May 29 2008
The Emperor becomes Mars
This archetype represented by this card is related to the Empress, only in this case we are focused on manipulating ideas about the male / father role. Here, the idea is implanted that the male is, by nature, (or as the result of divine will, or as a reflection of a patriarchal, warlike, and abusive creator), aggressive, warlike, and aloof with no connection to those around him and no concern for the well being of anything outside of his own individual advancement. As represented in the old book imagery of the old book archetype, he is cold, hard, competitive, and aggressive. Here is the quintessential authority figure, the epitome of the cosmological patriarch represented in full and gory phallic glory.
This is “the king.”
Life, love, and nurturing are all weaknesses and should be stomped out wherever they are found.
Perhaps not surprisingly, in the old imagery there is no sign of life around this fellow at all, nor ever will there be should he choose not to transform.
In contrast to the old book version we have the Halo/Sharp archetype. The Halo/Sharp archetype begins the job of transforming, greening, and balancing the male energies. Balance is required for awakening and if the male physical unit is going to achieve results in this regard, balance will be required. Males will have to put aside the twisted limitations of dualized gender and embrace a role that allows them the same expressive variation as women. Love, compassion, kindness, the soft ability to nurture, gentle artistic expression, and more await the awakening male. You may proceed slowly if you wish, but be sure to proceed.
Those interested in astrology will note the long time association of this card, of this archetype, with the barren planet Mars. As we can clearly see when viewing that once vibrant planet, when the energies are allowed to run out of balance, life pays a high price.
The Halo/Sharp card shows the transformation of the male and “greening” of the father/archetype. Here we see Mars in the first stages of reclamation, the green energies of life once more cascading across the surface. In future iterations of this Halo/Sharp tarot, we will show the transformation as complete. Mars will be returned to vibrant green life. At that point Mars will once again join Gaia as consort and co-creator of life and master of planetary creation.