Turn it up!

Knave of Chalices. Afro-Brazilian Tarot by Alice Santana with art by Giuseppe Palumbo

Sometimes, gazing at a divination card, you decide to make a clean break with either the implications of the artist’s imagery or the creator’s stated concept or the language with which it’s presented.

Knave—the word used by Alice Santana in her Afro-Brazilian Tarot to rename the historically Eurocentric Page—can mean an untrustworthy scoundrel. Not usually how you see Tarot’s Pages, is it? During England’s Middle Ages, the word knave just meant a young lad, no commentary on character, good or bad. Neither meaning, though, helps me decipher and engage the specific nature of artist Giuseppe Palumbo’s striking image (above).

Nor, actually, does Santana’s “little white book”, the all-too-typical mini-guidebook tucked away inside the box I’ve owned for nearly two decades. Her LWB interprets Knave of Chalices (the Page of Cups equivalent, but not quite) as “handsome youth, loyalty, understanding, harmony, sincerity.” That’s as far as it goes.

There’s no full-sized guidebook available for Santana’s deck, published by Lo Scarabeo, the well-known Italian firm, in 2006. And, in all honesty, it’s not a deck I ever clicked with despite having some pull to Afro-Atlantic traditions like Brazil’s Candomblé, Santana’s inspiration.

But, sometime last week, I dug the deck’s box out of a basket and just gazed at it. Since my relationship with Spirit has deepened, I pay respectful attention when something’s calling me, and I could feel it.

A day or two later, I finally opened the deck and riffled through its cards. Who knows? Maybe something might “speak to my condition,” as Quaker folks would say.

Of course, when Knave of Chalices caught my eye and held it, I opened the LWB, too, but soon tucked it back in place. Here’s what the image itself chose to show me:

That rushing waterfall and foaming river. That pristine vessel where a vibrant rainbow arises or descends. The rugged strength of the massive rocks the Knave climbs and faces. The Knave’s sinewy arm and gleaming, wind-swirled garment.

Air, Water, Earth, and Fire of light and colors of rainbow and raging sky. Commanding, even erotic elements of nature aroused in their fullness.

It’s an image of power turned up to 11.

This Knave is not a dirty, lying rascal. Neither is this Knave your typical Tarot Page—a gentle, poetic, dreamy, ethereally sensitive soul. This Knave and the snakey wand raised to the sky add dynamic, transformative energy to the atmosphere.

This is a call to claim your witchcraft, dig deep, and draw power from within to enliven one’s surroundings. Meet the multitude of powers in the world with one’s own. Move mountains and make something happen where, before, movement and transformation were unimaginable or deliberately blocked.

What have you denied yourself—and the world? Each of us has a superpower—at least one! What’s yours?

If you have left yours dormant, now’s the time to find it and find its best application.

And Look at This!

You might enjoy Lennox Rees’s video Oracle Decks Rely on You, Not a System.

Writing a Love Letter

Jade Charon (above); Tiffany Merritt-Brown (below)

Yesterday, I went to an afternoon showing of works-in-progress by two assistant professors of dance at Hunter College—Jade Charon and Tiffany Merritt-Brown. Their performers—all Black women, as are the choreographers—met every technical and big-hearted, cathartic challenge of these works. If you’re in the New York-metro area, keep eyes peeled for any announcement of a presentation of finished works by these artists!

At one point, we were offered a moment to write a love-letter postcard to the part of ourselves needing tenderness, and I wanted to share mine with you:

Dear Me,

As you get older, please continue the way you love and care for me with everything that makes me feel nourished, comforted, joyful, connected, and treasured.

With love,

Me

Eva Yaa Asantewaa (photo: D. Feller)

I’m here to help you develop a capacity to live your human life as your Spirit Self. I draw from a spectrum of colors: primarily, intuitive listening, Tarot, animistic Spiritwork, and energy work. I guide, witness, and champion your development, and I look forward to sharing my work with you soon. Message here to learn how you can book a session:

Join me and a beautiful community of celebrants for Zoom Séance: Coming up this Saturday, April 25, followed by May 16 and June 20. All 1pm to 3pm Eastern. And all free (donations gratefully accepted—message for details). To RSVP for one or more of these dates or to get on our email list, send me a message!