Examination: Uncompleted connection to the gate, this is a one way transfer. 2 elements, these are arcane elements, body, and mind. Cross representing a higher power, in this case the gate. Wings representing a return of energy. 2 Rays pointing away from a central point, toward the sides of both body and mind. Hook represented by a snake, give both attachment and evil.
Final Effect: - A being is split both mentally and physically, to return to the gate. After the return the connection to the gate is broken forever, and I higher power will do something. They will be attached to the higher power forever.
Anyway, thought this would be interesting to share with you!
By the way, question: What sorts of things would you think alchemy should be used for in different areas (for story purposes)?
Beginning & End, First & Last Ka-Bull - Apis - Aleph-A T (originally X)-Tau-Tau Cross (X)
Bottom part of Ankh
Tau developed into Tau(rus), Taurus the Bull/Ox of the Zodiac (Apis, Aleph, Alpha, A). The top of the Ankh is an oval, Rw/Ru. Tau+Ru= Taurus
Wheel of the Zodiac, is Wheel of Time/ Dharma, Rota, “chariot” (of the gods), “solar bark”. Ru (mouth, womb), the oval from the Ankh, is where the “Good” Spirit is, in the air, sky, sun. Ru is rue, road, path, way to “heaven” above. The Wheel of the Zodiac is the Way/Path for the chariot, the solar bark, to embark into the “Afterlife” and “Immortality”. after weighing desire/care & deeds/action against Truth/Morality/Maat’s feather. Irish Tora is boundary, border. Wheel of Dharma/Karma/Time/Fortune/Fate/Destiny. Boundaries of Behavior for Living the Right Path/Way. Cause/Effect.
Egyptian word for Bull = Ka/Kau (Cow)
Apis, Bull, Sanskrit Gau, cow “The bull is presented as a symbol of power, with an Egyptian language meaning of ka, where ka, bull, and ‘power’ are all interchangeable, and refer to the
Bull-Apis - Aleph-Alpha - A
Letters A & T = Ka, Kau/Cow/Tau/Taurus, Bull Symbolism Aleph & Tau/Tav, Alpha & Omega, Beginning and End
A-Aleph-Apis - Bull - Ka Kau, Cow, Mnervis, Bat, Hathor
T(X)- Tau-Tau (T) Cross (X) Bottom part of Ankh
Taurus (Bull) of Zodiac.
*3. The Lakota Symbol for Sun Earth Connection The inverted triangle on top symbolizes the stars and/or the Sun. The triangle on the bottom symbolizes earth sites, The Lakota strongly believe that there is a powerful connection between the Sun and the Earth. Much of their culture has been directly influenced and shaped by centuries of solar observation.
In the book, "Lakota Star Knowledge” by Ronald Goodman, you can leam why the Lakota consider the buffalo to be the embodiment of solar power and how the nipi symbolizes living inside the sun.
“The Calendar Signs 1: Moran 11 our Roman letter A, 2) Old Hebrew Aleph-the "ox, 3) modern Greek Alpha, 4) Old Greek Alpha, 5) astronomical symbol for the constellation Taurus, 6) Chinese lunar constellation symbol 7) Chinese lunar zodiac symbol ni-the "ox and B) Chinese solar zodiac symbol ch'ou-"old” or “original” (after Moran)
Source of Earth Symbol is A, Alef Alepit, Bull, Cow, KA symbol
Source of Air sun symbol is the same, but inverted, Alef and Tau. Alpha and Omega. Heaven and Earth
Sky and Earth Sun and Earth
Bull, Cow, Ox, Apis - A, Alef, Aleph, Alpha - Power, Strength, Energy, Force, Leader, Authority, First, “God”. “God”/El/AI/A, Sun and consciousness are the creative source of life/“life” and symbolically correspond to each other. The Sun, “God” and Bull/Cow symbolism are intimately linked in many ways. An ox is a castrated bull, with no more life force of fertility. The symbolism of life force, power, etc., is for the Sun as well, corresponded through the bull-cow.
The cow is the actual generator and creator as the feminine source. The cow (kau) and bull have horns (ka) on their heads, which symbolize higher consciousness as the Sun emitting rays of Sun energy. The emanating rays of the Sun can be likened to horns that emanate from the head where consciousness is. The Sun and its rays are the power and energy for life on earth, as well as the symbolic light of truth to raise to a higher consciousness. The cow-bull symbolism often has the Sun disk between the horns. The power, strength, energy and “god” as the Sun is symbolized through this animal. Both the sun and bull symbolize the generator/creator “god” that is consciousness in human animals of higher order consciousness. It’s all symbolism for knowing thyself. The Sun is depicted with a face in many esoteric symbolism. Anthropomophizing, personification and projection of ourselves onto other symbols ofbreference is a tool for explanation about knowledge, especially self-knowledge.
Some cows are of a light brown, golden/yellow color, symbolic of the Sun. The feminine aspect of the air/sky is where the sun moves across for rebirth & resurrection. The Sun sets in the west, and instead of traversing the earth, it can be mirrored to move through the night sky in the Milky Way path (Nut), or through the cow goddess (Hathor, Isis, Baat) within the solar bark on the way to resurrection. The feminine sky-air is the home/house of the Sun at day and night. Hathor is Heth-Hor, “House of Horus”. The Sun rests in the cow’s (Hathor’s) horns at midday, when the sun is most powerful and symbolizing higher life and consciousness in the upward skyward direction in the air. The alef/aleph/alpha-bet, was developed during the Taurus-Bull Age.
Book of the Dead (“Book of Coming Forth by Day”, “Book of emerging forth into the Light”) Book of the Dead has many gates in the story. Rebirth into the Day with the Light of Truth. a.k.a Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts. Pyramids of wisdom, coffin of resurrection.
Book of Gates. Both have to do with the underworld, netherworld, and passing/crossing over. Gate, mouth, Ru/Rw. The Gate of God can also be the Mouth of God. literally “Gate of God”), translation of Sumerian KA.DINGIR
The Sumerian KA is gate, mouth, a derivative of SAG 'head’. Bab-ilu, bab-el, gate of god. The direction of the head ('samt ar-ra’ in Arabic) is up to the sky, air, sun, meaning zenith, S>z, ameni, t>th. Samt is way/path (Cow & Milky Way Sun resurrection). Ar-ra is head, chief. Capital is head, and means chief, most important, first (God, aleph, alpha, a, air, breath, head). The head on the body is most important for life. Capital comes from cattle’s head, from the importance of cattle in early human dominator predator culture economy. Capital is first, chief, most important through the symoblized connection of the head, horns, bull-cow and through consciousness and sun symbolism of power, energy, authority, etc.
Ka/Kau - Bull/Cow. Power, strength, fertility. Power of action in the world to create from consciousness, self, soul, spirit, essence, etc. of who we are. Aspiring & rising up to higher consciousness.
Real spirituality is morality. Your spirit, soul, self & character is defined by what you do with what you know about reality and self/ consciousness, your behavior relecting who you are.
Upright Arms, right-angle, Power/energy to Act with arms and hands. Our Moral “Spirit”-Essence-Nature determines our Quality of life. Character, Behavior, Actions, Deeds. Ka-racter, Ka-risma. Who we are, by our actions and deeds, determines our quality of life.
Aleph = 2 Hands (Ka) + Nail (hand, hook)
= Yod, Vav, Yod
YHVH = Yod-Arm, Hand, Work, Deed
Heh Behold (Arms up) Vav-Nail (hook, secure)
Heh-Behold (Arms up)
Yod - hand/arm side, Vav-hond/arm upright.
Hand/Arm, hook, arms up, same symbolism of KA source.
“The letter K comes from the letter K (kappa), which was taken from W + x likely adapted by Semites who had lived in Egypt from the hieroglyph the Semitic kap, the symbol for an open hand. This, in turn was likely adapted by Semites who had lived in Egypt from the hieroglyph for "hand” representing D in the Egyptian word for hand, d-r-t. The Semites evidently assigned it the sound value /k/ instead, because their word for hand started with that sound.“
Tau developed into Tau-rus (or vice versa)
Taurus the Bull ox of the Zodiac (Apis, Aleph, Alpha, A, Al, El. God, Sun, Cross, Ankh) The top of the Ankh is en oval w/Ru
=Tau (cross T)+ Ru (oval. O) (Tav/Omega)
= life, "spiritual”/“soul” life (real life)
Key to Life, i.e. Moral “Spirit/Soul”
Life i.e. Morality / Knowledge of Good and
Evil, i.e. Karma, i.e. Ka-Maat, ka-maa=Tau (cross T)+ Ru (oval. O) (Tav/Omega)
Ru= mouth, gate, outlet, uterus (womb, birth) By extension, gateway to “heaven”, “afterlife”, “immortality”, transition to another “plane” or “level” of cosnciousness Letter O i.e. Evolve Consciousness, here, on the ground, into Truth
Hebrew ruach (Ru+akh) = breath, air, life, sky, spirit, mind
French rue = road, path, way.
Good and Evil Knowledge (Morality)
Tt (or X cross shape) - Tau-Tau Cross (X)
Bottom part of Ankh. Top part is oval/loop, like ru symbol. Ru is source for modern lettter O.
Ru, mystical mouth (ankh ru oval part close to mouth in hieroglyphs) Breathe of life of Ankh, the mouth of life gateway to our realer life.
Wiki: “In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to 'become one with the tao’ (Tao Te Ching) or to harmonise one’s will with Nature.
Dao is used symbolically in its sense of 'way’ as the 'right’ or 'proper’ way of existence, or in the context of ongoing practices of attainment or of the full coming into being, or the state of enlightenment or spiritual perfection that is the outcome of such practices.”
In Chinese tau and lu joined together mean the road. Tao, dao. Tau + lu/ru= road, way, path. Tau + Ru = Ankh = Breath of Life, Way, Path, Road, through mouth, ovum, uterus, gate, and gateway to Heaven, Afterlife, Immortality, the transition to another level of consciousness.
Ru is door, circle, passage, street, cell, fold, boundary, hieroglyph mystical mouth, “rue des femmes”, womens road, her/she ideograph. Ru with feminine ’t’ is rut, progeny, race, route, road, rota, Rut permutes with urt, chariot, which is rota in Latin. Great Mother as urt/rut, the chariot as for child/sun/truth to bear and bring forth, by the ru/way/path/road. Tao relates to Logos, and back to Ru/Rut, as they all relate conceptually. Logos, the ground for reason, logic, words as they reflect reality.
Dharma & Rta From Hinduism, where behaviors are in accord with rta. Rta = order of life and universe Dharma - “duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living” Buddhism, “cosmic law and order”. Jainism, doctrine of “purification and moral transformation of human beings”. Sikhs, dharm, the “path of righteousness”.
Asha (Zoroastrianism) Ma'at (Egyptian religion) Me (Sumerian Religion) Moira (Greek paganism) Tao (Chinese Taoism) Wyrd (Germanic paganism)
Rta = cosmic order, “natural laws”
Sanskrit verb root r- “to go, move, rise, tend upwards”. Rtam is “fixed or settled order, rule, divine law or truth”. Vedic Rta (Sanskrit rtam “that which is properly joined; order, rule; truth”). A principle of natural order, regulates and coordinates the operation of the universe (and everything within it), responsible for the proper functioning of the natural, moral and sacrificial orders. Dharma & Karma eclipsed Rta in importance as signifying natural, religious and moral order in later Hinduism.
Rta = cosmic order, “natural laws”
Karma (action, deed), works performed, in congruence & opposition to Dharma & Rta (cosmic order, law). Causal relationship to the pains and pleasures one experiences in life.
Source concept is rta, that changed over time. Belief, not a gnosis/noesis/nous of pure “knowledge”. Karma concept is used to explain how our behaviors are part of that order, or not and suffer. A need to believe things are inherently “good”, answer why there is evil to fill gap/unknown.
Karma equivalents are Chinese Tao, Greek Logos, and the Egyptian Ma'at, foundational feminine mound upon which “creator god” stood. Back to Tao, Tao+Ru, Ankh, Cross, Ka, Ka-Maat, Kamma, Karma, Dharma.
Tao or Dao - 'way’, 'path’, 'route’, or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine’ or 'principle’
Tao Te Ching, Laozi explains that Tao is not a 'name’ for a 'thing’ but the underlying natural order of the universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe and is likened to silence.
In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to 'become one with the tao’ (Tao Te Ching) or to harmonise one’s will with Nature (cf. Stoicism) in order to achieve 'effortless action’ (Wu wei). This involves meditative and moral practices. Important in this respect is the Taoist concept of De (1; virtue).
In all its uses, Tao is considered to have ineffable qualities that prevent it from being defined or expressed In T words. It can, however, be known or experienced, and its principles (which can be discerned by observing Nature) can be followed or practiced.
it is an active and holistic conception of Nature, rather than a static, atomistic one. It is worth comparing to the original Logos of Heraclitus, c. 500 BC.
“way, path, right way (of life), reason.”
The archaic pronunciation of dao sounded approximately like drog or dorg. This links it to the Proto-Indo European root drogh (to run along) and Indo-European dhorg (way, movement). The most closely related English words are “track” and “trek”, while “trail” and “tract” are derived from other cognate Indo-European roots. Following the Way, then, is like going on a cosmic trek. Even more unexpected than the panoply of Indo-European cognates for Dao (drog) is the Hebrew root d-r-g for the same word and Arabic t-r-q, which yields words meaning “track, path, way, way of doing things”
Stone Town of Zanzibar, an island on the Tanzania Archipelago in East Africa, is partly famous for its stunning doors, which take inspiration from native-born architectural style, as well as Omani and Indian-style. The doors are carved with floral bas-reliefs on the rounded tops, and in some cases beautiful Arabic (or Islamic) calligraphy. Stone Town was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2000.
This style of architecture is also common in Lamu Old Town, Kenya (another beautiful Swahili settlement, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001).
I’m not sure about most of these pictures’ exact origin (see citations for some of them), but many of them are taken out front the house of the infamous Tippu Tip; a Swahili-Zanzibari ivory merchant-elite, governor, worker for a succession of the sultans, explorer, owner of clove plantations, and most notably a major slave trader.
Hello! I’m a huge fan of both your blog and Stephen Strange! I’ve been into the comics for a good few years now and I’d like to ask (as I’ve noticed some things myself), if you believe DoomStrange is a good ship? :0 It seems like it could work in my opinion! And 2. (Sorry, im a curious person) Do you have any recommendations for comics with Victor and Stephen together that I may have missed?? Thank you!!
Oh, my. Anon… Are… Are you asking me about my ship…? *inhales deeply*
Since you’re asking my opinion about it, I’ll definitely NOT get hold of myself. Also I’m not internally keysmashing, who told you that?
Regarding your first question. YES. DEFINITELY. ABSOLUTELY. Doomstrange is an incredible ship, mostly in canon 616. Of course, one must consider that we’re talking about a supervillain, which brings a few reservations about how healthy and problematic this kind of ship may be. That said, if you don’t mind this kind of relationship, we can proceed.
Truth be told, I’m quite soft when it comes to the old trope in which the good character becomes a source of redemption to the villain. I can’t stress enough how important Stephen is to Victor’s character development. And yes, in canon.
Since the very beginning, even before their first encounter, there’s a certain admiration that comes both ways. Though Victor still exhales his colossal ego through every word, he considers the possibility of becoming Stephen’s apprentice when Clea leaves. This is so important for two reasons: first, because Victor NEVER submits to people. Secondly, because he keeps track on Stephen. He has this peculiar, growing interest in him. We have an entire page dedicated to his conflict in Doctor Strange - Master of the Mystic Arts #57 (1983).
Meanwhile, Stephen does not think of Victor as a tyrant, a villain or a bad person at first. On the contrary, he considers him an ally, even though they haven’t met yet. When Stephen’s attacked by Dormammu, he evokes the memories of possible allies, sensitive to magic, who could aid him. It’s quite unusual for a hero to think of an enemy as a possible ally. And yet, here we are.
But the climax is yet to come in Triumph and Torment. Victor finds a way to save his mother without asking for help. That’s clever, he’s absolutely in character here. And maybe he expected Stephen to be the winner. Maybe he predicted that Stephen would be the one to literally go to hell with him. And that’s a good thing because they had a hidden agenda way before T&T.
They spend 45 days together. I repeat, Stephen lived in Latveria - more specifically, in Castle Doom - for 45 days. I can’t think of other people who shared so many days with Stephen aside from Clea and Wong.
One can arguee that Victor would never bond. He’s too hard and cold. But that’s WRONG. Victor had Valeria for one day and a half and immediately adopted her. He’s a softie.
And again, he could have left Stephen behind in Mephisto’s realm. But he didn’t. Mephisto freed Cynthia, they could have walked away, except Cynthia is, deep down, a good soul, and the same goes for Victor. Once more, one can arguee that Victor saved Stephen out of interest, since he could benefit from the Sorcerer Supreme’s powers. Well, then… If he ended up being the second best in the Contest of the Vishanti, wouldn’t that make him the next Sorcerer Supreme? He could have taken the title for himself! Also, another proof that Victor cares about Stephen is right here, when he carries Stephen on his arms since he doesn’t want demons to touch him (we were robbed but it did happen!)
Their feelings somehow changed after this experience. Stephen learned that Victor has a soft side, and Victor realized that Stephen is not just a tool, but someone to rely on. Of course, there’s a ton of angst and ego and opposite ideologies, but that’s the beautiful part of it. It’s about how they change each other gradually.
And it may seem that I’m exaggerating, but it only takes a few years in the official chronology to understand how T&T was fundamental to consolidate their relationship and prove my point.
During The Infinity Gauntlet saga, when Doom feels compelled to use the stones but is nearly destroyed, Stephen’s the one who saves both his body and soul. They could have let Doom die, yet we’re talking about Stephen. This is so important because Victor acknowledges his effort. More than that, he secretly values Stephen’s deed. He ~SUBMITS~ to Stephen. And Doctor Doom NEVER yields.
And I’m not even mentioning the fact that Stephen listens to Victor.
Sadly, there’s a huge gap until their next interaction, but oh boy, is it worth it. Of course, I’m skipping their minor battles because, truth be told, they’re not even as meaningful as their team-ups.
Obviously, we’re skipping to New Avengers v3 and Secret Wars. I’m not saying that Stephen is better off without the Illuminati, yet I cannot ignore the fact that he raised from perdition the moment he started his own journey alone towards power in order to stop the Beyonders. And who did he find at the end? Victor. He was the only one who figured Doom was trying to save the world as well. And the fact that they witnessed the end of the world side by side? Poetic cinema.
I could have settled by that, yet Hickman shows me that they LITERALLY built a world together.
And why is Secret Wars so important to their story? Because Stephen’s sin and Victor’s crime led them to ruin. The moment Victor loses Stephen and realizes he was betrayed by him is the moment Battleworld falls. It’s a very tragic story.
Still, we’re talking about Stephen. He has this tendency to endless goodness. They never talked about Battleworld (although I have a theory that they both remember it), and yet, their bond remains. They do not hold resentment. On the contrary, Stephen still believes in Victor’s kindness, while Victor trusts Stephen.
That said, after all this time, I believe Savage Avengers is the best example to illustrate their bond nowadays. It’s not surprising that their relationship is so well written, considering T&T is a personal favorite of Gerry Duggan. Also funny how it’s also Cantwell’s personal favorite, but they interpreted their relationship in completely different perspectives.
In Savage Avengers, they act as if they were practically married and it’s quite sweet. Also, we have it all. There’s a casual conversation about working together in order to triumph, there’s lots of drama and commotion and, of course, a breathtaking rescue. It’s perfect. I’ve fangirled talked about it a few times because, god, it’s THAT good and a great source of food.
In short, what makes me soft towards Doomstrange is how their dynamics flow both ways. On the one hand, I love how much Stephen believes in Victor’s goodness and how much he’s willing to go in order to save his damned soul. On the other hand, I love the way Victor sees Stephen differently and grows soft whenever he’s involved, allowing himself to show a hidden part of his heart.
They both struggle with loneliness and self-loathing, although they deal with it at opposite ends. While Stephen isolates himself and thinks the world is better off without him, Victor masks it with his huge ego and confidence, craving love and praise. In the end, they’re the same. They only see the world through opposite perspectives. The What If? issue where Doom becomes Sorcerer Supreme is there to prove my point. Stephen is what Victor could have become if tragedy was not a constant in his life.
Oof, I was really carried away haha. I’m so not sorry for that haha help.
Finally, your second question! The Doomstrange chronology!
I’m not sure which comic books you’ve read, so I’m making a complete list, except for alternate realities (like the What If ones, mostly because they’re very, very, VERY dark regarding Doomstrange). Here we go:
Before their first official encounter:
The Amazing Spider-Man v1 Annual #14 (1980) Doctor Strange - Master of the Mystic Arts #57 (1983) Doctor Strange - Sorcerer Supreme #2 (1989)
First official team-up:
Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989)
The complete list:
Doctor Strange - Sorcerer Supreme #34 (1991) Silver Surfer v3 #59 (1991) Fantastic Four v3 #69; Fantastic Four v1 #500; Fantastic Four v1 #501 (not a team-up, they’re enemies here. But I adore this story all the same) New Avengers v3 (2012) (it’s recommend to read the whole volume to understand the story, but if you’re looking for Doomstrange only content, check issues #31 and #33) Secret Wars #1-9 (2016) (for Doomstrange, check issues #1-6) Infamous Iron Man #11-12 (2016) Doctor Doom #2 (2019) (Cantwell’s pessimist interpretation of Doomstrange) Savage Avengers #8-10 (2019) (Duggan’s very optimistic interpretation of Doomstrange. Also ignore the cover for issue #12, we all know that the person who slept with Stephen was Victor, considering the last panel pfff).
That’s it! I’m so sorry for the very long, looooong post. Also thank you for your kind words and patience! I hope it helped somehow.
