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Divinatory (The) Game of Goose

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	disegnatore:	Non indicato
	autore:	Anonimo
	anno:	19--
	luogo:	Inghilterra
	periodo:	XX secolo (4°/4)
	percorso:	Percorso di 63 caselle numerate
	materiale:	cartone plastificato
	dimensioni:	287X385
	stampa:	Offset a colori plastificato
	luogo acquisto:	Inghilterra
	data acquisto:
	dimensioni confezione:
	numero caselle:	63
	categoria:	Mitologia, occultismo,esoterismo
	tipo di gioco:	Gioco oca variante
	editore:	Non indicato
	stampatore:	Non indicato
	proprietario:	Collezione L. Ciompi
	autore delle foto:	L. Ciompi
	numero di catalogo:	783
	descrizione:	Gioco di 63 caselle numerate. Si parte dalla casella 0 e si arriva alla 63. Allegata al gioco la descrizione delle singole caselle. REGOLE: allegate. CASELLE: con didascalia. Exhibitions:
	bibliografia:
		Dalla casella 0 alla casella 37
		FROM HOPSCOTCH TO THE GAME OF GOOSE The game of Goose, as it is known today, originates from a number of ancient initiatiory games. Are we about to return to our childhood? Are the arts of divination seen as childish games, reserved for irresponsible, childish people? Are we reduced to playing like children to predict our future and anticipate what will happen and embark on an initiatory journey within ourselves, in the labyrinth of our own destiny? The reason we are choosing to be controversial right away and play the Devil's advocate, as an introduction to this divinatory game which we are going to try and reconstruct for you exactly as our ancestors saw and used it, is to draw your attention to the importance you must give to your ability to wonder and marvel, which is an innate gift in children which we have all had and still have, but which has been lost on the way to becoming adults, or what we consider to be such. HOPSCOTCH, LABYRINTH AND THE GAME OF GOOSE As we have explained at length elsewhere (see Omens, Beliefs and Mysteries, sheet 82), hopscotch, originally, was an initiatory game which was largely inspired by the journey into the labyrinth, whose objective, for the person who went into it, was to save his soul (see Omens, Beliefs and Mysteries, sheet 49). Now, as was the case with all the initiatory games, the journey into the labyrinth also had a divinatory aspect. So, although there are genuine analogies between hopscotch, labyrinth and the Game of Goose, everything leads us to suppose that the latter took its inspiration more directly from the treacherous path which the soul of the deceased or of Osiris, in Ancient Egypt, had to travel, in order to reach the kingdom of eternal life, according to the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Hopscotch is very similar, but is associated much more with astrological characteristics, each of the ten squares which represent the distance between Earth and Heaven, in hopscotch, corresponding to a planet. We are thinking then of the celestial spheres, each of which was presided over by a planet, which the deceased had to cross to reach heaven, according to the Chaldeans and Babylonians, in Mesopotamia. Furthermore, the hierarchy of the planets in the 10 squares in hopscotch corresponds very precisely with that resulting from the analogies between the Number-letters of the code of the Cabbala and the planets, as they are shown to us in the Cabbala (see Discovering Astrology, sheets 78 to 100). For this reason, it can be deduced from this that, although in the Middle Ages there was crosschecking between hopscotch and the Game of Goose, the first has its origin in Mesopotamia, while the second is certainly of Egyptian inspiration. All the more so since in Ancient Egypt to be precise, the goose of the Nile was venerated and thought to be the bird of primordial life, who had laid the cosmic egg from which Ra, the Sun, the light of life, the god of gods of that great civilization, was born. Besides, there is no doubt that the direct ancestor of the game of Goose, which inspired the popular painters of the Middle Ages, is the famous Egyptian Snake game, which was both an initiatory and divinatory game, and which also became a parlour game. This game was represented by a snake coiled up in a spiral, with its tail on the outside, its head in the middle and its body covered in symbols and hieroglyphics, each being contained between two coils of the snake’s body. And just as the intellectuals, the well-read and the painters of the medieval West transposed the Egyptian symbols from the Thebaic calendar (see Discovering Astrology, sheets 64 to 68), they also interpreted those which were found in the famous Egyptian Snake game, by replacing them with typical symbols of the European Middle Ages. THE DIVINATORY GAME OF GOOSE These then are the symbols stemming from the imagery of the West in medieval times and in the Middle Ages which we intend to rediscover for you. Their meanings are naturally still very much in our memories, for they form an integral part of a culture which extended - in an aggressive and colonialist rather than peaceful manner - throughout the world. Our Game of Goose, whose divinatory character we are restoring for you and are going to show you how to consult (see Art of Divination: Snakes and Ladders, sheet 256), is made tip of 64 symbols grouped in cycles of seven, which all have a particular meaning of course, but can also give you some very useful information about your immediate future and your personal development. Finally, you will notice that the Egyptian Snake game and the Game of Goose are made up of 64 symbolic pictures, and that is exactly the number of hexagrams which go to make up the I Ching which, also, is an initiatory, divinatory game (see Art of Divination: the I Ching, sheets 125 and 126). Consulting the Game of Goose With two dice and a counter, you are ready to start your journey through the divinatory Game of Goose and discover valuable personal information about yourself. As mentioned earlier in these pages, the goose was an oracular animal. Long before it was incorporated into a board game for the enjoyment of children the world over, people used to consult the oracle of the Goose whose journey was regarded as both initiatory and divinatory (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 255). We have reconstructed this game for you. It comprises a board, made up of 64 squares numbered from 0 to 63, enabling you to consult the Goose oracle, as you would any other game of divination. It starts with a door and includes seven cycles of eight symbolic pictures and seven Geese, each one presenting particular characteristics and offering a specific message which is a kind of lesson in life. PRELIMINARY ADVICE BEFORE CONSULTING THE ORACLE Two dice and a counter. You will need two dice and a counter to start the game. This may seem like an obvious piece of advice but unless you have these three items at hand, you will not be able to start your journey and question the Goose oracle. Go for average-sized dice, not too big nor too small, and if you can, keep them for the sole purpose of consulting the Goose oracle. This is not a compulsory rule, but sound advice. As far the counter, it could be a coin or, much better still, a small circle of soft wood, such as cork for instance, which you will make yourself and only use for this game. Here again, avoid choosing a plastic counter, since it is much less pleasant to the touch than wood. Sit down at a table where you will have plenty of room for your Game of Goose board, for a notebook in which to write the elements of your journey and your interpretations, and for throwing your dice. To consult the Goose oracle, it is best to wait for a quiet moment, when you are alone and are unlikely to be disturbed. Unplug your phone and take your time. Relax. Finally, before throwing your dice and starting on your journey, try to relax, not by emptying your mind - for emptiness, whether inside your own self or around you, does not exist (it is a well-known fact that human nature has a fear of emptiness) - but try to unwind and place yourself in the hands of God, destiny, life or yourself, as you wish, according to your own convictions or beliefs. Deep down, it does not really matter. The main thing is to relax, whatever your troubles or concerns at that time, whatever your fears, worries, anxieties, hopes or expectations. When you feel ready, start on your journey. How often should I consult the Goose oracle? It is important not to consult the Goose oracle too often: once or twice a year is quite enough. Our experience has shown that once a year was just right. Indeed, the Game of Goose provides much information whose riches and implications are not always obvious at first. And as you will see, it takes a certain period of time before you can check its relevance to your life. EMBARK ON YOUR DIVINATORY JOURNEY Although we recommended that you use two dice, you will on the whole only be using one die. But if your counter should land on squares 26 or 52, you would need to use both dice thereafter, and continue to do so to the end. This is the only exception to the rule. Otherwise, one die is all you need. Take one die in the palm of your hand, and throw it. Let's imagine that it lands on on the side showing four points. Move your counter four squares, passing square 0 (the door), square 1 (the dragon), and square 2 (the forest), and stop on square number 3 (the tree), In your notebook, enter: 3 the Tree. Take your die and throw it a second time. In our example, it landed on the side showing number 6. Move your counter forward by 6 squares, arriving at square 9 (the first Goose), which starts the second cycle of the divinatory Game of Goose. In your notebook, enter: 9 the First Goose, just below your first line showing: 3 the Tree. Take your die again and continue throwing it and moving your counter forward according to the number of points indicated by your die. Continue until your counter has reached one of the last squares on the board and your die is showing a number of points greater than the remaining number of squares so that you can no longer play. Hence, your journey ends on the square on which your counter has landed last. Follow our method of interpretation (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 273), and you will be able to discover all the information revealed by your divinatory journey. Here are the meanings of the symbols appearing in the 64 squares of the divinatory Game of Goose and the interpretations which you can draw from each of them. FIRST CYCLE SQUARE 0 - THE DOOR This is, of course, a symbol of opening, of entry, or departure. It is from this square that your journey begins, a journey which will enable you to obtain information about your present situation, how it will evolve and, hence, about your future. Thus the door is an obligatory threshold, since it is the first square that you cross on starting your journey after your initial throw of the dice (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 256). Its meaning: However, if your first throw lands you in the Door square, this indicates a certain hesitation on your part, a difficulty in taking the plunge or making a decision, and perhaps also a fear of knowing what awaits you in the near future. Hence, when your first throw puts you on this square, it is an invitation to reflect on the motives which prompted you to consult the divinatory Game of Goose. For either the door is telling you that there is no need for you to start the game, or it is indicating that you are not ready or in the right state of mind to profit from the information which is about to be revealed to you. It may even be telling you that, deep down and perhaps without realising it, you have no wish to discover your future. SQUARE 1-THE DRAGON This is a symbol of primordial and subconscious forces that can, at one and the same time, be both creative and destructive (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 79). Consequently the dragon can represent the individual's vital urges, the root of all life creation, but it can also represent his involuntary instincts, those which can surface, overwhelm and blind him, and make him over-react in an uncontrollable way. The dragon has often been wrongly associated with the forces of evil since, in our modern civilisations, we do not care to be confronted by elements which we cannot master or which escape our control, however natural they may be. Its meaning: When your counter lands on the dragon square, this indicates that, potentially, you are endowed with a great deal of energy and numerous talents that you do not fully exploit - either because they frighten you or you underestimate your own capabilities, or because you are unaware of them, or even because you repress them. You are then advised to become more aware of them and to learn to cultivate and control intelligently the potential within you. Otherwise you run the risk, at some time or another, of being overwhelmed by them and of acting impulsively. Finally, the dragon can al so simply indicate a crisis situation which will shortly confront you. SQUARE 2 - THE FOREST This symbolises the mysteries of nature in the raw and, by analogy, everything which is buried, hidden, or concealed deep within us - not only the phantasmagorical world of our dreams, secrets, desires and anxieties, but also the whole marvellous and fantastic world of magic. Hence, the forest often appears as a virgin and unexplored universe which you have to delve into so as to discover something important. It is a world full of hidden snares and dangers, an unknown world where, unless you are careful, you can lose your way. In this respect, the forest has much in common with the labyrinth (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 50). Thus the forest represents a delving deeply into the subconscious and the primeval, from which you can emerge as born again, but where you run the risk of losing your way. Its meaning: Landing on this square indicates the need you feel to surmount an important stage in your life by calling on all your personal resources, including those that you do not dare to use for fear of finding yourself alone or isolated. However, it counsels you not to hesitate in standing back and reflecting on your life, on looking closely at yourself, on seeking moments of solitude so that you draw inspiration for the choices and decisions which you are going to have to make. For you are on the edge of the forest, that is to say at a stage in your life when you are on your own, knowing that there will, perhaps, be pitfalls on your journey but that, in the end, you will find what you are seeking. SQUARE 3 - THE TREE The tree is the symbol of life and the very foundation of the world. It is also the symbol of the human being, with his head buried in the ground and his feet in the air, deriving from his thoughts and ideas the vigour he needs to grow and produce fruit. This is because the tree represents the human being upside down (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 67). We say the human being because the tree symbolises both man and woman. It is an asexual symbol. Above all it represents the never ending growth of humanity whose fruits are seen in men's deeds and the work they produce. Its meaning Thus, when your counter lands on this square in the course of your journey, you must reflect on all that you have accomplished. The tree in the divinatory game of Goose advises you to draw up a sort of balance sheet of your life, so that you may be more aware of what you have achieved up till now, while appreciating that you will continue to develop. The tree encourages you to progress, to forge ahead, to pursue your route, but to bear in mind your past experiences and rely on your roots, that is to say, on that which you have already achieved or accomplished in your life. It is not a question of judging you, or making you feel guilty, but of seeing you as you are and the point you have reached, so that you will be able to progress, to go further, and do what needs to be done. SQUARE 4 - THE TOWER The tower is both a symbol of vigilance and of pride. At first, we think of the tower as the tall structure from which it was easy to watch over the surrounding area. Indeed, the higher the tower, the easier it was to see any advancing aggressor threatening a village, a town or a castle. In Ancient Times, the fortifications erected around the most important cities always included a tower. However, the most famous legendary tower is of course the Tower of Babel or Babylon, which, according to the Bible, was erected by arrogant builders to reach heaven. It was in fact nothing more than a ziggurat, namely the temple-tower of Babylonian and Chaldean astrologer-priests, whose eventual despotism came to herald the totalitarian regimes that followed and are still in force today. Its meaning If you land on this square, two interpretations are therefore possible. Either you have been urged to be vigilant, which will incite you to be even more careful, or in other words, to wait and see, or you tend to err, maybe through pride, and by aiming too high or going too far and through excessive ambition, you put your plans in jeopardy. In the case of the first interpretation, note that there is no danger looming or threatening. In the case of the second interpretation, try to adopt a more balanced and clear-headed view of things. Don't be as inaccessible as a tower, but do not behave with excessive pride either. SQUARE 5 - THE CAVE Caves have often been regarded as natural shelters, places where prehistoric men and women sought refuge from predators and wild animals and sheltered from cold and bad weather. Indeed, archaeologists have uncovered, in caves world-wide, many traces left by our remote ancestors, bearing evidence of human habitation in these remote and sheltered places, amongst which the famous cave paintings, seen as evidence of another age and offering a vision of a world that regrettably we are only able to see from the perspective of our own present day version of reality. However it is common knowledge today that caves were al so sacred places associated with magic, especially with the dark womb from where all life originates and comes into existence, in two different ways: either the human being, in the midst of darkness, feels the seed of light grow within him or else he generates and sustains the kind of light only visible in the dark: that of the sacred fire. Its meaning Consequently, if you come across this square, you can expect a forthcoming revelation that will inform you of a fact or of something particularly relevant and of major importance to you.On the other hand, landing on this square could be a sign of gestation, rather than birth and indicate a dormant but potentially changing event or situation, for which your present life is instrumental in sowing the seeds. In other words, this square is warning you that you are initiating something and you should be aware of it. SQUARE 6- THE EAGLE Following the example of the tower, this large bird of prey with an impressive wingspan, feared and worshipped by the ancients who assimilated it with the Sun and the light, source and power of life, can also be regarded as a symbol of pride, authority, supremacy and even, to use psychoanalytical jargon, of megalomania. We should not forget, however, that alongside its near-invincible strength and ability to establish its own stretch of territory, using its aerial skills to “keep a watchful eye” on its domain, the eagle is also regarded, in a symbolic scuse of course, as a noble guide and protector. In fact, one of the attributes of the eagle, a bird sometimes perceived as the incarnation of a god, is his sharp eye which allows him to locate the tiniest prey crawling on the ground and to swoop down on it with remarkable efficiency. Its meaning This square stresses primarily your ability to be in control of a situation, to act as a guide and a protector, by choice or necessity. However, it can also allude to a meeting with a person or a being endowed with those qualities, who might provide you with support and guidance. Finally, this square can predict the risk of being blinded by excessive ambition. Let us remember that according to the relevant myths and legends, the eagle is the only living creature capable of both looking straight at the Sun and also of being blinded by it. SQUARE 7 - THE OX AND THE RAM It would appear that this picture originally represented a stable, which, as we all know, is a major symbol in Christian iconography, since Christians believe that it was in such a humble abode that the incarnate son of God was born. However, in Christian iconography, we are dealing with an ox arid a donkey, symbols of peace and humility respectively, whereas the ram depicted here is in analogy with the creative forces of nature and with the instinctive, wild and uncontrollable instincts of human beings. Its meaning We can therefore assume that we are here in the presence of a combination of two clashing dispositions, that contradict but also complement each other: on the one hand, the pacific or peaceful nature of the ox and on the other hand, the fierce and aggressive nature of the ram. When these two natures are at odds with each other, we are dealing with a person who behaves erratically and can show himself to be sometimes conciliatory or abrupt, sometimes calm and patient or impulsive and impatient. But in most cases, landing on this square in the course of the game, indicates that you - or one of your acquaintances - are endowed with a calm and easy going nature, which can nonetheless be subjected to bouts of enthusiasm and violence. Finally, this square can also announce a friendly agreement between two people of totally different dispositions. SQUARE 8 - THE LION The lion is of course a symbol of strength, power and supremacy, which is why it has often been used to represent power, whether moral, material, social or political. Numerous kings chose it as an emblem, not just to represent their kingship, but also for the more noble purpose of conferring on their justice and their wisdom an image of grandeur and moral strength. However, although the lion is endowed with the attributes of strength and power, it also possesses their drawbacks, such as the excesses and intemperance they can generate when used ill-advisedly or with the purpose of satisfying intentions or desires that are far from commendable. Thus, away from the role of protector which, on the face of it, it is supposed to play, the lion may also symbolise tyranny, abuse of power and authoritarianism. Its meaning: Apart from the fact that it perpetuates the image of paternal concern, protection and benevolence, and bearing in mind that, when you land on it, the lion represents you or someone playing an important part in your life, the lion square may also announce that you have the required qualities or necessary means to stay in control, to remain on top of things, to act with strength and courage. In the divinatory Game of Goose, this is a beautiful symbol which has no negative connotations. The risks of abuse of power and authoritarianism that can be associated with the lion, do not apply in this case. SECOND CYCLE SQUARE 9 - THE FIRST GOOSE You will find a goose at the beginning of each cycle, of which there are seven in this game. Each carries a specific meaning which more or less corresponds to a phase in a person's progressive evolution. You could say that there is a preliminary goose in the game, since one is to be found just before square 0 (The Door), at the beginning of the journey. However, you should not take any notice of it since it represents a compulsory step, that of departure, and you can do little else but place your counter on it as you embark on your divinatory journey. Indeed, the symbolism attached to the goose is less important here than the significance carried by each of the seven geese which you will come across during the course of your journey. In fact, each and everyone of them reveals a specific message about your attitude in front of circumstances, or in situations that will be disclosed by the possible squares of the second cycle, as you land on them in your journey. In other words, each goose featuring at the beginning of a cycle is related to one of the following eight squares that are part of its cycle. Its meaning: It always predicts a significant new awareness which leads you to realise that you alone are able to choose and to act. In this case, acting alone does not mean being isolated, restricted, forced, thwarted or withdrawn, but being able to be yourself and exercise your free will. This will be your frame of mind as you face all the situations revealed by the following squares. SQUARE 10 - THE SHELL It is of course related to the symbol of the spiral, which we shall in fact come across again later on when we reach square 59 (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 271). Its analogy with the spiral is not really what concerns us in this game of goose. In fact, as stressed elsewhere in these pages, the shell and the scallop were often used by our ancestors to represent the soul contained in its carnal shell. Its meaning: If you understand the shell as a representation of the body that contains the soul, you may assume that when you land on this square during the course of your journey, you will be faced with metaphysical concerns, or moods. Don't forget that, as mentioned earlier, having gone beyond the First Goose Square, and having entered into the second cycle, you are now able to exercise your free will. But thanks to your personal efforts and initiatives, this shell can also bear the promise of wealth, prosperity, satisfactions, pleasures, and even the opportunity of achieving, creating or making something totally new or novel in your life or in your situation. Once again, this is a good omen, such as, for instance, the birth of a child. SQUARE 11 - THE EAR Above all, this symbol is of course one of perception. Thanks to our ears we perceive the noises and sounds around us, but also the words, messages and information that others pass on to us. In a sense, the ear is also linked to communication, like an aerial being used as a receiver rather than a transmitter. Apart from its role as a tool for reception, the ear was also regarded as a symbol of feminine sexuality. However, the closest association that can be made with the ear, is the ear-kidney analogy, first because of their similar shape, but also because they are both related to equilibrium, harmony, wisdom, and have a comparable use as filters. Its meaning: Thus, the advice given to you when your counter lands on this square, bearing in mind that you are in a cycle where you tend to be left to your own devices, is to listen to your inner voice, symbolised by the ear featured here. Listening to your inner voice means trusting your own intuitions, following your conscience and inspiring yourself from common sense. It is therefore the voice of wisdom, equilibrium and even justice, which echoes inside each one of us and speaks to us, although we neglect to listen to it and wrongly choose not to follow the advice it gives us, since we are so involved in the noise and bustle of the outside world. Squares Number 12,13,14 and 15 SQUARE 12 - THE SCALES The Scales have been a symbol of justice since Ancient Times. The various representations that were made of this instrument throughout the centuries, millenniums even, show how it was used to designate both the divine, immanent justice and that of men, and illustrate how it came to be simply referred to as Justice. Because of its association with the respect accorded to order, rules and laws, it was also attributed the qualities of maintained or preserved balance, with a quest for harmony and perfection, just as much on the physical, moral, and artistic level as on the spiritual level. One should remember that the scales are a recurrent symbol in many civilisations and cultures. It played an important part in Ancient Egypt, particularly in the hands of Maat who weighed the soul of the dead, and became a source of inspiration for the Chaldean priests of Babylon when they created the seventh sign of the zodiac. Its meaning: If you happen to land on this square during the course of your journey, it means that you will have to administer justice, find a happy medium, establish or maintain, depending on the case, a certain balance or harmony. Indeed, the scales pictured in the cycle of the First Goose, underline the part which you must play in using your sense of justice to find or maintain the right balance of things, to impose harmony, and sometimes even to make a radical choice without which life or a situation could prove to be chaotic. SQUARE13-THE SWORD This is a noble weapon, one belonging to the just-minded par excellence. Its symbolism is not so much related to conflict, war and violence but conveys the image of a firm decision being taken, a problem being resolved, a liberation. Indeed, the sword is a symbol of deliverance and freedom. It is used to defend, to maintain or achieve peace and justice. Hence, it was assimilated to the manifestation of the Word, being the sacred language which acts, exerts a power over men, guides them or blinds them depending on the case. But, ideally, it is of course a guide. This means that it is also related to light, flames, truth and lightning. Just like a thunderbolt, it strikes with such force that it is impossible to hide from it. Its meaning: It is up to you to resolve the problem, make the choice or the decision that will bring deliverance and allow truth to emerge. In fact, it all depends on you, whether or not you seize this sword in order to act or strike, as appropriate, to clarify your situation or illumine your life. This is really what the symbol of the sword is telling you to do when you land on this square during the course of your journey. There is no time to dither, to think things through, to weigh up the pros and cons, as you could still do on the previous square. Here, there is no other way but make a decision and resolve the situation. The sword tells you that you are well prepared to do so. SQUARE 14-THE SPIDER’S WEB This marvellous construction and pure product of nature, presents many symbolic analogies with the maze (see Myths, Legends and Syrnbols, sheet 50). However, in the same way as the spider spins its web by using a special substance produced by its own body, the Web square tends to symbolise the traps which we create far ourselves, the ideas, thoughts and whims which our mind spins, sometimes without our realising it, day after day, and which hold us captive, despite ourselves. It may also represent the tangle of circumstances which we generate through our repetitive and unchanging actions or behavioural reflexes - thus explaining why we find this insect repulsive - since they gradually freeze, fix or paralyse our minds, still despite ourselves. Its meaning If you have failed to maintain a certain balance or to find harmony in your life, or if you missed the opportunity of making an important decision, as indicated by the two previous squares, you stand the risk of falling, unawares, into a trap of your own making. Indeed, this square reveals that a threat is hanging over you. But it also tells you that you are responsible for creating it in the first place. It is therefore up to you to slowly undo the threads you have woven and untie the bonds which prevent you from exercising your free will. You alone can do it. SQUARE 15 – THE WHITE HORSE The symbolism attached to this superb animal is very rich and contrasted. This is the reason why three horses are featured one after the other in the divinatory Game of Goose, with each one bearing a specific meaning (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 261). The white horse is a solar figure, being both positive and luminous; it is a representation of the enlightened conscience, of the sound instincts that are controlled, sublimated and transcended, of the spiritual concerns of man, of the body; it is the vehicle or mount of the soul. Its meaning: When you land on this square during the course of your journey, several interpretations are possible. First, you may be strongly encouraged to exercise your free will, thus confirming the advice brought to you by the First Goose, at the beginning of this second cycle (see Arts of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 259). Then, it encourages you to exploit your positive psychic energy, and trust your sound natural instinct which will prompt you to do the right thing. Finally, it brings you comfort at a time when you have desires or needs, far everything seems to indicate that these are driving you in the right direction, inciting you to do what you should be doing and acting as you should. To summarise, the white horse is telling you that, if you are acting in all honesty, which seems to be the case here, you stand every chance of getting what you want and being successful in your ventures. SQUARE 16 - THE BLACK HORSE The symbolic meaning attached to the horse is identical to that defined at the previous square, featuring a white horse (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 260). In this case however, the horse in question is black, which means that its symbolic representation is much more worrying, although not entirely gloomy. In fact, although the black horse is often a sigli of death sometimes referred to as the “black rider” or the “black mare” - riding through the night, and whose galloping hooves echo between Earth and sky,thus announcing that a soul is about to be carried away, it is also the mount on which the shaman is able to gallop inta the other world, crossing a land full of obstacles and mysteries, and coming back safe and sound. Its meaning: If this square is regarded as an omen of death, it is exclusively on the symbolic level. It never relates to physical death, but to the end of something, a situation, a period of time in your life, or perhaps even a feeling. Do not forget that you are in a cycle where free will is not only emphasised, but also recommended. If your counter lands on this square, it is a little as if you were riding, virtually of course, this black horse which is taking you towards a radical change in your life, thus allowing you, like a shaman on his magical mount, to venture into an unknown world, to discover a different reality or another world. SQUARE 17 - THE WINGED HORSE OR FLYING HORSE Some legends pertaining to Greek mythology refer to a winged horse. He bears the name of Pegasus, which means horse “of the wells” or “of the springs”. Indeed, it is said to have been born “at the springs of the Ocean”, for he was regarded as the son of the Earth, and created from its blood transformed into springs. Pegasus was a divine horse capable of flying to Olympus where, so the legend says, he handed a bolt of lightning to Zeus, thus giving him his well-known formidable weapon. Born from the springs, Pegasus also had the power to make water emerge from the Earth with a single tap of his hoof. As you can see therefore, although endowed with wings and able to fly, water is his prime element, not air. The winged, or flying horse is a water divinity, and it is from this symbolic viewpoint that we should interpret this square. Its meaning: This square relates to imagination, inspiration, creativity, an inventive mind, but also intuition, premonition, sensibility, receptivity, the psyche, dreams, bright ideas, noble and generous thoughts, findings, speculations, the feelings and the attraction between people or between the boundaries of space and time to understand each other, to join together, to agree and to unite. Finally, as this water divinity was also associated with the fertile waters, landing on this square may simply foretell a birth, that of a child or the advent of a new situation in your life, which you will have caused of course, since this square closes the second cycle, that of free will. THIRD CYCLE SQUARE 18-THE SECOND GOOSE It marks the start of the third cycle on our journey through the Divinatory Game of Goose. As was mentioned when we entered the second cycle (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 259), the purpose of each goose pictured at the start of a cycle is to shed light on the frame of mind which you should adopt as you travel through its cycle, so that you may make the most of the revelations brought to you by the squares on which your counter lands. What the second goose is teaching us, are the rules of social manners, to which each one of us has to submit with more or less ease and pleasure. Do not be fooled: these rules are part of our customs, our habits, and for some of us, the original structures of our past since they are are so old, older in fact than our conscious memory can remember. These are old behavioural reflexes, landmarks or values which it is in our interest to use advisedly, for they are necessary to our well-being and sometimes even to our survival. Its meaning: Hence, when your counter lands on this square, it means that the goose pictured there is advising you to make sure you remember the rules, principles and values that were instilled in you during your childhood, those that are engraved in your memory, and to ask yourself whether you are using them advisedly, whether you are ignoring them or just putting up with them. Do you regard them as assets or drawbacks? Each and every square in this third cycle will lead you to ask yourself these questions. SQUARE 19 - THE INN What goes on inside an inn? You stop off there for a snack and for a well-deserved rest, before continuing on your journey. Today, inns are called hotels and restaurants. But in the past, when people used to travel on foot, on horseback or in horse-drawn carriages, when it took one several days, weeks or months to cover a certain distance, inns were certainly necessary stages where one would stop for the night. Its meaning And so it is that when your counter lands on this square during the course of your journey, it points to a necessary halt in your life, a moment of relaxation which is forced on you or which you choose to take, depending on the case, and which you should use to recover your strength, to recharge your batteries, to prepare yourself for the continuing journey ahead, the next stage in your life. This square reminds you that you are a traveller, and that the journey you have undertaken is that of your life. Although you still have some way to go, now is the time to relax, to rest a while and gather up your strength. Do so, knowing that, soon, you will have to set off again. SQUARE 20 - THE COCKEREL The cockerel is a symbol of awakening, birth and renewal, or one of pride and presumption. Regarding the latter, negative attributes, we should in fact stress that the cockerel, although endowed with beautiful wings, cannot fly, or very little, by frantically flapping its wings. It is therefore easy to understand how it came to be the symbolic representation of a vain, weak being. He aspires to rise towards the Sun, he may even be sincere about it, but bis desires and ambitions are often above his physical abilities. Similarly, if you observe a cockerel in a farmyard, you will note its somewhat ridiculous propensity to strut about, with its appearance and its gait giving the impression that it is endowed with a very obvious superiority complex. Its meaning: And so, when your counter lands on this twentieth square, during the course of your journey through the Divinatory Game of Goose, you may indeed be warned against giving in to the temptation of pride and vanity which also lead one to be deaf and stupid; but mostly, it is the awakening of your conscience which is being emphasised here, and the cockerel may herald a creation, a birth, an event or an entirely new situation which is about to occur in your life. For on the whole, you could say that we are dealing with a good cockerel. Pride, presumption and the high opinion which one may have of oneself are only suggested here. They are the traps which you could possibly set for yourself. SQUARE 21 - THE WITCH If there is one disturbing looking character who excels in the art of creating illusions, of having an effect on the mind of the people on whom she focuses her own mind, her powers and psychic abilities, who can cast spells and therefore set traps for those who are receptive to her, it is the witch. Here, she symbolises the wrong use which can be made of the elements and principles of nature which, in themselves, are neither good nor bad. They are what they must be, and do what they must do. Similarly, each one of us has a natural instinct which leads us to act or react in our own particular way, depending on the circumstances. But the witch is the incarnation of the dark side which drives us to intervene, to exercise a power, to possess by taking away from others, to dominate and to destroy. Its meaning: This dark side is also a part of our personality. It is nearly always manifested through our psyche. Then, it leads us to set traps for ourselves by acting in such and such a way, by being devious, by lying, dissimulating, manipulating, sometimes with great skill and cunning. But sooner or later we have to confront this dark side, embodied by the witch and incarnated by the perverse and unbridled side of our mind, or at least we have to face up to it. This is what the witch is inviting you to do as you land on the twenty first square of this divinatory journey. It reveals that you may harbour bad intentions or thoughts, feed on hidden desires or hopes or sow negative ideas and that, by so doing, you are setting traps for yourself. SQUARE 22 - THE FAIRY Just following on from the witch, in the course of our journey which is both initiatory and divinatory, we find the fairy who is of course a symbol of protection. She represents the sound and beneficial thought which brings support, relief, comfort or deliverance, which points the way, allows you to recover and suggests a solution. The fairy plays a very important part in this third cycle, being related to the second goose, as you shall see, and thus reiterating the same advice (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 261). Its meaning: When your counter lands on this square, you can be sure that you afe endowed with gifts, qualities and perhaps even talents which you are not using properly, and neglecting to coltivate. Now, the fairy is inviting you to change your attitude, for your gifts or talents are totally wasted unless you use them. Therefore, it is advising you to become more aware of them and to consider making the most of all your qualities, not just some of them. Furthermore, this square may also intimate that, still thanks to your qualities and talents, you will be able to find a favourable solution to a crucial problem which you are facing at the moment, or which you will be confronted with in the future. SQUARE 23 - THE MOUNTAIN The mountain is a kind of bridge between Heaven and Earth. It stands proud, rising from the depths of the Earth towards the edge of the sky. Sometimes, when it is particularly high or when the sky is low, its summit seems to be lost in the sky. Thus, it makes the heavens available to men, provided they start to climb. It is in this way that the mountain became a symbol for the divine soul, for what is most pure, elevated, noble and sacred in a human being, and which he cannot reach without producing efforts, facing up to difficulties and overcoming obstacles. Also, it was often on top of a mountain that a god chose to manifest himself, such as Yahweh appearing to Moses on mount Horeb. Its meaning: When the mountain stands in your way during the course of your journey, you may expect that a major obstacle will also stand in your life. However, this obstacle is only insurmountable to those who lack courage, perseverance and willpower. For if you call upon your own qualities, which the Goose of the third cycle invites you to exploit properly (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 261), you will be well-prepared to triumph and conquer a mountain in your life. In other words, this square tells you that you are, or that you are going to be, confronted with a test which may or may not seem insurmountable to you. But, in reality, it is worthy of you. For you have the required qualities to be successful and therefore to progress. SQUARE 24 - THE BRIDGE The bridge is a link. It links the two sides of a river, thus allowing you to cross from one side to the other. This fact is so obvious to us that we do not even think about it as we cross a bridge. All the more so, since men have been building them in other places, not just above rivers, and we now frequently find all kinds of bridges, small or long, whose purpose is to ease the traffic or shorten your rail or car journey. But still, a bridge remains a passing place, a link between two sides and, by analogy, between two worlds. Often, it is a representation, still symbolic of course, of the life of a human being, starting from one side of the river on the day of his birth, and reaching the other side on the day of his death. Its meaning: When you land on the bridge during the course of your journey, it is a sign that you are presently in a transitional period, that you have reached or are about to reach a turning point, a special stage or an important phase in your life, or that you must resolve to do so. Because this square is part of the third cycle, it might also augur an important change in your life or your situation. In this case, it could reveal moving house, a short journey from one region to another, to another country even, or in any case away from your usual field of action or boundaries, or quite simply it may intimate a remarkable evolution in your personal ideas, convictions or beliefs, which incites you to change direction in your life or change sides. Sometimes, by crossing this bridge, you are also going on to pastures new and turning your back on your past. SQUARE 25 - THE GORGE Its symbolic meaning is easy to see. Indeed, a gorge is usually a gaping hole in the ground, so deep that you might think it bottomless. For a long time, our ancestors drew a connection between a gorge and a bay, associating them with the emptiness in which you would find yourself if you were to fall in, thus losing all control, being carried away and absorbed into this emptiness, and losing yourself. However, the gorge can also be a necessary passing place which you must cross to reach another world. Its meaning: And so the gorge you encounter on your journey through the Game of Goose, has a double meaning. The first is rather beneficial, even if it implies a difficult and trying period in your life. This square foretells a drop, an inevitable loss of some of your means, but one which you welcome. And so you will not necessarily fall in this gorge. But, if you cannot make up your mind to cross it, you may become absorbed by it, whereas if you decide to jump over, you will feel relieved and perhaps even regenerated. The second interpretation points to a trap that is being set for you, or one that you are setting for yourself. In this case, this square indicates that, if your judgement is poor, if you do not put a hold on your present enterprises, initiatives or actions, you may well fall into a gorge and lose all that you have. SQUARE 26 - THE DICE These two dice come up on two different occasions during the course of your joumey through the Divinatory Game of Goose: first now, at square 26, and later on at square 52. The first set of dice ends the third cycle, while the second set is found on the penultimate square of the sixth cycle (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 270). Dice are a symbol of meaningful chance, standing for all that seems relatively unforeseeable and unpredictable, and yet resulting from a different order of things, from some immanent force which bears a meaning. This is why in Ancient Times dice were often used to administer justice or to attribute honorary titles (see Omens, Beliefs and Mysteries, sheet 73), a function which is still reflected in the popolar expression “the die is cast”, meaning that fate will decide. Its meaning: What use have you made of the values and principles that were instilled in you, those you chose and adhered to, those which struck a chord with you and with which you identified? This was the question set to you by the second Goose during the third cycle (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 261). You are not being set a question now, but, should you have made the most of your own set of values and principles, you are being blessed; if however you abused them, you are being warned. This square confronts you with something which you can no longer ignore: the consequences, good or bad, of your actions, which are the result of your behaviour, also good or bad. FOURTH CYCLE SQUARE 27 - THE THIRD GOOSE You will remember that the symbolic function of the Goose is always to predict the future of those who ask, so that they may anticipate future events, prepare themselves against the possible dangers or traps they may encounter, and gain an awareness of their strength and weaknesses, their fate and their free will, the choices that have to be made, and the way to go about travelling on the journey of life, represented here by the divinatory game of Goose. Its meaning: The third Goose does not warn you against possible dangers, but reveals a subtle fact which, quite likely, had not even entered your mind, but which should however help you to act and lead your lire more serenely. It advises you not to give too much importance to the accuracy or fairness of your actions and to avoid sublimating or dramatising them. Be happy with what you do, knowing that you do it well, but no more. Similarly, be aware of your mistakes, draw lessons from them, but do not blow their consequences out of proportion. Have faith in yoursel£ and in lire. If you spend too much time weighing up your actions, you stand the chance ofbeing caught unawares by events or a reversal of situation. Nothing is definite or fixed once and far alI. This is what the third Goose is telling you. Everything passes, everything changes and everything is possible, provided you do not seek to gain contrai aver it. SQUARE 28. THE NIGHTINGALE Like the swallow, it symbolises the advent of spring and the renewal of nature (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 66). However, its song has always been regarded as an expression of melancholy or nostalgia. Although it is associated with the season of renewal, you could say that the nightingale is not totally turned towards the future, unlike spring which leads you, unquestionably, towards summer, towards harvest and plenty. It retains one foot, so to speak, in the past about which it feels nostalgic. Furthermore, the nightingale is well-known for singing at nightfall, without being a nocturnal bird for all that. Its song can be heard clearly, at a time when other birds are asleep or have stopped singing for the day, and it is for this reason that it became a symbol for both love and death. Its meaning: Although love may be enchanting, delightful and thrilling, it may also make you blind. This is what this square means when you land on it. In this case, the love in question is neither universal nor spiritual, but that shared by two human beings. The accent is on your personal feelings. Enjoy them to your heart's content, but avoid being overcome by your emotions, as they would lead you to lose your sense of reality. You would run the risk of being disappointed, and would only have yourself to blame far it since, instead of filling your love life with serenity and harmony, as symbolised by the nightingale (see Art of Divination: Birds of Omen, sheet 97), you might be tempted to sublimate your feelings and colour them with passion. SQUARE 29. THE UGHTNING Lightning is related to thunder. There is of course a cause and effect connection between them which can now be explained scientifically, and of which our ancestors were aware, although they ascribed a divine character to these phenomena. In this case, our attention is drawn to the zig-zag shape of the bolt of lightning as it illuminates the sky. It symbolises an unexpected, unforeseeable event, an upheaval or a sudden awareness. In addition, lightning naturally precedes thunder, as well as often bringing stormy rain. Hence, it represents the outset of an upheaval. Its meaning: This is the meaning you should give this square, if you should land on it during the course of your divinatory journey, be it that you have perceived, or you are about to notice the preliminary signs of a change, an upheaval which seems inevitable, in your life or your situation, which you might have envisaged but could not foresee when it was likely to happen,or how it would materialise. However, we would like to insist on the fact that you are about to see the outset of this upheaval. You may then take preventive measures to minimise its effects or possible damage. Just bear in mind that such an upheaval seems necessary and inevitable and that once it is over and dalle with, you will feel greatly relieved. SQUARE 30 - THE ROSE This is a symbol of birth and renewal, creation and resurrection, pure, absolute love, eternal life, beauty and perfection (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 49). It is a marvellous symbol therefore, in which no evil whatsoever can be found, and which cannot be assigned with any dark, sombre or maleficient attributes. It is rare to encounter a symbol whose qualities are so exclusively beneficial. The rose is such a symbol but, as you will see, its meaning in the Divinatory Game of Goose may still carry a certain ambiguity. Its meaning: First you should see in this square the sign of a birth or a creation, something new and happy happening in your life. This could range from the birth of a child, the best present life can give you, to the creation of a business, perhaps a new phase in your life which you are about to enter. But, to play on words, life is not always a bed or roses. Consequently, this square may also be a warning against your tendency to see life through rose tinted glasses, to be too optimistic and believe that everything is perfect. Once again, the Goose of the fourth cycle is warning you: do not perceive the world to be a better place than it is. SQUARE 31 - THE WELL The water from the well comes from a spring. Unless the climate is unpropitious and a drought occurs, a spring is relatively inexhaustible. Hence, symbolically speaking, there are many analogies between the well and the spring. Both stand for the material or spiritual riches from which we can feed and drink ad infinitum. By drawing water from the well, you go back to the source, in other words you concentrate on what really matters, you refer to the purity of eternal knowledge and traditions, you draw on true values that are so greatly needed. Its meaning: When your counter lands on the Well square, it would seem that your attention is drawn to the spring which is within you. In other words, everything leads you to seek and find within you the resources you may be tempted to look for elsewhere, around you and in others. This square tells you that you already own an abundance of riches from which you can draw. You may well ask yourself whether you have been neglecting to do so. If that is the case, the Well invites you to look deep into yourself, knowing that you will find there all the resources you need, perhaps even the solutions to your problems or the answers to your questions. SQUARE 32 - THE WIND Generally speaking, the wind is a symbol of inconsistency, the ephemeral aspect of life, for changes and instability and all that can be swept away, removed, forgotten from one day to the next, or erased in one single moment, because of the way in which air currents often change direction and are sometimes so powerful that nothing or no-one can stop them; symbolically of course, the wind is also the vehicle that carries future events and circumstances, those that are already in existence somewhere else, or at least potentially, and which it will bring to us. Thus, the wind can be regarded as an instrument of fate or a divine tool, accordingly, one that carries a kind of immanent justice of which it is then the breath, the emanation, the manifestation or the magical element. Its meaning: As far as this thirty second square of the Divinatory Game of Goose is concerned, our attention is really drawn to the transient aspect of life and worldly things. The meaning of this square matches perfectly the information supplied by the third Goose, in the cycle to which it belongs. When your counter lands on it, it seems that you need to be reminded that, in this world, nothing lasts for ever, everything is constantly changing and transforming, and you should avoid giving too much importance to what you do, getting too attached or tied down, and having too many possessions. And so, whether you are happy or sad, remember that it will not last. SQUARE 33 - THE UNICORN This is a symbol of both purity and virile strength. The unicorn is a mythical and legendary animaI (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 79). It only exists in the imagination of men, poets and symbolists who used it to represent, sublimate or even deify, the masculine impulses and desires. During Medieval Times, the Virgin Mary of the Christians was often pictured next to a unicorn. It was meant to represent the pure and universal spirit, equivalent to the sulphur of the alchemists, who regarded it as the great masculine principle, the expression or the manifestation of the Divine Will expressed as spiritual and mystical revelation. Its meaning: The richness of the significance, high in symbolism, attributed to the unicorn is synthesised in the Divinatory Game of Goose, and should therefore only be understood from the angle of a revelation. When your counter lands on this square, this revelation may simply be a new awareness on your part: you are beginning to, or about to, understand something very important about yourself or about your life. But, it is also possible that something is being revealed to you once again about yourself a situation or a problem, which in turn brings you a solution, a resolution or a relief For this revelation always has a beneficial and redeeming connotation. SQUARE 34 - THE FOUNTAIN On the symbolic level, it presents numerous analogies with the Well, found on square 31 of the Divinatory Game of Goose (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 264). Similarly, it is also related to the spring (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 52). However, its interpretation differs from that of the well, in that the fountain implies no personal effort on your part to refresh yourself or quench your thirst. Just like the spring, it keeps on flowing,while one needs to work a wheel or a pulley to draw water from a well. This is why, still symbolically speaking, the fountain represents the water of life, that of eternal youth, renewal, knowledge, learning and immortality, which each of us can drink whenever we like. Its meaning: To simplify, you could say that when your counter lands on this square, it probably means that you need to refresh your ideas. You may be feeling under pressure, and may even bave good reasons for it, but your stale ideas are probably, and most certainly, to blame. You need to relax, to find a little spontaneity from within yourself, a little light-heartedness, a fresh mind, which will all help you to relax and to approach your worries and your problems with just enough detachment or distance. Then, you will find it much easier to resolve them. SQUARE 35 - THE PRINCE Symbolically, he represents the promise of times to come. For naturally, the prince is a king to be, a king in training as it were. One day, he will be king but for the moment, he has to start out in life, learn and receive an education, and become worthy of the responsibilities and prime position he will one day have to assume. In a way, he is a symbolic representation of adolescence, sublimated or idealised, and which, as we know, is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, in human life. The prince is to be regarded as the embodiment of potential qualities, virtues and special talents. Its meaning: When this square appears during the course of your journey, it reveals that you have not yet accomplished your wishes, desires and ambitions. It could be that you are not mature enough yet, or that the time is not ripe for you to do so. You should understand that you still have some ground to cover, that your training is not over, that your path will probably be fraught with problems, and that you still have much to learn. However, do not forget that the prince carries a promise. This square also tells you that you will reach your goal and achieve your purpose, but you should learn to be patient and to persevere. You will get what you want. Provided of course that you are worthy of it. FIFTH CYCLE SQUARE 36 - THE FOURTH GOOSE This Goose invites us to contemplate the mathematics of the body and soul which is a subtle and poetic kind of mathematics but nonetheless one that is anchored in the temporal and material realities of this world. Its formulae is very simple, childish even: fourth Goose, fifth cycle, sixth sense. Nowadays, we talk about the sixth sense as a gift bestowed on some people, and not resting on anything real or tangible, yet which enables these people to perceive and understand things that are unattainable to others. What is really meant by “sixth sense”? It seems that, originally, this expression referred exclusively to the subtle sensations associated with lovemaking. It first appeared during the 18th Century, particularly in libertine literature where it was given an hedonistic character. But strangely enough, it quickly lost this meaning and began describing even rarer sensations, totally unconnected with lovemaking, according to which some people were able to experience certain things which seemed unheard of to others. Its meaning: And so it is that the Goose of the sixth sense stresses the importance that should be given to intuition, forebodings and premonitions. If your counter lands on the fourth Goose, you are being invited therefore to trust your instincts. You should realise that, as with the other five senses which resemble the five doors of our body and are on the alert at all times, even as we sleep, the sixth sense, which is perhaps the door to the soul, never goes to sleep either. If we call upon the faculties which it enables us to exploit, we should be able to avoid the traps and the pitfalls of life, in which, generally, we fall because of our own negligence, our lack of vigilance, and therefore, perception. SQUARE 37 - THE STUMP The stump can be understood frolli three distinct viewpoints. First, this word is used to designate something or someone who is immutable, at a standstill, inert or obstinate. It is also used to refer to a certain depth of mind or conversely a lack of insight, in the same way as we would say of someone that they are sleeping like a log, meaning very deeply, without being alert to what is going on around them. Finally, in the French language for instance, this word is applied to one's family origins, ancestry and descent. In any case, all these interpretations originate from one unique meaning, derived from its Celtic and Gallic etymology, tsùkka, which meant “basis, foundation, stand”. Its meaning: It is of course the word's original significance that should retain our attention in this divinatory Game of Goose. This square refers to the lessons we can draw from our parents or ancestors' experience, but also to the wealth of information contained in our instinctive memory thanks to which we can gain an intuitive understanding of things, anticipate the logical conclusion of certain events in our life. Here, the stump also points to all that you have already acquired and on which you can rest and rely on to solve your punctual problems, in the knowledge that what you have cannot be taken away from you, that is is immutable, strong and durable.
		Dalla casella 38 alla casella 63
		SQUARE 38-THE THREAD A thread either links or binds things together. It is a bond, a guide or a connection. It ties, it shows the way or unites. In the same way as the stump, whose different meanings we have just discovered, it also has three distinct, but interconnected meanings which, without being contradictory, do not lead to the same interpretations. Once again, as we cover more ground on this particular journey, we have to make a choice and ascribe one specific meaning to each symbol Its meaning: This square puts the accent on the role of the thread as a guide. Think of it as a lead. Indeed, being situated in the fifth cycle, under the aegis of the fourth Goose - which focuses our attention on the intuitive and perceptive qualities which allow us to anticipate events - the thread will, logically and inevitably, lead us to a specific spot. If you should land on this square during the course of your journey, it would probably be in your interest to let yourself be guided by a situation, a circumstance or a person that will lead you precisely where you need to go, to the exact spot you wished to reach, to the goal you had set for yourself or to the place where you want to be. 39 - THE ROUND TABLE This table stands for peace and harmony and for the strength found in uniting. The famous legend of KingArthur relates how bis 24 knights would sit around this mythical table. As for as the historical reality of this tale is concerned however, we now know that the round table attributed to King Arthur - kept in England, at Winchester castle and on which are inscribed the names of king Arthur and bis 24 knights - dates from the 13th Century, eight centuries after the death of all these legendary characters! Furthermore, you should know that the historical facts related to the legend of Merlin the Enchanter and King Arthur have been amalgamated, interpreted and then borrowed by the Christians who made a royal example out of Arthur's conversion to christianity - which, historically speaking, was certainly never the case (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 76). Its meaning: Be that as it may, when you land on it during the course of your journey, this square tells you that it is very important that you should gather around you people who are likely to offer their help to you, to give you assistance and support, or else that you should become involved with a group of people who may already be working together in a common venture or for something useful to the community. SQUARE 40 - THE CENTRE The centre is always a meeting point towards which all elements converge or gather. We could extrapolate and say that each of us is aiming, instinctively, to reach a central or meeting point, while at the same time also being a centre, meaning a point around which all sorts of elements and parameters afe gathered. Consequently, the centre is a marvellous symbol of perfection, unity and the absolute (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 46). It can be understood as the ultimate and absolute point which one should reach, both within oneself or in the outside world. On the symbolic and mystical levels, the archer represents a human being, aiming towards one single target (himself), which he must reach with the tip of his arrow - in other words, with all his being - to be totally fulfilled. For him, the bow, the arrow and the target have become one. Its meaning: When this square appears on your journey, it reveals that you are, knowingly or not, the central point of the circumstances, events and present situations in your life, but also that of all the people who are close to you or depend on you. You can bring these people together by being their centre of interest or the focus of their attention. However, being that, also implies certain responsibilities on your part, a role to play, and you should ask yourself whether you are ready for it or up to this task. In addition, this square also indicates that you should never fail to gather within yourself and towards one single purpose, all your qualities, talents, means and abilities. SQUARE 41 - THE CRYSTAL The “stone of light” as the shamans call it, does not have, in itself, any specific virtues. But, its shape, its transparency and its very special ability to reflect light, led our ancestors since the dawn of time, to regard it as a magical, celestial or divine stone. You cannot but admire its beauty. There is something perfect about it, if indeed there is such a thing as perfection. It gives the impression of having been chiselled by a hand endowed with special, unusual powers. This is why, from time immemorial, it has been used as a tool for divination, meditation and medical diagnosis even. Its meaning: When your counter lands on the square featuring the “stone of light”, an allusion may be made to your quest or your thirst for perfection or the absolute - which makes you an idealist, a perfectionist and therefore somewhat sterile, for deep down you seem convinced that you can never reach this supreme degree of achievement to which you aspire, thus preferring to give up any enterprise or creation. Generally speaking however, this square emphasises the latent talents that you have: intuition, inspiration, imagination, receptivity, a sound instinct, common sense, the ability to analyse and synthesise. In other words, this crystal is nothing more than a representation of your mental and discerning faculties, which make you capable of exploiting the sixth sense to which the fourth Goose was alluding (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 266). SQUARE 42 - THE MAZE This universal symbol stands for a necessary gestation period, thanks to which order will emerge from chaos, light from darkness and truth from ignorance (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 50). It represents a kind of pilgrimage and initiatory journey, not unlike the quest for the centre (see square 40, overleaf), since the being who enters the maze does so with the purpose of finding its centre. But, he could also find himself at the heart of the maze, trying to find a way out, thus being trapped in the centre of things and trying to get aut. In both cases, it is a salutary journey for anyone aspiring to find truth or freedom. Its meaning: It is of course possible to interpret this square in both ways. Should you land on it, it is up to you to choose the interpretation that corresponds to your own situation. Either, you are intent on reaching a precise goal or target which will enable you to gather all the elements of your life, or, it is imperative that you get out of a situation which at present seems inextricable, complex, difficult, in other words a trap into which you fell. However, you should know that, before you get what you want, you will certainly have to encounter many obstacles and you should therefore be careful, vigilant and, once again, trust your sixth sense. SQUARE 43 - THE SHIELD This is of course a symbol of protection. However, it must be remembered that, in the minds of our ancestors, this defensive weapon held a magical character since it could give them the means of avoiding death and coming through, unscathed, after a deadly battle. This is why ancient shields were covered with magical symbols that were supposed to inspire terror and drive back the enemy, thus giving protection to the warriors who wore them. Its meaning: You have nothing to fear. In short, this is the reassuring message given to you by the divinatory Game of Goose, when you land on this square. But you still need to understand why you have nothing to fear. The shield symbol reveals that your natural qualities, your confidence, your faith in yourself, should protect you from the risks you are taking or the dangers you may fear. You should draw on all your inner resources, and defend yourself against the tricks of fate or the hazards of life. You have your own in-built shield, and if you know how to use it properly, you have nothing to fear. On this divinatory journey therefore, this symbol often is the sign of the providential protection from which you benefit, perhaps at a difficult time in your life. SQUARE 44 - THE TUNIC First and foremost, this symbol represents the body, as a garment or the tunic of the soul, but also all that “sticks to you”, meaning the desires, passions and the exacerbated human feelings of jealousy and possession. One of the many legends featuring Herakles as its hero iHustrates this metaphor. Also involved are Nessos, a centaur, and Deianira, daughter of Dionysus and sister of Meleagre whose life was spared by Herakles, during his twelfth Labour (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 29). During a journey which took Herakles and Deianira to the banks of the river Evenos, our hero entrusted his wife to the ferryman, Nessos, who tried to rape her while the demi-god was swimming across the ford. To save his wife, he killed the centaur with an arrow. But before dying, the latter gave Deianira a philter prepared with his blood and his sperm, telling her that, should her husband be unfaithful to her, she would only need to soak his tunic in it for him to come back to her. Deianira did get the chance to use this magie philter which, in reality, was a violent poison. After Herakles was unfaithful to her, she immersed his tunic in the liquid. When he came to wear it again, an unbearable burning feeling spread over his body. The cloth stuck to his skin, and each time he managed to peel off a section of it, he also tore off a piece of his skin. In the end, this suffering proved to be too much for Herakles who died after he threw himself in a pyre to put an end to bis suffering. Its meaning: Such is the nature of human beings that they often become the victim of their own feelings of jealousy, of the passions and desires that torment their soul and blind them, while, at the same time, they are endowed with so many noble qualities.Should your counter land on this square, you should question the nature of your feelings, bearing in mind that all desires and passions “stick to the skin”, that the body is, in a way, the tunic of the sou1. It is not so much your intentions that matter here, as your actions, borne out by your weaknesses and vices. SIXTH CYCLE SQUARE 45 -THE FIFTH GOOSE At the outset of the sixth cycle, the fifth Goose heralds the advent of a new era. If you have managed to discard your skin tunic, the meaning of which you discovered at the previous square, you have also left behind the weaknesses, vices and torments of your soul, which stifled your qualities and virtues. You are now able to perceive a glimmer of light in your innermost self: that of your conscience showing you the way towards self-knowledge so that you no longer delude yourself. Its meaning: From now on, act in all honesty. This is what the fifth Goose is advising you to do, should your counter land on square 45. Take one step at a rime on the journey of your life and destiny, being aware of your shortcomings and riches, acknowledging both your qualities and your weaknesses, minimising or overestimating neither, for in this way you will progress and reach your goal. In other words, the fifth Goose of this divinatory and initiatory journey is offering us a fine lesson on wisdom which is accessible to us all. SQUARE 46-THE LADDER In the purest and truest sense of the word, the ladder is a symbol of regeneration, representing the up and down flow of vital energies, according to a ceaseless cycle which has an effect on the human nerve centres, along the spinal column. When an obstacle stands in its way, this flow is interrupted and tension ensues, causing all kinds of physiological and physical ills of various intensity, depending on the individuaI. Thus, to be regarded as a means of improving oneself, the ladder needs to stand on firm ground, meaning that the individual needs to be strong. He will then be able to climb up, and his conscience will rise spiritually. Its meaning: If your counter should land on the Ladder Square therefore, it is first your vitality that is being questioned. Do ask yourself about it, for it may be deficient, or it may be necessary for you to take greater care of yourself. You may have neglected to do so. You cannot envisage any improvement in your situation, in your professional, social, personal, intellectual or spiritual life, until your vitality is restored again, and until you have recovered your full power of regeneration, symbolised here by the ladder. SQUARE 47- THE LAKE The water in a lake is perfectly still. Now a 13th Century proverb tells us that “still waters run deep”. Does this mean that, symbolically speaking, we should feel suspicious about the lake? No, we would not go that far. But its meaning may be rather misleading. It is a well-known fact that, despite its peaceful, calm and restful appearance, the lake is swarming with underwater life and that its undercurrents can be deadly. Just like the maze at square 42 (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 267), it is a symbol of gestation. Under the lake, a life is being created, something is happening which will spring forth or be born. Its meaning: It is from this angle that you should interpret this symbol on your divinatory journey. Although your present life may seem calm and your situation tranquil, you should nonetheless expect something to suddenly occur which may well undermine the peaceful surface of your life and lead you to progress. You can be sure that it will be all the more evident, as you try to suppress or hide the tension or dissatisfaction due to unresolved problems. SQUARE 48 - THE SPRING We are once again in the presence of what is called a universal symbol, because it is common to all the cultures and civilisations of the world. We have already come across two symbols that are obviously related to it: the well and the fountain (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheets 264 and 265). Whoever has never seen water springing forth from the ground cannot understand the wonder that one feels in front of this natural phenomenon, one that has a rational explanation of course and holds no mystery for the modern man, while still retaining its magical character. You have to see it to believe it, as they say. But nowadays, this natural phenomenon seems quite normal to us, ordinary even, although still rare and precious, and is no more unusual to us than having running water in our homes. Since the beginning of the 20th Century, springs have been disappearing and more and more rivers have been drying up, throughout the world. Who needs to go to a spring nowadays? Are we waiting for deserts to take over and, like the sea, gradually cover up most of the land on our planet? Its meaning: This is the warning given by this square, should you land on it during the course of your journey: if you do not go to a spring, in other words if you do not go back to the source of things, if you do not find the original purity which is within you, if you do not go back to the sources of your soul where your destiny and your life, your willpower and your free will are flowing from, in other words if you do not allow your life to spring forth like the water from the ground, then your heart risks running dry and your imagination and inspiration may well dry up too. This square invites you to rediscover the simplicity, the purity and the spontaneity that are the essence of your thoughts and your actions. SQUARE 49 - THE FIVE SENSES This square takes us back to the fourth. Goose of the fifth cycle, or to square 11 (the Ear) (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheets 266 and 259). As you know, this divinatory journey, which is set out as a game, has its own rules. One of them is to move your counter forward or backward by a certain number of squares, depending on the message carried by each one. This rule is derived from the initiatory and divinatory meanings of the Game of Goose. If you should land on square 49, not only should you familiarise yourself with its meaning, but also with the interpretation relating to the fourth Goose at square 36 and the Ear at square 11. The five senses are thus forcing you to go back on yourself. Its meaning: The principle of quintessence, or that related to the fifth element (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 88) is in analogy with the fifth sense, which is that of hearing and therefore the ear. To make the most of your sixth sense, you should be very receptive to all that you hear. But you should also use your remaining four senses properly: your sense of smell far smelling, feeling and premonitions, your sense of taste for savouring and knowing, your sight for seeing and perceiving, your sense of touch for embracing and being at one with the world around you. You can learn how to develop and educate your five senses. They are sensible tools. You should be in control of them and not their victim. SQUARE 50 - THE JAIL In the divinatory Game of Goose, the jail is a stop-over. As strange and paradoxical as it may seem, this symbol has many points in common with the Inn (see Art of Divination: the Divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 261). Those who do not regard the Inn as a necessary resting place, and would prefer to stay there for too long or to settle there permanently, are bringing their evolution to a halt. Similarly, those who are locked in a prison are paying for their mistakes. For a certain period of time, they will not be free to do as they please. Their will to act will be in chains. But a punishment is only worthwhile if those who deserved it are able to fully realise its implications and draw lessons from it in order to progress. It is in this way that, sometimes, the Jail is a necessary step on the journey of life, when a mistake or a defiance has been committed.It is a place for regeneration. Those who find themselves there should realise their mistakes, reassess their lives and leave the jail with the intention of starting to act in all honesty. Its meaning: If you are a victim of your senses, of your mind or your self, you are above all a prisoner inside your own being. Thus, when your counter lands on this square, you are invited to become aware of the chains that hold you captive, that prevent you from continuing on your journey and your evolution. However, it is only through accepting to remain locked up in the prison of your self, that you will understand the mistakes or errors you have committed. SQUARE 51 - THE FIRE A symbol of purification and destruction, of enlightenment and moral blindness, of truth and passion, of life and death and of good and evil (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 1), the fire, understandably so, carries a double meaning since on one hand it brings warmth and light but, on the other, it burns and consumes all that falls in it or stands in its way. Its meaning: The predominant meaning of this square, should you fall on it during the course of your journey, is that of exaltation and exaggeration. The accent in the divinatory Game of Goose, is put on the passions of the soul, the exacerbated feelings, the desires and the ambitions which drive you to act or to behave in an excessive manner. This square tells you that you are restless, troubled, excited, under pressure, that you need to externalise your energy, that a kind of fire is burning inside you, which you should try to control before it burns you out or drives you to actions that you would regret. It is indeed the fire of passion, in all the senses of the word, of which it is a question here, which may yet have a positive side to it, should you use it advisedly. For this fire can also make you warm-hearted and radiant. FIFTH CYCLE SQUARE 52 - THE DICE As you know, the Game of Goose has become a board game which is more popular with children than with adults. And the well-known tales of Mother Goose are supposed to be for small children. Adults, for their part, show a marked preference for the culinary aspects of the goose. When playing a board game and landing on a square picturing dice, one would expect to play again, one more time at least. This is because dice are associated with chance in the sense of luck. But, what kind of luck or, more precisely, what is the real meaning of this word? The word chance comes from the Latin cadentia which means “the things which fall or happen together”. It is derived from cadus and cadere which gave the French verb choir (fall). In the Middle Ages, the word chance was chéance, still from the French, and was used to designate the fall of the dice. Its opposite was malchéance. Thus, depending on the circumstances according to which certain natural phenomena manifest or fall together, at any given time, they have a specific meaning which carries an element of chance, in the sense of good or bad luck. Its meaning: If you land on this square during the course of your divinatory journey, you are being given a second chance. This is why, in the board game know as the Game of Goose, you are invited to play again when you land on it. In this case however, on no account should you throw your dice again without taking account of the information revealed by these two dice, far they imply that in your present life, at the time of consulting the divinatory Game of Goose, you are being given a second chance. Thus, if you are currently faced with a problematic situation, or if you have undertaken something in which you failed in the past, then you may assume that a second chance is being given to you in this area of your life. You can therefore go ahead with your plan. SQUARE 53 - THE RAINBOW The meaning of this symbol presents certain analogies with that of the bridge at square 24, and the ladder at square 46 of this divinatory journey (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheets 263 and 268). In this case however, the emphasis is being put on alliance, union and the deep understandingwhich can be established between two people or which one has of oneself, and which is essential to be at one with that other person or with oneself. Its meaning: If you should land on this square during the course of your journey, two distinct interpretations may be envisaged, that are not necessarily incompatible or separate from each other. The first simply points to an alliance or a union, usually on the personal level, between two beings who are attracted to each other or who have all the required qualities to get on together, to understand each other, to associate, unite and live together. The second reveals a necessary reconciliation with oneself one that is not only possible but really necessary. This square encourages you to be at peace with yourself to find a certain inner harmony. For, if you do not feel at one with yourself, you cannot associate with anyone in your life, for any length of time. The Rainbow, first symbol of this sixth cycle, synthesises all the information revealed by the fifth Goose which started it (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 268). SEVENTH CYCLE SQUARE 54 - THE SIXTH GOOSE Having drawn all the lessons yielded to you by the fifth Goose of the sixth cycle of this journey which is both divinatory and initiatory in the sense that it reveals both information relating to probable events and circumstances in your future, and information relating to your own, personal evolution, the sixth Goose of the seventh cycle invites you to go even further on the journey of your life and personal accomplishment. It intimates that, as far as you are concerned, nothing has yet been achieved or completed, that the best or worst is still to come. It all depends on the wisdom you have acquired, the lessons you have drawn from your own experiences and actions, the eight squares that make up this last cycle all represent the traps which life has in store for you, although as you will see, some of them seem to be wrapped in gold. But, these traps are there to test you, not to cause your downfall. Its meaning: And so there is still more joy or sorrow ahead. This is what the sixth Goose of the seventh cycle is telling you. From now on, having acquired a certain experience of life, you can continue on your journey using your free will and becoming a master of your own fate. But you cannot do this until you have learnt, through this journey, how to be true to yourself. SQUARE55-THE TREASURE This is of course a symbol of material and spiritual wealth. A treasure is usually something which one searches for.You know that it exists, that it is hidden somewhere and that you can find it provided you are ready to brave a certain number of difficulties or trials. And, by dint of willpower, courage and perseverance, you always end up finding the treasure you have been searching for. But the point here is not so much about finding it, but more about the use you will make of it. Its meaning: When your counter lands on this square, you can be sure that, symbolically or in real terms, you will find a treasure. You may for example manage to improve quite noticeably your social and material life, and suddenly find that you are enjoying a much more comfortable lifestyle. And do not doubt the fact that, in some way or other, you deserve it. But, as intimated by the sixth Goose at the beginning of this cycle, this blessing may in fact be a golden trap which is being set for you. Remain vigilant therefore, and be careful about the use you make of this newly found treasure. Do not waste it. SQUARE 56-THE TRAMP The character pictured here presents many analogies with the Fool, 22nd arcana of the Tarot (see Art of Divination: the Tarot, sheet 27). When your counter lands on this square, it often means that you should go back to square 1, right at the beginning, and start on your journey again. The Tramp indicates that you should go back, or more exactly go back on yourself to your own starting point, to your origins. Contrarily to what it seems, you should not see this self-inflicted return as a regression, but as an immersion into the original waters of your consciousness, in order to bring together and unite all that was separated. In other words, the Tramp is not someone who has lost his way. He makes the deliberate choice of leaving all his ties behind, to return to his original state, which was one of freedom. He gives us a lesson about independence, without making any demands: he just asserts himself as a free human being. Every single part of his body and soul is alive. Its meaning: Should you land on this square, you are somehow being told to go back to square one. You may need to go somewhere to meet up again with someone or rediscover something you had lost during the course of your journey, or go back to the starting point, change your behaviour, and return to how you used to be. This square sometimes heralds the advent of a new beginning in your life, but it may also foretell a journey, a trip, even a move. Moving from where you live, often means changing your way of life and starting again. SQUARE 57 - THE WEATHER Time does not exist. And yet, we seem to depend on it nowadays. Our daily life is ruled by it. We know that we should be doing such and such a thing at such and such a time, and all our lives are ruled by clocks and watches. However, we do not all have the same understanding of time, for each one of us is ruled by a different rhythm. We are not really aware of this fact, so caught up are we in the whirl of our routine and commitments. Yet, everyone has their own pace, and no two people live or spend their time in the same way. It is only when we are not pressed for time that we become aware of this fact. And those of us whose rhythm is different, sometimes find it difficult to live together. Its meaning: This symbol is about your own ti me and rhythm. If you should land on this square during the course of your journey, you should reflect on this matter. By choosing a picture alluding to the weather, the climate, outdoor temperature and possible bad weather conditions, the creators of this divinatory Game of Goose were not trying to confuse you. By comparing them to the unsettled weather, they wanted to put the accent on your often changing moods. This square advises you to live at your own pace. In this way, you will no longer fall prey to outside circumstances, nor be influenced or restricted by them. SQUARE 58 THE REAPER OR DEATH This picture is of course referring to symbolic death rather than real and physical death. In the same way as the Tramp, which showed analogies with the Fool, 22nd arcana of the Tarot, the Reaper or Death has much in common with the 13th or nameless arcana of the same Tarot (see Art of Divination: the Tarot, sheet 18). Its meaning: While the Tramp foretold a return or a new start, the Reaper or Death announces a turning point in your life or situation. One way or another, and whatever the sector of your life concerned, you will reap the fruit of what you have sown. If your sowing was done proper1y, at the right time and using the right seeds, do not doubt the excellence of your harvest. On the other hand, if you used the wrong seeds, your harvest will be poor. It is as simple as that. But, in either case, this square points to a radical change, a turning point therefore, in your life, of which you could say that it is inevitable but also salutary and necessary. 59 - THE SPIRAL The course of the Game of Goose resembles a centripetal spiral, that is to say one that starts from an outer point and works its way towards the centre. Its symbolic meaning presents many analogies with that of the Labyrinth, at Square 42 of this divinatory journey (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 267). However, the spiral pictured here is centrifugal, meaning that it starts from the centre and makes its way to the outside. It is a symbol of eternal life, fecundity, self-evolution and accomplishment (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 47). Its meaning: Having discovered your own inner wealth, you may now turn towards the outer world with confidence, knowing that you can blossom and evolve as you wish. This is really what this square is telling you. If your counter should land on it, you may feel confident about your actions and your life, since it confirms to you that you are progressing in the right direction. Whatever your present concerns, actions, enterprises or initiatives, your evolution is progressing at a good pace and your self is expanding. With a good start behind you, and by leaning on the values and principles that were instilled in you, there is no reason why you should not fulfil your wishes. This is one of the most beautiful squares in this divinatory Game of Goose, with the Diamond and the Garden, still to come (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 272). SQUARE 60-THE ARCH Once again our divinatory journey leads us to a symbol whose meaning presents certain similarities with that of other symbols which we have encountered previously. The Arch can in fact be likened to the symbol of the Bridge at Square 24, the Ladder at Square 46 and of course the Rainbow at Square 53 (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 263,268 and 270). In this case however, you should understand that this symbol takes on the meaning of a liberation or a redemption. This square illustrates the idea of “running for safety”, in the sense of running away or breaking free. This arch is a bridge between all that holds you back, prevents you, forces you and slows you down, and what saves you, liberates you, brings you relief and safety. Its meaning: In concrete and practical terms, let's say that, should you fall on this square at a time in your life when you are facing a court case, a conflict or a personal crisis, you are being told that everything will work aut. If you are going through a difficult time, it reveals that you will soon find a solution and come out of it unscathed. Similarly, should you have experienced health problems, this square points to recovery. In short, whatever the circumstances in which you find yourself this square foretells deliverance, relief and liberation. SQUARE 61 - THE DIAMOND This is one of the most beautiful symbols there is. It has stood the test of time. It is just as precious to us as it was to our ancestors. This could of course be attributed to its scarcity, to the fact that it takes the earth thousands of years to produce it. But, the way it sparkles is truly exceptional, and it does give the impression, as you look and touch it, that one is in the presence of an incomparable stone, close to perfection and total purity, qualities which it does in fact symbolise (see Omens, Beliefs and Mysteries, sheet 62). Innocence, truth, the highest and most noble virtues of the soul, the spirit and the heart are also related to it. As far back as we look,we can see that the diamond carried beneficent and saving virtues. It is supposed to bring strength, harmony, love, honesty, happiness, wealth, firmness and absolute power. And for many women still, the diamond is the most beautiful and precious of all jewels. Its meaning: As you can guess, this square bodes very well for you, should your counter land on it. Indeed, besides bringing the promise that all your wishes will come true or that one at least will be fulfilled to perfection, it also points to the providential protection which you are benefiting from at the time of consulting the Goose oracle, and which you will continue to enjoy during the days, weeks or months to come. SQUARE 62-THE GARDEN In symbolic terms, this is the place where human beings originated and to which they must go back. And so it is that in many cosmogonies describing the beginning of the word, the commencement of time, the creation of the earth and the advent of man, and not only in the Genesis according to the Bible, a magnificent garden is being described. And often, in texts relating to the abode of the souls of the dead, reference is also made to a wonderful garden where total bliss can be enjoyed by those who are worthy of it. Hence, the garden is connected to the myth of paradise lost and to that of the golden age promised to humanity (see Myths, Legends and Symbols, sheet 41). And so it was that in Ancient Times, the Assyrians for instance created, on the estuary of the Tigris and the Euphrates, their celebrated and now legendary hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the world, while the Egyptians, who were past masters in the art of landscaping their gardens, also knew and very much appreciated this subtle and laborious magic, whose purpose it is to work and transform the land according to rules and laws which are not necessarily those of nature, but those of the human mind. Its meaning: To mould the world to his own image or to identify with its reality, such is the ultimate ambition of any human being. Thus, the penultimate square of the divinatory Game of Goose does not foretell any future or probable event. It simply invites you to take a walk in the great garden of nature to refresh your ideas, but most of all to look around your own inner garden and focus on yourself. For paradise, in the sense of the well-being and happiness to which each one of us aspires, is first of all within oneself. He or she who knows how to coltivate and look after their inner garden, also knows how to cope with the garden of their life. In other words, the message carried by this square is that life is a garden of which you are the gardener. SQUARE 63-THE SEVENTH GOOSE There is no eighth cycle in the divinatory game of goose. The journey ends with an encounter with the seventh goose. In the board game,the first person to reach it has won. But in life, the game is never over. You may well manage to get what you want, fulfil your dreams, plans, ideas, wishes and ambitions, but life is a constant beginning, a constant return. Its meaning: The message delivered by the seventh Goose is that nothing is ever definite here below. However, if he wishes to, the querant may climb on the back of the goose pictured on this square and fly away. By doing so, he identifies with the passing of time. He is the time which never stops. He remains himself while, all around him, everything is moving, transforming, appearing, disappearing, dying and being reborn. He lives at the same pace as time, but he is immutable. As he travels with the goose, he moves through space and time, yet he is sitting still on its back. Such is the paradox of life on Earth. The seventh goose tells you that, while your mind and your body are constantly moving, your soul, the essence of life, is not moving. Thus, the message brought to you by this game of divination and initiation is that, in this world, all that is at the heart of movement and causes things to move, is really motionless. Method and Sample Interpretation Having ended your journey through the divinatory Game of Goose, and taken note of the squares and symbols on which your counter landed (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheet 256), you can now select the relevant information from your sheets of interpretation. METHOD The method used to interpret your journey is extremely simple but requires great care and finesse. This is why, once again, we suggest that you take your time to carry out your interpretation, and that you do it preferably on your own, somewhere quiet. Also, once you've finished writing your interpretation, keep it at hand, and read it again now and then. You will often find that later on, long after you have consulted the oracle and carried out your interpretation of it, you are in a position to understand better or from a different angle, some of the information that was revealed to you. Write down each element of information revealed by each square and symbol on your journey. Having ended your journey, your first task is to consult your sheets of interpretation and write down the meaning of each symbol in your notebook. Read all your interpretations again Once you have checked and written down all the information relating to the symbols that make up your journey, read them again once or twice, following of course the chronological order of the symbols. Make a summary of your interpretations. Finally, summarise the meanings ascribed to each symbol into a sentence, as short and concise as possible, starting with the first symbol and following once again the chronological order in which they appeared on your journey. WRITE YOUR FINAL INTERPRETATION With all your summaries at hand, write out a final interpretation that will incorporate and synthesise all the elements revealed by the symbols that make up your journey. SAMPLE INTERPRETATION Here is the list of symbols we encountered on our sample journey: 3 The tree 9 The first Goose 15 The white horse 19 The inn 20 The cockerel 23 The mountain 24 The bridge 29 The lightning 30 The rose 35 The prince 37 The stump 39 The round table 42 The maze 48 The spring 54 The sixth Goose 55 The treasure 60 The arch 63 The seventh Goose. First, content yourself with checking and transcribing in your notebook the text of the paragraph under the heading “its meaning” for each symbol (see Art of Divination: the divinatory Game of Goose, sheets 257 to 272). Do not transcribe the text in question word for word, but take down the essential information arising from each one. Let's take the example of the first symbol: the tree. Here is the information relating to this symbol, which you could retain and transcribe in your notebook: “I need to reflect on my past actions and assess them, so that I may progress. I must see myself as I am, if I am to go further”. Let's now look at the second symbol on our list: the first Goose. This is the information which is being revealed and needs to be retained: “I alone have the power to choose and to act. I can and I must exercise my free will.” Let's move on to the example of the third symbol, the white horse. The following information can be extracted from the paragraph found under the heading “its meaning” : “I must exercise my free will, use my mental energy and trust my instinct. If I act in all honesty, I stand every chance of getting what I want and being successful in my ventures.” As you can see, a certain coherence is already emerging from these first three summaries, together with a central theme which will prove very useful when writing the final interpretation. Carry on using the same method for the next 15 symbols; this particular divinatory journey is made up of 18 symbols, but bear in mind that every journey will comprise a varying number of symbols. Having transcribed all the texts relating to each symbol encountered on this journey, read them once or twice carefully. You are now ready to start writing your final interpretation, gathering together all the information at your disposal. Here is a suggested interpretation for our sample reading:”I have the opportunity to progress, but, to do so, I need to carry out a kind of assessment, find out where I stand, draw lessons from my past actions and experiences (the tree). For at the moment, I alone am able to make choices and take action. I can and I must exercise my free will (the first Goose). If I do so in all honesty, I will get what I want (the white horse). At the moment therefore, I must relax, gather my energies, reassess my life (the inn),far very soon, something new will occur in my life, or I shall find myself in a new situation (the cockerel), but I shall need to show courage, perseverance and willpower, for a major obstacle will cross my path (the mountain). I shall have the opportunity to take an important step, to get over a hurdle in my life, to face an important change (the bridge). There might even be a real upheaval in my life (the lightning), which will lead to a creation or a birth (the rose). However, for things to progress onwards from this creation, for them to grow and evolve, I shall have to be patient and to persevere (the prince). To do so, I have acquired many assets and a great deal of strength which will help me to salve my problems (the stump), but I shall also need to choose the right people to help me and work with them for a common cause (the round table). In this way, I shall reach my goal and bring together all the elements at my disposal (the male). I am advised never to lose the simplicity, purity and spontaneity of my thoughts and actions (the spring). Then, it is emphasised that I should use my free will (the sixth Goose), for it is thanks to it that I shall be able to enjoy all the benefit I shall be granted, but which I shall have earned and deserved (the treasure). Finally this journey ends on a positive note for me since, in the first instance, I am being promised a deliverance, a relief of a liberation, whatever my obstacles and difficulties (the arch), and then I am told that, if I remain true to myself while adapting to circumstances, my life and my situation will continue to evolve (the seventh Goose).

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