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#hermes is the messenger god and also the god that leads the souls of people after the die in the underworld

house-of-slayterr · 2 years

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The Lost Boys as Gods

Inspired By: @oceansrose2002

Tag: @vampirism-and-slashers @tohuntafreak @vechkinfan @dickspaghettii

Max:

I think Max would be Cronus. Cronus was the son of Heaven and the earth, and the youngest of his 12 siblings. He was king of the Titans, similar to how Max is the maker of the boys. He lived in fear of being overthrown by his own children, so he ate them. Of course, this didn't stop them from overthrowing him anyways. Cronus is highly egotistical and chronically paranoid. Max named a whole store after himself, how much more egocentric could you be?

Lucy:

Sweet Lucy would be Hera, the goddess of marriage, women and family. Being a mother suits Lucy, she cares deeply for her children and would do anything for them. She puts them before herself. Hera is the protector of women and childbirth. Lucy makes people feel safe and welcome. But that doesn't mean she isn't a threat. A mother who feels her children are in danger won't hesitate to attack. Lucy is fierce yet comforting, she loves deeply and it shows in her actions.

David:

I think David would be Hades. No, not because he is the ruler of the underworld, well maybe partially because of that. But I picked Hades for him because of his leadership qualities. David was made to rule, and he just so happens to be the ruler of dead things. Many people don't think David to be much of an animal person, but I do think he would look good with Cerberus by his side. David would have a Doberman, that he would use to help lure in human victims. Hades was involved in the plot to overthrow Cronus, and I think David truly wants to be rid of Max.

Paul:

Paul is a bit tricky but I think he would be Dionysus. Dionysus is the god of fruitfulness and vegetation, but more importantly, he is the god of wine and ecstasy. Dionysus was heavily worshipped and had his own cult, similar to how people flocked to him, Paul has the easiest chance of getting victims to come to him. Paul's flirtatious personality is intoxicating and effortless. I think if he applied himself, her could easily have started a cult. He would have people lining up, willing to sacrifice themselves to him. But he respects David and pretends to be dumber than he is because of this.

Marko:

Now onto Marko, I think he would be Ares, the god of bloodlust and war. Marko is highly skilled at tracking, a skill that would be very useful in war. Marko has a bit of a sadistic air about him, but he's good at hiding it. He's incredibly handsome and smarter than he lets on. Unlike Ares's sister Athena, this god isn't nearly as serious and strategic. Marko could easily lead the pack if he tried, but again, he respects David too much to attempt to overthrow him. He'd enjoy the power but doesn't want the responsibility.

Dwayne:

Now Dwayne, the love of my life, would be Hermes. Hermes is the Harold of the gods, better known as the messenger. Dwayne is a man of choice words, choosing instead to use nonverbal cues to convey most of his messages. He's more of a listener than a talker, always observant and always cautious. This is not to say he doesn't take risks, but they are always calculated ones. Hermes was dubbed, the protector of human heralds and thieves. I believe Dwayne views human life a little more sacredly than the others, of course, he doesn't deny his nature, but he'd sooner feed from the neck of a tyrant, than a civilian. Hermes is also known as the conductor of souls. I think Dwayne would be the best out of all of them to seek out new members of the pack, he is the best judge of character.

Micheal:

Micheal, the loveable fool, would be Hercules, the protagonist. Hercules is the divine hero, half mortal, half god. Although Hercules is typically known for his strength, he is also known for his beauty. Amongst the gods he ain't much in the way of looks, but hidden amongst the humans, it was nearly impossible for anyone to look away. Even the men of the time swooned over him, they were just something captivating and mysterious about his aura. Hercules must go on the typical Heros journey of self-discovery and self-reflection. Although he longs to be in Olympia with the other gods, his home is back on earth. Similar to how Hercules would sacrifice himself for those he loves, Michela would sacrifice himself for Star and Laddie.

Star:

Now, this may seem obvious, but I believe Star would be Persephone. She is the thing everyone wants, but can't have. David is very possessive and territorial, similar to how Hades is with Persephone. Persephone is the goddess of spring and growth. There is just something light and airy about the way Star feels. Despite David's desperation to pull her into the darkness with him, Star thrives in the light. She deserves to be in the sun half the year, and in the "underworld" with the boys the other half.

Sam:

My sweet little baby Sam, would surprising enough, be Alastor. For those of you who aren't familiar with this god, Alastor is the avenger of evil deeds and familial bloodshed. Poor little Sammy learns that his own brother has been dragged into the world of vampires. It was hard for him because little boys look up to their older brothers. Micheal is supposed to be his protector, and his guardian when Lucy cannot be there for him. He's supposed to be the one he can go to with all his silly questions or comfort him when he's scared. Sam is forced to pick between doing what is right and protecting his family. All Alastor ever wanted was to be loved by the humans, but was condemned to a fate of eternal loneliness. Because the other gods weren't happy with his choice. But unlike our ill-fated god, Sam chooses correctly, and therefore does not suffer the curse.

Edgar:

Edgar would be Thanatos, the personification of death. Edgar takes his role as a hunter very seriously. If he was asked to make a choice between living a normal life or being a hunter, I believe he would choose the latter in a heartbeat. He has a great disdain so the undead. His mother was the goddess of night, and his brother was the god of sleep. Edgar belongs to the darkness, although not a vampire himself, he's fated to live his life in the shadows. To beat your enemy, you must first understand the world from their perspective. To fight a vampire and win on their terf isn't easy, unless of course, you even the playing field. But informally, his brother suffers the consequence instead. But I believe Edgar would trade places with him if he could.

Allen:

I think Allen would be Prometheus. Prometheus is the Titan god of fire. He was discarded by the other gods for teaching the mortals how to use fire. Which is frowned upon because gods saw humans as beneath them. Allen's hamartia was showing Sam how to be a hunter. Therefore bring someone innocent into the world of the undead. This is why, despite all Edgar's best efforts, Allen is the one who is punished. He becomes the very thing he has sworn to destroy, but it's not all that bad. I think it's sort of funny that the brothers work in a comic book store because this means they definitely read the Blade Trinity comics. Blade is only as great a hunter as he is because he is a vampire himself. So as Prometheus was condemned to death for his sins, Allen suffers the same consequence.

Laddie:

And last but not least, my baby. Laddie would be Asclepius, the god of medicine. Now I know he's just the cutest little baby, so how could he possibly remind me of the god of medicine? Well, my interpretation for this one is a little more abstract. Asclepius was skilled in the art of healing and was punished by Zeus out of fear he would immortalise all men. Children aren't known to have the best emotional control, which is why in many stories, immortal children are feared. Laddie doesn't fully understand what he and the boys are, because he doesn't know any better. But nobody would be so heartless as to try and put down a child. Conversely, I think Laddie represents healing because of his childlike nature. Deep down, the boys want to be better for Laddie, they don't want him to live in fear, like how they fear Max. Laddie's smile alone can light up the whole cave. He brings with him a sense of joy, laughter and belonging. Laddie is what makes the boys feel like a family. Psychologically he is the essence of healing and growth.

So let me know what you guys think. Would you pick different deities? Or do you agree with my decisions? I must admit I spent way too much time on this, a little over 2 hours. So hopefully I won't get roasted.

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papihalliwell · 1 year

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As I’ve dived into the depths of astrology within the past two years, I’ve observed some placements rather closely, due to close relationships with these placements. This is my personal observation and are not entirely facts, if they resonate please feel free to share. ☺️💕

8th House Moons - This placement tends to be harsh to the native because the moon is all about security and the 8th House is the opposite of secure and nurturing. It is the feeling of constant anxiety and paranoia. However, this placement is extremely intuitive. But, due to the constant feelings of anxiety and paranoia their intuition may be overlooked and ignored as just that. Like Scorpios, they are perceptive and sensitive and can pick up on the slightest change of energy around them. They are always aware of the world around them and will usually pick up on the smallest details others may miss. However, this can also cause emotional insecurity and misunderstanding because of how observant they are.

Scorpio Suns - Scorpios are the Leos of the water signs. They are not flashy when it comes to attention, depending on their natal chart aspects, however they tend to be eye catchers no matter where they go. They say that Scorpios have bird-like eyes, but me personally, they have cat-like eyes or more so bed room eyes. Kind of like Jessica Rabbit. Speaking of Jessica Rabbit, they also look good in the color red, I believe it to be the traditional Martian energy they possess. Also, like their Modern ruler Pluto, they tend to lean more into darker colors because their emotions are so deep, and intense. This may be a bit controversial, however a lot of Scorpios I know do not tend to lean towards occult studies, like their counterpart Taurus they are more practical and tend to lean more towards logic.

Gemini Placements - Geminis have obtained a controversial reputation in Modern Astrology, and because of this, I believe it’s because of Gemini’s ruler Mercury. In Mythology, Mercury is represented by the Greek God Hermes, who was known as a trickster, and messenger. Like their ruler, Gemini’s are rather cunning because of how well they collect information and because of this they know how to use this to their advantage. I don’t want to say that they are manipulative even though it may appear that way, but the Gemini’s I’ve come across have that sort of energy to them. I am not slandering them, I actually enjoy Geminis, they are funny, witty and always a good time but, they are also represented by the twins. Because of this, I feel they are also prone to be manipulated in some aspect of their life. Also, they can either be hot or cold people, some I’ve met are talkative, party-going, and spontaneous, and others I’ve met are introverted, non-chalant and easily irritated. Maybe it depends on which twin you encounter.

Virgo Placements - I have a love for Virgo Placements because I am a Virgo Rising, but boy do we come off kind of bitchy. Like most Earth placements, they come off reserved, and detached. They also have an icy exterior to them that makes them look irritated and unapproachable however that is not always the case. Like Geminis, Virgos love to talk once you’ve warmed them up. They may come across as judgmental because of how analytical they are. They are also ruled by Mercury which makes them very good at picking up information like Geminis. Although they come across as ice queens and kings, they are very sensitive. Personally I know that water signs get the rep of being intuitive but I say it is Virgos. Like their Ruler Mercury aka Greek God Hermes, he was also known as the the guide to the dead, leading souls into the underworld. Which is why they can also pick up on energy changes around them. They are also ruled by their digestive system and rely heavily on their gut instincts. A Virgo once told me (my Nana), “always trust those random gut feelings, because they are never wrong.” Because they are ruled by their digestive system, they tend to have a lot of body anxiety which can cause their intuition to be ignored, some what like 8th House Moons, or 8th House Placements in general. Virgos also have an intense, mysterious look, probably because of how similar to Scorpios they are. They also enjoy the company of miss Mary Jane.

Once again, these are my personal observations, and if you made it to the very end of this post please like and reblog. Thank You! Much Love Astro Babes!!😘💕✨

#astrology #gemini #virgo placements #scorpio #8th house #moon #like #share #much love #thanks a bunch

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mask131 · 2 years

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Magical summer: Hermes Trismegistus

HERMES TRISMEGISTUS

Category: Greco-Egyptian mythology / Hermetic teachings and literature

You might have heard of Hermes Trismegistus? Have you not? Thoth-Hermes? Hermes “Three Times Great”, “Mercurius Tres Maximus”? Well if you haven’t heard of him you probably heard of the adjective that was formed after him: “hermetic”. Originally used to designate the texts and teachings supposedly related to Hermes Trismegistus, it quickly evolved as an adjective for any kind of obscure, cryptic, hard-to-understand text ; and then by displacement became a word to designate anything that is tightly shut or solidly closed (aka “hard to access”/”hard to get into”, just like the texts).

I) How Hermes Trismegistus was born

You might have noticed that in this person’s name, “Hermes” the Greek god can be found. Because originally Hermes Trismegistus was “Thoth-Hermes”, a religious syncretism.

Quick presentation: Hermes was in Greek mythology the messenger of the gods, herald of Zeus, as well as the patron of all messengers. He was also the god of merchants, commerce AND paradoxically the god of thieves (the Greeks had a pretty cynical and humoristic view of the world, leading them to consider that basically thieves and merchants were just two sides of the same coin). What was the common point between those two sides of the god? One was smooth talk – Hermes was the god of eloquence, a master of truth and lies that gave messengers diplomacy, merchants a silver tongue and bandits the ability to trick people with their sweet words. Another is cleverness: while Hermes is not a god of wisdom, he is certainly an intelligent god, a cunning trickster and a witty “jack-of-all-trades” who was said to have invented a lot of useful things in everyday life. He was the inventor of many athletic disciplines, he was a god of science that helped invent things such as weights, measures, geometry and mathematics, he also might have been the inventor of the alphabet or helped invent it… Another important function related to his role as a god of messengers and merchants was that he was the deity of travel, and the patron of all travelers, god of all roads and trips. By extension he was the god that could travel through all the different parts of the world, and as a result he formed a bridge between the different universes of the Greek: not only was he the one who carried the messages and orders of the gods to the mortals, from Olympus to Earth, but he also was the psychopomp deity whose role was to take the souls of the dead to the world of Hades, linking the worlds of the living and the dead.

Now, Egyptians and Greeks ended up becoming very close. There was an “Hellenistic” period in Ancient Egypt where the Egyptian culture and art was influenced by the Greek’s ; Greeks historians, philosophers and scientist took a HUGE interest in Egypt’s culture, traditions and religion ; and there was even a whole dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs that were of Greek origin, the Ptolemaic dynasty. Due to this closeness, the Greeks decided to syncretize their gods and the Egyptians’, out of the belief that all foreign gods were just the Greek gods by another name (and similarly the Egyptians adopted heavily the Greek versions of their own gods). When it came time to find Hermes’ clone/double, the Greeks settled on Thoth and decided to fuse them together as one deity (which actually had temples in Egypt). As a quick recap, Thoth is a god of wisdom and intelligence (with a strong lunar connection), who was renowned as being the master of knowledge, science and teaching: he invented the writing system, he invented the calendar, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, etc… His official role in mythology was to be the “god-scribe” and the patron of all scribes and scholars – for example in the heavens, whenever the king of the gods made a law for the world or the other gods, Thoth was here to write it down and spread it ; and in the Underworld whenever Osiris judges the souls of the dead, Thoth is also here to note how the trial goes and what the result is. This great bureaucratic presence over the different parts of the universe didn’t just made him a super-archivist: he also was said to be the keeper of all the secrets of the gods, making him a very respected god. By extension it was believed that all the sacred and religious texts humans had for their religion had been written by Thoth and given by him to them as a way to help them understand the world and properly worship the gods.

The fusion of these two deities created “Thoth-Hermes”, but to actually get to Hermes Trismegistus we have to add a few more ingredients. You see, Egyptians loved to turn into deities great men of their history or culture, and two of these divinized men ended up being fused with Thoth-Hermes (they were originally just worshipped next to him, alongside him as equals or equivalents, and then quickly all merged into one entity). One was Imhotep, the chancellor of the Pharaoh Djoser and a high priest of Ra, who was considered a wise author, a great physician, a memorable architect, and a master of many other crafts ; the second was Amenhotep (son of Hapu), a famous priest, philosopher and scribe that served Amenhotep III for various jobs (recruiter, architect, steward…). Alongside Thoth-Hermes they formed a trio of “scholar deities” and “intellect gods” that ruled over wisdom, science, writing and medicine.

We don’t know exactly where “Trismegistus”, “The Three Times Great”, part of the name comes from and many theories exist – but we know that it was the title this syncretism of Thoth, Hermes, Imhotep and Amenhotep. And, thanks to the addition of these late twos, the idea that Hermes Trismegistus as a whole was actually a deified man, and not a “pure god”, started to spread…

II) Who was Hermes Trismegistus?

To this question no one has a precise answer, but all share a common idea: he once was a man, who was a great and intelligent scholar, master of science and philosophy, and he ended up becoming deified. It might all have started with a Greek historian of the 4th century BCE, that described Hermes Trismegistus as the deified version of the man who invented writing, astronomy, the lyre and olive tree’s culture. This idea was very popular around the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, which kept inventing numerous genealogies and families for this Hermes Trismegistus, often trying to explain the “triple” part of his name: for example one text claimed that Hermes Trismegistus was called like that because he was the third of a line of three renowned men all called “Hermes”. Roman scholar Cicero evoked the idea that Mercury (the Roman form of Hermes) was actually the deification of five different historical people or the fusion of five different entities: he notably listed the fifth Mercury as being the one called “Thoth”, that fled to Egypt after the murder of Argus (a Greco-Roman myth).

What is very interesting is that the myth of Hermes Trismegistus was quickly taken back and assimilated by all three monotheistic religions that rose at the end of Antiquity. Arpan, a Jewish writer, published in 200 BCE a text claiming that “Thoth-Hermes” was actually the Greek and Egyptian’s interpretation of the Biblical figure of Moses, and he said that he was deified because he taught Egyptians philosophy, how to build war machines, sailing, the making of water pumps, the forging of weapons and how to create cranes to lift stones. In 850 a Persian astrologist, Albumasar, proposed a theory that was later taken back and readapted by Robert of Chester (a 12th century British scholar) and Pietro of Abano, a 13th century Italian physician/philosopher: according to him, there were three different people named “Hermes” through history. The first Hermes was a grandson of the Biblical Adam, that lived in Egypt after the Flood, the inventor of hieroglyphs and introducer of “divine science and wisdom” ; the second Hermes was a philosopher, physician and arithmetician that lived after the Babylonian Flood (different from the Biblical Flood) and was a predecessor to the works of Pythagoras ; and the third Hermes (the one called “Three Times Great” in homage of his predecessors) was a “natural philosopher” and physician that lived in Egypt and invented the art of alchemy. This last part is very important, as the idea that Hermes Trismegistus was the inventor of alchemy stuck in popular imagination.

Another part of this idea stuck to popular imagination: the idea that Hermes Trismegistus introduced a “divine wisdom” from monotheistic religion into the pagan religions of Antiquity. Christians especially loved this idea, as they had a whole concept according to which there is a “true, authentic, primitive theology” that actually exists in all pagan religions and unites all religions to Christianity (basically there is the idea that Christianity is the religion that got closer to what God told to humanity, and that the other religions are not entirely false or wrong, but are just less exact or more misinterpretative of what God gave and taught humans). As a result many Christians scholars through the centuries claimed Hermes Trismegistus was actually a wise pagan or scholar-king that predicted and foresaw the coming of Christianity : some say he was a contemporary of Moses, others said he as part of a series of pre-Christian prophets stuck between Zoroaster and Plato, while a third version say he was the third inheritor of a bloodline of prophet linking him to Enoch and Noah.

A Renaissance theory claimed that Hermes was called “three-times great” because he was at the same time the greatest philosopher, the greatest priest and the greatest king, and that he was so renowned because he was the writer of a great theogony that was actually preparing the arrival of Christianity and served as a prototype for Christian teachings and beliefs: this same theory claims that Hermes Trismegistus had several “apprentices” and “heirs” that took on his role one by one, and most notable in this line of “triply-great theologians” were Orpheus, Pythagoras and Plato.

III) Hermetic literature

Hermes Trismegistus could have stayed an historical oddity or a religious footnote, if it wasn’t for the popularity of what he wrote. Or at least what peopled assumed he wrote.

Starting with the Middle-Ages, and all the way up to Renaissance, people thought Hermes Trismegistus was a real man, and MANY MANY different books, treaties, texts and grimoires were attributed to him, said to be his work containing his many teachings, theories and secrets. Some of these texts were astrology and astronomy treaties. Others were alchemy grimoires. Some were books of magic. And soon, all this literature and all this teaching got fused together: the art of Hermes Trismegistus became a mix of astrology, magic, alchemy known as the “hermetic tradition” or “hermetica”. Quickly, these texts and teachings became so numerous and so big the “hermetic tradition” split into two different school of thoughts/type of texts. (While early historians were quite reasonable talking about 42 books Hermes Trismegistus wrote, mostly about philosophy and medicine, the numbers quickly became insane and went up to 200 000 or 36 525 – to the point people at the time theorized that “Hermes Trismegistus” was just a random name people gave to unknown authors of remarkable texts, because there just too many books for one person to write).

One is the “philosophical hermetica”, or “religio-philosophical hermetica”, which as its name indicates is actually a philosophical approach to monotheistic religion (or a religious approach to philosophy depending on how you see it): a mix of cosmologies, theologies, moralities and philosophical treaties speaking about the various relationships between humans and the cosmos, the cosmos and God, God and the humans. The second part of the hermetica is the “technical hermetica” a form of “occult science” mixing astrology, medicine, and pharmacology mostly focused on very concrete and physical results: the art of alchemy, the brewing of potions, and other practical magic rites.

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To talk a bit more about the expansion of the "hermetic" adjective, there is also an interesting part about the expression "hermetically sealed". Because you see, before becoming an "airtight seal", the "hermetic seal" was actually an important part of the alchemical process to make the Philosopher's Stone. It was a kind of seal/sealing called as such because its technique and recipe was found in the Hermetic writings. You might have noticed it before with the rest of my posts, but EVERYTHING TIES BACK TO ALCHEMY

#magical summer #alchemy #hermes trismegistus #alchemist #hermes #thoth #thoth-hermes #greco-egyptian mythology

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artemiscalled · 1 year

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Spring Flowers and Grief

Many spring flowers take their name from Greek mythology.

Many of these stories focus on the grief and loss of heroes or gods and their creation of flowers as an act of remembrance for those they have lost.

The Crocus

One of the earliest spring flowers to appear is the crocus. This flower is known to pop its head through the breaking snow as it leads the way for other spring flowers to follow. Crocuses are known for multiplying each year with colors ranging from purple to orange, from yellow to white and everything in between. In Greek mythology, as told by the physician Galen, Crocus was a beloved companion of the god Hermes. Unfortunately, Crocus was killed accidentally by Hermes during a discus game. As Hermes mourned, he transformed Crocus’ body into a flower. Many people associate the crocus with happiness, joy and cheerfulness. It is generally recognized as a symbol of hope that the dark days of winter are at an end and that life will return and flourish.

As best said by Miss H.F. Gould in The Poetry of Flowers: “Many, perhaps, from so simple a flower, This little lesson may borrow, Patient today, through its gloomiest hour, We come out the brighter tomorrow.”

The Hyacinth

The hyacinth is a mid-spring bloom that creates a strong fragrance and flash of color that can be lavender, cobalt blue, deep purple, cream, pink and even apricot. Hyacinths also get their name from a Greek legend, the handsome hero Hyancithus. The hero was slain by the Greek god of the west wind, Zephyr. The god Apollo was so saddened that he used the hero’s blood to create a flower, the hyacinth. Outside of Greek myths, the hyacinth made its way to Europe in the late 1500s and remained exclusively in the gardens of European royalty until the 18th century. The hyacinth represents peace, commitment and beauty. The Greeks also saw the hyacinth as a flower symbolizing power and pride. In the early Christian church, the tall, upright flower represented happiness and love. One of the most common colors, purple, has special symbolism. Purple hyacinths symbolize sorrow, forgiveness and spirituality.

The Iris

The iris is a well-known perennial flower that finds it way into many photographs and artwork. This spring bloom leaves many gardens bathed in color as they unfurl stunning flowers that appear from spring to early summer. The petals look like tall signal flags, waving in a sea of green stalks. The name, iris, comes from the Greek word for rainbow. In fact, Iris is the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the Iris was even a companion to the souls of women who were on their way to heaven. The flower was used to decorate the scepters of pharaohs in Egypt as they were victorious in battle and was the inspiration for the fleur-de-lis that was used by the French monarchy. The iris is tied to many different meanings. The purple iris symbolizes royalty and wisdom, yellow symbolizes passion, white represents purity, and blue symbolizes faith and hope. In fact, the Greek people still plant purple irises on women’s graves to help them on their journey after death.

The Daffodil

Daffodils bloom in early to mid-spring and are often either a vibrant yellow or showy white. They have six petals and are known as the yellow trumpets of spring. In England, they are also called Lent lilies. Many common flowers also take their scientific name from Greekmythology. The vibrant yellow daffodil is a part of the Narcissus genus which includes the Narcissus jonquilla. Narcissus, of course, was the Greek man granted beauty from the gods. He spurned the affection of a wood nymph named Echo and left her devastated and consumed in grief. The journey didn’t end well for Narcissus, as he later looked into a shimmering lake and fell in love with his own image. As he disappeared, the fate given him by the gods, a golden flower appeared in his place. As a spring bloom, they have come to symbolize strength, fortitude and overcoming obstacles. Daffodils, throughout history, represent rebirth and new beginnings. The yellow hue symbolizes vitality, community, forgiveness and memories.

Reflecting on Flowers and Grief

Flowers and grief have always been connected. We send flowers when someone loses a loved one. These flowers are used as a visual expression of our sympathy, grief, love and respect for the one we have lost and the family they leave behind. But the power of the simple flower is greater than that. We can see it in the common thread of the stories behind these spring blooms. All of the Greek myths above directly touch upon love and loss. Each of the flowers carries with it symbolism that turns our thoughts to the task of grief work. They encourage hope, optimism, forgiveness and remembrance. So, as the weather gets warmer, take a little time to stop and reflect. Consider doing more than just smelling the flowers.

Source: AngelHospice.org

#not mine #grief #spring flowers #mythology

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noctivague · 3 years

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30 Days of Hermes

Day 3 - Symbols and Icons of this Deity

I will list and explains the origin of the most important attributes and animals sacred to Him.

The Caduceus - Often mistaken with the rod of Asclepius, the caduceus (kerykeion in greek) is also called the herald staff and is a golden staff with two intertwined winged snakes. The staff originally belonged to Apollo who gave it to him in exchange of the instrument he crafted (see Tortoise). Later on it is said that he was journeying to Arcadia when He saw two snakes fighting. He put the staff between them, thus ending the struggle and bringing peace. He uses it to lull people to sleep or wake them at will, to take care of the cattle, and to lead the souls into the underworld.

The Winged Sandals - They allow Hermes to travel as fast as the wind and to go anywhere he wants, flying above the earth, the oceans and even into the underworld. They are said to be golden and mesmerizing to look at.

Cloak and Hat - Hats and cloaks are worn by travelers to protect them in their journey and thus are a reminder that the god, being the Messenger, is always on the move. However those are no ordinary items as it is said that the hat, also called cap of Hades, can render the wearer invisible. The hat usually has wings.

Ram - He was often depicted with or even riding a ram. The epithet kriophoros, meaning ram bearer, is a reference to the myth where He saved a city from a plague by carrying a ram over his shoulders around the city.

Hare - It is said that Hermes placed the hare in the sky as the constellation Lepus to honor its speed.

Hawk - Hermes is the god of birds omen and is thus connected to all the birds. Hawks are associated with many gods, in myth he turned two men into hawks.

Tortoise - In the Homeric hymn, he uses the shell of a tortoise to create the first lyre that he will exchange to Apollo for the herald’s staff. It is therefore a symbol of His cleverness and creativity.

Resource: theoi.com

#30 days of devotion #hermes #hermes deity #hermes god #hellenic polytheism #helpol #hellenic pagan #hellenic gods #hellenic community #hellenism #polytheism #hermes devotee #theoi #hermes worship #deity worship

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momowho34 · 3 years

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The more I research angels (mostly jewish angels) the more I like... love them??? Like??? Their characteristics are so interesting and the way they interact I keep researching waiting for it to get boring and I end up loving this shit oml no wonder people write fiction abt this shit so much there is like infinite potential here.

So because I have nothing better to do, have a basic profile on the Big Four based on the mythology and folklore I could find on them, have some... angel headcanons? I guess???

Gabriel:

Musical theatre is his shit, most glorious singer in the holy choir and he can play the horn like nobodies business.

He’s technically a warrior angel but he mostly handles defense and doesn’t give much of a fuck about war but he could still absolutely fuck you up if he felt like it. this bitch is powerful

Basically Hermes and a bag of chips; fast golden messenger aesthetic and everything

Basically gods secretary. Praying? Gabe intercepts those calls first. Waiting for a call back from the almighty? Boom bam Gabe appears at your window with a cryptic message from god himself.

Maybe just a tiny bit unhinged.

Uriel:

Literally on fire at all times

Generally pretty docile and sweet, he’s a super important patron of the arts and writing, also beautiful. Not hot (he is literally an angel of fire tho) but like... pretty.

Less important then the other three, unfortunately.

Did I mention he’s also absolutely fucking terrifying?

his job is to redeem souls which you’d think would be a gentle responsibility but he does it with a kickass flaming sword. He basically beats the shit out of you until you become a better person. He is as “pitiless as any demon” which is... wow hokay then.

The type to call you “sweetie” in a totally innocent and non-threatening manner right before snapping your neck.

Just... the embodiment of the “0 to 100 real quick” meme.

Raphael

150% done with this shit at all times

He’s the angel of inflicting disease and curing disease and as a side note he’s also like the only angel to be depicted with black hair by western churches and art.

Job consists of anything having to do with disease and yeeting demons into the abyss periodically (“Azazel you’re going to sit in that valley of death and think about what you’ve done or so help me god-“)

Just.... could not be bothered to give a shit. Ever. So tired. So done with the court of heaven’s absolute bullshit. Just generally could not care less.

Chills with humans a lot, generally helpful but also detached for the most part. He loves humans waaay more then he would ever admit.

And finally; Michael!!

The Golden Boy himself!

A little bit of a healing angel

Mostly a warrior angel; seen as the epic protector of the Israelites from harm (which makes it really weird how Christians ended up adopting him when his role is quintessentially linked to the Israelites/judites but it’s okay I get it)

Ya boy is trying very hard to do the right thing, he actually loves humanity a lot and wants to help them out when he can which is partly why he’s sometimes considered as a benevolent psychopomp leading souls up from purgatory

Nicknamed as The Prince of Snow which is lit!!!!

The story goes (specifically in Second Temple Era writings) that Michael was besties with Samael (Lucifer, Satan etc) and was nearly tempted by him before the fall of the Watchers. He was saved by god.

essentially the inversion of everything Samael represents; they engage in battle a lot with Michael leading the Israelites and Samael leading whatever foreign nation is attacking them.

He’s a good boy, okay?????

(Might make another post abt demons next time who knows)

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iamshwee · 3 years

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Hellenism and the Journey of the Afterlife

In the original mythology of Hellenism, the Greek Underworld was considered another world or realm where our souls, known as our Shade, is taken after death. In the original Greek afterlife, at the moment of our death the shade is separated from the corpse when Death (Thanatos) reaches out to cut a lock of hair from the corpses head (often referred to as a ‘lifeline’) where it then takes the now unphysical shape of that former person. The Messenger God (Hermes) then transports the shade across the River Styx (the river of hatred) to the entrance of the Underworld. The Underworld is sometimes simply known by the name of its patron god, Hades, and is treated as a resting place for the soul before it drinks from the River Lethe (waters of forgetfulness) and is reincarnated into a new life. Many within Hellenism believe in form of reincarnation and this was a subject broached by many philosophers of the ancient world. However, the journey of the afterlife is the more commonly resonating belief. The Underworld itself is described as either ‘the outer bounds of the deepest ocean’ or ‘darkness hidden beneath the depths of the end of the earth,’ and thus is considered the darkest counterpart to the brightness of Mount Olympus. This realm itself is invisible to the living and made solely for the dead to be used as almost a type of bypass station.

Once Hermes delivers the shades to the entrance of the Underworld, good people and bad people would then be separated. Infront and directly across from the entrance of the Underworld lives the personifications of Grief (Penthos), Anxiety (Curae), Diseases (Nosoi), Old Age (Geras), Fear (Phobos), Hunger (Limos), Need (Aporia), Death (Thanatos), Agony (Algae), Sleep (Hypnos), and Guilty Joys (Gaudia). On the opposite side of the entrance holds War (Polemos), Discord (Eris), and the Furies (Erinyes). Many beasts lay waiting before the entrance of the Underworld, including Centaurs, Gorgons, a Hydra, the giant Geryon, the Chimera, and screaming Harpies. In the center of all this lies an Elm tree, where False and Broken Dreams (Oneiroi) hang from the branches like dead leaves.

Shades that enter the Underworld carry a coin under their tongues to pay the ferryman, known as a Charon, to take them across the River Acheron (river of pain) safely. Within Hellenism, the dead are properly buried with a coin under their tongue as an offering, or like the Trojan hero, Aeneas, who delivered a rare tree branch called a Golden Bough to the Charon. The Charon is permitted to turn shades away, often the shades of the unburied, which cannot be taken from bank to bank without payment, often due to a lack of proper burial. The physical description of the Charon has changed over the years but is often portrayed to be a barren, filthy, hollow-looking human-shaped creature with fire red eyes, a long unkempt beard, and a dirty dark ash cloak.

Once the Charon carries a shade across the river, there lies the mighty three-headed hound of Hades, Cerberus, guarding the gates as well as the Three Judges of the Underworld. These minor demigods are known as King Aeacus; the guardian of the keys to the gate of the Underworld, King Rhadamanthus; the lord of Elysium, and King Minos; the judge with the final vote. It is up to these judges to outline the deeds of the deceased, and they create the laws that govern the Underworld. Most of the laws of the Underworld assured that there was no true justice waiting for the shades of the dead and that they wouldn’t necessarily receive ‘awards’ for how they lived their physical mortal lives.

However, the overall voted outcome for any shade can be changed by Hade's command, if and when he pleased. When the Earth was divided between Chronos and Rheas' three sons; Zeus received Mount Olympus, Poseidon the vast seas, and Hades the Underworld. Hades is rarely seen outside his own realm, regardless of his co-ownership of the Earth, and most punishments shades received were often demanded by other gods seeking eternal vengeance. He was not a tormenter of the dead and sometimes had even been considered the ‘Zeus of the dead’ due to his being so hospitable to them. He did not run his realm on his own, however.

Persephone (Kore), daughter of the harvest Goddess Demeter and Zeus, is often considered a fitting other half to Hades, though their origin story changes depending on point of view. Once, when Persephone was alone gathering wildflowers, she came across a beautiful narcissus flower that was planted specifically for her by Gaia as a favor to Hades, who had fallen in love with Persephone and desired her as his wife. It is said that Hades believed Persephone to be ‘more beautiful than the Goddess Aphrodite’ and would settle for nothing less than her love. The moment Persephone picked the narcissus flower, Hades appeared from a fresh crack in the Earth, riding a golden chariot and carrying the torches of Hekate, on his mission to seduce Persephone into the Underworld. Demeter searched for her daughter relentlessly, begging that the other deities help her do the same. Learning of this abduction infuriated Demeter, leading her to neglect the Earth and forbidding harvest, freezing the grounds until her daughter was returned to her. Zeus, annoyed by the cries of starving mortals, and badgered by fellow deities who heard of Demeter's anguish, forced Hades to return Persephone to Mount Olympus.

Hades complies with the request, but not before offering Persephone six pomegranate seeds for her journey home. It was explained to Demeter that she would be released so long as she had not tasted the ‘food of the dead.’ Unaware of Hade's trickery, Hermes was sent to retrieve Persephone but was informed she had tasted the food of the Underworld and was now bound to its realm. Instead, Hades offered a deal to Demeter; that Persephone may stay in the Underworld for half the year (the winter/fall months) and come back to Earth the other half (the spring/summer months) to be with her mother. Thus, every half-year, when Demeter and her daughter were reunited, the Earth flourished with vegetation and color. But for the latter months each year when Persephone returned to the Underworld, the Earth would once again become cold and barren. This is essentially Hellenism’s explanation for the seasons and in this way, Hades was able to gift Persephone, Goddess of spring and fertility, with being the Queen of the Underworld and his wife, thus ruling over their realm side by side. Persephone helped to give death a more merciful face, regardless of Hades' bouts of kindness toward shades. While Hades was known for being immovable, Persephone even assists several heroes and grieving lovers who stumble down lost into the Underworld. But beyond their realm, and Hades beloved Cerberus, holds the final resting places for all shades; the Isles of the Blessed called Elysium, the Asphodel Meadows, the Mourning Fields, and the Dungeon of Torment called Tartarus.

Elysium, also known as the Elysian Fields, is one concept of the afterlife, described as the place for exceptional beings, often ‘Heroes,’ to eternally reside. As this concept modernized, Elysium was later expanded to include those righteously chosen mortals who are pure of heart. This makes Elysium essentially the Hellenic Paradise, where they may live a blessed, happy afterlife, with grand feasts, and the ability to indulge in whatever their deepest desires may entail. It is said that the philosopher Socrates, and the Hero Achilles, were two of the few who were permitted into this glorious afterlife.

We do not know much about the Asphodel Meadows, other than that it is a section of the Ancient Greek Underworld where the shades of ordinary people are sent to after death. Those who have never committed a significant crime or had not achieved any level of greatness or recognition, reside here. Those who were not permitted into Elysium, and had nowhere else they belonged, spent their afterlife among the Asphodel Meadows realms. Essentially, this is where every day people’s shades settle within the afterlife. Similarly, the Mourning Fields were a concept from the Latin Epic Poem ‘Aeneid’ written by Virgil between 29 BC and 19 BC. This was a section of the Underworld that was reserved for shades who wasted their lives on unrequited love or died of a broken heart.

Tartarus is said to be as far beneath the Underworld as the Earth is beneath the sky. This essentially means that Tartarus was so dark that ‘the night is poured around it in three rows like a collar around the neck, while above it grows the roots of the Earth and the unharvested sea.’ This is where Zeus originally cast the Titans, along with his father, Cronus. It is said that Homer believed Cronus to be the King of Tartarus and that Odysseus mentions some of the people within the Underworld who are experiencing ‘punishment’ were found here. This is the deepest abyss of the Underworld and is used as a dungeon to torment and influence suffering for those who lived a particularly wicked life.

The Greeks believed that there was a great journey into the afterlife, but that the afterlife held no purpose. The souls of the dead still existed, but that they were insubstantial and often too weak and therefore unable to make influences on the living. The shades in the Underworld were now essentially neutral, and that no one was able to use their previous lives to their advantage after death. They believed that death was not a complete end to life, or human existence, but accepted that not unlike life, the afterlife was relatively meaningless. It is said that you are in the afterlife who you are in the moment of your death; meaning someone who died in battle would be covered in blood in entering the Underworld, and those who died in their sleep remained peaceful. The Greeks considered their dead to be irritable and unpleasant on occasion, but they are not necessarily dangerous or malevolent. The souls can grow angry and hostile, and often the Greek's response to this would be a drink offering, or even blood sacrifices to initiate communication.

Unlike its Catholic counterpart, the afterlife in Hellenism does not necessarily revolve around divine punishment. Those who are punished in Tartarus deserved the same level of punishment while living, thus assuring the ordinary and mundane shades an afterlife of equality and simplicity. While some believed in reincarnation and thus the recycling of our shades, it is widely acknowledged that all of our shade's journeys will eventually end. The likely hood of an everyday person passing on and ending up in a sort of ‘hell’ type afterlife is relatively slim in the eyes of Hellenism, and it gives the Greeks a sense of relief in death instead of an intensely instilled fear.

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ayearinfaith · 3 years

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𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟳𝟬: 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 "As Above, So Below" -Common paraphrasing of the 𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘵 Hermeticism is a religious/philosophical tradition from which almost all extant forms of Western Esotericism and Occultism stem, at least in part. It is named after the fusional philosopher/deity Hermes Trismegistus. 𝗘𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 Esoteric tradition are broadly defined by two features: secrecy and magic. The word “esoteric” comes from the Greek word for “inner” as in “inner circle”, and typically include a doctrine of knowledge which must be kept secret and only revealed to the properly initiated. The magical aspect of these traditions, typically what we would call “the occult” is often a result simply of the veneration of knowledge; the allure and power is what you can do with it. In the West, meaning Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa (all connected by the Mediterranean Sea), Esotericism was largely spawned by a newfound multiculturalism as the Roman Empire and other states began to erode in the first century of the Common Era. Before then most Mediterranean peoples would have generally practiced some version of either or both a state religion, like the Roman Imperial cult, and an ethnic one, like the pre-Christian “pagan” religions, both more expressions of nationality and heritage than philosophy. As state powers dwindled, cultural boundaries fuzzed and fusional philosophies began to form, not tethered to any one people or state. Originally, the restricting of esoteric knowledge was likely not due to any sinister conspiracy or defense against the state, but simply the fact that they could not be easily grasped without a basic philosophical education. Hermeticism developed in this period during the collapse of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. The Ptolemies were Greeks who took control of Egypt after the collapse of Alexander the Great’s empire. Though they adopted Pharaonic aesthetics to better appeal to the Egyptian populace, the Ptolemies maintained a sharp divide between the Greek culture of the ruling class and the conquered Egyptians. In the years leading to the collapse these boundaries at last blurred and the Greek and Egyptian traditions began to mutate in earnest. Thoth, the Ibis headed Egyptian god if writing, science, and magic, fused with the Greek god of messengers and medicine, Hermes, to become Hermes Trismegistus i.e. Thrice-Great Hermes. As the tradition grew, it also incorporated many aspects of Judaism and the still-developing Christianity and Hermes Trismegistus became equated with patriarchs like Enoch or even Noah and Moses. Hermeticism generally employs three distinctive practices by which knowledge can be achieved, each one broadly attributable to one of the three major sources of the fusional system. Astrology, i.e. the observation of heavenly bodies as a means to discern the will of heavenly forces. was largely born from the Greek tradition. Alchemy, the investigation and pursuit for control over earthly transformations, stems from Egyptian metallurgy, knowledge of which was passed down through the priesthood. And Theurgy, the direct invocation of supernatural entities, stems from Judaism and other Levantine faiths. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 Part of the continued influence of Hermeticism in western culture is that it has functioned almost like a time capsule of Western magic and philosophy. After its initial popularity, the rise of European Christianity and North African Islam (both occurring around the 5th-7th centuries CE) drove many esoteric traditions, Hermeticism included, extinct or underground. Almost no original 1st century Hermetic texts remain, and we know of them primarily by means of their being referenced in contemporary sources. However Arabic versions of 3rd-8thcentury Hermetic texts made their way into Europe around the 12thcentury and were translated into Latin. These versions would become popularized in Italy at the start of the European Renaissance. During this time rediscovering ancient knowledge from antiquity was popular and romanticized, and as all the Hermetic texts claimed to be authentic dialogues from an ancient Egyptian scholar (Hermes Trismegistus himself) the audience was very receptive. Another advantage Hermeticism had among the Renaissance was its relationship to the sciences. Hermetic teachings actively promote the use of the scientific method as a means to enlightenment. This is clearest in its use of Alchemy, which in the Egyptian method used religious allegory as a means of notation. This appealed to Renaissance thinkers who built an identity on rejecting the anti-intellectual dogma of their medieval forbears. Through Hermeticism, a scientist could also be faithful. This produced the distinct nature of the Renaissance scientist, wherein the person in the room most likely to be able to produce a chemical poultice or devise a new form of irrigation was also the person most likely to believe they could commune with an angel. Isaac Newton, who was deeply influenced by Hermeticism, is a prime example of this. Interest in Hermeticism died down near the end of the 17th and early 18thcentury, but came back a century later with the popularity of Hermetic derived organizations such as the Freemasons and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, of which the famous occultists and Thelema founder Aleister Crowley was a member. Almost all modern Neo-Pagan movements have Hermetic ties, Wicca being the most direct. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹 Hermetic beliefs are centered on the idea that there is a single true theology which was once know to mankind in a far distant age and echoes of which can be seen in all natural philosophies and religion. The use of quasi-scientific methods, like alchemy and astrology (and even theurgy if you count the mathematics used in its numerology) were core to its principles as even the laws of physics should bely this Truth. The most popularly cited Hermetic wisdom is “As above, so below”, which at its most basic level is a belief in the relation of heavenly bodies to earthly events (astrology), but expands to imply that the workings of the most grand and transcendent elements of the universe can be perceived by observing the small and mundane, and vice versa. This fusing of two things, a kind of dualistic concept of unity, is a common Hermetic idea, which can be seen in its frequent use of sacred androgyny (here being used in its most literal sense; a fusion of man and woman). The concept of a supreme god, typically called The All, is explicitly androgynous, and the original humans were as well. The division of parts, in Hermeticism, is the source of strife and ultimately illusory. Similar to South Asian religions, which may have come directly or via West Asian influence like Gnosticism, the physical world is considered to be a kind of illusion and prison in Hermetic cosmology. Our more perfect androgynous forbears had access to the secret knowledge of the universe, but for various reasons (generally some form of hubris) became trapped in physical bodies incapable of realizing the potential of our transcendent souls. Only by pursuing the true wisdom can we again become free. Image Credit: Illustration of Hermes Trismegistus from 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘊𝘩𝘺𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 (“The Alchemical Pleasure-Garden”) by Daniel Stolz von Stolzenberg, 1624

#A Year in Faith #Hermeticism #Hermes Trismegistus #Esotericism #AYIF #Religion #mythology #Day 70

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tanzmitmirsblog · 3 years

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Life is a Pandora's box and the hope within Prometheus

Is mythology merely a collection of fascinating legends, or does it have a purpose? Mythology is concerned with both the past and the present. It illuminates the path. Mythology explains how emotion may take control of a person. We can clearly perceive that the greatest enemies of humanity are passion, ambition, hatred, selfishness, and greed. A myth is an image with which we try to make sense of the world,” says Alan Watts. Beyond your imagination, these stories tell us that "the limits of life are beyond what you only know, learn from your past and guide your future." I can hear this whisper. "Myth and nature are the two great garments of the world; nature is the vibrant green garment that covers the planet, and myth is the multidimensional, multi-coloured fabric that constantly covers human culture."(Michael Meade) We can understand the meaningful expression of these words of Michael Meade more easily by expanding our knowledge pool. Nature is a gift given to the world, and man is the other gift that completes the world. He can contain every colour in his soul and turn the world into a work of art, or he can object to other colours and choose only black and go towards the depths of darkness. I would like to tell you about mythological stories that have inspired me. Mythology's brightest stars are Pandora's box and the Prometheus legend. According to a legend, Zeus created Pandora, the first woman on Earth, as a punishment for humanity. This punishment for humanity was devastating and unkind like the great flood of Noah. When humanity forgot about its creators or ignored the gods, the gods were reminding themselves of such punishments. Zeus gave Pandora a box that she should never have opened. This box symbolized the personality of women. There was so much evil in the box, such as malice, hatred, anger, murder, and greed. If the box was opened, these evils would spread to the earth, and Pandora's curiosity prevailed and she opened the box. All evil has spread and swept the world. The great disaster was now within humanity. The box, which Zeus knowingly gave to a woman's curiosity in this story, was a great scourge for humanity. Besides all these evils in the box, there was only one good thing for humanity and that was hope. Mankind has never abandoned hope, and hope has been his only consolation. Instead of blaming Pandora, who opened the box, one should consider Zeus, who sent her for this purpose. For poor Pandora to succumb to her curiosity was the most unlikely thing that could happen to a mortal, but Zeus, who knew this, also knew what would destroy the human race, if you ask me, Zeus survived these evils and his jealousy became his most dangerous weapon. In this regard, Zeus, who continued this ugly reign like Cronus, who ate his sons so that his father would not heir to the throne and his power would not decrease, always succumbed to his feelings. Pandora's curiosity was an invisible mistake compared to what Zeus had done. "Hope? Hope is the last evil!" says Nietzsche. The fact that the last thing humanity clings to is hope, which actually informs them that it is the greatest evil done to them, but without hope, there would be no real reason for people to hold on. Of course, the thing that hurts the most is the disappointment caused by the lack of hope, but no matter how tired one gets, it is also important to be able to fight with the last hope left in one's hands and rely on that hope. Therefore hope, which Zeus saw as a huge bad power, was actually a light for humanity. It would not be enough just to blame Pandora. For Zeus, his main target was Prometheus. Prometheus had been punished many years ago, by setting fire to humanity and making it higher than God. Zeus tied Prometheus to the hard rock at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains by force and violence with unshakable and unbreakable chains. Prometheus had helped Zeus in the battle with the titans, and this favour was quickly forgotten. Zeus' vengeance was enough to make him forget this great goodness. Zeus had insolence, arrogance, egocentric coarseness of human nature. He could have killed Prometheus instead of chaining him, but Zeus couldn't because he had an interest. There was a prophecy told to him. One day a boy would be born and take his throne from him. and only Prometheus knew who the boy's mother was. Zeus sent Hermes to find out this secret, but Prometheus resisted and did not tell the secret, despite all the torture, albeit in chains. showed that there can be a solution if there is willpower. At that moment, the god of gods left Zeus helpless. Prometheus was released generations later. Chiron was ready to die for Prometheus. Hercules slew the eagle and unchained Prometheus from the rock. We realize that even the enmity does not last forever when Zeus says that now this punishment may be enough and will set him free. Prometheus is the strongest character in this story, he is the symbol of justice and he represents never surrender, no matter how much pressure, no matter how to torture. While Prometheus was being held captive in chains, a beautiful and mysterious girl would visit him. This girl's name was IO. They would chat with Prometheus and talk about Zeus. Zeus falls in love with this girl and this love does not escape Hera's eyes. Suspecting Zeus, Hera assigns her servant Argus, who has 100 eyes, to keep him comfortable and control him. Knowing that his lies are useless, Zeus is watched by Argus even while he sleeps. Desperate Zeus turns her into a poor ugly starving animal to get close to her love. However, Argus still does not stop watching him. Finally, Zeus commissions his son Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to kill Argus. Hermes played sweetly upon a pipe of reeds. Argus was pleased at the sound and called to the musician to come nearer. Hermes made some of the hundred eyes sleepy, but some were always awake. Finally, Hermes killed him. If you believe that poor IO has been saved, you are mistaken about Hera's rage and envy. Hera sent a gad-fly to plague her, which stung her to madness. When IO told this to Prometheus, he tried to comfort her. She ran along the seas and lands. This part of the sea was called Bosporus. As she reached the Nile, Zeus would restore her to her earlier human form. She would bear a son called Epophus. IO’s descendant would be Hercules who was the one of the greatest heroes. Prometheus helped them. Hercules helped Prometheus at the same time, he gave Prometheus’ freedom. The good are rewarded. We realize that the evil characters aren't always the heroes, and that the good guys will return one day. Gods and goddesses are another shape of humanity of current. They used their power to destroy somethings like big cities. Even today power wars have not finished. Someone who feels powerful wants to be mightier. Human or gods is trying to force somebody to abdicate. We are aware that a desire is worth more than a drop of blood. We see that neither hostility nor friendship last forever. Zeus who was the god of gods and Prometheus who was the saviour of man were the best friends, but Prometheus’ giving fire to humanity as a gift and knowing a prophecy about Zeus turned this friendship into enmity. At the present time, good friendships can become enmity for any reason. In past, Zeus left Prometheus in despair. Jealousy, the main concept that never changes in both present and past, played a role in almost every event. Jealousy creates slyness as a snake and cunning as a wolf. Today, every person who is jealous definitely brings evil things whatever happens. We have learned from Hera how jealousy is dangerous when it is combined with power. She used her power whenever Zeus fell in love with another woman. Beautiful Psyche’s sisters have showed that jealousy is disease and it spreads as fast as fire. They came her home and jealousy wrapped them like a fire. When Pandora opened the box, so many evil things showed up, but at the same time hope approved itself. People never abandon to hope. We are still aware that everything which is bad has a solution and we can defeat anything if there is hope. Hope is really the cure for everything. Just believing is enough to overcome most things. The eyes in the hearts should always remain open. Living as if a person would never die gives rise to endless desires. Today, many people have these desires; however, you can restrain your desire and everything is in your hands. You can abuse this opportunity and you can also use to good things. If a person is defeated by her or his anger and ambition, this short life swallows her or him. Mythology enables us to see what the truth or wrong is, the truth or evil is, and deceptions or deaths are. It helps us to know people who are captured all emotions. It shows that history always repeats and cruelty does not change in both past and present. Fate always overcomes everything. This never change in past or present. History leads to understand what truth is and what wrong is. This bridge always provides to understand the relationship between powerful and powerless. We are actor in own stage. We should play the best play for life. We should stay alive. It does not matter how it will be because we are not permanent in this life.

-Tanzmitmirsblog

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scarletarosa · 5 years

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Hermes

Greek god of mischief, travel, commerce, languages, writing, messages, sports, athletes, borders, herds, hospitality, and thieves

Hermes (known as Mercury in Rome) is the emissary and messenger of the gods. He is also "the divine trickster" and "the god of boundaries and the transgression of boundaries, the patron of herdsmen, thieves, graves, and heralds." This god is described as moving freely between the worlds of the mortal and divine, and is the conductor of souls into the afterlife. He is also viewed as the protector and patron of roads and travelers.

In some myths, he is a trickster who outwits other gods for his own amusement or for the sake of humankind. His attributes and symbols include the herma, the rooster, the tortoise, satchel or pouch, winged sandals, and winged cap. His main symbol is the Greek kerykeion or Latin caduceus, which appears in a form of two snakes wrapped around a winged staff with carvings of the other gods. Homer and Hesiod portrayed Hermes as the author of skilled or deceptive acts and also as a benefactor of mortals. In the Iliad, he is called "the bringer of good luck", "guide and guardian", and "excellent in all the tricks". He was a divine ally of the Greeks against the Trojans. However, he did protect Priam when he went to the Greek camp to retrieve the body of his son Hector and then accompanied them back to Troy.

The Homeric Hymn 4 to Hermes tells the story of Hermes, while still a baby, snuck off and stole all 50 of Apollo’s cattle. Hermes already had a cunning mind and so he disguised his tracks by cobbling together “shoes” made of bark from a fallen oak tree. To make it even harder to track him, he confused the herd's trail by driving the cows backward and traversing sandy places that left no prints. Apollo went searching for his cattle and eventually came across an omen which pointed to Hermes being the culprit. At first seeming annoyed, Apollo soon became amused by the cleverness of the young god, and so offered to allow Hermes to keep his cattle in trade for his lyre. Hermes agreed, and that is how Apollo got his lyre and how Hermes became a god of herds.

The idea of him being the herald and messenger of the gods, of his travelling from place to place and concluding treaties, necessarily implied the notion that Hermes was the promoter of social intercourse and of commerce among humans, and that he was friendly towards mankind. In this capacity, he was regarded as the maintainer of peace, and as the god of roads, who protected travelers and punished those who refused to assist travelers who were lost. Hence the Athenian generals, on setting out on an expedition, offered sacrifices to Hermes, surnamed Hegemonius, or Agetor; and numerous statues of the god were erected on roads, at doors and gates, from which circumstance he derived a variety of surnames and epithets.

In my personal experiences with Hermes, he is very friendly, compassionate, upbeat, and humourous. He loves good company and doing exciting things, especially with friends, though he does have a more calm and sometimes serious side as well. Hermes has a great deal of wisdom and tends to know what to say to cheer others up or help them feel more confident but on his more serious side, he can get quite angry if people disrespect the homeless or if someone endangers others by driving recklessly. Though overall, he is very much a cheerful and easy-going deity to be around and is a great deal of fun to spend time with. And although he is the god of thieves, he is moreso a god who represents stealing out of need rather than greed. His energy is like the warmth from the sun and a gentle, cool breeze. In my workings with him, Hermes appears as a young man with curly blond hair that reaches a bit below his chin, sea blue eyes, and wears a naturally soft, friendly expression on his face.

| Symbolism of Hermes |

Winged sandals

Winged helmets

The Caduceus

Satchels

Hawks

Roosters

Tortoises

Palm trees

Coins

| Some of his epithets |

Ænagóhnios (Presiding over games)

Ænόdios (At cross-roads)

Æriounios (Luck-bringer)

Ærivóas (The Loud-shouting)

Ærminéfs pas (The interpreter of everything)

Angæliophóros (Messenger)

Éfphrohn (Joyful and gracious one)

Iyítohr oneira (The master of dreams)

Kærdǽmporos (Bestower of wealth)

Kataivátis (He who leads souls down)

Kharidóhtis (The giver of joy)

Phílandros (The lover of mankind)

Pikilóvoulos (The clever one)

Sohtír (Saviour)

| Offerings |

Sweet coffee, ginger beer, white wine, apple cider, pear cider, coffee beans, strawberries, desserts, sugar, honey, feathers, turkey, apricots, tangerines, peaches, bananas, passion fruit, pineapples, olive oil, hawk skulls, coins (especially from around the world), maps, sandals, tortoise shells or imagery, satchels, caduceuses, daffodils, cooked lamb, cinnamon incense, strawberry incense, stamps, postcards, decorated envelopes, car keys, lottery tickets, playing cards, aventurine, yellow-orange calcite, citrine, precious metals and gems, souvenirs from other countries, poetry, prose (especially if written in different languages), and artwork

#hermes #greek deities #hellenic polytheism #deity work #offerings

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hewantshisbrideback · 4 years

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If I make a Hadestown AU with Jon as Hades and Arya as Persephone, who do you think would be Orpheus, Eurydice, and Hermes?

If you’d like to know more, there are like, too many details under the read-more lmao, but otherwise, reblog or reply with your suggestions!

The AU would be based on Hadestown, a musical retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which has three accessible versions. (The story I’m doing is sort of a mash-up of the two musical versions that have official soundtracks (but my first encounter was the 2010 concept album, so that might influence the vibe). The story beats and plot are the same, but some of the details and characterization changes, like the NYTW version gets more into the relationships and the Broadway version is more politically charged.)

Unlike the original, this AU will focus on Hades and Persephone, but I do need to figure out who the other characters will be before I start the edits. The problem is that I absolutely cannot decide. Since it’s not the focus I’m not married (ha) to the Orpheus/Eurydice ship. Family bonds or friendships would work too, as long as the two characters could conceivably care so much about one another they’d literally follow them into hell.

So if you have any thoughts, here's the character roles that need filling:

HERMES: The messenger god, the protector of heralds, merchants, thieves, travellers, and orators, and the guardian of sorts to Orpheus. Narrates our story. Might be the conductor of the train, or the station manager, as the guide of the living and the dead. Crucially provides Orpheus with directions on how to navigate the underworld and get beyond the Wall.

Hermes is familiar with everyone in the story. Most importantly, they are Orpheus’s companion, but they’re also implied to be familiar with Eurydice prior to their arrival. They’re a close confidante of Persephone, and through them, she and Orpheus have become friends. Their ties to the railway connect them to Hades, but they’re also the only active character who isn’t pinned under his authority. They can even see and interact with the Fates.

Could range from wry to flamboyant to melancholic to folksy. Someone you want to hang out with, charismatic, warm, and often mysterious.

Who I’ve Considered So Far: Bran seems like the best choice? Tyrion is probably a good second? Or Theon. Maybe even Gendry.

EURYDICE: A haunted songbird always on the run from a brewing storm. Followed by the Fates for all of their life. Spent their life alone and on the move, evading the winds. Falls in love and decides to settle down. Trades the world above and their soul for shelter and work at the Wall when they start to fear they won’t survive the winter.

Their imprisonment in the underworld and separation from Orpheus parallel Arya/Persephone’s predicament, but their psyche mirrors Jon’s/Hades’. Trust doesn’t come easy to them and worry always clouds their eyes, but above all they’re a good heart who just wants to be safe and to have their love and care reciprocated.

Could range from a refugee to an outcast to a runaway, wilting to dry to sharp. Someone practical and tough, but with a vulnerable underbelly.

Who I’ve Considered So Far: Theon seems doable. Tyrion might work. Possibly someone like Myrcella or Arianne? Maybe Daenerys, but I don’t think I could justify her being mortal tbh? Please help me. Oh! Jeyne, perhaps?

ORPHEUS: The son of a muse, and the ward of Hermes. Was born with a voice that has the power to move anything, including trees, rivers, and stone, to tears. Spent most of their life wandering and trying to write a song that will set the seasons right again. Falls in love and spends the story trying desperately to get themself together to save their wife.

Their separation from Eurydice and quest to bring them home parallels the circumstances of Jon/Hades, but in personality they’re cut from the same cloth as Arya/Persephone. They love people, freedom, and life, but their fixation on ideals and what could be leads them to neglect reality.

Could range from a sensitive soul to an outgoing rebel, charming and deft to earnest and awkward. Someone optimistic, unique, unpredictable.

Who I’ve Considered So Far: Ned Dayne - the more I think about it the more I like it? Also Arianne, Brienne, Val, Oberyn, Asha, Trystane. Again, maybe Daenerys?

As for the Fates, I’m leaning towards Melisandre, Bloodraven, and the Kindly Man? Or maybe Jaqen or Maggie? I’m open to any suggestions for any characters, and I’m considering including myth figures not in the musical, like Apollo, Adonis, Aphrodite, etc.

Christ, thanks for actually going through all that (if you didn’t just skip to the end which I would not blame you if you did) and please give me feedback if you have any or even if you don’t!

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babylon-crashing · 4 years

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helvin's power of crossroads

(… from, Natasha Helvin's, Russian Black Magic, Destiny Books, 2019, pages 74-78)

Crossroads, such as intersections and forks, symbolize the difficulty of choice. The crossroads is the place where you ask: Which road should I take? Crossroads also symbolize uncertainty and loss of hope and longing for a lost shepherd, leader, or guide. In many cultures, a crossroads is a meeting place with transcendental forces (gods, spirits, the dead). The symbolism of the crossroads is like that of a door, marking the transition from the old to the new, from the earthly to the otherworldly.

Crossroads figure prominently in many cultures and traditions. Among African tribes, crossroads are often the place of ritual ceremonies. In Hinduism, the crossroads acted as a refuge for demons. The Romans prayed to household gods at crossroads. In ancient Rome, apart from the lares, patrons of domestic life, there were road gods, which were called Lares compitales. They guarded the wanderer from evil forces, and offerings to these road gods were made at crossroads as well.

For the ancient Greeks, crossroads bring a meeting with destiny. Statues of Hermes-Psychopomp, a spirit guide, stood at the crossroads. The god Hermes had many characteristics and represented many things. Hermes was the Olympic god of farmers and farms, travelers and hospitality, roads and trade, theft and love, prophecies and diplomacy, astronomy and astrology. He was also a god of science and wisdom, of art, of speech, of hope. And, most importantly: “God of writing.” He was the keeper of the crossroads and the entrances of the houses. He protected the trade, the travelers and the athletes. He had though, another talent.

He was Jupiter’s personal messenger, as well as the guide of the dead who led the souls down into the underworld. This last task required the fleet-footed Hermes to be able to cross the worlds with ease, which probably explains why he is also the god of crossing the border. His job was also to lead the souls of the dead to the entrance of Hades, where they waited for Harrodas to take. Hermes was the only Olympian god able to visit Heaven, Earth, and Hades, which enjoyed bragging to the other gods.

According to a Greek myth, the young Hercules sat at a crossroads, reflecting on his fate. It was then that the goddesses Arete (virtue) and Hedone (pleasure) appeared before him. The first offered the future hero a life full of difficulties and patience, which led to immortality; the second offered a path to joy and luxury. Hercules chose the first. In the famous Greek myth of Oedipus, it was at the crossroads that he met his father, whom he had never seen before and did not recognize, and killed him as the result of a quarrel.

The ancient Greeks believed that the three-headed goddess Hecate, who is associated with the realm of the dead and is the patroness of mages, ghosts, and witchcraft, appeared on clear nights in places where three roads converge. She is accompanied by spirits and howling phantom dogs. The Greeks left food at the crossroads for her. They turned to Hecate for help if someone was insane because it was believed that the spirits of the dead sent this disease to mortals.

Ancient crossroads were considered a symbol of the triple epiphany, combining three principles: active (good), neutral (productive or useful), and passive (harmful). For example, Hecate would shows the threefold aspect of a deity, embodying maiden, mother, and crone, and birth, fecundity, and death, as well as earth, sea, and sky. The crossroads is the symbol of choice in general and, in particular, the choice between life and death, as well as the sign of the transition from one space to another. As such, the crossroads is endowed with an ambivalent meaning.

On the one hand, this place was sacred. In Christianity, a crossroads, likened to a cross in its form, became the place of veneration of Christ. In the Middle Ages, crucifixes were placed at the crossroads of main roads to protect them from the presence of evil spirits. Christians erected crosses, chapels, and Madonna and other statues at crossroads.

On the other hand, the crossroads was considered to be the focus of harmful, impure forces. At the crossroads, witchcraft rituals were performed. In Europe, crossroads were seen as meeting places for mages and evil spirits. In Slavic mythology, the crossroads was considered a home for devils. Magical rituals often sought protection from the devil and demons at crossroads. In addition, the crossroads suggests the need to be particularly sensitive and cautious, because robbers often arrange ambushes at crossroads.

In Europe, there was a belief that you are likely to meet all kinds of playful creatures at the crossroads, including mages, who like to knock people off the right path. According to popular beliefs, ghosts also love crossroads. In German folklore there is a story about a crossroad in the town of Schleswig that ghost rider frequents. The neck of the rider’s horse stretches across the road and does not allow travelers to pass.

A legend popular in Pomerania, on the border of Poland and Germany, says that a traveler once stopped at night on a crossroads and saw a dark figure in front of him wearing long clothes and wooden shoes. To the traveler’s full amazement, the mysterious figure followed him home and settled in his house. Eventually, this man gathered his courage and spoke to the ghost. He asked the poor fellow to go with him to the cemetery so that he could say a few prayers and help the ghost to find eternal peace.

The spirits of the deceased appear near crossroads on the eve of All Saints’ Day (October 31), which was first a pagan and then a Christian holiday. On this day the barrier dividing the two worlds is believed to be the thinnest. Residents of Wales believe that a large number of spirits go to the crossroads on this night. In Europe, there are beliefs that on the eve of All Saints’ Day, the deceased form processions heading toward the homes of their living relatives, and a person who stands at a crossroads and puts his chin on a forked stick can see these processions.

In other cases, special spells make it possible to summon the spirits of the deceased to the crossroads. According to one ancient Danish rite, the person who needed to summon a spirit should go out at midnight on the eve of All Saints’ Day to the crossroads and stand inside a square formed by wagons. At the mention of his name, the ghost would appear and answer three questions.

Another belief was that some rituals performed at a crossroads on certain days (in particular, on the eve of All Saints’ Day) allow you to find out in advance who will die in the near future. For example, Welshmen believed that if a person went to the crossroads and listened to “the wind blowing over the feet of the dead” (the east wind), he would be able to hear sighs in those houses where people would die in the coming year. The highlanders of Scotland had a similar belief: if you sat on a three-legged chair at a crossroads, at midnight you would hear the names of those who were doomed to die in the near future. In German folklore, the same type of ritual was performed at the crossroads between eleven o’clock and midnight on Christmas Eve or on the eve of All Saints’ Day.

Traveling through crossroads had special significance in funeral rites. According to one ancient Welsh custom, the deceased were laid on the ground at every crossroads and read prayers over on the way from the house to the cemetery. Perhaps this was done to protect the deceased from evil spirits who chose such places for their visits and also, perhaps, to prevent the ghost of the deceased from returning to the house and interfering with the living. In Hesse, a central state in Germany, it was believed that the specter of the deceased would not return to the house if the dishes that belonged to him were broken at the crossroads. In Finland, participants of the funeral processions took the land from each crossroads they passed by and then scattered the land across the fields, thus protecting themselves from witchcraft (and ensuring a good harvest).

For many peoples, suicides were buried at intersections of roads. However, there are no intelligible explanations about this practice. Suicides were not allowed to be buried in Christian cemeteries. Perhaps this tradition is related to the fact that the cross formed by crossroads is associated with the consecrated ground of Christian cemeteries (where, as is known, no suicides were buried), or perhaps the reason for this is the desire to use the supernatural properties of intersections to prevent suicides from returning to life.

In many cultures, people believe that crossroads provide protection from ghosts. For example, one fairly common German superstition is that spirits cannot cross crossroads; thus, a person chased by a ghost or demonic being could shake his pursuer at a crossroads. As soon as the pursued person reached the crossroads, the spirit disappeared, issuing a completely inhuman scream. Similarly, the Irish believed that at the crossroads, fairy magic did not work and that mortals abducted by fairies could regain their freedom in such places.

Ancient Germans brought captured robbers to crossroads as a sacrifice to their gods, turning these places into a kind of scaffold. In medieval Germany, trials often took place at crossroads. According to later German law, it was legal to exact punishments at crossroads. In the Middle Ages, they traditionally buried executed criminals and those accused of witchcraft or suspected of vampirism at crossroads. The last, as a rule, were pierced through the chest with an aspen stake.

#crossroads #natasha helvin #black russian magic #cemetery magic #power of crossroads

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hermeticimp · 5 years

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Tarot Session with Hermes

Hey guys! So, I recently had a session with Hermes that I wanted to share with you all! This reading should give some perspective on how I read, my relationship with Hermes, and what to expect when I open free readings (which will be soon! ^_^ The last part in particular is what I’ll be starting with). For this session, I used the “Deity And I” spread by @underworldariel. Link is here! I used both my Linestrider Journey and The Arcana decks (The letters by each card refer to the deck it came from). I don’t have a picture of the cards, but you can look them if you’re so inclined. ^_^ Card 1: What do I bring into the relationship? - King of Swords Reversed (L)

This card represents me. A king stares beyond the card, a blue figure covered in feathers. A sword of red cuts through him. To this union, I bring intelligence, cleverness, and action. I’m a very mind-oriented person (though I’m trying to work on tempering that). I’m in control of faculties. I know how to be responsible and how to turn things to my advantage. I tend to get lost in my thoughts, being rather preoccupied with the realm of thought. It easy for me to forget my earthly or spiritual obligations when I’m zoned out. Nevertheless, my nature brings something interesting to the relationship. When I’m decided on something, I make the moves to do so. Sometimes, I have regrets, but overall, it tends to work out for me. At the same time, I can be distant and too focused on being fair or right that I can neglect emotions, including my own. I came into this relationship being too logical and factual. Hermes has and fully intends to continue working on me with that.

Card 2: What does Hermes bring to the relationship? - Queen of Wands (A)

This card represents Hermes (obviously). Faust sits on the ground with potions, flowers, and smoke surrounding her. Her tail is curled around a wand. I immediately notice that the card is covered in pink, with hints of purple, red, and blue. It provides a nice contrast to the blue and red of my own card. Not only that, but it features a Queen while mine was a King. Wands and Swords are also rather compatible to me, one feeding the other. I think this speaks to the ease of our relationship. Anyhow, moving on to what this actually means. With the Queen of Wands, it shows that Hermes brings a certain dynamic nature to the relationship. He’s an energetic one and rather warm, egging me on even when I can’t do it myself. He’s passionate, thoughtful, and in touch with both sides of himself: feminine and masculine. He’s a wise mentor who wants to cultivate giving emotions their fair due. He’s playful, charismatic, and an overall joy of a person. Well, god. He’s very driven. I think that’s visible in how fast his lessons come and go. There’s rarely breathing room between each of them. This hearkens back to Ariel’s reading this morning, with the music revealing who intense and fast paced our relationship can be. Nonetheless, he cares and wishes to draw me out of my shell with his more social nature. On the flip side, it can be hard to keep up with him sometimes. He’s just so quick, as a messenger and traveler is wont to be. Still, it can be a task and half sometimes. I think he can jump the gun a bit. He thinks I’m right behind him when I’m actually ten steps behind. I think it shows a level of impulsivity, even with all the plans he has. It’s like biting off more than you can chew, at least on my side. He’s working on that though, I believe. He reminds me of how important it is for me to rest. I think it’s safe to say we’ve both learned to adapt to each other over time. Card 3 : What will we both come to learn from this relationship? - The Star (A)

From this relationship, we’ll come to learn how to motivate one another. A feline-like being with a flower crown pours water into a pool from a vase. She smiles as stars glitter in the background. The card really brings to mind Aquarius. While Libra is the sign of balance, Aquarius speaks to being understanding of the world around us while still maintaining who we are. Hermes and I are very different, no matter how well we get along. Despite that, we are happy to work together in order to improve things, both personally and for the world at large. The Star reminds us that, at the end of the day, the power is in our hands. The world is what we make it. It’s a magic that we should take full advantage of. We encourage each other, fill each other’s pool when we’re low. While I can mainly see that on my side, our conversation the other day suggests he feels the same. (Plus, with Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic playing, I think that’s a confirmation. XD). We remind each other that there is still hope for the world and hope in it.

Card 4: What are the mutual traits we share and/or what brought us together? - Nine of Wands Reversed (L)

A fox-like figure stands among the wands, holding a dagger in hand despite being injured. I think we tend to push ourselves harder than we need to. We’ll keep going way past when anyone would have stopped. We’re driven, passionate, and animated. It’s easy for us to bounce off one another. Often, we push each other to our limits. We want the other to become their best self. As for what brought us together… it was our ability to get back up no matter how many times we get knocked down. The world can be a hard place, both on this plane and the others. I’ve been through some shit, but I’m still here, standing. Hermes is standing with me, as he’s always done. We have an affection and love for each other because of how we handle ourselves (If Only You Knew and Saturn). Together, we can accomplish anything. We do what we need to do, anything else be damned.(We Don’t Give A). Our inner strength is something we admire about one another.

Card 5: What affinity and affection do I hold for him? - The Hierophant (A)

I’ve already touched on this quite a bit (We Don’t Give A is still playing. XD) However, I’ll continue here. The card depicts a ram-like figure dressed in robes. He holds up 3 fingers and holds a papal scepter. Two keys are crossed in front of him, as if denoting fate. Our affinity lies in our hard work and dedication. I am dedicated to our relationship with him, my loved ones, and the world at large. I’ve mentioned how we push ourselves and one another. A lot of that is predicated itself on this spiritual journey (Take Me To Church with The Hierophant. Come on, Hermes! XD). I am fully committed to the path we’re on and we have respect for each other because of that. I’m also not scared to blend tradition with the new. The old institutions have a level of placement here, but times are changing. We adapt accordingly. I have faith in Hermes beyond anything. No matter what changes, I know I can trust him. He’s been with me through my hardest times. A part of me worships him for that, but that’s not what our relationship is meant to be. This isn’t the ancient times after all. He gives me hope and belief like nothing else. I don’t know what I’d do without him. When I thought our relationship was ending, that hurt. I was happy to know he was still there. He means so much to me. I love him with the fierceness of any devotee (Cosmic Love).

Card 6: What affinity and admiration does he have for me? - The Sun Reversed (A)

An eagle-like being cups water in his hands as the Sun shines brightly behind him. Hermes has affinity for my bright and happy nature. He finds me interesting and overall kind-hearted. He appreciates that in the modern day, when so many horrors go on. I remind me of himself and of the beauty in the world. He admires my loving and nurturing nature, including towards him (Naked). No matter what I’ve heard through myths and other stories, I’ve always held that affection for him. Despite what I’ve been through, I still love people and the world. He realizes how hard that is. He doesn’t want me to shut off my light, despite how much I’ve been hurt. The world needs that kind of thing. He also appreciates my child-like and happy demeanor. I get so excited about things and it’s adorable (How about NOOOOOOOOOOO). It makes him think of his own playful nature. (Into You? You’re messing with me, aren’t you? You’re awful. XD). Thus he enjoys doing things like I just described. He wants me to remember not to lose my light to the darkness. It’s hard, but my path will lead to success. I just have to keep being me.

Extra Cards: Ten of Swords Reversed & Four and Seven of Cups (All A)

These are messages from Hermes to me. The Ten of Swords reminds me not to give up. The path can be hard to walk, but I’m not alone. I don’t realize just how close victory is. The dragon is juggling swords, but he’s successful despite the danger. The Four of Cups means I should share the depth of my emotions without being ashamed of that. He knows that that’s something I struggle with, but he wants me to understand that it’s okay. No one’s going to hate or look down on me for having feelings. I’m human after all. The fish swimming happily through the cups appears here and in the Seven of Cups. I’m meant to indulge freely and frequently them. But, I shouldn’t retreat into myself and get lost in memories or ideals. He wants me to communicate with him, my other deities and guides, and my loved ones to avoid this. (All I Wanna Do). My journal is perfect for that. I think that’s the gist of it. (Summer Love). Thank you Hermes. Songs mentioned:

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police If Only You Knew Cover by Soul For Real Saturn by NAO feat. Kwabs We Don’t Give A by NAO Take Me to Church by Hozier Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine Naked by Ella Mai Into You by Ariana Grande All I Wanna Do by Jordan Fisher Summer Love by One Direction

So that’s about it. Reminder that this is just my relationship with Hermes, no one else’s. I just wanted to share my story. Thank you for reading!

#hermes #tarot reading #tarot spreads #underworldariel #connecting with the gods #tarot sessions with the gods #deity work #personal readings #shufflemancy #music #witch of color #poc witch #devotional acts #hermes devotee #about me

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nadziejastar · 5 years

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Lea and Isa’s Love Story Foretold By Luxord’s Tarot Cards

In many ways, Shamanism is the same as Alchemy. The latter concerns itself with the "transmutation of base metals into gold" as a metaphor for the process of spiritual enlightenment. And the Kingdom Hearts series draws heavily from Shamanism, especially in Dream Drop Distance.

I believe the creators included this secret message in 358/2 Days just for fun, as a hidden Easter Egg. Using the Alchemical Tarot deck as the foundation, this is my interpretation of the Fool’s Journey depicted by Luxord’s cards. It follows Lea and Isa’s entire journey over the course of the series, and it also foretells their intended love story so perfectly.

The Fool

The Fool – the alchemist beginning the Work – his blindfold equals ignorance – he is a naïve beginner and the rabbit is his guide

Gear: No Gear.

Ashes: The ashes represent the Phoenix’s state after its self-immolation, but before it gains its new life.

New Moon: The New Moon, completely shrouded in darkness, is the end of the old lunar cycle and the beginning of a new one. Shaped like the alchemical symbol for antimony. The metal antimony symbolizes the animal nature or wild spirit of man and nature, and it was often symbolized by the wolf. Royal blue aura: clairvoyant; highly spiritual nature; generous; on the right path; new opportunities are coming.

Major Arcana: The Fool is unnumbered because is a wild card of no value. In alchemy, the Fool is the soul who takes on the challenge of the Magnum Opus, the alchemical journey represented by the other cards of the Tarot. Thus, the number of his card is zero, which is both beginning and end. He is blindfolded to signify his ignorance of the basic principles of alchemy. He does not yet comprehend the Materia Prima, the first substance needed for the Work.

In Alchemy, the “Materia Prima” or primal material is that which is left over after we have reduced matter into its purest essence. This is a powerful psychological symbol because it describes the internal process of arriving at a “core realization,” or in other words, becoming aware of the root cause of a belief or trauma within us. It exists everywhere, but the Fool does not recognize it or realize its value. As a result, he risks stumbling about in darkness.

Axel: “Well, I think you can be inseparable even if you're apart. It’s like, if you feel really close to each other. Like best friends.”

In different cultures from around the world, a white rabbit is associated with the Moon because it progresses through phases each month. The rabbit is also associated with transformation. It is timid, but can help us turn our weakness into strength. It symbolizes facing fears and then dealing with them. In many cultures it is considered a shamanistic guide. The alchemists use the rabbit as a symbol of Mercurius, the alchemical essence and the god of alchemy. The rabbit guides the novice alchemist into the interior of the earth to begin the initial dark stage of the Magnum Opus, the Great Work.

These depths of darkness and unconsciousness must be charted for the Fool to lose his ignorance, and reemerge into the light. The white rabbit is the attendant of the shaman, the healer, and the one who holds the torch. I like that Saïx's Mystery Gear weapon is based on a white rabbit. It’s as if Isa takes this shamanistic journey together with Lea from the Realm of Sleep, acting as his spirit guide. And the colored aura only appears on Saïx’s weapons in his Berserk state, which is where I think his captured heart resides. It represents Isa’s true feelings, even while he is being used as a vessel for Xehanort.

Spiritual Meaning: The Fool shows us that everything we need to begin our spiritual journey, to initiate change, is within our grasp. We come into our beginning with the raw material of transmutation ready before us. If we place our trust in a higher order, we will be guided through the dangers and the darkness, into the light. We need only open our eyes and go forward with both awe and courage.

Lea: “I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever.”

Minor Arcana: The Ace of Swords shows a hand emerging from the clouds wielding a double-edged sword. This double edged sword carries a golden crown while being encircled by a wreath. The wreath has for a long time been associated with victory, success and great achievement. This card is all about new beginnings and possibly new ventures. You are open to embracing new ideas, craving stimulation, and you’ll jump at the next opportunity to learn something new. When the Ace of Swords appears in a Tarot reading, it tells you that now is an excellent time to start a new project.

As an Ace, you are at the beginning of the journey, but you can sense the energy building up and can’t wait to get started. If you channel this energy into the right moves, then you will succeed in your endeavors. Just remember that the road ahead may be bumpy and you can expect challenges along the way. Maintain a success mindset, and you will navigate these hurdles with ease. I think this Arcana represents Lea and Isa at the very beginning of their journey---when they were still just innocent frisbee-playing boys simply wanting to sneak inside of a castle.

Color: Wherever the color grey appears in the Tarot deck, it is an indication of inner-knowing, higher knowledge and wisdom.

The Magician

I. The Magician – Hermes, the god of alchemy and the Matter of the Work, containing all four elements – a messenger, gesturing, “as above so below,” indicating the way of Heaven on Earth

Skill Gear: Represents the Magician Arcana.

Doldrums: A dull, listless, or depressed mood. Or a state of inactivity or stagnation. Or the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters, caused by intense solar heating.

Werewolf: A person who changes for periods of time into a wolf, typically when there is a Full Moon. Shaped like the alchemical symbol for antimony. The metal antimony symbolizes the animal nature or wild spirit of man and nature, and it was often symbolized by the wolf. Bright lemon-yellow aura: You're in a battle to hang on to power and control. Lemon-yellow signifies all types of fears related to personal power.

Major Arcana: As master of the four elements, The Magician represents the Materia Prima, or the raw material that will be transmuted into the Philosopher’s Stone through the Opus. All four elements are contained in the Materia Prima, held in balance by the fifth element, Spirit, which is hidden inside. Through the Opus, the alchemist will bring what is hidden to the outside. The Materia Prima is often symbolized in alchemy by the classical god of alchemy and magic, Hermes.

The Magician also represents skill, both physical and verbal. The Magician plies with confidence and ease. Verbal skills are the gifts of eloquence and entertainment; however, these skills also are the dark gifts of the Trickster, who fools and lies with words. The Magician also points to our inner self. In this context, positive qualities, self-worth and self-confidence, are emphasized. Other people are attracted to the engaging, entertaining Magician within you; they admire your skills.

Spiritual Meaning: The Magician's place in the Major Arcana as Number One is the position of beginnings. Hermes takes you to the threshold of change, but does not lead you across it. That is the next phase of the journey. The Magician is a reminder that whatever we see in the manifest world contains a hidden divine essence; therefore, we are not to be taken in by shallow appearances, but must strive for deeper perception. For with The Magician, we have advanced from the naïveté of The Fool to the awareness of the initiate.

Roxas: “What's it like having a best friend, Axel?”

Axel: “Couldn’t tell you. I haven’t got one.”

Minor Arcana: There is no sugar coating the 10 of Swords. It is one of the saddest cards you can pull in the Tarot. The symbolism is very clear: on the card lies a man on the ground face down, and he has 10 swords in his back that have inflicted fatal pain. This is the Tarot card of ultimate betrayal, pain, deception, or heartbreak. It could also be the pain that comes with an actual death or loss in your life. The sky is dark; there is seemingly no hope to be found from this situation. This is the bitter end of something. What has been pierced with the sword cannot be brought back to life.

There is a small break in the darkness of the clouds, suggesting that all hope is not lost. The message the 10 of Swords brings is that it's okay to go through this pain and feel your way through it---but don't get stuck there. The Sun breaking the black sky suggests there will be more Sun, once some time to heal from this grief has passed. The worst is over. Things can only get better. I think this Arcana represents the state Lea and Isa were in after they got experimented on and became Organization XIII members.

Color: Black is considered to represent unresolved, thwarted ambitions that have resulted in profound forgetfulness, as in cases where people lose sight of their purpose in life. When purple is seen on a Tarot card, it implies that guidance and assistance from the highest realm will be available. It also sometimes intimates a karmic situation and/or vital life lesson. Purple points to our spiritual selves.

The Star

XVII. The Star – Purification – the Siren of the Philosophers giving blood (suffering) and milk (nurturing) with the ladder of the planets above – the peace beyond blood red fear and milk white hope, calm, understanding, ascent

Tech Gear: Called Technical Gear in the localization.

Delayed Action: An aerial bomb designed to explode some time after impact, with the bomb's fuzes set to delay the explosion for times ranging from very brief to several weeks.

Artemis: The Olympian goddess of the hunt, the Moon, and chastity; in time, she also became associated with childbirth and nature.

Major Arcana: The Star is the alchemical process of baptism, which is a purification in the waters of the unconscious. Purification is a discipline that enables us to alchemically transform our vehicles---our bodies---so as to provide our Soul with the ability to express and manifest itself on Earth. The Star shows that the spirit has been led through the depths of the unconscious, up to the gate to Heaven. The dove to the right of Sophia symbolizes the spirit that is released after its descent into the underworld.

Spiritual Meaning: The Star represents a secure guide to a higher level of consciousness. It is the Higher Self emerging from the unconscious. The Star indicates a sense of balance and of well-being. It is the peace after a storm, the forgiveness after an argument. It represents the nurturing of the Great Mother: of ourselves, and of others.

Axel: “The three of us, we’re inseparable. You’re my best friends.”

Minor Arcana: In general, the 3 of Cups symbolizes fun. It is a very positive card. Maybe you will find yourself socializing just for the sake of it. The 3 of Cups wants you to let your hair down. When this card appears in a Tarot reading, causes for celebration are foretold in your future. There are exciting things to look forward to! It is a card of abundant trust and harmony. This card is also symbolic of healing, and it can indicate that any past problems are about to be resolved.

Friendship is the central theme here. Your friends are here to support you and lift you up. Celebrate with them and enjoy their camaraderie. When the 3 of Cups appears in a Tarot reading, you are encouraged to gather with your closest friends and have a good time together, talking, laughing, and sharing. Together, you give and receive the love, support and compassion each of you needs from one another. I definitely think this Arcana represents Roxas, Xion, and Axel’s friendship and the renewal of hope it provided Axel.

Color: Lavender is a calming color that is approachable and puts others at ease. When seen on the Tarot cards, lavender suggests inner-strength and wisdom to draw from.

The Moon

XVIII. The Moon – Diana with her hounds representing the White Stone – rest retreat, anticipation, preparation, dreams

Dual Gear: Consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects. This is one of only two weapon types that can be upgraded to ++ status. I believe this is because the Moon Arcana is connected to the Sun Arcana later on.

Dive Bomb: “A weapon that boosts your Magic to give it incredible power”. (Fire Finish, Magic Finale, Magical Strike). To dive bomb is to attack something by swooping down on it.

Luminary: “A weapon that possesses extreme Strength. Devastates tough enemies.” (Striker, Vitality Barrier, Guts). A natural light-giving body, especially the Sun or Moon. Shaped like Reiki, a method of healing using your aura.

Major Arcana: The card depicts Diana, who is always accompanied by her hounds. Cancer the crab, the Moon's native sign, rides in the sky. The dogs represent the passive and active principles: one is dark and sitting, one is light and standing. Diana holds the Waxing Moon while the Waning Moon is in the sky, for she rules over all the lunar phases. Her torch relates her to Diana Luciferus, whom the ancient Romans saw as the beacon of the night. She stands at the edge of the waters of the unconscious.

The Moon represents no alchemical process, but symbolizes The Moon, or the White Stone, which is a result of the purification of the baptism. The White Stone is the culmination of the Albedo, or whitening stage. It is not the Philosopher's Stone, but is the mother of the Stone. What is missing is the masculine seed. The Moon is waiting for her lover brother, the Sun, to join her in the final conjunction that will make the Stone.

Spiritual Meaning: The Moon represents the night before the dawn. It is a time of patience, rest and reflection, in which the soft energies of the Moon compel us to enter the waters of the unconscious, the heart of mystery. As the embodiment of the White Stone, the Moon represents a level of mastery in which we are in control of our actions, because we are conscious of psychological influences that remain unconscious to others. We have been purified, and now enjoy freedom of choice in our activities, and patient acceptance of the activities of others. However at this level there can be a coldness or flattening of the emotions, because we still need to fully integrate our libido---our lower animal nature. And so we wait for dawn.

Saïx: “We have to set things right. There is simply too much on the line...Lea.”

Minor Arcana: In the 4 of Pentacles we see a man sitting down and holding onto 4 pentacles as if they are his last source of abundance. In a way, they are. This is a man that is fearful of loss. This could be a fear over losing a relationship, fear over losing status, fear over losing a job, or fear over losing money. When this card appears, you are clinging onto security for dear life. You may be unwilling to throw things away which no longer serve you any benefit. You will go through a period of clinging to what you have and not wanting to let go. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes we need to keep things close to our chest for security reasons.

In a general context, the 4 of Pentacles can indicate that you are holding on to people, possessions, situations or past issues. It can be an indication that there are deep seated issues affecting you that you need to process and let go of. This card can indicate that you may be trying very hard to cling onto the people or possessions that give you a sense of security. You may be holding onto things in an unhealthy, possessive, controlling or toxic way or someone may be holding onto you in such a manner. It can indicate that you need to establish your boundaries or respect the boundaries of other people. I think this Arcana represents the conflict between Axel’s friendship with Roxas and Xion, and the feelings of attachment he still had for Isa. He didn’t want to let ANY of them go.

Color: Lavender is a calming color that is approachable and puts others at ease. When seen on the Tarot cards, Lavender suggests inner-strength and wisdom to draw from.

Justice

VIII. Justice – Disposition (in which the part are weighed) – the furnace connected to Heaven with the glyph for vitriol (the secret fire) on the sword handle – the process of weighing, truth, balance, justice, the law

Armed Gear: Equipped with or carrying a weapon or weapons.

Burning: Enters the black color scheme of the Nigredo stage. This stage represents death and decomposition.

Selene: An archaic lunar deity. Her equivalent in ancient Roman religion and myth is Luna, Latin for "Moon". Her symbol was a torch.

Major Arcana: Alchemically, Justice weighs fire and water; she balances the masculine and feminine principles. Her alchemical process is called disposition, in which the correct proportion of these elements are determined by weight before they are sealed in the retort. The hilt of her sword bears the alchemical symbol for vitriol, or "oil of glass," which is the secret fire.

Spiritual Meaning: Justice solemnly reminds us that right action should be based on sound judgement, and truth. We must balance objectivity, her scale, with subjectivity, her sword. This balancing also is demonstrated in the composition of the card. Justice is structured (logic, objectivity), but she stands at the edge of water (intuition, subjectivity). In a higher spiritual sense, Justice is the weigher of souls. She assesses our progress along our the path of our work, and judges our actions. The divine fire in her crown, the eye of God, and the rising smoke tell us that in justice there are subtleties that are beyond our grasp. Sometimes, in the end, we must simply give her our trust.

Xion: “It's for the good of everyone.”

Axel: “But how do you know that? Everybody thinks they're right...”

Minor Arcana: The Ace of Swords is a symbol of possibility in the area of intelligence, reason, justice, truth, clarity and fortitude. In readings, it shows that a seed of clear understanding has been planted in your life although you may not yet recognize it. When the seed sprouts, it could take almost any form. It might be a compelling idea, desire for the truth, call to justice, or a need to be honest. On the outside, it could be an offer, gift, opportunity, encounter or synchronistic event. Sometimes this Ace stands for a challenge that will test you in some way. Life never goes smoothly for long. Sooner or later a hurdle shows up, and the Ace of Swords can tell you when one is coming.

This card is also a reminder to you to face your challenge, whatever it is, with courage, honesty and a firm resolve. In every challenge, there is opportunity. When you see the Ace of Swords, think about your problem objectively. Look for situations that are unjust or confusing and resolve to set them right. Above all else, commit to being honest and ethical. This card tells you that you do have the inner resources to overcome all obstacles and find the truth of your situation. That is the promise of the Ace of Swords. I think this Arcana represents Axel’s resolve to turn on the Organization and find Roxas.

Color: When green is seen within the Tarot deck, it is an indication that growth is taking place on many levels, and that through this growth, abundant harvests will be reaped.

The Hierophant

V. The Hierophant – he is the element Fire and exoteric spiritually – he is Hermes Trismegistus holding the Emerald Tablet, with feminine symbols on the left and masculine symbols on the right – he is what can be spoken, fought, or published, balance, and morality

Chrono Gear: Relating to time.

Moulin Rouge: A cabaret in Paris that had a red windmill with a Sun and Moon design. Burned down in 1915.

Moonrise: The rising of the Moon above the horizon, coinciding with the setting of the Sun. Shaped like astrological symbol for Vesta, a Roman Goddess known as the “Keeper of the Sacred Flame”. Brownish-yellow aura: feeling fatigued or stressed.

Major Arcana: The Hierophant plays counterpoint to the High Priestess. Hers is hidden knowledge; his is open. The Hierophant’s body and crown form a red triangle, the symbol of Fire, which is the final element separated from the others in the dissolution. The small figures at the sides of the Hierophant represent the Red and White Queen, who are being joined in sacred marriage. They are the earthly representatives of the celestial masculine and feminine principle symbolized by the Sun and Moon seen in the archways. Mediating between them is a candle flame, representing the Hierophant’s element, Fire. The red candle symbolizes the masculine spirituality--the Sol aspect of the soul. The white symbolizes the feminine, or Luna aspect of the soul.

Spiritual Meaning: The Hierophant tells us we have obtained wisdom in our quest of the Great Work. We are grasping the marriage of the principles of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, masculine and feminine---a union necessary for the synthesis of the Philosopher's Stone. We are in touch with both of those energies, and are capable of keeping them in balance. However, we have much yet to learn. The Hierophant's book is open, but it is long and deep. We cannot rest on our laurels. We must integrate the knowledge we've acquired, and continue our quest, for we stand at the threshold of the next major phase of the alchemical process. The Hierophant marks the end of the solutio, the dissolution of the Materia Prima into its four elements.

Axel: “... He made me feel...like I had a heart. It's kind of...funny... You make me feel...the same....”

Minor Arcana: In Tarot, swords represent thoughts and mind. The 2 of Swords indicates that you are facing a challenging decision, but you are unclear about which option to take. Both possibilities may seem equally good – or equally bad – and you are stumped about which will lead you to the best outcome. You must be able to weigh up the pros and cons of each choice and then make a conscious judgment. Use both your head (your mind and the intellect) and your heart (your feelings and intuition) to choose the path that is most in alignment with your Higher Self.

When someone gets this card in a Tarot reading, the message is clear: stop listening to your confused mind. Your thoughts are in conflict with one another, and this is not helping you. It's time to move on from what is making you suffer. Your heart knows what you should do. If you can trust your heart, you will move on to a much better, and healthier situation right away. I think this Arcana represents Axel’s moral dilemma about bringing Roxas back. Ultimately, he chooses to help Sora and Kairi at the cost of his life, and fades away.

Color: When green is seen within the Tarot deck, it is an indication that growth is taking place on many levels, and that through this growth, abundant harvests will be reaped.

The World

XXI. The World – The goal of the Opus, the Phliosopher’s Stone, the Red Elixir of healing – the woman is the Quinta Essentia (fifth element) and the Anima Mundi (soul of the world) – the good, the inner guide, the attainment of our goals

Phantom Gear: A ghost of figment of the imagination. This is the other weapon category that can be upgraded to ++ status. It is the same Arcana as the Emperor at the very end.

Blaze of Glory: The Nigredo (decomposition) stage of the Phoenix.

Astrologia: Latin for “the study of the stars”. Shaped like the astrological symbols for Cancer and Venus. Brownish-yellow aura: feeling fatigued or stressed.

Major Arcana: The World brings us to the culmination of the Great Work. Alchemically, the world is the final red stage, the Rubedo, in which the red Philosopher’s Stone is formed. The stone, symbolized by the heart, is composed of pure spiritual essence, the heart or soul of the world (Anima Mundi), which is personified as the nude woman in the center.

The Anima Mundi has been with us guiding us all along; we could not be alive unless this was so. She was with us when we were the Fool in the beginning. We are still that same fool now; the only difference is that we have dropped our blindfold and have become conscious of her for the first time. Now we are aware of the infinite creative potential that was here all along.

Spiritual Meaning: Because it has been placed as the final point and in the position of fulfillment, The World indicates a major realization. On the other hand, if the card appears at the beginning of a reading, it is not in its rightful place and becomes an imprisonment. It will represent a difficult beginning.

Saix: "He won nothing, and IS nothing. He couldn't stand the emptiness of being without a heart. And THAT led to his demise. He was foolish and weak."

Minor Arcana: The 3 of Pentacles reveals a successful beginning towards achieving your goals. It is a sign of encouragement that you should press on with the same effort without giving up. You may struggle to accomplish your goals as an individual, but the 3 of Pentacles also teaches people not ignore the talents of the others that surround you. You need the collaboration of others, with diverse viewpoints, experiences and expertise to accomplish something more than you could have ever dreamed of. The 3 of Pentacles is one of the cards in the Tarot that focuses on the group. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.

This Arcana represents the final moments of Axel’s life as a Nobody. The Phoenix has reached the Nigredo stage, which represents the dark night of the soul, where all hope seems lost and the individual confronts the shadow within. Nigredo is that moment of maximum despair, that is a prerequisite to personal development. Eventually the Nigredo gives way to the Albedo. The ever deepening descent into the darkness suddenly becomes illumination from above.

Color: When green is seen within the Tarot deck, it is an indication that growth is taking place on many levels, and that through this growth, abundant harvests will be reaped.

The Joker

The Joker: Perhaps due to the Joker’s early association with the Tarot Fool, or perhaps based on the archetypal symbolism of the Jester/Joker/Fool, the interpretation of the Joker bears close resemblance to that of the Tarot Fool.

Pandora Gear: Pandora opened a jar left in her care containing sickness, death and many other unspecified evils which were then released into the world. Though she hastened to close the container, only one thing was left behind---hope.

Prominence: "A formidable weapon with exceptional capabilities." (Fire Finish, Critical Boost, Alive ‘n’ Kicking). A large, bright red, gaseous feature extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Shaped like a swastika, symbolizing the Sun and the harmonious interplay of opposites, beyond the limits of space and time.

Crocea Mors: "A formidable weapon with exceptional capabilities." (Chain Time, Heart Bonus, Vitality Surge). Latin for "Yellow Death". Was the name given to Julius Caesar's sword. Yellow aura: The color of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared.

Major Arcana: The Joker can represent surprises and unexpected events outside of the seeker’s control. The Joker can represent foolish behavior or immaturity. The Joker can indicate secrets, hidden agendas, or that not everything is as it appears to be in the area where it falls. Like The Fool, the Joker can denote folly, eccentricity, and poorly considered actions. He can represent originality, or the beginning of an adventure or quest. He is an independent spirit, complete within himself. He is guided by the forces of nature, and the wisdom of The Universe.

Lea: “You know what? I'll bring 'em back myself.”

Ienzo: “Huh? How, exactly?”

Lea: “Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?”

Minor Arcana: The 10 of Wands is the card of hard work. When this card makes an appearance in a Tarot reading, you can be assured that there is much work to be done. The 10 of Wands usually pops up in outcome or future positions. It means that, in the future, you’re going to have to put a lot of effort into whatever you’re reading doing, more than you are currently. Down the line, you’ll have to make the decision if you’re going to knuckle down and complete the challenge or throw in the towel when it gets too much. The 10 of Wands isn’t telling you what you’ll do; it only serves as a warning that things are about to get very difficult. Your life is going to be tougher than usual for a time.

You will have to fight uphill for every little gain. Each step will feel like a struggle. When you see this card, be kind to yourself. Lighten the load wherever you can, and let others help you. You don’t have to handle everything yourself. Whether your burdens are chosen by you or have come upon you, the message of this card is to keep on keeping on. The end of the road is near, and the Sun is waiting to shine on you when you reach it. This card represents Lea’s situation after he is re-completed. He still has a challenging road ahead of him to regain everything he lost.

Color: When the color red is seen within the Tarot cards, it indicates that action will be required. When yellow is seen on the Tarot cards, it indicates that intuition and intelligence will come to the fore in order to find a solution to a problem or issue. It also indicates positive outcomes.

Temperance

XIV. Temperance – Distillation – capturing the process of evaporation and precipitation and nurturing the rose of perfection – health, beauty, balance, art, timing

Climb Gear: To ascend. Represents distillation.

Prometheus: In Greek mythology, a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who is credited with the creation of man from clay, and who defied the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity, an act that enabled progress and civilization.

Crater: A large cavity on the surface of a planet or the Moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite or other celestial body. Shaped like the symbol of Mercurius, god of alchemy. Magenta aura: Strong, bright and vibrant and carries with it a sense of vivacity. Represents ‘Universal Harmony’.

Major Arcana: After Death, we enjoy the nurturing of new life, symbolized by Temperance, who is the sustainer of all life. She allows us to integrate the lessons of the Nigredo stage. She is the mother aspect of the Great Goddess, and underlies the Anima Mundi, the masculine aspects of which are the mundane world. The alchemical process of Temperance is distillation: a liquid is poured from one vessel to another as a kind of a welcome relief. It is the extraction of material from its solution by forced evaporation. It is the oldest and most fundamental stage of alchemy---the whole process is continual distillation.

Spiritual Meaning: Temperance represents the continual life process. The key meaning of the card is renewal, a balancing of dual forces, and an achievement of harmony that lies beyond conscious control but simply is. Temperence is mistress of nature and its rhythms, and perfection is her goal. She is calm and centered, and maintains her steady rhythm in the face of storms and upheavals. Temperance reminds us that there is a higher order, a higher functioning, to all that occurs on the mundane plane. We can tune into this higher consciousness, and thus see a bigger picture, and become buffered from the upsets on lower levels. Temperence is also related to the word "temper," which means to make strong. Temperence can help our fortitude.

Xigbar: “You’re not supposed to be here!”

Lea: “Promises to keep. I'll always be there to get my friends back.”

Minor Arcana: The 7 of Swords in general, is said to be about betrayal and deception. It is sometimes called the 'Thief' card. In a general context, it represents deception, lies, trickery, cheating and lack of conscience. This card also signifies mental manipulation, tactics, scheming, cunning, enemies who masquerade as friends and spies in your camp. It represents escaping detection and getting away with something. It is a card of dangerous or risky behaviour, daring, courage and staying ahead of the game.

On a more positive note, the 7 of Swords points out that you need to be strategic in what you do. It can also represent flexibility, adaptability, sharp wit, and resourcefulness. You know you cannot do everything at once – nor should you. Instead, you must prioritize what’s important to you and direct your focus and attention on the few tasks that will move you closer to your goals. At any rate, as disappointing as this card can be to see in a reading, the deception is usually short lived. Nobody is able to carry away 7 swords and get away with it. So although the party may feel smug about it at the time, it's about to blow up in their face.

Color: When yellow is seen on the Tarot cards it indicates that intuition and intelligence will come to the fore in order to find a solution to a problem or issue. It also indicates positive outcomes. When violet is seen on the Tarot cards, it implies a deep spiritual understanding and the wisdom and knowledge of an old soul. White is a combination of all the colors within the light spectrum. It is considered to be a color of purity, truth, knowledge and illumination.

Often, when the color white is seen on the Tarot cards it implies new beginnings and new ideas and opportunities coming from a higher place and plane. This is the also the very first card that does not feature any black on it. I think it’s because this is the moment that Lea realizes that Saïx was never really Isa---he’s been duped. Isa was being used as a vessel for Xehanort the whole time.

The High Priestess

II. The High Priestess – begins the separation of the elements – she is Water, esoteric spiritually, intuition, a secret, or something that cannot be spoken – her book has the triangle of Water but it is the color of Fire.

Elegant Gear: Pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.

Ifrit: A class of infernal djinn, also held to be a death spirit drawn to the life-force (or blood) of a murdered victim seeking revenge on the murderer.

Lunar Phase: Shaped like the star of Shamash (god of the Sun) and Ishtar (goddess of love). Magenta aura: Strong, bright and vibrant and carries with it a sense of vivacity. Represents ‘Universal Harmony’.

Major Arcana: The High Priestess represents Water, which is an archetypal symbol of the unconscious. She acts as the messenger that surfaces from the unseen depths, bringing our inner wisdom to our conscious awareness. She expresses what cannot be expressed in words, our intuition. Thus, her book os closed ans she is silent. The symbol for Water is on the cover of her book, but it is the color of Fire. Her Moon, which waxes an wanes -- the rhythm of life -- symbolizes the highest expression of female spirituality; it is the origin of all mystery traditions. She is Luna, the feminine aspect of our hermaphroditic soul.

As her part in the Opus, she initiates the process called dissolution in which the Materia Prima is broken down into its four separate elements. Two elements are masculine, two are feminine, and they are grouped to form two pairs of lovers. The High Priestess and the Hierophant are Water and Fire, the spiritual couple often symbolized by the Moon and the Sun. The Empress and Emperor are the physical couple, Earth and Air. They are symbolized by the White Queen and the Red King.

Spiritual Meaning: Two is the number of openings, because two halves create a space between themselves -- the image of a doorway. The High Priestess opens the door for us to probe the mysteries that lie beneath our experiences. She encourages us to look for what is hidden -- to read between the lines, to find subtleties and nuances. This is the card of intuition, dreams, and esoteric knowledge.

Lea: “And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out. "Dark Rescue" is my middle name.”

Minor Arcana: The Ten of Pentacles deals with permanence and satisfaction. The card shows that everything you have put your efforts into for a long time will pay off in the future. It suggests that everything will work out well in the end - for you have always kept the long term picture in view, choosing to take no shortcuts. Your legacy is sure to stand for quite a long time to come. This is a relief, for the path to get here has been filled with setbacks and challenges, making this point of the journey even sweeter.

It is an exciting card to see no matter what you're asking the Tarot about. It is most definitely a YES card when it arrives. You are about to get exactly what you asked for in the way of success when this card appears. You are going to have all of your dreams fulfilled. This Arcana represents Lea summoning his Keyblade, the Flame Liberator. I think Lea awakened the power to use it after finally learning that Isa was just a vessel the whole time. He wants to liberate his friend and get revenge on Xehanort.

The Tower

XVI. The Tower – Greater Separation of the red and the white – the beginning of the Albedo (second white stage of the Opus) – breaking, separation, sudden change, expulsion, divine intervention, sudden insight

Wild Gear: Lacking discipline or restraint.

Magma Ocean: Existed during periods of Earth's or any planet's formation when the planet is completely or partly molten. Also occurred on the Moon during and following its formation. Shaped like a yin-yang.

Crescent: Shaped like Black Moon Lilith, the dark side of the female psyche. Soft blue aura: Peacefulness, clarity and communication; Truthful and intuitive.

Major Arcana: The Tower represents the oven of alchemy in which the elixir is prepared. The Tower card represents a breakthrough from the darkness of the Nigredo. Spiritual illumination in the form of lightning--divine intervention--strikes the oven, cracking it and threatening to destroy it; simultaneously, the black sky of the Nigredo is cut in two by the white light of the second stage, the Albedo.

This is a moment of shattering intensity, at once exhilarating, but also threatening. If the oven cannot withstand the illumination, all may be lost. The intensity of the strike separates the solution within the tower into the masculine red and the feminine white. The white liquid will form the White Stone to make silver; the red liquid will form the Red Stone to make gold. This second separation is called the greater dissolution.

Spiritual Meaning: The Tower signifies a breakthrough, a sudden inspiration, a flash of creativity, or an opportunity that must be seized. It may also signify an upheaval in life, such as the loss of a job, a change in relationship, or an unexpected move. However, The Tower shows strength; though the furnace is cracked, it does not break. Thus, if the card points to disruption, we can be secure in the knowledge that we have the security in life and relationships with other people, that will enable us to weather it successfully.

Ansem the Wise: “Sora has a heart like that--uncorrupted, willing to see the good before the bad. When he sees the heart in something, it then becomes real. When a connection seems broken, he may have the power to mend it.”

Minor Arcana: The 2 of the Pentacles is the card of indecision, internal debate, and doubt. When this card shows up in a reading, it always indicates that something in the situation is "up in the air." It can also indicate that you are trying to find or maintain balance between various areas of your life. This card represents the ups and downs of life, and indicates that you are resourceful, adaptable and flexible enough to get through them. The 2 of Pentacles also relates to your physical life and it can suggest that you are finding it all a bit of a struggle at present.

This card counsels patience, so do not allow yourself to be rushed. The figure-eight image is a symbol of immortality and eternity. Its message is "No need to hurry. You have all the time you need to work this out, no matter how things appear right now." Implied within this scenario is the idea that changes are in the works, but you will do better to stay calm until you have more information. Everything is in flux at a time like this. I think this Arcana represents Lea confronting the apprentices and finally learning the whole truth about Isa and the experiments. Then Lea begins his training as a Keyblade wielder with Kairi.

Color: When blue is seen within a Tarot card, it most often denotes a time of reflection, using the mind productively and healing the soul. It is a positive expression. White is considered to be a color of purity, truth, knowledge and illumination. Often, when the color white is seen on the Tarot cards it implies new beginnings and new ideas and opportunities coming from a higher place and plane.

The Hanged Man

XII. The Hanged Man – Calcination (in which gold is sacrificed) – the serpent is Mercury – willing sacrifice, suffering, loss of money or position, discomfort, illness

Ominous Gear: Giving the impression that something unpleasant or threatening is going to happen.

Volcanics: Shaped like a swastika, symbolizing the Sun and the harmonious interplay of opposites, beyond the limits of space and time.

Gibbous: The phase just before the Full Moon. The home-stretch. Soft blue aura: Peacefulness, clarity and communication, truthful, intuitive.

Major Arcana: The alchemical process of the Hanged Man is calcination. Calcination is represented by a man hanged from the gallows. In hanging upside down, the Hanged Man is losing his gold, which represents the loss of worldly possessions, self-esteem, or our sense of the role we play in the world. The patiently suffering man is suspended over fire or another corrosive agent, symbolizing matter being to reduced to white ash. The crucified serpent is Mercury, which must be sacrificed to complete the Work.

Spiritual Meaning: The Hanged Man represents a fall in terms of ego or self-image. It may also represent the loss of material things. Do not despair, for such is necessary in order to transform the lower nature into the Higher Self. Self-esteem can be repaired, and material things can be replaced. Inevitably, we must go down before we can go up, and while we hang in limbo we can contemplate our errors and determine how to transcend them. The alchemical literature states that the alchemist must sacrifice some gold to make the Philosopher's Stone. And so it is with us on the mundane plane. The question is, how long will you remain suspended? The choice is yours.

Axel: “I told myself to grow up and stop wishing for the impossible. Well, I’m done with that. That’s not the answer I want.”

Minor Arcana: The 7 of Cups says that you are indulging in wishful thinking, fantasies or living in a dream world. The card shows a person with their back turned towards us, contemplating 7 images that are creeping out of the cups, all of which are floating in the clouds. This card appears in Tarot readings when what you desire has no relationship to your ability to actually get it. It refers to works of the imagination, the use of dream and vision to invent a future different than the life one is currently living. The seeker might find it difficult to see clearly what is the best option forward. It might feel better to daydream than to live in reality.

This card is a reminder that although it is good to have dreams and wishes, it is even better to take action to attain those dreams. At some point, you will need to stop fantasizing and face the reality of life. It may show that your actions are guided by illusions that you feed yourself. You will need to separate what is real and what is not so that you can make better choices. This card asks you to examine your tangled feelings. Where are you caught up in mesmerizing fantasies? Where are you tricking yourself into thinking you’re progressing when you’re really just going in circles? There may be a need to sort out what is just smoke and mirrors and what is productive.

Death

XIII. Death – Putrefaction – the dark vessel of the Nigredo – the end of anything, decay

Brave Gear: Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.

Blaze: "A weapon that possesses high Strength. Useful against tough enemies." (Defender). Refers to putrefaction.

Berserk: "A weapon that enables your attacks to reach a wide area." (Defender). Wild or frenzied. Shaped like the alchemical symbol for antimony. The metal antimony symbolizes the animal nature or wild spirit of man and nature, and it was often symbolized by the wolf. The color of Phosphorus, indicating spiritual illumination.

Major Arcana: After we have finished our suspension as the Hanged Man, we are ready for a new beginning. That brings us to mortification: Death, in which the physical Lovers die so that they can be reborn. The alchemical process of Death is putrefaction, in which the composite material is dissolved (putrefied) in heated moisture. One method to accomplish this is to grind up the matter, moisten it and place it in a humid oven. The celestial essence will then separate from its elementary composition. Literally, the matter rots and stinks. Spiritual Meaning: Death is necessary in order to have a new beginning. We must allow the old to pass away so that we can usher in the new. Initiation into mysteries involve the death of one's old self. We see this necessary death also in the myth of Moon deity, who dies every lunar cycle in the New Moon and is reborn again. This death and rebirth is the essential theme of the alchemical process. We go through many deaths in life, every time a phase or cycle comes to an end. Spiritual growth always involves endings and beginnings. The trick of keeping steady on the path is knowing when it is time to let go, and allowing Death to claim it. Mourn and give what is passing its due, but don't linger in the grief. Something new and better is rising on the horizon.

Axel: “As long as we remember each other, we'll never be apart. Got it memorized?”

Minor Arcana: When the Ace of Swords appears, we have the arrival of a new and powerful beginning in your life. There is a breakthrough of sorts, such as an “Ah Hah!” moment in the situation when you see this card. This card also brings with it the message of truth. So when you see this card, know that along with it comes a message of truth and clarity. Finally you see the light on a key matter, or a key matter has finally restored its balance. You have a surge of power with this card and are ready to wield your sword to yield benefits and blessings in your life.

The Ace of Swords is all about clarity of mind and clear cut thought. It is a card about new beginnings. This card also predicts quick and forceful action. If you put in the effort and devote yourself 100% to the task at hand, there will be a swift outcome. Great determination is usually predicted with the Ace of Swords, so you’ll have the extra stamina you need to get the job done. You will eventually triumph and get results quicker than anticipated. This Arcana represents Isa’s heart within Berserk Saïx coming to an important realization, and refusing to kill his best friend.

Color: When the color orange is seen on within the Tarot cards, it often indicates a time or situation that will require action, intuition and courage.

The Hermit

IX. The Hermit – Exaltation (an enhancement) – the alchemist following the footsteps of the Anima Mundi, with the ouroboros (serpent of time) and the raven of the Nigredo (the first black stage of the Opus) – meditation, solitude, inner guidance, the desire to be alone

Fearless Gear: Bold and courageous.

Raging Edge: "A weapon that possesses very high Strength. Effective against tough enemies." (Defender, Striker). Showing violent uncontrollable anger. Shaped like a mandala of the Third Eye chakra.

Twilight: "A weapon that enables your attacks to reach a wide area and deal heavy damage." (Defender, Offensive Block). A period of obscurity; the time period between the light of day and the darkness of night. The color of Phosphorus, indicating spiritual illumination.

Major Arcana: In alchemy, Saturn represents lead, and rules the Nigredo, the dark phase that he journeys through in the trumps. This is signified on the card by his black companion, the raven. His alchemical process is exultation, in which the Materia Prima, now recombined and balanced, is dissolved into a purified or higher degree of itself. This process is another aspect of the Ouroboros symbol. It is also an analogy for meditation, The Hermit's practice, which can be described as a turning inward to raise consciousness.

Spiritual Meaning: The search for truth can be a long and solitary journey. When the path is not clear, we may wander a bit, but we have divine light to guide us. We've come a long way on our path, and are at the end of a segment of the journey. Now it is time for solitude, meditation, and introspection. We must turn inward to examine where we have been and gain perspective. We must integrate the wisdom we have acquired during our journey.

Xemnas: “Ah, ever the rogue pawn. Knocked from the board early in the game. Utterly useless and forgotten. Now it ends. I will purge that light in you…with darkness!”

Minor Arcana: In the 4 of Cups card we see a man on a grassy knoll type of setting. He has three cups in front of him and behind him there is a cup being offered with the outstretch of a hand. But he does not see this. His arms are crossed and he is focused only on the 3 cups before him. The symbolism in this card then is, he can have more, if he just opens his mind to the possibilities around him. He is so busy focused on the 3 in front, that he loses opportunities that are around him, without him even realizing this.

The 4 of Cups involves boundaries of a mental or emotional nature. It concerns self-examination of how and why we feel the way we do, and exactly what we hope to achieve. It can indicate feelings of claustrophobia, and uncertainty. Perhaps the real issue is not clear yet. This card might suggest taking time to identify and resolve conflicting emotions about an issue before trying to resolve it. This is the time for contemplation, introspection, searching for understanding, self-awareness, and solitude. After Saïx refuses to fight, Xemnas shows up and attacks Lea. Saïx would have to look within his heart in order to take action.

Color: When the color orange is seen on within the Tarot cards, it often indicates a time or situation that will require action, intuition and courage.

Strength

XI. Strength – Fermentation – the female virtue controls the Green Lion (the destructive aspect of Mercury) – control through love, self control, discipline

Glory Gear: High renown or honor won by notable achievements.

Crowning: "A weapon that possesses extreme Strength. Devastates tough enemies." (Defender, Striker, Grand Slam). Shaped like a mandala of the Crown chakra. Refers to the crowning sphere of conjunction: the final spiritual stage of alchemy.

Queen of the Night: "A weapon that enables your attacks to reach a wide area and deal immense damage." (Defender, Offensive Block). Refers to a white flower that blooms under the Full Moon. A reference to the White Queen. The color of Phosphorus, indicating spiritual illumination.

Major Arcana: The virtue Strength is equated to fermentation, a process exemplified by the Hermit, by which the alchemists believed a spirit entered the body of the matter, bringing it to a higher form. Strength is also the virgin aspect of the threefold Great Goddess. The virgin is the only one who can tame the unicorn, which is interchangeable with the lion in alchemy. The lion represents our untamed animal nature, our libido. The virgin represents our Higher Selves. The Higher Self tames the lower animal nature through love. Thus, Strength holds a flaming heart, the symbol of love.

The Sun and Moon are the higher aspects of the Lovers. They pour the masculine and feminine alchemical fluids into a heart vessel. The green lion refers to antimony. The alchemist Valentine noted that antimony has the ability to free gold from impurities, and he concluded that it had the innate power to have a similar effect on humankind. Valentine also noted that antimony is poison, but can be transmuted into pure medicine. Antimony also is the best source of mercury, but it is young and imperfect. Thus, green is the color of beginnings.

Spiritual Meaning: This is a card of inner strength. Our animal nature, our libido, is the source of our strength and vitality, but similar to the lion it can be dangerous, and demands respect. Like the woman in the picture, we can tame the lion, and make its strength our own. It then becomes our mount as we give it direction. But the word "tame" is misleading; the woman does not overpower the lion -- he has more physical strength than her --her power, as is ours, is love. She loves the lion, and the lion loves her back, therefore he does her bidding. Power comes when we love ourselves, and to totally love ourselves, we must love our animal selves.

Isa: “I know I won't forget you. Believe me, I try all the time.”

Lea: “See, I'm immortal!”

Minor Arcana: The 2 of Cups symbolizes the beauty and power of sexual attraction between two people. This is the card couples want to be dealt. It represents the union of any two entities. The 2 of Cups represents a happy and blissful pair, strengthened by the union of unconditional love. Each individual is bringing love to the table with pure intentions and a pure heart. In the 2 of Cups, we see two lovers joining forces, each bringing a cup of love to the table. Many Tarot readers consider this to be a Twin Flame card, so if you see this card appear, expect that your Twin Flame will make an appearance in some way.

When this card is present, so is committed and unconditional love that flows blissfully between the pair. When Xemnas is about to finish Lea off, Berserk Saïx (NOT Xion) would finally have to take action and defend him from Xemnas’ attack. In this Arcana, Saïx’s weapon is named “Queen of the Night”! This weapon’s only abilities are “Defender” and “Offensive Block”! Because of his heart’s unwillingness to obey orders any longer, he’d be deemed useless. At last, he’d be free of Xehanort’s heart and control.

Color: When the color orange is seen on within the Tarot cards, it often indicates a time or situation that will require action, intuition and courage.

The Lovers

VI. The Lovers – the action of love – the elements recombined in the Minor Conjunction ---sex, attraction, coming together, partnership

Crisis Gear: A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.

Ferris Wheels: Most likely named after a Ferris Wheel at Disney California Adventure named the Sun Wheel.

Balsamic: Soothing or restorative. The phase of the Moon on Isa’s jacket. Shaped like the symbol of Mercurius, god of alchemy. Purple aura: The most sensitive and wisest of colors. This is the intuitive color in the aura, and reveals psychic power of attunement with self. Black aura: Usually a sign the person is holding on to powerful negative emotions, such as long-term grief.

Major Arcana: The Lovers are the Red and White Queen depicted in a sexual embrace. This card represents the sexual union of the couples. At this point in the Opus, the dissolution of the Materia Prima is complete, and the elements need to be recombined. The Lovers marks the first step towards this reunification, called the first or lesser conjunction of the masculine and feminine principles. The greater conjunction occurs during the last stages of the alchemical Opus.

This lesser conjunction takes place in a sandbath and the Queen’s and the King’s spiritual essences, depicted as Sol and Luna, observe from the sky. It was also called the “Alchemical Wedding”, and it was depicted in the texts as a wedding ceremony, or more often as a consummation of marriage. By the end of this stage, the Lovers are killed so that they can be resurrected in an exalted, spiritualized form and transformed into the Philosopher’s Stone.

Spiritual Meaning: The Lovers signifies joy, the fulfillment of our desires, sensual pleasure, and ideally balance between the male and female aspects of our personalities. The Lovers are in harmony with each other, and therefore with the entire physical world. But until more depth is gained, their harmony can be disrupted by the natural tendencies of desire.

Axel: “No matter how many times you leave, I’ll bring you back. Every time. For my sake and for yours.”

Minor Arcana: The message of the 4 of Cups is a reminder that things aren't always as they seem, and we are to look around us for the obvious opportunities that are there. These opportunities may not be directly in front of us where we are most inclined to look, but that certainly does not negate their possibility or presence. Sometimes we go through our lives expecting things to be a certain way or turn out a certain way, like the man is staring at the three cups before him stubbornly. Sometimes our aspirations are realized in the form of a fourth cup, offered in a place where we can not immediately see it.

That is the message of this card. Focusing too much on our expectations, rather than our reality, will close us off to opportunities that could yield abundance. If this card appears, the message is to uncross your arms, and open your mind to other possibilities in the situation at hand. Chances are, the answer is around you, but you will only be able to seize the day if you open your eyes to the full picture, and not just what is in front of you. I think this Arcana is when Lea would have to figure out some way to use the power of waking on Isa.

The Chariot

VII. The Chariot – Sublimation – the wheel with the internal sun is his goal, the three glyphs in the wheel are, left to right, Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury (the three alchemical essences and the three parts of the chariot) – speed, impatience, travel

Omega Gear: The twenty-fourth, and last, letter of the Greek alphabet. Also the last of a series; the final development.

Burning Out: The Albedo (purification) phase of the Phoenix.

Orbit: Purple aura: The wisest and most sensitive of colors. This is the intuitive color in the aura, and reveals psychic power of attunement with self. Black aura: Usually a sign the person is holding on to powerful negative emotions, such as long-term grief.

Major Arcana: In the Chariot, we find the progeny of the Lovers---their son---setting off on his alchemical journey; a hero's journey. The Chariot is turned away from the viewer as if inviting them to step onboard. This trump is designed to represent the alchemical process known as sublimation. In sublimation, a substance goes directly into a gaseous state when heated, bypassing liquefaction. It ascends to the top of the alchemical vessel, where it condenses. Sublimation is often equated with impatience. It is an improvement in quality, but the alchemist must not be hasty about the process.

Spiritual Meaning: The Chariot shows us what can happen when we become impatient. Alchemical heating is a patient process--the alchemist should not add too much heat too fast. As we draw closer to the Stone, we glimpse it, and want to get to it as quickly as possible. It has always been hidden from view---now it is in plain sight. But getting there, to spiritual wholeness, is not a fast process. We must check our impulse to charge off, and proceed more slowly and carefully. We must stay centered. The Chariot offers us exuberance, energy, ambition, and willingness to take on a challenge. These are good traits that can serve us well, as long as they are properly managed and tempered. The long distance traveler knows how to pace himself, so as not to burn out before reaching his destination.

Axel: “Love is what happens when there’s something really special between two people.”

Minor Arcana: To understand the 2 of Cups, all you have to do is look at its image. A man and a woman are gazing at each other, ready to share their cups--their emotions. Here is the very picture of romantic and sexual attraction. The energy between these two is almost palpable. The 2 of Cups shows the beauty and power that is created when two come together. This is the card that lovers want to see, and, in fact, the 2 of Cups is the Minor Arcana equivalent of the Lovers in many ways. It is a card about the recognition of love.

It is about gazing into someone's eyes and realizing that you have made a deep and lasting connection, or even found your soul mate. This card is about an affinity with someone on all levels and the union of two people who are very much in love. When the 2 of Cups appears in a Tarot reading, you need to look for the one-on-one connections in your life. This is the time to join forces, not the time to separate or stay apart. It is the time to join with another and work as a partnership. If you are in conflict, look for truce and the chance to forgive and be forgiven.

The Sun

XIX. The Sun – the Greater Conjunction – the Citrinitas (the third yellow stage of the Opus) – spiritual love, soul mates, marriage, enlightenment

Hazard Gear: A danger or risk.

Omega Trinity: "A weapon that lets you string together longer aerial combos with wider reach." Refers to the Tria Prima: Sulfur, Mercury, and Salt.

Light Year: "A weapon that offers high Strength and combo reach." The distance that light travels in one year. Refers to a very long distance. The color of Phosphorus, indicating spiritual illumination.

Major Arcana: The yellow Citrinitas stage begins with The Sun. This is the most important part of the Opus. The mystical transformation happens as the spiritual Sun rises to join his lover, the Moon. The Sun and Moon are the souls of the Emperor and Empress, and are here joined in the second or greater conjunction, or sacred marriage. After this, the physical couple are resurrected to join them. All four elements can now take their place around the Anima Mundi on the last card, the World. This occurs as we reach the final stage, the Rubedo, or reddening. Here, at last, the red Philosopher’s Stone is born. The circle with a dot in the middle is the alchemical symbol for gold, and is also the hieroglyph for Ra, the Egyptian Sun god, whose names means "Sun" or "day." Indeed, a new day is dawning.

As Sol and Luna, they are joined under one crown, the symbol of domination and mastery. They have reached the goal of the Great Work. The alchemical process represented by the Sun is multiplication, or the production of the Philosopher's Stone. The alchemist reaps what he has sown. The operation is performed by the Stone itself, not by the alchemist, who allows it to happen. Essentially, the substance has been killed and burned in the earth, and now is reborn and multiplies like grain. The power of projection is multiplied to infinity, beyond time. In the mystery of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld (death and rebirth), grains of barley were placed on a coffin. When the grains sprouted, Osiris was said to have arisen.

Spiritual Meaning: When all four aspects of our personalities--anima, animus, persona, and shadow--are integrated, we can experience the Higher Self, which is both our center and our collective whole. In this state we are motivated and inspired by our desires, but have the maturity to see the yearnings of our soul that are at their root. We have gained the patience to remain unattached to the outcome of our quest -- to manipulate no one, and the strength to simply do what is called for in the present.

The dawn, or the aurora, is a state of radiant health and well-being. We are cleansed of the past as we bask in the healing rays of the new Sun. This Sun is the internal illumination, that previously we were too blind to see. It dawns when we bring our masculine and feminine sides, our animus and anima, into unity and balance. It is also the ripening of the White Stone as it is reddened by the fire of our animal nature, the Devil.

Roxas: “What is it that you're so afraid of?”

Riku: “...Losing something that's important.”

Minor Arcana: The Sun has the same Minor Arcana as The Moon from earlier. The 4 of Pentacles is the card of possessions. If you get this card, you are trying to hold onto what you have. You’re trying to grasp it with all your might and not let go. This interpretation can apply to not just physical things, but also emotional things like relationships. You know you want your lover and you are unwilling to let them go. The message from the 4 of Pentacles is that you are hanging onto something out of fear. There's nothing wrong with that. We all hang onto things for fear of losing them.

This is not an action card, but a card of you pulling everything close to your chest in an effort to maintain control and stability. It often takes great discipline to do so, and so the theme of discipline is also present when you see this card. When this card appears, the message is to have a look at your environment. Ask yourself what it is that you are so afraid of losing. It may not be a bad idea to relax your way about life, as this card brings the message that you have nothing to worry about at all.

Color: Pink is most often associated with happy memories and brings us in touch with good times from long ago. It indicates the elements of love, forgiveness and our emotional endeavors. When pink can be seen within the Tarot cards, matters of the heart often prevail. When yellow is seen on the Tarot cards it indicates that intuition and intelligence will come to the fore in order to find a solution to a problem or issue. Yellow is also associated with The Sun Tarot card which encompasses its love of life.

The Devil

XV. The Devil – Coagulation – the red dragon is the Devil, the hermaphrodite of the King and Queen is his captive – the bad, vice, enslavement, Hell, bad habits

Raging Gear: Causing great pain or distress.

Outbreak: “A weapon that lets you string together longer ground and aerial combos." (Combo Boost, Chain Power, Chain Time). The sudden or violent start of something unwelcome. The Citrinitas (awakening) stage of the Phoenix.

King of the Night: "A weapon that lets you string together longer aerial combos with wider reach." (Chain Power, Chain Time, Heart Bonus). A reference to the Red King. Soft blue aura: Peacefulness, clarity and communication.

Major Arcana: Finally, the Devil represents coagulation, in which the gross qualities of the substance are made obvious so that they can be washed away. Matter is reduced to a solid state in a homogeneous body. That body is comprised of the Lovers, who have united the masculine and feminine principles into the single form of the hermaphrodite. They must now coagulate in darkness while awaiting rebirth.

Spiritual Meaning: Gnostic philosophers maintained that matter entrapped spirit, and equated it with evil. The Devil represents this imprisonment---enslavement to our baser instincts, the negative side of our libido, what Jung termed the shadow. This can manifest as a state of anger, jealousy, or fear. It can trap us in an addiction. Or, at its worst, it can lead to destruction and violence. However, our libido is also the source of our vitality and strength; it governs our very survival. Our shadow is only that part of ourselves that we have not integrated. It is only evil when it remains unconscious.

When we are unaware of this part of ourselves we can project these negative traits on others. Then, thinking that we are good, and the others are evil, we can do our worst, as in war. Each side, thinking that goodness and God is with them, unleashes death and destruction on the other. When we make our desires conscious, we can choose our behavior ourselves. We can probe superficial desires and discover that at the root of our desire, is the longing for the unity that we call love. When we find this greater source of satisfaction, our issues drop away, as well as the illusion of separation.

Axel: “I didn’t forget you.”

Saïx: “Yes...I know. You wouldn’t do that.”

Minor Arcana: The 10 of Pentacles is always a welcome card in any reading, as it represents a cycle coming to an end in your life that will be very fulfilling. This is a long-term stability card. It is an omen for success, no matter what your current lot in life is. Your spiritual journey has led you to this point, where you have manifested that which makes you truly happy and fulfilled in your life.

I think this is when Lea would have to fight Shadow Isa as a boss fight, similar to Shadow Aqua. This would have been the perfect time to incorporate the idea of jealousy. Personally, I never got the impression that Saïx himself was jealous of Axel’s other friendships. He was genuinely cold and indifferent to Axel. But Shadow Isa would be a totally different story. His heart was captured, but it was still always there, subconsciously affecting Saïx’s mood and his reactions to events. His heart would be aware that Lea has other friends. Isa is all alone, though. Even as a human, he didn’t open up to anyone except Lea.

Saïx: “I sacrificed everything for you. You’re the one who went off and made other friends. Left me in the dust. I lost...all sense of purpose.”

I tweaked his dialogue a tiny bit, but I can definitely see Isa’s shadow self saying these things.

Saïx: "Do you know what happens to those who lose their true purpose? Inevitably, they destroy themselves."

If Lea is to heal Isa’s pain, he would have to confront and accept his dark side, and assure him that he never forgot about him. Which is true. He didn’t. He thought Isa forgot about him. Axel felt like the Isa he knew was long gone. But he told Roxas that he couldn’t bear to lose his memories of the past---his memories of Isa. In his memories, the Isa he knew would live forever, and they would never be apart. Lea had a lot of pain, too. I think once Lea told Isa this, it would finally allow him to “face his fears”.

Color: When yellow is seen on the Tarot cards, it indicates that intuition and intelligence will come to the fore in order to find a solution to a problem or issue. It also indicates positive outcomes. Unlike typical black, deep velvety black can actually bring about an intense sense of healing that cannot be penetrated by the other colors.

The Empress

III. The Empress – she is the White Queen and the element Earth – sensation, attraction, fertility, and the feminine principle

Valiant Gear: Possessing courage or determination.

Double Edge: "A weapon that provides versatility by boosting both Strength and Magic." (Fire Finish, Magic Bracer, Guts). Having two cutting edges. Shaped like a mandala of the Third Eye chakra.

Moonset: "A weapon that offers high Strength and ground combo speed." (Combo-Jump, Striker, Vitality Surge). The setting of the Moon below the horizon, coinciding with the break of dawn. Pink aura: Loving, tender, sensitive, sensual, artistic, affection, purity, compassion; new or revived romantic relationship.

Major Arcana: Alchemically, the Empress represents the alchemical vessel, which nurtures the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. She continues the process of dissolution of the Materia Prima, begun by the High Priestess. In mythology, Mother Goddesses are portrayed as having three aspects: virgin, mother and crone; birth, life, death. The Mother Goddess creates life, nurtures it, and destroys it, ensuring the unending cycle of all things. Thus, the threefold Mother Goddess is the mother of the physical world. Spiritual Meaning: The Empress signifies the potential to bring forth great abundance, the bounties of life, a spiritual flowering. She is grounded in the earth, and therefore in the material world, which helps us keep our center as we probe the spiritual planes. However, we cannot take this abundance for granted. The alchemical womb must be watched and tended, lest it abort, and we be forced to start anew.

Axel: “Oh yeah...”

Roxas: “Got it memorized?”

Axel: “The promise of two best friends.”

Minor Arcana: The 2 of Swords often appears when you are not willing to accept some truth about yourself or the situation. What are you really feeling? Are you resisting tender feelings because you might be hurt? What are you refusing to look at? The most common barrier is a closed heart. When we cut ourselves off emotionally, we sever the connection that allows our love to flow outward. Sometimes this action is necessary, but it always comes at a great price. It is a double-edged sword.

Every time we close off our heart, we find it more difficult to open again. Another barrier between people is a deadlocked situation. When two parties are set in their positions---cut off from each other---there is a stalemate. To break it, the “opponents” must come out from behind their swords and listen to each other. The lesson of the 2 of Swords is that barriers are not the answer. We must stay open if we are to find peace and wholeness. This Arcana represents the choice Isa will have to make. Will he face his fears and return to reality with Lea---a reality where he could potentially experience more pain? Or will he go back to the unconsciousness of sleep, which is free from pain, but cuts him off from experiencing love?

Color: When the color orange is seen on within the Tarot cards, it often indicates a time or situation that will require action, intuition and courage.

The Emperor

IV. The Emperor – he is the Red King and the element Air – thinking, intelligence, authority, and the masculine principle

Ultimate Gear: The best achievable or imaginable of its kind.

Rapid Spinner: "A weapon that provides versatility by greatly boosting both Strength and Magic." (Fire Finish, Magic Finale, Grand Slam) Shaped like a mandala of the Crown chakra. The word “chakra” literally means “wheel” or a ”circle”, at the same time emphasizing on the function. One can say that a chakra is a ”whirlpool.” Refers to the crowning sphere of conjunction: the final spiritual stage of alchemy.

Horoscope: "A weapon that boasts superior Strength and ground combo speed." (Grand Slam, Critical Boost, Damage Control) Shaped like the astrological symbols for Venus and Cancer. Pink aura: Loving, tender, sensitive, sensual, artistic, affection, purity, compassion; new or revived romantic relationship. The gold in the middle signifies the completion of Magnum Opus.

Major Arcana: The Emperor is a classical nude wearing a gold and ruby crown and holding an eagle. He is the Red King, the mate of the White Queen. The White Queen is the symbol of feminine physical energy and the Red King is the expression on masculine physical energy, which correlates to the element Air in the dissolution. Whereas the Empress is the expression of feminine energy grounded in the physical, the Emperor is the expression of the masculine physical. In addition, he represents the element of Air, which in turn symbolizes intellect. Thus, the Empress is the body and the Emperor is the mind.

Spiritual Meaning: The Emperor grounds us and stabilizes us. He establishes his firm domain over the physical realm, ruling with a keen intellect and confidence in his powers. Yet, he is linked to the otherworldly dimensions that must be traversed not in body, but in spirit. He keeps us anchored while we penetrate those uncertain frontiers, giving us a lifeline before we feel ready to let loose our earthly bonds and fly.

Xion: “Riku. What do you wish?”

Riku: “More questions... All right... I wish...to recover something important that I lost.”

Minor Arcana: The 3 of Pentacles is a card of growth and development. It is symbolic of hard work that is finally beginning to pay off. It suggests that any planning is starting to bear fruit and ideas are coming to fruition. This card is also indicative of recognition for hard work. You may find that all your previous efforts will finally be rewarded with the recognition that they deserve. The Three of Pentacles is an encouragement that you are on the right track.

As you implement your plans, you will realize that you have the skills, capabilities and resources you need to accomplish your objectives. You are competent at what you do, and you are making progress. Keep going! The people around you appreciate you and your efforts, and notice the quality of what you do. You don’t need to scrap something and start again. Continue what you’re doing. This is a positive card to have in your spread, particularly if you have been working hard lately. This Arcana represents true success. After using the power of waking, Lea would return with Isa to the Realm of Light.

Color: When the color orange is seen on within the Tarot cards, it often indicates a time or situation that will require action, intuition and courage.

#kh #kingdom hearts #kh meta #kingdom hearts meta #anti-kh3 #kh theories #kh3 theories #kh axel #kh saix #kh leaisa #kh isalea #kh lea #kh isa #akusai

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hjh-ceilo-monster · 5 years

Text

Demigod pt.2

Summary : When you born as a demigod.You didn’t realize until one day you wake up in the middle of nowhere.You wander around to find what actually happen with you and that’s when you find 7 other men greet you into there group.‘Welcome you to Olimpia Academy’

Park Jimin : The son of Demeter

-As he’s the son of harvest goddess,he’s in love with nature.He love everything relate to nature and creatures.He’s so gentle with everything(literally everything) and his cute little feature really blend with his characteristic.

-Well he is another one that didn’t know how his mother and father met each other.He assume that it must be because of his father is the owner of the grape yard and make wine.That’s the only thing that will lead them met each other.

(Although he beg Dionysus,the god of Wine and Grape harvest who seems to know the story,he didn’t tell him.‘Find it out yourself.’ )

-Most of the time people misunderstand him as a girl.He’s a boy indeed but his feature compare with the others in his group make him look so small.He’ll get tease a lot especially from the youngest but well doesn’t stop him to be popular like the others.He’s also a good singer with his angelic voice.

-His gift from his mother are magical power to understand any creature and adaptable in any kind of nature habit along with the booklet which can speak.It looks unessential but actually his item is the most useful things.It contains nearly all things relate to the goddess.If he need to know or use something,the booklet will tell him what to do and what he require.(However that book freak Hoseok out of his sense when they met in the first year.)

Kim Taehyung : The son of Hermes

-Basically his father was in love with his mother soul.He was going on his mission,to collect the souls like usual.When he got his mother soul,he sent her toward the Hades.He felt the desire that want her to live so he begged Hades to let her soul live.Not so long they ended up together.

-He’s the second most intelligent in the group beside Namjoon.As he himself is the son of the Hemes,messenger for god.He literally can understand every language with/without learning them.

-Namjoon ask his opinion a lot because of his ability.Namjoon trust him like he is the right hand of him.Although people think he’s weird but when it comes to work and opinoin.He’s not joking around.

-The gift from his father is the wings.The tattoo on his back that look like scar is his gift.It’ll shine and turn into a pair of wings when he need to use them.(He still practice to control them though.)

Jeon Jungkook : The son of Nike

-Even though he’s the youngest,his ability is incredible.Him being the son of Nike,he got speed,strength and victory as a born gift.Asking for the strongest in the group,he’s the answer for that question.

-His father is an athlete so that how his mother know his father.She would watch him every game (in her human form).His father seems to be so shock after got together with his mother and found out her identity.

-He’s a shy boy but out going when you really get to know hi better.It takes time for him to feel comfortable with new people around him.When that crisis past, you’ll actually get to know the real him.

-His gift that he really adore the most (his mother spoil him a lot) is the shoes. The extraordinary shoes that has ability to make the owner moving really fast like lighting of Zeus.He also fix them up a bit and make them allow him to have another ability,teleport.

It’s the end of this AU.Actually it take me awhile to think for everyone since this AU people did a lot.I want to represent the god that you might not know as well as the one that famous.I hope you enjoy and feel free to take this idea to write your own.

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