Check the Context

This week I'll be using the Victorian Fairy Tarot, created by Lunaea Weatherstone with Gary A. Lippincott and published by Llewellyn. Paired with it will be the Haindl Rune Oracle, created by Hermann Haindl and published by U.S. Games. Today's cards are the King of Winter (Swords) and 'Odal (Othila):'

          Though he wears a serious but intent expression, this King seems like he's willing to listen before rushing to judgment. His sword is in its sheath rather than in his hand, suggesting that he's put aside his opinions in order to have a fair and open mind. Any attempt at emotional drama will get frozen before it has a chance to get started. The holly that decorates his throne represents foresight, the ability to see the later consequences of an action as well as the immediate ones. He will rule fairly and objectively, because he doesn't play favorites. Odal/Othila symbolizes hearth and home, even though the Nazis twisted its meaning into a symbol of their mythic Aryan past. Even today, it is used by white supremacists. Yet the  Anti-Defamation League reminds people to be careful in their assessment: "because it is part of the runic alphabet, the symbol can also be found in non-extremist contexts as well, especially runic writing and runestones used by non-racist pagans. Consequently, care should be taken to evaluate the symbol in the context in which it appears." Like the tree stumps that frame the sun, I need to separate outward appearances from the focus of a group or person. As this King would remind me, "Don't judge what's on the inside merely by the packaging it's wrapped in."