Tarot

[Bereshith]

Is that a scepter or a sword that she's got? The bottom looks like a sword, but if so, then the hilt seems impractical, and she'd be holding it by the blade. I can't tell.

Either way, the original sub-topic is really about whether or not Mr. Duquette was phoning it in when he wrote that hexagram bit about the Hierophant in Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot.

I don't think so. I think he was simplifying very complex symbolism. Maybe it was written so simply as to confuse the reader. But we have not been simple about it, and it has required many words and abstruse concepts even to debate. That's the kind of thing that turns beginners off. So to me, it seems like a choice, and the choice makes sense.

Surgo - I think you should reconsider your vehement rejection of the book. But if not, then we'll simply disagree.

Welcome to the forum...

[Bereshith]

Flashlight. Definitely a flashlight...

[Uni_Verse]

While the presence of a regular hexagram is debatable, the implication is most assuredly there.

[P is for Pomegranate]

So from one perspective - that of the outward appearance - the hexagram is implied by the apparent marriage of creative fire and watery equilibrium by the robes of the Priest and Priestess, but the symbol shown on the card suggests the more fundamental relationship is between Spirit and Water. Or perhaps Spirit in the Act of Creativity - appearing fiery, united with Spirit in the Act of Equilibrium, and appearing watery, as befits a universal solvent?

Thanks, Dar.

[Uni_Verse]

The arrangement of the hexagram brings this to my mind:

The water triangle, completed:
What descends from above;
Which can only ever equal,
The Flame within

[Heru]

I think perhaps you are missing the artist's intent.

The description of the Hierophant from the 1942 exhibition catalogue (written by Harris herself) - complete with three pentagrams.

..... The pentagram with a point upwards and the dancing child shows that he has the heart of a child; in the reversed pentagram the meaning seems to suggest he has dominion through will; the final pentagram again points upwards, showing his acceptance of a governing cosmic law. ....

[Bereshith]

While I accept literalists as brothers, I refuse to argue with them about abstract and symbolic art.

[Jim Eshelman]

While I accept literalists as brothers, I refuse to argue with them about abstract and symbolic art.

[Zalthos]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Bottom line: there is no hexagram on the card, period.

By my own estimation, there's an apparent hexagram here, but the traditional fire triangle has been replaced by the top point of a larger pentagram reaching outside the frame of the card (mostly below it). The pitch of the angle suggests this, as its the same as the inner upright pentagram with the child in it. The four cherubic, elemental points of the larger pentagram are, again, outside of the frame of the card. The highest horizontal line of this larger pentagram might be seen if it weren't for the robes of the Hierophant.

Aside from all that, what's interesting to me is bottom point of the proper water triangle is touching the apex of another polygon.

Love is the law, love under will.