The Ex Hex

Vivi learns that Amanda Carter was, in fact, too good to be true. Now revealed to be the con artist Tamsyn Bligh, the possible vision Vivi had for her life as a modern witch becomes fractured in a way that is hard for her to reconcile. She mistakenly attributes her believing Amanda/Tamsyn’s façade to her notion that she and Rhys together are a disaster. Admittedly, things between Rhys and Vivi have a tendency not to go as planned, but that does not necessarily mean that their entire relationship provokes chaos. Vivi’s logic operates on a false equivalency, making her conclusion inherently flawed. Her statements also hurt Rhys’s feelings, though he conceals it from her. When Vivi alters the distinctly dramatic Penhallow décor in Rhys’s house, so that it reflects something Rhys actually likes rather than the crest representing his fractured family, it occurs to Rhys that their relationship is not a mistake, even if it is messy at times. Rhys believes this so strongly because Vivi took the time to make even a small part of his house feel more like a home, and it was an act of kindness that reminds him how compatible they truly are.

The bedroom in Rhys’s house features a mural on the ceiling that depicts a scene from Greek mythology wherein Circe seduces Odysseus. There is some debate among scholars as to whether Circe’s parentage makes her a goddess or not; while Homer identifies her as a goddess in the Odyssey, other writings portray Circe as a witch. In the Odyssey, Circe uses enchanted wine to transform Odysseus’s men into pigs, but Hermes supplies Odysseus with a special flower that makes him immune to Circe’s magic. Odysseus draws his sword and forces Circe to restore his men, and as a reward for his bravery, Circe devotes herself to Odysseus. Several scholars have examined Circe’s portrayal as a femme fatale and her use of sexuality and magic to potentially disrupt social structures. It is noteworthy that a painting of this scene is in Rhys’s bedroom, as women like Circe, who lived without male authority, were branded as witches due to their anomalous role in society. Circe herself represents the capacity for femininity and female sexuality to shake the foundations of established social hierarchies. Circe is often depicted as taking on the active role in her sexual encounters, defying the “acceptable” dynamic in which the man is in charge. When Rhys and Vivi have sex, Vivi takes the active position on top of Rhys, which essentially puts her in charge of their intimacy—she sets the pace, and Rhys follows her lead. Vivi and Rhys’s relationship channels Circe’s disruptive energy, as they belong to separate “classes” of witch social hierarchy, and together they create a new avenue by which relations between witches occur.

These chapters also feature more tarot imagery, namely The Lovers and The Emperor. The Lovers represents decisions about an existing relationship, and often that decision leads to some aspect of the individual’s life being “sacrificed” to make a meaningful commitment to the relationship. More generally, The Lovers signifies falling in love, and it can also symbolize one’s journey of self-love. One may reasonably characterize Vivi’s journey of self-actualization as a journey reliant upon self-love. In order to embrace the witchy side of her life, she must learn how to love that part of herself. Similarly, Rhys has to “sacrifice” his aloof façade in order to become vulnerable and trusting, which is what the relationship ultimately needs from him. The Emperor represents security and stability in one’s life; the card typically signifies a strategic, logical thinker who applies strict principles and rules to a given situation. In a broader sense, The Emperor is an authority figure who represents law and order, power, leadership, and, at times, manipulation. The Emperor is often also seen as a fatherly figure, which aligns with the well-timed arrival of Simon Penhallow just as Rhys sees the card being drawn. Simon’s arrival marks the return of strict order in Rhys’s life, an order that Simon will inevitably seek to impose upon Vivi and her family.