Trying to shake my own health demons out at the moment and thought of a song. I love associating songs and singers with the archetypal stories and characters in tarot.
I rather fancied using the wonderful and brilliantly British themed, Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell as fitting illustrations for my idol (Florence Welch) Florence and The Machine’s Song, Shake it Out! . Florence says she actually wrote this song about a hangover, but I am going to reinterpret it as a dark love story in this instance.
So with my interpretation, Florence starts out so determined to shake the devil of a romance off her back. She is ready to cut her heart out, bury that mournful horse in the ground, and be done with the past. Alas, she does not hold out for very long. Deciding she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t, she surrenders to her fate and runs eagerly towards possible further pain, and dare I say, even further regret. Great initial intentions followed by throwing caution to the wind. As the saying goes ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. Well what can she do when the Devil turns up looking so handsome, and in turn brings the Devil out in her too??!!! We shall have to drink to that, and here’s to the inevitable hangover! Cheers x
You may have your own interpretation so just use your imagination! The Steampunk Tarot Deck is superb and well worth adding to your collection. I just adore the imagery. What an achievement Barbara Moore and Aly Fell. I think an excellent intuitive deck for both beginner and experienced readers alike.
Shake It Out (Florence and The Machine)
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It’s always darkest before the dawn
And I’ve been a fool and I’ve been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I’m always dragging that horse around
All of his questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I’m gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it’s always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart
‘Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It’s always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back
And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It’s a fine romance but it’s left me so undone
It’s always darkest before the dawn
Oh whoa, oh whoa…
And I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t
So here’s to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I’m ready to suffer and I’m ready to hope
It’s a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
‘Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I’m gonna let it happen to me, yeah
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it’s hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Card Images from The Steampunk Tarot Deck, Barbara Moore and Aly Fell 2012
Categories: Tarot Songs, Uncategorized
Truly Teach Me Tarot 
Great song – and facinating interpretation. 🙂
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Hi Jenny,
Yes, fantastic song and aren’t The Steampunk Tarot Cards brilliant!
Vivien
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