Pisces 13: A sword in a museum

T h e w o r d sword d e s c e n d s f r o m t he O ld E n g l i s h s we o rd a n d i s r e l a t e d t o t h e O l d H i g h G e r m a n s we ra n ( t o h u r t , t he P ro t o G e r m a n i c s we rt h a ( t h e c u t t i n g w e a p on ) , a n d t h e I n d o -E u r op e a n r o o t swe r-3 ( t o c u t , p i e r ce ) . 1 T h e w o r d museu m d e s c e n d s f r o m t he I E r o o t me n -1 w h i c h m e a n s t o t h i n k . I t s p a r o n y m s i n c l u d e a dm o n i s h, a m ne s ia,

a m n e st y, de m on s t ra t e, a u to m a ti c , c o m m e n t, de m en t, m a n da ri n, m an i c, m a n i a, m a n t ra, m en t a l, m in d, m o ni t o r, m o n ste r, m o n u m e n t, m u se um , m u s i c, M u s e, mu s t e r, p re m on i ti o n , a n d re m i n i sc e nt . 2
TH EMES : A t f i r s t g la n c e , t he t w o k e y wo r d s w o u l d s e e m t o h a v e l i t t l e i n t he w a y o f a se ma n t i c o r f u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i on s h i p . H o w e v e r , w h e n museu m i s r i g h t l y r e l a t e d t o i t s r o o t a n d p a r on y m s , p a rt i c u l a r l y t h o se w i t h a m e n t a l t e n or , t h e n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p i s e v i de n t . A n d i n e s ot e r i c, E a s t e r n , C h r i s t i a n , a n d o c c u l t p h i l o s op h y t h e r e i s a p h r a s e t h a t s e e m a p r o p os h e r e t h e sword o f D ISC RIMINATIO N . H e r e a re a f e w e x a mp l e s o f h o w t h e p h ra s e i s u s e d . T he f i r s t i s f r o m a s i t e e n t i t l e d In di a

T ra ve l o gu e w h e r e t h e p h ra s e i n q u e s t i o n o c c u r s w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a
d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e g o d d e s s S r i S a r a s wa t i , t he g o d d e s s o f w i s d o m , i n t e l le c t ua l k n o w l e d g e , f i n e a r t s a n d cr e a t i v i t y . According to Buddhist iconography she is depicted as the consort of Manjushri, the Boddhisattwa of Wisdom, an emanation of Vairochona, the Buddha Respendent, associated with the Sun at its zenith or peak glory. The Boddhisatwa Manjushri is shown
1 http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sword; Watkins, C. (2000), The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo European Roots, p. 89 2 Watkins, C. (2000), The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo European Roots, p. 54

Starling Hunter 2011

carrying the sword of discrimination to slay delusion and ignorance, and the sacred book of Wisdom.3 I n a d i s c u s si o n o f T a r o t c a r d s , t h e p hr a s e i s e m p lo y e d t o d e s c r i b e attributes of The Magician: The Magician tarot card sits at number 1. He is 1 and at one with himself and all creation. The Magician symbolizes new beginnings, initiative and the ability to perform right action at any given moment. He is master of his own destiny. Adeptly he chooses from the tools at his disposal, the sword of discrimination, the baton of energy, the cup of emotion or the coin of wisdom and wealth. He uses them so deftly that it is as if he performs magic.4 F i n a l l y , t he r e a r e se v e r a l r e f e r e n c e s t o b e f o u n d i n C h r i st i a n l i t e r a t u r e a b o u t t he P r o p he t E z e k i e l s m e n t i o n o f a sword O r [ i f ] I b r i n g a swo rd up o n t h a t l a n d , a n d s a y, S word , g o t h r o u g h t h e la n d ; s o t h a t I c u t o f f m a n a n d b e a s t fr o m i t . 5 M a n y c o m me n t a t o r s r a i s e t h e p o s s i b i li t y t h a t t h e v e r s e r e f e r s t o a sword o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n t h a t g oe s t h r o u g h t h e m i d s t o f t h e p e o p le , se p a r a t i n g o u t t h o s e d e s t i n e d f o r de s t r u c t i o n f r o m t h o s e w h o w i l l ha v e m e r c y a n d n ot j u s t w a n t on d e a t h a n d d e s t r u c t i on . 6

3 4 5 6

http://www.indiatravelogue.com/pass/fest/fest9.html http://www.toniallen.co.uk/themagician.html Ezekiel 14:17 http://tinyurl.com/2wgtzj

Starling Hunter 2011