The 'M' Cave

XIII. Charon, The Ferryman – “Death”

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

-         Genesis 1:1,5

Chronos (Cronus, Kronos, Pan), the father of time, and everything thereafter.

Chronos (time), would mate with Ananke-Adrestia (need, necessity), to give birth to Chaos. Chaos mated with Mist and gave birth to Gaia (Mother Earth), Tartarus (The Deep Underworld), Eros (Cupid-Love), Nyx (Night), and Erebus (Darkness). Chronos then would marry Rhea, to give birth to Aether (Bright Air), and Hemera (Day).

In that story, Erebus (Darkness), son of Chaos, would marry Nyx (Night), also daughter of Chaos, and they would give birth to Charon (The Ferryman).

In addition to Charon, they also gave birth to Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), Moirae (Fate), and Nemesis (Retribution), among many other dark entities. After the first round of children, Chronos and Rhea would go on a birthing spree to create all the Olympian gods.

At the same time, Gaia was busy doing the same with Uranus and creating everything else, including the three levels of the underworld and, of course, all of its five rivers.

According to Greek mythology, the underworld was a physical place to which all the dead had to go through to determine the final destination of their afterlife or the eternal level of their punishment and torture.

Those three levels were the Asphodel Meadows, where the common souls were sent to reside; the Elysian Fields or Elysium, where the heroes would go; and lastly, the Tartarus, where vicious souls would be sent to be tortured for eternity.

The five rivers of the underworld, Acheron, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Lethe, and Styx, flowed through and around the underworld, representing the harsh realities of death.

It is said that Acheron, the river of sorrows, was the son of Helios and Gaia before it was transformed into a body of water. However, he was transformed into the Underworld River as a punishment for giving water to the Titans during their war with the Olympian gods.

Phlegethon, the river of fire, was a stream of fiery flames that flowed through the Underworld and ended up in the bowels of Tartarus. It is said that the fiery river was used as a punishment for the souls of those who committed grievous crimes while they were alive. Each soul that was to be tortured by Phlegethon was assigned to a specific level of boiling fire, according to the level of crimes committed.

Cocytus, the river of lamentation, was known as the ice river of the four frozen punishment rounds, and it was also used as soul punishment, similar to Phlegethon. The four frozen rounds of punishment of Cocytus were; Caina, which later gave its name to the creation of the Cain and Abel story; Antenora, which later influenced the fictional character Antenore of Illia and his betrayal of his country; Ptolemea, which was named after the wickedness of Ptolemies, and Judecca, that would later influence the origin of the story of the “Holy Land,” known as “Judaea” and the establishment of the Ptolemaic Christian cult and its dogma.

Lethe, the river of forgetfulness, was the river where the dead were required to drink from, to forget about their past and all of their memories, before boarding Charon’s boat to be taken to their final destination through the river Styx.

Finally, Styx, the river that separated the realm of the dead from the realm of the living, was the most popular infernal river known to both the dead and the living.

Styx was the river where the souls of the deceased would board Charon’s boat. Charon would then take each soul wherever they were assigned, according to their judgment. That included either punishment through the levels of either Cocytus or Phlegethon rivers or even everlasting and extreme levels of torture at the pits of Tartarus. But for those who didn’t commit any punishable offenses, there was the Asphodel Meadows waiting in the afterlife, and for all heroes, the Elysium.

While Acheron and Styx are the only two rivers associated with Charon, the souls carried by the Ferryman boarded Charon’s boat at the river Styx as they were leaving behind the realm of the living to cross over to the realm of the dead. A somewhat similar story to Anubis.

The dead were required to have a “Diabol” inside them, in their mouth, to be precise. “Diabol” was an ancient Greek silver coin called “Obol” (Ovolos), commissioned by the authority of mighty Zeus, the father of Trade. Zeus’s Greek name was “Dias.” As such, the coin he oversaw, the Obol, was named after him (Zeus’s Obol), and created the term “DIABOL” (from Dias + Obol).

In Greek, the word for “Devil” is “Διάβολος: (Diavolos), Dias + Ovolos.” So, “Devil” refers to the silver coin Obol by Zeus, that was used to give the dead their “rites of passage.” Thus, by placing the coin in the dead’s mouth, the saying “He has the Devil inside him” was born! OBOL, Zeus’s money.

No money in this world is “god’s money.”

“Greeks” (Ptolemies) were behind it all along, from the beginning of time, Their own invention of it. Greeks did not only provide the “Lights of Civilization” to the world; They ruled the world behind the scenes. They managed to stay under the radar for thousands of years. Greeks were the original bankers of Egypt under the “Serapeum Paradigm” who took their name out of the benches they worked on (from “Benchers – Banquers”), eventually became ‘Bauers’ and later on ‘Rothschilds.’ 

But that can’t be true according to the “Word of God.” After all, everything was written in the ‘word’ thousands of years ago, long before Greeks ever existed! Well, yes, the “word” dictates everything “to the letter.” According to whom? According to those who wrote themselves into “his-story”? According to those who invented time as we know it, created a calendar, and enforced it upon everyone?

For the fun of it, though, let’s say that it does. If so, then why “drachmas” are written in the “word” if the word is so much older than the drachmas? In fact, why any mention of any currency would be included in the Old Testament, if the Old Testament predates a fully developed and functional trade system?

Drachma was one of the world’s earliest coins. Its name derives from the Greek verb meaning “to grasp,” and its original value was equivalent to that of a handful of arrows. “... a handful of arrows...” and an olive branch! Funny how it just so happens to be on par with every emblem that bears either the eagle or the phoenix with a handful of arrows and an olive branch.

By “following the money,” the path leads to drachmas and obols, Ptolemies and Egypt, “Demotic” properties, royal banks, and… tax offices!

Nevertheless, many tend to parrot a theory that the word “Bank” is related to riverbanks and pirates, of a time when pirates supposedly used to hide their loot along those riverbanks. Of course, similarly to many other rabbit holes that intentionally lead nowhere, this, too, was a dead-end by design. While the attempt was made to prevent people from figuring out the true origins of the “Bank” and the banking system in general, clues and evidence reveal an “alternative reality…”

“Bank” has nothing to do with any riverbank. The term is of Greek origin, and it was coined in Egypt. “Bank” means the Table [Greek: Τραπέζι (Trapesi)], in which the money exchange and lending transactions were taking place. That “Table” [Greek: Τραπέζι (Trapesi)], since it was not used for a feast, was called the “Bench” [Greek: Πάγκος (Pangos)]. 

What’s interesting, though, is that those “benches” [Greek: Τραπέζια (plural), Πάγκοι (plural)] took the form of a building in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Since the “Tables” (Τραπεζια-Trapezia) were no longer tables, they became “Trapezes” (Τράπεζες) to represent the buildings of the same intent. 

That took many different forms, from tables (trapezes) to benches (pagkous) to “banca” and “banquet” (from bench), to finally “BANKS” (Greek: ΤΡΑΠΕΖΕΣ). 

The “Scribes & Pharisees” (AKA Bishops of Christ), who took part in supervising the lending transactions upon usury, were named “Trapezites” (Greek: Τραπεζίτες), which means those in charge of the bank’s operations. They were also known as “Bankers” from “Benchers—Banquers,” etc. Even more so, they were known as “BAUERS!” 

The plan was set in motion, but the trip to the end of the “known world” was long. It took almost 2 millennia (323 BCE—1,600 CE) before they reached Amsterdam and formed the first-ever “Central Bank.” Much later, after the banking empire had a tight grip on the people of the world, the original bankers would change their name once again, this last time from Bauers to Rothschild.

You can “take that to the bank!”

·      The Ptolemaic Period (332–30 BCE)

·      Macedonian Dynasty (332–305 BCE)

·      Alexander “the Great” (332–323 BCE)

·      Philip Arrhidaeus (323–317 BCE)

·      Alexander IV (317–310/305 BCE) – Died in 310 BCE, nominal ruler-305 BCE

·      Ptolemaic Dynasty (305–30 BCE)

·      Ptolemy I (305–285 BCE) SERAPIS-SOTER-CHRISTUS (The Anointed One)

·      Ptolemy II (285–246 BCE)

·      Ptolemy III (246–221 BCE)

·      Ptolemy IV (221–205 BCE)

·      Ptolemy V (205–180 BCE) – Revolt of Haronnophris (205–199 BCE), and Chaonnophris (199–186 BCE)

·      Ptolemy VI (180–145 BCE) – Joint reign with Ptolemy VIII (170–163 BCE)

·      Ptolemy VIII (145–116 BCE) – Joint reign with Cleopatra II (131–116 BCE) and Cleopatra III (124–116 BCE)

·      Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX (116–107 BCE)

·      Ptolemy X (107–88 BCE) – Joint reign with Cleopatra III (107–101 BCE)

·      Ptolemy IX (88–80 BCE)

·      Ptolemy XII (80–51 BCE)

·      Cleopatra VII (51–30 BCE)

“Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”

-         Deuteronomy 23:20

If this card shows up in your reading: The Charon card does not represent any physical death. It represents a change. Usually a sudden, unexpected change in your life. Sometimes a difficult or even a shocking change, but always a change for the better. New beginnings or a transformative change that can bring challenges and a certain level of difficulty, to prepare you for the new chapter of life you’re about to enter.   

This card represents a skilled and knowledgeable navigator. One who knows the paths to all destinations, and knows which one to follow to get wherever they want to be. One that knows there are more ways than just one to get where you want.  Understanding what’s involved in each path is essential to understanding the level of preparedness that is required. Equipped with proper knowledge and understanding, and of course, with the proper tools for assistance, even the harshest of the paths becomes a walk in the park. You will be left with the experience of walking the “Plank walk,” while the stories you will be sharing after will be equal to an epic trail experience.

If this card is you, it suggests that it would be beneficial to embrace the upcoming journey of change rather than resisting it. There are times when you have to let go. Once again, things of the past belong in the past. Holding on to them can oftentimes have a negative effect on you since you can empower memories or even objects to hold you back.  That can easily lead to getting stuck in a situation that you refuse to get out of. Getting stuck in a past situation while facing an upcoming change, can be a very challenging place to be, especially for your mental health in a perplexed state of mind.

If this is a supportive card, gracefully accept anything and anyone who is willing to help. Your morale could use a spiritual boost.

If this a blocking card, again it’s telling you that it’s time to let go. In the face of an upcoming change that is out of your control, there are only two viable options. Either be on board with it, or be left behind.

Silver lining: There is a valuable point to be noted here. “Go with the flow” does not mean to follow those fellow Lemmings with the blinders on. It means don’t oppose nature’s forces. Go along with it. A change out of your control is bound to happen regardless. How you will perceive it and how it will affect your life, that, is something only you can control.

Reversed Meaning: A reversed meaning could indicate a dependence that prevents you from moving forward. You can’t really be in control of much of anything, if you’re not in control of your own life. Maybe the one thing that’s blocking you is your refusal to accept responsibilities and take the lead in your life for various reasons. Sometimes, dependence is also convenience. Some other times is just your fears you have to overcome. No matter what, if you want out of a situation, you have to fight your own demons.

If negativity is what fills your cup of energy, then you need to take action and reverse the charge to positive. For example, if you feel that life isn’t fair because you are not well prepared for it, then you intentionally put yourself in a situation where you will always have the excuse of not being ready for it. It’s not that you didn’t have the time to prepare for anything that happens in your life. You had all the time to prepare prior to that, and you just prolonged the inevitable, out of fear of stepping out of your comfort zone of what is known.

Yes, you can’t control a change, and you’re not ready for it. But you can harness everything that the change brings, and see what you can utilize to your advantage. If you want to make it happen, you will find a way. If you want to avoid taking charge or accepting responsibilities, you will make an excuse!

Amazement awaits, but it will not come searching for you.

Deeper meanings & breakdown: It might sound “cliché,” but you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. The “death” of the eggs is what brings something entirely new. The major significance of a phoenix is its ability to be reborn from its ashes. From its death is reborn into something unique and magnificent, something powerful.

Everything comes to a bitter end. The better the experience, the more bitter the feeling. But as a basic rule in the realm of creation, everything that runs its course must end. Clinging onto something, doesn’t bring that something back. It holds us back from progressing and experiencing new things. All the difficulties and hardships can be essential components in bringing in a radical change, one that can bring greatness all around. There are a lot of things left to do, and a ton more new to explore. Make sure to take advantage of as many as you possibly can.

As a reminder from the movie Braveheart, William Wallace said, “Every man dies, but not every man really lives.” Rider Waite says, “One can die before one dies” and “One can still be alive, long after his death.” Meaning, it is only our actions that define who we are. Regardless, the death represented by the Charon card signifies renewal. A wish and a will to bring forth a transformation.

Charon, the Ferryman, represents a person who knows his way around. A person who knows what is required and by whom and knows how to get around everything and everyone. Most importantly, he always reaches his destination and always delivers. Charon’s boat symbolizes a vessel. The means that will get you where you need to be. The better the shape of the vessel, the better the support you will have along the way and through the transformation.

The waters of the river symbolize that whatever you’re about to go through, it will be an emotional journey. It is, after all, a constant flow of emotions. While you can count on some support that the boat brings, it is best to master your emotions as much as humanly possible to make this transition as smooth as it can be.

The dull clouded background indicates a heavy psychic veil that must be lifted in order to move forward. A hint of depression seems inevitable, as many emotions that have been kept well-hidden and for the longest time are about to be revealed. This is not something to scare you but to prepare you. Part of dealing with everything this change brings might include facing some of your fears.

The small tree branch that appears to be on fire symbolizes awareness, enthusiasm, and a desire to get through to the other side—a sacred, protective spirit and a light to guide your way. The background mountains represent a higher state of consciousness, a deeper understanding, and wisdom—clear and rational thinking, but also the highest point of the obstacle you have to overcome.