Evil twin astrology (spam on astrology, only)

[fable]

Anybody who takes those daily predictions seriously deserves the results they get. You'd get better divinatory possibilities out of using the entrails of a neo-con.

[stanolis]

aquarius

AQUARIUS - Jan 20-Feb 18: that is so me!! allow me to explain
You have an inventive mind & are inclined to be progressive. i'm very creative
You lie a great deal. i do lie alot, it's more like sarcasism. when it is a flat out lie, it's just to see if they can catch it - always practicing (my sister says i'm compulsive)
On the other hand you are inclined to be careless & impractical causing you to make the same mistakes over & over again. while playing games, i am careless and impractical. i do make lots of the same mistakes (dying) bc i'm no good at changing my strategy
People think you are stupid. i loose my keys and other things constantly, that could be considered stupid

[fable]

Stanolis, if you look hard enough, I'm sure you can find yourself in several of the other signs, too. It's all so general that it has no worth at all.

[dragon wench]

Which tree are you?

I can't remember if this has been posted at SYM or not, but I thought it would make better sense here than in a separate thread

WHAT TREE DID YOU FALL FROM?

Dec 23 to Jan 01 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
- Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree

YOUR TREE (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (the Love) * quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and
attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive,
loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner,
very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (the Ambition) * extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive,
demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent,
talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable,
restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention,
needs love, much emotional support.

Beech Tree (the Creative) * has good taste, concerned about its looks,
materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good
leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime company
etc.).

Birch Tree (the inspiration) * vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,
unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar,
loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination,
little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (the Confidence) * of rare strength, knows how to adapt,
likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to
look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often
impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy
optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (the Honesty) * of unusual stature, impressive,
well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born
diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard
worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely
family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (the Faithfulness) * strong, muscular, adaptable, takes
what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be
content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and
affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied,
faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to
gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (the Noble-mindedness) * pleasant shape, tasteful clothes,
modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but
not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for
others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

Fig Tree (the Sensibility) * very strong minded, a bit self-willed,
honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard
worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and
animals, few sexual relationships, great sense of humor, has artistic
talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (the Mysterious) * extraordinary taste, handles stress well,
loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to
them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and
laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented,
unselfish,many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (the Extraordinary) * charming, sense of humor, very
demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a
lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics,
popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a
precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (the Good Taste) * of cool beauty, cares for its looks and
condition, good taste, is not egotistic, makes life as comfortable as
possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and
acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom
happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its
decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (the Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life
dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good
ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear
tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make
sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough
time to use them, can become a complainer, great leadership qualities, is
jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) * no ordinary person, full of
imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud,
self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many
complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to
impress.

Oak Tree (the Brave) * robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting,
independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground,
person of action.

Olive Tree (the Wisdom) * loves sun, warmth and kind feelings,
reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant,
cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic,
free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (the Peacemaker) * loves agreeable company, craves peace and
harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write
poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls
strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft,
low self-esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (the Uncertainty) * looks very decorative, talented, not
very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and
pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great
artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable
in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (the Sensitivity) * full of charm, cheerful, gifted without
egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even
complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste,
artistic,passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (the Passion) * unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts,
often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions,
spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon
partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very
jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (the Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family
life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything
beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless,
capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when
pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they
find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others happy.

Apparently I'm a hazelnut tree

[Xandax]

[QUOTE=fable]<snip>
SAGITTARIUS - Nov 22-Dec 21:
You are optimistic & enthusiastic. You have a reckless tendency to rely on luck since you lack talent. The majority of Sagittarians are drunks or dope fiends. People laugh at you a great deal.
<snip>[/QUOTE]

And I don't even have any luck, so basically I'm damned either way.
At least people laugh with me instead of at me (or so I tell myself, to avoid going back on the bottle).


[QUOTE=dragon wench]
<snip>
Hornbeam Tree (the Good Taste) * of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egotistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
<snip>[/QUOTE]

Now most of this is just plain wrong Although some of it fits okay but the broadside they fire should also ensure that something fits anybody.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

Dec 23rd = Apple Tree, huh?

[QUOTE=dragon wench]Apple Tree (the Love) * quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.[/QUOTE]

The parts in yellow definitely sound like me.

I suppose I could have many talents. My carpentry would definitely have to be one of them. I would also say I'm adventurous, although I'm very particular to where I go.

What can I say? I'm a love bug.

[fable]

Redneck Astrology Signs

Okra December 22 - January 20
Although you appear crude, you are actually very slick on the inside. Okra have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. Stay away from Moon Pies.

Chitlin January 21 - February 19
Chitlins often come from humble backgrounds. Many times they're uncomfortable talking about just where they came from. A chitlin, however, can make something of himself if he's motivated and has plenty of seasoning. When it comes to dealing with Chitlins, be very careful. Chitlins are best with Catfish and Okra. Remember that when marriage time rolls around.

Boll Weevil February 20 - March 20
You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it.

Moon Pie March 21 - April 20
You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. It's a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. "Big" and "round" are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Maybe not.

Possum April 21 - May 21
When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a "don't-bother-me-about-it" attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy, but seems to work for you. One day, however, it won't work, and you may find your problems actually running you over.

Crawfish May 22 - June 21
Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're always hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, the bathtub to the living room. You tend not to be particularly attractive physically.

Collards June 22 - July 23
Collards have a genius for communication. They love to get in the "melting pot" of life and share their essence with the essences of those around them. Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers. As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards stay away from Moon Pies. It just won't work. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

Catfish July 24 - August 23
Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, with one exception: Whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You catfish are never easy people to understand. You prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies.

Grits August 24 - September 23
Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love to travel, though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese or gravy or bacon or butter or eggs. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well.

Boiled Peanuts September 24 - October 23
You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best - your friends and loved ones - may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will probably affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you.

Butter Bean October 24 - November 22
Always invite a Butter Bean because Butter Beans get along well with everybody. You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud. You've grown on the vine of life and you feel at home no matter what the setting. You can sit next to anybody. However, you, too, shouldn't have anything to do with Moon Pies.

Armadillo November 23 - December 21
You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle. A good evening for you: Old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms and insects. You are a throwback. You're not concerned with today's fashions and trends. You're not concerned with anything about today. You're really almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another Armadillo, but Possum is another mating possibility.

[frogus23]

To anybody who knows, I would love to know what a hierophant (sp?) is.

Also, is the tarot an offshoot of playing cards? Or vice-versa?

[dragon wench]

[QUOTE=frogus23]To anybody who knows, I would love to know what a hierophant (sp?) is.

Also, is the tarot an offshoot of playing cards? Or vice-versa?[/QUOTE]

Here is a good description:
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/me ... hant.shtml

THE HIEROPHANT

Basic Card Symbols

Twin pillars, staff, throne, hand raised in blessing, two acolytes.

Basic Tarot Story

Having created a solid foundation on which to build his future, the Fool is struck with a sudden fear. What if everything he's worked for is taken away? Is stolen, or lost, or destroyed or vanishes? Or what if it is just not good enough? In a panic, he heads into a holy place where he finds the Hierophant, a wise teacher and holy man. Acolytes kneel before the man, ready to hear and pass on his teachings. The Fool tells the Hierophant his fears, and asks how he can be free of them.

"There are only two ways," says the Hierophant sagely, "Either give up that which you fear to lose so it no longer holds any power over you, or consider what you will still have if your fear comes to pass. After all," the Hierophant continues, "if you did lose all you'd built, you would still keep the experience and knowledge that you've gained up to this point, wouldn't you?"

This surprisingly pragmatic advise releases the Fool from his fear, and he is able exit out of the sanctuary and face the world's challenges once again.

Basic Tarot Meaning

Taurus the Earthly bull may seem an odd sign for a holy man, but it makes sense if you understand that the Hierophant's purpose is to bring the spiritual down to Earth. Where the High Priestess between her two pillars deals with realms beyond this Earth, the Hierophant (or High Priest) deals with worldly problems. He is well suited to do this because, like all Taureans, he strives to create harmony and peace in the midst of a crisis. The Hierophant's only problem is that, like the Bull, he can be stubborn and hidebound. At his best, he is wise and soothing, at his worst, he is an unbending traditionalist.

Thirteen's Observations

The Hierophant card has so many Popish trappings that it is sometimes hard for readers to like him, or interpret him as positive rather than seeing his potential for being unreasonable, hide-bound, literal and stodgy. I like to point out the decks where the Hierophant is the Oracle at Delphi or some other less loaded image.

When the Hierophant appears as a person, he's likely an old, favored teacher, therapist, counsellor, advisor, sponsor. That young Priest with progressive ideas, or the old Rabbi who was always so down to Earth and fun, or maybe an uncle who always offered such common sense advise. Unfortunately, he can also represent that nasty teacher the Querent is dealing with, the one who refuses to deviate from the text book, or a sour-faced elder who wants to keep the church old fashioned and in the dark ages.

Standing for the Querent himself, the Hierophant might well warn against being too stubborn, especially in matters of theology or ethics. It can remind the Querent what it means to be a good, and beloved teacher. In this, the Hierophant can be very positive. When things are going very wrong in the world, the Hierophant is the one who wades in, quiets the panic, and offers good, practical advise. He symbolizes a connection to the divine, which answers with a very human voice, never oblique or mysterious. You know how to solve your problem, this card says; it is not easy, not a quick fix, but it is do-able. The solution is there, you've only to bring it down to Earth.

[fable]

[QUOTE=frogus23]To anybody who knows, I would love to know what a hierophant (sp?) is.

Also, is the tarot an offshoot of playing cards? Or vice-versa?[/QUOTE]

A hierophant is a teacher within a religious hierarchy. It comes from the Greek, where the hierophantes where the one who explained the religiouis mysteries to candidates for admission to various temples. So he or she is the one that passes along enough of the instructions to kickstart a personal epiphany. Many decks interpret this as the Pope, which is silly, because the most popularly used tarot deck, the Rider/Waite, depicts him as an only vaguely Christian figure with vestments that are far from anything a Pope would use. But since many people don't really bother to look at what a Pope wears when they see one, or bother really looking when they see anything...

The tarot is definitely an offshoot of playing cards. It moved into Europe via the Ottoman Empire and the various Caliphates of Al-Andalus (Spain). In Italy, it became a luxury item and status symbol of the wealthy, who paid vast sums to painters and engravers for special card decks. These contained not only the standard playing deck cards, but an extra group used for mnemonic and celebratory purposes. They ranged in number from 12 through more than 50, and showed professions, popular civic sights, the Christian virtues and vices, Greek gods and goddesses, etc.

The tarot deck emerged in the late 18th century standardized into a 56 group of "minor trumps" (our playing deck plus an additional royal card) and 22 "major trumps" that were an arrangement of some extra cards from the Italian decks.

[frogus23]

Do Muslims or Christians still use them?

[fable]

I can't speak to Muslims having ever used tarot decks, though they do use playing cards. I suspect with Christians, it really has to do with their own private beliefs. Reagan was supposedly a Christian, yet he believed in pop astrology. Waite, the creator of the most popular tarot deck of all time, was the leader of an offshoot of the Golden Dawn that was strongly (but not conventionally) Christianized. It also depends upon what you use the tarot for, I suspect.

[frogus23]

[QUOTE=fable]I can't speak to Muslims having ever used tarot decks, though they do use playing cards.[/QUOTE]Caliphates of Al-Andalus were Muslim, no? Or if not, then I believe that caliph is the wrong word to be using.
And you say Muslims use playing cards? I think I might have even seen that happen

I tend to think that tarot would be just as maligned as horoscopy if it could be conveniently published in tabloids. I don't see that either has any superiority (astrology is not at all exclusively predictive, it can be contemplative or analytical as tarot or i ching) over the other, apart from that bestowed by the practitioner.

[fable]

[QUOTE=frogus23]Caliphates of Al-Andalus were Muslim, no?
And you say Muslims use playing cards? I think I might have even seen that happen [/quote]

Yes, they were Muslim. Is there a law in Islam against playing cards? I would think it open to interpretation, because playing cards didn't exist back in the times when the Q'aran was being written down.

I tend to think that tarot would be just as maligned as horoscopy if it could be conveniently published in tabloids. I don't see that either has any superiority (astrology is not at all exclusively predictive, it can be contemplative or analytical as tarot or i ching) over the other, apart from that bestowed by the practitioner.

Contemplative astrology? I can't say I've ever heard of anybody using as astrological chart for meditation. On the other hand, the images in a reading can be used with some effort for meditation and self-analysis. The main difference as I see it is that astrology is a pseudo-science, drawing concrete conclusions from numbers, dates, etc. The tarot is a bunch of images. Ultimately, it works if you work. Yes, astrology can work, too, but I think you actually have to get around all the pseudo-facts that make it what it is to get results.

[frogus23]

Sorry we are talking at odds here.

You said that the caliphates of al-andalus were responsible for transporting the tarot to Europe, I presume this means they used it. You also said that you could not speak to muslims ever having used it. I thought this meant that they have not. I am not acquainted with the phrase 'I can't speak to...'

Astrology also contains the archetypal symbolism of the zodiac and the elements, so this can be a door to introspection.

However I agree that the mechanics of astrology seem useless.

[fable]

[QUOTE=frogus23]Sorry we are talking at odds here.

You said that the caliphates of al-andalus were responsible for transporting the tarot to Europe, I presume this means they used it.[/quote]

Not so. Perhaps I should have been clearer. The deck that came into Europe was the playing deck. In Italy, it acquired the major trumps; and during the late 18th century, their number and content became more or less standardized, until relatively modern times. Nowadays, a fair amount of diversity has crept back into tarot decks, but usually still within a 78 card, 22 major trump system.

Astrology also contains the archetypal symbolism of the zodiac and the elements, so this can be a door to introspection.

The symbols of the zodiac, as you call them, are actually the symbols of ascribed by science to the various planets. They were taken over by astrologists at a later date.

[frogus23]

Astrology and science have not always been historically distinct disciplines, as I'm sure you know.

Who do you mean by 'science' and 'astrologists' when you say that science attributed the qualities to the planets and astrologists adopted them later? Does this diminish their symbolism?

[fable]

Length of time, of course, doesn't establish universality. You're correct. But do you know of any astrologers who use those zodiac symbols for meditation? I confess that I don't, and I've known a few. I have also never read of anything like that, either, and I've read several books on it. Astrologers make charts, and its the charts that are interpreted and studied for various purposes.

By contrast, the tarot has up to three purposes. One is for divination. A second is as a tool for meditation, and the third is for inner creative visualization--playing games with your own psyche is as good a way for describing it as any. The images of a tarot deck range (depending upon the deck) from symbols, to complex layers of symbols, to scenes depicting a variety of objects and/or activities. Some decks are meant for divination, others strictly for meditation, etc.

Long night of it? Up at 4 AM?

[frogus23]

Long night of it is right - I'd just got back from Prague, where I went on a historical pilgrimage to learn about Rudolf II's astrolgers.

By this I mean on holiday...

Astrology I believe has historically been a scientific-type investigation into the outside world, rather than a method of personal introspection or meditation. However, I also believe that astrologers nowadays use it for purposes like those you describe for the tarot - that is, introspective ones.

Are astrological charts not interpreted symbolistically, and is interpreting a chart not fundamentally a similar activity to interpreting a card or a set of cards?

[fable]

[QUOTE=frogus23]Astrology I believe has historically been a scientific-type investigation into the outside world, rather than a method of personal introspection or meditation. However, I also believe that astrologers nowadays use it for purposes like those you describe for the tarot - that is, introspective ones.[/quote]

I know the better class of astrologers provide more fully-rounded interpretations of the charts they make. They offer advice that can be quite good, based less on the charts they create than upon their knowledge of human nature and their study of such matters as Gestalt therapy. But that's due to the astrologer--it's what they bring with them to their work, rather than intrinsically part of it. It's interpreting materials for purposes of divination. The interpreted results can be meditated upon, but not the astrological tools, themselves. By contrast, you can directly use the cards in a tarot deck to meditate. No divination, batteries or assembly is necessary.

Are astrological charts not interpreted symbolistically, and is interpreting a chart not fundamentally a similar activity to interpreting a card or a set of cards?

Yes to both questions. But the differences that make one far more suitable for meditation lie in the fact that the tarot relies in the final analysis on visual imagery, while astrology relies upon linear and precise mathematical formulas. (I'm not saying those formulas necessarily make any sense, but they are the foundation of astrology.) A good astrologer will interpret the results of all those formulas for a client, but it's all down there in black and white in the chart for anybody to see who cares to learn the code. The purpose of astrology is divination: it was developed as a science of divination, and its practicioners who are honest still call it that, though the rest of us will refer to it as a pseudo-science.

The tarot isn't considered as a science. It is a non-linear, non-logical system built around a series of images. It's like an art gallery: you can read the little capsule description about each work and barely bother to look at the works, but you won't understand what you've seen. Alternatively, you can stop and meditate on each image, and take it in; and then, in a sense, you own them. They've become part of you. This is the act of meditation, and this is why the tarot is suitable for that purpose. It's direct: you, and the image. Think of it as a series of 78 mandalas, and that will explain why it's more suitable for staring until your eyes grow bloodshot.