Healing Arrows

This week I'll be using the Greenwood Tarot, created by Chesca Potter and published by Thorsons. The oracle I'll be using is the Rune Cards, created by Tony Linsell and Brian Partridge and published by Anglo-Saxon Books. Today's draws are the Nine of Arrows (Swords) and Oak/Ac:

Based on paintings found in the caves of France, there is speculation that the hunting bow may have been used as a musical instrument from as early as 13,000 B.C. In Potter's drawing, a woman uses her bow as a healing, musical instrument rather than a weapon. The Anglo-Saxon poem for the rune for Oak (Ac) speaks of this tree with much respect as it feeds the pigs which provide meat for men and it provides the wood to make their boats. Thus it represented usefulness and potential power. Together, both of these cards remind me of a quote by Pema Chodron: "If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it's fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there's an arrow in your heart and to relate to that wound." In other words, we drop our story line and look beneath it to see what is creating our anger or fear. We tend to our wounded heart rather than trying to battle reality.

Enjoying and Enduring

From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Six of Cups:

We won't be sad, we'll be glad

For all the life we've had

And we'll remember when

~ Alan Jackson

It's funny that the older people get, the more they seem to use the phrase "remember when." In my case, my school years and young adult life were filled with struggle and pain, some self-inflicted but a great deal not. Instead of feeling nostalgic about times past, I tend to lean more toward's Bill Wilson's statement: "We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." It can be easy to remember with blinders on, seeing only hurt, shame and self-destructive behavior. Yet there were good times too, if I'm honest with myself. This card reminds me to bring balance to my views of the past and the present. To borrow Charles Dickens' words, my timeline will show both "the spring of hope" as well as the "winter of despair." If I were to do a survey, I imagine everyone else would agree their histories show the same emotional ups and downs.

From the Rune Cards this morning comes "Oak / Ac:"

The limb and cavity shown in this image reminded me of the water oaks we have in abundance here. They often drop limbs and  have sections of heart wood rotted out by fungus or disease. Yet they continue to produce massive amounts of acorns for birds, squirrels and other wildlife as well as provide homes for them. The rune "Ac" is often said to represent strength, but it is more accurate to say it symbolizes endurance. It means not yielding or crumpling no matter what fate throws in the path. As I combine the meaning of these two cards, it's easy to see they remind me that I'm still standing and living life. What kind of attitude I have while I both enjoy and endure it will be up to me.

Requirements of Love

  From the Touchstone Tarot, the Two of Cups:

Regardless of how much I think I have in common with someone, there will always be differences.  Here the male and female figures emphasize finding harmony even though there may be divergent opinions and ideas.  Does this partnership bring me joy (as shown by the two dolphins in the background), or does it bring me only sorrow?  Must I compromise my integrity in this relationship, or is there a sense of respect for each other's ethics and boundaries?  I prefer peace and accord, and I can bend and shape my opinions if needed.  But I must make sure I do not make malleable those parts of me that are important.  True love won't require that of me.

     From the Rune Cards comes the "Oak/Ac:"

The oak on earth to the sons of men is food for flesh.
It often fares over the gannet's bath, and there the ocean
tests whether the oak honours the trust we place in it.

What impresses me about this oak is that even though it's dropped a huge limb, it's still producing a crop of acorns.  This rune does not deal with strength as much as it does endurance (think of a charging buffalo as opposed to a mountain).  No relationship is worth hanging onto if it can't persevere through a few stormy seas.  If it's a worthy alliance, weathering such problems will only make it stronger.