Unable to leave well enough alone I selected a second card before turning over this week's King of Pentacles. Who else is the king of riches but the Magician himself. This is the second self-portrait in Tarot Universal Dali.
There is The Magician, a powerful card of the Major Arcana seen above. And there is also the King of Wealth, of Reality, of Pentacles, as the suit is most commonly known in Tarot. And also known as Coins and in Tarot Universal Dali outright gold -- Oros.
Without knowing I held this King in my right hand I slid him still face down across the table and was pulled to draw another card, one that compelled my attention and then my hand and then turning it over again appears the Nine of Cups. For the second time in this journey. http://deedee-salvadordali.blogspot.com/2010/03/nueve-de-copas.html For the third time in this year.
There is something not getting past the Nine of Cups.
In Dali's hands the card represents not merely the traditional read of excess -- as so extravagantly Rey de Oros was already poised to endow this report.
Tarot Universal Dali adds to gluttony and excess the Dosso Dossi painting, "Circe (or Melissa)," she of either great goddess or great sorceress status and representing ageless myths and archetypes of the Siren and of Vengeance.
Judith Yarnall in Transformations of Circe: The History of An Enchantress writes,
“No matter what century or work Circe appears in,
she is associated with our bodily vulnerability and has power over that
– a power that is often presented as sexual allure.”
she is associated with our bodily vulnerability and has power over that
– a power that is often presented as sexual allure.”
Paired, left to right, 1st drawn then 2nd, it seems the King of Gold shrinks from Circe as they face one another across the margins of their cards. Is he in pain? In anticipation? Is his right hand loose or clenched? His leg is crossed against his body, protectively.
Circe looks on calmly, her wand now alight in the fire at her feet. Her wand? But this is a card of the Cups, the suit of Love and Relationships and Emotions. Surrounded by them and at her head a silver wine beaker. A communion cup. Yet she holds a wand of fire. The Wands are such a male suit of action and invention, of fire. Yet this Goddess or Sorceress of Cups, this Vessel holds the power to melt the great king's gold. She holds the Wand of fire as he lolls delirious perhaps oblivious in his material wealth.
As these dual images of excess propped against the computer screen, failing yet to enlighten or to explain why Circe keeps visiting, word of newly crafted goddesses not yet fully formed reach me across many decades, awakening deep memories, deepening insights. Their creator asks why care taking continues after Love and even Responsibility end. She is looking for answers as she shapes and prepares her goddesses.
What is there we cannot get over? Will not. What is it that fails to satisfy? All Circe need do is step from her casual seat. There are breaks in this circle of Cups, a route out from all those Cup demands. It seems possible the King will not notice, his eyes are downcast. Content with his gold.
And even if that were the issue, what matter? The Goddesses and Sorceresses control fire. What holds us back? What are we afraid of?
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