Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Death and dismemberment



Cary-Yale Visconti
The earliest known hand-painted tarocchi cards in Milan Italy were created in 15th century and were used in a trick taking game popular with nobility, in addition to divination. Few of the hand-painted cards have survived and have specific names depending on their location.

The actual cards are heavily painted on one side of a piece of cardboard but not the other.

Death is a skeleton wearing a white scarf, ends knotted and waving behind. He appears to have retained his entrails. He carries a scythe and rides a stallion over a group of people. Amongst the group are a pope and a cardinal, indicating that death is the great equalizer.


Paolo Martinello
Death is a brooding man in black, his normality given away by the skeletal hand wrapped around the tree trunk and the fiery depths of hell opening at his feet. His escort is a black stallion. He watches a fallen young man, pale, bloodless, holding a sword.

The Death card is uncomfortable which is probably its partial purpose. Although I am ready for my own death and have dealt with other deaths calmly, I believe I am not truly ready for the transformation and change that the card represents.

I work towards that goal but give excuses. I refuse to accept it and so I stagnate, panicking, holding onto the energy I have, allowing no new energy in.

It is a long process. Some days I am at peace with the world and with everything that touches it.

Death is a brooding man in black, his normality given away by the skeletal hand wrapped around the tree trunk and the fiery depths of hell opening at his feet. His escort is a black stallion. He watches a fallen young man, pale, bloodless, holding a sword.

The Death card is uncomfortable which is probably its partial purpose. Although I am ready for my own death and have dealt with other deaths calmly, I believe I am not truly ready for the transformation and change that the card represents.

I work towards that goal but give excuses. I refuse to accept it and so I stagnate, panicking, holding onto the energy I have, allowing no new energy in.

It is a long process. Some days I am at peace with the world and with everything that touches it.

Death is a brooding man in black, his normality given away by the skeletal hand wrapped around the tree trunk and the fiery depths of hell opening at his feet. His escort is a black stallion. He watches a fallen young man, pale, bloodless, holding a sword.

The Death card is uncomfortable which is probably its partial purpose. Although I am ready for my own death and have dealt with other deaths calmly, I believe I am not truly ready for the transformation and change that the card represents.

I work towards that goal but give excuses. I refuse to accept it and so I stagnate, panicking, holding onto the energy I have, allowing no new energy in.

It is a long process. Some days I am at peace with the world and with everything that touches it.

3 comments:

  1. I am not sure that many of us are really ready for the transformation and change. I find the challenge is living in such a way that when Death comes I will be accepting and go without bargaining or asking for just a little more time to do just a few more things. Living fully, when exhausted after years of supporting others, is not easily achieved.
    Great post and the cards you have used are very powerful.

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  2. An extraordinary post Sen, beautiful too - a sense of composure carries through - the cards themselves very graphic in their representation of change and transformation. Your courage shines through.

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  3. You post leaves us with food for thought. Very well done, and the images well fitted to the narrative.

    Vi

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