One of the best legal minds of our time, who was a crusader for equal rights. In my mind a true hero, and the embodiment of what a woman can - and should - be.
“Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism, there you have me in a nutshell, and kill me again or take me as I am, for I shall not change.”
(Although the creator of this deck is Italian, I believe that Fabio Listrani fully captures the vibrancy and spirit of Mexcian culture through the illustrations throughout the deck. You can obtain more information about the Santa Muerte Tarot here as well as purchase your own copy here. )
Given my current beliefs - and interpretations of the Devil in other tarot decks - I can safely reassure anyone reading this post my interpretation of this card is rather positive. And if you turn the Rider Waite Devil upside down, he suddenly becomes the great Liberator, releasing those trapped by personal trauma, dogmas, etc.
He’s also a symbol for rebellion. In this particular interpretation, notice the crown of flames. Fire is not only conducive for heat, but also light. Not only is the Devil’s crown a light source, but the candles that surround him also give off light which further reveals the environment around him. There’s not only a book, but a sizable patch of vegetation just beyond the candles.
Referencing the Rider Waite version of this card, it’s obvious to see the positives represented here as well. When observing his companions, you see possessing similar characteristics to their larger, orange companion. They too have horns and tails, symbolizing that are a part of him just as he is a part of them. Similar to the image shown, the two that are chain to the post really aren’t prisoners of Devil and they are free to leave him at any time.
It’s the denial of one’s animal nature that can keep us prisoner. And if kept within responsible social parameters, indulging in a bit of hedonism can be psychologically healthy.
But the sensual nature of the Devil is just one side of the delightful of this demonic coin.
From a personal standpoint, I find the Satanic viewpoint more pragmatic in everyday life. Oftentimes we forget ourselves in lieu of others needs and/or interests that collide with our own. To quote Anton LaVey:
“Satanism advocates practicing a modified form of the Golden Rule. Our interpretation of this rule is: "Do unto others as they do unto you"; because if you "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and they, in turn, treat you badly, it goes against human nature to continue to treat them with consideration. You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but if your courtesy is not returned, they should be treated with the wrath they deserve.”
Taking into the consideration the need for self-preservation, sometimes “turning the other cheek” can be detrimental to our overall health.
As a chronic people-pleaser myself, I have my fair share of psychological scars by deciding when placating other people’s desires - the same goes for physical abuse. What’s important to remember is that you can’t control others, but you can control yourself. To quote, “People will only treat you as bad as you let them."
Never let someone’s hatred - or insecurity - keep you prisoner.
You can learn from it, grow from it, and become stronger
What can you do with a degree in literature, history etc... I mean this fields aren't payed well. So I don't get why, so many DA are studying this Subjects... but are the ones who are complaining about not having enough salary??
way to dismiss the arts just because stem makes more money. i plan on working in editing/publishing literature. i may choose to be a journalist instead, or work as an archivist. contrary to popular belief, humanities degrees are quite flexible. i’ve made a post about jobs before.
What can you do with a degree in literature or history?? So many things. You don’t have to be an academic. You don’t have to be a professor. Studying these things teaches you how to write, do research, present, etc., all of which are very real world skills. We need teachers and lawyers and translators and editors and news reporters, aside from professors and art historians and philosophers. STEM is important but so are the humanities, and the fields are more related than one might think.
I work in tech right now. I’ve been one of the top employees in my class at two major companies. I was hired because of my History degree, because the person who contacted me was also a History major and knew how much focus and memory skills are required for that field of study. My ability to perform at my job comes from my English degree and the sharp eye for detail that came with writing and editing every day. Even IF you could somehow disregard the place of art, history, music, literature, and entertainment in our society, you can’t possibly disregard the skills that students develop when they enter fields as dynamic and thought-provoking as the humanities.
(Although incredibly beautiful, I cannot take credit for this image. If you’re interested, please visit Amrit Brar’s site for more information about obtaining a copy of this beautiful deck.)
Death arrives after destruction has taking place, removing all the unnecessary debris that’s no longer useful. Whether figurative or literal, Death is a force of cleansing and important part of a cycle of rebirth and renewal - and is quite necessary for survival.
It’s a not-so-pleasant reminder for us to remove those things that no longer serve us, whether it’s negative habits - or even negative people. And even though it may prove to be difficult, it’s necessary for growth to be able to move forward to a more positive outcome.
The negative aspects of this card would be holding on to those things that no longer serve us Whether it’s hanging on to unhealthy habits, negative people, or even something as simple as a grudge. Think of hoarders, who spend a majority of their time holding on to all the useless items that no longer serve them, getting lost in a sea of useless garbage that they no longer use; wading through a graveyard of broken dreams and distant memories.
These are people that find it hard to let things “die.”
Coming face to face with Death is hard. It’s a unsettling reminder of impermanence of those things that we love, but of our own impermanence as well. It takes courage to accept mortality, and the act of letting go is huge act of bravery. Letting go can lead into better understanding and compassion - and perhaps a renewed zest for life.
When I get hooked into discussions about Christianity, I happily interject Fred Rogers as the model of what an ideal Christian should be.
If God’s message was love, I would say that Fred Rogers personified it.
As a matter of fact, he lived it and preached it every day - much to the chagrin of other white Christian men who were busy throwing bleach in pools to scare innocent black people from ever swimming again.
No one was a stranger, even the outliers that everyone else was more than happy to give a side-eye to - everyone was a neighbor. Including myself, who would sometimes sit through a rerun or two in my youth to remind myself that all of humanity wasn’t as foul as I assumed it would be.
If Jesus did return, he certainly didn’t do so with a reign of fire.
He returned with cardigans, penny loafers, and a kind and understanding gaze that could instantly put anyone at ease.
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