Damokles Pins

Damokles, explained

The 12 court cards of Damokles represent the Kings and Queens of the World, blessed with the Crown, but also exposed to the threat of the Sword. Each suit represents a different threat:

• ♥️ Hearts are threats caused by human emotions (K is “Sacrifice”, Q is “Vengeance” J is “Defiance”)
• ♦️ Diamonds are threats caused by human hunger (K is “Greed”, Q is “Dominance”, J is “Indolence”)
• ♣️ Clubs are threats caused by the material environment around us (K is “World”, Q is “Nature”,  J is “Health”)
• ♠️ Spades are threats caused by spiritual or immaterial things (K is “Time”, Q is “Magic”,  J is “Chaos”)

The red cards (Hearts, Diamonds) bring the threat on themselves with their actions; in contrast, the black cards (Clubs, Spades) suffer the threat passively, often trying to prevent it.

The Jokers are the incarnation of the four threats: Time/Death (Spades), World/Conquest (Clubs), Strength/War (Hearts) and Desire/Famine (Diamonds). These are obviously inspired by the four Horsemen.

In Adamas/Opulentia the blade is silvery and shiny, to represent a time when nature is young and unspoiled, and the Word enjoys a fragile peace. There is plenty of everything – although not everyone receives of the bounty. The danger is there, but the thread that holds the Sword is new and strong.

In Cuprum/Ruinae the blade is old and rusty, the World has been conquered, revealing the true face of war. Insatiable hunger consumes almost everything, and the Reaper is sharpening his scythe. How much longer can the old thread keep the Sword from falling?

In a way, these decks represent “past” (Adamas/Opulentia) and “future” (Cuprum/Ruinae) – however, I see the World as a cycle, so there is no reason to assume that the blade will not turn shiny again, even after having been rusty for a long time.