A Table for Three

From the Russian Lubok Tarot, the Three of Cups; from the Oracle of Alice's Leaves, 'Woody Nightshade:'

          Three fellows sit around sharing a simple meal and companionship. The two creeks that cross in front of their table suggest how randomly some friendships begin, but because we attend to and cultivate them, we can develop lasting relationships. Woody Nightshade, or Solanum dulcamara, is related to several important food plants such as the tomato and potato. Yet all parts of this plant are poisonous, giving rise to its other common name, deadly nightshade. Folk medicine used the leaves as a poultice; today, chemists have found this plant contains solanine, a substance found to help clear up obstinate skin disorders such as poison ivy or ulcers. Taken together, the message of these cards seem to say that no one is perfect so we shouldn't expect a friendship to be either. While there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed, we need not expect our friends to agree with us about everything.