Intaglios-Learning to Read Road Sign Etchings

Hermit

 “Intaglio are techniques in art in which an image is created by cutting, carving or engraving into a flat surface and may also refer to objects made using these techniques.”  Wikipedia

"Mythological symbols touch and exhilarate centers of life beyond the reach of reason and coercion.... The first function of mythology is to reconcile waking consciousness to the mysterium tremendum et fascinans of this universe as it is." Joseph Campbell

Whenever I see the Hermit, I think of all the “ah ha” moments that I’ve been alerted to turn right now, cautioned to look more closely and grow here, or warned to make a U turn on my spiritual journey.  As I glance at the picture, the Hermit is holding up a lantern and to me is lighting my way back to Motherfather Spirit. But, there is something deeper going on. The Hermit is not only exposing the familiar stop signs, but also the ancient mythological symbols that many cultures and belief systems have left for us. Joseph Campbell would say the Hermit is shining a light into our collective human subconscious revealing myths and symbols that help us to understand how life works.

I studied tarot with Marti Sinclair in Columbus in the late 1980s. I liked how she compared what’s going on in the tarot cards by observing children’s movies. For example, understanding the differences in what an 8 year old sees in Mary Poppins versus an adult. To that 8 year old self, the movie is an entertaining and has many catchy tunes: Chim Chim Cheree or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  However, there is another layer that is revealed in that film as the adult. The eight year old surely didn’t catch political messages regarding women’s suffragette and working class versus wealthy class during the Edwardian era. Same is true with the tarot deck. There are other signs and symbols appearing in the pictures that are overlooked by the novice. Yes, it’s easy to memorize the traditional card meanings, but adding the other nuances brings with it other layers in meaning.

Gotland Rune Stone

Marti’s class has led me on an adventure to read and understand signs and symbols the ancient ones left. On vacation, I feel a lot like Dan Brown character or Indian Jones who’s interest lies in understanding religious iconology and symbology. Last summer my adventure put me in front of Denmark’s Jelling Stones and Gotland’s Rune Stones.

Triquetra

Triangle and Triquetra
“Three – two get together and give birth to three, a new circle or Universal egg of Maiden, Mother and Crone.”  Shekhina Mountainwater (Stein, Diane The Women’s Book of Spirituality. Llewellyn Publication, St. Paul Minnesota. 1989. 205)

The triangle is one of those symbols for me.  It alerts me to: coorperation and harmony.  It asks am I disconnected from creation or Motherfather spirit? 

Look closely at the Hermit’s lamp light you see a six pointed star. The star is made of two triangles. Some would say that the star represents a balance between male and female energy. Meaning the triangle with its point at the top represents male energy and the triangle pointing down female energy. In many traditions, the triangle symbolizes a balance between mind, body and spirit; past, present and future; or aspects of a triune God or Goddess. The triangle pattern is seen in the pyramids of ancient Egypt or etched in a symbol pattern to awake the Celtic dragon. The ancients (i.e., Sematic people, Greek, Phoenician, Early Christian Church) believed the triangle to be the symbol of a doorway between earth and the heavens.

So going into a church and seeing the dove (i.e., Goddess aspect) within a triangle puts a whole new spin on things.

In the Celtic tradition, the trinity knot is another form of the triangle.  It is a design that is unending.  The design can be found on ancient crosses and stones throughout Ireland.  It can also be found in the Book of Kells. 

The Celtic triquetra knot reminds me that we are all interconnected.  That there is an unending love between Motherfather Spirit and creation.  It reminds me I need to do my part to keep the circle strong. 

Activities:
Sew your own triquetra

Copyright BEM

Materials needed:

6” x 55” piece of fleece
Thread
Sewing Machine
Stuffing
Needle
pins

Fold over right sides together and pin.

Sew ¼” seam.
Turn tube so that the right sides are out.
Stuff (I used a ruler to help with the stuffing)
Fold into triquetra knot and sew ends together.

Ash, Oak and Hawthorn.

“I was a listener in the woods.”  Corma MacCuileannain (836-908 CE)

“Nature is the greatest teacher, the best mortal instructors but inept guides by comparison.” The Barddas of Iolo Morganwg

“Oak, Ash and Hawthorn are the faery triad of trees – it is said where they grow faeries live.” Celtic Saying

~#~

I live within a faery triangle: Oak, Ash and Hawthorn.  In my front yard grows the ash, her picture is above.  Her leaves shade my house in the summer and her arms welcoming song birds and acrobatic squirrels that I watch out my front window.  Many don’t realize that she’s the offspring of the Norse holy tree Yggdrasil, the tree of life.  My youthful tree is a guardian of old memories.  If you listen, she’ll describe how her mother’ branches extend up to the heavens - bending into comfortable chairs for the Gods and Goddesses to hold court.    And, she’ll tell you about of dragons and heroes quests her mother supported.  

I know it is only a brief time she shares with me.

In Central Ohio, we’ve been hard hit with the Emerald Ash Bore.  This beautiful green insect from China has been killing our ash trees in the Great Lake Region.  The destruction is being compared to the American chestnut blight and the Dutch elm disease.  Once infected these holy giants have to be cut down.  Streets that were lined with shady ashes now are nude looking like new housing developments. 

I shake my head, we have not learned from our past mistakes.  I’ve watched the city plant the same tree down a barren street.  Again, probably for the same reasons the ashes were planted to replace the elms: easy to take care of one type of tree and the bottom line revolves around money. 

But, my neighborhood before humans was an eastern deciduous hardwood forest.  Everyone knows a forest doesn’t have just one tree growing in a picturesque lane format.  There were many different trees and shrubs - walnuts, oaks, hickories, ash, maples.....  Each sharing and taking what they need from the environment.  And, in turn the animals and insects too gave and took from this environment.  There was a balance. 

Somehow during our intellectual and technological evolution, we’ve (humans) became disconnected with the earth and how we fit in.  We have forgotten how to appreciate every tree and living organism within the forest – choosing to like a select few – rather the diversity.  We watch nature on a big screen rather than actually spending time outside; believe apples come from the supermarket rather than eating one off a tree.  It is uncanny, that our relationship with the forest mirrors the relationship we have with each other.  We live out of balance. 

~#~

“The Tree-ness of the tree they know-the meaning of

Arboreal life, how from earth’s salty lap

The solar beam uplifts it; all the holiness

Enacted by leaves’ fall and rising sap;”

C.S. Lewis from his poem On Being Human.  May 8, 1948.

~#~

Meeting Trees Activity 

Idea One:

Purpose:  Hanging out with a tree for 30 minutes.

Equipment:  Wear old jeans if you’re worried about getting dirty.  If there isn’t a tree in your apartment complex – look for a local park. 

Instructions:  Which tree to pick?  Think of it like going to a party – who would you like to talk to?  Go up and introduce yourself – Hey I’m (fill in the blank) can I sit down here.  Be open – intuition will tell you yes or no.  If you get a no – go introduce yourself to another tree.  When you get a yes - sit down with your back against the tree and listen.  When you get home, take time to jot down in your journal your thoughts.

Idea Two from Joseph Cornell, Sharing Nature With Children

Purpose: Hear a tree’s heartbeat.

Equipment: Stethoscope

Instructions:  If you listen carefully with a stethoscope, you can hear the “heartbeat” of a tree. Find a thin-barked tree more than 6 inches in diameter and place your stethoscope against its trunk. Be very quiet. Move the stethoscope around until you can hear the crackling, gurgling sound of sap flowing up to the branches.

Idea Three:

Go to your local library and take out a field guide.  Learn the names of at least three trees who share your neighborhood.