Egipcios Kier - 62 Proscription

Card 62, Proscription, from the Egipcios Kier Tarot presents symbols of punishment, protection, strength, empowerment, and control. The central figure wears the double crown of a united Ancient Egypt, suggesting both divine and earthly power. The flail in his right hand suggests authority and punishment, while the ankh, a symbol of life, suggests the pharaoh's dual roles of preserving life and preserving life. His elaborate clothing indicate royalty and priesthood, suggesting a higher law.

The staff in the lower portion of the cartouche evokes a shepherd's role in guiding and protecting his flock, or in this case, his nation. The staff also implies control.

In the upper portion of the cartouche, the Hebrew letter Tav (ת) indicates a tally-mark or truth, suggesting order and divine law. The hieroglyph resembling a flame or raindrop suggests divine intervention, while the celestial letter that looks like a Tree of Life (with only eight sefirot) lying on its side suggests a disruption in the natural order.

In the card's title field, the astrological symbol for Saturn reminds us of restriction, discipline, and authority. The Latin letter G suggests order, while the Arabic numeral eight suggests structure or infinity. Both suggest the enduring need for law and occasionally for punishment.

Stuart Kaplan writes that the pharaoh was a supreme lawgiver and yet above the law. There were no rights for individuals; "the order of the pharaoh's land was considered a reflection of Truth itself." His rule was intended to protect and maintain society. Kaplan emphasizes the negative aspects of power. Prescription may be an expression of tyranny and a rigid hierarchy that stifles individual freedoms.

He writes that the reversed meanings of the card indicate a shift to true justice and greater freedom for individuals within an ordered society. I also see in image in a positive light: a ruler protecting his people from wrongdoers within society or from the depredations of enemies. The card may also indicate that the reader is facing punishment for his or her misdeeds.

Nelise Carbonare Vieira associates this card with the Eight of Swords, meaning a state of imprisonment, often self-imprisonment, and internal conflict, in which individuals can feel powerless and trapped by society's expectations. The reversed card may offer the hope of gaining clearer vision and empowerment, moving beyond self-imposed limitations. She provides these keywords for 62 Proscription: liberation, end of karmic task, and obstacles overcome. Like the Eight of Swords, this card suggests that we can liberate ourselves from the opinions and expectations of others, eliminating those obstacles to our own personal growth.

While a strong ruler can unify and protect a society, Card 62 reminds us of the often harsh nature of authority and control. The symbols suggest a ruler who is both a protector and a punisher. This card indicates that a powerful ruler can protect his people from enemies, but it also warns of the dangers of absolute power and its corrupting influence.The missing sephirot in the Tree of Life suggest a society striving for justice but also fairness.