Journey in 78 Steps

Daily Draw: 2 of Hats (Cups)

‘Who are you talking to?’ said the King, going up to Alice, and looking at the Cat’s head with great curiosity.

‘It’s a friend of mine—a Cheshire Cat,’ said Alice: ‘allow me to introduce it.’

‘I don’t like the look of it at all,’ said the King: ‘however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.’

‘I’d rather not,’ the Cat remarked.

‘Don’t be impertinent,’ said the King, ‘and don’t look at me like that!’ He got behind Alice as he spoke.

‘A cat may look at a king,’ said Alice. ‘I’ve read that in some book, but I don’t remember where.’

‘Well, it must be removed,’ said the King very decidedly, and he called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, ‘My dear! I wish you would have this cat removed!’

The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. ‘Off with his head!’ she said, without even looking round.

‘I’ll fetch the executioner myself,’ said the King eagerly, and he hurried off.

~ Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 8. Lewis Carroll

In this version of the two of Cups, we see one of literature's most cantankerous couples - the King and Queen of Hearts.  The King is full of bluster and insistance on rules, while the Queen truly does have  one solution for everything (but very little actual follow through).  For all that, though, the two of them do get along well with each other - evidence, I supposed, that there is someone for everyone.

The Cheshire cat in this image beams down on them, head only and doesn't look at all worried that they are intending to have him executed - in fact, a few moments from now, while they're debating how on earth to behead a cat with no body, he'll simply fade from view and be done with the whole thing.

Along with the realization that even cranky people can find love, what strikes me about this is that the 2 of Cups doesn't always indicate perfect love - it is a union, certainly, but it encompasses the full range of romantic unions - not just the hearts and flowers variety, but the dysfunctional versions as well.

This couple is so disturbed by the higher spirit of love that they are quickly agreeing to kill it off and only arguing about how to go about it.  And I think of habitual arguers that never seem to either get over  the arguing or get out (I've been that person), and how much that arguing habit makes love as anyone might recognize it simply fade away before they can agree to kill it off.

These two are getting a pay off for continuing this behavior.. if nothing else, who else would have them?  Dysfunctional love is love of a sorts, but not one that will make the situation happy or even bearable for those around them.

When the 2 of Cups comes up in a reading it's probably a very good idea to remember it only symbolizes a union - it does not promise a happily ever after or trouble free life.

Daily Draw: 9 of Oysters (Pentacles)

She was standing before an arched doorway, over which were the words `QUEEN ALICE' in large letters, and on each side of the arch there was a bell-handle; one was marked `Visitors' Bell', and the other `Servants' Bell'.

`I'll wait till the song's over,' thought Alice, `and then I'll ring the--the--which bell must I ring?' she went on, very much puzzled by the names.

`I'm not a visitor, and I'm not a servant. There ought to be one marked "Queen", you know--'

~ Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 9. Lewis Carroll

This card shows Alice, decked out in crown and sceptre, imperiously knocking on a door to be let in.  She's surrounded by an entourage of oysters.

In the story, the door Alice is knocking on is the entrance to a party that she is supposedly giving... it is her own turf (though she's never been there before) and inside there is a crowd of guests who've shown up for a party she is supposed to be hosting, singing praises for everything they expect her to give them.  But for the moment, she's not even sure how she's supposed to get in, much less do what is expected of her.

I can't help but associate this card with Sarah Palin this morning, in the aftermath of last night's debate - she made no huge errors in presentation after a month of careful preparation, but I'm not at all sure she herself understood completely what she was coached to say.  I'm sure she worked hard to prepare for last night - she's arrived, as they say, and certainly has her entourage of fans and coaches, but it does seem to be that there is a difference from being crowned Queen and actually having the credentials to be one.

(Yes, I am showing my preferences there)

A recent conversation with one of my daughters highlighted my frustrations here - her husband, who supports McCain, said he thought it would be great to have a 'hot' Vice President.  And didn't understand why B, who had supported Clinton, wasn't happy with this turn of events.  She said - putting the problem here into focus - that while she does want a woman on the ticket, it is discouraging that she's getting there based on appearance - as if, even now, a woman is supposed to get somewhere for being cute, not qualified.

Indeed. (And mind you, 'cute' should not be a bar to being qualified either - but it seems to be all she has.  For anyone to straightfacedly suggest that "I can see Russia from my house!" is adequate foreign policy experience is no different from pinching a baby's cheek and cooing 'whosa woosy cootchie coo')

Watching last night the carefully inserted folksie comments and the opening salvo evoking hockey moms ("I'm one of you! If I can be Queen, anyone can be queen!") I'm reminded that Bush was carefully presented the exact same way.  Enough, already.  Even if she is more what she seems to be than he was (and I think she is), we don't need plain folks in that position..we need someone who actually understands the responsibilities of the office with the ethical fiber to make them happen.

Sarah Palin may be closer to my demographic than Biden is, but that also means I can see the sort of person she is by looking at her attempt to get a man fired for having the gall to divorce her sister... those little dramas happen everyday in 'normal' America.  And I don't like vindictive people in my personal community much less want to hand them the power to be petty in big ways.

Daily Draw: 2 of Flamingos (Swords)

This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again. In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely remarking as it went, `One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.'

`One side of WHAT? The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to herself.

`Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.

Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as it was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question. However, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand.

~ Alice in Wonderland, Chapter 5. Lewis Carroll

In this deck, swords are flamingos and this version of the 2 of Swords shows the Caterpillar (minus hookah) sitting on a large mushroom with his hands on a pair of flamingos who are facing in opposite directions.  Behind the mushroom there is a large body of water, relatively calm, with land masses jutting from the water and seen in the distance on the horizon.  Overhead, a crescent moon looks down.

I tend to see the 2 of Swords as a 'stalemate' card, where the figure can't see to decide which choice to make... but seeing this Caterpillar, with his lackadaisical personality, I'm struck by the idea that it's more not bothering to make a choice... mental procrastination, because what does it really matter which choice is made - one's as good as the other, and besides I can figure it out tomorrow.

The flamingos with their outstretched necks look like they're ready to launch into flight if he ever decides to give the word, but he doesn't seem to be in any hurry to do so.

What's not in this image is any sense of stress - to be fair, it's not in the original RWS image either, though I almost always put it there.  Here, the Caterpillar looks comfortable - he's on his own turf - and has no crying need to put these flamingos into motion.

In fact, in the passage above, it's Alice that wants the decision made, not the Caterpillar... he sees no reason to be any size other than the one he is, or why Alice isn't just as content as he is with her size.  So sure, eat the mushroom, get bigger or smaller if you like.. but it doesn't even occur to him to tell her which side will do which.  He absolutely doesn't see a point to her dilemma.

It makes me want to consider this card in light of the way sometimes we need information in order to make a choice that matters to us, and the most tedious part is getting those that have the information to understand our need enough to tell us what we need to know in a timely manner.  Sometimes, the 'stalemate' comes because those around us totally don't get or care about  whatever it is that concerns us so they move at a very slow pace if they move at all.

Frustrating, but I don't think it makes them wrong necessarily.. I used to keep a sign on my desk that said "Your emergency is not necessarily my crisis.", put there to warn off a few colleagues who didn't seem to want to have to tie their shoes on their own without getting me involved.

I don't know that judgement of the motivation is even needed here.. for good or bad this card is describing that condition where someone isn't hooked into the importance of a decision that needs to be made. Or that someone thinks needs to be made.

Daily Draw: VIII - Strength

`Who are at it again?' she ventured to ask.

`Why the Lion and the Unicorn, of course,' said the King.

`Fighting for the crown?'

`Yes, to be sure,' said the King: `and the best of the joke is, that it's my crown all the while! Let's run and see them.' And they trotted off, Alice repeating to herself, as she ran, the words of the old song:

`The Lion and the Unicorn
  were fighting for the crown:
The Lion beat the Unicorn
  all round the town.
Some gave them white bread,
some gave them brown:
Some gave them plum-cake
and drummed them out of town.'

`Does -- the one -- that wins -- get the crown?' she asked, as well as she could, for the run was putting her quite out of breath.

`Dear me, no!' said the King. `What an idea!'

~ Through the Looking Glass, Chapter 7.  Lewis Carroll

This version of the Strength card depicts a battle that takes place daily 'for the crown' while the King and his court watches and then everyone enjoys an afternoon of dining together (at least until the drums start).

If they're not fighting with the crown as prize, they they must be fighting 'for the crown' as in 'on behalf of' - and while they battle fiercely (the King at one point chides the Unicorn for 'running the Lion through') once the battle is over, they are friends and it is clear that the battle itself is an act they are engaging in as partners.

So, what's this say to me about Strength as depicted in this card?

First, that this is not a one-time battle, but one that that is fought every day - and there is no clear winner...sometimes the natural self wins, and sometimes the fantastic 'pure' self wins, but underneath that struggle there is the reality that they are not enemies...only combatants.  It's the striving that matters, more than which side comes out on top.

Secondly, they are 'fighting for the crown'.. for our own sense of autonomy - they each play a part in our becoming masters of ourself.  One side or another doesn't 'win the crown' - here again, it is the struggle that benefits the king. It doesn't take away that  authority.

And finally, the end of the fight is integration and a coming together for nourishment of all aspects.. the Lion and the Unicorn are both fed in the presence of the King and onlookers - the battle is appreciated and welcomed and the next round is something to be looked forward to.

This sort of Strength is sporting... there is joy in the challenge of striving together - of testing ourselves when we are faced with difficulties.  It isn't morality - it's ethics.  There is no inherent right or wrong, not a 'good guy' and a 'bad guy'... it is in the wrestling with ethical choices that we learn how we decide - if our instincts or our ideals take  the day, and the result of the battle in turn strengthens our rulership over our own lives.

And it isn't something to be feared, this ongoing struggle... there is joy in it and a sense of fun and excitement - we can approach our daily challenges as a cheering audience, with curiousity and interest about how it will all come out, rather than grim fright that we might choose the wrong approach.

Our struggles make us strong.

Deck of the Week: Wonderland Tarot

I try very hard not to collect decks I don't think I'll be able to read with, but one exception to that rule of thumb is the Wonderland Tarot (picked up second-hand a few years ago).  This is an out of print RWS clone that is drawn  in the style of the original illustrations from Alice in Wonderland.  I was charmed by the idea, but have never even attempted to read with it. (and not sure I'll be able to now)

In this deck the major arcana is composed of the various characters the populate Wonderland, while the minor suits use oysters for Pentacles, Hats  for Cups, Flamingos for Swords and Peppermills for Wands, usually drawn with some suggestion of the original RWS imagery.