Something New

From the Anima Mundi Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Nature's Pharmacy Deck, Cranberry:

Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.

—Edward de Bono

The white banner behind this Ace of Wands seems to wave at us to get our attention. "Is anyone bored and restless? Then do something creative or new rather than rely on old, unhealthy habits for that edgy energy." There are so many possibilities we could try: find books at the library to learn something different; try out a new recipe; check YouTube for any low impact exercise videos to get moving; or do something artsy, whether that's painting, crafting, playing music or writing poetry. Cranberry is most often thought of as a side dish with turkey and dressing, but it is also well known for reducing the risk of urinary tract infections. It reminds us that doing new and creative things is good medicine for our mental and physical well-being.

Focused Target

This week I'll be using the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, created by Julia Jeffrey with Barbara Moore, and published by Llewellyn. I'll also be drawing from the Heart of Faerie Oracle created by Brian and Wendy Froud and published by Abrams. Today's cards are the Ace of Wands and the Hidden One:

Alertness is a wide scan of all possible incoming stimuli while focus is the narrowing of this scan on a very focused target. ―Kevin McGrew

With bright energy and whiskers quivering with anticipation, the red fox is a fitting symbol of the Ace of Wands. Shakespeare's words describe her well: "‘Though she be but little she is fierce." As she hunts for her supper, she reminds us to stay alert, wait for the right moment, then act with decisiveness. The Hidden One is sent by the faeries to those who aren't paying attention to their surroundings. Too often we're in our heads, fantasizing about how things are going to turn out before we even get started. Then we trip over the curb and land flat on our face. The fox would recommend staying connected to our senses even as we move towards our objective.

Lean Forward

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the State by State Cards, Utah (Seven of Hearts):

Lean forward into your life. Begin each day as if it were on purpose. 

–Mary Anne Radmacher

Salamanders like damp, dark places, so they often hide in log piles used for firewood. Because they scamper out when a fire is lit, people in older times thought they were born from fire (thus their association with this element). Though their fiery birth is a myth, the salamander's quick exit is an apt symbol for our movement when we're inspired to create or do something. Utah is known for its National Park of Arches, formed from sandstone by weathering and erosion. Over time, the same forces that created these arches will continue to widen them until they collapse. Likewise, the energy and enthusiasm from inspiration will also fade. As Bruce Garrabrandt cautioned, “Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.”

Giddy-Up

From the Buckland Romani Tarot, the Ace of Koshes (Wands); from the Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards, the Tree of Life:

Expectation, however, leads us into the agitation of hope and fear. When there is expectation, we’re hoping that something we want will happen and we fear that it won’t. 

~ Joseph Goldstein 

We may think that now is a good time to relax from all of our holiday festivities, but it looks like the Ace of Koshes (Wands) has a different idea for the start of 2025. It's time to get moving, not sit on our couches. People often make resolutions for the new year - a firm determination to do something differently. But such thinking usually creates expectations, and when they don't materialize, we give up on our goal. The Tree of Life is an archetype of all spiritual knowledge; it invites us to be accepting and patient as we travel our path. Rather than resolutions, we might create aspirations, which can inspire us and set a direction for us without an expected end result. If we find we have drifted off course, we can find our way back without shame.

Give the Reins to Reason

From the Ferret Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Praying Mantis:

Passion, though a bad regulator, is a powerful spring.

―Ralph Waldo Emerson

The things that inspire and excite us can move us from inaction to action. We become enthusiastically motivated to pursue dreams, to create what we've imagined and to follow what calls us. Yet Praying Mantis suggests we slow our roll and take stock of those we might unintentionally hurt in our eagerness. Are we taking resources that don't just belong to us? Have we discussed our plans with those they will affect? As Ben Frankin advised, "If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins."

Make Hay

From the Prairie Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Medicine Cards, Salmon:

When the sun shineth, make hay.

~John Heywood

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Wake up and get moving! The Ace of Wands is a sign that we've been inspired to create or motivated to act. But if we wait too long, our enthusiasm will begin to dissipate, and we'll start to second guess ourselves. If we're not sure how to begin, Salmon tells us to follow our inner nudges, just as it follows its way back to the waters of its birth. Start swimming and follow that inner knowing. 

Passionate Energy

From the Alchemical Tarot Renewed, the Ace of Wands; from the Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Impulsiveness (Mars in Aries):

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

~Oprah Winfrey

I've always felt that having something enjoyable to engage in helps make life meaningful. And a diverse group of friends can inspire us when we have some space to fill, especially if we're in the mood for something different. Nothing is like that feeling of excited anticipation when we begin a new project or endeavor. But the fiery combination of Mars in Aries warns of Impulsiveness. Our credit card might take a hit if we're so fueled with enthusiasm that we forget to be prudent. Start out slow instead and see if this hobby or interest sticks.

We Had No Idea

From the Brady Tarot, the Ace of Feathers (Wands); from the Citadel Oracle, the Hound:

We had no idea whatever that this would one day be applied to make hydrogen bombs. Our curiosity was just curiosity about the structure of the nucleus of the atom. ―Marcus Oliphant

Emi Brady states that inspiration is transforming, yet it can be channeled in ways that create or devastate. Mankind's curiosity has inspired all kinds of inventions, but rarely did any come with warning labels. Plastics, nuclear power, AI - all have made life easier but also more complicated and dangerous. The Hound suggests loyalty, but at a high cost - our freedom to act and think on our own. Whether we're the one who is inspired or the one who is being a support, critical thinking, close observation, and the courage to speak up are necessary tools to help prevent harmful consequences down the road. 

Logical consequences are the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men.

―Thomas Huxley

Add the Fuel

From the Spacious Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Phenomena Oracle, Wind:

No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.

~Plutarch

It only takes one match to start a fire, but we've got to quickly add fuel. That match will burn out otherwise, leaving behind only a vague scent of smoke. Although we might engage in some free association planning to fill out our idea, we still have to get moving if we want it to materialize. Wind is no friend to matches, seeming to blow them out as soon as they're struck. Cynical doubt can be the same way, trashing our creative nudges before they are brought to life. Questioning doubt may be helpful, as it looks for answers and solutions (even a fire needs fresh air). 

Follow that Light

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Tapestry Oracle, Discovery:

As you move toward a dream, the dream moves toward you.

― Julia Cameron

Whether it's a spiritual nudge to be of service or a creative nudge from our muse, inspiration can capture the mind like a fish in a net. Such strong visions and ideas are hard to resist, and we probably should just follow them. Like chasing a lightning bug down a dark path, we don't know exactly where we'll be led or what we'll stumble over along the way. But the Discovery card implies that there is something wonderful we could find that may have little to do with our objective. An unexpected treasure might be revealed - a new talent, friend or delight - just by simply following that light.  

Capable

This week I'll be using the Gill Tarot, created by Elizabeth Gill and published by U.S. Games. The oracle deck I'll be using with it is The Circle, created by D.R. Taylor and published by Versation Publishing. Today's draws are the Ace of Wands and Trust:

If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.

–Thomas Edison

This fiery Ace of Wands is given the keyword 'potency' - the measure of a thing's strength and effect. When we are given an opportunity to create or do something incredible and wonderful, our first reaction might be, "Wow, I'm honored but I think this is more than I can handle." We doubt ourselves and our abilities, envisioning a failure before we've even begun. Yet Trust suggests that not only do we have what it takes, we also have people who will be there to help us. We have more available resources than we originally thought.

 

The Clock is Ticking

From the Spacious Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Phenomena Oracle, Dew:

The spark ignited on this Ace of Wands tells me that my inkling of an idea has burst forth into an inspiration. But it's going to need oxygen (fleshing out some ideas) and some fuel (taking action) to stay alive. No new habit or practice, no new creation or opportunity, and no new friendships will find traction without them. I tend to be great with the plans and ideas part but not so much with the follow-through. Yet Dew, that lovely moisture of the early mornings, stresses that this inspiration has a time limit. 

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

~Ecclesiastes 11:4

A Bridge Across

From the Sacred India Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Land Sky Oracle, Kapalabhati Pranayama:

In the Ramayana, Prince Rama attempts to rescue his abducted wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, the ruler of  Lanka. But there is a great expanse of ocean between India and Lanka, with no way to for Rama and his allies to cross it. Yet monkeys managed to build a bridge of floating stones to do just that. This story illustrates how we often are given an opportunity to follow a passion or dream, but our mind creates excuses why it won't pan out. Kapalabhati, literally 'skull shining,' is a breathing technique said to bring clarity and energy. A slow, relaxed in-breath is followed by a forcible out-breath. In a like manner, before we trash a favorable chance to accomplish something, we may need to calm our self and release any out-dated or misinformed beliefs that might be get in our way.

Dragon Check

This week I'll be using Poppy Palin's Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot, published by Llewellyn, along with the 2nd edition of her companion book, Stories of the Wild Spirit, published by Slippery Jacks Press. I'll also be drawing from the Saltwater Reading Cards, created by Laura Bowen and published by Rockpool Publishing. Today's cards are Spark/Ace of Fire (Wands) and Crocodile:

As a mother and child gather dried branches, a father attempts to produce a spark by striking flint rocks. The Ace of Fire brings passionate inspiration that can motivate us to start something new. But - as anyone who's attempted primitive fire-making knows - it can take some tenacity to build a useful fire, no matter how much enthusiasm you have. It helps not to wait too long to begin, or our eagerness will fade and fail to supply the energy to persevere. Yet Crocodile appears to warn that there may be a hidden obstacle we need to be aware of, so we shouldn't jump in without being alert or prepared. As a teen, I shared a junker car with four step-siblings that we all used for work. I learned the hard way to always check the gas gauge before I took off anywhere. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near one."

Knowing is Not Enough

From the Neuzeit Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from Rory's Story Cubes, Minarets:

The leafy growth on this wand suggests an opportunity for action that could bring some beneficial results. There are three faces on this Ace of Wands that seem to represent the past, present and future. I can't do anything about the past, and though I might influence the future, that would require me taking action today. The Minarets die shows Islamic towers that serve as a call to prayer. They are a reminder not to put off what needs to be done or get distracted. In the words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do."

Working from Mystery

From the Dark Mansion Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from Miss Mai's Victorian Oracle, The Stranger:

Exploring the unknown requires tolerating uncertainty.

~Brian Greene

Against a fiery sky, a burly branch rises from a pedestal. It has no leafy growth because its potential has not been used and nurtured. Just as the Stranger card represents the unknown, there is a big question mark about what will happen if we engage with our creative inspiration. Will the results be beneficial and rewarding, or will our effort be for naught? We'll never know until we begin, letting go of the need to control every variable and refusing to have set-in-concrete expectations. Regardless of how the mystery unravels, we'll have an adventure ahead.

I think on some level, you do your best things when you're a little off-balance, a little scared. You've got to work from mystery, from wonder, from not knowing. 

~Willem Dafoe

Dips and Twists

This coming 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. As an additional resource, I'll be dipping into The Serpent and the Eagle by Chris Travers. Today's draws are the Ace of Spring (Wands) and As (Ansuz):

Work your way to the ending and see what comes up. ―Andy Weir

The kite in this Ace of Wands makes me think of all the dips, twists and turns it takes when rising high in the sky. Similarly, when we are inspired with an idea, our mind shoots all over the place. No wonder mind mapping (a visual diagram used for organization) has become popular. The excitement and enthusiasm that inspiration causes can make us want to pole vault from the starting line over to the finish line, but As/Ansuz asks us to pause. This rune has been translated as both 'mouth' and 'estuary,' both of which have things that flow from them. An estuary is a transition zone, a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with rivers or streams flowing into it as well as a connection to the open sea. This in-between place suggests that we should first spend time working on our ideas, seeing what is functional and what isn't, before we race off with a spark yelling 'fire!' 

Entrenchment

From the New Liminal Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Inward Oracle, Kapha:

          A salamander waits and watches from a rooted wand topped with a golden orb as flames lick up around it. The salamander's association with fire came from long ago; when wood from a stack was placed on a fire and salamanders (who were using the wood to hide in) scurried out, people thought they were born from fire. In Pen's illustration, I can almost see little salamander shapes appearing in the flames. No matter how inspired we get to create or change something, nothing happens until we feed that fire with action. Kapha is a dosha in Ayurveda. A dosha is a combination of elements (with one primary) believed to be responsible for a person's physiological, mental, and emotional health. Kapha is mostly earth with water being secondary. When in balance, Kapha people are strong, steady, patient and loving. When out of balance, they are stubborn and resistant to change. The roots on the salamander's wand suggest something has become too entrenched. What needs to be burned up in order for a new phase to begin and make progress? As John M. Keynes said, "The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones."

Don't Pull Down the Shade

From the Herbcrafter's Tarot, the Ace of Fire; from the Green Wheel Tarot, Hare:

          With its soft, flannel-like leaves, mullein might seem like a strange herb to use as the Ace of Fire/Wands. But in its second year, it produces a flowering stalk than can grow six to eight feet in height - quite an eye-catcher. Sometimes things must catch our eye to spark our interest. But once noticed, that spark can turn into desire that leads to taking a chance on something new. Yet as Tom Peters once said, "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." Those favorable circumstances won't last long. Hare, being a prey animal, is known for its speed and reproductive capacity. Get moving, it encourages. If you don't know what will work, throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. Then you'll know where to shine your focus.

Shaping the Day

From the Tarot of the Cat People, the Ace of Wands; from the Sacred Geometry Oracle, Cube:

          This Ace of Wands shows a firecat being birthed. I am reminded of how I have the opportunity to shape and form each day, as a potter at the wheel. I may not get to choose the type of clay I work with, but what I make of it is my doing alone. The Cube suggests the natural human response to each day is to smooth, settle and make things stable that are in flux. Yet it is impossible to set in concrete what I desire; each day's portion of clay must be shaped anew. 

as the moon sets

and the sun rises

may i begin my day

awake.

may i move through

each moment

mindfully

lightly

and with clarity.

a heart

bursting with love,

a mind

propped open,

may i shine

to lessen

the darkness

of

another being's

suffering.

~mary jane dodd