Eight of Cups
Chapel Perilous
[And a boohiss on all of you sweet folk who thought, “Ah, any chapel would be a chapel perilous for you, Nealio.”
I’ll have you know I’ve been to several religious services over the last couple of months and the Holy Water doesn’t hardly leave scars at all anymore. Especially if I use aloe.]
Anyway, this is a card that has never popped up for the blog, and it’s one that has a lot of helpful guidance to it. It is, however, another one of those cards that often has clients whimpering just from the visuals. Except for those who are superGoth. They just ask where they can find the place.
The card, you see, portrays a knight who has ridden into a chapel to protect himself and his steed from a furious storm. He notices that the altar is without any adornment, save for a brightly flaming large golden candle. As he waits, he sees a giant, clawed, black hand reach in through the window high above the altar and make to extinguish the light.
Charming, yesno?
Some readers believe the Eight of Cups conveys either turning away from felicity and celebration, or the exact opposite [I guess it depends which side of bed the reader fell out of]. Others believe this is a card that calls the querent (questioner) to look for a deeper meaning in life; it is a time for soul searching.
Anna-Marie Ferguson, creator of the Legend deck, finds this card to be about abandoning a path, a change of plans, and escaping an unhealthy situation, among other things.
Of course, I have my own particular take on the card. When it turns up for a client, I usually say things like
~ Do not let anyone or anything – especially yourself − put a bushel basket over your light.
~ Do not allow anyone or anything – especially yourself or your perception of your self − hold you under its thumb.
If necessary:
Leave.
Move.
Go elsewhere.
Try something else.
Rework your priorities and take life from there.
Set yourself free.
Today, refuse to be confined, repressed, dimmed by anyone or anything – especially yourself!
Bright blessings and an open path to your true self!
Thought for the Day: I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings. ~ Mozart
Today’s Weather: Coddleston pie; radiant penstemons
On This Date: 1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney first meet at St. Peter’s Church garden fete in Liverpool, England.
Tags: Mozart on praise/blame.
July 6, 2009 at 10:07 am
Wow, Neal, talk about a beautiful and empowering message. It’s really amazing the way you take a very scary looking card and make it..well…not scary.
I think I’m going to “put it out there” to do as you say: I will not let anyone or anything — including myself– put a bushel basket over my light; and I will not allow anyone or anything — including myself or my perception of my self — to hold me under its thumb.
Or to take it a tad further….With the help of God and the angels, I release myself from all confinement and repression (self-induced and otherwise) and allow my light to shine.
Oh, that feels good. So do Mozart’s words. Words to live by, actually.
~ ~ Thanks so much.
~~ Blessings, Donna
July 6, 2009 at 11:13 am
Your cards are resonating lately, either that or I’m paying attention more…
July 6, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Thanks, Donna. Glad today’s card and words resonated so well.
It’s very helpful to get the kind of feedback you provide.
Blessings and blessings!
Neal
July 6, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Great, Heather!
I’ve been basing a lot of my writing/rewriting about the cards on expereinces with clients earlier in the day and week. Perhaps that’s contributing to the resonance.
I’m always grateful to hear from you.
Blessings,
Neal