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RAW is finally out! The worst has come as I feared. OMG. Wow it took some time to cool off. I finally managed to get things straight. Yuko is still a pain to even endure the pain of her enduring her pain from this episode.
The secret of Yuko was that which I feared the most: unbearable pain, torture beyond human physical harm and mind scream echoes that make one calm into insane.
Yuko going naked in the church was a cry for help that even GOD had to watch and yet GOD has to show a miracle in such a response. Yuko did not get that response.....;-; If I could I would DO SOMETHING! Damn you demons that bully Yuko!
The hate Yuko must have built up.......is unimaginable comparable to a Demon that wants to eat everything, who trusts no one and constantly eats lust/sadness/negative and there is very much many.
Even Nagi is affected by it. So much sadness! ;-; I even have problems writing this when I think of the pain and tears these girls have and compare it to somethings in this world. I realize that is SO MUCH! The pain is so much one would want to kill himself because of such unbereable feelings of having the person MOST WE LOVE turn away to another.
The tarot cards are there to illustrate the feelings and situation of Yuko at the time she associates the card with the explanation of her voice. The one with the devil and death scared me. These are the worst card tarots in the set.
I suppose the virginity symbolizations is quite clear in many forms with Yuko and get interpreted as Yuko that may want to go further with Yuu BUT she does not trusts him. Sure they kissed and talked but YUU HESITATED after hearing Yuko's secret and pain. CAN HE HANDLE IT? DOES HE DOUBT HIMSELF in handling all this situation.
Yuko also compares herself to Yuu's sister but she knows that it would not be possible for her replace his sister no matter what BUT SHE WOULD LIKE TO and also to be his lover. Perhaps something Yuu wanted perhaps not BUT they were together as sister and brother sharing a bed so deep bonding might not be out of question despite leading to a TABOO.
WHAT SCARED ME:
Yuko's GOLDEN EYES at the end IN DEMON form.
Some meanings of the Tarot cards
The Xs, Os, Red circles and other shapes as wound meanings of the physical torture due to bullying/abuse.
Nagi's body comparison and art meanings. They were very explicit but also Yuko's and I was scared to their deep meanings. UNBEARABLE PAIN!
Yuko's PAIN INFERNO at the end! I WAS SAYING NON STOP: "YAMETE YUKO! ONEGAI YAMATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" which means Stop Yuko...........please STOP!!!!!!!!. This was worst than the phone thing with Miyako in season 1 when Hiro did not answer cause he was helping Kei with her leg injury.
Yuko GETTING NAKED IN THE CHURCH! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I hate that! It is BLASPHEMY! I dare anyone to go to a church naked! HA! You will not get away from bad luck! I guaranteed this much.
The whole virgin thing with the VIRGIN MARY STATUE. Confessing my love in the church..........YES! Talking/expressing/ showing sexual feelings/sexual reference such as the body and talking about womanhood IS NO WAY something to DO IN A CHURCH. I understand the meaning and implication BUT this would be much better at Yuko's place or some other NON HOLY place.
WHAT I APPRECIATED:
Yuu and Yuko's kiss was good and nicely shown.
The Tarot's card mysticism other than the death and devil Tarots.
The deep meanings (MUST WATCH MANY TIMES to understand)
HIGHLIGHTS
At first I though that Yuko is NUTS! Naked in a church? O_O What is she thinking?+Notice the writing being in red which may mean lost of virginity or worse.
Loved Yuu sketches of the town!+One should see that Yuko is trusting Yuu A LOT--------->Falls asleep on his should.KAWAII!
The significance of the Tarot IS IMPORTANT! Nagi's Tarots are EMPEROR/EMPRESS/JUSTICE/+HIEROPHANT//CHARIOT/TEMPERANCE(see bottom for meanings)
Nagi is torn with her body/art+Great Art by Nagi even if it is nude.
I LOVE THESE TWO SCENES OF YUKO+YUKO/YUU!
BEAUTIFUL illustration of Hiro being torn between two bodies: NAGI/YUKO
THE MASK OF YUKO---------->DARK SECRET!
GREAT scene that show Yuu and Nagi getting distant!+Great display of Nagi being trapped within a frame AND LOOK at the eyes changing color: RED(anger or negative emotions)/PURPLE (chaos, confusion)/BLUE(calamity,peace and perhaps a give up)
BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION of Kuze's violin playing!
Nagi's painting with a streak of blue to mean CRYING!+NAGI CRYING BREAKS MY HEART even if she would be bitchy.........MATTER NOT! Her feelings......I can understand.
NAGI's hand shakes due EXTREME EMOTIONS+Yuko crying also makes MY HEART HURT!
FEATHERS falling while Yuko running may mean lost of innocence at that time+LOVE the scenery where Yuu and Yuko meet to talk more. I THINK THIS MAY be the euphoric field but ebullition FIELD!
IMPORTANT PART! Notice Yuko's changing colors:
FIRST: Yellow/Purple/Green/Red------------>Purple/Green/Red:LOST OF VITALITY/life
From Purple/Green/Red:LOST OF VITALITY/life------------>Green/Red: LOST of sanity and normalization+FROM Green/Red: LOST of sanity and normalization----------->Green: LOST of virginty/innocence
FROM Green: LOST of virginty/innocence-------------->Lost of Green:LOST of ESSENTIAL LIFE itself/LIFE IS GONE nor any growth association.
YUU AND YUKO'S KISS! HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY! LET LOVE CONQUER THE DEMONS! I LOVE THE KISS IN THE EBULLITION FIELD!
The mouth talking in the dark WAS FREAKY!+LOVE the eye of Yuu seeing YUKO!
Love Yuko in this scene+YUKO is naked under BEAUTIFUL COLORS........ECCHI IN ART! That I LOVE! Why?-------->NOT NUDE BUT ART!
The whole chain scene with Yuko made me think THAT someone is bounding her+abusing her physically (hand touching the skin leaving it red with blood.
YUKO is really naked in the church. OMG PLEASE FORGIVE HER for her INDECENCY!+THESE EYES of Yuko ARE SCARY! Ringu?
THIS PART I was saying all the time: YAMATE YUKO! YAMATE ONEGAI YUKO! ONEGAI! I could barely hold my tears and sanity.THIS WORSE THAN season 1 with Miyako and the cell phone conversation! WAY WORSE!
Red writing and meaning?+Yuko's body shown in red may mean again another sign of heavy physical abuse or body to purge its virginity and spread the pain all in inside to flow with lost of innocence.
LOVE THE ED PICS OF YUKO!Especially the one WITH HER MOM AND YUKO IN WINTER! Last one is VERY NICE TOO! :)
LOVE the significance of YUKO NAKED BODY/Virgin Mary/Glass shatters--------->LSOT OF INNOCENCE OR VIRGINITY! LOVE THIS picture of Yuu in the RAIN but THE ART STYLE IS NICE! NICE!
YUKO'S DEMON EYES! SCARY! KOWAI! KOWAI!+WTF is that blade that pops out and land on the ground near where Yuu is and kneeling while going INSANE!? O_O
BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF YUKO in the church..........VERY ARTISTIC even if she is naked.+YUU IS GOING INSANE INSANE!
I LOVE THIS POSE OF YUKO!+EYE TO EYE seance! Love that also.
Yuko being alone on that swing with this setup IS NICE ART!+Amamiya sensei WTF DID YOU DO TO YUKO???????? Why would he be portrayed with stained red shirt! That SOB better not have abused sexually or physically Yuko!
REALIZATION OF SOMETHING: I talked with a person that helped with his understanding of Japanese. I have also double checked this with the RAW..........So yeah I realized that Yuko has been abused by Amamiya and that it started at Christmas as a present. I think she says at first it was gentle then the blood and loss. I think that all the points around her body are abuses that kept going until she had to get out somehow or have a weapon near her to protect her self. (this is subject to change based on subs).
SO LET ME SAY THIS: AMAMIYA SENSEI SHINE! DIE! DIE! YOU PIECE PEDO SICK SOB! GO TO HELL AND ROT IN THERE! DAMN YOU AMAMIYA SENSEI. ;-; ;-;
*Mod edit*
aeroNov 17, 2008 3:36 PM
Oops! I appear to be incapable of following Rules 16 and 17, so I had to have a mod change my sig for me.
Man, that ending was absolutely insane! But I have to say, only SHAFT can pull something like that off and get away with it.
I also loved the scene with sketchy Yuu-kun shouting out to Yuuko. The movements were very fluid or something, I think (This is completely random but it reminded me of Tomoya from the Tomoyo OVA at the very end). I also liked the tarot card refrence thingy... And Yuuko's eyes in that one scene freaked me out... At the very very end I kept on thinking Higurashi with the bat and the rain (at least I think it was a bat...). Heck, Yuu-kun even mentioned Uso da once in this episode.
Good episode, though I'm saddened at the lack of Mizuki. Maybe next episode...
I suppose the virginity symbolizations is quite clear in many forms with Yuko and get interpreted as Yuko that may want to go further with Yuu BUT she does not trusts him. Sure they kissed and talked but YUU HESITATED after hearing Yuko's secret and pain. CAN HE HANDLE IT? DOES HE DOUBT HIMSELF in handling all this situation.
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Erm I'm not sure if your just implying on Yuu's behalf but Yuko already lost hers, it was mentioned in the part right before the X;s & O's patterns scene(if u want trans'd details I got). Besides that this was pretty messed up and it was like a slap in the face.
I COULD not fit this in one post so please feel free to read to get ALL YOU NEED ABOUT THE TAROT INFORMATION. A new meaning awaits you I PROMISE YOU!
TAROT CARDS+Explanation of their meanings UNDERSTAND THIS and YOU WILL ALL KNOW ABOUT YUKO!
FIRST: The Fool:Without the notion of Zero, our system of mathematics becomes meaningless. Similarly, the Fool is an essential part of the Tarot because he is the spark that sets everything else into motion, the divine breath that gives life and inspires the first step towards fulfillment and completion. Though the first step down a long path may often seem small in comparison to the journey, that first step is vital because without it there would be no journey at all! The Fool is the cause behind all effects, the power behind all manifestations and the seeds of the end sown in every beginning.
The Fool is unmoulded potential, pure and innocent, neither positive nor negative yet containing the possibility of both. He is the unconditioned soul about to come into manifestation for the first time to start learning the lessons of the world. Though everyone calls him a Fool, he does not pay them any attention, and he simply goes on his way. Certainly what they say can be justified, since his ignorance of the world can lead him to do things that more experienced people would never imagine. But in these things he can find knowledge and enlightenment. He does not care what others think or say about him, because he knows that what he is doing is right for him.
His approach to life is a strange, unconventional one, because he does what is comfortable to him. This is a viewpoint not often supported in our modern world, in which "do as I say" is the commandment most followed. To those who have lived their life under this philosophy, the approach of the Fool may be extravagant, shocking, even frightening. But this approach is all that the Fool knows, and because the only approval he requires is his own, he will continue to live this way, despite what all others think of him. He has total faith in himself. Perhaps he is not such a fool after all.
The Fool does not hide himself from the light, because he is the light - the wonderful light that shines out of every child before they see the world and are forced to build so many walls and barriers to protect themselves. The innocence of a child, sadly, is something rarely found outside of children, even though a lot of people could use it these days. With this innocence comes perfect trust, fearlessness in others, and total self-reliance. It allows you to see the world with new eyes and learn new things every day of your life. Think of how much better the world would be if everybody acted this way! It's a shame that only children, and the Fool, see this light.
The Fool almost always stands for new beginnings, new experiences and new choices; the first steps along a new path and the first words written onto a blank page. Like the Aces of the Minor Arcana, such beginnings are like the Fool himself - neither positive nor negative, but with the potential to turn into either, depending on the choices you make and the path you follow. But this must not be your concern, because when a journey begins no one can know (or should know) what will happen on the way to the destination. Never let another person control your life. Live in the present and trust in your own abilities - this is the way of the Fool.
Such journeys always imply a degree of risk, and hence the Fool is pictured walking toward the edge of a high cliff. With any new experience there is always the risk of failure and the certainty of change; it is the degree of change, and how that change will appear, that are undeterminable. But the Fool has no qualms about taking chances, so why should you? It is through the first steps that we learn how to walk, and it is through changes that we learn how to live our lives in harmony and peace. So jump head first into the abyss of the unknown, and know that even if you eventually fall to the ground, for a while you will soar.
The world:After every obstacle has been faced and surmounted, after every path has been travelled and charted, there remains only the last step to the next level of existence - the World, the final gateway. After the union of the conscious and unconscious, the mind and the body, in Judgement, all that can remain is union with the Divine in whatever form it appears to you. This journey is over and the next is only beginning. The cycle is complete as last, with the vindication of the traveler and the immortality he has gained through development of the self. It would seem that the Fool's Journey may not have been so foolish after all.
This card, as befits its nature, has the same basic symbolism in almost all of its myriad version. There are the four cherubs embodying their domains; The bull for matter, the lion for energy, the eagle for time and the man for space. Together they represent the unifed creation and control of all things in the Universe. Another common motif is the dancer in the centre, with her twin wands. The wand is that of the Magician, but it has now multiplied, and the need to ground its magical power has vanished because it has become one with its source of power. Positive and negative can be seen as two parts of the same whole. One is many. Many are one.
The World could be thought of as a time of rest, the time between death and life where the soul awaits reincarnation in the material world and - for the briefest of periods - becomes one with the universe from which it came. All the lessons learned have been put to use. All the tasks accomplished have born fruit and brought prosperity. Every cause has had its effects and all of the diverse threads of effects have been woven into a tapestry of your life as you have lived it. Now is a time to enjoy your wisdom, savour your prosperity and admire the personal artwork you have created, for soon you will start it all over again.
The journey may have stopped for the moment, and it may have transcended the plane on which you started, but the journey of the soul never ends. A new beginning is found in the end, the pieces are in place for a new journey to start, and after that one is completed, another will surely commence. After a glimpse of the Divine you return to manifestation, sure of your convictions and in your ability to someday see the face of God again. The cycle is as endless as the wreath that surrounds the scene, tied together by the ribbons of Divine force, and spiraling around the universe until the end of time.
The World card marks a time in your life in which one cycle is over and the next is just beginning. It represents the final achievement of all your worldly expectations and desires, and the immenent approach of new desires to follow and new goals to puruse. The World itself remains the ultimate goal, because it is an affirmation of life and an arrival at a perfect state of harmony and bliss. This is the confirmation of success and the reward for all your trials and ordeals. With the coming of the World comes assured success and material well-being, as well as emotional fulfillment, and growth in the spiritual sense.
In the material world, this card's energy often manifests as a promotion to a higher position or an initiation to a new level of knowledge that was only dreamed of before. But this time of rejoicing and happiness, this peak of ecstasy, merely gives us a glimpse of the next mountain on the horizon. So once again you must step up ot the cliff and leap off, ready to start a new Fool's journey and find what secrets lie in this new level of existence. The cycle of the Major Arcana begins where it ends and ends where it begins; start and finish are no longer the ends of straight line, but coincident points on the circumference of a circle that encapsulates your life. The present is now. The future is now. Eternity is now.
THE SUN:The Sun symbolizes many things depending on how you look at it. The ancients saw the sun as the giver of life and light, and almost every polytheistic faith has a Sun God. It brings light and clarity after a period of darkness and confusion, and in this sense the Sun God is often a redeemer as well; a bringer of peace and good times after ordeals. Finally, the Sun is a symbol of steadfastness and reliability, for no matter how bleak your situation may seem, no matter how many problems you have, the Sun will still rise in the morning. All of these attributions, and more, are reflected in the Tarot card that bears the same name as our solitary star.
The light of the Sun is about halfway between that embodied on the Tower and that shown on the Star. It is not a blinding flash of power but neither is it a subtle glow. It is hot enough to warm but generally not enough to burn. This moderation between extremes is the goal of the spiritual traveler, first shown on Temperance, now entered into full manifestation for us all to see. In this higher state, nothing is beyond your control. In the Rider-Waite deck a powerful symbol illustrates this. The sunfowers in the garden are not turned towards the Sun, as they normally are, but to the child on the horse. He is the one who now holds power over the material world.
The great ordeal of the Moon has passed, and you have emerged into the light, stronger and wiser. War has ended and made way for peace; hatred is replaced by love; fear is overcome by courage. This is truly a time to celebrate! Good triumphing so powerfully over evil is not an everyday occurence in this world, and when it does happen you should be glad that a little more light has entered your life. The rising of the Sun is akin to the completion of the tasks and trials of the night, and the warmth it provides is the reward for not cowering in fear at the darkness, not running away given the chance, and not trying to hide from the wisdom that is rightfully yours.
As a sign of reliability, there is nothing more powerful than the Sun, since no force on Earth (or anywhere else for that matter) can stop the Sun from rising in the morning. In a world of chaos, it is a still point of silence and calm, an assurance that there is some underlying order, some higher power that chooses to bless us and smile upon us each day. Even when clouds fill the sky the Sun is still there, waiting for an opportunity to break through the dark barrier and shine its light for us. Know that in every challenge there is an opportunity, and behind every cloud sits a sun waiting for its chance to be revealed to all.
In a reading the Sun can take on many meanings, though the most predominant one is that of success and completion. It can be a herald of joy, happiness, the birth of a child, a stable family, material prosperity or almost any other end that is positive - but above all it shows completion. One cycle is over and, before the next begins, there is a period of light and relaxation that you can and should properly enjoy. Success comes if you are confident and bold in the use of your creative energy. Glow with the vitality of the Sun whose light is umatched and whose power is absolute.
Such power and clarity are within everyone's grasp, including yours, if you let the light of the Sun illuminate you. If there are areas of darkness lurking inside you, the Sun's rays will expose them so you can integrate them into yourself. Fogs of confusion are burned away with the Sun's fiery sword, and its flames drive away fear and all the terrors of the night. A seemingly hopeless situation will be hopeless no more once the Sun shines down upon the true path, the correct solution. When the Sun appears, let its power amaze and overwhelm you. But do not simply watch - reach up to grasp it, draw its power into yourself. The power of the Sun is true power indeed.
HIGH PRIESTESS:The High Priestess is arguably the most difficult of the Major Arcana to qualify with words alone, because so much of her power and ability is veiled in mystery that it is difficult for anyone to fathom it all. Every card in the Tarot speaks differently to everyone, but the Priestess seems to bear the widest range of interpretations, because she speaks directly to the Inner Voice, the unconscious mind. She is the manifestation of the unconscious and the effects of the mysterious in our everyday world. Trying to see how such mysteries work often defeats their purpose, and with this in mind, the High Priestess will be explained in as much detail as possible.
She is, above all else, the base of potential that is the source of the power wielded by the Magician. She is the unlimited potential that allows him to transform and create whatever his Will desires. Understanding this type of balance, as found between potential and creation, masculine and feminine, is the key to unlocking some of the mysteries of the High Priestess. We see the clear progression of the theme of balance; instead of integrating opposites, the Priestess keeps them separate and keeps them in balance nonetheles. She herself is the scales; this symbolism is found in many Tarot decks. Without this balance there can be no power.
The second symbolic motif found in almost all instances of the High Preistess are symbols of the unconscious mind. On the Rider-Waite version this motif is especially prominent, but most decks feature at least some lunar imagery that in turn has ties to the unconscious. Most decks that have the "twin pillars" symbology also depict a veil strung between those pillars; the High Priestess stands between us and that veil as a moderator. Behind the veil lies the powers of the unconscious, which we cannot start to understand but which, through her, we can learn to control. She is the gateway to realms that we may never fully comprehend or master.
While it would be impossible for anyone to learn all of her mysteries and secrets, the High Priestess remains as a guide to those of us willing to venture deep within our minds to discover the true powers hidden deep inside each of us. This is the same power as that depicted on the Magician, but the scope of the Priestess' power is far different. While the Magician focuses his powers outward, to achieve a meaningful effect on the world, the High Priestess shows us that we can also use these powers on an inner level, to enrich and transform ourselves. Such transformations are certainly not as dramatic as the Magician's, but they are almost always more powerful.
The High Priestess represents the mysteries of the unconscious and the Inner Voice, and her appearance is often a sign that your own intuition is trying to send you a message. The unconscious often speaks to us in symbols, so be alert around you for anything that seems out of the ordinary. This said, if you have an important decision to make when the Priestess appears, this is often a sign that the answers will be revealed to you, if you are patient and open to the whispers from within. You simply have to wait and be receptive to inner messages. Her lesson is that everything you need to know already exists within you.
The theme of dualism in the High Preistess cannot be avoided either. She is often a sign of the Shadow, the negative portion of your personality that no one sees, and that you yourself could be unaware of. (In this sense, the term 'negative' does not refer to evil, just the opposite polarity from the positive and expressive part of your personality.) If you accept the Shadow within you, its powers will be open to you if you wish to use them. In most people the Shadow side is the more passive of the two, and the Priestess can therefore advocate a need for passivity in a situation. It is not always necessary to act; sometimes goals can be realized through inaction.
LOVERS (could be wrong cause the writing IS TOO BLURRY):The Lovers card is not just about love and sexuality; it has several meanings which are all related to the duality expressed in the image of the card. The image of the two lovers holding hands or intertwined is a powerful symbol for the harmonious union of two beings, but it also stands for the necessity of proper choice, and some interesting concepts about the relationship of our conscious minds to whatever power brings these lovers together. It should be apparent that, in our culture which has so many words and definitions for the simple emotion of love, the image of love as expressed in the Tarot can have so many meanings.
The Lovers is predominantly a card of the emotions, and it often portrays love that is divinely blessed, either by Cupid, an angel, or by God Himself. This seems to imply that nothing but good can come of this union, though with such a dualistic card there is always the potential for a sad conclusion, despite the best of beginnings. After all, love is like a flame because it can ignite the blaze of passion, but also because it can consume and destroy if used carelessly. Love is a wonderful thing, but profane or unrequited love has the power to tear families and lives apart. The Lovers has within it the potential for such love and we must always be cautious of it.
Air is the element which rules the Lovers, and we should therefore expect the majority of its meanings to be associated with the spirit and the mind. The notion of choice between positive and negative is first depicted on this card with the old symbology of a man deciding between two lovers. Such a moral crossroads is often shown by the Lovers card, which now tells us to consider all consequences before acting. The situation could be as simple as a fork in the road with two paths to choose between, or a much more complicated decision by which all of our strongest beliefs and ideals will be tested. In times of such difficult choice we clearly need high guidance.
The final meaning of the Lovers is perhaps best illustrated by the image of the card in the Rider-Waite deck, and some of its variants. This image shows the man looking at the woman, who in turn looks at the divine figure above them both. The man cannot see the angel, and he must trust the woman to see it for him. Likewise, the conscious mind (the man) cannot directly access Higher Powers (the angel), whatever you believe those are. The unconscious (the woman) must be the bridge between the physical and spiritual planes. This symbology also shows the true power of love; as discussed on the Ten of Cups, through love we can get a glimpse of Heaven.
Often, the Lovers will refer to a relationship when it appears in a reading, and when it does, that relationship will be a perfect expression of the love between two people. This will almost always be a sexual relationship, though not necessarily. You must always keep in mind, though, the potential for conflict despite happy beginnings. Love is a flame that must not be left unattended; it must be fueled and allowed to burn for as long and as brightly as possible. If not a physical pairing of man and woman, the Lovers can also show the integration of two conflicting parts of yourself, the masculine and the feminine. Through the combination, greater wisdom is revealed.
Finally, this card carries the meaning of choice, usually on the moral or ethical plane. The most familiar instance of such a choice, sadly, is the choice between your spouse and someone else with whom you have fallen in love. Alternatively, it could be between two possible partners, both of whom you love, but only one of whom would be best for you. Look inside, and turn to your unconscious for inspiration. Through it you can access the wisdom needed to make this choice properly, and for the good of all involved. Trust the counsel of your Inner Voice, and once you have made your decision, do not rescind it no matter how much opposition you face.
Sister FROM THERE YUKO+DEVIL TAROT:The Devil is another of the popularly misunderstood cards of the Tarot, perhaps second only to Death in this category. In our modern world we do not like to think that there is a seed of negativity in everyone, so we assume that anything bad that happens must be the work of some outside Devil, who is to be feared and shunned. But really, people do not do bad things because a force outside them is controlling their actions. They do bad things because the negative part of their own personality is expressing itself. To deny this side of yourself is to give it power over you, and to give it free reign over your life will eventually destroy you.
The symbolic portrayal of the Devil in the Tarot is a clear mockery of two previous Major Arcana, the Lovers and the Hierophant. The former parody is perhaps the more obvious. Where the angel hovers on the Lovers, the Devil stands on his card, cursing the man and woman rather than blessing them. They who were once connected to each other by love are now attached to the Devil by their chains of lust and ignorance. The Devil's hand mimics the gesture of the Hierophant, but perverts it. The true Hierophant offers spiritual wisdom and beckons to us with an open hand. The Devil's gesture hides his true intentions of hurtful wisdom - not really wisdom at all.
It must be stressed again that the Devil is not a force that attacks from without, but a cancer than devours you from within. When the Devil is in power everything turns upside-down; hence, the inverted Pentagram associated with him. When you submit to your inner Devil, you simultaneously submit to every other force in the outside world that would do you harm. You allow others to bind you and control your life. You allow your creative powers to be corrupted and turned against you. But through all of this you are not a victim of anyone but yourself. In fact, in a sense you are not really a victim at all, and certainly not helpless.
The most important lesson the Devil teaches you is that you can free yourself from whatever restrictions are holding you back, at any time you choose to. The chains that bind the figures on the Devil card are loose enough to be thrown off at any time. There is still positive energy within you that you can tap to break free - but only if you can let go of the materialism and that the Devil embodies. In the end, the best way to free yourself of the Devil's bondage is not to submit to it, but to accept it as the shadow that must be cast wherever there is light. Having accepted the shadow, you can look to the light.
When the Devil card appears in a reading it usually shows that you are not in control of your life, sometimes as a result of your own actions, but more often as a byproduct of inaction. This loss of control often leads to loss of hope, and a lack of faith in your own abilities. Sometimes ignorance and materialism are the tools of the Devil, and those traits will be evident if you focus on worldly possessions and power while ignoring the spiritual power you have inside of you. As a result, your creativity and energy can be seriously impaired, and you may not wish to regain control of yourself.
Your own mindset is a critical factor when the Devil card appears. If you think darkness has won, it has. If you are willing to let others exploit and restrain you, then they can and they will. But no one has power over you unless you give it away. If you are willing to release yourself from the chains of ignorance, you can do so, and you can step into the light. Turn all that negative energy into positive energy and see how much you can accomplish when you believe you can. Take a good long look at yourself and try to see what you could not see before. Always remember, that shadow cannot exist without light, and that there is no Devil except the one you create.
YUKO+Magician tarot:The Magician's number is One, the number of creation and individuality; his power is transformation through the use of his will. In his manipulation of the basic elements into all the substances and materials of life, he shows us that from a foundation of the mundane can emerge all that is to come. He can take the Nothing from which the Fool emerged and shape it into Something, making one out of zero. Clearly this is power of a divine sort, and it is true that the Magician is a conduit for a higher power, which commands all of the material world. Since all that we can see in the physical world is the conduit himself, the acts he performs often seem like magic.
The Magician may seem like a strange title for someone who holds real power, because the word "magician" tends to conjure up pictures of illusionists and escape artists, whose power involves sleight of hand and misdirection. The Magician, however, is similar to the stage illusionist in many ways. He is confident in his skills and his ability to produce the effects that he wants. His real power comes from sources outside of him, and he is powerless without these sources, just as an illusionist depends on people "behind the scenes". Both magician and Magician, however, are as important to their powers are the powers are to them. Without a conduit, power itself is impotent and useless.
With his powers the Magician holds influence over all - theory and practice, logic and emotion, thought and action. Almost every modern depiction of the Magician includes one or more symbols of infinity to denote his limitless power; the snake eating its tail and the lemniscate (horizontal figure-eight) being chief among these. This limitless power comes from sources outside his body yet under his control. And as long as the Magician remembers that this power is his to command, even if he loses all of his worldly power and skill he can never truly be called powerless. For his Will is a power that, while it can be subdued, it can never be destroyed.
Another nearly universal association with the Magician is the red-and-white color scheme. This theme recurs throughout the Tarot and it is very symbolic that it starts with this card and not the Fool. For while the Fool was the potential for positive and negative, the Magician is the union of positive and negative. He creates and he preserves; he destroys and he redeems. His true power is that he not only knows what he must do, but he knows how he must do it, and why he must do it. Then he does it. The Magician reminds us that a wish alone will change nothing, but a decision can change everything. A desire to create is nothing without an ability to create, and vice-versa.
When the Magician appears he shows that you are ready to become a conduit for power, like he is. The forces of creation and destruction have always been at your command but now you have the wisdom and confidence needed to use them constructively. Now is the time to act, if you know what is it you want to accomplish and why. Since the powers of transformation are at your command, change your desires into objectives, your thoughts into actions, your goals into achievements. If you have recently met with failure, now you can change that failure into success as easily as the Magician changes fire into water. The only limits you have are those you impose on yourself.
The outward manifestations of such power are as numerous as they are varied, but the most common outer effect of the Magician's influence is unswaying and total confidence. The realization that the world is under your control is what inspires this kind of confidence, and with good reason. So go out into the world, set your mind to whatever goal you are interested in, and then just stand back and watch as everything falls into place under your command. Ultimately, the message of the Magician is a simple one despite his limitless and infinitely complex power. Your life is under your control. Your life is what you want it to be. Your life is what you make it.
MAGICIAN+HERMIT tarot:When questions about the nature of existence and the purpose of life start eating away at your mind, answers will not be found in the physical world. They can only be found inside of you. You have risen above your desires and emotions because they will no longer help you on your journey. Now you must become like the Hermit, who seeks the answers alone. Only the whispers of his Inner Voice, and the light of his lamp, will guide him now. Eventually even that lamp shall be cast away, because it is artificial and will not help the Hermit forever. His own inner light must learn to shine in the absence of the light of others.
For true wisdom to emerge, there can be no distractions. Any preoccupations of the world, no matter how small or inconsequential they may seem, will be heard as shouts that drown out the still voice within. It is not enough to rid yourself of inner turmoil, though that is a step in the right direction. The next step is to eliminate outer turmoil, through isolation and withdrawal from the world. This is the path of the Hermit, who slips into darkness in order to have the light revealed to him when he is ready. Like the Fool, he is once again alone, separated from all others. But this time it not only by choice, but by necessity.
Once he has learned the lessons and seen his true wisdom, the Hermit will often pick up his lamp and return to the real world, in order to help others see their own potential as well. But the Hermit is not a teacher; he will not lecture his students and tell them all about his experiences of solitude and isolation. They must experience it themselves, for wisdom earned simply by listening to another person is not really wisdom at all. True wisdom and true enlightenment always come from within. A teacher may tell the student how he found wisdom, but the student must go and find it for himself. Wisdom is not a gift presented to you on a platter. It is a gift you give yourself.
The lessons of life cannot be rushed, or forced, or made to happen before it is time for them to happen. This statement, in fact, is one of those lessons that everyone must learn. But simply reading it on a page, or hearing others tell you about it, will not give you the experience of the lesson. Only by doing - or not doing - can we ever hope to understand. Knowledge only becomes wisdom when we earn it, through the sacrifice of our familiar surroundings and all the people we hold dear. If you think about it logically, everything you leave behind when you follow the Hermit's call will remain when you return. The only thing that will have changed is you.
The appearance of the Hermit is a call to learn more about yourself and the nature of your existence, and everyone experiences this call at some point in their lives. Take this as a sign that your worldly problems and affairs can safely be put on hold; there is greater, inner work to be done now. Often this will refer to a problem you must solve or a part of your nature you must deal with before a situation can progress. Only in rare circumstances will this refer to a spiritual transformation, but when it does, know that it will be a powerful change requiring much effort and commitment. A more long-term withdrawal may be needed.
The Hermit can also show you that a mentor is entering your life. This is a person who will not teach you overtly, but who will show you how to find the answers you are seeking within yourself. Perhaps you will be the mentor who is indicated by the Hermit, in which case you must be careful not to preach to your student, but guide him. Your wisdom will not be your student's, and you must accept that before any teaching can be done. If you are ever in doubt, know that all the wisdom you will need is already inside you, waiting to emerge. This light will not come unless sought out, but when it does, you will see that you had the answers all along.
Hermit+TEMPERANCE TAROT:After the purging experience of Death, it is necessary to rebuild and improve on that which has been left over. Now that old habits and beliefs are gone forever, new attitudes must be acquired to fill the gaps and make you whole again. This process of reconstruction and harmonization is shown by the card called Temperance. The verb "to temper" means to modify or strengthen by adding a new component to an existing substance or mixture, and this broad defintion can be applied to many areas of your life. But all applications of Temperance share the common theme of moderation and balance, culminating in the creation of a centered and well-rounded being.
In most Tarot decks the red-on-white symbology first shown in the Magician appears on the card in some form. The temperance of desire (red) with purity (white) is one of the most fundamental manifestations of this card, as is the reverse (purity with desire). The angel on the Rider-Waite deck, who wears a white robe and has red wings, is a perfect illustration of this. Purity of heart and mind gives you a solid base to fall back upon, but only through the desire for personal growth can you ever develop. The angel's white robes give him his basic form, but only through the control of his red wings comes his ability to fly.
The act of Temperance can also refer to the coming together of two distinct beings that must function as one. Obviously this refers to relationships, but also to friendships, partnerships, and all kinds of compromises and committees. This can also take place on an internal level, when you confront your deepest desires and your most irrational fears and, instead of getting rid of them, you incorporate them into yourself and grow stronger because of the temperance. If you throw away your Shadow it cannot help you, but by accepting it you bring it under your control. Perfect harmony with oneself is one of the two lessons of this card, and the one often seen in readings.
Temperance also represents an appreciation of moderation through experience of the extremes; to use an analogy, to live through the darkest night and the brightest day to appreciate both the twilight and the dawn. Only through seeing and acknowledging both sides - the positive and the negative - can you integrate both into your personality. Another facet of the Temperance card is that you must not strive to become totally positive, even though that might seem like a good goal. Life seeks balance and if you strive to be a totally positive being you will be fighting the current all the way. Better to embrace moderation and go with the flow.
The two situations in which Temperance will most often appear are in the context of your relationships with others and with yourself. In the former case, a need for balance is often implied. Conflict can only be resolved through compromise and cooperation, and two people who both acknowledge this cannot be in conflict for long, because they always balance things out before they become problematic. Likewise, they enjoy the good times but know that they cannot last forever, and are not disappointed on darker days. If a relationship seems out of balance in any way, Temperance must be taken as a sign to start fixing things before it gets too far out of balance and it is irrevocably destroyed.
Often, though, before you can achieve harmony in your relationships with the people around you, you must make peace with yourself. Inner imbalances can often manifest in the physical world if they are not attended to, whether or not the imbalance is a negative one. Having a lifestyle that is optimistic to the point of believing yourself to be invincible will lead to problems, maybe even more so than a lifestyle of pessimism and paranoia. Balance is best achieved through turning to the Inner Voice for guidance. Temperance is a card of health, and its appearance shows that your inner power is ready to heal you and make you stronger.
STRENGTH TAROT:The title of this card is often misleading because most people tend to think of strength as a property of the physical body. But this is not a card of brute force, because none of the Major Arcana apply directly to the physical body. These are cards of ideas, feeling and beliefs; trying to make a Major Arcanum depicting someone strong of body would be a pointless exercise. But strength is not always measured in terms of how much you can lift or how fast you can run. True Strength is fortitude of character, and the ability to not only control the emotions, but to rise above them, and triumph over all out lower impulses and desires.
This card continues the lesson of the Chariot, showing that once we have learned to control emotion, we must rise above it. Many people attribute the notions of forgiveness, compassion and nurturing to this card, but this is clearly not what is shown by Strength. This is a Fire card, and therefore detrimental to all the emotions. The only qualities that abound in Strength are courage and patience. Neither of these are really emotions, but ways of acting and doing that are not tempered by feeling. Courage is the antithesis of fear; patience, the control of worldly desires. There is no emotion here, just determination and action.
The symbology of the lion is common to Strength, and aptly so. The lion is the "beast within", the raging inner desire inside every one of us that must be controlled or it will be set free to manifest in the world. The image of the woman opening the mouth of the lion shows both courage and patience; she must not fear the lion, and she must wait for it to tire before she can exert her own will upon it. This is not an image of compassion in any sense of the word; how can forcing a creature to obey your will be seen as compassionate? Forgiveness and nurturing are likewise not to be seen anywhere in this image. There is just the purity of the maiden and the power of her inner beast that she is attempting to control.
She needs patience to defeat the lion because her power is not brute physical force, as mentioned. The force she has is very little, but it can be applied infinitely, and she will continue to apply light but constant pressure until the lion submits to her superior will. It does show a certain determination, and the conviction that even small results will have effects if kept up long enough, just as a constant dripping hollows a stone. So Strength is not a card of compassion and love, but a card of quiet yet unstoppable power. Such power radiates from the soul, and for a consciousness aware of this power, there can be no resistance, and no defeat.
The qualities of Strength are already in you, waiting to appear once you have mastered all your base emotions and when you are ready to move on to the spiritual tasks that lie ahead. Its main lesson is that emotions must be transcended if spiritual wisdom and intuition are to be awakened. Whispers from the intuition are often drowned out by the constant roar of emotion and preoccupation and fear. Only once you have eliminated these can the silence you need be created. So conquer your fears, control your impulses, and never lose patience with yourself or what you are doing. Eventually you will see the wisdom of letting go of your lower self.
This is not a card of love over hatred, as most would see it. This is simply mind over matter, superior will over inferior desires. No matter how strong the beast within you seems, you have the power to control it and make it submit to your will. This cannot be done with physical force or with undue haste; it is a slow and difficult process. When Strength is around, however, you can be assured that you have enough endurance to see this task through to its eventual end. If you are pushing too hard, Strength shows the need to withdraw for the moment, and be patient. Enlightenment will come only when the time is right; it cannot be rushed.
THE MOON TAROT:It has been said many times that things are not always as they seem, and in the influence of the Moon this axiom is particularly true. In the moonlight, things that are benevolent during the day can suddenly seem dangerous and malicious. The very term "moonlight" is misleading because the Moon does not emit light of its own, it simply reflects the light of the Sun. Some people even claim to see the face of a man on the Moon's cratered surface, though of course such a thing is impossible and only an illusion. A lot of people who look for that face in the Moon know it could not be there, but they look nonetheless.
This card is one of the few Major Arcana with important animal symbolism, and with no human figures in the majority of cases. The Rider-Waite card shows a wolf and a dog; two members of the same genus, but the first is wild and the second has been domesticated. Both of them are shown howling at the Moon, however, and if a human were present in this scene he would probably be affected somehow too. Regardless of your place in the hierarchy of society or of evolution, you are still susceptible to illusions and deception. The Moon shines the same light down on everyone, though what you see when that light reaches your eyes depends on who you are, not on what you see.
In ancient religions the Moon deity was often a Goddess with ties to female fertility, because there was a visible correlation between the cycle of the Moon and the female menstrual cycle. While this association is still valid, the Moon of the Tarot tends to deal with fertility of imagination rather than fertility of body. The crayfish shown regularly on Moon cards is a sign of the emerging subconscious and its influence over the conscious mind, and for a mind closed to the messages of its subconscious, there can be a lot of illusion and deceptions to face. You can no longer tell what is real and what is just a manifestation of your fears and desires.
The ordeal of the Moon is the last challenge posed by the Major Arcana, in which you must travel in the dark, not knowing for sure if your path is the right one. There is no sunlight to guide you, no distant landmark in the hills to direct your steps, no one to travel alongside. This is a journey that must be made alone, in darkness and without a map or a compass. You must learn to rely on your own inner light to lead you along the true path. Any hesitation, any doubt, and that light will be extinguished forever. But if you believe, your light will shine forever, as brightly as the sun that will inevitably rise once this night has passed.
The Moon's appearance in a reading almost always means that something is not as it appears to be, and that vigilance and perception will be necessary to find that which is hidden before it is too late. In a generally good reading the Moon shows that not all is as wonderful as you would think. You may be idealizing the sitatuion, and ignoring the fact that potential for failure exists among success. A negative reading that includes the Moon often shows that you are letting your imagination run away with you, and that things are not nearly as bad as they seem. In both cases you must open your eyes and see what it really going on.
This card can also show times when you are not sure of your destination, or even of the path you are travelling - but you travel nonetheless. It's quite possible that you have lost your way, and are stumbling around in the dark. If you wait until the sun rises again the path may have changed and the opportunity could have been lost. So what should you do? The Moon is a card of intuition and psychic forces, so let go of your conscious mental blocks and let your intuition guide you. Not only will the way forward be revealed, but in a lot of cases you will learn lessons about yourself that will be valuable in later journeys.
THE TOWER TAROT:Sometimes, when accepted and welcomed, divine wisdom and enlightenment flow freely like a calm river. The rest of the time, wisdom is blocked until it rages forth like a tidal wave and crushes anything in its path, including the recipient of the wisdom. This is the energy of the Tower card, an energy very similar to Death in that it is both a destructive and a creative force. When a building is old and decrepit, it must be demolished so that a new structure may stand in its place. The same is true of the symbolic Tower. When old attitudes and beliefs are outdated, you will have to let go of them, whether you like it or not.
In most cases, the latter is true - you do not want to give up your ideals, and you cling to them like a child to his preciou security blanket. This attempt at security ensures nothing, really, except a disastrous change that will painfully rip away that which you did not discard of your own volition. But there is a greater purpose at work here. The power of the soul and the mind is far greater than the energy of some physical thing, and it can be taken with you anywhere and always. To extend the security blanket analogy, the blanket must be taken away so the child can find power and security within himself, instead of within some material object.
When you believe material objects are more powerful than spirit and mind, you start building up a Tower of falsehoods on a very unstable foundation. If, by some miracle of engineering, it does not collapse under its own weight, you will eventually push it over yourself. The Tower falls not because Fate says so but because something within can no longer endure the strain it must bear. Sooner or later it will give out. This is a humbling experience because its lesson is that no one is invincible. The problem for most people is that they concentrate on the negatives and ignore the great opportunity that has been given to them.
The fire of the Tower card burns away all that is negative and outdated, but it leaves behind all that is positive, all that is necessary to begin your life again and replace all that was lost. In essence, this is the energy of Death and Temperance combined, because sweeping-away and building-up both happen at about the same time on the Tower. As soon as the tumbling figures on the Rider-Waite card land on the jagged rocks of reality, they are greeted with the influx of wisdom that they need to survive. And with that wisdom in hand, they can take the first step back on the true path to enlightenment: building a mental Tower to Heaven rather than a physical one.
When wisdom must be forced upon you, or when ignorance must be taken away, the Tower will appear to let you prepare yourself. If you choose to let go of what you no longer need, and accept what you do need, things will go much more smoothly and without frustration. If you ignore the warning of the Tower, however, and cling to the status quo, be prpared for a downfall. You have been oversleeping and this is your spiritual wake-up call. When the Tower is in the area, know that anything that seems secure could not really be safe at all. If a change is destined to happen, to not try to fight it, because all change happens because it is needed.
On an inner level, the destruction of Tower is akin to the breaking-down of the fortress called the ego. When you build a wall to hide your secrets or to conceal your true self, you must know that sooner or later the wall will come tumbling down. Fantasies are particularly prone to being shattered by the power of this card; the Tower dissipates them like sunlight burning away fog. Fantasies and daydreams will not help where you are going so it is best to let go of them now. Do not place your faith in illusions of security; the crown on this card must be worn on by a human head, not placed atop a tower of cold stone.
THE STAR TAROT:Whenever all hope seems lost, it will reappear to prove that you have really lost nothing, except perhaps your sight of the path to enlightenment. And in the absence of that sight, the Star will light your way. Its light is not a blinding flash like the lightning bolt of the Tower, but a soft radiating glow that warms and comforts, rather than burning and destroying. You must remember that both of these energies ultimately come from the same place in the sky - from Heaven. After the light of the Tower destroys the false path you were following, the kinder and gentler light of the Star will lead you back to the right path.
In terms of symbolism this card is similar to Temperance; there is a figure by a pool with two cups. But while the contents of the Cups were mixed with each other in Temperance, here they are mixed with the waters of the eternal spirit of the Divine. When you cannot help yourself, the Star tells you to look to the heavens for guidance. Or, more appropriately, look to the spark of divinity that lies within yourself that you could not see or acknowledge before. Each of us has a little piece of the Star deep inside, waiting to cast its light into the world to light the way. This is what Crowley meant when he affirmed that "every man and every woman is a star."
The Star is a card of faith, both in your own power, and in powers greater than your own. When the Tower sweeps away all the negativity in your life, you once again need something to fill the void, and faith is a good place to start. What exactly is faith? It could be said that faith is a conscious belief in an unconscious experience, of which we may not be directly aware, but of which we can still feel the effects. This definition fits both belief in a deity and belief in your own abilities. Having faith in any power will allow that power to manifest in your life. Beleiving that something will happen is as sure a way as any to make it happen.
There is a lot of meditative imagery on almost all renditions of the Star, though the most interesting symbol on the Rider-Waite version of the card is the pool of water at the center of the scene. On some decks the naked woman is standing in the pool, but in the Rider-Waite version she kneels beside it. Notice that her right foot rests on the water but does not break the surface. Once faith is placed in its power, the pool of the subconscious becomes able to support the conscious mind. The miraculous ability to walk on water is symbolically translated here into the ability to trust in another power, whether in the heavens or in yourself. Once that trust is achieved, anything is possible.
There are few cards more positive than the Star, because when it appears in your life it is nothing less than a beacon of hope and inspiration. In times of darkness it shows that there is a way out, and tells you not to worry, for illumination and freedom are at hand. All you need is something in which to place your faith. So trust in yourself, and in whatever powers you believe control the universe, to help you through difficult times. Let the infinite energy of the Star warm you and rejuvenate your soul, to provide the strength and the clarity of purpose you need to continue on your journey.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the Star is never a card that shows the final solution to any problem. It simply shows the hope and faith to get to wherever you're going; without hope we can accomplish nothing, but hope is only a beginning. Now that you have been inspired, you still have much work to do in order to bring your vision into manifestation. You must combine the solidity of material existence with the waters of your emotions and of your spirit. This is a time when miracles can happen, so kick off your shoes and wade into the pool, confident that the water will support you until you reach the other side.
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE TAROT:The Wheel of Fortune is a type of energy that stands beyond the realm of our understanding and control. Certainly you can experience its effects in life, like you feel the pull of gravity on your body. But just as you can see the apple falling but not the gravity pulling on it, so too are the works of Fate and Destiny invisible to us. Only their results can be seen, and even then, only when Destny itself decrees that the time is right for its effects to be manifested. Unlike the majority of the Major Arcana, the Wheel of Fortune hovers in the clouds, showing that you can try to reach it, but that you can never fully understand it.
The wheel is an apt symbol for the forces of Destiny and Fate because it shows how everything is connected in a cycle; some might call it the circle of life. Everything happens in cycles; we rise and fall just as a spot on the perimeter of a wheel travels from the highest point, through all the possible points on the wheel, and then back to the apex. However changes will affect you depends on where you are on the wheel. If you are at the top then any change could throw you off, but if you are the bottom then a change could start you back up to the top. And for one person to rise another must fall - everyone is connected.
Destiny seems to strike without warning, but often its effects can be seen coming if you know where and how to look for them. This is the principle of the Tarot and divinatory systems in general; to see things coming before they happen so you can prepare. Obviously if you see a wheel with the Sphinx on the top, Typhon the snake on the left, and Hermanubis on the lower right, and you know which way the wheel is turning, you can tell where each of the three figures is going - and you can also tell where they've been. Through careful extrapolation the effects of Destiny become less mysterious, and someday everyone may grasp this idea.
This cyclical structure of Fate is perhaps the only way to really understand how Fate manifests. The conclusion of a situation is found in its beginning, just as the number 10 of the Wheel of Fortune reduces to 1 by the addition of its digits. When you can realize that each beginning leads to an ending, and that each ending is both the results of one beginning and the freshly planted seed of another, then you will have grasped the essential notion of the Wheel of Fortune. And once that notion is grasped, the universe opens up to you, because you are ready to learn all its wisdom. The first hurdle has been passed and greater lessons lie ahead.
The appearance of the Wheel of Fortune shows that change is not only likely to happen, it is certain to happen, and soon. The nature of that change and the effects it has really depend on how much you understand the concepts of Fate, and whether or not you can prepare for it. Generally the change shown in the Wheel of Fortune is a dramatic change from the established order. So if you have been scraping along for a while, expect big changes in your favor within a few days. But if you've been feeling on top of the world for a long time, batten down the hatches and keep an eye out for storms - one is bound to hit you sooner or later.
No matter which way the Wheel of Fortune throws you, it's impossible to try and change it, so you might as well try to live with it. If a crisis seems inevitable, recall that in every crisis lies opportunity. When you've been swept in new direction, know that every path leads somewhere, even if you don't know where it is. When times are bad, or when times are good, always keep in mind that they won't last forever. Such events are just out of your control, and if you can accept that then the ride gets a lot easier. If you struggle against the Wheel it will crush you. So roll along with it!
DEATH TAROT:The image of Death charging across a field on his spectral steed would strike fear into the heart of almost any man. The appearance of the Death card has a similar effect on most people, though it really should not. Whether you like it or not, Death is one of the most powerful cards in the Tarot. Humans naturally fear the unknown, and so Death is our greatest fear since it is the greatest unknown. The majority of us are unaware that our mind and spirit die all the time, constantly shedding old beliefs and acquiring new ones. It has been said many times by many readers: the Death card is not a card of death - it is a card of transformation.
In the Tarot, as in reality, Death is nothing more than a transition to the next level of life. Whether you believe that a soul goes to heaven or back to Earth to be reincarnated, the fact remains that the soul lives on. The candle is extinguished, but only because the day has come. The river shown on many versions of the Death card is a symbol, showing that life will go on, no matter what disastrous things happen. The river water will reach the sea, rise into the clouds, then rain onto the land to flow into the river again. Nothing is destroyed, because nothing can be destroyed - there can be only transformation.
The only real reason the transformation shown by Death is so catastrophic is because it is being held back, fought against by those too afraid to realize that change is beneficial. Every change happens for a reason, and Death is a force like Justice in that it is absolutely fair. It does not discriminate against one group and spare another - everyone is equal in the eyes of Death. So if big changes are happening in your life it is certainly plausible that you are the reason for them. There's no point fighting death, it only makes things worse. Like the Hanged Man, accept that change happens and let it do what it must.
Take a look at the Rider-Waite version of the Death card, and note the bishop on the right side of the image. He is actually welcoming Death, because he knows of the great spiritual transformation it brings. Almost all versions of the Death card show a symbol of resurrection or re-birth. This could be the rising sun, an egg, or a sapling sprouting from the body of a dead man. All these symbols show that to progress in life, our old form must die, just as a snake sheds its old skin to reveal a shiny new one. This is the message of the card: Death must be conquered by the regeneration of the soul, and he who knows this shall live forever.
When the Death card appears, big changes are heading your way. Usually this change refers to something in your lifestyle; an old attitude or perspective is no longer useful and you have to let go of it. While the Hanged Man was a card of voluntary sacrifice, the Death card is a forced sacrifice - but that does not mean that it is not for your own good. Sometimes you cannot see how your attitudes are hurting you, and when that is true, the Death card is your wake-up call. Death is not simply destruction; it is destruction followed by renewal. Even though one door may have closed, another is opening. Will you have the courage to step through?
If so, before you go forward, take a moment to look back. Is there anything that you are carrying with you that is no longer necessary? Let it go now, before you proceed. Are your old attitudes holding you back, or are high expectations constantly disappointing you? Cast them off, or let Death's watery energy wash them away from you. Open yourself and let it strip away all that you no longer need - fear, revenge, intolerance. Flowers cannot bloom if the land is full of weeds which choke the ground, and likewise, your spiritual enlightenment will be held back by doubt and fear. Let them go now or risk having them painfully ripped away when Death inevitably returns.
Oops! I appear to be incapable of following Rules 16 and 17, so I had to have a mod change my sig for me.
There is no more despicable crime. There is nothing more humiliating, nothing more painful, nothing that can destroy a woman further than this. It's despicable, and unforgivable. Yuuko's monologue at first made me tear up, then it made me cry, and then it made me stare at the scream with mixed emotions. It's like episode 7 of memories all over again. When she started saying how often it became, and... I just have no words.
What is more painful to Yuu? To know the girl he loved was broken by someone, or to know that a simple outburst in the past, something he didn't even calculate or put much thought into, could grow to be something like this? Does Yuuko hate him? Love while hating? Forgave him? Can he forgive himself?
This... I have no more words.
I hope that man is brought to Justice. I don't care if he has his own personal reasons for what he did.
*takes a deep breath*
On another note... I don't think Nagi was in love with Yuu now. I wondered for a while, but I think she was just feeling left behind. Everyone was moving on, and getting farther and farther away, and in the end, she was the only one left and... alone. Even if it wasn't true, even if she was just being paranoid, that feeling is so overwhelming. I just feel her more now, as a character, and it was just sad to see her crying.
I knew this episode would be bad the moment the OP hit and it had no lyrics. And then the logo was in a different color, and the final credits were in red. I curse you for the good imagenery, SHAFT. ef continues to be as beautifully tragic as always.
AngelLily said: ef continues to be as beautifully tragic as always.
well said.
well it left me a tad confused, but i think i know whts going on from reading all your comments so thanks.
wow mind-blowing. as expected of ef
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Something I wanted to add since I just saw subbed and am TT_TT TT_TT
I just finally saw the subs! OMG again TT_TT , the worst with those red points again but this time I think I counted like 20 to 30 instances of different types of abuse ranging from mild verbal to brutal physical!
I calculated that 365x2 would be about 730 times x2 or x3 a day of those 730 times with more or less some days brake I would have to say about 1500 different variations of abuse.......
FOR real life deal..............I would think about it and if I would meet a girl like Yuko.............I WOULD MURDER THE GUY! *_* I would not care whether GOD would hate me............I WOULD DO IT for the pain amount a girl such Yuko would suffer and THAT MY FRIENDS AT THIS POINT is none other than DEATH TO THAT PERSON. Sure I would be a murder but SO BE IT!
angel999Nov 12, 2008 11:55 AM
Oops! I appear to be incapable of following Rules 16 and 17, so I had to have a mod change my sig for me.
- skipping Angel's comments and screencaps as usual -
Hmmm very nice last scenes (largely due to the incredible performance of Yumiko Nakajima), both absolutely pathetic and incredibly stylistic, and we get to see a darker side of Yuuko's mind (and body even if we don't actually see it). Very good episode overall, I'm waiting for the next one.
In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same.
So um. The people at Shaft can accomplish this kind of thing in one week intervals. That's... pretty amazing. This episode reminded me of why I loved the first season.
An opening song left without words, without people, left empty...
and an ending filled with pain, regret, and sorrow. It looks like melodies is finally starting to pick up.
That last scene where Yuko was showing her scars day in and day out, I don't even have words to describe it. I actually didn't realize that I was holding my breathe the whole scene until I started feeling slightly dizzy. How frightening.
How can someone with so much pain and suffering go on every day smiling and being so understanding? Or perhaps she is just lying to herself and everyone else. What does Yuu think about all of this? It was obvious from the beginning that he didn't want Yuko to be a replacement for his sister; it would only bring him greater pain. How ironic that for the same reason Yuu didn't want to be with Yuko was the same reason Amamiya ended up taking care for Yuko. Although it seems like this scene focuses less on the hatred for Amamiya and more on regret and despair.
It is true that Yuu loves Yuko, but how will he handle this? Knowing that he, in part, was indirectly the cause for her pain and knowing what had happened, what will he do? And can he really let go of his remorse for his dead sister and move on with his life, or will Yuko really be just another replacement? So many questions....
Ef still good as ever. At first I was scared that melodies would turn out bad but it's as good or even better than memories at the moment.
Give me the face of this bastard already so I can hit him, cut him and throw salt and vinegar at him until I got bored which mean for a long long time.
And who the fuck voted ''it was OK'' tasteless guy >.>
Well now, thus far I didn't think that this season was going to measure up to the last season but this last episode has single-handedly bumped this show up to being at least a 9 in my book even if somehow the rest of the series is ruined. Before I didn't really like Yuuko's character because she seemed flat and unrealistic, this episode reveals that it's really just a mask to cover up the horrible hell of a home life she has been living for the past two years. I believe that in his own strange, misanthropic way that Yuu legitimately has feelings for Yuuko, it was a real shock to hear him say it but his reaction to her story pretty much proves it. And about the story, I'm going to have to say that all of the anime that I've seen over the years Yuuko revealing her past is now my favorite scene. It's artistic, heartbreaking, and emotional, Shaft really has a way of pulling these kind of scenes off like no other, which is kind of strange considering that they mostly do comedy series.
neverless said: Wow ... that was amazing ... the thing is ... I don't know what the heck just happened :D
Could someone tell me what the heck just happened ? That whole long scene with the ... yea...
I'm kinda lazy to read everyone's comments (and most of them don't really tell me what happened)
So what I know so far is ... The art teacher (her brother) abused her or something like that ? Anyone mind explaining :D
IN SIMPLE TERMS: Art teacher----------->adopted Yuko--------------->abused her for over 2 years bothe physically and sexually and even verbally--------------->now she is ruined and I WANT TO KILL THAT TEACHER. That about resumes it.
Oops! I appear to be incapable of following Rules 16 and 17, so I had to have a mod change my sig for me.
For now, out of memories and melodies, that was the best scene ever. I've always wanted to watch the story between Yuuko and Yuu but I never expected it to be this good. I thought it was pretty obvious since like episode 3 that there was more to Yuuko than her "optimistic" self. I don't understand why so many people thought she was a flat character, really. There were so many hints that she had been through hard times. People don't generally show that "careless" attitude towards hardship (bullying) unless they've been through worse.
For me, the pacing for melodies is actually much better than memories and Yuuko is way better to watch than Miyako, Kei, or even Chihiro.
It was an amusing episode, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I didn't experience the degree of emotional turbulence that would have left me crying "YAMATO YUCOH! YAMATO YAMATO KUDESAI DESU". Rather, I sat through the whole thing with a smile, enjoying the pretty pictures as usual.
On another note, that church seems like an ideal place for exposing oneself, as no one (save for the main characters) ever seems to visit it.
Wow !! What a wicked episode.
Poor Yuuko, who knew she had such a dark past.
The very ending of the episode was abit freaky lawl, in a way ...
More Yuu + Yuuko pleasseeee ~
When Yuko said the bullying was just a way for them to relieve their stress... who knew it would be the same that was happening at home. Ugh, stress relief.
I agree with AngelLily. There can be nothing worse done to a young girl. Not only is her body scarred, but her emotions and even her soul. I knew the guy was a creep from day 1, but I didnt realize he was that much of a creep.
And still, even though my heart aches for her, she can't put the blame on Yuu. He was a child struggling with his own demons, and he could barely take care of his self, let alone her. And really, when an orphanage has someone willing to take a child, they usually don't keep the child unless there's a good reason for it.
I understand that she needs someone and something to blame, but Yuu is not that person. And as a man who loves her, his pain is already enough. He's powerless to erase those marks from her body, and he probably doubts his ability to wipe them from her soul as well, just because he loves her.
It pained me to see Nagi crying, although I must agree with AngelLily, that I don't think she was truly in love with Yuu. No more than I think she's in love with Kuze. And it's sad to see this past reflection of Kuze as well; to hear his music, and see him shining brightly, only to know what happens to him in the future.
Wonderful symbolism and effects. As much as I've written, I'm still in shock.
wow, such an emotional and intense episode! Just what I expected of Ef. Makes me remember why I loved the first season so much...since up till now Melodies hasn't even come close to measuring up. Should've known it'd pick up...
Yuuko's demon eyes are friggin scary o.o
And, the guy who did that to her (can't remember his name...or did they even ever say it?) MUST. DIE. PAINFULLY. NOW! He's the worst kind of guy...makes me sick.
Gah~ This episode was just.... brilliant~
I'm totally lost for words, I wasn't expecting Yuuko to throw everything out.
Honestly, I can't describe it any better than being a wonderful and emotionally powerful episode.
Kineta said: And still, even though my heart aches for her, she can't put the blame on Yuu. He was a child struggling with his own demons, and he could barely take care of his self, let alone her. And really, when an orphanage has someone willing to take a child, they usually don't keep the child unless there's a good reason for it.
I understand that she needs someone and something to blame, but Yuu is not that person. And as a man who loves her, his pain is already enough. He's powerless to erase those marks from her body, and he probably doubts his ability to wipe them from her soul as well, just because he loves her.
Yes, I agree. It's comprehendable that Yuuko has suffered immense pain, yet I don't believe the blame should be put on Yuu. Like you said, he was attempting to conquer his own dilemma's and even if he didn't show it to Yuuko at times - he was also in pain. It's incredibly sad that one person's decision made such a large impact on another person... :(
Kineta said: And still, even though my heart aches for her, she can't put the blame on Yuu. He was a child struggling with his own demons, and he could barely take care of his self, let alone her. And really, when an orphanage has someone willing to take a child, they usually don't keep the child unless there's a good reason for it.
I understand that she needs someone and something to blame, but Yuu is not that person. And as a man who loves her, his pain is already enough. He's powerless to erase those marks from her body, and he probably doubts his ability to wipe them from her soul as well, just because he loves her.
I don't think Yuuko was trying to put all the blame on Yuu. I would rather say that she was trying to find an answer "was it a fault or was it a fate?"
Kineta said: It pained me to see Nagi crying, although I must agree with AngelLily, that I don't think she was truly in love with Yuu.
I don't believe a girl would cry over a guy who she doesn't truly in love with.
HalberdierRetsel said: Brillant episode. End of story.
As many have said, this is far worse than the Miyako epiosde in the first season. Absolutely horrific.
I also agree, it was so emotional that I was waiting for her to start screaming! And when they did that scary eye thing I was genuinely scared because I wasn't expecting it. When she lowered her voice after being hysterical left me with shivers going down my spine, I wasn't expecting her story to be so horrible!
Wow... that was so shocking. I felt as if I was slapped across my face. The symbolism is as amazing as ever, thanks to SHAFT's great work. This is finally showing the powerful storytelling that set memories apart form most other shows. The part when Yuuko was saying "I was burned. I was torn. I was cut into pieces..." had me speechless and I just started crying. Yumiko Nakajima did a great job and I hope she appears in other shows.
I felt so sorry for Yuuko, but I do agree that it was unfair of her to blame Yuu. Nagi might not love Yuu. I think she was crying because Yuu and Kuze were leaving. I also felt as if she was crying for Yuuko because, for a second, they showed a painting of Yuuko crying. Anyway, I really like Nagi and find her a very interesting character.
I really want to see how this will go but I think the next episode will shift the focus to Mizuki and Kuze since they were pretty much ignored this episode. I'm not that big of a fan of them but, when they appear, we get to see present Yuu, Yuuko and Nagi AND we get to see Season 1's characters.
Znips: When Shay is born she just crawls back in the womb to shitpost for another year
I'm a bit disappointed... I guess it's the game's fault, but gah .___. Amamiya's character design screamed 'rapist!!' from the first moment he appeared on screen (though back then I expected him to rape Yuu or something D: he just looks that sick)
For me, there wasn't anything unexpected in the episode, but the shock value was still infinite. SHAFT are really amazing for doing stuff the way they do, from the "empty" opening to Yuuko's monologue in the end. I'm now convinced that 'ef' is more than just another anime, it's an art form all by itself <3
Anyway, I missed Kuze and Mizuki in this episode... hope they'll be back next week. Knowing Mizuki, she won't just give up on him because Nagi says so, but honestly I have no idea how this can work out. I feel that Nagi is quite unfortunate, both boys she liked snatched away from her and all :/
this episode raped my mind, but i found it to be so pleasurable as i slowly understood what was going on.
And wow, i am surprised, the events in this episode is totally unexpected for me.
Looking foward to the next...
The second half of this episode scared the crap out of me when I was watching it in the dark at 4 am. Looks like this series is finally getting better.
Rather than try to tell two different stories...Melodies feel like Memories, but with different characters and slightly different set up. I feel like everything said, done, and drawn reminds me of something from the first series. Even the last bit...Yuuko's little breakdown...as brilliantly as it was executed, felt like what's her names breakdown over the phone in Memories.
