Reading: Why Do I Like Dexter So Much?

I have recently discovered the show Dexter, and am officially addicted to watching episodes of the show on Netflix. (I'm in the middle of the 3rd season, so please don't give anything away in the comments, if you're more current than me!)

I have been wondering to myself why I like the show so much, because it's far from my usual TV/movie watching preferences. I like positive entertainment. I don't like to watch sad movies, I don't like unhappy endings, and I have no interest in shows like CSI. So why has Dexter captivated me so much? I decided to ask the cards.





Of course the first thing that called out to me in this trio was the Devil. How appropriate. (And the imagery in the card is oddly eerie, since last night I watched an episode where Dexter was at the dentist, and lost a crown at a crime scene.)

What I saw here was evil in the middle of two very lovely cards. The two outer cards represent Dexter's everyday life, the part he plays in society, while the devil is tucked away inside, in the middle... the center of his soul that no one else has access to. I found it fitting that the keyword on the side of this Devil card is "Deception". Regina di Bastone, the picture of innocence, is Dexter's naive and demure girlfriend, Rita, and the lamb represents her children. The Caval di Coppa is Dexter, riding toward both his girlfriend and kids, and also toward the evil of Il Diavolo. He has attachments to both. His head is hung, as though he doesn't want to be completely seen.

According to the cards, I seem to like the fact that his life isn't so cut and dry. It shows how nothing is ever really black or white. Every episode of Dexter provides an abundant variety of marvelous shades of gray. He is good, and he is bad. He kills and he cares. He feels compelled to do the right thing in one aspect of his life, while not thinking twice about doing the wrong thing in another. He breaks the law, but lives by a law of his own. I like the idea of living a life according to one's own values, and not blindly following the laws of the land just because someone else has declared that's the way it should be. Dexter's life isn't anarchy though. He has expectations of others, and of himself.

Another thing I thought of was with the devil being hidden in the middle, I see Dexter's secret life, which I think intrigues the Scorpio in me.

I love how Dexter can kill a person with no remorse whatsoever (yes, they had it coming, but still...), and less than an hour later he's giving Rita's kids piggy back rides around the living room. And you never have a fear, not even for a second, that he would ever harm a hair on those kids' heads. You trust him implicitly with them. He has the devil within him, but it doesn't completely define him. He has boundaries that he would never cross, nor would he even be so much as tempted to cross. He remains the faithful Caval di Coppa to those who matter to him.

I am actually rooting for a serial killer (and yes, the fact that he only kills bad guys is a strong defining factor here). I laugh at his quirky expressions and humorous understated comments. I love him playing dad to Rita's kids.

Quite honestly, I find the creepiest part of the show is Harry, Dexter's foster dad. He disturbs me so much that I literally have a hard time watching the flashbacks.

Dexter really is a sublime show. If you're not already watching it, I highly recommend checking it out!

~Kiki

Tarot Matchmaking

It's almost Valentine's Day, and Cupid wants to come out and play. This post is inspired by a fun writing prompt shared by Cat 'n Owl.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker:

Which two tarot cards would you like to see together?
What’s their story?
How did they meet?
Are they destined for true love… or just friends?

I wanted to use my PDR deck for this exercise both because it has a beautifully romantic feel to it, and also to add variety to my daily use of this deck.

I knew right away who my bachelorette was.

Temperanz.

She is a lovely house maiden who works quietly and diligently. She is honest and trustworthy, good and kind. She keeps to herself, enjoys simple pleasures, and is modest and humble. She thinks that no one notices her, but little does she know that there were more than half a dozen suitors lined up to be her Valentine's Day date. And as the matchmaker, it was up to me to decide who to set her up with.

There was a king, a few knights, a couple of knaves and a violinist who asked to be considered. They all made compelling arguments, but one by one they were eliminated for one reason or another. It's not that they weren't lovely, it's just that they weren't the perfect match for her. And she deserves to find true love.

In the end, the King was too pretentious. The Knights were too obsessed with the conquest and adventure, and none were a suitable match for Temperanz's demure nature. The violinist appeared romantic and sweet, but it turns out he was too self absorbed. That left us with two knaves vying for the number one spot. One offered loyalty and chivalry. He assured me he would lay down his life for her. And I was very drawn to him.

However, the other knave offered her something near and dear to her heart.

Fante di Coppa

He held a cup in his hand, presenting the one thing that she treasures. He tells me that he watches her every day. He sees the precision and care with which she pours the water into the castle's vases, never spilling a drop. His offering shows that he is the one, above all others, who knows the true Temperanz.

He stands both bold and shy in his offering, the combination which would suit Temperanz beautifully, as she is, after all, the model of this type of alchemy.

The knave's flowing ribbons and garments match the flow of his beloved's. And he offers her his cup and his love, without strings. He looks the other way, so she is free to reject him if she desires, without feeling the guilt of seeing the pain on his face. His face is in fact hidden behind the cup, so that she may make her decision fairly and honestly.

Yes, this is the one for her. It's a match made in heaven. The knave, like Temperanz, is quiet and subtle in his actions, yet they come from the heart, deep and true.

My work is done. And they lived happily ever after. Of course.

I wanted to add that after I made my selection, I lined up all the gentlemen again, with Temperanz above them, and asked each of my daughters to choose a match for the lovely maiden. I asked my girls this at separate times, so neither of them saw each other's selection., nor did they know who I had chosen. And amazingly, they both chose Fante di Coppa for her! So three out of three. These two were destined.

Thanks again to Cat 'n Owl for this fun exercise. My 6 year old daughter is now playing with another tarot deck, matching up all the couples.

~Kiki

Deck Affair - Month 2 Begins

I used my Tarot of the Master without fail, every day in January. Some days I would forget, and have to pop out of bed at night to do a quick shuffle and pull, and then hop back into bed. But I haven't skipped a day. However, if someone were to ask me if I had used this deck 31 times last month, I'd laugh and want to say "No way!" It doesn't feel like I've used this deck much at all, but I've typed a one-line entry in my Deck Affair journal every day, so I have proof.

I pulled two cards today.

What have I learned in the past month by using this deck every day?

IIII Coppe

I feel like I haven't learned a damn thing, to be honest. Like the lady in this card, I've got a lot going on. Pots of projects everywhere. Hands full. So my time spent with this deck has more often than not been either a last minute thing, or a super speedy draw, just to get it done. So if I have learned anything, it is that I need to set aside more time each day so that I can actually get something out of this experience. Also, I have learned that I do have it in me to remain committed to something, even when I'm not seeing benefits just yet. Gives me some food for thought regarding my eating habits and lack of exercise!



What will I learn this second month, using this deck every day?

Caval di Bastone

My first thought when I saw this card was that my deck would be traveling with me. But I'm not planning to go anywhere this month, so I don't think that's what it's about. This card, to me, is definitely about movement. So I think this means that I will begin to see progress in my relationship with this deck, provided I give it the time it deserves. Onward and upward, dear Vacchetta!


It's funny to me that I have only posted to this blog six times so far, and both of these cards have previously shown up in that time.

~Kiki