Kitchen Utensil Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

noby	29 Sep 2004
I was writing a journal entry last night and the word "funnel" jumped out at me, and I started thinking about the symbolism of it, which got me thinking about which card in the tarot deck it might correspond to... so I started playing around, trying to come up with a kitchen utensil major arcana. The Fool would be an empty glass or pot (unformed, original potential, ready to be filled). The High Priestess would be a glass or pot full of water (the waters of the subconscious, alchemical symbolism of "dissolution" associated with her). The Magician would be a spoon (can be used to stir, manipulate, and effect change, as well as calling to mind images of mentally bending spoons). Justice, a scale (duh). Others I wasn't so sure about... Empress - milk bottle? Hierophant - cookie cutter? I really wanted to include the funnel, but I wasn't sure where to use it - maybe Temperance? I'm not really satisfied with that. Anyone else have some ideas? :laugh:

Umbrae	29 Sep 2004
Hierophant – cookie cutter roflmao I think of the Hierophant more as a flour sifter… Vinegar and Oil = the Lovers The Chariot = Spatula Justice…Hmmmm I have to say the saltshaker. Since Justice is about certain behaviors, which serve to hold humanity as a cohesive group – the saltshaker…it takes the correct amout – too much and ‘something’s missing’. Too heavy handed…ick! Hanged man = garlic braid I like the funnel for the fool

catti	29 Sep 2004
the empress- an oven with stove on top ( buns baking inside, endless creativity) the chariot- electric mixers( power to get things moving , but watch how you put it in the mixture!) the moon- refridgerator ( hidden things inside, not what it seems from the front )

blackroseivy	29 Sep 2004
I definitley think that the funnel is The Star - she funnels the hope from Heaven in the card!

noby	29 Sep 2004
Umbrae - great, insightful ideas. I particularly like Justice as salt shaker and Hierophant as flour sifter. Vinegar and Oil as lovers is really clever too. Catti - oven with stove for the Empress is so perfect, and obvious, can't believe I didn't think of that one! And you know, I thought of the refridgerator as the Moon too. All sorts of possibilities and phenomena, it's up to the querent to figure out which ones are nourishing (real) and which ones are junk (illusion). There's also that eerie glow... :D I also like the mixer as the chariot - especially the mixers with two prongs, it even strangely fits the typical iconography. I love the funnel as the Star, danubhe! Wonderful interpretation of the symbolism. And I felt such a connection with the image of the funnel, and feel such a connection with the Star. Yay! :joke: Hmm... an obvious possibility for Hanged Man is a pan hanging over the stove - one has to be suspended in the state of the Hanged Man until one can be put into use (obvious iconography, but the symbolism on this one is a little more of a stretch)... Death as the big kitchen knife... obviously there's the association with death, but also the cutting away of what isn't needed during times of transition... The Devil could be the deluxe, shiny, expensive new cutlery kit that distracts one's attention through its materialistic splendor... Umbrae's idea also gave me another idea for the Lovers - salt and pepper shakers. They form a recognized pair, but they also represent choice and possibility - do I add salt to this dish, or pepper? Even though I wanted to avoid using food and restrict it just to utensils, I'd say a tempting possibility for The World would be the completed meal...

catti	29 Sep 2004
the world- the whole kitchen or perhaps a table set waiting the food complete with candles and flowers? judgement- the dish rack or dish washer? the emperor- an iron skillet wheel of fortune a circluar spice rack

xviiirkna	30 Sep 2004
There is a 'Kitchen Tarot' online, which began several years ago as a quilt art project and unfortunately seems there's been no updates for quite some time: http://www.turtlemoon.com/stuff/kitchen.htm I like their idea of the Fool as the colander...and the Hierophant is a cookbook - very good. I like your idea of the pan hanging over the stove. It could be 'The Hanged Pan'...and you'd see the pot rack hanging over the stove, with all sorts of skillets and saucepans bubbling and steaming - and the ONE LONE HANGED PAN still dangling from the rack above. Will it be selected to cook this particular meal? And if not this time...then when? How about The Moon...the mysterious containers at the back of the fridge that you fear to open. Death - the trash can...sitting beside the recycle bin. The Tower - a collapsed souffle Temperance - defrosting the freezer Lots of fun possibilities with this one! Blessings, Sally Anne

Ace	30 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by danubhe I definitley think that the funnel is The Star - she funnels the hope from Heaven in the card! Thanks, Danubhe! I thought the funnel was the star too, but I couldn't come up with why! And Ace of Wands is a rolling pin and ace of Swords is a good sharp paring knife. And Ace of Cups is a pitcher-full of good stuff! but what would do for a fork? Ace of Pentacles a tray (for carrying in all that good stuff) or an empty table- 10 of P is the groaning board.... The world could be a set table (not the whole kitchen but results ready to be partaken of) This is fun: the devil as chocolate candies or very rich ice cream treat or something else that you KNOW will make you sick to eat all of but you can't resist.

xviiirkna	30 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace the devil as chocolate candies or very rich ice cream treat or something else that you KNOW will make you sick to eat all of but you can't resist. How about with his hands caught in the cookie jar? Or maybe that would be the Seven of Swords? }) Blessings, Sally Anne

Ace	01 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by xviiirkna How about with his hands caught in the cookie jar? Or maybe that would be the Seven of Swords? 7 of Swords, the Devil is what you aren't supposed to have and have all kinds of mixed feelings about taking. (LIke a sweet while on a diet) which you can actually have if you would just relax! On the other hand, the 7 of Swords is sneaking and taking (what isn't yours, at all.)

noby	01 Oct 2004
Thought of some new ones: Hanged Man - Can and electric can opener. The can "hangs" from the magnet and must sacrifice some aspect of itself in order to be opened and release its contents. Emperor - Measuring cup. The measuring cup creates structure and order, regulates how much of an ingredient is used. It "measures up" the contents just as a father or authority figure measures us up or we measure ourselves up to them. Temperance - Blender. It mixes and combines things, balancing them by completely mixing several disparate contents into one single mixture. I also thought of a non major arcana one: Six of Cups - Cookie jar. It represents happiness, enjoyment, and nostalgia for childhood.

noby	01 Oct 2004
Thought of another one: Strength - tongs Usually made with strong metal, they have strength and the power to control but without brawn or showiness. They do what they have to do with grace and precise, focused ability. They can be used to carefully and patiently extract individual contents from a burning-hot pot without harming the contents or being harmed. Their grip can tightly hold many things, but with a gentle touch.

noby	01 Oct 2004
One more: Tower - timer The big cause of many kitchen disasters is time - things sometimes come out undercooked, but usually the problem is that they were cooked too long, becoming hardened and burned. The maddening buzz of the timer often heralds the impending doom of something which, removed from a heat source too late, fills the room with smoke. But this experience can often lead to insight, the re-examining of fixed ideas, and sometimes is the only way to learn how to cook well. And time itself reveals all things - as Gillian Welch sings, "Time's the revelator."

noby	01 Oct 2004
Any ideas for the Sun or the Hermit?

xviiirkna	01 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by noby Any ideas for the Sun or the Hermit? The Sun - a citrus juicer The Hermit - the inside of the refrigerator...for those who wonder if the light stays on when the door is closed? ;) Blessings, Sally Anne

SFGMaster	01 Oct 2004
I think the Devil ought to be one of those expensive electric kitchen gadgets that only makes one thing, like a Triangle-Shaped-Toasted-Sandwich Machine, or something. You feel the strong desire to own it and experience the Triangle-Shaped Toasted Sandwiches, yet you know in your heart it's totally impractical and will just waste cupboard space. It's the forbidden desire of the kitchen! :D (or are Triangle-Shaped-Toasted-Sandwich Machines just a guy thing? I have one and never use it anymore, but those Triangle-Shaped Toasted Sandwiches sure are delicious.) --:TKNC

Bluemanticore	02 Oct 2004
I love the idea of Death as being the garbage can next to the recycle bin. One that came to my mind is a fully laid out kitchen table for World.

genie	02 Oct 2004
To me a funnel represent gravity, this being sucked in a downward spiral by the powerful influence of gravity. Like The Sun. It holds all our planets tightly together. Judgment would be measuring spoons and cups. The Devil is the fridge, everytime I open it I am tempted and have to make a choice. Healthy? Or crappy? The Tower, to me, might be that cabinet stacked full of cans and crap. It's a real obstacle course every time I have to go in there and find the little jar of boullion cubes. The Emporer is the microwave, 'cause he/it gets things done! The Star is the kitchen window--so while I'm washing dishes I can look out to better things. Brighter things. What's the coffee maker?? Death? Because it transforms us into a being that is capable of speech and thought after we've had some coffee from it? The Fool is the electric mixer to me. Lots and lots of possibilities and potential. Or maybe he's the Quisinart! Judgment, yeah, definitely the timer. The High Priestess of my kitchen would be my cookbooks. All truth be there! The Wheel of Fortune is leftovers. You just never know how they'll go over. But it's usually good! The Chariot is my dishwasher because it's such a relief/victory to have one! And if it's moving and shaking, then I'm probably sitting down relaxing.

catti	04 Oct 2004
the lovers- a toaster set things to high and youll get burned

Bluemanticore	05 Oct 2004
Or maybe for Lovers, two candlesticks, set out for a romatic dinner. :)

The Kitchen Utensil Tarot thread was originally posted on 29 Sep 2004 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.