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Lacanian Theory, Gypsy Witch Cartomancy & Ethics Questions in Austra’s “Lose It”

I first heard this song on “Lost Girl”, the television show about the Fae. At first I thought it was a love song. It was played during a romance scene. And the song does have certain tonal qualities, which are verging on angelic. Then I saw the music video.

The first shot is the singer, sitting. Then she gets up and goes to a window, where a rocket/bomb is freeze-framed. Then she turns to a somewhat older man, wearing a crash helmet and studded motorcycle jacket, holding an unidentifiable object that looks like a cross between a hair-dryer and ray-gun from the original Star Trek. He stares at the wall blankly, stock still. A woman sits in the background on a 70’s style velvet couch, holding drum sticks. Another person seems to lay on the floor, but they are only half seen. A photo in a frame and a large conch shell are on the plain wood coffee table before her. The singer sings, taking in this scene.

Suddenly she is no longer standing at the window, but startling into consciousness, at card table with a game of solitaire. The 9 of diamonds, or the 9 of pentacles, appears blown up in the corner of the screen. The 9 of Diamonds represents extra money, usually in the form of a check.  It can indicate a refund check, a rebate check, unemployment check, bonus check, or any extra money that is not part of the normal salary.

From http://cartomancy.wordpress.com/about-reading-playing-cards/ – Symbolically the 9♦ represents electrical energy, electromagnetic energy, and mental energy.  It can represent thoughts, mental images, the imagination, psychic ability, or mental attitude.

Then up pop the 9 of hearts, the 9 of spades, the 9 of clubs, the 7 of hearts, the seven of diamonds, and two 7 of spades – one with a picture of a river surrounded by ferns and moss banks, three bif trees and groves far off. This looks a lot like a Gypsy Witch or old time Rom card reading.

The 9♦ also represents “fame” or “celebrity” in the sense of attracting the attention of others. This is the card of the politician, actor, model, movie star, or writer.  When surrounded by hearts, this card can denote a successful career in the public limelight. 

From and older symbolic meaning of “service to the Crown,” the 9♦  also represents civil service, or public office, and can indicate local, state or federal government.  This card can denote bureaucratic red tape when surrounded by unfavorable cards.

Card Multiples:

Two 9‘s: higher education or the travel industry.

Three 9‘s: Changes in philosophy or attitude.

Four 9‘s:  Highest level of attainment, fame and celebrity.

The Number 7 is often considered a lucky or magical number. It represents spiritual attainment, positive changes, perfection, rest, surprises, chances, destiny, turning points, and healing. When negatively aspected, the Number 7 can denote mystery, illusions, delusions, deception and trouble.

How to Read the 7 of Spades:

Traditionally the 7 of Spades is a card of loss. The negativity of the Suit of Spades draws out the more negative aspects of the number 7 symbolism.  Specifically, the 7 of Spades represents the emotional response to the loss of something prized or someone loved. It can indicate a serious setback in reaching an important goal. It can indicate the loss of a friend or loved one, or the reversal of cherished plans. The 7 of Spades represents the frustration we feel when a project or a relationship is not moving in the direction we had hoped.

The 7♠ is also the water and drinking card.  In his book, It’s Written in the Cards, Dr. Martello says it can even represent water pipes, sinks and the bath. According to Dr. Martello, the 7♠ can also mean having a drink, and represents alcohol, a bar, a nightclub, or even a saloon! 

In The Card Reader’s Handbook, Regina Russell adds drugs and addiction to the meanings of the 7♠, which makes sense.  Although alcohol abuse may have been just as prevalent in Dr. Martello’s day, drug abuse is probably much more prevalent today.

My grandmother called the 7♠ Sfortuna which means “bad luck”, or “misfortune.” She read this card in the traditional way as loss, setbacks, frustration and unhappiness.  But there was also the added idea of “the unexpected,” such as with an accident, mishap, or other nasty surprise. The misfortune of the 7♠ was usually something you never saw coming.

Card Multiples:

Two 7s: signify life changes. With the 7 of Spades it can be a change for the worse. Two red 7s indicate health and happiness.

Three 7s: indicate emotional or spiritual growth.

Four 7s: denote a spiritual awakening.

Then is a CGI of a pond and some rocks and sky. Then a photo of a waterfall. Then the studio with the set and singer is back, with the picture showing through the windows on the set. We now see that the person laying on the floor is actually in the floor.

There is a lot more imagery in this video. Of cards, water, rocket bombs, monkeys, crosses, leaves, mirrors, shadows. I coould document it in 5 second increments, but I just don’t feel like it. What I gleaned from the phrase “the other” is about Lacanian theory. Since she sings this while looking into a mirror, which is part of the Mirror Stage which is part of Lacan’s theory on the self determining separateness from the other. The upside down monkey which then appears, while out in nature, is reversed, like a Tarot card. Monkeys have been used in vivisection, tortured for cosmetics and medical so-called research, had their homes destroyed for greed and in wars. In a sense, anthropologically speaking they are a part of our ancestry. “In the dark, there comes, another, another, hold her by the thumbs, the other, the other.” Being held by the thumbs is a form of torture.

The lines “This is a thirst that I’ve never had/I’ve never bled for another man” – seem to tie into the war imagery. Bleeding for another man is what men and women do in a war. They work as a team to defend each other and their people, and in doing so they shed blood. They feel the call to duty, the call to arms, the call of the warrior.

Screaming without emotion…well, Munch’s painting The Silent Scream is what comes to mind. In addition to all the subtle imagery with deeper double meanings, the video has all these conflicting images: of nature and war, outside the set room, then inside the room, overwhelming the singers and the viewer. The images appear over and over rapidly in sharp contrast. The singer and the band and the viewer are flipped back and forth between happy and horror and the result, if one was paying attention, much as in our world today – would be a silent scream.

Although there is definitely more that could be divined, suffice to say I really think there is a lot of visual and poetic evidence which suggests that the song, and the video, are about more than they may seem. Lots of people online assume that the song is about being in love, or having an affair, or wanting to be with multiple partners, or choosing between partners. And the video is just a gimmick. It doesn’t go with their idea of the song, therefore it has no worth. But definitely there are some interesting ties between the words of the song and the images of the video which portray a clearer and deeper picture.

Copyright Katin Claire de Lune. Protected by witchcraft, guarded by angels.