Why don't humans hibernate?

[thalia_seawood]

Am going through a slow motion phase right now. I feel just worn out and everything takes an effort. Getting up in the morning, thinking, typing, reading. All stuff that's easy normally - well not the getting up thing :-) - but right now I have to try hard to get anything done. In part it's that I can't get rid of my cold, in part it's that the sun sets around 4pm and rises around 8am. I don't mind the cold outside, but I do mind the darkness.

The good news is that today the Fairytale Tarot arrived which I had ordered some time ago. It looks very intriguing: 78 cards - and each of them based on a fairy tale. And not sweet, cuddly, fluffy fairy tales either, but the real thing with fascinating symbols and layers of meaning. Additional plus: The fairy tales are from different times and cultures. I've read a lot of fairy tales, but there are many, many I've never heard of before, e.g "The Superior Pet" or "Habogi" or "The Prince and the Tortoise".

The book accompanying the cards is very well written: Not only does it include all the fairy tales, it has also possible interpretations for them listed and why each story was chosen for a particular card. Oh, and they created a brilliant combination of fairy tale and card meaning. E.g. 7 of Swords is connected to the Frog Prince. (7 of Sword is a card of using tricks to achieve a goal and the princess doesn't exactly plan on keeping her deal with the frog.) 6 of Coins - a card about giving and receiving - fittingly was connected to the Golden Goose.

The artwork is quite different from all my other decks as well.
With some cards you actually get the feeling you could step right inside - they are painted from such clever perspectives. They are also full of details and I love details. (Not a surprise to anyone who knows me.)

Comments

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

ohh, how wonderful!

those look gorgeous.

I don't know anything about tarot, but i love fairy tales. *points to icon*

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I love tarot cards and somehow started to collect them. Not because I foretell the future left and right, but because I love symbols and artwork and mythology. Have to count the decks in my collection, but I think I own around 60 different decks by now.

Is your icon taken from the Neil Jordon movie for which I don't know the English title?

Fear death by water. . .

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

You know, I distinctly remember looking up info on tarot cards to use in a story, but I don't remember actually doing it -- or maybe it was for a paper on "the Waste Land." one or the other.

That sounds like an awesome collection to have.

The other icon, like this one, is actually a visual from the Terry Gilliam movie Brothers Grimm. My friend smashsc made the blanks and I added the text. The movie actually wasn't great, but I love the visuals, as I particularly love the Red Riding Hood story. This one, obviously, uses the Sondheim title "Into the Woods," while the other is "the Company of Wolves" -- which is the English title for the Neil Jordan movie. I've seen the film, and I like it, but I'm a bigger fan of the Angela Carter story that it's based on (which has some pretty important differences from the film, particularly the way it ends).

Re: Fear death by water. . .

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I originally wanted to see Brother's Grimm because I really like Brazil by Terry Gilliams. I didn't care for the trailer though and a friend of mine told me it wasn't worth watching due to the story.
Since you love the visuals, I may look out for screencaps though.

I haven't even read this story by Angela Carter. I didn't even know it was based on a story by her! Will look out for it.
I saw Company of Wolves secretly on TV when I was a teenager. It obviously left an impression... small wonder considering the imagery. Must have connected straight to my teenage girl subconscious. :-)

And if you ever need to know something about tarot cards, don't hesitate to ask me. If I don't know it, I'll probably know where to find the info.

Re: Fear death by water. . .

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend the Carter story; unfortunately, it doesnt' seem to be available online, but it's in her book "The Bloody Chamber" which should be readily available from Amazon, etc, if you can't find it otherwise. I'm also a fan of her novel "Wise Children" which is sort of a -- history of the 20th century told from the point of view of a pair of 90 year old twins who used to be movie stars? that's the best I can do. lots and lots of Shakespeare and british theater allusions if that's your thing, and it's very fun.