various aspects of life. The Higher Self card, in which you are climbing a heavenly stairway, symbolizes intuitive guidance and self-awareness, facilitating a deeper connection with one's inner wisdom and fostering personal growth.

CONCLUSION
The Tarot of Oneness by Robyn Voisey is a profound tool for diving into the essence of each card, fostering a deeper understanding of its imagery. With its immersive imagery and thoughtful reinterpretations, this deck promises to be my cherished deck for exploration and introspection.