Thursday, July 10, 2014

Storyteller; read me a story, tell me a tale!

Chrysalis Tarot, Storyteller, The Hermit
For today I've drawn Storyteller (Hermit) from the Chrysalis Tarot. This card has such a different feel to it than its counterpart in other decks. Hermit cards are mostly painted with hues of blue and grey. The cards often depict an old wise man who has sought solitude in a mountainous area. This card however is nothing like that. Here we see a colorful passionate blossoming old crone. She is holding a luminescent sphere in her hands which probable contains a vast amount of stories she will share with whoever comes to her, asking for guidance.
Yes this archetype is more about sharing her wisdom then seeking out her own solitude. Like other members of the Troupe (court cards) and characters of the Major Arcana they are, besides mirrors of ourselves, also guides who come to meet us when we need them in our lives.
This Storyteller is a vessel of experience and wisdom gathered through the ages. For each question she has a story to tell and it is up to us to discover the answer embedded within the tale.
This card is all about quiet solitude and listening to the soft, wise, and gentle inner voice of the Story teller. This card also remind me of the books I have, filled with fairy tales, myths and legends. In these stories you can find universal wisdom and truth too. Sometimes I even read them  aloud to myself so I can absorb the words and rhythm of the story more intense.

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

14 comments:

  1. This does look like the Hermit has come down off the mountain to share the insights received. I used to read wisdom tales from various cultures and religions to my daughter (instead of going to church). I figured she probably wouldn't remember "do this/don't do that," but she probably would remember stories that had lessons embedded in them. :)

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    1. I do believe, even if you don't discover the embedded truth it will do its job on a subconscious level just as well. I loved to read my kids fairy tales and all sorts of stories like that too. It is good to remember those days, with two girls in their nighties on the couch and me in the middle with a big book full of stories and beautiful pictures. :)

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  2. I love this Hermit. Reminds me of my grandmother telling me stories. Wonderful stories. If only I had been able to really listen back then. Like I am able to now. Perhaps I will meditate on them today. :)

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    1. It is very possible you will remember by meditating.
      Maybe it is a good idea to try and find a storybook for yourself and treat your little Carol on a beautiful fairy tale. :)

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  3. This is hands-down my favorite card I've seen so far from the Chrysalis deck... it almost makes me want to own the deck just for the one image. The Hermit has always been one of my favorite Major Arcana characters from a conceptual standpoint, but the artwork in many decks feels less rich than other cards.

    I've also never heard the term Troupe for the court cards. For whatever reason, that label instantly makes me feel like they're more approachable and interesting. Funny how our brains react to the right word.

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    1. The troupe is a medieval like group of guides and archetypes which are slightly different from the court cards. There are similarities too of course. The whole deck is an adventure to read with. It is highly intuitive which I like very much.

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    2. P.S. you should definitely check this out:
      www.chrysalistarot.com/p/the-troupe.html

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  4. Layer upon layer of meaning and suggestion in fairytales - lovely! However, if you're the eldest child, you never seem to win :/ I guess that's about mental attitude/beginner's mind, rather than actually being the eldest, but sometimes my mind is rather literal...

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    1. Are you a eldest child too?
      I've read somewhere that every character in a fairy tale is a part your self. They are symbols to represent the aspect of an initiation or a transformation of some sort.
      Perhaps you could read them more like a poem then a story. :)

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    2. Well, I'm kinda weird. Could be considered an only child (only one my mother bore), but I have an elder ex-step brother, three younger half brothers, and a younger current step-brother :D Yes, I think we should read each character as an aspect of ourselves!

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    3. That sounds rather complicated :D

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    4. Yeah, though now with my boys I'm starting to just call everyone "uncle" :D

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  5. Love this version of the Hermit! Thanks for sharing.

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