EXERCISE NL #95: Weddings
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:31:21 +0200
From: Moonchild
To: Comparative Tarot http://comparativetarot.com
Wedding Exercise by Nina Lee Braden
Excerpts (snipped and grammatically modified) from Tarot for Self Discovery, p. 95.
Copyright © Nina Lee Braden
> Weddings are powerful spiritual and symbolic occasions, even the simplest weddings, even the most ornate ones,
legal weddings or ones without legal stamps of approval. There is great power present for the bride and groom, for
those officiating, and for all of those present. Even watching a videotape of a wedding can bring up deep emotions.
This exercise may touch some sensitive spots, perhaps some surprising spots.
> No matter what our marital status, weddings are still powerful. In this Tarot exercise,
I want to draw upon the power of weddings.
> Identify which Tarot deck you are using. Go through your deck, face up.
Choose a card which most represents weddings to you.Rider Waite Four of Wands.
> Why does this card seems to represent weddings to you? I am not talking about a card which reflects marriage,
but weddings. There is a difference.Mostly because of all the flowers! Also, the feeling of celebration, and of hospitality.
> Have you ever attended a wedding which seemed reflect this card?
Yeah, I got married under a bouganvilla arch. The four Wands remind me
of some of the different platforms and canopies that are used in
weddings, which in turn reminds me of a variety of weddings I've
attended, under gazebos and bandstands in parks, flowered trellises in
gardens, spreading Tuscan chestnuts, etc. Being a Florida native, I've
been to more outdoor weddings than indoor, and I think that slants my
view. But what else are you going to take? Four of Swords for a church wedding?> In the wedding ceremony that you have described, who are you? ... ?
Your answer here is spiritual or symbolic rather than real.I'm surprised to learn that I'm the guest! (I thought I would be the bride!)
> Look at your Tarot card again that you have chosen. Put yourself in the card. ...
Describe your wedding role as inspired by your Tarot card.My role is to have enjoyment without sharing all the responsibilities of
the wedding party or service providers. (Rather Fool-like.)> How does this differ (or not differ) from how you normally see yourself?
It doesn't differ much, except that it's more a wish than a reality!
OToneH, I'm enjoying sharing this card with June, now that we've got
nice weather and we can just hang out on the terrace with the neighbors.
I have no obligations such as going to work, or the dentist, soccer
practice or whatever. OTotherH, I've got those daily routine "service"
responsibilities, such as feeding my kid. We just had "Jugendfest" this
past weekend, which is a youth festival held every four (yes, four)
years. I attended very much as a guest, as my child is not yet old
enough to participate. There's a parade through "arches" made of four
tree trunks, normally two vertical between two horizontal, variously
decorated. (I'm not making this up!) Each neighborhood makes one, and
the parade marches around town through all of them.Getting back to the original question of how I see myself, I would
definitely prefer (though may not always get) to be the one buying
rounds than serving them.Also, I've always felt like a guest, living here in Switzerland. In
Florida, I gave more hospitality than I received (and I liked it that
way). Guess now's payback, for better or worse.> Would you like to see yourself as more or less like the role inspired by your card?
A bit less: I'd like to feel more at home here. Considering what we paid for this house, I should!
> Choose a concrete step which will indicate a willingness to become more like your wedding self. What is that concrete step?
Call someone with a kid my daughter's age, and invite them to come hang
out on the terrace. (It's a children's paradise: swingset, jungle jim, slide,
sandbox, kiddie pool, picnic table, clean and accessible bathroom and kitchen.)> This concrete step is probably the one single most important part of the exercise.
I'll do it tomorrow. And if one can't come, I'll call another.
One Love All Love,
Moonchild
This page is excerpted from my original contributions to the Comparative Tarot discussion group.
Graphics created and generously shared by Full Moon Graphics.
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/personal/exercise/EXnl095.html
