A strong spirit transcends rules.
Prince Rogers Nelson
Last week, Facebook feeds were filled with the news of and reactions to the unexpected death of Prince.
I loved the earthiness and whimsicality of his music. It was great to dance to, and his images were, like Bowie’s, out there. His imagination seemed limitless and rich. And he continued to push past the rules and boundaries of cultural and social expectations.
Years ago, in an interview, Oprah asked Prince if he knew that people often thought he was weird or strange. Yes, he knew that. Then, she asked what did he want people to know about him?
His answer was simple and to the point…
“The music.”
In fact, it was so much about the music for him that he not only wrote amazing songs for himself, but also for other artists, songs like: “Nothing Compares 2 U” recorded by Sinead O’Connor (her only hit), “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore” by Alicia Keyes, “Pray” by M. C. Hammer and more.
As I pulled cards for my weekly Tarot Message from the Muse video, the Queen of Cups came up for the focus card. And as I thought about the card, I realized that Prince embodied the energy of the Queen of Cups.
The four queens of the tarot, like the kings, are considered masters (or mistresses) of the suit. They hold the full power of the element and the ability to use it effectively. But the Queen of Cups, according to Rachel Pollack in her book, Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings, carries a special power, “for the Queen of Cups is intense and deeply committed to her path, which we might call the creative path of love.”
Prince’s deep love for music, his creative work, is apparent in his performances and interviews. And in his love and commitment to his creative work, he transcends rules.
Transcend means to be beyond the range or grasp of human experience, or to surpass.
However you choose to define it, Prince definitely transcended the rules of the music of his time, of the rules of gender identification, and of the way to be in the world of entertainment.
He chose to live in Minneapolis instead of the entertainment centers of LA or New York. According to one interview, he was a Jehovah’s Witness and therefore did not speak about his acts of charity of which there were many.
I love how immersed Prince was in his art. And how that immersion led him to places that probably challenged him—and his audience—while calling up the best of both.
Sometimes, when we fall deeply in love with our creativity, we are willing to push back boundaries. We dare to risk disapproval and rejection in order to follow where our work leads us, to surpass the rules.
Do you love your creative work? Deeply love it?
Will you be the Queen of Cups—and transcend rules?