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XIII. Death





Ah! Ah! Death! Death! thou shalt long for death.  Death is forbidden, oh man unto thee.

Not to get al thelemic on you, this quote is what first comes to mind when thinking about "Death".  While Crowley's commentary on that quote has a lot of gems, it is not relevant to this essay.

Because this blog is and has been old-school.

The experiment has been conducted in the similar way as for the other paths.  Let the card be the first and last thing I see every day, let at least 15 minutes be spent every morning contemplating all the nuances of the image.

The "Death" card is described by A. E. Waite as follows:

World of Ascent in the spirit.  Back banner emblazoned with the mystic Rose signifies life.  Between the two pillars shines the Sun of immortality.  The veil or mask of life is perpetuated in change, transformation and passage from lower to higher.

Joseph Lisiewski's interpretation of the upright and reverse meanings: upright: physical death, an end, a massive nebulous change or transformation in the individual, comparable to the end of a part of the self as occurs in the attainment of the knowledge and conversation of the HGA.

reverse: corruption, disintegration, decomposition through putrefactin, stasis.

Meanings refer to the evolution and development of the self through the process of self-growth, the means used to achieve this state not withstanding.

Hyatt's description is one of the most down-to-earth: "Involuntary change as opposed to the moon symbol (waning and waxing). Transformation.  Think of your body out of control of your mind."

unless having frequent ticks or convulsions, it is difficult to relate to the body out of control of the mind.  Considering how much of the physical organism is running on automatic, it is surprising that any part of the human being is under his or her will...

observing the changes at work, in the world, while walking to the office from the train station - none of it is under the ego's conscious control - yet its all a part of the self.

As the mysterious knight moves slowly through the world "death" occurs all around him - which leads to a rebirth and life later... the cycle continues.  The knight seems like more of a messenger in the Rider-Waite deck than an agent of change.  Bodies are sprawled all around - kings, children, men, women... the prelate in front of the knight is crying tears of blood, not understanding the doctrine of eternal life.

as "death" relates to work a sweeping configuration change is like this.

changes occuring in the "out-there" world and the creativity needed to deal with it.




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