Sun - Qoph
Two individuals stand facing each other in front of a brick wall. The bricks are multi-colored like the drops in the air and the garments of the male. Both individuals are sheared like the lesser figures in the Pope hieroglyph. In the Noblet version, the male on the left is clothed and the female on the right is clad only in a skirt. They are surrounded by what appears to be drops of some kind of liquid, although they could also represent some type of energy emanating from the sun. Over their heads, at the top of the hieroglyph's image, shines the golden face of Sol. In the Noblet version, the sun sports nine yellow and nine red rays and gently watches over the two as they bask in his solar rays of order.
The name of the 19th character of the ancient alphabet is linked to the 19th hieroglyphic symbol of the Tarot. The original design of this character (pre-1200 B.C.) looks like this...
This letter is the precursor to the modern letter Q. This name for this letter is the word קוף, which is formed from a biliteral root that consists of the letters Qoph/Q and Phe/P. This root has two basic meanings of “hole” and “to shrink.” From these basic meanings, the additional meanings of “encircle” and “coagulate” are obtained.
There is also a strange similarity between this Tarot image and the characters (the pope and his two short-haired minions) of the pope hieroglyph; the two charcters in this image (the clothed male and the half nude female) are also sheared as well. This similarity exists due to the bias of this energy center that favors the flowing essence over the vibratory essence. Since short hair disables sensitivity to the vibratory essence and allows for greater domination of the flow currents, this similarity makes perfect sense. Also, when it is seen that the female in this hieroglyph is only partially clothed, then at least a small fraction of the feminine passive nature is represented in this hieroglyph.
However, the primary theme of this iconic image could be somewhat of a mirror image of the theme presented in the Tarot icon of the Pope trump. Two lesser minions are present in each iconic symbol–one is normal and the other is somewhat changed from the normal one. With the pope symbol, the differing minion with the hat has his hands opened in a manner similar to the enlightened figure of the Tarot symbol of the hanged man; within the Tarot icon of the sun, the differing minion is half nude and possesses female breasts. However, these differences only exist in the Noblet version of this trump. In the Dodal and later versions, the two figures appear almost like identical twins.
When one takes the original meaning of "hole" that is expressed with the name of Qoph, the meaning of "void" can be realized. This void can be expressed as divine vision that desires to have a sacred mission. Therefore, these divine visions of a holy mission are found in the 19th united pair (Sun - Qoph/Q). This void in an individual can only be filled with the sacred food that is provided by Apollonian inspiration of the solar and mercurial realms.
The Rider-Waite Sun Trump
The Rider-Waite deck features some very distinct changes from the Marseilles design, especially that of the Noblet version. Waite comments, “The naked child mounted on a white horse and displaying a red standard has been mentioned already as the better symbolism connected with this card. It is the destiny of the Supernatural East and the great and holy light which goes before the endless procession of humanity, coming out from the walled garden of the sensitive life and passing on the journey home. The card signifies, therefore, the transit from the manifest light of this world, represented by the glorious sun of earth, to the light of the world to come, which goes before aspiration and is typified by the heart of a child.
But the last allusion is again the key to a different form or aspect of the symbolism. The sun is that of consciousness in the spirit--the direct as the antithesis of the reflected light. The characteristic type of humanity has become a little child therein--a child in the sense of simplicity and innocence in the sense of wisdom. In that simplicity, he bears the seal of Nature and of Art; in that innocence, he signifies the restored world. When the self-knowing spirit has dawned in the consciousness above the natural mind, that mind in its renewal leads forth the animal nature in a state of perfect conformity.”
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