February 23, 2021: Knight of Swords and 5 of Wands

My Inner Focus card today is the Knight of Swords.  The image on this card shows a Knight on a horse with a helmet and armor on, his sword in hand and raised upward. It appears he was moving along toward the viewer not on a path but through easy territory of grass, shrubs and trees.  Before him with her back to the viewer is a woman who has her back to the viewer.  She has lifted the front of her dress so the Knight can see her naked body from the waist down; she is not wearing shoes.  It appears the Knight has drawn his sword because either the presence of the woman or her lifting of her skirts is unexpected.  The key phrase associated with this card is: you may crave the confrontation of conflict but love and sex don't, so decide which battle you want. 

My Outer Focus card is the 5 of Wands.  The image on this card shows a fully dressed man behind a woman.  It appears that he has snuck up on her and grabbed her dress and is pulling it over her head so she can't see, revealing her naked body.  She appears to be struggling as her hands and wrists are still inside her dress, but we can't see her face.  The key phrases for this card are: a dispute for futile reasons creates an obstacle to be overcome, and quarrels.  

I see the Knights of the Tarot as representing the purest or most focuses versions of the traits of their suits.   During Medieval times, the Knight was the vassal of his Lord and was expected to fulfill the needs of his Lord without question, and without taking into consideration his own feelings.  Our Decameron Knight is attempting to fulfill his mission with focus and determination and loyalty to the cause, but he is being suddenly and unexpectedly distracted.  He has a decision to make: does he react to the situation with focus and use that sword to get rid of the distraction, or does he understand that this situation might not require the application of violence.  The woman has taken a risk in order to distract the Knight.  Her bare feet hint at some lack of grounding, making me feel that she might be taking this risk without also taking into consideration all the potential consequences.

All of the 5 cards of the Tarot Minors present some kind of action or movement that upsets the stability of the 4 cards.  This upset helps to prevent the stability of the 4 cards from becoming stagnation, but that does not lessen the discomfort of the action or movement.  This version of the 5 of Wands is reminding us that disputes are necessary to bring compromise and balance, however if the dispute is not founded in valid reasons, it could make the issue worse than if nothing was done.  We are reminded that quarrels can easily disintegrate into futility.  This man may get a glimpse of the woman's naked body, but she could get free from the tangle of her garments around her head and wrists, and then the story might be different.

These two cards seem to have at least a parallel messages for me.  They are telling me that my job is not to prevent discord or quarrels or disagreements, but rather to take part in them only after being certain that my cause is just and fair.  If I do choose to further my case, I need to do so with the appropriate force.  

February 21, 2021: King of Swords and XIX The Sun

Beautiful sunny day, so my Outer Focus card makes sense.

My Inner Focus card is the King of Swords.  The image on this card shows a confident and happy King of middle age yet without any visible gray hair on his head, in his beard or on his chest, wearing a crown and nothing else.  Our King is having sex with a naked woman on a well-rumpled bed.  He appears to be standing or kneeling on the floor at the far side of the bed, and his upper body is mostly upright.  The woman is laying cross-wise on the bed with her knees wide (to accommodate the King's very round belly), one hand on the King's belly, and her head and shoulders hanging off the near side of the bed, so the viewer is seeing her face upside-down.  The King has one hand on one of her knees for support; the other hand is grasping his royal Sword to keep his body upright, point grounded on the floor in front of the bed.  His royal robe with ermine trim is tossed aside over the pillows.  The key phrases for this card are: don't refuse twilight-of-life intimacy, and spiritual values do not decline over the years, they increase.  

My Outer Focus card is XIX The Sun.  The image on this card shows two naked soldiers, their armor, clothing and weapons discarded around them as they lay on a sandy dune topped with grasses. In the background is a smooth ocean lit by the sun, which is low on the horizon yet shining very brightly.  The soldiers are young and fit, one with dark hair and one with blond hair.  The two soldiers are laying on their sides facing each other.  The blond soldier has his head at about the level of the groin of the dark-haired soldier and his hand appears in that groin.  The dark-haired solder's hand is resting on the head of the blond soldier.  Both have their eyes closed and their lips parted.  The key phrases for this card are: being naked allows us to stop pretending, and affection and love grow through truth, not pretense.

There is power and ecstasy to be had through fearlessly being our true self out in the daylight.  This requires a bit of confidence in our own value and abilities, but sometimes this decision to not be afraid becomes a self-replicating loop of increased courage.  Our King is enjoying a pleasurable romp with a young woman, and their sex was powerful and rambunctious enough to cause the woman to be half-hanging off the bed.  The King leaning on his sword is the metaphor of his belief in his own lovemaking skills, despite his age.  The couple in the image on The Sun may appear to be alone in the dunes, but it is late afternoon and the sun is still shining strongly, illuminating their passion.  They are soldiers, expected to be "manly," whatever that means, but they are enjoying each other in a way that is not accepted by every culture, doing so not hidden away in the shadows but in the light of day, where anyone can see their happiness.

Yes, there are times when we need to modulate our behavior, but but being unabashedly our true self, without shame or doubt, is an empowering experience.  It is not always easy to believe in our own worth, but it is something to aspire to.

February 19, 2021: 9 of Swords and XV The Devil

Busy couple of days, but I'm back.  As a side note, I am so enthralled with this Decameron Tarot that yesterday I purchased The Decameron, the book.  There were several translations available, and I chose the translation by Rebhorn because it appeared the easiest for my American brain to understand.  As a reminder, The Decameron was originally written in Italian in 1348, in Italian, and the print length of this translation is 1,081 pages.  Not a quick read.  However, I hope it will be worth the effort.

Onward to today's cards.  My Inner Focus card is the 9 of Swords.  The image on this card shows a naked man sitting on a stool facing the viewer. We can see only from his rib cage to just below his knees.  Before him kneels a naked woman who is facing away from the viewer, with her knees spread to the outside of his ankles and her face in his groin, giving him oral sex.  The man has one hand on his knee and the other hand on the woman's head.  The woman has one hand on the ground, supporting herself, and the other hand around the man's hips with her elbow resting on his thigh.  While the background appears to be well-lit, The woman's body from the waist down and the man's legs from the shins down are in shadow, a shadow caused by the window through which it appears the viewer is seeing this happen. The key phrases for this card are: a sudden approach, and there is hope.

My Outward Focus card is XV The Devil.  The image on this card is interesting.  We see a man viewed from the back wearing a jester-type hat and naked from the waist down taking a woman from behind, with his head turned toward the viewer and a toothy grin on his face.  The woman is naked from the waist down, with her undergarment around one thigh and one shoe off her foot.  Her elbows and upper body are resting on a waist-high 3-legged table or bench, with one table leg between her thighs and preventing her from bringing her legs together.  Her head is tilted back and her lips are parted, but we can't tell for sure whether she is enjoying the experience, even though she does not appear to be actively fighting it. On the near side of the table is bolted a sturdy metal ring.  Below the bench is a garment and a dagger.  Behind them is a large fireplace without a fire, but inside the fireplace a lit lamp is hung.  The key phrases for this card are: anxiety and extreme sensuality and the joy that comes from suffering, and to fight the boredom of repetition try new and original ways.  

Traditionally, the 9 of Swords is about fear and anxiety.  Not necessarily the fear and anxiety that comes from actually experiencing a traumatic event, but rather the fear and anxiety that comes when we anticipate that a traumatic event is likely to happen and there is nothing we can do to prevent it.  In the Decameron Tarot, the suit of Swords is about the element of Air and its correspondences, the mind, and all qualities of thought, which means the discomfort being presented by the traditional 9 of Swords pretty much only exists in our minds.  This deck treats the 9 of Swords in a less-oppressive manner.  This is obviously not a planned encounter, for they are not comfortable on a bed and in a private place.  Perhaps this couple is taking advantage of an unplanned opportunity, but in any event we are being told that a sudden approach just might enable us to evade fear for the moment, and concentrate instead on pleasure.  That mental break from fear could allow us to conquer fear in the end.  

When looking at the Decameron Devil card and reading its keywords, I immediately thought of the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot version of The Devil.  In the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot deck the Devil is named The Horned One, and the image is of a shaman-like figure draped in furs, with the tree branches behind him appearing like horns on his head, sitting on what appears to be a toppled dolman.  Before him on the ground is a fire; in front of the fire is a fox, curled up and dozing but with his eyes watching us.  The card image is described in the guidebook for the deck as "the spirit of the wild or god of the hunt . . . the difference [between this card and the traditional meaning of The Devil] being that there are no chains or pain in the scene, only life in its natural state."  The Decameron Devil image reminds me of the idea that in many religions the Devil is about the temptations of the pleasures that are natural to us and in the end, fighting those pleasures because of how someone else views them is worse.  The card image shows two people having sex; we cannot tell just where the man is penetrating the woman, but he is up on his toes with his knees locked, and he is reaching under her garment toward her chest, and fully engaged.  We cannot tell if the woman is experiencing pain or pleasure (or both) but she is not fighting the encounter; indeed, her foot, the one that has lost its shoe, is locked around the man's ankle, keeping him in place.  Indeed there are no chains in this image, even though that ring bolted to the side of the table appears to be there for that very reason.

I am being told today that I should not allow my mind to control my emotions, at least as far as uncomfortable feelings are concerned.  Sudden decisions to take action now could break things up and get things moving (which is what I've been trying to do all week).  I need to understand that the things I need in order to feel fulfilled might be off the beaten path, and I should use any anxiety about the way others perceive me to fuel me forward, rather than hold me back.  Discomfort is a part of life and it too has its value.

February 14, 2021: King of Pentacles and King of Chalices

 

Well, that is an interesting message for Valentine's Day from the Decameron Tarot.  If we are listing the Court Cards in order of rank, then in this deck the Queens are higher than the Kings; however that does not take away from the outer and active energy of our male-manifesting monarchs.

My Inner Focus card is the King of Pentacles.  The image on this card shows a King and a Queen having sex in a royal-looking room before a large fireplace containing the cold remnants of a fire.  The King is wearing royal garb and a crown, but is naked from the waist down except for his shoes.  The Queen, who is also dressed royally and wearing a crown, has her arms around the King, her dress up around her waist, and her legs wrapped around the King's waist. He has one arm outside of her dress around her waist and the other arm under her dress, gripping a buttock. Both the King and the Queen have their eyes closed and their lips parted, as if crying out with pleasure. In the foreground is a table.  There is a document resting on the table; on top of the document is a small colorful chest containing silver and gold coins, some of which have spilled onto the table.  The key phrases for this card are: power does not waste time with courtship, and each side benefits with little risk but one party could lack scruples.

My Outer Focus card is also a King, the King of Chalices.  The image on this card shows a King and a Queen having sex on a rumpled four-poster bed in what appears to be a royal bedroom.  The Queen is naked and is laying on her ermine-trimmed robe.  She is resting on her elbows with her legs straight up in the air and spread, her arm is resting on her scepter. The King is wearing his crown and a multi-colored gemstone and gold necklace, and his pants are down below his hips.  He is standing at the foot of the bed between the Queen's upraised legs, with his groin pressed against her, fiercely gripping one of her breasts.   The Queen's leg blocks most of the King's face, but we can see that he is grinning.  The Queen is facing the viewer with her eyes open and her mouth open wide as she cries out.  Before the couple on a table by the foot of the bed is a golden Chalice decorated with a band of gemstones.  Behind them is a tapestry or curtain covered with images of red roses. The key phrase for this card is: seduction through refined technique equals a satisfying relationship.

Such obvious differences between these two cards.  While the King of Pentacles is strong enough to hold his Queen and have sex while standing free, not leaning against anything for support, we are left to wonder whether this is about sexual ecstasy or a joining with some other purpose.  The fireplace, with an ornate mantle held up by massive pillar, contains only a small pile of cold ashes. It may be massive, with a heavy mantle held up by massive pillars, but it is cold.  The document on the table is held down by the chest of coins, so that we can't see what is written on it.  While both the King and Queen seem to be experiencing pleasure, I'm not certain that this sexual act, performed while standing up in a richly styled room, feels very passionate.  It is not unusual for royals to marry for reasons other than love or passion, so I am not particularly disturbed by the image.  I do understand the source, because today my heart is hurting (for reasons thatI won't get into here).  Sometimes you go through the motions of love when your focus is elsewhere, for very good and legitimate reasons.  Perhaps you do it because you believe in the validity of the union. 

The Decameron King of Chalices has a smile on his face.  He, too, is standing, but unlike the King of Pentacles, he is not solely responsible for supporting himself and his Queen.  Because he does not need to worry about them both falling down and maybe getting hurt, he can concentrate fully on pleasing his Queen to the point that she appears to be shouting with pleasure.  Her arm is resting on her scepter, holding it in place, but it is not her focus.  Roses have lots of symbolism, both in the Tarot and generally.  Being given a red rose means the giver is very satisfied with the relationship.  Red roses are definitely connected to Valentine's Day and romantic love.  Roses also symbolism confidentiality or secrecy; the origin of the phrase "sub rosa" comes from Ancient Rome.  Roses hung from the ceiling above a banquet hall meant that everything said at the occasion, even if under the influence of wine, was to remain confidential. In Tarot imagery, the rose can symbolize purity,  the blossoming of magick or energy, and its lovely fragrance can represent illumination.  The unfolding wisdom and connection to spirit that happens with careful tending that is symbolized by the rose is found in several Tarot cards, such as The Magician.  The rose can also be seen as protective, through its thorns, as is often depicted on the Strength card.  Our couple seems to be surrounded but reminders of emotions and feelings, as the Chalice resting by the bedside also represents those things.  Not a bad place to be, surrounded by love, on February 14th.  

Two focuses, two versions of intimacy.  Both apply.

February 12, 2021: XIV Temperance and 10 of Chalices

 

Good morning!  Here are my cards for today:

Inner Focus card: XIV Temperance.  The image on this card shows a room with cabinets filled with containers and ewers and bowls, with a window high up on the wall allowing in the daylight.  Before us is a solid wooden table.  Behind the table is an older man dressed in expensive clothes, with one elbow resting on the table and the other hand holding a metal cup.   Before him and in front of the table kneels a woman with her back to the viewer, also dressed in fine clothing from the waist up (in other words, as far as the older man is concerned, she is conservatively dressed).  She is pouring a liquid from a pitcher in her hand into a pitcher on the table.  The man appears to be speaking to her, and her eyes are closed and her head is bowed in a servile manner.  Below the front of the table, laying on his stomach and out of sight of the richly dressed older man, is another man.   He has his face in the woman's pubis and one of his hands is on her buttock, holding her steady.  With her free hand, she is holding her skirt out of the way to give him better access; this is happening below the surface of the table.  The key phrase for this card is: don't ever think you have your loved one in your grasp, for women are unpredictable and their behavior not based on rational criteria.

My outer card is the 10 of Chalices.  The image on this card shows a naked woman standing on a rumpled bed, her hands on her waist, leaning over to see her partner, who is on the floor with just feet and legs to the knees on the mattress; that is all we see of her partner.  We can't see either of their faces to determine their moods, but I kind of get the feeling that she is wondering just what her partner thinks he/she is doing.  The outcome is certainly unexpected to her. The key phrases associated with this card are: success that may actually be compromised, and an invitation to continue the battle.

The traditional image on Temperance shows a woman or an angel pouring water from one Chalice into another.  The card tells of finding inner balance that involves acknowledging extremes and then finding a place where we can take some of each extreme to create peace in our lives.  To me, the Decameron Temperance card image gives a nod to the traditional symbolism of the card and at the same time, offers a more realistic connection to us.  In this image, the woman does her job in a manner that maintains peace in the household. At the same time and unbeknown to the person in charge, she is fulfilling her own desires.  However, if we look at her more closely, we notice two things.  First, the back of her skirt is tucked into her belt.  That tells me this scene is not accidental; she planned to take her pleasure this way.  Second, if we look at the elbow of the hand holding up her skirt to give access to the man under the table who is pleasuring her, we see there is a hole in the material.  We are being told that perhaps, despite her lovely home and richly appointed room, she is not being treated that well.  She has examined the extremes and found a way to feed her inner peace.  Yes, to the person in charge her actions may seem not rational, for she is living in a comfortable home, but we each have our own expectations as to what is comfort.

Normally, the 10 of Cups shows the possibility that occurs if we successfully manifest our feelings and emotions and dreams for the future.  It shows us the emotional and spiritual fulfillment to be had through this process.  This could very well be what the woman in this image thought she was getting, but in the Decameron Tarot we are shown that appearances can be deceiving and getting through the challenges presented in the suit of Chalices might not bring that expected peace.

Both of these cards seem to have the same message, and that means both in a day-to-day fashion and a more far-reaching fashion, I need to examine my emotions but not allow them to cloud my perception of reality.

February 11, 2021: King of Wands and 10 of Pentacles

 

Happy New Moon!  Interesting cards to throw today, as the lunar energies begin to wax.

My Inner Focus card is the King of Wands.  We've seen this King before.  The image on the Decameron King of Wands shows a gray-haired and bearded man dressed in kingly clothes, wearing a crown, holding with his right hand a staff topped by an erect penis (that is also wearing a crown), and taking a naked woman from the rear.  He is reaching around her with his left hand to grasp her left breast; his eyes are closed and he appears to be roaring with pleasure.  The woman that kneels before him is wearing only a gauzy veil or wimple; her eyes are open and rolled back and her mouth is open, as if she too is experiencing intense pleasure.  Her left arm reaches behind her, pinning his left hand against her breast in the process; it appears that she is assisting him to penetrate her. The key phrases for this card are: absolute power without questioning, and the weakest partner must surrender.

My Outer Focus card today is the 10 of Pentacles.  The image on this card shows a naked man and a naked woman sitting at a wooden table.  The woman is holding a mixing bowl in the crook of one arm while stirring whatever is in the bowl with a wooden spoon.  In front of her are the shells of a couple of eggs and some kind of cloth.  There is another wooden spoon, apparently unused, on the table closer to the man, who is sitting with his chin resting in his hand and a dreamy look on his face as he watches the woman work.  The key phrases associated with this card are: when working on courtship projects, remember that material goods are not enough, and fortunes could be changing.

The King of Wands (the suit representing Fire, passions, and extreme experiences) tells us that we are better off submitting to a leader who has much experience and is able to manifest things for the good of all participants.  The woman in this card's image is submitting to her King and her King is taking care of her, providing her with extreme pleasure.  This card, even though it is a Minor Arcana card, is offering a big message.  My Outer Focus card seems to be reminding me of an important consideration to be pondered as I decide whether or not to submit to authority.  I am being told that happiness is more than the extreme pleasure to be had from an experienced leader, or more than the pleasure to be had from using my experience to bring pleasure to another.  The 10 of Pentacles shows a different kind of pleasure, the pleasure to be had from being in a secure situation that offers the things I need to be comfortable, safe and healthy.  The woman is good at what she does, if we take the look on the man's face as an indication. However, the image on this card hints at the possibility that only one person is actually doing the work needed to maintain this comfortable situation.  The other person may be appreciative (to the point of being mesmerized and rendered ineffective), but he is not helping, merely admiring.  The things presented in the 10 of Pentacles might be enough for some, but for me, the only power I will be submitting to is one that has skills and talents I do not possess.  And no matter how much pleasure is offered for that submission, I will not blindly follow.

Okay, did not see my interpretation moving in that direction today.

February 7, 2021: XII The Hanged Woman and the Knight of Chalices

 

A new Major Arcana card and a re-visit of the Knight of Chalices.  **rubs hands together**  Nice cards for a snowy afternoon.

My Inner Focus card is XII The Hanged Woman.  Yes, the Decameron Tarot deck has reimagined The Hanged Man.  The image on this card shows three people: a woman on a swing hanging from a tree branch, a man up in the tree above her, and a man standing before her, facing away from the viewer.  The woman is wearing a dress, but it is open at the top, revealing one of her breasts, and the bottom is around her waist, revealing her pubis; one of her shoes is falling to the ground.  She is holding onto the ropes of the swing, leaning her head back and looking up at the man above her.  He has his pants off, and he is leaning forward with one hand on her forearm, bracing himself, and the other hand directing his penis into her open mouth.  Before her is a stocky man who is also holding the ropes of the swing, positioned between her knees and drawing the wooden seat and the woman toward him, so that she is almost horizontal. The key phrases for this card are: short-lived love, and the suitors deceive themselves into believing she is all theirs but they only get fleeting pleasure.

My Outer Focus card is the Knight of Chalices.  The image on this card shows a fully-armored knight with his visor down and gaze forward, riding a brown steed with white socks, and holding a spear in one hand.  He does not appear to be in a hurry (his horse is walking) but he is moving forward steadily along a path strewn with a few stones, but nothing too dangerous.  Riding behind him with her hands on the Knight's waist is a naked woman.  She is turning back to look at the viewer, and she has a smile on her face.  In the distance are green hills; on top of one of the hills is a large castle surrounded by a strong wall and corner towers.  In the foreground on a large flat stone in an area that the horse and its riders have already passed is a silver Chalice.  Around the Chalice is coiled a green snake.  The key phrases associated with this card are: your lover is defenseless and must cross hostile lands to be with you; watch for betrayal, for the future is risky.  

Interesting combination.  Traditionally, The Hanged Man represents surrender, sacrifice, and seeing things from a new perspective.  Our Hanging Woman is certainly surrendering to the moment.  She is allowing both of her companions to control the encounter.  She is allowing the man in the tree to hold onto her forearm, and she has one of her legs wrapped around the shoulder of the other man.  Her hands are firmly grasping the ropes of the swing; one of her arms appears to be wrapped by the rope.  The traditional image on The Hanged Man shows the man being hung by his right ankle, and our Hanging Woman gives homage to this, for it is her right shoe (symbol of grounding) that is falling off of her foot. 

Obviously, while this encounter is exciting for everyone, it is not long-term.  The man in the tree is leaning precariously forward and could easily fall.  The man on the ground is pulling that swing toward him, holding the weight of the woman and the swing so her pubis is moved closer to his face.  The only one who could stay in place without effort or immediate danger is The Hanging Woman.  This might be a new way to experience a menage, but it is precarious and not something that encourages a long-term relationship.  But maybe that is not what she is looking for.

The Knight of Chalices is calmly bringing his lady forward, moving toward that castle in the distance.  All appears to be well; he is armed, his steed is healthy, and the path ahead does not have many obvious dangers.  However, that serpent coiled around the Chalice reminds us that temptation is always there, ready to distract us.  Inwardly, I may be okay with surrendering control to others, but I do need to remember that those who are only around for the moment might not be the best ones to trust.  That Knight in armor who slowly but surely brings me to that castle just might be a better person on whom to depend for advice or assistance.  

There is a different way of looking at these two cards.  A serpent represents sexuality and temptation, but it also represents energy.  Often the kundalini energy is symbolized by a serpent.  A Knight tends to have tunnel vision; after all his loyalty is to his liege and he needs to obey the orders of his Lord.  Perhaps those orders do not follow his own feelings, but he cannot allow his personal feelings to interfere with his purpose. Here, his purpose appears to be to bring the woman safely to the castle.  His visor is down and he holds his spear in one hand; he does not appear to be distracted by the woman behind him even though his job is to protect her.  Our Hanging Woman has no such worries.  She is allowing herself to be swept away by this encounter, trusting that her partners will make things happen for her. She does not appear to be denying her feelings at all and just might be enjoying the adrenaline rush of it all.

February 4, 2021: 1/Ace of Swords and the 3 of Pentacles

 

The Inner Focus card I threw today is the 1/Ace of Swords.  The image on this card shows a naked woman laying on a slightly rumpled and very large bed.  We are looking at her from the direction of her feet; she has one knee drawn up a bit.  Between her knees, with its point plunged into the bed, is a large double-edged sword.  The hilt consists of a man and a woman facing each other, bound at the waist and also hugging and kissing.  The woman looks very startled, as if that huge sword suddenly plunged into the bed between her knees without warning.  The key phrase for this card is: immediate decisions regarding profound emotions which carry some kind of risk.  Ya think??!!

My Outer Focus card is the 3 of Pentacles.  The image on this card shows a naked woman on her back on a wooden table, laying on her clothes with her knees spread; we are looking at her from the direction of her feet. There is a fully dressed man next to the table, leaning over and enthusiastically suckling one of her nipples.  We cannot see her face (his body is blocking us), but her arms are up and out as if her experience was intense, surprising, or both.  A bowl of green vegetables tipping and bouncing and spilling its contents at the foot of the table indicates the enthusiasm of her response to the situation.  The key phrases for this card are: sexual and sensual ability, and commercialization of those talents.

The suit of Swords in the Decameron Tarot represent the correspondences of Air, the mind, and the qualities of thought.  The Aces usually represent the potential for experiencing the qualities of the suit, and this image is certainly attention-grabbing.  Whatever this card is referring to, it will appear suddenly, and because my perception, absorption and understanding will take place in my mind and within my intellect, this will be a solitary event.  While this does not have to be a bad or uncomfortable thing, the suit of Swords often represents some kind of struggle as we bring an idea into reality.  Like many ideas, it appears this one might come suddenly in the wee hours of the night.  

The events taking place on the Decameron 3 of Pentacles card are happening in broad daylight.  While the woman does appear surprised, I'm assuming based on the key phrases for the card that she is not being forced, unless there is a safe word in place.  Pentacles represent the body, and this card tells us that skills regarding the dealing with the body should be honed and maintained, and they should be considered to be of value.  Even if we are not actually selling our services, we should strive to become adept and maintain our edge.  If we can make someone else feel really really good as we provide our skills, so much the better.

I wonder if those immediate decisions regarding profound emotions which carry some kind of risk are connected to some skill of mine that needs to be put out there, marketed and commercialized.  Such a decision would certainly feel frightening to me, and dangerous, too.  

February 3, 2021: 7 of Chalices and King of Swords

My Inner Focus card for today is the 7 of Chalices.  The image on this card shows a naked man and a naked woman. The man is seated in a chair before a wooden table.  He has his back to us; he is holding to his mouth a bowl that contains the final bits of gravy or broth, which he is drinking.  Before him on the wooden table is a spoon.  The woman is laying on her stomach on the table facing the man, resting on her elbows with her breasts cushioning her.  She is smiling and has one finger in her mouth, as if she was perhaps tasting his meal.  The key phrases for this card are: recovery of energy, patience, anticipation, search for comfort.  

My Outer Focus card is the King of Swords.  The Decameron King of Swords shows a broadly smiling King of middle age wearing a crown and nothing else, with a dark beard and dark hair, and dark body hair on his chest and well-rounded belly, having sex with a naked woman on a rumpled bed.  He appears to be standing or kneeling on the floor at the far side of the bed and his upper body is mostly upright.  The woman is laying cross-wise on the bed, with her knees wide and her head hanging off the near side of the bed, so the viewer is seeing her face upside-down. Her knees are spread wide, and one of her hands rests on the King's belly. The King has one hand on one of her knees for support; the other hand is grasping his royal Sword, point grounded on the floor in front of the mattress.  His royal robe is tossed over the pillows, off to the side.  The key phrases for this card are: don't refuse twilight-of-life intimacy, and spiritual values do not decline over the years, they increase.

The Decameron 7 of Chalices has a calmer and more optimistic feel to it than the traditional meaning of this card, which is more about wishful thinking, overindulgence, and choices, some with dangers.  There is a sense of camaraderie in this image.  The man has filled his stomach, and the woman has enough time to interact in a relaxed way.  It is as if these two were old friends, enjoying some time together, without any expectations or demands, and that fulfills our spirit.  Friendships don't always exist without expectations, and this card is reminding me that I am lucky enough to have relationships like that shown on this card.

Our King of Swords is confident and happy.  He is pleasuring a woman who appears younger than he is,  although he does not appear to have any gray hair at all.  He is leaning over her with his hand pressing her knee open, but it does not appear that he is holding her in place.  He is using his Sword for support and stability, telling me that perhaps he is performing well because he believes he can; after all, the suit of Swords is about the workings of the mind.  Perhaps their intercourse was robust enough that she has ended up half hanging off the bed.  No wonder he has a smile on his face!

There is pleasure to be had from both cards.  Sharing a meal with a friend can enliven us.  Taking a respite or a vacation, whether mental or physical, can be rejuvenating, as long as we don't allow inertia to prevent us from re-engaging once we've had a bit of rest and refueling. Actively grasping the pleasures that life offers us, even if culture dictates that we are too "mature" for those pleasures, can be enlivening as well. Inactivity can age us, and this card pair is reminding me that if I remain active and engaged in a robust manner, and apply times of rest judiciously, I will remain vital and vigorous and able to enjoy the pleasures of life beyond the traditional expectations of my age. 

February 1, 2021: Month of February 9 of Wands and the King of Wands

 

Happy Imbolc!  So it is time to move to the next card pair in my Wheel of the Year spread.

My Energy of the Year card will remain the 9 of Wands through the year.  The image on the 9 of Wands shows a naked man and naked woman on a rumpled bed in the shadows.  She is on her hands and knees and he is behind her, and they both appear to be in the throes of pleasure, with eyes closed and mouths open as they both cry out.  He has one hand on her shoulder, holder her in place, and the other hand on her breast, caressing her.  She has her head turned toward him as he penetrates her from behind, with one of her hands on her pubis, pleasuring herself.  The key phrases associated with this card are: good stimulation but watch your back, and defense and vigilance are important.

My February card is the King of Wands.  The image on the Decameron King of Wands shows a gray-haired and bearded man dressed in kingly clothes, wearing a crown, holding with his right hand a staff topped by an erect penis (that is also wearing a crown), and taking a naked woman from the rear.  He is reaching around her with his left hand to grasp her left breast; his eyes are closed and he appears to be roaring with pleasure.  The woman that kneels before him is wearing only a gauzy veil or wimple; her eyes are open and rolled back and her mouth is open, as if she too is experiencing intense pleasure.  Her left arm reaches behind her, pinning his left hand against her breast in the process; it appears that she is assisting him to penetrate her.  The key phrases for this card are: absolute power without questioning, and the weakest partner must surrender.

Putting these cards side by side emphasizes the fact that they are echoes of each other in several ways.  First, they are both of the suit of Wands, which represents the element of Fire, strong passions, and extreme experiences.  Second, both images show a naked woman on her knees before a man who is taking her from behind.  Both men are grasping the woman's breast with their left hands.  All four appear to be in the midst of orgasm.  

There are differences, too.  In the 9 of Wands image, the man is also naked and they are both on the same surface, the rumpled bed.  However the image on the King of Wands shows a woman kneeling at a  lower level, before a man fully dressed in royal clothes.  That man is not grasping her shoulder (which is not only dominant in that he is holding her in place, but is also balancing as he is looking to her for some stability); he is leaning on and getting stability from his staff of office, rather than his partner.

Comparing these two cards is offering me insights into both.  The couple in the 9 of Wands card appear to be more of a couple, working together for mutual pleasure.  Yes, they both need to be aware of who is in control, but it appears to me that this couple would have an easier time passing that dominance back and forth between them, for the better good of the entire situation.  Still, power corrupts, and they are being reminded to not lose themselves in the act of pleasure to the point of losing their personal defenses.

In the King of Wands, there is a visible power structure.  The King seems to be a taker here, perhaps leaning on his rank and his authority to get what he needs, to get the pleasure he desires, rather than an equal partnership.  Yes, he is enjoying the fact that the naked woman before him is also experiencing pleasure, but the dynamics here are flavored more with dominance and submission, rather than a partnership working toward the same goals.  That dominance and submission is voluntary, on the part of both the King and the woman, but the King is in charge and I don't see him switching any time soon.  

It sounds like February is going to have some authority issues, eh?  I need to be very, very aware of my choices regarding when I force an issue, and when I go with the flow.  Yes, a King in theory has a talent for ruling, for caring for his subjects, and his subjects rely on that talent.  But Kings can become despots if drunk on power.  On the other hand, sharing power  equally works sometimes, but there are times when someone needs to take control.  Forcing that control when it is not warranted could change the dynamics to the point that trust is wounded.  

Choose carefully.