After the shattering experience of Atu XVIII, the complete destruction of any ‘sense of certainty’, the rising dawn of light is an overwhelming relief! Atu XIX is rather a re-invigoration after the utter bleakness. Anyone who has been up all night out in the wild, feeling the cold increase as the night continues, until it is literally coldest just before dawn, knows the absolutely cheerful welcome of the morning Sun. Likewise, when the house is plunged into darkness, the handy flashlight is very much a best friend, and you feel a soothing sense of sanity after the frightful interruption. Thus you have the metaphors of “illumination” and “clarity”.
When I use the metaphor of the “Fuel Source” or “Fuel Cell” for Atu XIX, in relation to the Space-Time Vehicle that should be depicted with Atu XX, I am not just spouting a cute novelty. The ‘certainty’ derived from “clear perception” definitely drives our very living. After the Utter Darkness* of Atu XVIII which ‘complicates’ one’s otherwise ordinary condition, the “light of day” returns one to simplicity. What was ‘insanity’ has resumed ‘sanity’ — and it is not unwarranted to compare that to ‘sanitation’: the “light of day” has literally ‘cleansed’ the scene of all the “monsters”.
To me, the Core Idea of Atu XIX is not the “illumination” and “clarity”, but rather the Simplicity. After surviving a dangerous situation, the first sensation is to be glad to be simply alive. Atu XIX is like the attitude of “whew, I dodged that one!”; and for that first brief moment, all other considerations are like so much appended weight. You get a good glimpse at Just Being, even if it is only for a moment.
Remember that Atu XIX is toward ‘the end’ of the Trump Series, after a lot of ‘work-on-self’ has been performed, and many stages of transformation have transpired. With all of the complexities that have been experienced, Atu XIX represents a kind of ‘resting point’ (so to speak). The best manifestation of this ‘resting point’ is the overwhelming sensation of Be Here Now, in its full Simplicity. For those who have done the full working of the Trump Series, the resultant Be Here Now of Atu XIX can be said to ‘extend’ well beyond “the moment” — even though, paradoxically, “the moment” becomes ‘extended’.
O-A-Hum
OPD
*”Darkness” can be a rather misleading metaphor, when considered only as “absence of light”. When considered as “a blotting out”, it is completely appropriate. “Black” is called “an absence of color”, but it really isn’t — it is ‘a color’ as compared to the “nullification” that I remember. “Neutral grey” is also still ‘a color’ in comparison. Genuine “absence of color” cannot be described, only directly experienced.
“Utter Darkness” is my convenient metaphor for “complete annihilation of sanity”.
OPD Tarot 