Dear reader of signs,
Welcome to the Sunday, the 25th of June’s observation from my daily ‘Reading the Signs’ June challenge, an exercise of paying attention with a focus in mind as the day unfolds.
As it was Sunday I decided to reach for the The Oracle of the Kabbalah: Mystical Teachings of the Hebrew Letters by Richard Seidman. I drew Gimmel (3) and Resh (200) - each letter has a numerical value.
The Hebrew Aleph Beith is considered the manifestation of of Yahweh’s speech as he spoke existence into being, and each letter is believed to represent a primordial power.
Even though these cards are plain, the letters themselves carry the complex meaning thanks to their history and the knowledge underpinning them.
Anyone who is interested in the western esoteric practices should have some understanding of Jewish mystery teachings are they are influential in the development of many occult traditions in Europe. There has been much made of the fact that there are twenty-two major arcana and twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. I already showed the Thoth Tarot in this challenge, and mentioned how Crowley thought intensively about the order of the major arcana, and changed the order of four of them. This had to do with this research into astrology and Kabbalah. At this stage they are tied quite tightly into the design of many tarot decks.
Gimmel is associated with the camel, a sturdy, steadfast animal that endures through the arid desert and offers safe passage to others. As the number 3, it reflects stability and the the culmination of the previous letters, Aelph and Beit. It speaks of good deeds and loving-kindess. Resh is the twentieth letter and has a complicated meaning of how easily humans can teeter between the impulse to lead and heal and to harm and malign. Essentially, it calls upon the reader to develop compassion rather than fearful insecurity.
I had a family gathering later, and I took the message of these cards rather directly. When you are among people who know you well there is a tendency at times to be less gracious and more touchy about old stories within the family. Comments we would let slide among friends or strangers is seized upon and raked over.
I determined I would attend with good cheer and not over-analyse anything. It was an afternoon of easy chat over Chinese food, and everyone departed as friends.
Here’s to benevolent family gatherings!