This is the Moon’s exaltation sign and her effect is therefore very powerful for good if she is free from affliction and well-aspected. Then the fixed nature of Taurus tones down the changeability of the Moon which also blends with the Venus ray. Hence it makes the disposition gentle, self-reliant and determined. It gives perseverance, forethought and kindness, therefore the person attracts all the good things of life, health and wealth, friends and family, houses and lands with the ability to enjoy all these things for it makes him fond of pleasure, sociable and hospitable, a lover of art and music and all other things which make for the enjoyment of life.

The temple Apollo in Delphi is found in central Greece, built around a sacred spring located 38 28’ 53.28 N and 22 29’ 18.65 E., over half a km high, between the cities Theva and Amfissa not far from Athens. It is located on the slopes of the mountain Parnassus.

The temple of Apollo was built in archaic years (around the 6th century BC), but it was destroyed (burnt in 548 and then again in the 4th century) and rebuilt in late classical years and early hellenistic (5th-4th century BC). The result of this is that although the plan of the building is archaic, because it kept being rebuilt on the archaic foundations, the morphological features and details are late classical.

Delphi was considered to be the omphalos – In Greek mythology it is the center if the world. The myth tells how Zeus let fly two eagles and after they went around the earth the both landed in Delphi. They called it the Omphalos (belly button) of earth.

Delphi is perhaps best-known for the oracle at the sanctuary that became dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. With origins in prehistoric times and the worship of Gaia, in the last quarter of the 8th century BC there is a steady increase of artefacts found at the settlement site in Delphi. Pottery and bronze work as well as tripod dedications continue in a steady stream, in comparison to Olympia. Neither the range of objects nor the presence of prestigious dedications proves that Delphi was a focus of attention for worshipers of a wide range, but the strong representation of high value goods are found in no other mainland sanctuary, certainly encourages that view.

An archaeological site was excavated and partially restored by the French school of archaeology in the early 20th century, and it is one of the most important and spectacular sites in Greece, also because of the magnificent landscape.

The archaeological site is in the Unesco World Heritage List. In the museum there are some magnificent statues, preferably the chariot driver (Eniohos) and the Sphinx.

The treasures (thesauroi) dedicated by the city to Apollo. The sanctuary also comprises a theatre, a stadium (where took place athletic games in honour of Apollo, called Pythia), and a secondary sanctuary, all preserved in ruins but remarkably well.

Delphi also became the banking center of the world. Most every “state” kept its treasure in Delphi. It also has a beautiful ancient theatre. There are in the museum, one of the world’s masterpieces of sculpture, a gift from a grateful state the Charioteer.

The lack of a strict religious dogma associated with the worship of Greek gods, also encouraged scholars to congregate at Delphi, and it became a focal point for intellectual enquiry, as well as an occasional meeting place where rivals could negotiate. Delphi became a fantastic showcase of art treasures and Greek cities would send rich gifts to keep the Oracle as an alley. It finally came to an end in the 4th century AD when a newly Christian Rome proscribed its prophesying.

People came from all over Greece to have their questions about the future answered by Pythia, the priestess of Apollo. They asked about personal or political issues (their fate in war, etc), and Pythia, after drinking sacred water from the Castallia fountain, gave ambiguously articulated answers, so that either way she was proven right at the end.

It became famous for its “predictions” The Oracles gave their prophecies in a cave filled with gasses, naturally produced gas from volcanic activity, which gave them their “visions.”. The oracle room is built of a fissure. She spoke incoherently and it was up to the priest hood to interpret her vocalizations. It was a priesthood very well versed in the politics of the times. It was more a political think tank giving advice. A lot of times the “oracle” would give statements, her answers, usually cryptic, might determine the course of everything from when a farmer planted his seedlings, to when an empire declared war.

The predictions made by the Oracle might be translated and understood by two ways, one negative and one positive. For example, if a soldier asked her whether he would stay alive or not and return to the country she replied:

You will die in the war not in your country

If you place the comma before “not”, then you will have: You will die in the war, not in your country and that means that the soldier would die in the war. If you place the comma after “not”, then you will have: You will die in the war not, [but] in your country and that means that he will die in his country.

Argments over the correct interpretation of an oracle were common, but the oracle was always happy to give another prophecy if more gold was provided. A good example is the famous incident before theBattle of Salamis when the Pythia first predicted doom and later predicted that a ‘wooden wall’ (interpreted by the Athenian to mean their ships) would save them.

KING PYRRHUS of Epirus in north-western Greece was engaged in a long-term conflict with the Roman Empire. Desperately desiring a clue regarding its outcome, he went to consult the oracle of Delphi. But the answer he received might be understood in either of the following two ways: (1) “I say that thou son of Æacus canst conquer the Romans. Thou shalt go, thou shalt return, never shalt thou perish in war.” (2) “I say that the Romans can conquer thee, son of Æacus. Thou shalt go, thou shalt never return, thou shalt perish in war.” He chose to understand the oracle in the former way and therefore waged war against Rome. Pyrrhus was utterly defeated. Such cases made ancient oracles notorious for being vague and enigmatic.

The oracle didn’t always make predictions. The oracle often just gave advice. For example…Hercules was the son of Zeus (but not the son of his wife, Hera). The goddess Hera, out of jealousy, was determined to make trouble for Hercules, and made him lose his mind. In this confused state, he killed his wife and children.

When he awakened from his “temporary insanity,” Hercules was shocked and upset by what he’d done. He prayed to the god Apollo for guidance, and the god’s ORACLE told him he would have to serve Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns and Mycenae, for twelve years, in punishment for the murders.

As part of his sentence, Hercules had to perform twelve impossible tasks or labours. (They weren’t impossible for him, though.

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By: DocumentaryMacedonia

About the Author:

What if there were 4 primary colors instread of 3? What if invisible is really a color to the eyes of certain animals but not to humans?
what if aliens, angels, shadow creatures, demons or even “the powers that be” existed in a spectrum of this hidden color and could only be seen by animals?
Could cats see the unknown? Maybe around us there are other beings that only our pets can identify. Has your cat suddenly become frightened and puffed it’s fur? Have you ever felt an evil presence in the room? Maybe the hidden color is revealed when our hidden senses are awakened when we feel frightened to death; for example we may witness a figure in the room that wasn’t there before and then it just disappears. Has anyone witnessed the shadow creatures? I wonder if there has been any research about a possible fourth color invisible to the human eye.
Your comments and thoughts are welcome. Thanks

The Chariot

Description and symbolism
The Chariot symbolizes conflict and victory. It also represents unknown forces pulling you forward swiftly . Positively associated with triumph, movement, change, self-belief, assertiveness, and good news. Negatively associated with rage, tyranny, over inflated ego, selfishness, arrogance, delays, and frustration.
Common Key Words for the chariot include:
Conquest —– Honour —– Victory —– Energy
Egocentrism —– Self confidence —– Conviction —– Anxiety
Willpower —– Self assertion —– Hard control —– Discipline
Inflexibility —– Success —– Wealth —– Recognition
Impulsivity —– Command —– Bravery —– Pride

“The ego is the killer of the common good”
The ancient samurai’s sense of victory lies within the defeat of the other. The New Man will find victory in attaining a great common goal, uniting everybody’s energies to one constructive end.    Accept the new or be stuck in the old, only you can decide for yourself.
Astrology: Ascendant/Mars: Goal-oriented action, intense intent with or towards others.
Theme for contemplation: Cooperation
Affirmation: “Together we are strong”
Hint: Lonesome wolf or team-mate? How flexible are you? Can you let go of control? Be honest. Find new ways to reach a goal as a joint venture.
A powerful, prince like figure sits in a quick chariot, pulled usually by two sphinxes or horses. There is often a black and white motif, for example one of the steeds may be black and the other white. The figure may be crowned or helmeted, and is winged in some representations. He or she may hold a sword or wand, or other masculine symbol. The Thoth deck has the figure controlling four different animals, representing the four elements.
History
Structurally, the Chariot follows The Lovers. After the impulse that pulls us out of the Garden, we get on our chariot and depart. At that point, we are The Hero of our own story; maybe the Hero of everyone’s story. The driver. The fighter pilot. Helios, the Greek god who drives the Sun’s chariot across the sky, bringing light to the earth
The danger of this card is well illustrated by the myth of Phaeton. Phaeton was a son of Hyperion (or Apollo) and a mortal woman. He was often mocked as a bastard by the other kids in his community. When he was old enough, he went on a quest to find his father and win acknowledgment from him.

Hyperion was so overjoyed to see him he swore on the River Styx to do anything he asked to establish his paternity. A foolish oath; Phaeton asked to drive the Sun’s chariot the next day.

This was unfortunate, as even a demigod was probably not strong enough to control the Chariot of the Sun, but gods do not break oaths based on the river that marks the threshold between the living and dead worlds. So deeply grieved, Hyperion showed Phaeton the reins and explained the route, well marked by the circle of animals that makes up the Zodiac.

Tragically, Phaeton was not ready, and might not control the chariot. He sailed too high, and scorched Orion. He flew too low, and burned the Earth herself. Finally, Zeus shot him out of the sky with thunderbolts. He fell to the earth, dead.

Among other things, this story illustrates the danger of reaching too high, unprepared. But a man’s reach must extend his grasp, or else what is heaven for? While in mythic times, this son of the Sun failed, in modern times, we have slipped the surly bonds of earth and flown across the sky.

The Chariot is Key Seven of the Major Arcana.  In classical astrology, there were seven things that predictably wandered against the fixed stars. Mastering those planets meant mastering the system. The Chariot represents the possibility of traveling through the mysteries of the universe. It also evokes the seven gates of hell that Inanna passed through, required to partially disrobe at each one before finally being presented to the Queen of the Underworld, her own sister, Ereshkigal.

Ra from Egyptian mythology piloted the boat of the sun across the sky and back to the gates of dawn down the Nile each night. One night, Apophis, Chaos and Old Night, swallowed the river to keep the sun from rising. Fortunately for us, Ra’s usual enemy, Set, took it upon himself to save the day by cutting Apophis open, allowing Ra to escape. This story bespeaks the reversals of the night; were our deadly enemies may be our best friends.

Another famous chariot driver was the god Krishna who in the Bhagavad Gita drove Arjuna’s chariot and gave him illumination; taught him what his role was.

He is related through cross sums (the sum of the digits) to Key 16, The Tower. Just like the Chariot is what takes us from our womb, our happy home, our happy village, our planet, The Tower carries us from either what we have constructed for ourselves, or what has been constructed for us.

Some authorities say that he is the God of Spring, the Son of the Queen of Heaven. The canopy of his chariot is her starry gown; he wears the waxing and waning moon on his shoulders; the circle of the Zodiac is his belt. He channels energy from the world above (signified by the eight pointed star on his brow; eight here representing Venus) to the world below (signified by the square on his chest, the four corners of the Earth). The star can also represent the infinite; the square the earthly spheres of time and space.

He is fuelled by contradictory impulses, represented by the black and white sphinxes that pull his chariot.

He is the hero they make movies about.

Except when he is the villain of the piece.

He may warn that we are in danger of being pulled to pieces by forces we do not control, do not understand.
Rune: Kenaz
 

THE TAROT PATH OF ACHIEVEMENT

The Chariot begins the second phase of the Path of achievement. It represents
the drive and self-discipline needed to carry out each specific act set down as
part of the first phase. Here we must set ourselves to the accomplishing the
specific acts needed to reach the goal. This is the key to accomplishment . The
self-mastery needed to complete what we set out to do is thus the seventh step
on the Path of Achievement.
 

Divination:

When this card appears, it evokes the Querant’s own path; calling; exile; or random journey. The danger is getting on the wrong path; being overwhelmed; dying before our due time.
The occupant of The Chariot rides forth in glory,
successful, triumphant, victorious! This is a card of hard intellectual work,
particularly of self-control, which brings success through preparation and
brings control over anything in question: health, money, one’s own conflicts,
enemies.

Reversed: The use of unnecessary force, unchannelled effort, lack of
self-control, an unethical or temporary victory, a restless desire for major
change, a control over things that should not be controlled.
Victory

The lovers

Tarot Card 6:  The lovers“The Lovers” pictured in this card are Adam and Eve, who
made the original (and, some would say, inevitable) bad choice. When this
card appears, there is an important choice to be made in the area of love,
feelings, and desire; the need to select between (or to harmonize) your
earthly and your spiritual nature.

The Lovers represent a new breath of life. They symbolize love, devotion and spiritual friendship. Positively associated with desire, new lover, relationships, physical attraction, love, sex, and commitment. Negatively associated with lust, moral lapse, temptation, indecision, separation, failed love affair, and emotional loss of control.

History:

Originally called just Love, the Lovers’ card has an angel (Raphael) or cupid, a man and a woman, two trees (in Waite, it is Adam and Eve under an apple tree with a serpent.   In some decks, one tree is flowering, but the other has fruit. Also in some decks, there are two women for the man to choose from. After a tiring, aimless journey, the Fool arrives at a tree which beckons him to stop, rest for a while, and decide his next move/mission. The blossoming all-knowing tree is supposed to be his landmark, but lo and behold, a Woman is there waiting, as if for him. It is not coincidental that before the Fool arrives at the fruit-bearing tree, he had visited the Emperor first. The Emperor signifies control, power, being on one’s guard, stiffness, and structure—everything that is the opposite of what the Fool is about to find out in love. For love is a surrender to all power. And in that surrender, a new power is energized—one that braves all odds. More than anything, the Lovers tarot card is not just about Love, but also Choice. And realising that he is equipped with Choice, the Fool knows better to follow his heart.
The Lovers represent the impulse that drives us out of the garden, towards adulthood. Sometimes, that impulse manifests as curiosity (Eve, Pandora, Psyche); sometimes it manifests as sexual desire (most horror and teen movies); sometimes it manifests as duty (a soldier heeding the call). could even manifest as the intense desire to go on an adventure botany quest. The quest for the Other. Whatever it is, once we have stepped passed the threshold, there is no returning to the garden.

The Lovers is associated through its cross sum (the sum of the digits) with The Devil, Key 15. He is often the source of the impulse, or that thing inside of us that responds to it. The Devil’s energy is totally necessary, absolutely deadly.

The Lovers also represent raw desire. Buddha instructs us that all life is suffering, the root of suffering is desire, and that desire can be overcome. The Buddha provides one path back to the garden – or to a better garden.

Hajo Banzhaf recommends that if the Major Arcana is seen as a map of the Sun’s circuit of the Sky, The Lovers is high noon. Consciousness at its fullest. Frequently, cards show the Sun in the position of noon. Two trees, bearing fruit and flame, the intoxication of the material world.

Esoteric significance:
Love relationship —– Union —– Passion —– Sexuality
Pleasure —– Humanism —– Desire —– Personal beliefs
Individual values —– Physical attraction —– Connection
Affinity —– Bonding —– Romance —– Heart
Following the Marseille Tradition, also there are:
Choice —– Doubt —– Difficult decision —– Dilemma —– Temptation
Rune: Ehwaz
The smallest is found in the vastest. Earth, sun and moon in perfect alignment, bathing in each other’s light, surrounded by golden stars, represent the harmony that lies within a positive selectivity and perfect choice. From rigidity to never ending new impressions and lessons in the outside and inside world, the choice is everybody’s own conscious decision. No responsibility can be thrown on one’s past or present circumstances.
Astrology: The Lovers is associated with the star sign Gemini, and indeed is also known as The Twins in some decks.  Venus/Ascendant: Good choice, superior taste.
Theme for contemplation: My personal expression of the issues “freedom of choice” and “limitations”.
Affirmation: “I can do anything I want, my limitations are my limitations, and I can change them too”
Hint: Remember possibilities and options that seemed improbable or even impossible a long time ago and are quite normal this day in your life. Other associations are with Air, Mercury, and the Hebrew letter ? (Zayin).
This card stands for temptation, uncontrolled attraction, the struggle between sacred and profane love, the
struggle involved in choosing between the wise, the perfect, the truthful  against the tempting, the tawdry, the unwholesome.
 

THE TAROT PATH OF ACHIEVEMENT:
The Lovers card is the point of decision of whether to proceed with the goal.
Here, we must take all our intuition, our knowledge and experience, our reasoned
thought, and our emotions as the basis for this decision. If there is something
wrong with our goal or the acts we will perform to achieve it, we will know it
here. If there is something wrong, return to the High Priestess and start from
that point again. The sixth step is your decision. When your decision is Yes,
the Chariot awaits you!

Divination:
When The Lovers appear in a spread, it typically draws the Querant’s attention to what ever impulse drove her from home. What ever impulse made him move out, reject the faith of the fathers, made him accept the call. That original impulse should be honoured, but if it dominates the Querant’s life, it will grow tiresome. The call must be renewed.

It can signal an examination of the Querant’s relationship with the garden is needed, be it exile or absence. Sometimes, it can be useful to go beyond Eden and talk about other gardens: the bittersweet Kingdom of Logres built by Arthur to keep back the rising dark for a generation, the idyllic Hobbits’ Shire in The Lord of the Rings, or just a happy childhood. Look for misty eyes of memory, or bitterness at the lack of a past paradise.

The Lovers are also a reminder that we need others to become fully human. Lovers, friends, adversaries –each one teaches us, each ones stretches us. Each can kill us. Each can break our hearts.

In some traditions, The Lovers represents relationships and choices. Its appearance in a spread indicates some decision about an existing relationship, a temptation of the heart, or a choice of potential partners. Often an aspect of the Querant’s life will have to be sacrificed; a bachelorette’s lifestyle may be sacrificed and a relationship gained (or vice versa), or one potential partner may be chosen while another is turned down. Whatever the choice, it should not be made lightly, as the ramifications will be lasting.
 

Upright Meaning:
When upright it signifies dilemma, foresight, union, harmony, making choices through intuition. When reversed, it means indecisiveness, procrastination, infidelity. Card six in the tarot deck is The Lovers. The card is usually interpreted to mean union, passion and sexuality, as well as bonding, romance and heart. The card is seen almost universally as a positive, a sign that the subject has a positive, warm and healthy relationship in their life. There is a modicum of sacrifice with the Lovers card, the idea that the bachelor life will need to be jettisoned in favour of a caring and fulfilling relationship. The card is considered a positive building block when it comes up during a reading, a sign of good things to come.

Reversed:
 disharmony, quarrels, danger of a broken union (a marriage, a business relationship, a
friendship, whatever). There is a need to stabilize the emotions, to wrench
the unbalanced back into a stable position. The wrong choice lurks anew at
every moment!

The Hierophant

The Hierophant is a symbol of moral law and convictions. He is also a welcomed advisor and spiritual guide. Positively associated with advice, wise counsel, spiritual consolation, knowledge, identification, faith, conformity, and traditions. Negatively associated with misinformation, lack of faith, deviousness, bad advice, confusion, and disorderly conduct.

A contemporary figurehead representing strong and highly restrictive belief-systems has a lamb on either side, representing those who would rather enjoy the safety of a borrowed world-view than the challenge of creating one’s own. The original idea behind the belief-systems is more often than not put whirl wind by those administering rigidity to previously perhaps enlightening framework of ideas and visions. This is represented by the man nailed to the cross standing on it’s head. Below is the visual counterpart of the mind-set of a “true believer”: a narrowly woven fabric of thoughts.
 

History:
Often referred to in older decks as “The Pope”, and occasionally as “Jupiter”. The papacy was not just a religious force, but was a political and military force as well. When the tarot was invented, the Pope controlled a large portion of central Italy. Renaissance culture did not question the abstract best of the Pope as God’s human representative on Earth. In Tarot of Marseilles, he wears a red cape and a blue robe, in contrast to The Papess, who wears a indigo cape and indigo robe.

The more commonly encountered modern name “Hierophant” is due to Antoine Court de Gébelin, and was the title of a chief priest in the Eleusinian mysteries (an ancient Greek priest who interpreted sacred mysteries), and is usually regarded as the spiritual counterpart of the temporal Emperor card.

In many modern packs, the Hierophant is represented with right hand raised in what is known esoterically as the blessing or benediction, with two fingers pointing skyward and two pointing down, thus forming a bridge between Heaven and Earth reminiscent of that formed by the body of The Hanged Man. The Hierophant is thus a true “pontiff”, in that he is the builder of the bridge between deity and humanity.

In most iconographic depictions, the Hierophant is seen seated on a throne between two pillars symbolizing Law and Liberty or obedience and disobedience, according to different interpretations. He wears a triple crown, and the keys to Heaven are at his feet.
 

Esoteric significance:
Some frequent keywords are: Education, knowledge, status quo, institution
Conservatism, discipline, maturity, formality
Deception, Power, Respect, Duality
Social convention, belief system, group identification
experience, tradition, naïve
“What we believe is what we perceive”
Astrology: Saturn/Ascendant: Restriction with or towards the other, limited behavioural choices.
Theme for contemplation: What do I “know” and what do I “believe”?
Affirmation: “Nothing is impossible”
Hint: In your mind create weird situations, act them out and visualize the worst possible consequences for yourself. imagine it in totality, after all, your thoughts are yours. Watch the tendency to cling to old and “safe” images and situations. Check your evaluations, where did those criteria come from? Are they yours truly or learned from others? There is no need to communicate these experiences unless your really want to.
Rune: Raido

THE TAROT PATH OF ACHIEVEMENT:
The Pope represents the super consciousness symbolized by the cup upon the
Magician’s table. Here is the first test of the goal we have set for ourselves.
Our emotions guide us to understanding the super consciousness. Does this goal
feel right? Is this what I need to do? Seek quietly within the mind and allow
your emotions to tell you the rightness of this goal. This is the fifth step on
the Path to Achievement.
 

Divination:
The Hierophant (Pope or High Priest) – This card represents the force of
spiritual authority as it manifests itself in our world through institutions:
the church, the priest, the commandments and traditions of orthodox religion,
the desire to maintain tradition or the literal letter of the law, the
conflict that can arise between the faithful and their earthly institutions,
between the need for the grace God freely provides and the capability of an
earthly institution to deliver it.
 

Upright Meaning:
It can indicate a preference for tradition, for form over substance in any context, a need for social approval
(acceptance by family or friends), a desire to belong, or a preference for the
superficial at the expense of deeper meaning. Sometimes this card predicts an
upcoming ritual (wedding, graduation, Promotion).

Reversed:
Reversed: an openness to new and unconventional ideas. New ideas, in this context, will always bring
disharmony with the establishment (Jesus said “I came not to bring peace but a
sword”). This card warns of an element of falsity: the seeker may be carried
away by any attractive fancy just because it is different from what has been
imposed on him before. Freedom may be a blessing but it is not always wise to
exercise it at every opportunity; neither is it wise to toss all convention to
the wind. There is a need for careful choice between the new and true, and
the merely new and different.