Three of Wands + XV :"chanelling the Devil"

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	09 Aug 2003
Okay, a bit of background here, in spirituality I started a thread Artist as Medium in which I describe the earth-shattering effect violinist Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg has on me (and everyone else) . Now listen, listen, something amazing just happened, is this incredible or what???? I am listening to Nadja's recording of the Brahms Violin Concerto. Just for a lark, I pull out the cards, to ask who is .... I mean, what this music is all about, why this performance is so powerful. (No, no, no, I am not doing a third party reading, don't say that! stooooooop!) So tell me, WHAT CARD DO YOU THINK TURNED UP?? Right, THE DEVIL. (Think Devil as passion, as volcanic creative force) Okay, then, I decided just for a lark to draw one more card, and it was THE THREE OF WANDS. Now, about the Three of Wands, Mojo wrote it is "channeled energy leads to success."... sure, Mojo didn't necessarily mean "Channeling" with a capital C, yet, the word is there, and the two cards together seem to echo what I wrote above: NO really, what other card did I expect? given that I wrote just yesterday Quote: When she plays, she seems so totally possessed, chanelling something almost demonic I'll take this as my lesson for the day, to be successful as an artist, channel that diabolical passion. Thank you Nadja!!

Elle	09 Aug 2003
I knew there would be some good way to "channel" the energy from the Devil - something more positive to do with all of that - channel it into a craft such as music or art. Can hynotize and entrance others with the talent - with positive results. Sounds so much better than negative obsessions that can murder a soul. Warmest, Elle

genna	09 Aug 2003
Sublimation,I believe it is called... EDIT;spelling.

carrielynnsim	10 Aug 2003
That is amazing! Thanks for posting this, I always enjoy reading new things about the devil. Carrie

firemaiden	10 Aug 2003
Hey Carrielynsim, thanks for finding it amazing. I was blown away, I mean, look, here was the very thing I was thinking about this electrifying performance, and to see my own thoughts reflected right back at me in the tarot was just mind-boggling. I mean, what else did I expect, except the Devil. Mind you, the Devil and I get along great. I don't consider the Devil any kind of evil entity, just phenomenal creative energy, that sometimes can get us into trouble if not directed the right way. So there you have that three of wands -- putting it all into focus, giving a goal and a direction. Aaaah. I remember of course, that great violinists have often been seen to embody the devil. That was what people thought about Paganini. Violin makers too, are often seen as dealing with the devil-- there is some magical aspect of the craft -- which is how do you get the SOUL in to the violin?? -- Which virgin has to die young to infuse the wood with such spririt? Has anyone seen the movie of the Red Violin? The violin itself is sort of possessed, given its magical voice through the blood of the violinmaker's wife. There is also a story by ETA Hoffmann (one of the tales that was dramatized in the opera the Tales of Hoffmann) --(Rat Krespel, I think) -- it is about a violin maker whose daughter - a singer - dies and gives her voice to the violin. (if I remember correctly, I need to find this story again) ahhh, don't mind me, just a bit excited, listening to Prokofiev's violin concerto #1 now. The most possessed piece!!

oceanpoetry	10 Aug 2003
Firemaiden, have you seen the movie "The Red Violin" it is the story of a violin, wow you would love it, especially now viewing it with this connection. Thanks for sharing, this is the first time I have realized there is a positive way to view the Devil.

firemaiden	10 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by oceanpoetry Firemaiden, have you seen the movie "The Red Violin" it is the story of a violin, wow you would love it, especially now viewing it with this connection. Thanks for sharing, this is the first time I have realized there is a positive way to view the Devil. Hi, Oceanpoetry, yes indeed, I have seen the movie the Red Violin, as a matter of fact, I had just mentioned it above you, probably I was writing my post about the Red Violin the same time you were!

firemaiden	10 Aug 2003
It just occurs to me, the violin is, along with the trident, one of the devil's traditional acoutrements -- perhaps as a metaphore for the human soul, which the Devil can manipulate. I am thinking now of Stravinky's narrative/ballet - l'Histoire du Soldat -- synopses:l'histoire du soldat Quote: A young soldier sells his violin (metaphor for his soul) to the devil in exchange for a book that will bring him lots of money. On returning home, he realises, but a little late, that without music, he is merely the "living-dead", that he is nothing more than a shadow of himself. Consoled by the lure of gain that this magic book initially brings him, he realises that he can buy everything, except… that which cannot be bought! He tears up the book, flees his country and this devilish fortune and goes to try his luck, as a simple soldier, with a princess who is "sleeping for evermore" and whom her father, the king, is trying to cure. But he no longer has his violin to bring her out of this spell. And who should then appear on the scene? None other than… the devil… The soldier plays cards with the devil and wins back the violin and his soul :). Also, Klaus Kinski did a movie about the life of Paganini: Kinski Paganini -- it exploits the "diabolical" association people had with the violinist. --quoting from that page: Quote: Klaus Kinski believed that he lived through the same experiences as the legendary "devil violinist" Paganini, who set whole Europe of the 19th century into frenzy and through whose personality Klaus Kinski offers us an incredibly profound and honest insight into his own life; a life of extremities. The background of this roller coaster ride through the life of Kinski-Paganini is a spectacular concert, at which Paganini as "diabolical vampire with a violin" with his emotionally irresistible music, sets the audience on fire. Thus Kinski-Paganini leads us through segments of his past and, like a diabolical magician, foretells and envisions for us his unavoidable destiny. During the overpower performance of Paganini´s music we relive, through the unchecked mind of the demoniacal virtuoso, the main episodes of his damned life that was continually dominated by his three great passions: the violin, women and money. ... P.S. Am I right in remembering the Devil on the Spiral deck has a violin in his hand?

oceanpoetry	10 Aug 2003
Thanks, Diana, for linking that thread! That makes "the devil" a so much more complex archetype than just being "the bad guy" who holds people in bondage through fears and desires (which is how I had been interpreting the Devil). The Devil actually calls our attention to areas where we need to break free, how interesting! That is where I also see the connection with creativity, because we have to be willing to break free of restrictions / limitations to express universal truths in a new way (art). Firemaiden, I read your post, but didn't realize we were talking about the same story/ movie, LOL! It has been awhile since I have seen the "Red Violin" so the details of the story are kind of fuzzy for me. But I remember I thought it was a sad and beautiful movie.

firemaiden	10 Aug 2003
HI regarding the Red Violin, Oceanpoetry, I don't think many people realized the symbolism behind the story of the making of the violin, and the mother's death. That is because not many people know that the French movies are dripping with influence from the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann. La double vie de Véronique was another french movie chock full of references to Hoffmann. I mean, it was E.T.A. Hoffman who pretty much inspired the whole movement of romanticism in literature, and these films are taking off from there, I suspect.

The Three of Wands + XV :"chanelling the Devil" thread was originally posted on 09 Aug 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.