Showing posts with label major arcana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label major arcana. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2011

I. The Magician




The second card in the Major Arcana is the Magician. Looking at the card, we notice several important symbols. We see the infinity symbol. Around his waist is the uroboros – the serpent swallowing its tail. This is another symbol of infinity and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. On the altar before him are represented all four elements.

When I look at this card, I get the image of a mature man who is comfortable with his power. Here is a man in his prime. He is powerful. He is very likely a father, possibly a young-ish grandfather. I associate this card with fire and earth. The season, for me, is summer.

Questions that we can ask about this card are, “Am I secure in my power?” “Am I using it wisely?” I think that grounding is important with this card, so I have put together a recipe that is at once light, because it’s a salad, and ground, because of the meat.

Grilled Steak Salad with Bacon-Blue Cheese Dressing

For the dressing:

• 2 1/2 ounces blue cheese
• 3 tablespoons buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• salt and freshly ground white pepper
• 6 slices crisp bacon, crumbled
• Salt and pepper to taste



For the salad:

8 cups mixed greens – spinach, lettuce, arugula
½ red onion, thinly sliced
16-oz sirloin steak


Lightly oil the rack of your grill and set to high heat. If using a grill pan, allow to heat on high for about 5 minutes. Grill the sirloin until rare or medium-rare (130-135 degrees F), about 3-3 1/2 minutes per side. Allow the steak to rest for about 10 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain and top the greens and red onion.

In a small mixing bowl, mash the blue cheese and buttermilk. Leave some larger chunks of cheese for texture. Gently fold in the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Drizzle dressing over the salad and serve.

Serves 4

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

0. The Fool




The Fool

The Fool is the first card we shall explore in this Major Arcana series. The Fool, or Jester, is the eternal traveler. This card typically signifies the new beginnings, possibly with a risk involved. The Fool reversed symbolizes recklessness, foolishness, and lack of motivation. Upright, we see a man ready for a journey, a dog at his heels. Sometimes it looks as though he’s about to walk off the edge of a cliff! His advice to us could be “Look before you leap”.
I associate this card with springtime, a time of rebirth and new beginnings.


The Fool’s Spring Salad


This salad features edible flowers and a lemony vinaigrette dressing. The citrus purifies us before a new journey, and the flowers add a touch of beauty, whimsy, and exotic flavor.

2 cups spring mixed greens per person
Edible spring flowers – violets, calendula, nasturtium*

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon honey
Combine ingredients in a small jar and whisk/shake to combine.

*Note: Please make sure your flowers have NOT been treated with any chemicals. Do not pick flowers that grow close to the road, either, and wash everything well before consuming.

The Major Arcana Series: An Introduction

I don't know how often I will post in this series yet. I will try to do at least two a month, but I might get inspired and do two in a day.

This series was suggested by my friend Warren. My goal is to take the symbolism in the Major Arcana and tie it to seasonal, inherently magical foods. Each entry will include a picture (ripped from google) from the Rider-Waite deck. I don't own this deck, but a lot of people do, and they're fairly easy for many people to read. I will talk about the traditional meanings of the card, the symbols, and also my interpretation of the card. My interpretation might be what the card says to me, what season it reminds me of, or anything. I will also include a recipe for a dish that compliments this card.

I will use a lot of my own recipes. If I use recipes from somewhere around the Internet, I will leave the address to the website.

I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to comment at any time. Thank you for reading so far. I really enjoy hearing from you.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Samhain is on its way!

And so is the first post in my Major Arcana series! Make sure you check it out!