There is something really nice and relaxing about today's photograph of my daily card, deck and book. I think it is the light as it hits my room in lines through the window. It's light and slow, like the snail, who creeps across the spread cloth on my bed.
I read another chapter of Shades before bed and when I awoke; this has more to do with a desire to get it finished than wanting to know what happens next. In chapter 18, which I have just read, the authorial character visits her master's sadomasochistic room of pain for the first time. Calling him Sir, she voluntarily gives herself to his needs, feeling what appears to be gratitude for his pleasure. God. I am not shocked by any of the sex in the book. In fact, I am bored by it. I can imagine many a stupid woman squealing over the book's pages, wishing her man was more like Christian Grey - a bossy, chauvinistic, dated sadist. Oh, but how could I forget - he has smouldering good looks, is a billionaire and flies a helicopter (the vile James Bond of old is not dead). I am sure that if Sir was ugly and poor, he'd be no more than a pervert in the eyes of many. As for Anastasia, I find it hard to like her because I have zilch respect for her. She wants love and is trying to find it in the arms of an arrogant, immature and sexist Mr Darcy-type character. She is guided by her inner goddess, who is in rapture from the eyebrow-raising turn of events so far. This goddess is nowhere near burning her bra. She's rather be gagged or whipped by it.
As I write, Ariel is settling in more. She has had her breakfast and is exploring her cage. She has a regular little seat at the top and seems curious over her disco ball. She's enjoying the reading of Beauty and the Inferno by Roberto Saviano on Radio 4 at the moment.
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| Up for breakfast |
Today's card, Snail's Pace, touches me. Listen to the heartbeat of the earth, it says. Maybe that should be my earth. Unlike Anastasia Steele, who is moving to the [literal] beating of her master's heart, this card advises me to tune out the expectations of others and move at my own pace. So what if I a am moving slowly! Rushing will do me no good, as both this card and my therapist would advise. I will continue with my painting today, slowly but surely.
Illustration from The Wild Wisdom of the Faery Oracle by Selina Fenech
Like you, I found "50 Shades of Grey" to be rather boring. I don't know, sadomasochism doesn't really impress me (and if I want to read it I may as well read Sade himself, since the place where I work publishes him) and I think there are far better ways to portray sex in literature - including any dom/sub thing. I think only women with rather immature fangirl-like ideas of sex can truly feel rapturous reading Shade... the same kind that falls in love with Edward Cullen (though he's the opposite of Grey) etc.
ReplyDelete(Don't know if you know, but '50 Shades of Grey' began as a Twilight fanfiction, and then the author made it evolve into an individual story)
Personally I find 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' much more sexy, even if the sex descriptions themselves are not shocking by today's standards.
Nevertheless... you are the living proof one can make a lemonade out of lemons. The photo looks BEAUTIFUL, even with '50 Shades of Boredom' there! ;-)
" I think only women with rather immature fangirl-like ideas of sex can truly feel rapturous reading Shade"
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. It does remind me of those awful Twilight things, so I am not surprised (but also shocked to read) that it began as Twilight fan fiction. Explains a lot.
I think that when something is set out to shock, it loses it's shock value. And I also believe that sex is sexier when not so blatant. I have books of Mapplethorpe's 'red' section photographs, have read Nancy Friday and own the entire works of John Willie's Bizarre, so none of this is really shocking to me (I don't find any of them sexy either). This has all of the hype and lack of depth that Madonna's Sex book had twenty years ago.
I am glad you like the picture!
Happy new home Ariel. If she is anything like my chicks she will give you much happiness and comfort.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharyn! She is having a nice old chat at the moment. She is still a bit nervous but getting more confident, I think.
DeleteHey, I'd be nervous living in a room with you.
ReplyDeleteGotcha!
JJ
Haha JJ :)
DeleteHi Prince Le Normand,
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the Oracle of the Shapeshifters / Oracle of the Shadows and Light? They have the same kind of message as the one in your post!
What a beautiful parakeet! I have a particular soft spot for birds and rabbits. In my house there are two peach faced love birds, Sun and Moon. They are lovely together, but very fearful of people. I think they were abused before I bought them; they came into my life as adults.
I'm glad Ariel is settling just fine. I hope she brings you some joy!
Cheers,
I have seen those decks. I like the style (reminds me of the Blythe dolls) but it's too feminine for me.
ReplyDeleteI love birds too. I always thought they were boring when I was a kid, but I appreciate them so much now. Sun and Moon sound lovely! I am so glad that you are caring for them after their trauma.
Ariel is bringing joy. I have just put her cover over her to sleep. I could hear all of this noise and checked her, to find out she was inside up against the side, knawing it. Little monkey!
Beautiful reading of the Snail's Pace card! I've been using this deck a lot in my meditations recently, and really enjoying it. I first saw it here on your blog, so many thanks ;)
ReplyDeleteIt isn't one of my favourite decks but the cards do work well, most of the time. I am glad that you like it. It's like a sensible friend for me with good advice.
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