magpie9 said:
I always end up disappointed with Lisa Hunt's decks--there's inevitably a big disagreement between her mythology and mine. I can't ever actually read with them, and it's always such a disappointment, because she's such a good artist. I think I'll just pass on this one, with The Morrigan as Empress it's just too much of a stretch for me, right out of the barn. And I expect she's done swords and fire and wands as air yet again.
Hi Magpie9, like you and Faunabay, I have been challenged in connecting with Lisa and DJ's decks, though I LOVE the art. The Animals Divine (by Lisa) was a total bust for me. I am researching these points people bring up, because I am really really wanting to like this deck, and for it to be a deck I use. So with that said, like with Sarvana, I am not trying to change or contradict your opionion, but as I am not that well versed in mythology thought I would google to see if I could get some insight into the choice of the Morrigan for the Empress card. I believe I found my answer at the following web site, from which I have cut and pasted a quote:
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/morrigan.html
"Origin
The origins of the Morrigan seem to reach directly back to the megalithic cult of the Mothers. The Mothers (Matrones, Idises, Disir, etc.) usually appeared as triple goddesses and their cult was expressed through both battle ecstasy and regenerative ecstasy. It's also interesting to note that later Celtic goddesses of sovereignty, such as the trio of Eriu, Banba, and Fotla, also appear as a trio of female deities who use magic in warfare. "Influence in the sphere of warfare, but by means of magic and incantation rather than through physical strength, is common to these beings." (Ross 205) "
After reading this, I gather that they are focusing on the "mother" aspect of teh Empress perhpas the "regenerative ecstasy", "soverignty" ... and as a sovereign and mother her willingness to do battle??? They are including a darker aspect of the Empress ... just my thoughts. They could also be strictly focusing on the positive side of the Morrigan and ignoring her battling tendencies all together.
I have been exploring the Celtic Dragon in the "78 Weeks" study group, and one thing I have noticed is that within using the theme some of the overall meanings we have for a specific card are sacrificed for purposes of the theme (part of my study is comparing the CD to the RWS). This deck may have to do the same with some cards, due to the theme they will not convey the total mythological or tarot meaning, but there will be an intersection of the two. Does this make sense???
As for the fire/swords, air/wands, I am pretty sure DJ and Lisa will do that. Their reasoning is based on pagan rituals where wands direct the will, and swords are active magical tools. This is how it is explained in the intro of the CD book. I prefer the fire/wands, swords/air alignment personally but I can see where they are coming from.
OK I am done rambling now