The use of anthropomorphic imagery in
mythical and esoteric art is deeply rooted in prehistoric religious traditions
and the evolving relationship between the human psyche and the natural world we
encounter.
As discussed in both the Greenwood and
Wildwood Tarot, the Lion-headed figure of the Hohlenstein Stadel is believed to
be 30,000 years old, at least and cave painting in Trois Freres Caves in
France and other images, figures and carvings around Europe are believed to be of
the Upper Paleolithic period, or about 40,000 years old.
The Assyrians and Babylonians both
included half-human half-animal figures in their depictions of their deities,
as did the later Greeks and Romans.
Most notably perfected by the Egyptians whose
lion-headed statues of the warrior goddess Sekhmet and Anubis, the jackal-headed
god of the rituals associated with embalming, mummification and the rites of
the dead are well known.
During the filming of Robin Of Sherwood
I had the opportunity to discuss in some depth the symbolism of Herne The Hunter
in the show and what Richard “Kip” Carpenter’s own reflections on this element of
the show actually were. Besides the traditional legends associated with Windsor
Game Park and the God of the Wild Hunt in British mythology, Herne also
represented the human element in nature that is represented by The Green
Man/Green Knight mythos. A human hunter/warden of the forest, who is so in tune
and entwined with the cycles and the lore of the forest that the lines between
reality and otherworldly wisdom become blurred and the veil between human
experience and esoteric insight becomes transparent and amorphous.
It is with concept that we approached
the Two of Vessels – Attraction, the laws of which are mysterious and polaric
by nature. The unseen energy and body language exchanged between lovers in
instinctive and primal.
As I noted in
the reading points for the card:
“The first
shared spark of attraction between two human beings can appear simple and
uncomplicated on the surface but usually the underlying psychological chemistry
and the subtle interplay that ignites that magical first exchange is complex
and eclectic. Human beings absorb millions of subliminal signals and messages
from those around us, and we unconsciously process these stimuli and react to
them every second of every day. We subconsciously absorb body language, scent
and non-vocal communication and react emotionally to them with impulses and
decision-making instincts developed over millennia.”
In other words,
our “gut feelings” are a primal reactive sensory system that warns or allows
subconscious communication to filter up through our emotional responses and
then be assessed by the rational mind. Trusting our instincts in matters of the
heart is a vital part of our human “bag of tools” used for establishing trust,
empathy and compatibility of priorities required for survival and procreation.
These instincts
are fine-tuned and if we act with sincerity and positive motivation are a good
guide when dealing with partnerships and romantic relationships.
The reverse is
also true. As I stated in the text for Wildwood Tarot, I believe:
“Taking an
instantaneous dislike to someone is governed by the same set of prehistoric
sensory drives human beings developed when we roamed freely across the African
savannah, just as "love at first sight" is as valid today as it was
then. Our perceptions and signals are shared, acknowledged and reciprocated,
breaking through the protective barriers and forming the initial polaric bond
that is the foundation of deep and lasting attraction.”
So it seems
fitting to me, when dealing with primal instincts related to trust and
attraction, that those elements should be represented by ancient and polaric anthropomorphic
figures, symbolizing the male and female energies within the situation or
inquiry.
As I have also
stated previously, the gender and dynamic roles of the energies are not
intended to be states or attributes traditionally associated with stereo-typed male
or female gender roles. There are, in my experience, “Luna” males and “Sola”
females. We all contain elements and attributes related to empathy and
protection, ferocity and ambition and both can ebb and flow within an
individual’s personality as events, situations and experiences evolve and
mature within us.
Some of lessons
within the Two of Vessels image are therefore to acknowledge and trust your
primal instincts and allow the ancient subconscious facets encoded within the
ebb and flow of any emotional dynamic, emerge naturally and flow freely and enable
the healthy emotional cycle to establish wellbeing and trust within any
relationship.
