Bohemian Gothic - Strength

I'm still working my way through this deck and today I arrived at the beautiful card Strength. The Bohemian Gothic Strength is an arousing image.

Karen Mahony says of this card:

In the Bohemian Gothic Strength this traditional image is subverted. The woman, who is clearly a demon, leans on the lion casually. He is held in control not, seemingly, by her, but by a heavy chain.

It's the almost sad look upon the lion's face that draws me to this image; he is subdued but there is resentment in his look. The demon drapes herself languidly over the beast, as though she knows she has no need for physical exertion. Her black wings are spread open, casting a shadow over them. Her red dress is wrapped seductively around her body, disguising her will power and passion. She looks almost gentle in her pose and yet her eyes betray her real intention.  That heavy chain that holds the lion is only part visible, she hides the rest of it with her body.

This is still a card about inner strength and it is showing us two sides to the coin.  The lion is displaying the control, he must tame the animal instinct to react or the consequences could be dire for him.  But she also demonstrates an inner strength here, it shows a determination to use her power in a cunning way; I say cunning, because she presents herself in a calm non-aggressive way, that looks harmless to overpower another and control what happens in their life.  This could be applied to the boss at work, who always smiles, but who forces those under him to do his will,  or the manipulative lover. Just two examples.

Of course you can also get from the lion the usual meanings associated with this card of controlling those animal instincts, and using inner strength to get you through. Using that inner strength to reconcile the conflict that may exist.

Either way this is another evocative image from the Bohemian Gothic

Card :Bohemian Gothic by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov

New Tarot Bella Card - The Hanged Man

The Tarot Bella Fool has now moved into the position of The Hanged Man. Three balloons hang from the tree with him, they bear the symbols of the sun, stars and moon (his universe). He can still choose to be whatever he likes in it. But now he has realised that in order to reach the next stage of his journey, he may have to make a sacrifice willingly in order to gain something of more value to himself.

The Fool now stops, he is suspended in time as he takes on a different perspective. His little dog (his unconscious) quietly watches him, but now the Fool is fully aware of him. He surrenders himself as he hangs there in an effort to understand and perceive the truth.

Moon Madness - Poem Based on Deviant Moon's Moon Card.

There was a full Moon on the 3rd November in Australia, what better time than to write a poem - so based on the Deviant Moon's Moon Card I give you, Moon Madness....

Shall I dance by the light of the Moon
that hangs high in the sky.
Abandon my clothes, howl like a wolf,
come join me, don't be shy!


Does the Moon really drive you mad
when its full, round and bright.
No, the Moon's much too far away,
to give you such a fright.


Yet they say some have lost their minds,
as they gaze into its glow.
And they all become mad lunatics,
but what do they really know.


When the Moon's as big as a balloon,
it's as harmless as a kitten,
Suspended above with the glittering stars,
to look at and be smitten.

By the light of the silvery Moon,
a Luna jewel for all to see.
I will dance to my heart's content,
and you, may say, it's lunacy.

Card: Deviant Moon by Patrick Valenza

Contributor at - Tarot Elements.

Catherine Chapman author of Tarot Elements Blog is show-casing my poem 'Tears" which is based on the Bohemian Gothic's 3 of Swords Card; (deck created by Karen Mahony & Alex Ukolov).

Why not nip over to her blog and take a peek, you will find it here: - Tarot Elements

Bohemian Gothic - The Devil

I find this particular visual of the Devil to be quiet disturbing, for it does seem to point to the addictive side of obsession and to the total surrender of one's own will power. It sits in the realm of darkness, as the chillingly cold eyes of the fallen angel look out towards us, while one of her black wings folds forwards to protect her victim from those who might try to rescue her.

It reminds me of that quote from the Batman movie (1989) 'Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?' To dance with the devil is to have not learnt to live in the material world without becoming trapped by the glitter of bright lights and to allow greed and obsession to take a starring role.

Karen Mahony says of this image:

It's a nightmarish image of addiction and helplessness. What's striking is the passivity of the young woman. Wrapped in a robe of peacock's feathers, we wonder if it's pride that has bought her to this point.

I think what Karen might of been getting at here is that one can sometimes think that they can control whatever it is they are doing. You know the gambler who only bets for fun and says I can stop whenever I like, just to find out that they are in deeper than what they first thought. Breaking away is not as easy as they envisaged, but can they admit that to themselves?

I also see in this card a great lack of will power. The woman closes her eyes and embraces the Devil, who readily injects her with that hypodermic needle, what she does not see she need not take responsibility for.

This is an image that puts you face to face with your shadow side and draws to our attention that one is meeting their own needs without regard for the consequences.

If this card came up in a reading, I may find I need to ask questions like what am I doing in access? or even what part of myself am I trying to ignore? and where am I not taking responsibility for my actions?

This Bohemian Gothic Devil does smack of the forbidden and that can be strangely attractive, and dangerous.

Card: Bohemian Gothic by Karen Mahony & Alex Ukolov.

Happy Birthday Tarot Notes Major and Minor

It's the 1st of November in Oz and Tarot Notes was started by Zanna and myself in November last year; we have been blogging now for just one year. So I'm saying Happy 1st Birthday Tarot Notes Major and Minor!

Opposite Point of View - Hermit

The Hermit is one of my favourite cards, and so for my last post in October he is my choice.

When I look at this card in reverse it makes me feel sad. His head seems bent in a way that somebody does when they don't want to see what is in front of them. I wonder if this indicates that one has given up? Instead of searching for truth and enlightenment, he may have become disillusioned and by hanging his head he is in the act of making himself unavailable to those around him and to the truth.

Notice how he is standing on top of a mountain range, mountains can represent aspirations to a higher goal. Here in this position he could fall off. Has he given up on the goal - that quest for inner meaning?

If the Hermit upright can suggest to us a maturity that allows us to examine who we are and what it is we believe. Then perhaps in this opposite position he is saying, that you are not ready yet to look into your own depths and find your own truths. This reversed position seems to suggest that one does not want to face the truth. It seems to me in the opposite point of view that the light of the lantern just seems to light up the sleeve of his garment, serving as a reminder maybe to look at what he is doing or ignoring.

The upright Hermit can herald the beginning of a transition in understanding life and ourselves by withdrawing. By using meditation and other methods we allow our higher self to speak to us and reveal to us those hidden truths. In this reversed image it may signify a different type of withdrawal, one that is not so healthy, like cutting one's self off because of fear or disappointment with life.

Another aspect of the withdrawal associated with the Hermit is that in the upside-down image it may just be saying enough time on your own. Now it's time to get back into the mix of life.

The Hermit is a wise old man, he is mature and knows that it has taken him a good part of his life to get where he is; he acknowledges that with age, wisdom usually comes. Reversed then he may suggest someone who does not like the idea of getting older, shirks their responsibilities. Do you know what comes to mind here? The married man and his mid-life crisis, leaves his wife and shacks up with a girl young enough to be his daughter! Poor upside-down Hermit!

The Hermit is the card that illustrates the progress through time and the knowledge and peace that can be found in total acceptance of oneself. The opposite point of view Hermit illustrates for us a lack of acceptance that exists for both oneself and one's life.


Card: Radiant Rider Waite