Nine, Page, and Ace of Pentacles A maiden in rose garment stands in a castle garden amidst grape vines in abundance. She appears content with two trees behind her, a snail at her feet, a red falcon perched on her hand. Are those nine star-orbs by her side the golden apples of Hesperides that Hercules would be coming to steal? A youth in medieval attire stands in a field with mountain and trees in the background. Focused on the star-orb hovering over his raised hands, he ponders its meaning or perhaps offers this as a gift. Is this Hercules after stealing the golden apple of Hesperides? Could this star-orb be the secret that gypsies reveal when cutting an apple crosswise to display a pentacle inside? The Tarot's Ace of Pentacles shows a hand emerging from clouds with glowing orb and star at the center. For his Eleventh Labor, Hercules slew the dragon guarding the golden apple, a fruit that made the gods immortal. This Tarot card with clouds and mountains is the Emerald Tablet's "As above, so below." The mountain peak beyond the garden gate is the shape of the Greek letter lambda, Λ— which Plato calls "Soul of the Universe". There are five in the five-pointed star held in the "Hand of God". No wonder our Pilgrim contemplates this treasure— Apple of Immortality from the Tree of Life.           — Peter Y. Chou                Mountain View, 1-11-2011

Nine of Pentacles Page of Pentacles Ace of Pentacles Apple with Star