This is an example of a typical Korean meal. They are served family style with multiple side dishes. Felt very appropriate to indulge in all these delicious foods during Taurus season.
Last week I returned home after a trip of a lifetime to South Korea with my family. My mother immigrated from South Korea to the U.S. a year before my birth. I went there twice as a child at ages 4 and 16. Currently I am 43 and this trip felt significant as I journeyed with my adult daughter and aging mother. My personal Holy Trinity. Maiden, Mother, Crone. Creator, Preserver, Destroyer. Past, Present, Future. It's a lot to put into words as I am still processing the experience. Photos feel easier to share right now. I couldn't help but see tarot and astrology everywhere I went. Please enjoy Korea through my archetypal lens.
My daughter Airika (22), brother Josh (28), and nephew Kamryn (14) standing in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. They are dressed in traditional Korean clothes available to rent from a variety of stores just down the block. Anyone wearing these clothes are given free admission to the palace. Airika is wearing a hanbok. Josh is dressed as a royal and Kamryn is a guard. It reminded me of the Justice card from Yoshi Yoshitani's Tarot of the Divine.Knight of Swords. Changing of the guards ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate, the main gate of the palace. My gorgeous daughter in front of the various pavilions on the palace grounds. A few days before we left for Korea, she graduated from the University of MN-Twin Cities with a BS in Animal Science. She is an intelligent, kind, amazing human being and I am beyond proud of her! The Emperor. A recreation of an 1893 portrait of Emperor Gojong who was the last ruler of the Joseon era and first ruler of the Korean empire. Korea has a long complicated history of colonization by Japan and China. Emperor Gojong worked to maintain Korean independence. His wife, Empress Myeongseong, was assassinated by the Japanese because her political influence was greater than her spouse. Death. We visited the National Museum of Korea. This is how Koreans buried the deceased way back in the day. A piece of jade is inserted into each orifice, over the eyes, and a plate over the heart to hold in the spirit of the dead. Jade correlates with good fortune and was used as an offering for the spirit to make when they reach the next realm. The Hierophant. From the website of National Museum of Korea: "The Great Assembly at Vulture Peak: The Gwaebul at Yeongsusa Temple. Gwaebul refers to large-scale Buddhist paintings hung outdoors in temple yards during grand rituals or on special occasions like Buddha’s Birthday. They are a type of heritage that cannot be seen only on rare occasions. The Gwaebul at Yeongsusa Temple in Jincheon was produced in 1653. It depicts a gathering to attend a sermon held long ago by Shakyamuni Buddha on Vulture Peak in Rajgir, India. In the center of the large painting are Shakyamuni Buddha and Sariputta, who is sitting tidily in front of him while listening to the Buddha’s story of enlightenment. Several disciples, arhats, Bodhisattvas, and celestial beings surround them as they hear the Buddha’s teachings." Five of Pentacles. Myeongdong Cathedral. Korea's population is around 11% Catholic. This cathedral and its grounds were beautiful. Photos inside are prohibited so I could not capture the exquisite stained glass windows. The Empress. Knight of Cups. St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon is the first priest of Korea and martyr. He was tortured and beheaded for his Catholic beliefs. Three of Swords. The Tower. We rode a cable car up Mt. Namsan to N Seoul Tower, aka Namsan Tower. It is a functioning broadcast tower with an observatory floor and revolving restaurant. The stairs up to the tower is full of "love padlocks." Couples purchase padlocks and write messages of eternal love. They can throw the key into the wishing pond, locking their love forever. It is featured in many K-dramas. My mother could not convince my nephew to buy one for his girlfriend. He impressed me with his understanding of the fleeting nature of teen relationships. View of the Hangang River from Namsan Tower observatory deck.
Thank you for checking out my photos. I will post about our venture to Busan and some more randomness from Seoul. Hope all is well and you are taking care of yourself while doing what you can for others.
