And Now for Something Completely Different
Bernice said:
Having a coffee and a think..... "what else has he got up his sleeve?"
Bee
The above diagram is the product of a recent round of pondering about the nature of the four suits. Perhaps some of these inklings will be of interest to perusers of this thread, or at least of some amusement.
This model does NOT consider any correlations to the four classical elements, despite more than a passing resemblance to Aristotle's diagram of elemental rotation.
In this model,
Cups are emblematic of pleasures, sociability, and the forming of bonds and alliances, such as marriage, the Eucharist, etc.
Coins are emblematic of material comforts, wealth, and security.
Batons are emblematic of labor and productivity.
Swords are emblematic of strife, struggles, aggressions, and the right of rule.
Opposites
Cups are opposite of Swords - for pleasure is a state without strife, and strife is a state void of pleasure. Since both pleasure and struggle are often based on external situations or relationships, I see these as
passive. They happen
to us.
Coins are opposite of Batons - for comfort is a state free of labors, and labor is a state of discomfort. As we ourselves choose the nature of our labors (ideally), and our comforts (money, possessions, etc.) with which our labors are compensated by are produced by our choice, I view them as
active. They happen
by us.
Rotation
Through our labors, we make our reputation, social standing and our worldly means. From these come our sense of achievement, social acceptance, love, and so on.... Through our labors we gain our happiness. Further more, from the various happiness' (our sense of achievement, social acceptance, love, etc) we find our deepest comfort. This is
true wealth.
Yet, if we are not diligent, and grow too comfortable and lazy, we increase our strife. From such troubles, yet again the need to labor arises, and the cycle repeats itself. Indeed, it is this very struggle, the very lack of life's pleasures that fuel our conviction to endure our labors. Those who desire little, achieve little. This passive strife born from lack and want of life's pleasures manifests itself in our ability to actively endure the hardships of our labors.
Just thinking out loud.. Any ideas?
M
M
M
