Mel's Old Fashioned Pips & Courts and Homemade Baked Goods

SolSionnach

Melanchollic said:
The Valet of Swords is indeed the key to how we must go about enduring the Enduring Struggle. He is Sparta. He is Samurai. He does what a man's gotta do, and stoically accepts the hardships. He lives for integrity and principle. The battlefields of history are littered with his bones but he feels his life has more purpose, honor, and satisfaction than all others. He lives for duty, and through him all great cultures have been forged, and the greatest of human achievements have been made thanks to his sacrifices and the protection it provides. Like the base of the tetractys which he symbolizes, he is the foundation on which civilizations have been built.
He rather sounds like the most principled among the Asatru to me. Honor, integrity, warriorship, etc.
 

Bernice

'Vana: He rather sounds like the most principled among the Asatru...

Ah yes! Rare to see the Asatru mentioned on a tarot forum.

Bee :)
 

Melanchollic

Note: I've added some pictures to post #156.
 

Melanchollic

That's the Dal Negro I Tarocchi dei Visconti Sforza.
 

SolSionnach

Bernice said:
Ah yes! Rare to see the Asatru mentioned on a tarot forum.

Bee :)
I've been reading some of Robin Artisson's writing again - that's what brought Asatru to mind... ;)
Melanchollic said:
That's the Dal Negro I Tarocchi dei Visconti Sforza.
Interesting how the pips aren't consistent in coloration. Are you sure all those cards are from the same deck?

That being said, my Meneghello Visconti shows similar inconsistencies.
 

Melanchollic

Bernice said:
Ah yes! Rare to see the Asatru mentioned on a tarot forum.

Bee :)


"The Old Gods are not dead... We are!”

~ Fiona Macleod
 

Melanchollic

Valet of Cups

VALET OF CUPS

Nicknames - "The Virtuoso"
Element - Air/Earth
Temper - Sanguine Melancholic
Power - all
Timing - random
Movement - random
Direction - East West axis
In the cycle of a year — none
In the cycle of a day — none
In the cycle of a life — none
Sex - both
Similar Cards - 3 Batons, 5 Batons, 9 Batons, Knight Batons, 4 Cups, 10 Cups



Like the 10 of Cups (Divine Wholeness), the Valet of Cups creates a balance between it's opposing parts (Air/Earth) and embraces differentiation. The qualities of Air give this Valet his inclination toward beauty and pleasure - the fine arts, craft, entertainment, etc. The qualities of Earth empower him to be meticulous, focused, and able to perfect and master his chosen form of expression. He may also be somewhat of a Renaissance man, having all four Powers present in his make up, and may be able to master several forms of expression. Da Vinci would fit with the Valet of Cups' profile.

We'll later see how, as the producer/creator of the Cups court, he is the foundation on which the Knight, Queen, and King depend, true to his position as the base of the Cups Tetractys.



cup-tetrasm.jpg
 

Melanchollic

Valet of Coins

VALET OF COINS

Nickname - "The Comfortable"
Element - Water/Earth
Temper - Phlegmatic/Melancholic
Power - Cold
Timing - Slow
Movement - Unifying
Direction - Northwest
In the cycle of a year - November/December
In the cycle of a day - Evening
In the cycle of a life - Age 49~56
Sex - Female
Similar Cards - 2 Batons, 6 Batons, 8 Batons, Queen Batons, 4 Coins, 10 Coins



This Valet's predominant Power is Cold, which is slow-moving, contracting, inward directed, yet uniting and sympathetic. He is safe and cautious with his money, but not to the point of discomfort. He is the foundation of a good economy, as symbolized by his position on the Coin Tetractys. He buys goods and services, but saves as well. He is a very middle-class suburban character. He is well to do and generous, and may enjoy 'uniting' friends and relatives with friendly, unpretentious dinners or get-togethers. His manifestation in the pips is the 10 of Coins, Gratitude, and he personifies an appreciation for homey comforts and middle-class pleasures, safe from the stresses of life in the 'fast lane', or the 'big-league'.
 

Melanchollic

Valet of Batons

VALET OF BATONS

Nickname - "The Industrious"
Element - Earth
Temper - Melancholic
Power - Cold/Dry
Timing - Slow/Long
Movement - Unifying/Rigid
Direction - West
In the cycle of a year - October
In the cycle of a day - Sunset
In the cycle of a life - Age 28~49
Sex - Female
Similar Cards - 10 Batons, 4 Batons



Here we have the well dignified Melancholic temperament - organized, dedicated, detailed, persistent, and serious. This Valet is the foundation of the Baton Tetractys. He is industrious and represents the principles on which the hierarchy of labors must be based. He represents not only diligence and the benefits of hard work, but an introspective quality, which give this character a deep insight into the need of purposefulness, and the satisfaction found in a life of usefulness and service. We must be careful, for the Melancholic slips easily into negative thinking, as seen by the connection of this card to the 4 of Batons which is Stagnation. One aspect of the Valet of Batons is that it serves as a reminder to hold on to our sense of purpose and usefulness, and not fall into the trap of viewing our labors as tedious hardships.