As a bird lover, this image makes me heartsick, but that of course is what it is supposed to portray. It didn't surprise me much when this card turned up; I had been thinking about a relationship I've been tiptoeing around lately. It's one of those situations where you straddle a fence between what is real and what is pretend. The harm caused by the other party destroyed all my trust, and though I might forgive, I will not allow myself to be vulnerable again. Yet for a while now both of us have maintained this pretense where it appears we get along, perhaps so as not to upset other people to whom we are mutually connected. The cutting truth is this is a relationship beyond repair. The full moon in the background of this card suggests it is time to quit playing pretend and be honest, though it will cause pain to those who are innocent in this situation.
From the Cedar Runes comes "Mannaz:"
The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow;
~ Anglo-Saxon poem
The Anglo-Saxon verse about Mannaz (Mann) is so appropriate for the situation above. No matter what I do, no matter how I try to fix what is broken, I am simply human. I will fail in some areas and disappoint other people. And though I do believe I should treat all people with as much compassion as possible, I am not responsible for another person's happiness, just as he or she is not responsible for mine.