Dee Ell, that was beautifully articulated!
Gregory, well, I wasn't going to go into the whole issue of animals being enslaved in general. There was a great thread recently about 'vegan' decks that opened my eyes to how much we take animals for granted, for example I could go horseriding on a horse I had loved and respected for years, and not realise just how one sided and dominating my relationship with the horse was, because I harnessed and rode it. And now thanks to that thread, I am more aware of even the little ways that animals are enslaved, disrespected, or dominated.
I have pet cats, they are essentially not free to live in the wild as they should...
But, I think you've missed my point, because I'm talking about circus animals being tortured and abused, and how art and media and people just turn a blind eye to it, normalising the practice without showing the true reality of it, which essentially misleads people who don't know any better, and gives others a place to stand and say "well, poo happens", being easier to just accept it, or ignore it, than try to do something about it.
As Dee Ell said, the 7 of swords is not sugarcoating anything! Its showing the reality of the situation as it should be shown.
Its the pretending that nothing is wrong with animals in circuses that is "PC" and "whitewashing", making those who don't want to know, feel better about not doing anything about it!
For me, the 7 of swords is a brutal card that could bring me to tears. But knowing that its not hiding the ugly from people who don't already know or just don't want to see, I see it as the reality that is less than pleasant.
Enslaving a horse to pull a chariot is a bit different to elephants being starved and dehydrated so they don't "soil in the ring". Being beaten and tortured (with some state of the art screwed up stuff!) to "train" them to do tricks and stuff so people can be entertained! I am aware that animals all over the world, even those pulling chariots, could be subjected to similar fates, but I'm just pointing out in case you weren't aware, the extent of the "torture" I'm talking about, in case you thought it could be likened to simply "pulling a chariot".
People can make whatever decks they like within the law. And I can voice my opinion about them. I'd rather stand up for the rights of those that can't defend themselves, than be turning my back on it all - I might as well be holding the chains, shackles, beating sticks and whips myself if I'm going to turn a blind eye!
Making people aware of the situation is one of the ways to initiate change.
Yes, people may think circuses are fine. I did too when I was little! Until I learnt that they were cruel. How did I find out? My parents pointed it out, and I gained further awareness myself by learning.
You don't know what you don't know, which is why turning a blind eye to the cruelty and normalising the practice enables others to do the same, because they aren't made aware.
And for those that think being cruel to animals is OK, the more people telling them that its not OK, the fewer that will continue. Laws that say its illegal prevent some others from doing it. I know we can't stop everybody, but every bit counts, and its worth at least trying!
So its not about the Chariot card, or the elephants, its about the "circus elephants". Its about time the depiction of animals in circuses for peoples entertainment was not considered normal, humane or OK, because its not.
I hope I made some sense [emoji4]
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I've never been interested in the 78 tarot before but had to back that one 