Leaving Early
For this edition of the Tarot Blog Hop our wrangler, Alison, asked us to do something a little different. Rather than setting a topic, we were simply asked to choose a card (that hadn’t already been picked) and write about it. Before I continue, here are the links to my lovely neighbours and the Master List:
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You can probably guess from the thumbnail from the Dore Tarot which card I chose. I’m not entirely sure why I opted for Death. Perhaps because it is one of those difficult cards that elicits unpredicatable responses and I’m one of those difficult people who happen to like unpredictability (possibly because it’s a surprisingly rare thing).
I’ve had quite a bit to say about the Death card over various Blog Hop Posts recently, from rants about fluffiness to extreme reactions during readings. I’ve done a few posts about physical death too, but with legends dropping like flies, waving farewell to my frst half century, an ancient mother and life generally being a terminal condition, even without the various diseases that stalk us and our friends, I don’t really want to dwell on that.
Death in Tarot is about transformation, transition, pruning away the dead growth to allow for the new, but even this requires some sort of departure or parting. Sometimes the Death is physical and sometimes it’s just baggage that we need to leave behind, but neither comes without some sense of loss. Try as we might to avoid it, Death is a part of life and comes to us all. But let’s not be morose and instead, celebrate Death in the wonderful art form of Tarot and the written word. Enjoy!
Vampire Tarot
‘DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING,’ said Death. ‘JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.’ – Good Omens
Golden Tarot
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.
– King James Bible
Margarete Petersen
Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.
– Emily Dickinson
Inner Child*
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
– Mary Elizabeth Frye
Meniscus Tarot
From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them and that is eternity. – Edvard Munch
Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order.– David Gerrold
Legend
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” ? Hunter S. Thompson
Rabbit Tarot*
It seemed to Hazel that he would not be needing his body any more, so he left it lying on the edge of the ditch – Watership Down
Tarot of Physics
And finally….
The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.
– Neil deGrasse Tyson
…And neither is this post. On that happy note, you can continue your ramble through the ramblings on the Major Arcana using the links below:
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*Sorry for the fluffiness – ponies AND bunnies, sooo not me (sigh) – but sometimes a little fluffiness isn’t too bad a thing, right? And I do so love the Death card in the Rabbit Tarot 🙂
Great choice of quotes and cards – even the Rabbit one!
Excellent compilation of death quotations! In particular I love that you included Watershed Down – that story had a huge impact on me as a kid!
Watership!! Autocorrect 🙁 !!!!
LOL 😀 I love that story too, but it’s strong stuff for a child.
It really is! I think that’s why it etched itself so deeply into my psych!
Oh dear… “pysche” …!! I should just give up on typing right now! 😉
I love this mix of images, poetry and quotes! Watership Down *lower lip trembles madly*
Great selection of pics and quotes!
There’s just so much to love here!
If you can find a kitten in a grim reaper costume… then my life would be complete and I can die very happily! 😀
LOL Here you go!
http://marthahull.deviantart.com/art/Death-s-Daughter-and-the-Basket-of-Kittens-Cover-410288602
Hahahaha! I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist! POOF!!! Mrs Sealey has left the earth plane 😀
Thank you for that Watership Downs quote. I’m a fan of his work. Have you read Shardik? Amazing!
Many, many years ago and I can’t say I remember it. I think I need a memory upgrade – the capacity is full and my brain keeps crashing LOL
That’s the second time the deGrasse Tyson quote has turned up today! Life is what it is… innit! 🙂 We’re right in the middle of all its gorgeous complexity, simplicity, predicatability and chaos, and to quote Monty Python again, sometimes we just need to be in the moment and ‘Get on with it!’ 😀
Ha ha, not many people can make Death funny as well as profound, even in the face of ponies, rabbits and kittens! Excellent post, Ania. I especially love the Hunter S. Thompson quote 😀