"Every moment of one's life, one is growing into more or retreating into less." - Norman Mailer

Saturday, April 14, 2007

White Devils! (opposite of Black Madonnas)

The Devil is the 16th card of the Major Arcana. It represents Temptation, Vice and Self-Desruction. "The modern convenience of TV dinners, instant coffee crystals, and processed cheese in a can. The sinful satisfaction of martinis, cigarettes, and devil's food cake with rich, creamy frosting. Oh, how the Devil inside us loves seemingly simple solutions and indulgent luxuries! It's not good to repress these tempations entirely, but take great care not to let such vices rule your life. Succumbing to your dark side too often will surely bring about your downfall."

This card seems sort of like the calling card of the United States of America. Like, every time the USA introduces itself to another country, it hands out Death. While shaking hands: "Pleased to meet you; and here's my card." BAM! Simplistic and near-sighted 'solutions'! In fact, maybe a surplus of the Death card is the Western-colonial disease in general. Too much 'convenience,' too much pleasure, too much ease. We want for nothing and so we are GOING DOWN.

Oh and by the way, instant coffee was invented in 1929--so it's not that new. Really.

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