Hope, unexpected help, clearness of vision, realization of possibilities, spiritual insight, with bad aspects, error of judgment, dreaminess, disappointment.
ה
ATU XVII
ATU XVII The Star
The Daughter of the Firmament.
The Dweller between the Waters
The Star
The Daughter of the Firmament.
The Dweller between the Waters
This card is attributed to the letter He', as has been explained elsewhere. It refers to the Zodiacal sign of Aquarius, the water-bearer. The picture represents Nuith, our Lady of the Stars. For the full meaning of this sentence it is necessary to understand the first chapter of the Book of the Law.
The figure of the goddess is shown in manifestation, that is, not as the surrounding space of heaven, shown in Atu XX, where she is the pure philosophical idea continuous and omniform. In this card she is definitely personified as a human-seeming figure; she is represented as bearing two cups, one golden, held high above her head, from which she pours water upon it. (These cups resemble breasts, as it is written: "the milk of the stars from her paps; yea, the milk of the stars from her paps").
The Universe is here resolved into its ultimate elements. (One is tempted to quote from the Vision of the Lake Pasquaney, "Nothingness with twinkles. . . but what twinkles!") Behind the figure of the goddess is the celestial globe. Most prominent among its features is the seven-pointed Star of Venus, as if declaring the principal characteristic of her nature to be Love. (See again the description in Chapter I of the Book of the Law). From the golden cup she pours this ethereal water, which is also milk and oil and blood, upon her own head, indicating the eternal renewal of the categories, the inexhaustible possibilities of existence.
The left hand, lowered, holds a silver cup, from which also she pours the immortal liquor of her life. (This liquor is the Amrita of the Indian philosophers, the Nepenthe and Ambrosia of the Greeks, the Alkahest and Universal Medicine of the Alchemists, the Blood of the Grail; or, rather, the nectar which is the mother of that blood. She pours it upon the junction of land and water. This water is the water of the great Sea of Binah; in the manifestation of Nuith on a lower plane, she is the Great Mother. For the Great Sea is upon the shore of the fertile earth, as represented by the roses in the right hand corner of the picture. But between sea and land is the "Abyss", and this is hidden by the clouds, which whirl as a development of her hair: "my hair the trees of Eternity". (AL. I, 59).
In the left-hand corner of the picture is the star of Babalon; the Sigil of the Brotherhood of the A∴A∴, For Babalon is yet a further materialization of the original idea of Nuith; she is the Scarlet Woman, the sacred Harlot who is the lady of Atu XI. From this star, behind the celestial sphere itself, issue the curled rays of spiritual light. Heaven itself is no more than a veil before the face of the immortal goddess.
It will be seen that every form of energy in this picture is spiral. Zoroaster says, "God is he, having the head of a hawk; having a spiral force". It is interesting to notice that this oracle appears to anticipate the present Aeon, that of the hawk-headed Lord, and also of the mathematical conception of the shape of the Universe as calculated by Einstein and his school. It is only in the lower cup that the forms of energy issuing forth show rectilinear characteristics. In this may be discovered the doctrine which asserts that the blindness of humanity to all the beauty and wonder of the Universe is due to this illusion of straightness. It is significant that Riemann, Bolyai and Lobatchewsky seem to have been the mathematical prophets of the New Revelation. For the Euclidian geometry depends upon the conception of straight lines, and it was only because the Parallel Postulate was found to be incapable of proof that mathematicians began to conceive that the straight line had no true correspondence with reality. [The straight line is no more than the limit of any curve. For instance, it is an ellipse whose foci are an "infinite" distance apart. In fact, such use of the Calculus is the one certain way of ensuring "straightness".]
In the first chapter of the Book of the Law, the conclusion is of practical importance. It gives the definite formula for the attainment of truth.
The figure of the goddess is shown in manifestation, that is, not as the surrounding space of heaven, shown in Atu XX, where she is the pure philosophical idea continuous and omniform. In this card she is definitely personified as a human-seeming figure; she is represented as bearing two cups, one golden, held high above her head, from which she pours water upon it. (These cups resemble breasts, as it is written: "the milk of the stars from her paps; yea, the milk of the stars from her paps").
The Universe is here resolved into its ultimate elements. (One is tempted to quote from the Vision of the Lake Pasquaney, "Nothingness with twinkles. . . but what twinkles!") Behind the figure of the goddess is the celestial globe. Most prominent among its features is the seven-pointed Star of Venus, as if declaring the principal characteristic of her nature to be Love. (See again the description in Chapter I of the Book of the Law). From the golden cup she pours this ethereal water, which is also milk and oil and blood, upon her own head, indicating the eternal renewal of the categories, the inexhaustible possibilities of existence.
The left hand, lowered, holds a silver cup, from which also she pours the immortal liquor of her life. (This liquor is the Amrita of the Indian philosophers, the Nepenthe and Ambrosia of the Greeks, the Alkahest and Universal Medicine of the Alchemists, the Blood of the Grail; or, rather, the nectar which is the mother of that blood. She pours it upon the junction of land and water. This water is the water of the great Sea of Binah; in the manifestation of Nuith on a lower plane, she is the Great Mother. For the Great Sea is upon the shore of the fertile earth, as represented by the roses in the right hand corner of the picture. But between sea and land is the "Abyss", and this is hidden by the clouds, which whirl as a development of her hair: "my hair the trees of Eternity". (AL. I, 59).
In the left-hand corner of the picture is the star of Babalon; the Sigil of the Brotherhood of the A∴A∴, For Babalon is yet a further materialization of the original idea of Nuith; she is the Scarlet Woman, the sacred Harlot who is the lady of Atu XI. From this star, behind the celestial sphere itself, issue the curled rays of spiritual light. Heaven itself is no more than a veil before the face of the immortal goddess.
It will be seen that every form of energy in this picture is spiral. Zoroaster says, "God is he, having the head of a hawk; having a spiral force". It is interesting to notice that this oracle appears to anticipate the present Aeon, that of the hawk-headed Lord, and also of the mathematical conception of the shape of the Universe as calculated by Einstein and his school. It is only in the lower cup that the forms of energy issuing forth show rectilinear characteristics. In this may be discovered the doctrine which asserts that the blindness of humanity to all the beauty and wonder of the Universe is due to this illusion of straightness. It is significant that Riemann, Bolyai and Lobatchewsky seem to have been the mathematical prophets of the New Revelation. For the Euclidian geometry depends upon the conception of straight lines, and it was only because the Parallel Postulate was found to be incapable of proof that mathematicians began to conceive that the straight line had no true correspondence with reality. [The straight line is no more than the limit of any curve. For instance, it is an ellipse whose foci are an "infinite" distance apart. In fact, such use of the Calculus is the one certain way of ensuring "straightness".]
In the first chapter of the Book of the Law, the conclusion is of practical importance. It gives the definite formula for the attainment of truth.
"I give unimaginable joys on earth: certainty, not faith, while in life, upon death; peace unutterable, rest, ecstasy; nor do I demand aught in sacrifice."
"But to love me is better than all things: if under the night-stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me, invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein, thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom. For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all; but whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour. Ye shall gather goods and store of women and spices; ye shall wear rich jewels; ye shall exceed the nations of the earth in splendour & pride; but always in the love of me, and so shall ye come to my joy. I charge you earnestly to come before me in a single robe, and covered with a rich headdress. I love you! I yearn to you! Pale or purple, veiled or voluptuous, I who am all pleasure and purple, and drunkenness of the innermost sense, desire you. Put on the wings, and arouse the coiled splendour within you: come unto me!
"At all my meetings with you shall the priestess say-and her eyes shall burn with desire as she stands bare and rejoicing in my secret temple-To me! To me! calling forth the flame of the hearts of all in her love-chant.
"Sing the rapturous love-song unto me! Burn to me perfumes! Wear to me jewels! Drink to me, for I love you! I love you!
"I am the blue-lidded daughter of Sunset; I am the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night-sky.
"To me! To me!
"The Manifestation of Nuit is at an end."
"But to love me is better than all things: if under the night-stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me, invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein, thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom. For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all; but whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour. Ye shall gather goods and store of women and spices; ye shall wear rich jewels; ye shall exceed the nations of the earth in splendour & pride; but always in the love of me, and so shall ye come to my joy. I charge you earnestly to come before me in a single robe, and covered with a rich headdress. I love you! I yearn to you! Pale or purple, veiled or voluptuous, I who am all pleasure and purple, and drunkenness of the innermost sense, desire you. Put on the wings, and arouse the coiled splendour within you: come unto me!
"At all my meetings with you shall the priestess say-and her eyes shall burn with desire as she stands bare and rejoicing in my secret temple-To me! To me! calling forth the flame of the hearts of all in her love-chant.
"Sing the rapturous love-song unto me! Burn to me perfumes! Wear to me jewels! Drink to me, for I love you! I love you!
"I am the blue-lidded daughter of Sunset; I am the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night-sky.
"To me! To me!
"The Manifestation of Nuit is at an end."
| Also see ATU XVII: The Star according to: | ||||
| Tarot de Marseilles (Gebelin) | Eliphas Levi | Golden Dawn (Regardie) | Aleister Crowley | Frater Achad |
777 for key 15
I
Key Scale 15
II
Hebrew Names of Numbers and Letters Hé
III
English of Col. II. Window
VI
The Heavens of Assiah Teleh
VII
English of Col. VI. Aries
VIII
Orders of Qliphoth Ba’airiron
X
Mystic Numbers of the Sephiroth 120
XI
Elements (with their Planetary Rulers) Sun Fire Jupiter
XII
The Tree of Life Pathjoins 2–6
XIII
The Paths of the Sepher Yetzirah Constituting I.
XIV
General Attribution of Tarot The Emperor
XV
The King Scale of Colour (y) Scarlet
XVI
The Queen Scale of Colour (h) Red
XVII
The Emperor Scale of Colour (v) Brilliant flame
XVIII
The Empress Scale of Colour (#) Glowing red
XIX
Selection of Egyptian Gods Men Thu
XX
Complete Practical Attribution of Egyptian Gods Isis
XXII
Small selection of Hindu Deities Shiva
XXIII
The Forty Buddhist Meditations Loathsomeness of Food P
XXXIV
Some Greek Gods Athena
XXXV
Some Roman Gods Mars, Minerva
XXXVI
Selection of Christian Gods (10); Apostles (12); Evangelists (4) and Churches of Asia (7). [The Disciples are too indefinite]
XXXVIII
Animals, Real and Imaginary. Ram, Owl
XXXIX
Plants, Real and Imaginary Tiger Lily, Geranium [[Olive]]
XL
Precious Stones Ruby
XLI
Magical Weapons Throne and Altar]]
XLII
Perfumes Dragon’s Blood
XLIII
Vegetable Drugs All cerebral excitants
XLV
Magical Powers [Western Mysticism] Power of Consecrating Things
XLIX
Lineal Figures of the Planets, &c., and Geomany Puer
LI.III
English equivalent of Col. LI. H
LIII
The Greek Alphabet Ε ε
CXXXVII
Signs of the Zodiac ♈ Aries
CXXXVIII
Planets ruling Col. CXXXVII. Mars
CXXXIX
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Day Sateraton
CXL
Angel Lords of the Triplicity in the Signs by Night Sapatavi
CXLI
The Twelve Tribes Gad
CXLII
Angels ruling Houses Ayel
CXLIII
Twelve Lesser Assistant Angels in the Signs Sharhiel
CXLVI
Angels of the Decantes (Ascendant). Zazer
CXLVII
Angels of the Decantes (Succedent). Behahemi
CXLVIII
Angels of the Decantes (Cadent). Satonder
CXLIX
Magical Images of the Decans (Ascendant) A tall, dark, restless man, with keen flame-coloured eyes, bearing a sword.
CL
Magical Images of the Decans (Succedent) A green-clad woman, with one left bare from the ankle to the knee.
CLI
Magical Images of the Decans (Cadent) A restless man in scarlet robes, with golden bracelets on his hands and arms
CLII
Perfumes (Ascendant) Myrtle
CLIII
Perfumes (Succedent) Stammonia
CLIV
Perfumes (Cadent) Black Pepper
CLV
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Ascendant) Bael
CLVI
Magical Images of Col. CLV. Cat, toad, man, or all at once.
CLVII
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Succedent) Agares
CLVIII
Magical Images of Col. CLVII. Old man, riding a crocodile and carrying a goshawk.
CLIX
Goetic Demons of Decans by Day (Cadent) Vassago
CLX
Magical Images of Col. CLIX. Like Agares.
CLXI
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Ascendant) Phenex
CLXII
Magical Images of Col. CLXI. Child-voices phœnix.
CLXIII
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Succedent) Halphas
CLXIV
Magical Images of Col. CLXIII. Stock-dove with sore throat.
CLXV
Goetic Demons &c. by Night (Cadent) Malphas
CLXVI
Magical Images of Col. CLXV. Crow with sore throat.
CLXVII
Egyptian Gods of Zodiac (Asc. Decans) Aroueris
CLXVIII
Egyptian Names of Asc. Decans Assicean
CLXIX
As Col. CLXVII (Succedent) Anubis
CLXX
As Col. CXVIII (Succendent) Lencher
CLXXI
As Col. CXLVII (Cadent) Horus
CLXXII
As Col. CXLVIII (Cadent) Asentacer
CLXXIII
Genii of the Twelve Hours (Levi) Papus, Sinbuck, Rasphuia, Zahun, Heiglot, Mizkun, Haven
CLXXV
Hebrew Letters ה
CLXXVI
Numerical Value of Col. CLXXV. 5
CLXXVII
Geomantic Intelligences Melchiadel
CLXXIX
Numbers printed on Tarot Trumps 4
CLXXX
Title of Tarot Trumps The Son of the Morning, chief among the Mighty.
CLXXXI
Correct Design of Tarot Trumps A flame-clad god bearing equivalent symbols *
CLXXXII
The Human Body Head and Face
CLXXXIII
Legendary Orders of Being Mania, Erinyes [Euminides]
CLXXXIV
Numeration of Arabic Alphabet 5
CLXXXV
Numeration of Greek Alphabet 5
CLXXXVI
Diseases (Typical) Apoplex