Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

THE CARTOMANCER

Home
Pagan
Cards for crass times

Cards for crass times

Last updated on: January 19, 2021 at 2:55 pm by Camelia Elias

Cards for crass times 2021-01-19T14:55:12+02:00 Camelia Elias

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jean Noblet Marseille Tarot as reconstructed by Jean-Claude Flornoy (Photo: Camelia Elias)

So far 2020 has proved to be the year of major shakes and awakenings to the higher orders of things. Judgment day, indeed, twice over. 2020. Apart from the number 20, we also have the number 2 represented twice here, so we can say this is also the year of the Popess, being twice as smart. At the start of the year, some in the occult world jumped at the Emperor idea, 2+2=4, but I rejected this notion for obvious reasons. If we accept that the card numbered 20 is symbolic of Judgment day, when the Angel makes big announcements that are quite beyond anyone’s control, then we can’t at the same time impose the idea of controlled power here, no matter how big an effort we make in stretching the logic elastic. In other words, what 2020 has been about so far, on the general scale, is more like being aware of the consequences of not having any power. Hence the marching, demonstrating against the established power orders, and demanding change.

I live in Denmark, in a country currently run by a socialist woman, who is both competent and strong in her dealing with the idiotic opposition run mostly by men who understand nothing. But I see what’s happening around, particularly in the US and the UK. This morning over coffee I made this remark to my partner: ‘it’s all about dealing, or rather actually not dealing, with the consequences of imperialism. It’s still looming over us. Let us be done with it, once and for all.’

But who is going to lead us? 2020 is not the year of the Emperor, controlling the land and the people with common-sense and calculated compassion. If a sense of power prevails over our heads, it’s purely symbolic, conceptual, not real.

The words, ‘just step up to it,’ the power, are powerful alright, but are they also real? They aren’t when we see that in actuality, there’s no grounding of the purported power. Stepping up to something requires a solid platform. Where is it? No one lands it, the power, as far as I can see. It’s all up in the air. Hot balloons.

I left the university world 3 years ago. My decision was informed by accepting the sad truth that, as a woman academic, I wasn’t going to have the opportunity to actually wield the power conferred onto me on paper. My power was on paper alone. I made no impact. To the outside world my consecrations would easily elicit exclamation marks: ‘wow, you did all this!’ and there were times when I’d run with the flattering and self-flattering program. But is there ever any real power in proclamations? Sadly, I’m too Zen for this.

‘More women should write,’ the academic world demanded, while going ahead and publishing more men. Men writing about women too. Ah well. Over in the occult world, the same applies: ‘more women should write,’ the proclamations go, and then all we get to see is more men writing.

Women are writing, but there’s little power in it, when this writing is not in all actuality recognized. We worship hot goddesses that relish their holy whoredom – men’s label – but when are we going to see the hot goddesses stop indulging in flattery? When will they do something for women, in all actuality? I have a quarrel with power that’s in the name only. I’m too Zen for that shit. I do my best to remedy the situation. I publish three books a year. My books are loved and read. My books are also hated, especially when they’re not read. This I can tell from the occasional nasty comment, that not much has been read or understood. I keep going. From EyeCorner Press the following books are out and in the pipeline: Tarot Tracings was out in June. The omnibus edition, The Power of the Trumps and Pips, collating two books along with new material extending on method, was out yesterday. The Heart Sutra and Tarot and The Childless Witch are out by the end of the year. A good year for words.

I write for myself and strangers. I write about cards and how we use them in crass times, from experiencing the loss of love to lamenting the loss of power, invisibility, and putting up with claims to recognition that are not sincerely given.

Let’s just say that I’m onboard with 2020, for all that it brings. I cheer for the smashing of many establishments. I read my cards not for questions under the modal expression: ‘Should I, could I, would I?’ I read the cards with view to getting a window into what concrete action I can engage with. I don’t give in to the apocalypse narratives. Rather, I have a distaste for it. I’m too Zen for the apocalypse. I like to say that every day is the apocalypse. What’s new here? ‘Nothing is new here, my partner tells me, while I review the state of the world under the lush fumes coming out of my Turkish coffee. ‘Just the reinvention of the prune, poor prune.’ I almost chocked. I laughed so hard at the ‘poor prune.’ ‘Mars is going retrograde, get ready.’ ‘War is coming and Trump will not let go.’ ‘People lose their money, while the banks get fat.’ ‘The hot goddesses speak in an amplified voice’ – about hot balloons, as far as I can see.

Each of these statements in its context is true. The times are always crass. ‘There’s nothing new under the Sun,’ said Solomon, a wisdom he inherited from his mother, I presume, but then she didn’t write anything, so we don’t know. Or maybe she did, but then her writing fell on promises and nothing more.

Use your cards in crass times to ask about your attitude in the world. If you don’t have clarity about your position, then ask: ‘what is my best asset that I can bank on to bring change in my world?’ Don’t say, ‘the world,’ because you’re not in charge, and it’s best to stay away from the illusion that you can make any change in the world. The only place you can make a change in is precisely your world. Just your world.

Ask the cards about what this world of yours is to begin with. What does it look like, in actuality, not on paper, in proclamation or false self-empowerments? Self-flattery is not your world. It’s a world of insecurity where the aim is to please others. Don’t please others. Please yourself. But make sure you know exactly why, otherwise this type of pleasing ends in a form of foolish stubbornness and entitlement devoid of discernment.

I asked my own cards about it. How apt again:

Jean Noblet Marseille Tarot as reconstructed by Jean-Claude Flornoy (Photo: Camelia Elias)

The Tower, the World, Death

As I said, I’m down with 2020. Smashing bricks to the left. To the right, essentializing to the bones.

Some would say, tough cards. But I tend to not use modifiers when I read the cards. Nothing is tough. Nothing is easy. Everything is as it is. I’m ready again to do what I’m good at. Smash bricks and illusions, and swing the swords. The Marseille Tarot Foundation Course is open again for registration. Over a hundred people have already signed up in just a day and a half. The word is out that this is good. Well, the word has been out for some time now, and it pleases me to see that there’s a consistent demand for my teachings and writings. Thank you to all. I like to disturb. Sincerely.

Speaking of books and publishing women. Award winning writer Erin Clark’s memoir with EyeCorner Press is also out. If you really love me, throw me off the mountain, has everything in it, everything that matters, that is: a disabled body paragliding, love that’s crushed and crushing, travel adventures, words that move, and beauty that exceeds even that of a hot goddess. We’re here to serve, and you’re welcome.

♠

Stay tuned on Aradia Academy activities.

About Camelia Elias

Camelia Elias, PhD & Dr.Phil., is a former university professor. After 20 years in academia, she left her career to pursue her interests in teaching and writing on the philosophy and practice of reading cards. She works with contemplative arts, oracular language, and martial arts cartomancy and Zen at her own school, Aradia Academy. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

August 13, 2020

Cancel culture according to the Lovers

Next Post

September 28, 2020 A thing of beauty: up, down, and the unpredictable

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Columns The Cartomancer Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2024 October 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the last apostle to die?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul James John Peter