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| Way of the Horse, Kohanov |
Merlin and Spirit are a stallion and his son, owned by Kohanov, shown in the image with their heads together. The stones they stand on depict a weeping face. The story Kohanov tells is of Merlin's redemption from show horse whose sperm was used to inseminate mares, or who was encouraged to more or less rape mares who had been hobbled for the purpose, to a socialised stallion allowed to live with two mares, learn to deal with them in a more natural way, and who then developed a relationship with his own son, Spirit. The weeping stone faces are meant to represent the collective memories of pain, fear and death on the battlefield, and all other traumas faced in the past by war stallions, which Kohanov believes to have been the cause of Merlin's great difficulty in socialisation.
'True masculinity has been twisted, tortured and betrayed by a culture of conquest and consumerism,' writes Kohanov. 'It's hard to fathom what a peaceful, healthy form of virility might look like. To have any hope of changing the world, men and women must reevaluate and resocialize the active, masculine principle within their own families--and their own psyches--a task requiring significant soul-searching and imagination.'
It is challenging for me to see how to apply this card as a single daily draw, with no question. I suppose I must look at my own behaviour and thoughts and evaluate how my responses to the day are based on 'conquest and consumerism' and how I can cultivate a 'conscious mother archetype nurturing a fierce sensitivity.' A phrase which, I have to say, I find a bit pompous. ;)
A difficult card for me, possibly because the 'masculine experience' is not something I've given much thought to.
I guess I see my own psyche's "virility" in a feeling that things have to be under control, and that I have to deal with stuff in a rational way. So, a very limited approach to thinking and being...
ReplyDeleteYes, I can see that. I usually associate an 'over-masculine' or 'twisted masculinity' as being about violence, but I can see how it could also be about too much control or stoicism. Thanks for that.
DeleteI guess this card reveals a way to work with the men in your life; instead of reinforcing this twisted masculinity, to show them how to exercise a more peaceful, balanced one. Women have a huge influence on their men, specially partners and family members. Somehow they unconsciously set the emotional atmosphere in which a man feels he can act.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, it may be about dealing with your own more 'masculine' characteristics. I mean 'masculine' in a symbolic sense; not all men are aggressive and competitive and not all women are receptive and prone to 'nurture a fierce sensitivity'. The important thing is a balance between these two symbolic polarities.
That's a useful thought, reviewing the expectations we have of the men in our lives. Thanks for that!
DeleteI found the message from this card a bit confusing ( but I am a bit thick anyway). But it is a beautiful card again. The movie war horse sprang to mind whilst reading this, don't know why. Good film though. It is difficult being a guy and being masculine, having to hide your griefs and feelings so I am not surprised it becomes twisted :-/
ReplyDeleteMy post wasn't very helpful, as I find it a bit confusing, too. :) THe card really is about how difficult it is to be a guy and be masculine, so I think you got the meaning very well. :)
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