June 2007 Archives

I "reversed" my Witches Tarot deck this afternoon. I've always kept the cards facing the same way, because that's how I use my Robin Wood deck. Over the last week, however, I started thinking about some of the meanings that Ellen attributes to reversed cards in her deck, so I decided to see if they would work for me.

So, I did my usual ritual for choosing a daily card, by letting my mind go for a moment, free-associating while shuffling. I had just spent some time blogging and reading my f-list, and I cut the deck in half, turned that half upside-down, and continued shuffling. I cut the deck again, flipped again, then began slowing down to see if a card wanted to talk to me.

One did: The Lovers.

I don't think this instance refers to a particular person or pair, so I started looking a broader meaning, and it's not coming to me just yet. In Ellen's deck, there are three figures on this card, the man and woman, but also what she calls a "heavenly" figure looking down at them both. This figure is totally androgynous and ethereal. The man's eyes are on the woman, but the woman is looking at this angelic figure. I'm struck by this triangular relationship.

The Star

This is the same woman as in Temperance, who was balancing her emotions, now releasing them, by pouring them out into the waters of the Earth.

On a personal level, it's no surprise that these two have come up in sequence. A couple of friends of mine who have been struggling for balance have decided to release their feelings, for better or worse.

After several weeks away from home for work, Temperance is a card I personally should take to heart. The urge to "catch up" on things in New Orleans is strong. It's important for me to remember all things are best in moderation, particularly since I only have a week before going back on the road.

These results are interesting:

A STUDY conducted at Bath Spa University suggests that young people are increasingly drawn to witchcraft, it was revealed this week.

Conducted by Denise Cush, professor of religious studies at the university, the report showed there had been a notable rise in the number of young people identifying themselves as witches.

Cush argues that witchcraft remained particularly attractive to women because of its strong feminist values.

“Paganism and witchcraft appealed because of their clear feminist credentials and absence of homophobia,” she said.

“A main attraction is the positive valuation of women in comparison with other religions.”

My first thought when I read this (via Wren's Nest News) was a mental flash to a tarot card, Robin Wood's "The Hierophant:"

While many decks present The Hierophant in a very positive light, Robin's depiction is that of a stuffy Anglican bishop. He's just the type of cleric who might turn off young British women from the Church of England and pique their interest in witchcraft.