The Hanged Man keeps coming up for me in readings over the last few months. I love your exploration here! And the witch card really intrigues me. One thing that bothers me in the Rider Waite Coleman Smith deck is that it perpetuates the idea that right side up is the 'right or normal' way (the head and upwards being superior). It's a product of its time so I don't mean to be critical of the deck, but I'm glad when other decks help us to equally value things like the body and heart. I love that you brought the underworld story to the conversation! Especially from Ereshkigal's point of view is exactly the change in perspective that moves me. Thank you for all of this, Julie! ♥️
Thanks Jenna! I agree with you regarding the Rider Waite Smith deck. I actually don't ever use it, but I put it up in my posts because it is recognizable. I much prefer the updated, current tarot versions. I never really thought of it promoting the head as being superior. And now that you point that out, I totally see it and will probably never unsee it. It is so right on! Our current day there is such a need to get out of the head/transcendent/hierarchical modalities. I too am more body and heart right now. The balance that is really needed. Much love to you Jenna! ♥️
Julie, I just love this...I am feeling open to the ALL in this post. The letting go, the dying, the resurrection. And yet there is also the patience, the trust and the openness that comes through in your post. To honour the little deaths is to honour the life to be lived, for how can we live to our fullest if we are unable to change our perspectives, our view, our ego.
I am reading your post and feeling that it is like a Dismemberment Journey - where you are taken apart (metaphorically speaking) and then washed clean, and then put back together again in a new and empowered way.
To me your post also spoke about the liminal space where wisdom and empowerment meet...at the separation, initiation and integration spaces
Thanks Sam! It was funny as I contemplated doing this post, I went through the major arcana in my head from 0 to 21. For the life of me I could not remember the 12th card. As it turned out, it was the Hanged One. It felt like a message to me. Remembrance of what I am. Change my perspective, open to something new. A time in my life where I needed this...
I love that you brought forward here a Dismemberment Journey. Very much like the descent of Innana. I am currently participating in an Innana ritual at each new moon correlating with Venus in her descent below the horizon. Powerful to remove something. For it brings new meaning to what is being removed. And Sam as you said, "where you are taken apart (metaphorically speaking) and then washed clean, and then put back together again in a new and empowered way." I love this!
Much love to you Sam, many blessings sent your way!
Julie, I have found such clarity here on what I have been experiencing, something I have been trying to make sense of which, I know is not always entirely useful! It seems I have been in some depths of discovery and the hardest thing I find is to surrender to the story as this is the one that is already written my something greater than me. x
How wonderful Louise, clarity is always welcome! New horizons become available. This month of January has been a big challenge for me. Hard to have perspective in the middle of the mess. Yet this is what is being asked for! I find in the midst of challenges, their gifts are usually hidden. They tend to be discovered retrospectively. Feel like I am reaping that right now.
I just skimmed the surface of your lovely essay and will go back to read more in depth later but this particular line struck me.
"So, when beckoned how will you answer? Will you go voluntarily or involuntarily into the grey scale of the liminal? Surrendering to the wisdom of life or waiting for a cataclysmic event to do the job? Whether by choice or not, it’s about pausing, entering a time of inactivity, being patient."
I have very much entered a liminal space with my job - long story but it is a major change and I have been in kind of a holding pattern waiting for it to happen. But I realized last week that I can make choices within this change that will both benefit my employer and the business and my personal/family life/mental health. By taking control of those choices and decisions that I had been avoiding making, I can breathe a little easier, maintain some sense of control, and will deal with the consequences - positive or negative - that come because of those choices.
So thank you for putting into writing what I am feeling!
Sounds empowering! Even if these choices don't bear the fruit expected or wanted, just to anchor into your boundaries, to stand strong in what you know to be true. I hear freedom in your words. I am honored that my post struck a chord and resonated with you. Acting as a catalyst for change. My inner voice is singing right now just reading your comment. ❤
The Hanged Man keeps coming up for me in readings over the last few months. I love your exploration here! And the witch card really intrigues me. One thing that bothers me in the Rider Waite Coleman Smith deck is that it perpetuates the idea that right side up is the 'right or normal' way (the head and upwards being superior). It's a product of its time so I don't mean to be critical of the deck, but I'm glad when other decks help us to equally value things like the body and heart. I love that you brought the underworld story to the conversation! Especially from Ereshkigal's point of view is exactly the change in perspective that moves me. Thank you for all of this, Julie! ♥️
Thanks Jenna! I agree with you regarding the Rider Waite Smith deck. I actually don't ever use it, but I put it up in my posts because it is recognizable. I much prefer the updated, current tarot versions. I never really thought of it promoting the head as being superior. And now that you point that out, I totally see it and will probably never unsee it. It is so right on! Our current day there is such a need to get out of the head/transcendent/hierarchical modalities. I too am more body and heart right now. The balance that is really needed. Much love to you Jenna! ♥️
Julie, I just love this...I am feeling open to the ALL in this post. The letting go, the dying, the resurrection. And yet there is also the patience, the trust and the openness that comes through in your post. To honour the little deaths is to honour the life to be lived, for how can we live to our fullest if we are unable to change our perspectives, our view, our ego.
I am reading your post and feeling that it is like a Dismemberment Journey - where you are taken apart (metaphorically speaking) and then washed clean, and then put back together again in a new and empowered way.
To me your post also spoke about the liminal space where wisdom and empowerment meet...at the separation, initiation and integration spaces
Thank you Julie. Thank you.
Thanks Sam! It was funny as I contemplated doing this post, I went through the major arcana in my head from 0 to 21. For the life of me I could not remember the 12th card. As it turned out, it was the Hanged One. It felt like a message to me. Remembrance of what I am. Change my perspective, open to something new. A time in my life where I needed this...
I love that you brought forward here a Dismemberment Journey. Very much like the descent of Innana. I am currently participating in an Innana ritual at each new moon correlating with Venus in her descent below the horizon. Powerful to remove something. For it brings new meaning to what is being removed. And Sam as you said, "where you are taken apart (metaphorically speaking) and then washed clean, and then put back together again in a new and empowered way." I love this!
Much love to you Sam, many blessings sent your way!
Julie, I have found such clarity here on what I have been experiencing, something I have been trying to make sense of which, I know is not always entirely useful! It seems I have been in some depths of discovery and the hardest thing I find is to surrender to the story as this is the one that is already written my something greater than me. x
How wonderful Louise, clarity is always welcome! New horizons become available. This month of January has been a big challenge for me. Hard to have perspective in the middle of the mess. Yet this is what is being asked for! I find in the midst of challenges, their gifts are usually hidden. They tend to be discovered retrospectively. Feel like I am reaping that right now.
Yes exactly Julie, as though I’ve been thinking what has all this been for and now it presents itself.
I just skimmed the surface of your lovely essay and will go back to read more in depth later but this particular line struck me.
"So, when beckoned how will you answer? Will you go voluntarily or involuntarily into the grey scale of the liminal? Surrendering to the wisdom of life or waiting for a cataclysmic event to do the job? Whether by choice or not, it’s about pausing, entering a time of inactivity, being patient."
I have very much entered a liminal space with my job - long story but it is a major change and I have been in kind of a holding pattern waiting for it to happen. But I realized last week that I can make choices within this change that will both benefit my employer and the business and my personal/family life/mental health. By taking control of those choices and decisions that I had been avoiding making, I can breathe a little easier, maintain some sense of control, and will deal with the consequences - positive or negative - that come because of those choices.
So thank you for putting into writing what I am feeling!
Sounds empowering! Even if these choices don't bear the fruit expected or wanted, just to anchor into your boundaries, to stand strong in what you know to be true. I hear freedom in your words. I am honored that my post struck a chord and resonated with you. Acting as a catalyst for change. My inner voice is singing right now just reading your comment. ❤