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. Each of these animals is 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 pregnant for the first time. The initiate holds the ankh, symbolizing life, while Taweret grasps the tayet, the girdle of Isis, possibly a fabric version of the ankh. Initiation in Taweret's mysteries 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 fiercer 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 masculine sunshine. (Egypt's sun god, Ra, was male.)

Stuart Kaplan describes the object Taweret holds as a 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 Vieira associates this card with the Ten of Wands suggesting themes of responsibility, overwork, and losing sight of one's goal. This could be linked to the idea of a pregnant woman being overwhelmed by 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 Colman 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 Colman 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 Colman 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.