Dragons, Swords & Sorcery...Winter is Here! by C.J. Burright

I’m one of those people who 99.9 percent of the time prefers the book to the show, but one exception is Game of Thrones. I’m not necessarily saying I prefer HBO’s version to the books. There’s no way the show could adequately capture all the intricate plot lines and characters without going on for eons…not to mention fans are in a strange position right now, something I’ve never experienced before: the show is ahead of the books. It’s hard to prefer the book when it hasn’t even been published yet, right?

Nevertheless, Sunday was the season premiere (YEAH!!) and I’m super-excited to see what happens next in one of my Favorite Shows of All Time. If you’re a fan, gush with me. If you’re not…I’m not sure we can be friends anymore. Kidding (sorta). Here’s a quick list of a few of my favorite things about GOT to tide me over until next week.

DRAGONS

There are dragons, fire-breathing, flying, magnificent dragons. That’s all I have to say about that.

SWORDS AND BATTLES, WARRIORS AND CASTLES

Medieval fantasy is my catnip, and GOT has it all. Glorious warriors with brutal swords, fighting for their land and families to the death. Battles, sometimes whole armies, sometimes one on one…and some knives in the back. Or arrows to the chest while sitting on the pot (and deservedly so). Amazing castles in every kingdom, even one in the sky. The whole world is absolutely brilliant.

MAGIC AND OTHER SUPERNATURALS

Not everyone has magic, and what magic there is seems hard won…usually with a staggering price. Think twice before copulating to produce a shadow. Just sayin’. And besides the dragons, there are a myriad of terrifying, supernatural creatures to watch out for. I love that most of the people are normal humans, which makes defeating the supernatural creatures feel insurmountable, especially since the humans are always fighting for dominance among themselves. How can they possibly come together to defeat a mighty, supernatural foe? Stay tuned.

CHARACTERS TO LOVE AND HATE

There’s the noble, rejected bastard. The clever, snarky imp. A girl who’s lost it all, intent on vengeance. A queen who thirsts for power. Another queen who seeks justice and peace. A slippery spymaster. A spoiled princess forced to face harsh reality. Knights who are a human blend of good and bad, all with their own agendas. Just to name a few. These characters bring out the love—intensely. And the hate. There are a few that, even though you know you should despise them, they’re impossible not to like. And once in a blue moon, that character who SO deserves justice actually gets it or the character who FINALLY gets the break they need. BAM! Those are some very satisfying moments.

GAMES AND POLITICS...WIN OR DIE

One thing I learned early on—getting too attached to characters may lead to deep, deep regret. And throwing of books, gnashing of teeth, and yelling. Lots of yelling. There is political intrigue everywhere in these stories, and people die. Good people, bad people (yep, some of those in the poster above are already goners). It’s not always justice, and it often seems the most powerful and clever and ruthless people are the only ones who will survive. At one point, I vowed I’d quit reading and watching if either Jon Snow or Arya Stark died. I’d be done. And then I read somewhere that Arya is G.R.R. Martin’s wife’s favorite character, so I know at least one of my favorites will last until the bitter end. I hope it’s not a bitter end, but whatever happens, emotions will be invoked. Oh yes, they will be invoked.

I could go on and on, but ain’t nobody got time for that. I have a show to watch! If you’re a GOT fan, who’s your favorite character? Or do you prefer to stick to the books and avoid the visual?

Are you Dreaming of Castles?

Veronica Scott sez: A fun one from the Archives:

I know a lot of little girls dream of living in a castle when they grow-up. But what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out.  But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out. It may also be a warning against adopting a false façade. But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – you feel secure in the security of the family or you seek a little 

less stress in your life.

Do your dreams bring you locked up in some tower with a knight riding in to save you? The meaning isn’t as romantic as our daydream – it represents our desire to shut ourselves away above the world – a form of isolating. It can also symbolize the oppressive influence of an authoritarian figure.

Personally, I like the ‘cotton candy’ of version of my dream of living in my castle with my prince charming – I have a maid to do laundry.

Or is there a Castle in your Cards?

At its simplest, the castle as a Tarot symbol represents a goal - an ideal of achievement usually after a long quest. How do I come up with this simplified symbolism? A look at all the Rider-Waite cards featuring the castle reveals almost all them are set in the back ground of the card. Far off into the distance we see a the glimmer of the castle as a tribute of what awaits us after we have been upon a quest for higher knowing or advancement.

In almost every card the castle looms far in the distance from the central character of the card - it's a reminder of our reward (and delayed gratification). Whether it be monetary, spiritual, romantic or otherwise, the castle is an end-result of the investment made on the journey of life. And, even where it is featured prominently (in the seven of cups), the castle still hints to goal-oriented focus.

In the Cups 7 the castle is an option to be chosen, but what kind of option? This is where we can expand our intuitive ideals about the castle as a Tarot symbol. This is a very good thing because a broader view of castles makes us realize they are symbolic of far more than just obtaining a goal. Castles are also symbolic of:

·         Protection

·         Wealth

·         Strategy

·         Defense

·         Structure

·         Strength

·         High idealism

·         Dreams/Fantasy

·         Comfort

·         Sanctuary

In the final analysis a castle is a home, and in their golden era in history the castle was a grandiose symbol of protection. Everyone took shelter within the thick stone walls of the castle - from royalty to cattle - all sought refuge within the fortress.

So, when the castles of the Tarot cards come calling out to your awareness, consider all these potential symbolic meanings in conjunction with the rest of the cards in your spread.

Give pause and allow your intuition a chance to roam the halls of the castles in your own understanding to gain a broader perspective of this intriguing Tarot symbol.