Shade
I originally had a little trouble with this version because, like the Fey, it sees to have a very specific idea about its meaning. I would definately agree that most of the Shadow traits we take on are, at the very core of their being, based on judging oneself or feeling in some way weak. I worked with a queer youth activism group who got their funding from an HIV Outreach grant based on the belief that if queer youth feel empowered and safe they will mae better decisions about drug use and safer sex. Also for the flow of the majors the choice seems to work, internalized homophobia is a stage that nearly everyone goes through to some degree so this helps the card fit into the Fool's journey.
I find the card ever so slightly resrictive as occaisionally I think it's important and beneficial to Dance the Shadow and make use of that perspective. Originally this seemed incompatible with the card. I've come to the conclusion that in the right placement and with the right cards around it this image could be interpreted (I'm stretching a bit) as taking a bite of the apple offered by the serpent. Seeing the idea of the nuclear family as an illusory Eden we've clung to and being willing to reject that old mold and start anew not tied down by previous ideas about what we should want for our own lives.
This interpretation of the card could of course go with a warning that to go too far could mean losing any sense of identity and creating a muddled sense of "heterophobia". I'll have to think about that as it sounds a bit too much like a reading where someone says "Oh the Fool means a chance to act carefree and unconcerend... but not to carefree and unconcerned" I do dislike those.
How have other folks worked with this card?
I find the card ever so slightly resrictive as occaisionally I think it's important and beneficial to Dance the Shadow and make use of that perspective. Originally this seemed incompatible with the card. I've come to the conclusion that in the right placement and with the right cards around it this image could be interpreted (I'm stretching a bit) as taking a bite of the apple offered by the serpent. Seeing the idea of the nuclear family as an illusory Eden we've clung to and being willing to reject that old mold and start anew not tied down by previous ideas about what we should want for our own lives.
This interpretation of the card could of course go with a warning that to go too far could mean losing any sense of identity and creating a muddled sense of "heterophobia". I'll have to think about that as it sounds a bit too much like a reading where someone says "Oh the Fool means a chance to act carefree and unconcerend... but not to carefree and unconcerned" I do dislike those.
How have other folks worked with this card?