tarots and sexuality
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| lou |
03 Dec 2003 |
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I was asking myself which kind of sensuality/sexuality, type of taste, 'mood', desires, are expressed and carried on by each card. generally, one think that there are only a few cards that express this concept, like for instace' the devil' exc. but...in a general question as ' what does he or she feel for me? what kind of attraction does he or she has? ' the devil doesn't come out as a general indication of that and at its place we have the high priestess for example? would the high priestess bring some sexual indication as well?
sorry for my english and my intricate question, i'm italian and new to this site. thanks anyway for attention and answers you would give me!
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| Moonbow* |
03 Dec 2003 |
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Hi Lou
I think this is a good question, I wish my Italian was as good as your english. Uno dou tres quatro cingue sie (or something like that) - as you can see I can't spell in Italian either!
Anyway, now I've made a fool of myself. I dont necessarily link sensuality and sexuality with cards like Devil, high priestess, or even lovers look at this one (I have used this link before in a link about favourite cards but its so lovely)
http://www.learntarot.com/ohc10.gif
Moonbow* :)
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| destinyawaitsme |
03 Dec 2003 |
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Wow this is a good question. I think the answer to this can only be determined intuitively. I think that all the cards can relate to any situation. Like the 10 of Pentacles (typically seen as a money card) can mean that a person likes to keep things conservative when it comes to sexuality...a real by the book person. 2 of Wands could indicate someone who's kind of kinky...always out there to try new things in the bedroom. I think it all depends on the context of the question, position, and surrounding cards. That's one of the wonderful things about tarot is that the cards are so versatile for every situation.
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| Inana |
04 Dec 2003 |
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Hi Lou!!
Mmmmmmh... the meaning can change a lot. I agree with what has been said. Its all on applyng the personality of the card in this area.
About the High Priestess in this context...
She can be an idealized woman sitting on her throne, waiting, distant in some aspects that seems cold or unreacheable at times. She is experiencied and always can teach you, involved on mistery, expect something different and deep from her.
But it can also represent virginity if you relate the veil with more physiological aspects.
An interesting question.
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| Marion |
04 Dec 2003 |
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With my Thoth Tarot I have been reading the book, and according to Crowley all the cards can be associated with aspects of sexuality! The High priestess can be a very sexually experienced woman... catboxer called her the waitress at the Pomegranite Cafe. Do not see her always as this distant pristine virgin, she can be a woman who knows all and says little!
Wands are often a suit indictating an ardent nature. 8 of wands for sure! Also the Ace, but most of the wands. And that stud, the Knight of Wands!!
Some of the Cups are more romantic love, which is not without its physical side and disks can be more a kind of physical earthy love. I think Crowley had a point, there are as many aspects to that side of the expression of love as there are to love itself as an emotion.
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| Alex |
04 Dec 2003 |
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It often strikes me to see the following pattern repeated in reading interpretations:
@ People tend to associate the suit of pentacles with sex, and the suit of cups with feelings, in readings that involve relationships.
@ When only pentacles come up in such readings, the reader assumes that "there's sex but not love"
@ When many cups come up, the reader assumes that there is love, but probably no material security to sustain the relationship.
However, I strongly believe that "love" as we ordinarily refer to it, is of a physiological nature, i.e., pertain the suit of pentacles.
When I see only pentacles, I tend to think there's sex going on and there's love and attachement. When I see only cups, I tend to think of a deep friendship or spiritual connection.
If you interview 100 people and ask what is love, you may hear words such as fear, shaking, flushing, weakness, and stammering. Indeed, when human beings are attracted to one another, it sets off quite a chain reaction in the body and brain.
Love has chemical names such as phenylethylamine, norepinephrine, dopamine (both responsible for the feeling of being high when in love), oxytocin, sometimes known as "the cuddle chemical." (attachement hormon).
The production of most of the hormons cited above is enhanced by sexual activity.
Therefore, sex AND love (or at least ordinary love) beloing in the suit of pentacles.
Spiritual love, however, that love we feel for friends, for humankind, for the poor, for jesus, or for god, love that transcends this life, this world, that love one may be more related to the suit of cups.
Alex.
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| Alex |
04 Dec 2003 |
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If you have the Osho Zen deck please stare at the 4 or wands and tell me what you see.
Alex.
Originally posted by Marion
With my Thoth Tarot I have been reading the book, and according to Crowley all the cards can be associated with aspects of sexuality! The High priestess can be a very sexually experienced woman... catboxer called her the waitress at the Pomegranite Cafe. Do not see her always as this distant pristine virgin, she can be a woman who knows all and says little!
Wands are often a suit indictating an ardent nature. 8 of wands for sure! Also the Ace, but most of the wands. And that stud, the Knight of Wands!!
Some of the Cups are more romantic love, which is not without its physical side and disks can be more a kind of physical earthy love. I think Crowley had a point, there are as many aspects to that side of the expression of love as there are to love itself as an emotion.
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| Moonbow* |
05 Dec 2003 |
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Hi Alex,
I've just got this set out of my wardrobe for the first time in ages. Firstly I have to say I have had this set since about March this year and I think I've only done a few readings with it. I love these cards but I would use them more for myself because they seem to say 'self help deck' to me. I would love to use them more for readings for other people. In fact I'm going to. (just too many decks to choose from, I guess)
Anyway, your question is tricky because what I have done is read the book right through and I know what the book says about this card. But heres what I see: The background attracts me most, I see a big fluffed up cushion or bed, a soft landing, comfort. The middle, I have always thought as being a flower or 4-leafed clover (the lucky clover). --- now when I come to think of it thats not a bad description of the card meaning is it? -----
This is good fun
Moonbow* :)
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| Kiama |
05 Dec 2003 |
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There is a Tarot deck called the Tarot Sutra that looks at each individual card in relation to different aspects of sexuality/sensuality. It's quite rubbish as a reading deck, but it makes interesting reading (the book).
Kiama
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| Moongold |
05 Dec 2003 |
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Interesting thread.
I see each of the suits as having some relevance to sexuality, depending on the question and the context.
What are we revealing about ourselves here? :D :laugh: :joke: :)
This is a kind of Tarot Rorschach test?
Taking someone else's comment further, the High Priestess is a card with qyite different sexual associations than the Empress, but they are certainly there.
Moongold
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| lou |
05 Dec 2003 |
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mhhhh...yes, it could be we might have a rorschach test here !!
well, sexuality being quite a personal, really unconscious matter most of the time... i was questioning about this because i personally experienced a person seeing me as a high priestess person, but this didnt match a lot with the idea of 'the situation' i made up by myself. (i thought he considerd me a good 'aunty' presence by this card, but unfortunatly not animally attracted by me!! LOL!!)( talking later to him, i discoverd some matches in the way he consider women in general, and what he likes and what attracts him in a woman).
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| Diana |
05 Dec 2003 |
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High Priestess is very sexual - probably the most sexual of them all. In the Rider Waite decks, the Empress is considered to be the "mother" but in the Marseilles decks, it's definitely the Papess (High Priestess). The Papess is the spirit entering into matter; the Empress is spirit into spirit. Papess is the first feminine card in the Tarot. (In the Tarot, the even numbers are feminine, the odd numbers are masculine). (The more I think about it, the more I think the Rider Waite interpretations of the cards are really weird.) Mothers are very sexual beings - they have to be to have had children.
Strength in the Marseilles often refers to sexual things too - she holds the lion close to her sexual parts.
But of course, as sex is so much of a strong human instinct and is to important for healthy living, I think one could read this aspect in any of the cards if it was found important in the reading. One has to follow one's instinct, and even more important, read the cards in relation to the other cards that surround it.
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The tarots and sexuality thread was originally posted on 03 Dec 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.
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