XXI - The Universe

Description:

A nude golden-skinned woman stands on her right leg, her left leg crossed under at 90-degree angle.  A purple sash is draped over her left shoulder and across her midsection.  Her right hand points upwards, and on the right palm is a white circle.  Her left hand points downwards, and on the left palm is a white crescent moon. 

Behind the woman are three intersecting circles; the top circle is gray and violet, the middle circle is blue and green (looking somewhat like the Earth), and the bottom circle is brown and marbled (like a stone wheel).  Below her feet in the bottom circle are the Hebrew letter Tau and the astrological symbol for Saturn. 

Surrounding the woman is an ellipse composed of a multicolored braided snake, with its tail in its mouth.  Around the ellipse are dark green circles, like leaves or folds.

Symbology:

The nude woman in the center of the ellipse is the Anima Mundi, the Soul of the World.  She represents the fully realized body of creation.  The body is the vehicle in which we travel to discover the world, and through the revelation of the inner self it is also the instrument with which we transform the world.  The green elliptical folds surrounding the woman emphasize this unfolding of the outer shell to reveal the core within, the heart of the matter. 

Her legs are crossed in the pattern of the number 4 to indicate perfect balance in the material world.  The Hebrew letter Tau at her feet means a Cross, symbolizing the balance of the four elements in Earth. 

Her upraised right hand points to the Heavens, and her left hand points down to the Earth, indicating that “As above, so below”.  The sun on her right palm and the moon on her left palm again indicate the divine balance of forces, Light and Dark.  The purple shawl draped around her is in the shape of Hebrew letter Kaph, which means the Palm of the hand.  This is the hand of the Universe, which guides, directs, and supports creation. 

The three conjoined circles behind the woman symbolize the integration of the three layers of consciousness:  the dark subconscious, the blue waking conscious, and the light superconscious.  The right integration of these three modes produces mystical consciousness. 

Divinatory Meaning:
(from "Tarot of the Spirit" companion book, by Pamela Eakins)

• Your whole world is in balance

• You move like a dancer with every movement perfectly timed

•  Every undertaking has paid off.   Your endeavors have been successful.

• You are at the end of a long “journey”

•  The world is at your feet

• Celebrate the great work you have done!

•  If you want to journey further, the time is right

Personal Reflections:

The Universe card is a multidimensional window or time portal, revealing both the ultimate goal of mystical union, and the foundations upon which the Universe is built.

Through the Universe, the journey on the wheel of life comes both to a fruition and a new beginning.  The Universe provides us with the material vehicle we need to experience life in all its splendor and challenges.  Through the unfolding of the self, the universal star seed within is revealed and empowered, connecting the core of the self with the core of the Universe.

To quote one of my favorite songs:  “You gotta get in to get out.”