tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70290367305577615012024-03-05T00:59:28.207-08:00Lenormand dictionaryA personal study of Lenormand cartomancy and its originsHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-10261050674774620972014-01-09T01:07:00.001-08:002014-01-10T04:53:59.831-08:00Duremouri 1793 piquet deckI covered the correspondence between Lenormand cartomancy and traditional German cartomancy in <a href="http://lenormanddictionary.blogspot.com/p/the-fox-and-snake.html">The Fox and the Snake</a>. At the request of a friend, I have also translated the fortune-telling keywords on a <a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3136718&partId=1&searchText=fortune+telling&images=true&page=1">German piquet deck published by Duremouri in 1793</a> [British Museum number 1896,0501.501]. I believe in getting the maximum benefit for all from from my work so I am sharing it here. These keywords are by no means standard German playing card meanings, although some cards seem to have a fairly universal meaning (e.g. the Queen of Acorns representing an unfaithful woman). An interesting feature of this deck is that each card has an upright (U) and a reversed (R) meaning. I have listed my English translation of the German keywords together with their equivalent French playing card and Lenormand card below. [Note that one can request a higher resolution image of the cards from the museum for private study and research but it may not be used on any electronic media so I cannot share it here.]<br/>
<br />
A♠ (Woman): U) Travel R) Distrust<br />
K♠ (Lily): U) Poverty R) Minister/clergy<br />
Q♠ (Bouquet): U) Friendly worldly girl R) City girl<br />
J♠ (Child): U) Sovereign/ruler R) Cicisbeo (male escort or lover of a married woman)<br />
10♠ (Ship): U) Jurist (judge/lawyer) R) Annoyance in the home<br />
9♠ (Anchor): U) Fulfilment of main desire R) Litigation/lawsuit<br />
8♠ (Garden): U) Fire R) Fear/fright<br />
7♠ (Letter): U) Failing love R) Failing love [same as upright meaning]<br />
<br />
A♥ (Man): U) Sensitive/tender heart R) House and farm/garden/yard<br />
K♥ (House): U) Elderly man R) Confirmed/old bachelor<br />
Q♥ (Stork): U) Country girl R) Innocent virtuous woman, brunette<br />
J♥ (Heart): U) Faithful friend, lover R) Lord of the manor<br />
10♥ (Dog): U) Sincerity R) New acquaintance<br />
9♥ (Rider): U) Large feast/banquet R) Beginning of a love<br />
8♥ (Moon): U) Pleasant, seductive evening R) Giving birth to girl(s)<br />
7♥ (Tree): U) Gift R) Enthusiasm, imagination<br />
<br />
A♣ (Ring): U) War R) Arrival<br />
K♣ (Clouds): U) Jealous husband R) Petit-Maitre (dandy/fop)<br />
Q♣ (Snake): U) An unfaithful wife R) Beautiful woman<br />
J♣ (Whip): U) Military officer R) Insincere lover<br />
10♣ (Bear): U) Bankruptcy R) Merchant/businessman<br />
9♣ (Fox): U) Illness R) Confinement (bed rest related to childbirth)<br />
8♣ (Mountain): U) Bad weather R) Duel, strife, discord<br />
7♣ (Mice): U) Night time R) Day<br />
<br />
A♦ (Sun): U) Wedding R) Giving birth to a girl [again?]<br />
K♦ (Fish): U) Old miser R) Ungrateful young man<br />
Q♦ (Crossroad): U) Pride R) Gentlewoman<br />
J♦ (Scythe): U) Man of rank R) Of nobility<br />
10♦ (Book): U) Scholar R) Peace, tranquillity, contentment<br />
9♦ (Coffin): U) Ball/party, merry-making R) City/town<br />
8♦ (Key): U) Fertility R) Money in gold<br />
7♦ (Birds): U) Money in silver R) Marriage<br />
<br />
[Warning, rant ahead:<br />
Please don't ask me to do any more translations, it is time-consuming finicky work and I am pursuing other interests now. I first have to decipher the German handwriting/script and then translate it, and some of the words are archaic and no longer in dictionaries. Sometimes I have to make educated guesses. I would not have agreed to do this if it was anything more than keywords as I have already invested two years of my life in such research, but it still took me a whole day. I could spend the rest of my life doing this but I don't want to. Places to go, people to see, other things to do, yada yada.<br />
Rant over.]Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-65759594223525143512013-08-09T10:12:00.000-07:002013-08-10T04:28:49.802-07:00This picture of hope[This post was first published on 14 June 2012.]<br />
<br />
<i>Das Spiel der Hoffnung</i> (Game of Hope), the prototype for the Petit Lenormand deck first published c1799, derives its name from the penultimate card in the deck which contains a picture of an anchor:<br />
<br />
"35. Dieses ist das wichtigste Blatt des ganzen Spiels, indem derjenige, so auf dieses Bild der Hofnung zu stehen kommt, das ganze Spiel gewonnen hat, und die ganze Kasse oder Einlage zieht."<br />
(35. This is the most important card of the entire game, in that the one, who lands on this picture of hope, has won the entire game, and takes the entire pot or stakes.)<br />
<br />
The original game instructions preserved in the British Museum do not contain explicit divination meanings for each card.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV8XGssSSmzT8x7e3ySdufjXh8BGUye5O2Q7X2eJUqvW3ik9QGadutBAh0LdX0In4-phUM9D3u0VxBnQmlRgOzDBr3dIyx6MwuqCfMeNtOJZpRD2BYgZaelDK7YtI1inuKAiA8ZmiZwE/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Anker, Wahrsagen à la Lenormand by Alexander Glück"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV8XGssSSmzT8x7e3ySdufjXh8BGUye5O2Q7X2eJUqvW3ik9QGadutBAh0LdX0In4-phUM9D3u0VxBnQmlRgOzDBr3dIyx6MwuqCfMeNtOJZpRD2BYgZaelDK7YtI1inuKAiA8ZmiZwE/s320/35.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>
<a href="http://buchverlag-fuer-die-frau.de/Unsere-Buecher/Minibibliothek/Biografien-und-Literarisches/Wahrsagen---la-Lenormand---Sonderedition.html">Wahrsagen à la Lenormand</a> by Alexander Glück, published by Verlag für die Frau in 2011, is a new limited edition reproduction of a deck dated c1850 from the collection of the late antiquarian Erwin Kohlmann from Naumann. A previous edition of the reproduction was published by Verlag für die Frau in 1982 and is displayed online in the Lenormand Museum <a href="http://www.lenormand-museum.de/verlag-fuer-die-frau-ddr-lenormand.html">here</a>. The German explanation that accompanies the deck appears to be identical to the extract shown with the Petit Lenormand deck dated 1846 in the Lenormand Museum <a href="http://www.lenormand-museum.de/wahrsage-kartenspiel-der-beruehmten-wahrsagerinn-mlle-lenormand-in-paris.html">here</a> (see also my related post, <a href="http://lenormanddictionary.blogspot.com/p/lenormand-new-identity.html">Lenormand: A new identity</a>), suggesting that it may contain the original Petit Lenormand divination meanings. The divination meaning provided for card number 35 is set out below:<br />
<br />
"35. Anker, ist das Zeichen eines glücklichen Unternehmens auf der See, und grosser Vorteil im Handel und einer treuen Liebe, aber entfernt bedeutet es gänzliche Täuschung in Ideen, und die Liebe wird zum Schmetterling."<br />
(35. Anchor, is the sign of a happy enterprise at sea, and of a big advantage in commerce and of a faithful love, but in the distance it indicates an error of judgement and love becomes a butterfly.)<br />
<br />
[Images of the Lenormand Anchor card: Wahrsagen à la Lenormand created by Alexander Glück and published by Verlag für die Frau (above left) and Mystical Lenormand created by Regula Elizabeth Fiechter and Urban Trösch and published by AGM and US Games (below right).]<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNV-Z7bYSpeNyyhajIWufKh1rSpC_lBQMFFdqHX_gJ6sxY47AeY80WXRL7_7R6uljSXAbuTWNuOn5_IGOWMsslT4eweVjDcF3yCKfJvHMeUOEb6-_uKhT7a703pH987gCqo6HF5ROjko/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Anchor, Mystical Lenormand"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNV-Z7bYSpeNyyhajIWufKh1rSpC_lBQMFFdqHX_gJ6sxY47AeY80WXRL7_7R6uljSXAbuTWNuOn5_IGOWMsslT4eweVjDcF3yCKfJvHMeUOEb6-_uKhT7a703pH987gCqo6HF5ROjko/s320/35.jpg" width="206" /></a>
In The Secrets of the Lenormand Oracle (2007), Sylvie Steinbach writes among other things:<br />
<br />
"The anchor is an encouraging card to see as it tells you to continue on the path you are on. You will eventually reach your goals."<br />
<br />
Some other Lenormand authors, including Iris Treppner and Regula Elizabeth Fiechter, associate the Anchor card with work:<br />
<br />
"35 Anchor<br />
This card stands for work, job, training and stability. If you have questions regarding your work and your job, look at the cards around it."<br />
Mystical Lenormand (2005),<br />
Regula Elizabeth Fiechter<br />
<br />
The anchor as a symbol of hope is also found in several other European cartomancy decks. [Pictured below, from left to right, are cards from: Vera Sibilla Italiana (Every Day Oracle) published by Lo Scarabeo, Original Kipper Wahrsagekarten published by AGMüller Urania and Zigeuner Wahrsagekarten (Gipsy Fortune Telling Cards) No 1901 published by Piatnik.]<br />
<br />
<center>
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBtzugWVj60-U7rqouRzPbTbq36omPvdgVIX6HhccJ2i_7fsekq6Ns5CJNZDOflDD-z32ME2OljFlQmVfzYgCc_V7R7-pttnLzlbbLqaQPlqEhQ1oMv7ObAzzG5z9RGKhet21Ytq4LB0/s200/SibillaHope.jpg" width="120" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPPmkikZxNmj7nIY2aadbcjLs1yslwMkbD9MGT1pekUfqUFPX9aKKqDohxhtrQcJGWq0KXJTpQtqLPGF-NEAU0WmJTLzu2G8CGh3t1ILis05Dofp52Hr5S7Ey46a-_08lQQY6Ypr406w/s200/KipperHope.jpg" width="120" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_y9UMDbGVm5qcBC9HlekHR4ELlXAZnwGicyV5cWLR2efW2dOBSLdMJ-y02kBYfI-of_Qnlamg_nosReM_2TK9zxO-Zbf6mZCTxjM9Z-N0Jdi83XszdsLGP6bxzLs3MMPJ25QeZX-us0/s200/ZigeunerHope.jpg" width="126" /></center>
<br />
The word <i><a href="http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=anchor&allowed_in_frame=0">anchor</a></i> is derived from the Latin word <i>ancora</i>. The Italian word <i>ancora</i> means "anchor" in the noun sense and "still", "again" or "more" in the adverb sense.<br />
<br />
Apart from its nautical and navigational associations (stability, safeguard from shipwreck and safe harbour), the anchor was adopted as an early symbol of the Christian faith as a disguised cross and a symbol of hope of eternal life. The symbol is found in the ancient <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Rome">Catacombs of Rome</a> where persecuted Christians were buried before Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380.<br />
<br />
"The anchor, because of the great importance in navigation, was regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety. The Christians, therefore, in adopting the anchor as a symbol of hope in future existence, merely gave a new and higher signification to a familiar emblem. In the teachings of Christianity the virtue of hope occupies a place of great importance; Christ is the unfailing hope of all who believe in Him. St. Peter, St. Paul, and several of the early Fathers speak in this sense, but the Epistle to the Hebrews for the first time connects the idea of hope with the symbol of the anchor. The writers says that we have 'Hope' set before us 'as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm' (Hebrews 6:19-20). The hope here spoken of is obviously not concerned with earthly, but with heavenly things, and the anchor as a Christian symbol, consequently, relates only to the hope of salvation. It ranks among the most ancient of Christian symbols."<br />
<a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01462a.htm">The Anchor (as Symbol), The Catholic Encyclopedia</a>, Maurice Hassett<br />
<br />
(Incidentally I believe that, regardless of one's religious beliefs, it is helpful to have some understanding of the Christian symbolism prevalent in European cartomancy decks. For example, interpreting the Lenormand Cross as a different sort of cross could negate the traditional symbolic meanings of burden, suffering and sacrifice which anyone can relate to.)<br />
<br />
I had not associated the Anchor card directly with hope in my Lenormand dictionary before, only Clover and Stars as a result of their key symbolic meanings of optimism and guidance respectively. I consider Anchor to be primarily a card of stability, perseverance and ultimate success which is nevertheless a favourable and encouraging interpretation. The phrase "slowly but surely" comes to mind.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-16594501598334588052013-06-21T07:33:00.000-07:002013-06-21T07:33:30.176-07:00Show and tell: Forestell Game of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt-3zd9dChczvyg_5f-DgocOHU4eNzd7VPAjTp_9vOMulaS_EECzwYNAijsSNa76xz8-0xvZFU448GBQYP5j7IKrOKsdH1tE5JFL3fTbErEjeZggdZBI3bcbF-phjHiVkGbLfz2MfGBo/s1600/Image0106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Sorry about the blurry picture, my photography skills suck!"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt-3zd9dChczvyg_5f-DgocOHU4eNzd7VPAjTp_9vOMulaS_EECzwYNAijsSNa76xz8-0xvZFU448GBQYP5j7IKrOKsdH1tE5JFL3fTbErEjeZggdZBI3bcbF-phjHiVkGbLfz2MfGBo/s400/Image0106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In case you didn't know, there is <a href="http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.com/">a new reproduction of the Game of Hope</a> out by Lauren Forestell, sold under licence from the British Museum for a limited time period. There are several versions available. It was a difficult choice, and I eventually settled on <a href="http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.com/product/game-of-hope-mini-deck">the mini deck</a> and I am glad I did. I was somewhat apprehensive that the cards would be too small to make out the details but that concern was unfounded. The card quality is excellent. My deck came in a burgundy satin pouch which I am using for another deck as I prefer to keep this deck in a tin.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-72630726218433389332013-05-26T06:55:00.000-07:002014-03-18T04:51:48.783-07:00Stranger than fiction[This post was first published on 10 July 2012.]<br />
<br />
"Into this wild Abyss,<br />
The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave,<br />
Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,<br />
But all these in their pregnant causes mixed<br />
Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,<br />
Unless the Almighty Maker them ordain<br />
<u>His dark materials to create more worlds</u>,<br />
Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend<br />
Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while,<br />
Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith<br />
He had to cross."<br />
John Milton, <a href="http://www.shmoop.com/paradise-lost/summary.html" title="How It All Goes Down by Shmoop University"><i>Paradise Lost</i></a> (1608–1674)<br />
<br />
I vaguely remember catching The Golden Compass when it was screened on M-Net in December 2008, but was sufficiently preoccupied with Life at the time to miss much of its meaning. While re-reading <a href="http://36cards.wordpress.com/">Chanah</a>'s archived Lenormand posts recently, I noticed a <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090604182948/http:/36cards.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/sexual-frustration/">comment</a> about the book on which the film is based which inspired me to revisit the story, the controversy around it and "that clockwork device with 36 symbols" (as described by Chanah). I realize this may be old news to anyone reading this, but I thought I would share it anyway.<br />
<br />
<u>The story</u><br />
<br />
<u>Book:</u> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Lights_(novel)"><i>Northern Lights</i></a> (Scholastic, 1995), the first book in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman">Philip Pullman</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials"><i>His Dark Materials</i></a> trilogy for young readers set in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locations_in_His_Dark_Materials#Worlds">multiple parallel worlds</a>.<br />
<u>Film adaptation:</u> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Compass_(film)"><i>The Golden Compass</i></a> (New Line Cinema, 2007), Rated PG-13.<br />
<u>Genre:</u> Fantasy, science fiction, action and adventure.<br />
<u>Setting:</u> An alternative reality in Oxford and the Arctic.<br />
<u>Protagonist:</u> Lyra, an 11-year old girl raised as an orphan in Jordan College, Oxford.<br />
<u>Antagonist:</u> Mrs Coulter, an agent of a powerful repressive religious authority known as the Magisterium.<br />
<u>Quest:</u> To save Lyra's best friend Roger and other children kidnapped by the Magisterium in order for scientists to perform cruel experiments on them.<br />
<u>Other characters:</u> Lyra's explorer uncle Lord Asriel, personal daemons (talking animal companions), talking armoured polar bears, gyptians (nomadic water-travellers) and witches, among others.<br />
<br />
<u>The controversy</u><br />
<br />
The trilogy was partly inspired by Milton's epic poem <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost"><i>Paradise Lost</i></a> in which a vengeful God banishes a rebellious Satan from Heaven and later banishes Adam and Eve from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden">Garden of Eden</a> after they are tempted by Satan and taste the forbidden fruit of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_the_knowledge_of_good_and_evil">tree of the knowledge of good and evil</a>. Lyra is analogous to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Mrs Coulter, who is actually Lyra's mother, and the Magisterium are analogous to the Christian Church. Lord Asriel, who is actually Lyra's father, aspires to establish a humanistic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Heaven">Republic of Heaven</a> and is analogous to Satan. God "the Authority", who is actually an imposter, dies in the final book of the trilogy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amber_Spyglass"><i>The Amber Spyglass</i></a>.<br />
<br />
Pullman is a self-described <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125644900.html" title="The shed where God died by Steve Meacham, The Sydney Morning Herald">atheist/agnostic</a> who openly challenges religious dogmatism and intolerance and promotes freedom of thought and expression. Pullman (born 1946), prominent British atheist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins">Richard Dawkins</a> (born 1941) and the late "antitheist" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens">Christopher Hitchens</a> (1949–2011) all studied at Oxford University. While the other two have focussed on non-fiction, notably in works such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Delusion"><i>The God Delusion</i></a> (2006) by Dawkins and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_Not_Great"><i>God Is Not Great</i></a> (2007) by Hitchens, Pullman prefers to write fiction for both children and adults. One may say these anti-religious themes have no place in children's fiction (and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Compass_(film)#Controversies">some do</a>), but in that case there should be no room for religious themes either (in works of fiction widely read by children, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings"><i>The Lord of the Rings</i></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia"><i>The Chronicles of Narnia</i></a> and The Bible). That's never going to happen, so Pullman provides some sorely needed balance.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_PM.HTM#32">The Magisterium of the Catholic Church</a> is a real entity with the authority to interpret scripture and define dogma:<br />
<br />
"'The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.' This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome ... The Church's Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is, when it proposes truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes in a definitive way truths having a necessary connection with them."<br />
<br />
The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, criticized the focus on individualism in the film:<br />
<br />
"It's a film that leaves one cold, because it brings with it the coldness and the desperation of rebellion, solitude and individualism ... In the world of Pullman, hope simply doesn't exist, in part because there is no salvation but only personal, individualistic capacity to control the situation and dominate events."<br />
<a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0707214.htm">Vatican paper says 'Golden Compass' lacks hope, leaves viewer cold</a><br />
by John Thavis, Catholic News Service<br />
<br />
God forbid people start thinking for themselves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqq5rRBlnJIQxjMNEssJO6n_CJZe6lLwMssmW5A-qmGjGJvdkO1wnO7piGBHJFc1wNr1TGPrap7ug6C9bXXVR75txtsgVr4rWdhdNkoF4CPVVFakhEjoz__0BfuMZhVXftXuXKBsRpxH4/s1600/How2Think.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqq5rRBlnJIQxjMNEssJO6n_CJZe6lLwMssmW5A-qmGjGJvdkO1wnO7piGBHJFc1wNr1TGPrap7ug6C9bXXVR75txtsgVr4rWdhdNkoF4CPVVFakhEjoz__0BfuMZhVXftXuXKBsRpxH4/s200/How2Think.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
"Instead, we must turn all of our educational efforts to training our children for the choices which will confront them. Education, in the home even more than at school, instead of being a special pleading for one régime, a desperate attempt to form one particular habit of mind which will withstand all outside influences, must be a preparation for those very influences. Such an education must give far more attention to mental and physical hygiene than it has given hitherto. The child who is to choose wisely must be healthy in mind and body, handicapped in no preventable fashion. And even more importantly, this child of the future must have an open mind. The home must cease to plead an ethical cause or a religious belief with smiles or frowns, caresses or threats. The children must be taught how to think, not what to think. And because old errors die slowly, they must be taught tolerance, just as today they are taught intolerance. They must be taught that many ways are open to them, no one sanctioned above its alternative, and that upon them and upon them alone lies the burden of choice. Unhampered by prejudices, unvexed by too early conditioning to any one standard, they must come clear-eyed to the choices which lie before them."<br />
Margaret Mead, Coming of Age in Samoa (1901–1978)<br />
<br />
<u>The device</u><br />
<br />
Before Lyra leaves Oxford to go live with Mrs Coulter, the Master of Jordan College gives her a rare truth measuring instrument known as an alethiometer (<i>aletheia</i> is Greek for truth):<br />
<br />
"It lay heavily in her hands, the crystal face gleaming, the golden body exquisitely machined. It was very like a clock, or a compass, for there were hands pointing to places around the dial, but instead of the hours or the points of the compass there were several little pictures, each of them painted with extraordinary precision, as if on ivory with the finest and slenderest sable brush. She turned the dial around to look at them all. There was an anchor; an hourglass surmounted by a skull; a chameleon, a bull, a beehive ... Thirty-six altogether, and she couldn't even guess what they meant."<br />
Philip Pullman, Northern Lights<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS8uGWpZg0fh-ZGacmpzBUDt54ZeBrlTf2h9zp5kF4mtGtyh43m_-7VcUdZEtZqUvmui0GvHkKPjYXUladF6ZWnIXXz5vnh9ihXAzSDMlM12X5YcKo_H3uSPeGjVV2cDriaOOjOKXUI8/s1600/Alethiometer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Image © New Line Cinema"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS8uGWpZg0fh-ZGacmpzBUDt54ZeBrlTf2h9zp5kF4mtGtyh43m_-7VcUdZEtZqUvmui0GvHkKPjYXUladF6ZWnIXXz5vnh9ihXAzSDMlM12X5YcKo_H3uSPeGjVV2cDriaOOjOKXUI8/s400/Alethiometer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This divination device is powered by a mysterious invisible cosmic substance known as Dust which represents consciousness:<br />
<br />
"Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself."<br />
Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass<br />
<br />
The trilogy also features the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching"><i>I Ching</i></a> (Book of Changes) divination system comprising 64 hexagrams and their meanings:<br />
<br />
"Dust had many other ways of speaking to human beings, and one of them was the method from China that used those symbols."<br />
Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass<br />
<br />
It would appear that Pullman invented a variation of the 19th century Petit Lenormand cartomancy system which also comprises 36 iconic symbols for his story. In an <a href="http://textualities.net/jennie-renton/philip-pullman-interview/">interview</a> in 2005, Pullman told Jennie Renton of textualities.net that the alethiometer was inspired by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatres_of_Memory">memory theatres</a> (mnemonic devices) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_book">emblem books</a> from the Renaissance era.<br />
<br />
The US publisher Random House has published some cool resources on its website including <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pullman/materials/materials.php">How to Read the Alethiometer</a> and <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pullman/materials/definitions.php">Definitions of Symbols of the Alethiometer</a>, i.e. an alethiometer dictionary (see also all 36 symbols and meanings on <a href="http://hdm.wikia.com/wiki/Alethiometer">Wikia</a>). There is significant emphasis on forming the question as well as on interpreting the answer using the same symbols for both, and on the internal intuitive process as well as the external mechanical process of interpretation.<br />
<br />
Replicas were produced of the alethiometer used in the film and if you have the hardware there's also an <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alethiometer/id329673448?mt=8">app</a> for it (I hope that's the correct link, please let me know if you do).<br />
<br />
[Recommended reading: <a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2007/11/25/god_in_the_dust/?page=full" title="What Catholics attacking 'The Golden Compass' are really afraid of">God in the dust</a> by Donna Freitas and <a href="http://suite101.com/article/his-dark-materials-blake-and-gnosticism-a119580" title="William Blake's Deep Influence on Philip Pullman's Classic Trilogy">His Dark Materials, Blake, and Gnosticism</a> by Jerod Allen]<br />
<br />
"'T is strange, – but true; for truth is always strange;<br />
Stranger than fiction; if it could be told,<br />
How much would novels gain by the exchange!<br />
How differently the world would men behold!<br />
How oft would vice and virtue places change!<br />
The new world would be nothing to the old,<br />
If some Columbus of the moral seas<br />
Would show mankind their souls' antipodes.<br />
What 'antres vast and deserts idle' then<br />
Would be discover'd in the human soul!<br />
What icebergs in the hearts of mighty men,<br />
With self-love in the centre as their pole!<br />
What Anthropophagi are nine of ten<br />
Of those who hold the kingdoms in control<br />
Were things but only call'd by their right name,<br />
Caesar himself would be ashamed of fame."<br />
George Gordon Byron, Canto XIV, Don Juan (1788–1824)Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-18725113710065454852013-03-17T00:56:00.001-07:002013-03-17T00:56:52.547-07:00New post: Lenormand No. 57In case anyone is following this blog, there is <a href="http://lenormanddictionary.blogspot.com/p/show-and-tell-lenormand-no-57.html">a new post about an antique deck</a>! I prefer to post under Pages as this blog is meant to be more of a reference resource than a regular blog.
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029036730557761501.post-18330385419524852302013-01-04T02:24:00.001-08:002013-01-05T23:44:02.763-08:00New blogThis blog is a new home for resources like <a href="http://lenormanddictionary.blogspot.com/p/helens-lenormand-dictionary.html">my Lenormand dictionary</a> while I evaluate the future of my main blog My Wings of Desire.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02375851395909592230noreply@blogger.com