afrosaxon
The card shows the Mambo locked into a passionate embrace with the snake (this is a red snake, which more closely represents Damballah, the Supreme Snake God). She's actually using the snake to support herself while they exchange fiery breath. They are suspended above a lake of lava.
While this card does have sexual overtones, in an upright position I take it to mean that one is embracing or riding one's passions (sexual or otherwise) and keeping a firm grip on them. The sky is the darkened blue of twilight (or pre-dawn), and the grass is growing.
In a reversed state, the passion rides the querent. Common sense is lost as passion takes over, to the querent's detriment. The Mambo loses her grip on the snake and falls into the fiery lake.
Note that the snake may or may not be harmed; on one hand, it looks as if he is coming out of the fiery lake himself and thus is of it and cannot be harmed. On the other hand, the snake may be balancing on its tail to avoid being burned, since the tail may be less sensitized than the rest of the body.
Thoughts?
T.
While this card does have sexual overtones, in an upright position I take it to mean that one is embracing or riding one's passions (sexual or otherwise) and keeping a firm grip on them. The sky is the darkened blue of twilight (or pre-dawn), and the grass is growing.
In a reversed state, the passion rides the querent. Common sense is lost as passion takes over, to the querent's detriment. The Mambo loses her grip on the snake and falls into the fiery lake.
Note that the snake may or may not be harmed; on one hand, it looks as if he is coming out of the fiery lake himself and thus is of it and cannot be harmed. On the other hand, the snake may be balancing on its tail to avoid being burned, since the tail may be less sensitized than the rest of the body.
Thoughts?
T.