An ancient principle of Indian civilization was the teaching of the Kama Sutra
and the sixty-four arts that a woman should acquire as knowledge. This was called kala. These were considered to be
accomplishments in the teaching of erotic techniques and were taught to all
girls regardless of their social standing.
It was advised that women should teach this subject to young girls as long as they were trustworthy, well born, independent and understood the meaning of the words. She could be a woman used to sleeping with men, a girlfriend who was already initiated, a maternal aunt close to her own age, a serving woman treated as an aunt and confidant, a nun known for a long time or an older, trusted sister who has had experience with men. Even if it was not possible to master all sixty-four arts, it was felt that at least some should be practiced.
Courtesans were highly respected in this society for their beauty, knowledge, usefulness and their social role. Princes and princesses were sent to them for instruction in the arts, social graces, pleasure and music.
In keeping with the flexibility of Tarot interpretation, I have applied these arts as qualities and attributes of the Tarot Queens. Court cards can be confusing for although they can represent specific people, they also represent universal patterns of behaviour, the feminine side of your nature and the mental, physical and spiritual development of the individual. As a person grows, matures and acquires wisdom and knowledge or declines in these areas, the changes can be marked by changes of the suit of the Court cards which represents them.
For the purpose of this article, each of the Queens of the Tarot will represent 16 of the sixty-four arts which a woman (or a man) should achieve mastery of. No blushing is required here.
1. Vocal music 2. Instruments 3. Dance 4. Drawing 5. Cutouts 6. Carpets of flowers or coloured rice 7. Bouquets 8. Dyes and colorants for the body 9. Mosaics 10. Bed arrangements 11. Musical instruments made from bowls of water 12. Water games 13. Use of charms, drugs, magic wands 14. Garland making 15. Crown and head ornaments 16. The art of dressing
17. Ivory or mother of pearl ornaments 18. Preparation of perfumes 19. Jewellery 20. Conjuring 21. Magic 22. Manicure 23. The art of cooking 24. Preparation of drinks 25. Needlework 26. Lacemaking 27. The art of playing the drum 28. Conundrums 29. The art of completing quotations 30. Riddles 31. Bookbinding 32. The art of telling stories
33. Quoting the classics in answering questions. 34. Weaving, plaiting 35. Woodwork 36. Carpentry 37. House furnishings and decorations. 38. Expert knowledge in stones and gems 39. Mixing and polishing metals 40. Valuing the shape and colour of stones 41. Arboriculture, the care of trees 42. Stock breeding 43. Teaching birds to speak 44. Massage and care of the body and hair 45. Sign language 46. Foreign languages 47. Regional languages 48. Decorating vehicles with flowers
Air is the symbol of spiritualization, where divine inspiration is manifested. Air is the intermediary between heaven and earth, fire and water.
49. Observing the omens 50. Fabricating machines 51. Developing memory 52. Alternate reciting of texts 53. Puns 54. Knowledge of the dictionary 55. Poetic meter 56. Versification and literary forms 57. The art of cheating 58. The art of disguise 59. The art of gaming, the art of dice 60. The game of chess 61. Children's games 62. Good manners 63. The rules for success: "Even when conquered by fate, man wins by a battle." 64. Physical culture (prepared to defend what is hers)A fun reading to ascertain the future of potential relationship or just to understand the ladies in your life, involves separating the Queens from the deck. You then proceed to lay the Queens cards out side by side in this order: Cups, Wands, Coins and Swords. Assign a name of someone you are involved with, friends, coworkers or just interested in to each card. You can choose "Unknown" for one of them. Shuffle the cards and ask a question. ie: Who do I have the best chance of having a successful relationship?; Who will I marry? Who will I date next? Who will I hear from next? Who will marry first? Who will be pregnant next? Who is most loyal to me?
Deal out the cards face up, laying them out one at a time on one of the Trumps, proceeding across all four and returning to the beginning if required. Your question is answered when you deal a matching suit on one of the Queens. Ask another question and start laying down cards from the beginning of the row again, stopping again when a suit matches a trump. After all of the cards have been dealt, pick up each stack and count the number of cards of each suit. Consider the interpretations offered above, as well as standard tarot definitions, as you read the cards presented for each of our ladies. The more you have of one suit indicates the predominant influence or potential asset of that relationship or within that relationship.
Perhaps this will allow us all to look at these ladies of the Tarot with a deeper understanding of their potentials and recognition of abilities. If we follow "The Three Aims of Life" as outlined in the Kama Sutra, we must realize ourselves on three levels. Virtue, wealth and love must be harmonized so that none of them are prejudicial to the others.
It is interesting to note that the Kama Sutra recommends abstinence and study in an isolated spot until your studies were completed. It was felt as essential to study music, because it belongs to the heart of love, as it was to study your sexuality. If a girl studied the erotic sciences she would know how to behave in her youth, in her married life and ignorance would never be her trap.
Thought provoking isn't it?
"The Complete Kama Sutra" Translated by Alain Danielou Park Street Press Rochester, NY, 1994 ISBN 0-89281-492-6"The Mammoth Dictionary of Symbols" Nadia Julien Robinson Publishing London, UK, 1996 ISBN 1-85487-273-7
