Friday 8 February 2013

Edmonton Tarot: Strength (XI)


Interpretation: Strong and powerful emotions lie deep within ourselves. Using moral strength and self-control, we can channel those emotions into positive and creative activities. But if no control is exercised, such emotions can overwhelm us and be acted out in negative and destructive ways.

Image: The traditional image for this tarot card depicts a beautiful woman gently prying apart a lion's jaws. The closest I could come to that in Edmonton is this magnificent Fu Temple dog (lion) found at the entrance to the Chinese Garden in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

[Photo by Debra She Who Seeks]

31 comments:

DVArtist said...

A very beautiful post.
Nicole/Beadwright

Sulky Kitten said...

I love Fu dogs and have a little pair of them in my home.

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Great post. Strength can be a wonderful thing; it all depends on how you use it.

Love that statue! Something like that would look nice in my garden.

mxtodis123 said...

What a fantastic statue. You live in a beautiful place.
Mary

Cheryl said...

I look like a fu dog this morning. Need coffee.

SUZY8-TRACK said...

Beautiful Fu dog!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

I love your tarot postings and this one is no exception....

Unknown said...

My dear husband exemplifies this card. A wonderful man, full of quiet strength, great emotion and the ability to channel that into creating exquisite music. And sometimes I do feel a bit like a lady gently opening the jaws of a lion when playing with him :)

Jane said...

I must get out more - I've never been to this park! That Chinese Garden has me intrigued.

Jeanne said...

The Fu Temple Dog is a beautiful image for Strength!

Laeli said...

I love Fu Dogs. And that park is an amazing treasure in our city.

Yvonne said...

As always, a nice tarot post. The fu dog is great!

Wendy S. said...

Strength is one of my fave. tarot cards. I love the Fu dog as a lion. Perhaps next time you see it you can pretend you're the Strength woman with it.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i have my own personal real fu dog and she is strong and powerful.

Robin Larkspur said...

Great job finding this Fu dog for your post. Scary looking, too.

Elsie Amata said...

I love this one, Debra!

Magic Love Crow said...

Excellent Debra! Thank you ;o)

turquoisemoon said...

Good job finding all these tarot symbols!! Am loving this series...

My Grama's Soul said...

Hi Debra......I have not stopped by in ever so long....I'm not blogging much lately...but I'm glad I stopped here today as I learned something about Tarot.

Jo

Riot Kitty said...

That's such an apt description - I'd love to see the card.

laughingwolf said...

too cool :)

Bev said...

did you plant that grass. i nominated you for the versatile bog award. i realize you have probably already won this a million time but i like you. xx

DWei said...

I remember those things always had balls in their mouths and as a kid I'd constantly try and wrestle them out.

-E- said...

RYC: I think you meant "contumelious". That's the adjective form of "contumely". "Contumacious" means something slightly different. Thanks for bringing my attention to it, BTW. I hadn't seen it before. I'll probably post about it in the near future.

The Dancing Crone said...

That's okay, Debra. In my mind I added your gloved hands prying the lions jaws apart!!

Fundy Blue said...

Hi Debra! I enjoyed your fu dog! My husband Terry and I are going to a Chinese New Year celebration in a week, and we are looking forward to the lion dances and the dragon parades. Which Tarot deck do you like best? The Rider deck is the one I am most familiar with; but my friend Paul in California introduced me to a number of others. I think they are fascinating! Have a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

That's beautiful!

Introverted Art said...

it is interesting that a woman is used to symbolize strength in this card... perfect.

Guillaume said...

Oh I LOVE those Chinese dragons dogs things!

yellowdoggranny said...

I love the Fu Dogs..a lot

Anonymous said...

I feel like I'm always wrestling. This was good timing, to read this, right now. Thanks.