How Do I Love Thee?

What’s that you say? You desperately want me to post another activity from The Tarot Playbook? Well, okay, I suppose if you really want me to…

This one goes out to all the court cards in the house and it’s called:

HOW DO I LOVE THEE?

Roses are red, violets are blue,
I’m not a poet, that much is true.
But if you’ll allow me, I’ll make you a ditty,
Pass the thesaurus, you look very pretty –
And lovely and bonny and goodly and bright,
And stately and gracious, you’re such a nice sight.
Your eyes flash with passion, your hair’s golden fronds,
You look like a princess, you’re my Queen of Pentacles…

1. Pick one court card at random. If you fancy a challenge, try the one you feel least attracted to.

2. Gaze at the court as though they are an angel descended from heaven. (If you happen to have one of those angel-themed decks, all the better.) Look at the court as if you’re seeing them for the first time. Imagine they’re the most beautiful creature you have ever seen. Let yourself be swept away by their loveliness. Continue to be swept away until you feel the urge to write a poem about them.

3. Now, jot down what you consider to be the four most wonderful things about the object of your affection – be it their noble countenance, their statuesque posture, their sparkling eyes or their stylish shoes. If you’re struggling to find anything wonderful, just jot down the four things that you hate the least.

4. For each of those four things, write down a few adjectives that best describe their deliciousness. So, for example, you might decide the Knight of Swords’ armor is hard, glistening, smooth, and well–oiled. Or you might think that the Queen of Pentacles has ripe, juicy, fleshy knees.

5. To have any hope of winning your heart’s desire’s heart, you must turn your list of random words into a lyrical masterpiece – a poem at once tender and passionate, one that will make them covet you instantly. You should spend at least four months crafting the perfect ode.

6. When you have finished your poem, read it to your beloved. Hopefully, by the time you reach the end, they will feel the same about you, but don’t feel too bad if they don’t. As the saying goes, there are plenty more courts in the deck..