lark
Something that has always bugged me is the snail on the 9 of pentacles. I love this card and really connect with it on a personal level. I was reading through some threads today and someone asked about the snail. I am a little obsessed with the snail so I always turn to the 9 of pentacles first in any new tarot book. I had never seen it discussed or expained. Just, hey look there's a snail.
Untill......
I bought the book Tarot and the Tree of Life by Isabel Radow Kliegman.
At last, not only is the snail mentioned but actually explained.
She says "It's a snail.Yuck! What is he doing on the card? No not yuck. He's part of the natural world. She accepts him in the same way she accepts the bounty of the garden and the falcon. He is welcome. He's part of it all. He's part of us. You can't be at one with nature unless you are at one with all of nature, and being at one with the nature "out there" is a metaphor for being at one with your own internal nature. If you can't enjoy a garden unless it is free of pests, unless each leaf and flower is perfect, you will never enjoy a garden. Similarly, if you cannot accept yourself because of your flaws and failings, if you cannot accept yourself as worthy of abundance and love unless you are perfect, you will never enjoy yourself. The snail represents our human failings; the serenity that the lady's demeanor expresses is the peace that comes from really being comfortable with yourself, really liking yourself just as you are."
Alot to get out of a snail. But I'm happy with the explaination. In my own mind I always saw the snail as saying- things aren't always as perfect as they seem. There might be a little snail just waiting to slim up you beautiful grapes. There will always be those little irritations so accept them and enjoy life anyway.
So I guess I wasn't so far off on my interpretation.
.
I'd be interested to know of any other book that explains the snail, or what your own insights are. I'm a sucker for obscurity. Nameste
Untill......
I bought the book Tarot and the Tree of Life by Isabel Radow Kliegman.
At last, not only is the snail mentioned but actually explained.
She says "It's a snail.Yuck! What is he doing on the card? No not yuck. He's part of the natural world. She accepts him in the same way she accepts the bounty of the garden and the falcon. He is welcome. He's part of it all. He's part of us. You can't be at one with nature unless you are at one with all of nature, and being at one with the nature "out there" is a metaphor for being at one with your own internal nature. If you can't enjoy a garden unless it is free of pests, unless each leaf and flower is perfect, you will never enjoy a garden. Similarly, if you cannot accept yourself because of your flaws and failings, if you cannot accept yourself as worthy of abundance and love unless you are perfect, you will never enjoy yourself. The snail represents our human failings; the serenity that the lady's demeanor expresses is the peace that comes from really being comfortable with yourself, really liking yourself just as you are."
Alot to get out of a snail. But I'm happy with the explaination. In my own mind I always saw the snail as saying- things aren't always as perfect as they seem. There might be a little snail just waiting to slim up you beautiful grapes. There will always be those little irritations so accept them and enjoy life anyway.
So I guess I wasn't so far off on my interpretation.
.
I'd be interested to know of any other book that explains the snail, or what your own insights are. I'm a sucker for obscurity. Nameste