This complex image is a representation of the painting Sacred Geometry II—part of a series created almost fifty years ago by artist and environmental designer George Holman. Here’s some text from a pamphlet I wrote later on:
A mandala for meditation . . .
A map for metaphysical studies . . .
A key to ancient earth mysteries . . .
Reflecting the great wisdom systems of the world, Sacred Geometry II is a unique work of art that fascinates, educates, and delights wherever it is seen.
SGII brings together in a single image the most mysterious, compelling structures of human history—from the essential harmonies of our primordial Earth to the massive symmetries of Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid. Intricately integrated into the image are archetypal patterns—the Tree of Life and the Kundalini spiral—depicting the relationship of energy and matter.
Underlying the visual beauty of SGII is a precise and deeply meaningful geometric composition, based on mathematical principles so fundamental they have shaped the human imagination for millennia. If you unfold the symbolic structure of the image, you will discover profound connections that unite the circle and the square, the Earth and its moon, the dimensions of megalithic monuments, our visions of divine order, and much more.
Although the original 5' by 5' painting is already owned (by noted author Larry Dossey), artist George Holman created two hundred signed and numbered prints, as well as an edition of vibrant, high-quality posters.
I gave a presentation on the painting at the World Tarot Congress in the late 1990s, and several attendees purchased prints or posters—so I wrote a short booklet to go with the image, exploring Tarot connections.
I haven’t been able to find my copies of the Tarot/SGII booklet, but I’m not giving up!
In the meantime, I do have a PDF of my guide to the painting, so I’ll share that with anyone who would like to know more about its construction and symbolism. Just leave a comment, or send email to Tarot@CynthiaGiles.com.
The overview guide briefly explains correlations that form the painting’s structure:
The Cosmos
The City of God
Pangea and the Tao
Stonehenge
Glastonbury
The Great Pyramid
The Tree of Life
The Quest
Because the painting is so large, it’s difficult to see all the details in the reduced image above, but they are visible in the poster version, which is 2’ x 2’. I have three that are looking for good homes, so if you’re interested, let me know. And if you would like to find out whether any fine prints are still available, I believe you can contact the artist on Facebook.
Meanwhile, I’ll keep looking for that other booklet.
I decided to publish something about SG II today because (drumroll please), this is 11/11—a perfect time for extra attention to the numerical/geometric aspects of Tarot.
Also, the day we commemorate the end of World War I, which formally concluded with an armistice that called for the secession of hostilities at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”
I find in that fact a reminder, first, of the role symbolism has played in the course of human affairs. And second, of the synergistic convergence that links both Strength and Justice to the eleventh Tarot trump. Candidly, I don’t think it matters whether one numbering theory is more “right” than another—just that those two concepts came together co-incidentally at the center of the Major Arcana.
Choosing 11:11 11/11 as a ritual moment must have been well intended in 1918, and at least it had the effect of creating a day of remembrance that has persisted for over a century. But of course the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed the following year, is widely regarded as a triumph of Strength over Justice—and the next step on a road that led to World War II.
One other thing to ponder about elevens is this fascinating fact: Our Sun (the real one) has a 22-year cycle, in which solar activity gradually increases for eleven years, then gradually decreases . . . and the new cycle/journey begins.
Which is yet another reason why I see deep connections between Tarot symbolism and the natural world.
Coming next—unless something else catches my attention in the meantime—will be a practical note on divinatory timeframes. Thanks for reading! C
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