Crow's Magick - Most Resonant Card
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Namaste |
08 Mar 2005 |
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In an attempt to start the ball rolling on the informal discussions of this intriguing deck, I thought I would start with the card(s) (Majors and Minors) that resonate the most with me.
I would love to hear from all of you, who also enjoy Crow's Magick, as to which card(s) resonate the most with you.
I confess that, as far as the Majors are concerned, I am torn between the Fool and the Lovers.
I've just noticed that the eagle that spreads its wings in The Lovers is the same, although smaller, than the one that appears on the High Priestess card. The 6 is my personal number and so The Lovers becomes my personal card. Is this why it attracts me, I wonder?
Intuitively, this card suggests the fascination with, but also danger of duality and the fact that no matter the connection between the sexes (like two sides of the same coin), we must maintain our independence, relating to each other as equals. It further suggests to me that only in this way will both people, who relate to each other, be empowered. I am also getting a strong sense, from this card, that whatever decisions we make, we must make alone. Yes, we can turn to others for advice and support, but, ultimately, the responsibility of deciding rests with each individual.
I have never been able to see the serpent as evil (as per the Judeo-Christian or Chinese traditions, for example). The serpent has always been, for me, a being of extraordinary resourcefulness and power. I have only to think of the feathered serpent of the Aztec Quetzalcoatl, the Celtic association of horned serpents to Cernunnos, the Ancient Egyptians' dualistic attitude towards the serpent as both a force for evil or good, and, last but not least, the Australian Aborigenes' reverence for the creator Rainnbow Serpent. In this card, it is coiled, in attack stance, at the feet of the lovers, dividing them? protecting them?
Another idea... the serpent (of the earth), in attack stance, is balanced by the eagle (of the heavens), wings spread, talons ready (also in attack stance), mirroring the harmony that must exist between the male and female principles???
Am I making any sense? :laugh:
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| WolfSpirit |
09 Mar 2005 |
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Namaste I also love the Fool card. But the card that made me really interested in this deck was the Moon card. In most decks I love the Moon card - it is so beautiful and mysterious. The blue moon and the silhouettes of two flying crows against the moon, all this is an image I can relate to very well.
For the minors I have the following favourites (although it is hard to choose, there are many more...):
9 of coins: that family of lions just represents harmony and contentment.
Also like the little details, like the ladder in the background (for picking the fruit)
7 of wands: I like most wands, for their warm colours and the coloured feather attached to them. But I like this one most of all, with the raccoon.
8 of coins: the whole composition of the silhouette of the owl in the moon, the pile of tarot books and the butterfly.
I agree with you that the snake is not negative - it is also the symbol of medicine. And a woman from the Caribbean once told me that where she came from it was very bad luck to kill a snake, as they were considered holy.
I like the bird in the Lovers card, it looks like he is giving his blessing.
Maybe like the RWS with the angel above the lovers ?
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| Namaste |
09 Mar 2005 |
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I was just going to say that as far as the minors are concerned, I, too, love the 8 of coins.
I find it interesting that Londa should have chosen to combine the owl (wisdom) and the books (knowledge) with coins, which we all know represent physical manifestation, possessions, practicality, etc.
Your comment about snakes is interesting and further corroborates my own feelings about this much maligned reptile.
If the eagle (which I take to be the bird above the lovers and Crow's Fool) is often associated with nobility, divine glory, military might, sometimes with Christ, heroism or the sun, what you say about its connection to the RWS angel is extremely pertinent.
Doesn't the United States of America sometimes portray the Great White eagle as its protector?
The eagle appears everywhere in this deck. I never thought to like any death card, but I confess that the Crow's death card is eloquent and striking. Isn't it interesting that the artist chose to portray everything that we associate with death as an eagle, albeit one that appears to be missing parts of its body? It's as though, for once, the bird of prey had been defeated (temporarily, at least) by its traditional prey, the snake; as if suddenly the life force the eagle represents is in jeopardy...
Then we have the victorious, white/light grey eagle that is the fool, suggesting that it is anything but foolish.
What do you think that single, falling feather might mean?
Do you, or does anyone else here at AT (for those who might be reading this thread), ever read with these cards?
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| annik |
09 Mar 2005 |
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I find this deck a bit enigmatic. I haven't done any reading with it yet but I was thinking of drawing my daily card with this particuliar deck in a near future. I discovered that drawing a daily card helped me to go a little bit farther and a bit deeper into the possible layers.
In the major arcana, I like the Chariot. Each time I see this card, I think of Stephen King.
In the minor arcana, I particuliarly like the 7 of swords and the 4 of swords.
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| Rhiannon SW |
14 Mar 2005 |
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I bought this deck because just before my father passed over I was sitting in my car in parking lot no one around and it was snowing. I happened to look down to my left and there was a crow staring at me trying to send me a message I've no doubt. Just one crow no others in sight and sat there just looking me in eye for a good few minutes then my friend came out to car and he flew off. We were debating all day whether to go to my dads room and do a passing over ritual to let him know it was ok to move on. He passed about 3 hrs after I saw the crow.
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| Namaste |
14 Mar 2005 |
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I bought this deck because just before my father passed over I was sitting in my car in parking lot no one around and it was snowing. I happened to look down to my left and there was a crow staring at me trying to send me a message I've no doubt. Just one crow no others in sight and sat there just looking me in eye for a good few minutes then my friend came out to car and he flew off. We were debating all day whether to go to my dads room and do a passing over ritual to let him know it was ok to move on. He passed about 3 hrs after I saw the crow.
The passing into transition is always harder for those who stay than for those who go. My condolences, Rhiannon...
I think Crow's Magick will become a very important deck for you. I look forward to your insights. :)
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| Namaste |
14 Mar 2005 |
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I find this deck a bit enigmatic. I haven't done any reading with it yet but I was thinking of drawing my daily card with this particuliar deck in a near future. I discovered that drawing a daily card helped me to go a little bit farther and a bit deeper into the possible layers.
In the major arcana, I like the Chariot. Each time I see this card, I think of Stephen King.
In the minor arcana, I particuliarly like the 7 of swords and the 4 of swords.
It is very enigmatic. I even got the book, so I could understand some of the imagery better. :)
The swords are amazing in this deck...
Hmmm.. Stephen King, huh? Interesting. I thought of film noire... :)
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| Rhiannon SW |
14 Mar 2005 |
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Is the book worth getting? I looked for it yesterday a B & N but none. So I need to order it over net. Do you think it would be wise to get the book to better understand the deck?
Thank You for the words about my dad. He passed was on dec. 26 2000.
I have been very interested in studying anything having to do with crows.
Not to get off topic but at my dads funeral I had a vision of Dominoes. After his passing my good friend passed labor day 2001, then sept 2002 my step dad, then april 29th 2003 my mom and my aunt dec 7th 2004. Now I know what the dominoes meant.
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| WolfSpirit |
15 Mar 2005 |
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Hi Rhiannon ~ I think the book can explain some of the images better, for example, in the Hanged Man, she explains there are two roads stretching out behind him, one right side up, one upside down, and it is up to you to decide which one you want to travel. I would not have seen this without the book.
I must admit though I am not really a fan of Londa Marks' writing, sometimes I take it with an enormous pinch of salt. She describes some animals in the cards as "evil" or "demons" - maybe that is just her dramatic writing, but I don't like it.
The 8 of wands shows an alligator and she tells
...He'll bite into you so quickly, you won't know what hit you...(snip)...Insects swarm over your limp, lifeless body. Quicksand sucks you down. Disgusting smells fill the hot swampy air while vultures hover above....
Good grief :P Imagine telling this to a querent ! I think she likes Edgar Ellan Poe a bit too much.
The book is good though to explain the keywords she uses, which are different from the meanings in other traditions (like RWS or Thoth).
Also the book is usually not expensive.
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| Namaste |
15 Mar 2005 |
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I join my voice to WolfSpirit's. There is much I don't like about Londa's writing also, including the denigration of some animals, but the book does help to understand some of the intentions behind the imagery.
You can get it on ebay quite inexpensively. :)
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| Rhiannon SW |
15 Mar 2005 |
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Thanks I do find the deck to be on the dark side and to me more male energy oriented. I may be wrong but just my perception.
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The Crow's Magick - Most Resonant Card thread was originally posted on 08 Mar 2005 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.
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