Black Mirror Alchemy: The Path of the Digital Hermit

Welcome Back, Dear Readers In this week's blog post, we are diving deeper into the Four Kings Method and beginning our exploration of the different aspects of masculine development portrayed in the tarot. As I mentioned last week, the four kings of the tarot represent mastery of each of their elements and serve as models for us, as men, to begin working through and developing expertise in each domain of our lives. Regarding the element of fire, represented by the wands, we’ll be exploring the emotional, sexual, and creative aspects of our lives. When we zoom out, there are several ways society tries to control and suppress the fire of men. First, cultural norms limit the kinds of emotions men are allowed to express. Secondly, social mechanisms control male sexuality, turning it into a resource for value extraction. Lastly, the structure of work and commodified leisure ensnares the creative energy of m

Welcome Back, Readers! Today marks the beginning of a new series on Black Mirror Alchemy ! Over the course of five posts, we will explore the theme of masculinity in the tarot and how men can—and should—start integrating this spiritual practice into their lives. In our current historical moment, tarot occupies a curious position in Western culture. On one hand, it's often shunned as something "of Satan," a remnant of the 1980s Satanic Panic and the waning influence of Evangelical Christianity. On the other hand, tarot has experienced a significant resurgence. A diverse array of practitioners, artists, and metaphysical businesses have emerged to meet the growing consumer demand for this once-obscure deck of cards. Tarot also carries a gendered dimension, primarily associated with women and femininity. The stereotypical image of a tarot reader is a woman dressed like Stevie Nicks, clacking her long nails against her dec