The Center of the Cartouche
The central image of the card is dominated by a woman standing firmly on both feet, bending at the waist, and looking upwards in an expression of supplication or praise. She wears a long, black wig, a skirt wrapped around her ribs, and is bare-breasted. Her posture exudes a sense of reverence for and trust in the divine. Her arms are extended, one palm held above her upturned face and the other facing an altar that lies beyond our view.
At the top of the cartouche, we find four symbols: a shape resembling the Latin letter E formed as if with brushstrokes, a stylized wave, the Hebrew letter Heh (ה), and an incense burner that crosses into the central portion of the cartouche. The Latin letter E originated in an Egyptian hieroglyph of a praying person that became the Greek Epsilon and the Hebrew Heh. The Hebrew letter Heh is often found today on protective amulets made in the shape of the five fingers of the hand. The incense burner symbolizes purification and sanctification, echoing the ancient practice of using incense in religious rituals. The stylized wave suggests the primordial sea of creation but also the sea over which trade goods such as incense were transported.
The bottom portion of the cartouche features a silhouette of a jackal couchant that Kaplan identifies as the dog of Anubis. Anubis was a god depicted frequently in Ancient Egyptian art, but there is a dearth of mythology about him. His role in Egyptian belief changed over time, but he is generally depicted as black, a color that symbolized regeneration. So we are left to wonder why the woman in this image has chosen to venerate Anubis. In what ways does she wish to be reborn?
In the title section of the card, we find the symbol for Uranus, the Latin letter L, and the number Four representing structure and boundaries. Uranus, in Greek mythology, was the personification of the heavens; the planet itself was not seen by humans on earth until the invention of the telescope. The letter L had its origin in the pictogram of the ox-goad or shepherd's staff. The symbols in the title field do not seem to have any bearing on the central image of the card.
Historical Context
Burning incense is an essential part of the central image of this card. Egyptian fleets set sail from the Gulf of Aqaba to obtain incense and other exotic goods from distant places such as the Kingdom of Punt, present-day Eritrea, called, in the Bible, Put or Havilah. Incense played an essential role in ancient religions because it could mask the various unpleasant smells that were the inevitable result of animal sacrifice. Its fragrance purified and sanctified the air. Even today, incense is used to express devotion and to gain inspiration; its pleasant fragrance adds an air of sanctity to a space.
Kaplan's Interpretations
In the upright position, Kaplan explains that this card symbolizes purification, ritual, the harmonious blending of sensory pleasure with religious devotion, idyllic surroundings, romance, and dreaminess. However, in the reversed position, we should consider Kaplan's list of meanings: a clash between spiritual and worldly values, cherishing unattainable ideals, and neglecting physical well-being.
Integration and Worship
67 Veneration shows a woman nurturing her relationship with the divine. What god or ideal do we love and how do we nurture a relationship with it? Before we can genuinely engage in worship, we must become self-aware. This involves recognizing and embracing the conflicting aspects of our personalities, so we know what ideal to venerate and what we should aspire to. When we love and unify the diverse parts of ourselves, we will become a cohesive and balanced whole and can "attend to reality diligently." This card brings to mind the Serenity Prayer: seeking the grace to accept what we cannot change, the courage to change what we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Card Associations
Nelise Carbonare Vieira associates 67 Veneration with the Knight of Pentacles. She summarizes the meaning of the card as identifying one's ideals, finding meaning in life, understanding oneself, and practical idealism.
The Knight of Pentacles, depicted by Pamela Colman Smith, shows an armored knight on horseback. Rather than riding into battle, he is calmly gazing at plowed fields. The image suggests a reverence for nature and careful planning. His idealism is expressed at home, caring for the people who rely on him. Reversed, the Knight of Pentacles might indicate boredom, lack of inspiration, and neglect of one's spiritual and physical well-being.
Conclusion
In summary, this card urges us to blend religious devotion with practicality. We must strive for self-purification and diligently attend to our physical and spiritual well-being. By embracing the upright card meanings, we can work towards resolving the negative situations indicated by the reversed card. Self-awareness and unifying our inner selves are crucial steps toward meaningful worship and regeneration.
Read with interest your insights into the card veneration leading one to question that which we venerate..In examining our object of veneration we truly examine our most inner being which results in understanding of the self. An important card on the road of self descovery
ReplyDeleteBeautiful insight, Kesem. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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