FALL ASLEEP
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READING
THE SELF
The Empress (Reversed)xxxxx"The Empress sits on a throne. She represents maternal figures, love, abundance, and, in some cases, excess. She wears a wealth of heavy jewelry, showcasing an appreciation for luxury and the material world. She wields a short dagger in a quiet, unassuming fashion, implying that alongside her nurturing nature she is very protective of those she loves. The garland of flowers above her head signify a love of beauty, the lush abundance of plants flanking her suggesting growth.
xxxxxThe empress is associated with fertility, giving life to new beginnings, feelings, relationships, and projects. Reversed, this card can imply truth, indecision, inadequacy, and emotional detachment."
xxxxx In Devin's case, it may be more worthwhile to see this card, as a representation of her Self, as a literal inversion to the Empress' fertility and abundance of life. Just as the Empress may represent growth through new life, Devin may herself represent growth through un-life, the give-and-take of the Necromancy that she practices, sprouting forth from those once dead.
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THE CHALLENGE
2 of Swordsxxxxx"This card concerns itself with denial, stalemate, and indecision. This is illustrated by the reversed handles on the swords, rendering them virtually unusable. The moon hangs overhead, a nod to its affiliation with illusions.
xxxxxReversed this card can imply disloyalty, and feeling pressured or lost."
xxxxx In Devin's case, the 2 of Swords makes a frequent appearance to the budding Necromancer. While life may flow like a river, it is often difficult to chose the path we feel is the best for us to travel down, as each river twists and forks. Whether to continue to cultivate her magical craft, or focus more instead on her apprenticeship and finally break through into the world of tattoo artistry, she often finds herself stuck at an impasse, and it may take her more time than she is willing to give to decide which way she wants to go.
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THE PAST
9 of Swordsxxxxx"This card symbolizes guilt, deception, despair, anxiety, and lies. The jawbone alone under the daggers and flanked by the swords suggests that words may be the root of one's despair - whether they were those that were said or those that were heard. Self-confrontation and self-inventory must be carried out with honesty.
xxxxxReversed, this card can suggest doubt, shame, and suspicion."
xxxxxFor Devin, her despair comes not from words said or heard, but from a lack of words altogether. Nearly twenty years after the man she loved simply disappeared without so much as a goodbye, she still finds herself searching obituaries for him, wondering why he left, and haunting herself with the thought that perhaps she was the reason for his disappearance.
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THE FUTURE
The World (Reversed)xxxxx"All four symbols of the minor arcana are present here: the skull for Cups, the Ring of teeth, the dagger for Swords, and the stems of mustard blossoms acting as Wands. Above, the small mouse-eared bat is intended to represent mortals existing alongside the deceased. The World is constantly in flux, a medley of growth and decay occurring simultaneously. We must live and work our way through the hardships, triumphs, and challenges that every suit represents in order to lead a more complete existence.
xxxxxThis card is associated with movement and completion, growth, success, and enlightenment. Reversed, this card can imply directionless and loss of ambition or vision."
xxxxxJust as the Earth never stops spinning, Devin never stops growing. As with everyone, her future is dynamic, changing and reacting with each action she takes. The World for Devin symbolizes a reminder that with every action comes both an equal and opposite reaction, and the energy she puts in now may very well come back to her sometimes in her future. While she may currently be stuck struggling, trying to bridge the gap between two apparent life paths, she holds on to the hope that further on down the road things will even out exactly as they should.
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THE CONSCIOUSNESS
8 of Ringsxxxxx"This card symbolizes craft, diligence, dedication, and skill. The wood anemone, a symbol of adaptation, emphasizes the need to commit to one's craft in order to achieve results in projects, finances, and life.
xxxxxReversed, this card can imply vanity, dashed ambitions, or a lack of challenge in life."
xxxxxThe 8 of Rings represents Devin's current goal - her main desire and focus. Moving from California to Louisiana with nothing more than a backpack, the clothes on her back, and a good friend was difficult enough. Now that she has had adequate time to settle in and get herself situated, she hopes to continue back on track, and put her available time and effort towards refining and focusing her craft, whether that be her art or her magic.
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THE UNCONSCIOUSNESS
The Loversxxxxx"This depiction of the Lovers is in direct reference to the poetry of Sheikh Farid, who suggests that all people are brides to the divine in death. A bridei n this context refers to the soul, which departs the earthly home for another. Both of the Lovers are donned in salwar kameez, and each wear a tikka upon their forehead, a typical of bridal jewelry. The pomegranate blossoms and the moon both symbolize femininity.
xxxxxThe Lovers express the act of navigating love and relationships, be they romantic, platonic, work partnerships, familial, or with the "self". It implies clarity and honesty in one's values. Reversed, it can suggest separation, mistrust, low self-esteem, and disharmony."
xxxxxDeep down inside everybody just wants to be loved, right? For the most part, Devin seems okay with herself. The occasional self-doubts aside, she holds a fair amount of confidence when it comes to herself and her abilities. While she's not out to please everyone, and recognizes that it's impossible to do such, she does care deeply for her friendships. She's not out to find true love (as there are definitely some old scars in that regard), but if she finds herself in a position where she may become more than simply friends with another she sees it as nothing more than the way that fate decided she ought to go.
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SELF-PERCEPTION
The Foolxxxxx"The Fool is shown wearing a dastaar (turban) tied in a fashion traditionally referred to as a turla, but it does not halo his entire head as is proper - implying carelessness. He holds a tombi, a one-stringed instrument commonly found in Panjabi folk music. The pomegranates represent multiple avenues and outcomes, as plentiful as their seeds.
xxxxxThe Fool often implies new beginnings, spontaneity, change, and innocence. Instead of walking forward, he is alone at rest, suggesting that many of the most significant journeys we take are not physical, but mental. Reversed, this card symbolizes naivety and recklessness."
xxxxxThe Fool truly does give a misleading impression. Society sees Fools as inherently bad, naïve individuals, though this card represents two sides of the same kind of person. Devin sees herself for the most part as carefree - while she recognizes the stresses in her life she chooses instead to view them much in the way Camus insists one must examine the Myth of Sisyphus, that pushing that boulder up the hill is inevitable, so why not do it with happiness in her heart and a smile on her face? Devin recognizes that she alone has control over her feelings, and this control gives her power over her Self and the environment in which she reacts to.
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EXTERNAL PERCEPTION
The Sunxxxxx"Third of the celestial siblings, the Sun is represented by the skull of an Asiastic lion haloed in its mane, much as the sun is haloed above. Lions are perceived as symbols of power, prosperity, strength, and optimism. The three dots on the chin of the lion skull are marks intended to ward away nazar/the Evil Eye and encourage the continued accumulation of good fortune. The Sun above, gold and bright, points to warmth, happiness, comfort and growth.
xxxxxCommonly this is a card linked to positive news, confidence, and good luck. Reversed, this card can imply misfortune approaching, depression, or unsuccessful ventures."
xxxxxBlack clothes and crimped hair aside, most will discover that underneath that edgy exterior is a bright and cheery individual. This isn't to say that at times Devin can be sad or down, but often she will see the glass as half full. And if it isn't half full, she'll tell you exactly why it's not.
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HOPES OR FEARS
Page of Wandsxxxxx"The Page of Wands stands for wonder, optimism, creativity, and confidence. They carry a bouquet of roses, bereft of thorns, as they have had the foresight to protect themselves. The Page is inspired and excited to move forward in the next step of their journey, but does so in a fashion that is more constructive than foolhardy.
xxxxxReversed, this card can imply that an access of excitement has resulted in overlooking key details on how to move forward and maintain new projects and relationships."
xxxxxThe Page of Wands marks a clear hope for Devin. To be able to overcome her indecision and plant her staff firmly dirt, or march forward with thornless roses, she wants nothing more than to feel confidence in her decisions as she continues down the path of life.
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THE OUTCOME
6 of Swordsxxxxx"This card stands for travel and inner journeys, growth and evolution after difficult times. The machete is a utility-based, practical blade and suggests a personability that will adapt to new situations without immediately appearing threatening.
xxxxxReversed, this card can represent an inability to move forward, obstacles, and waiting."
xxxxxThe 6 of Swords marks leaving behind the past and moving toward the future. While Devin knows that doing this will not relieve her of all of her baggage, she knows that the journey is necessary to her growth as a person. She holds on to hesitation of the unknown, but presses on all the same.
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