The Hanged Man - the Tarot Series

My original intention was to work on my Tarot series 

in order from card one to card 21.

The Major Arcana represents the journey of the Fool (Card 0) as he gains knowledge, step by step, card by card, until he reaches the end of his journey and, hopefully, Enlightenment.

The Fool is anyone and everyone.  

He knows nothing and is content in his ignorance.  

He is the blissful infant.

Inevitably, that state of perfect innocence must end.  

The Fool must go out into the world.

The Fool begins his journey.

Card One - The Magician represents the physical world.  

The Magician manifests a control of the world around us.  

Card Two - The High Priestess represents the beginning of spiritual knowledge.  

She is the maiden.  She is purity.

And, then,  I stopped creating the cards in numerical order.    

The journey of the Fool is not so different.  

He meanders.  

He doesn't learn each lesson in a perfect sequence.

The world is not so orderly.

I next went to the Wheel of Fortune.  

No matter where you are on your spiritual quest, 

the Wheel can turn against you.

On our journey, we must accept that

we cannot predict the future.

The path may not be smooth.

Which brought me to the Hanged Man.

The Hanged man represents a pause

on your journey.

Sometimes we need to stop and reflect.

Don't abandon what you have so far achieved,

but don't rush on.

You have not fallen behind.

Take your time.

Sometimes we need to just stop.

Remember: it really is just about the journey.

The Wheel Turns - Happy Friday 13th!

My Tarot Card project is progressing nicely.  

In case you missed my recent blog post, I think connections are important.  To know who we are, it helps to know where we've been, or where we come from.

In exploring the Tarot deck, I can connect with the Romany part of my family past.

I love the sense of connection going back through the generations of all the women who came before me.  My grandmother and great-grandmother supplanted the money they made at their boarding house by telling fortunes and helping out with the odd bit of  spell work.

I love holding  a deck in my hand and feeling that sweet mystical thrill down my spine.

A shuffle of the cards and the fates arrange and re-arrange themselves for my perusal.

What influences are at work in the greater world?

The Wheel card has been much on mind the past few days.

The Wheel of Fortune sometimes turns in  your favor.  Sometimes, it does not.

The Fool has set out on his (or her) journey to gain wisdom and find enlightenment.  

By the Wheel of Fortune Card, he has realized that the Universe will not always make his path easy.  Sometimes Fortuna throws obstacles in his way.

If you truly wish to find Enlightenment and follow your chosen path, you have to deal with the ups and downs of life.

Last Saturday morning I was keenly disappointed to miss my art market because of an unkind spin of the Wheel, but that night, Chez Fab opened with some of my pieces on display.  I had a wonderful time, met fantastic people, and loved being able to talk about my favorite obsession, art!

The Wheel spins.  

Are you ready for it?

Another Happy Caturday!

Tonight seemed like the perfect time to share my new Caturday picture!  I realized that it was long past time to feature the lovely little head of our youngest kitten, Onyx, the Destroyer of Worlds.

He makes a singularly lovely Victorian girl!

It has been a weekend full of wonderful art and activity.

I've lived in Baton Rouge for several years but have only recently discovered how many wonderful things happen in this city.  

I never quite adjusted from my move from New Orleans.  I was always in love with the Crescent City and wasn't happy to move, but I am finally opening my eyes to the wonderful activities and locations in the capital city.

Last night, my daughter and I attended the fabulous Laurel Street Palooza.  It was a wonderful street party full of art and food and music.

Today, we attended the Photography exhibit at the Arts Council of Livingston Parish.  The council featured three mini seminars full of photography tips about equipment and software.

How could I have failed to notice a community brimming over with culture and art?

I think that wherever you find yourself, you should explore your community.  You may discover, like I have, that all around you wonder is happening.  Open yourself up to  it.

I am starting to fall for you, Baton Rouge.   What else do you have in store for me?

Polly Nichols buys a New Bonnet

Polly Nichols (aka Mary Ann Walker) was born on August 26, 1845). In 1864, she married William Nichols, a printer's machinist, and had five children.

The marriage broke up over allegations of her husband's philandering and her drinking. Her estranged husband stopped paying her support when he learned she was supplementing her income with prostitution.

On August 30, 1888, Polly earned her doss money but spent it on a jolly new bonnet. She earned it again, and then drank it away. Around 1:30 am, she announced her intention of earning the money quickly so that she could have a bed for the night.

Then, she met Jack. 

Sometimes you find yourself locked in a circular pattern of a strange obsession.  I've always had a streak of ripperologist in me but it recently began a strong resurgence in my psyche.  The best way for me to exorcise an obsession is to work through it.

What has always bothered me most about the obsession with Jack the Ripper is the emphasis on the Jack portion.  What about Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly?  

Their lives were brutally ended by a monster.  There seems to be an implicit thought line that their lives were lesser because they were prostitutes, because they were older (excepting Mary Jane Kelly), because they were alcoholics, and because they spent most of their lives on the street.

I don't like or accept that implication so decided to start to exorcise my Jack demon by exploring each of the lives of these women that lived and died over a century ago.  They were people.  Their lives had value.

Fairy Flight - TAW Bird Challenge

":I'm taking a ride with my best friend

I hope he never lets me down again

He knows where he's taking me

Taking me where I want to be

I'm taking a ride with my best friend

We're flying high

We're watching the world pass us by

Never want to come down

Never want to put my feet back down on the ground"

-Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

I thought it would be fun to add a little steampunk 

fairy flavor to the Take a Word Bird challenge!

Green Promenade - TAW challenge

They do say that opposites attract, but sometimes such things go a little too far extreme!

Vintage Odd Couple - TAW challenge

Sometimes we love not wisely, but too well!