From grade one right through until university I went to an all-girls' convent school, yet despite that daily dose of Catholicism never ONCE gave a thought to becoming a nun. I've since moved way far out from any kind of religious belief, but even in my unlapsed Catholic grade school years I was anti-missionary.
We'll build you heathens a school and teach your kids lots of great stuff, including our particular brand of religion to replace the inferior beliefs you now hold.
No, thank you.
Why am I yakking about this now?
Because, in the space of a single week, I have gone from:
1) holding the opinion above
to
2) meeting a remarkable nun who has worked at her order's mission in the Dominican Republic for 60 years
to
3) booking a flight to spend nine days living in the convent where she lives and maybe helping out in their music program.
What the heck???? Maybe even WTF????
I feel oddly compelled to do this. It tugs at me (dangerous undertow or excited child - I don't know).
Why?
The adventure-seeking mindset of the newly retired?
Perhaps.
It happened so quickly that I didn't have time to change my mind?
Possibly.
I'm going to the
Tarot of the Crone for this, since both the sister involved and I are pretty old and crone-y. (not cronies, but who knows?)
What on earth possessed me to do this? (Or maybe the impulse is
not of this earth?)
You've got to see these 3 cards side by side.
The Tarot of the Crone is a colourful deck, yet these three cards have only black/white/red/purple.
(This reminds me of that poem by
Jenny Joseph:
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.)
There's just one person, centred on each card.
Has the woman in Eight just emerged from the water in the Witch card? Is that why her hair and tunic fall so straight, weighted by water?
Look at the legs in the Eight and Death - the same.
Look at their arms - mirror images.
These three cards are kin.
1. First thought out of the gate - Witch of Cups
Go with the flow.
Don't be afraid to put your head under water.
Have you ever tried floating in salt water? It's pretty cinchy.
Relax. Let your body stretch.
Sea and sky together - a magical combination.
When was the last time you experienced the ocean? Too long.
Feeling buoyed up.
Look up!
It's OK if it feels like your feet aren't on solid ground.
The ocean is swell. (ha - couldn't resist)
Swim with sea creatures. (but not sharks)
2. On second thought - Eight of Cups
More cups. As in "I
feel oddly compelled to do this."
I could use some opening up to new experiences.
Facing ahead to the great exciting unknown.
What's out there? I dunno.
Mind-bending. Body-bending.
Do they do Tai-chi in this convent?
Who is this mysterious person I will meet?
Why won't she show me her face?
Is this me, looking back at me?
Is this person luring me on?
3. Finally - Death XIII
Luring me on to...my death? Certainly hope not!
Spread word - Finally - and the card that responds - Death. Hm.
The image on this card disturbs me. The little patch of red seems sexual. I went to Ellen's LWB for some clarification:
"A little red passage of potential rebirth is at Death's groin." OK, good.
I do like what she wrote later: "
Deny what is passing and you may never be free, dragging a corpse along with you into your future."
I'm grabbing the idea that I
have a future, and running with it!
What, then, is passing as a result of my accepting this unsought opportunity?
- some preconceptions? misconceptions?
- my life as a mission-hater?
- a need to slot ideas into little boxes?
- my insistence on slamming religious beliefs?
- tightness of thought?
- a tendency to judge?
In neighbourhood news
Our reporter has been too busy reading The White Magic Five and Dime to go outside and look around the neighbourhood. She says that this book is a fast read, fun, feisty, full of tarot, and she recommends it!
BREAKING NEWS...
Mackenzie Hall's packet of brochures arrived yesterday. In it was an invitation to learn the
Bachata; my curious friend (who'd learned of my impulsive trip only the previous evening) looked it up and it is...wait for it...a dance from the Dominican Republic! As she says, "Spooky."
👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻
