Rosanne
After reading with interest several threads about Astrology in the 'down under' Which also includes by definition New Zealand and South Africa and several countries of the Americas....I wondered in my wee brain...
How come a game and laterly a divination device born in the Northern Hemisphere can have relevance to colonised lands and their people?
I personally have thrown off the shackles of Northern domination in my approach to myth and legend, and have adopted the Polynesian astrology of the first Nation (Maori). The seasons are different, as is the land-the culture for my country at least is a melting pot. I have retained the culture of celtic peoples in attitude to Education, Justice and Food production and preparation. Most of the Archetypal cards (if you consider Tarot is archetypal) have no relevance; I doubt that anyone could name an Empress from history or consider the Virtue of Temperance in any coherent way.(that is, I admit a massive overstatement)
It all reminds me a bit of Freemasonry. The numbers of Masons is declining at a rapid rate in the antipodes. Since all information became available and the mystery gone mostly- the decline of membership has accelerated. I have noticed this has happened with Tarot history on this forum. We rapidly cycle through fads and our attention is short....Playstation has declined as has X Box. Cards that are pap to the polulace are everywhere...and they are about nature and show our lands down here and our animals. Greeting cards are culturally sensitive now..no longer Santa in the snow with red Robbins chirping and sleigh bells ringing.
Now in times of Finacial duress, Fortune telling has always increased historically. Not this time apparently! Home cooking and baking is the fad the helps people through. Whatever the dernier cri is..it is not Tarot down under it seems to me. Even blogging is dying along with twitter and facebook.
Does tarot have relevance still for us here in the New lands?
What is your experience?
~Rosanne
How come a game and laterly a divination device born in the Northern Hemisphere can have relevance to colonised lands and their people?
I personally have thrown off the shackles of Northern domination in my approach to myth and legend, and have adopted the Polynesian astrology of the first Nation (Maori). The seasons are different, as is the land-the culture for my country at least is a melting pot. I have retained the culture of celtic peoples in attitude to Education, Justice and Food production and preparation. Most of the Archetypal cards (if you consider Tarot is archetypal) have no relevance; I doubt that anyone could name an Empress from history or consider the Virtue of Temperance in any coherent way.(that is, I admit a massive overstatement)
It all reminds me a bit of Freemasonry. The numbers of Masons is declining at a rapid rate in the antipodes. Since all information became available and the mystery gone mostly- the decline of membership has accelerated. I have noticed this has happened with Tarot history on this forum. We rapidly cycle through fads and our attention is short....Playstation has declined as has X Box. Cards that are pap to the polulace are everywhere...and they are about nature and show our lands down here and our animals. Greeting cards are culturally sensitive now..no longer Santa in the snow with red Robbins chirping and sleigh bells ringing.
Now in times of Finacial duress, Fortune telling has always increased historically. Not this time apparently! Home cooking and baking is the fad the helps people through. Whatever the dernier cri is..it is not Tarot down under it seems to me. Even blogging is dying along with twitter and facebook.
Does tarot have relevance still for us here in the New lands?
What is your experience?
~Rosanne