"In the sky of the eight lakes,
the white dragon confronts the
boar dragon but nobody is
interested." (from the LWB)
Keyword: Indolence
In keeping with the association between the suit of Chalices (Cups) and the element Water, we see several lakes in the landscape beneath the dragons.
My internet search for "boar dragon" netted (pun intended) several references to the creature as it appears in Chinese culture. According to this web page, "the dragon image coalesced into animal head and snake body in the Hongshan cultural period and remained unchanged until the Han dynasty, nearly 4,000 years later."
In Chinese astrology, the sign of the Boar (or Pig) is known for "scrupulousness, gallantry, sincerity, voluptuousness, culture, honesty, credulity, wrath, hesitation, materialism, gourmandism, and pigheadedness." The Dragon's characteristics include "strength, success, good health, enthusiasm, pluck, sentimentality, rigidity, mistrust, dissatisfaction, infatuation, braggadocio, and volubility." (from The New Astrology by Suzanne White, St. Martin's Press)
In Book T*, the Eight of Cups (Chalices) is called "The Lord of Abandoned Success" and is linked with the energy of Saturn in Pisces. Like Toraldo, Aleister Crowley titles the Eight of Cups "Indolence" in his Book of Thoth (Samuel Weiser, Inc). He writes: "Pisces is calm but stagnant water; and Saturn deadens it completely."
When I look at the Eight of Chalices in The Dragons Tarot, I can't help wondering if the people should be paying attention to the fight going on in the sky above them. Are they ignoring something important? Why? Will it matter to them which dragon wins? Do they assume the boar dragon will win? What if he doesn't? Or is it in their best interest to go about their daily activities and let the dragons fight it out?
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* Book T, The Tarot, Comprising Manuscripts N, O, P, Q, R, and an Unlettered Theoricus Adeptus Minor Instruction. A Description of the Cards of the Tarot with their Attributions; Including a Method of Divination by Their Use. A public domain manuscript.
It's an interesting image for the 8 of cups, and I suppose those non interested people have decided there is nothing they can do about the fight up in the sky, so they move themselves on from it. Yet you raise some very qood questions here about whether or not they care who wins, and how will that affect them.
ReplyDeleteWhich of those dragons I wonder will maintain some sort of emotional equilibrium for them if it wins? Which may literally make them move on from their situation if it wins?
Interesting card.
Yes, that's what intrigues me too, Helen. I like the idea that *something* is going on that we are ignoring or not aware of, that could affect us in some important way. Perhaps even a battle within our own subconscious?
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