what are those things on the floor

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Alex	04 Jan 2003
of the Moon card in the spiral deck? Some balls and sea horses ... what is that? Alex.

Dark Inquisitor	04 Jan 2003
To me it looks like an alluring mix of water, tentacles, sea weed, bubbles, & pearls. Tarotphelia

firemaiden	05 Jan 2003
a wolf (okay, you didn't mean the wolf) a crab ( okay, you didn't mean the crab) how about... the ocean / milky way bubbles black pearls sea horses sea weed and tentacles, yeah sea foam strands of white pearls strands of DNA gene sequences sperm eggs atoms tube worms eels

Alex	06 Jan 2003
I didn't see the DNA and gene sequences though.

firemaiden	06 Jan 2003
kind of a joke... but kind of not, alternative interpretations of the strands of pearls...

Pollux	06 Jan 2003
OH well, I think I can see DNA too... *LOL* Dna enrolled around Istonic Units. I was looking forward to the day Biology would show up in my tarot interest! :cool: *In awe of the universal connectedness* Honestly, charming though it is, The DNA idea is slightly unlikely as well. One thing I would consider more is simply EGGS - small marine eggs laid by water creatures (turtles, crocodiles, fish...). The overall theme of the card is The Egg: the Triple Goddess as Demeter (not sure, my Spiral deck is not with me anymore. :() is contemplating the unexpressed potential and deep unconscious strength confined in the egg she's offering. The round egg shape is also linked to the Moon, obviously, throning behind the figure. Gosh, the Spiral is awesome! :D *LOL*

firemaiden	06 Jan 2003
Awesome! Isn't it though? Demeter or Hecate? or is it all the same? Don't you miss your deck? Nani nani nana... The egg she is holding has a fetus in it. Michel Tournier (my favorite French author) wrote that in the moon you could see twin fetusses. I guess others say yin yang. I just learned chinese dragons are considered guardians of the pearl. The pearl if associated with the moon/egg/fetus is like the Egg of the world hatched by the dragon Ophion, the egg from which all things in the world hatched -- such a cool analogy with the big bang, from which all matter and anti-matter "hatched" -- then I would love to see atoms and neutrons and protons in those little black and blue and white seeds of different sizes. The milky reflection of the moon in the water is like a flood of some kind of divine sperm. The moon card being associated with visions, I like the creation soup on the floor, thinking, all creation is in potential there, ready to emerge from the sea, just as all of creation exists as a potential image which could emerge from the seer's moon-lit scrying cauldron!!

nina	06 Jan 2003
Hello, How funny you mention Tournier! I just received The Ogre as a gift. I guess this is a sign I should read it. -Nina

Keslynn	06 Jan 2003
Demeter and Hecate are quite different. Demeter is associated with wheat or other types of grain. She's a fertility goddess associated sometimes with the hieros gamos (the sacred marriage) in which a young male and a young female reenacted the god fertilizing the ground (goddess). In some cultures, the youth was subsequently slain as a sacrifice. At least he died happy? She is associated most often with her daughter Kore/Persephone who was kidnapped by Hades. In her grief, she refuses to let crops grow while her daughter is in the underworld. Hence the seasons. Later Demeter was the goddess of the Eleusinian mysteries. Little is known about these rites because no one spoke of them. From what archaeologists and historians can tell, it was a mystery religion, in which initiates went through symbolic rebirth and were gifted with some sort of secret knowledge. Vague, I know, but that's all they've got. Hecate is associated with crossroads. Many ancient cultures believed that spirits of all sorts congregated at crossroads. Hecate is also associated with the underworld. She is said sometimes to run around with a 3 headed dog. Or was it three dogs? It's been a while since I looked up Hecate. But Hecate is most often thought of by modern pagans as the dark aspects of the moon. Demeter would be more the full moon. I actually think of her more as the Empress type because of her fertility connotations. Sorry that was long. I love mythology. :) Kes

firemaiden	06 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by nina Hello, How funny you mention Tournier! I just received The Ogre as a gift. I guess this is a sign I should read it. -Nina HI Nina, the ogre...what is the french title? Le Roi des Aulnes? I read them all, but mostly at least a decade ago. The one I most passionately recommend is "Vendredi ou les limbes du Pacifique" a re-writing of Robinson Crusoe, begins with a tarot card reading. That is my favorite of his works by far.

Emily	06 Jan 2003
According to the book, the Triple Moon Goddess's featured on this card are Hebe, Hera, and Hecate. Hebe the virgin new moon, ruling Spring season and new growth, Hera is the Mother, full moon ruling grain, harvest and Summer and Hecate is the crone, the dark moon goddess who rules the winter and dormant earth. The book goes into great detail, nearly 4 pages long, but I just thought I'd put names to the Goddess's :) Its on the Death card that the Triple Moon Goddess's mentioned but not shown, except Hecate, are Persephone the virgin moon, Demeter the full moon phase and Hecate the waning dark moon phase. Just thought I'd add that, just a little bit off topic lol :D

Pollux	07 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn She is said sometimes to run around with a 3 headed dog. Or was it three dogs? Nope, it's the three headed dog guarding the Gate, Kerberos - you can see it in the High Priestess (of the Spiral, obviously) sitting with the Pytia. Did I ever tell you I live very close by to the Antrum of the Sybyl? :D *LOL* Quote: But Hecate is most often thought of by modern pagans as the dark aspects of the moon. Mh... Actually I have just seen her associated to the Waning Moon, as the Wise Crone teaching and reaping. Generally the dark aspect of the moon is considered as the fourth face, and referred to as "the Secret Name of the Goddess", without any specific representation from pantheons. Anyway this is not on topic and secondly I don't know (obviously *LOL*) all the traditions followed by modern pagans. So mh... well... *hides in the cave* Quote: Demeter would be more the full moon. I actually think of her more as the Empress type because of her fertility connotations. Again I might be VERY VERY VERY wrong, but my doubt stemmed from the fact I clearly remembered Demeter in the Spiral WAS the EMPRESS. ;) *LOL* I just didn't believe the same goddess would appear here and here twice... Keslynn, do you have this deck? If you don't maybe you need it! }) *LOL* MYTHOLOGY RULEZ!

Pollux	07 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Emily According to the book, the Triple Moon Goddess's featured on this card are Hebe, Hera, and Hecate. YAY! This prooves I was wrong and I need my Spiral deck back soon! :D *LOL* Quote: Originally posted by Emily Its on the Death card that the Triple Moon Goddess's mentioned but not shown, except Hecate, are Persephone the virgin moon, Demeter the full moon phase and Hecate the waning dark moon phase. You mean shown but not mentioned? I can see the three faces. :confused:

Emily	07 Jan 2003
On the Death card its just Hecate who is shown, the other faces/and one whole figure are souls that she is catching. The book just gives a little background into the other Goddess's, Persphone going into the underworld, Demeter casting the world into famine. I was never much interested in mythology until I got these cards now I love to read about the myths especially Greek. Another thing about this Death card - I've never noticed the crow or the vulture before, I swear everytime I look at these cards I see something different lol

Pollux	07 Jan 2003
Mh... Crystalminx started a thread abvout the Spiral. What would you think if I split the threads and put those related to the deck in general, more or less from firemaiden's post "Awesome! Isn't it though? Demeter or Hecate? or is it all the same? (...) The milky reflection of the moon in the water is like a flood of some kind of divine sperm. (...) The moon card being associated with visions, (...)" in her Spiral Praise Thread? (Also, what do you think dear co-moddie?)

Keslynn	07 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Pollux Again I might be VERY VERY VERY wrong, but my doubt stemmed from the fact I clearly remembered Demeter in the Spiral WAS the EMPRESS. ;) *LOL* I just didn't believe the same goddess would appear here and here twice... Keslynn, do you have this deck? If you don't maybe you need it! }) *LOL* MYTHOLOGY RULEZ! Yes mythology does rule! I love it and this whole discussion brought it all back. And yes, I do have an passionately love this deck. I just lost the LWB so I didn't get a chance to look up exactly what goddesses were on the majors. I figured the Empress was Demeter, but I wasn't so sure because I didn't have the book. Thanks Emily! I was more explaining the difference between Demeter and Hecate in my post. You know, waxing philosophical... ;) *ducks thrown objects* :) Kes

Emily	08 Jan 2003
Hi Keslynn, I know I keep mentioning this book in all the Spiral forums :D but do you have it? This deck came alive for me once I'd read the book, if you love mythology then you might enjoy reading Kay Steventons descriptions of the cards( it really only applies to the Majors the Minors being done in an 18th style to honour her grandmother), all about Gods and Goddess's. :)

The what are those things on the floor thread was originally posted on 04 Jan 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.