Running off with the Handsome Bar-tender

In last night's post, I mentioned my initial irritation around this deck's set-up and the fact that some of the gods and goddesses are duplicated throughout the pack. From the 45 cards in the box, there are two depictions for Zeus ('the father' and 'divine expansion'), for Demeter ('the mother' and 'harvest'), for Hades ('death' and the 'underworld'), for Poseidon ('the unknown' and the 'earth shaker'), for Hermes ('messages' and 'travel'), for Aphrodite ('love' and 'beauty'), for Eros ('desire' and 'sacred union'), and lastly for Persephone ('awakening' and 'rebirth'). It still bugs me that the creators have organised the deck in this way, but despite this, the beauty of the illustrations kind of make up for it. Take Dionysus in today's card as an example. His is such a calming painting. Subtitled freedom, this image reminds me that we need to free the mind as much as the body. This is probably his intention, as he considers his goblet.

Dionysus is the god of wine. He invented it on Mount Nyssa and spread the art of tending grapes throughout the world. He has a duel nature. On one hand, he brings divine ecstasy, and on the other, he brings brutality, thoughtlessness, and rage. This is reflected in both sides of wine's nature, for if it is used in moderation it can be good, but if abused, it can be deadly. The write-up in the companion book for this deck leans more towards it's good, seeing wine as a tool for freedom and ecstasy. It feels kind of natural for this card to turn up on the eve of Christmas Eve, since I guess the celebrations will start now for a lot of people. It's a time for them to forget about work, relax, and let themselves go. Dionysus could very well take the shape of many a handsome bar-tender. His offer of freedom and escape from the real world is seductive and can easily be taken advantage of.

As time ticks on towards Christmas, things are taking shape here. My mum is cleaning and tidying and our living room now looks very festive and cosy. Not that I will be spending much time here over the next week. My boyfriend and I are staying here until Christmas morning and are then going to his family for lunch. As far as I am aware, we are staying there for some of Boxing Day and then returning here, as I have to pack so that we can drive up north. I think we'll be there for about three nights. I am looking forward to seeing our friend in Birmingham, but to be honest, as I have gotten older, I am not as comfortable with living out of a bag as I was in my youth. I am used to my home comforts.

For the third time, my friend and I are going to try and see each other tomorrow. The last two arrangements have been ruined by the snow. As I sat here with my coffee this morning, a few flakes of snow buzzed about outside my window. Just a light sprinkle. I am keeping everything crossed, in the hope that it doesn't sabotage the rest of my week. Dionysus tries his best to shake me awake out of my worries about this and that. I have felt sick for the last few days and it is accelerated with worry. He offers me his goblet and tells me to relax into the Christmas spirit with him.

Illustration from The Mythic Oracle by Michele-lee Phelan