WalesWoman
This is another very different card...the Maid and the Lion are there, hand in hand with an other worldly green Crone atop a serpent. Both women are various aspects of the Goddess, the young blossoming with love of life, innocent enthusiasm while the Crone represents the experience and wisdom that comes with age. Anna-Marie must have been delving a bit into Hebrewism as well, since she mentions serpent in Hebrew means "wisdom."
I thought it odd that the Crone is green, or maybe it's bad lighting. But then to be honest, when I look in the mirror these days at my face, my body, the new wrinkly skin on my hands and arms...I know I must be in some alien body other that the one I grew up with! This just isn't me! But I think that is another side of Strength...getting that young maid I am inside to accept the changes that come with age and experience, to look at them as honor marks for successfully surviving the directions life has taken us. The youth inside gives us the energy and enthusiasm to follow our passions that only the wisdom that comes from experience can channel in a constructive way. (Just wish the maid was less of a mental attitude and her strength more of a physical attribute these days)
Notice that the Maid rides astride, bareback, holding to the Lion's mane, that's a hard to keep a seat that way, takes a lot of courage, practice, discipline and trust, a good understanding between the rider and the lion to work together. The Crone uses reins, the Snake, almost makes a natural saddle for her so her ride seems more secure, more directed and in control. The symbolism between these two, is that unity, combining assets between equal partners brings strength and energy with direction. They are using all their potential, ah the maid is the motivating passion, the crone is the navaigating mind.
In the story, Percivale's vision, the young girl and the lion represent Christianity and the Crone represents the Old Religion. Which makes sense, since St. Patrick drove all the serpents from Ireland...which was double speak for driving out the Druids and the worship of pagen gods and goddesses. Makes me wonder if St. George, hailed for slaying dragons...was a Druid hunter. From stories I've read, wode was used to tatoo Druids and as they gained wisdom and status (?) dragons were tattooed on their forearms.
I sort of think the story bites big time...Percival is on the Quest for the Holy Grail and is tested. He finds himself marooned on an island and sees a battle going on between a serpent and a lion, so he kills the serpent (because in his reasoning the lion was the gentler of the two) ??? Hey I didn't write this story, but the lion thought he was his new best friend after that. That night he dreamed of two women, a young beautiful one riding the lion and an wrinkled old crone riding the serpent. The girl warned him that the next day he would have to battle the strongest of champions and if he failed he would "be shamed til the world's end," and disappeared. Then the crone told him the serpent he had killed was hers, but to make amends he could be her boy toy. He didn't think much of that, but she said she'd have him one way or another.
I'm sure Percivale must have been sure he was losing his mind, especially having a spectre, a ghost appear the next morning and told him to be strong, true of heart and the order of chivary. The maid and lion represented the "new law of the holy church, faith, good hope, belief and baptism." He told him the crone who rode the serpent was the old law and a fiend. Oh boy!
Along comes a ship, with a pretty young girl who had been disinherited and banished and wanted Percival's help. He being a knight in shining armor agrees, plus he gets a meal and a way off the island. She was quite charming and he was getting quite drunk and smitten...then he promised to serve only her and obey all of her commands if she would "fulfill his lusty desires" While she's undressing Percivale glimpses the crucifix on the pommel of his sword , made the sign of the cross and that was the end of that! Everything vanished in a cloud of smoke, but not with out the wind roaring her anger at his betrayal.
This part is too much, Percivale is so overcome with guilt and remorse for nearly succombing to temptation, so sure he is unworthy now to continue the Quest for the Grail, that he drives his sword into his thigh. Idiot!
The old man, who appeared as a spector and warned him that morning, reappeared just then with a ship and explained the beautiful young girl and the old crone, were one and the same- the Devil.
Excuse me! I'm just sick of women always being blamed for men's weaknesses. Before I go on a rant and offend anyone's religion...I do put the blame for most of the sick behavior and divants on this very thing, that sex is evil. Therefore lust is evil, therefore who you lust after must be evil to make you become obsessed by them...since men supposedly have sexual thoughts every 8 minutes...then women are evil for making them have them? ARRRGH!
OK, done with the rant.
I like Strength...it's ruled by the constellation, Leo. My sign...I'm not sure if I'm the Lion in need of taming or what, but...after this bit, I'm sure there is no doubt.
I thought it odd that the Crone is green, or maybe it's bad lighting. But then to be honest, when I look in the mirror these days at my face, my body, the new wrinkly skin on my hands and arms...I know I must be in some alien body other that the one I grew up with! This just isn't me! But I think that is another side of Strength...getting that young maid I am inside to accept the changes that come with age and experience, to look at them as honor marks for successfully surviving the directions life has taken us. The youth inside gives us the energy and enthusiasm to follow our passions that only the wisdom that comes from experience can channel in a constructive way. (Just wish the maid was less of a mental attitude and her strength more of a physical attribute these days)
Notice that the Maid rides astride, bareback, holding to the Lion's mane, that's a hard to keep a seat that way, takes a lot of courage, practice, discipline and trust, a good understanding between the rider and the lion to work together. The Crone uses reins, the Snake, almost makes a natural saddle for her so her ride seems more secure, more directed and in control. The symbolism between these two, is that unity, combining assets between equal partners brings strength and energy with direction. They are using all their potential, ah the maid is the motivating passion, the crone is the navaigating mind.
In the story, Percivale's vision, the young girl and the lion represent Christianity and the Crone represents the Old Religion. Which makes sense, since St. Patrick drove all the serpents from Ireland...which was double speak for driving out the Druids and the worship of pagen gods and goddesses. Makes me wonder if St. George, hailed for slaying dragons...was a Druid hunter. From stories I've read, wode was used to tatoo Druids and as they gained wisdom and status (?) dragons were tattooed on their forearms.
I sort of think the story bites big time...Percival is on the Quest for the Holy Grail and is tested. He finds himself marooned on an island and sees a battle going on between a serpent and a lion, so he kills the serpent (because in his reasoning the lion was the gentler of the two) ??? Hey I didn't write this story, but the lion thought he was his new best friend after that. That night he dreamed of two women, a young beautiful one riding the lion and an wrinkled old crone riding the serpent. The girl warned him that the next day he would have to battle the strongest of champions and if he failed he would "be shamed til the world's end," and disappeared. Then the crone told him the serpent he had killed was hers, but to make amends he could be her boy toy. He didn't think much of that, but she said she'd have him one way or another.
I'm sure Percivale must have been sure he was losing his mind, especially having a spectre, a ghost appear the next morning and told him to be strong, true of heart and the order of chivary. The maid and lion represented the "new law of the holy church, faith, good hope, belief and baptism." He told him the crone who rode the serpent was the old law and a fiend. Oh boy!
Along comes a ship, with a pretty young girl who had been disinherited and banished and wanted Percival's help. He being a knight in shining armor agrees, plus he gets a meal and a way off the island. She was quite charming and he was getting quite drunk and smitten...then he promised to serve only her and obey all of her commands if she would "fulfill his lusty desires" While she's undressing Percivale glimpses the crucifix on the pommel of his sword , made the sign of the cross and that was the end of that! Everything vanished in a cloud of smoke, but not with out the wind roaring her anger at his betrayal.
This part is too much, Percivale is so overcome with guilt and remorse for nearly succombing to temptation, so sure he is unworthy now to continue the Quest for the Grail, that he drives his sword into his thigh. Idiot!
The old man, who appeared as a spector and warned him that morning, reappeared just then with a ship and explained the beautiful young girl and the old crone, were one and the same- the Devil.
Excuse me! I'm just sick of women always being blamed for men's weaknesses. Before I go on a rant and offend anyone's religion...I do put the blame for most of the sick behavior and divants on this very thing, that sex is evil. Therefore lust is evil, therefore who you lust after must be evil to make you become obsessed by them...since men supposedly have sexual thoughts every 8 minutes...then women are evil for making them have them? ARRRGH!
OK, done with the rant.
I like Strength...it's ruled by the constellation, Leo. My sign...I'm not sure if I'm the Lion in need of taming or what, but...after this bit, I'm sure there is no doubt.