Donna Louise Faber

JUDGEMENT

CARD #20

KEYWORDS:  Acceptance, Discernment, Professional Success

Judgment. 

A loaded word. 

Even as the condition of our world invites visions of last days in a biblical sense, personally we’re either passing judgment or receiving it.  It’s human nature.

Culturally, we’re obsessed with it.  Judgment plays over and over again in movies.  Arnold had his terminators, Keanu Reeves chased the white rabbit out of the matrix, Tom Cruise was caught in a war of worlds, and Will Smith kicked alien ass on Independence Day.  Many modern religions expect Judgment Day, as well.  The Mormons stockpile everything they can think of, and the Jehovah’s Witness are waiting for Armageddon to roll down the freeway.  Take the time to scroll through the thousands of websites that are dedicated to survival, and you’ll gain an understanding of the kind of fear this viewpoint incites.  Many people are intent on experiencing Judgment Day no matter what the Mayan Elders say about their calendar or the year 2012. 

Symbolically, the Rider-Waite Judgment card seems based on the Christian resurrection before the Last Judgment.  Naked figures beg the Angel, Gabriel, for redemption while he seems too busy playing his trumpet to notice.   In my rendition of The Judgment card, Dolly Parton, or The Dolly Momma as she is affectionately referred to, is the Angel.  A successful entertainer, businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, this highly focused Capricorn is the perfect pop-culture candidate for the Judgment card.  Dolly makes no apologies for her identity or image, and she has achieved a high level of professional success without compromising either.   In this, the Judgment card makes reference to success in our professional lives, while Dolly, a living example of self-empowerment, asks us to avoid judging ourselves or others too harshly in order to nurture that success.

Dolly is surrounded by mini-Madonna’s seeking her approval.  They hang on her, beg, and offer anything, if only she would acknowledge them, while she seems too occupied with lofty pursuits to notice.  The irony implied is that while the Madonna’s, Gaga’s, and Adam Lambert’s of the world are so intent on being individuals, they lay themselves out repeatedly for the fickle public to judge.  Never mind the fires of hell.  Public approval and the scorching fires of the media are blistering enough.  However, despite being a tabloid staple her entire career, a pillar of the gay community and a drag queen’s role model who is reported to have an open marriage, those flames never seem to burn The Dolly Momma.  It’s as if by embracing herself wholly and completely as she is, Dolly has developed a protective mantle of the most impervious Teflon, one that rivals Oprah’s. 

Like The Fool, The Judgment card encourages us to release emotional baggage, and as signified by the presence of all four minor arcana suits, this baggage can be emotional, mental, spiritual, or material.  This card, however, gives us the tools we need to do so.  Its gift is discernment, or the ability to grasp and comprehend the less obvious.  Discernment enables us to make sound decisions by utilizing intuition to see into the truth of matters.  It is the difference between reacting and responding, which further enables us to make decisions that support a positive spiritual mindset.  Perhaps this discernment is the secret to Dolly’s success.

When we pull this card in a reading for ourselves or a querent, consider where judgment may be at play.  Do we judge ourselves or another?  Do we accept who we are, or must we see ourselves reflected back in the eyes of those around us.  Ask yourself, “Am I getting stuck here? What am I holding onto, and how is it holding me back?”

Then, consider using discernment to discover what that baggage is, forgive yourself, and let go.

Take a long walk or go work out.

You’ll get over it.

And then get into yourself.

After all, as I’m sure Dolly would agree, you’re pretty cool.

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The tarot’s major arcana cards represent universal experiences that we go through in our lives, no matter what our background or how we were raised. 

THE SUN

CARD #18

KEYWORDS: Perseverance, Creativity, and New Beginnings

When the Sun card appears in a reading, it reminds us of the continuous luster of the imagination.  As the sun shines its life-giving light endlessly, our potential to create is limitless, as well.  In fact, “all creative processes are a form of play and exploration” fueled by childhood innocence and curiosity, and promising new beginnings repeatedly on the journey of life (see end note).  Our job is to observe the inspirational fire that stokes our passion along the way. 

Liza Minnelli represents this major arcana card, in my opinion, most perfectly.    

First and foremost (and to fans, this is obvious), when on stage, screen, or television, Liza shines like the sun itself!   Her legendary presence is mesmerizing, as she is able to mobilize audiences with the power of her voice and transport everyone to a place where high drama and sequins reign supreme.  As Liza’s radiant and indomitable talent never stops casting its divine blessing upon those who adore her, true fans return that love with almost fanatical devotion and enthusiasm.  This is testament to the anecdote “you reap what you sow.” 

Yet her path hasn’t been easy or effortless.  Fans are continuously amazed by the unflinching intensity of her professional devotion, which has made her an enduring force in show business.

Liza suffered from a number of serious illnesses, the most memorable of which might be viral encephalitis in the year 2000.  It threatened to leave her in a wheelchair without speech for the rest of her life, but what did she do?  She refused.  She simply refused to accept the doctor’s prognosis, and with intense training and therapy, conquered that life and career threatening illness.  She carved herself a brand new beginning with iron will and plenty of hard work.

I get a very strong Phoenix-like vibe when I pull this card.  To me, it signifies the almost superhuman ability to rise from the ashes of failure or misfortune, and transform those events into life lessons through perseverance. 

I am reminded of this quotation … 

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill;

When the funds are low; and the debts are high;

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;

When care is pressing you down a bit –

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;

And you never can tell how close you are;

It may be near when it seems afar.

So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –

It’s when things go wrong that you mustn’t quit.

(Author Unknown)

Not unlike the sun above, which sustains everything -- our environment and health, indeed our very lives -- Liza beams out continuous rays of love with her craft, sustaining our need for high camp, song, and drama!  She has also resurrected herself more than once to do it.   The sunflowers in this card remind us to always seek the light, even when circumstances seem dimmest, when our prognosis is worst.  The butterflies serve as reminders of the quick passage of time and the inevitability of change.

The Sun card’s directives are clear:  Don’t dwell on the negatives!  Look at the sunny side!  Be like the sunflower and always raise your shining face to the light!

End Note: The Tarot Handbook by Angeles Arrien, p.92

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Where do these beautiful images come from?   

A special friend of mine, referring to my latest collage piece entitled “Your Guardian Angel”, asked me this. Her questions are sincere and thought-provoking, as she is typically deep in thought.  I find her perspective rather unique, as well.  After thinking on it for a week, I’ve realized I can’t answer without exploring my muses and inspiration.  

Your Guardian AngelSo here I find myself musing over inspiration.

My art and writing, the personally critical act of creating, is about feeling.  It isn’t about the cutting sword of thought or intellect, which is why I’m convinced creating is so important to our emotional health. It is as essential as breathing.  My creativity starts with a feeling, seeks to convey feelings, and, I hope, provokes feelings.  It is my utmost hope that when someone looks at an image I’ve created, they feel something.  I don’t care if it’s adoration or discomfort, as long as they feel.  Concurrently, if I let my emotional energy get drained by stress or fatigue, I just don’t have the juice.  And if the juice isn’t there, the feeling isn’t either and so no drawings or collage work gets done. 

Our greatest goal should be to create without concern for the outcome. And I am aware this is easy for some and hard for others.  In other words, don’t think “will my art make me money?” or “will people like me more because of this?”.   Don’t worry about things like, “oh, no one will like this” or “what would anyone want this for?”  

No. No. No. 

There is nothing we can do to control the reactions of others.   

Musing Over Inspiration

Worries about acceptance, failure or reward are expectations we tag to the outcome of our creativity, and if that expectation exists, the creative spark is dampened.  When we create for the sake of creating, and we do it enthusiastically and courageously, people will respond to what moves them.  What matters, the only thing that matters, is that we create.  

The rest happens on its own. 

Say that we’re into photography, cooking or sewing; or acting, singing, writing or underwater basket weaving, for that matter.  We do more, and we get better at it.  Perhaps one day when we’re feeling more confident, we get it out there a bit on-line or at a craft show. We give a gift to someone special.  We take a chance and share more of ourselves to see what happens.  

So, where does it start? 

The Queen of Wands

For me, it starts with a muse and with inspiration.  What happens thereafter is built on a feeling and then fertilized with plenty of my plus-sized, over-active imagination. 

A muse is someone or something that inspires an artist to create.  I have a few.  First, there is that very insistent voice inside of me that I’ve named Francine.  Francine is all about defiance, rage and loving without boundaries.  She rails against the societal norm and wants to do things her way!  There is a distinct difference between feeling the urge to draw and feeling Francine shake the cage I have her in.  She can be very persistent.  

There are people in my life who inspire me, and these are my muses.  I’m not always sure why, but these individuals rile me up in a way I must outwardly express.  Maybe it’s chemistry or tension.  Perhaps it’s passion in one of its many guises.  I go with the flow, remaining grateful for these people and the magic they bring into my life. I have a number of celebrity muses, the most prominent of which are Dolly Parton, whom I’ve adored since before I was a teenager, and Catherine Deneauve, who I find absolutely stunning. 

From the muse springs inspiration, arousal of the emotions to a special activity or creativity.  It manifests differently with each of my favorite mediums.  

When approaching pen and ink, I may look to one of the many, many pictures I’ve pulled from magazines.  Now and again these images inspire me alone, no muse required.  I might begin with an image as a reference knowing the end product will take on a life of its own.  I rarely have a preconceived image but rather let the imagine work itself out, which at times can be a struggle.  My “Queen of Wands”, for example, is an example of this.  

In this creative process, my eyes, hands, and mind work in tandem, but the piece itself is mistress, and I am its servant. 

The View From Your WindowCollage work, which I love, is very different from creating with pen and ink.  A pen and ink portrait is a commitment that requires time and endurance.  Collage work can be quick, with free artistic flow and immediate gratification   Often, I begin with a picture in my head. This is my destination.  The pre-made stickers and embellishments, all those marvelous little pictures, textures, and sizes become stepping stones on the path. I know where I want the creative journey to lead, what the end result should look like, but the embellishments and I work hand-in-hand to get there.  I feel like I’m leading the charge, but there is a compromise between me, the artist, and the materials.  It all happens rather quickly, and the process requires a less intense focus.  

So, my friend asked “where do these beautiful images come from?”, and my answer would have to be they come from many places.  They come from inspiration, from pictures, from the world around me, or from the way I feel.  They come from people, places and things, and all the different parts of me working in concert to put what I feel into a picture or portrait.

They come from breathing … because to me, creating is breathing.  

Truly.

“Your Guardian Angel” also called “Andromeda Speaks” © August 2, 2010 by Donna L. Faber.  This one-of-a-kind original collage is done with stickers and embellishments on 11” x 14” multi-colored card stock and black matte board. It is under glass in a clip frame.   The angel is hand made by the artist, and inspired by a friend whose guardian angel might be rendered this way.  This piece is not for sale.  I think it’s meant to be a gift.  

Andromeda

Andromeda Close UpThere is a lot of symbolism in this piece. The imagery came first through inspiration via a muse and the symbolism made itself apparent later. The mix of Christian imagery (the angel) and Pagan symbolism (the four quarters) happened because I felt the need to tie the angel into the larger tapestry of spiritual beliefs.  In this way, she becomes a symbol for spirit, which I think is appropriate. 

Andromeda is the angel’s name, and she floats peacefully in the heavens, clothed sublimely in purple, the color of friendship and healing (or healing through friendship).  She wears the golden halo of divinity, which signifies the purity of her purpose as a guardian.  Twin doves of peace hover over each of her hands which are open in compassion. Andromeda wears her heart out on her chest in emotional transparency and purity of intent.  Her head is surrounded by stars.  In fact, the very stars Andromeda dwells among serve to tie this piece of art together. 

Symbolism of the Four Quarters

Earth is in the lower right hand corner, and it is attended by the Prince of the Forest, a buck.  The Prince is an earthbound symbol of home and hearth, wellness and wisdom, and can be seen in pop-culture.  The movie “Bambi” has one the most wonderful depictions of this creature.  He dates as far back as the Arthurian legends and the epic battle between the Son of a Hundred Kings and the Great Prince himself, which was fought for the welfare of sacred land.  

The Prince of the Forest from Disney's "Bambi"

Air is reined over by the full moon and signifies the process of thought and the mind’s activities in problem solving.  Symbolically, air is a masculine element and the full moon a feminine one, but in this piece (and always to me), the Great Mother resides in the full moon.  It waxes and wanes like the cycle of a woman. Both air and the moon converge in support of Andromeda’s message. 

The element of fire is signified by the Chinese dragon.  A dragon is a dragon no matter what culture and to me will always be a most powerful guardian offering strength, courage, balance and magic generously to its human companion.  Surrounding the dragon is the red rose, a symbol of the fires of passion whose thorns remind us our passions are best wisely directed through temperance (always temperance).  In this piece, the rose is also a symbol of love, new beginnings, hope and promise, all of which can bloom heartily from passion. 

Water symbolizes the limitless ocean of emotion, falling falling falling like a waterfall, often taking us to places we never thought we would experience.  It reminds us to go with the flow and use our intuition.  It is indicative of motion and depth, and it is the origin of all life.  This element asks us to heed the balance between heart and mind, intellect and emotion, neither existing to the detriment of the other, which is critical to our wellness. 

Andromeda Speaks

Andromeda (1869) by Paul Gustave Doré Andromeda’s message is present visually in the butterflies in this piece.  Butterflies are the most profound agent of change as they live very short lives, undergo physical transformation very quickly and yet still serve their purpose both as ecological participants and sacred messengers.  

Andromeda, whispering through butterfly wings, acknowledges that the world is changing, and within it, so are many of us.  She, an entity plucked from the Christian collective and floating dreamily amidst pagan imagery, asks us to understand the difference between organized religion and spirituality. We all have the right to believe what we will with no judgment, yet if we peeled most layers away perhaps the best of faiths would be the same at their core.   

She encourages us to define these important issues for ourselves.  

Andromeda acknowledges our craving for inner light and reminds us there is wisdom to be derived from the willingness to embrace new experiences.

It isn’t every day that I get a glimpse of someone’s guardian angel.

This one had an awful lot to say. 

Andromeda speaks … will you listen?

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It's a Pleasure to be Sad (Francine #4) © July 5, 2010 by Donna L. Faber, pen & ink and markers on Bristol Strathmore 100 pound smooth.

“I realized that it does not matter that you cannot love me as I wish. It matters that I love you!”  Excerpted from Namaah’s Curse by Jaqueline Carey.

“Unrequited love’s a bore,
And I’ve got it pretty bad;
But for someone you adore,
It’s a pleasure to be sad.”
From “Glad to be Unhappy” by Rogers & Hart 1936.

This original portrait is in several pieces.   My primary focus was the hair which started out a flat brown.  I added cranberry colored extensions by laying cut out curls and strands over the base, and ended up very happy with the 3-D kind of result.  Like the previous three portraits of Francine, this was a long, personal journey checkered with stray thoughts, impressions and plenty of memories. 

Print Sizes

5 x 7 $10.00 8 x 10 $15.00 11 x 17 $25.00

The first portrait of Francine was called “Don’t Tell Me to Stop”.  My muse burst forth in a strong desire to love without reservation or boundary.  She was defiant and selfish in her need and wouldn’t take no for an answer.  In the second portrait, called “Little Black Dress”, Francine dares us to take a chance on love.  She appears in unexpected places to coax us out of our hard shells and dares us to thaw our frozen hearts.  She knows our pain, but she also knows our secrets and understands us in ways we don’t understand ourselves.  In the third, called “Those Lips, Those Eyes”, Francine loves through submission, and surrenders herself wholly and without reservation to the whims of another. She finds doing so both liberating and fulfilling.  In this piece, which is the fourth portrait of my inner muse, Francine explores the universal feeling called unrequited love.

Unrequited love, by definition, is love that isn’t openly acknowledged, realized or reciprocated.  The beloved may not be aware of the admirer’s affection.  The admirer may not realize what they feel is love.  It is oftentimes the subject of literature and pop-culture, described as a sensation one might consider noble, unselfish or stoic – but also obsessive, fantastical and euphoric.  Think Cyrano de Bergerac, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Great Expectations and The Phantom of the Opera.  Even Charlie Brown had a secret thing for the Little Red Haired Girl.  The admirer has trouble expressing true feelings for many reasons, but primarily because doing so will either invite rejection or end all access to the beloved. 

This takes me back to when I was a teenager and desperately in love (desperately in need) with my girlfriends.  It didn’t matter if they were straight or not, my emotions were what they were, even though much of the time I was content with emotional crumbs.  I couldn’t intellectually control who I loved, and I didn’t know when I was accepting less than respectful treatment.  I wasn’t a social butterfly, but rather ensconced myself in the relative safety of intense one-on-one friendships.  I was a lover of women even then, but beyond that, I shared a special bond with each of the young women I associated closely with.  That bond emerged first for the usual chemical, spiritual, or mysterious reasons, all of which are a part of normal teenage sexual awakening.  When it grew deeper, I dared not share my feelings, not directly.  Circumstances were awkward at times, and now I know that it was confusing for them.  Not all teenagers are as certain as I was of what they want.  I knew early and had no trouble accepting it in myself.  My friends were a different story.  I was afraid they’d get freaked out and never speak to me again if they knew how I felt.  I’d suffered enough loss by that time.  A fear of abandonment had rooted itself deeply into my psyche. 

If we view unrequited love through a spiritual lens, we see no possession, jealousy or insatiable and demanding hunger.  The negativities of selfish love are dissolved by compassion and a genuine desire to do what is right for the beloved.  There are no games.  There is a commitment to wellness that surpasses conventional role playing and eliminates the need to cater to our insecurities or the egotistical needs of another. 

Love simply is what it is, and as such becomes a powerful agent of change in our lives.

Francine coaxes us to self-reflection. 

In what ways do we oppress ourselves? Is this a conscious or subconscious act?  In what spiritual, characteristic, or material manner do we repress our thoughts, feelings or actions?  Is it for fear of reprisal?   Within the complex fabric of our most beloved relationships will we be put down, laughed at, or worse, completely disregarded?  Do we doubt our worthiness?  What is it that keeps us from striving to achieve our truest potential as women?

When unselfish and held aloft a foundation of compassion; when there are no expectations other than respect, unrequited love becomes like a rosebud waiting for spring.  It is even content to slumber in winter.   It is communicative, undemanding, non-judgmental, and it has the patience of the ages.   In this, unrequited love can be magic and offers healing, liberation, and catharsis for the both the admirer and the beloved.

Francine matures emotionally in this portrait by loving but not demanding, and fortunately, in my adulthood, so did I.  I still prefer intense on-on-one relationships that are based on a spiritual bond rather than rooted in fear.  And Francine still insists on loving, but she doesn't project her needs on anyone. She has grown aware of the emotional needs of others.

I can't help but wonder.  If we take away the selfishness that masquerades as love, what is left?  Could it be that unrequited love in this pure and uncluttered form is simply and wonderfully … friendship?

Unrequited love is a willingness to accept suffering rather than loss.  Francine speculates that for the right person and under certain circumstances, it's a pleasure to be sad.

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