What Went Wrong

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Ace of Pentacles; from the Pictish Oracle, the Crescent and V-rod:

You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life.

—Jane Hirshfield

At first, it appears to be simply a stump in this Ace, but then we notice the sprouts. Many deciduous trees can regrow from a stump or roots because their root systems remain alive. Likewise, we may try and fail at some endeavor, seeing just the stump and thinking we should just cut our losses. But rather than focusing on our failure, we can employ one of our greatest resources: learning what went wrong so we can do things differently if we try again. It has been suggested that the Crescent and V-rod image represent a kind of seasonal sundial. As such, it symbolizes preparation, pace and right timing. The red center of the Ace's stump hints that we need to start from the beginning instead of trying to save time by using what was done before. Begin again - this time with more wisdom.

It's Much Larger

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Star; from the Pictish Oracle, Crescent and V-rod:

We often look at our lives (and concretize how they're supposed to work out) like we might pick out a constellation from the night sky. "Yes," we say, "I'll have Orion but pass on the Big Dipper." The irony is that there is no solidity to any constellation, they are simply a pattern of stars that humans named. There are no lines that connect those billions of stars. Likewise, there innumerable possibilities and conditions involved in our own trajectory. A simple shift in effort, attitude or thinking can be like taking our eye away from the telescope and seeing from a much wider perspective. We don't have to settle for just one pattern. There is evidence that the Crescent and V-rod symbol referred to a seasonal sundial, something akin to a farmer's almanac. While we watch for outward chances, we must not forget the inner changes or harbor expectations. As Joseph B. Wirthlin wrote, "Those who stand at the threshold of life always waiting for the right time to change are like the man who stands at the bank of a river waiting for the water to pass so he can cross on dry land."

Feathered Nest

From the Wild Unknown, the Nine of Pentacles; from the Pictish Oracle, the Crescent and V-rod:

          The four feathers around these pentacles bring to mind the idiom 'feathering one's nest.' Birds tend to line their nests with feathers to make them warm and cozy for eggs and hatchlings. Borrowing from their habit, this phrase has come to mean enriching one's life or preparing for retirement (both a product of discipline and hard work). The Crescent and V-rod has been found 32 times on stones; it has been suggested as a symbol of a seasonal sundial or a kind of farmer's almanac. It implies right timing and preparation, a fitting complement for the Nine of Pentacles. Yet in the age of Covid-19, both these draws have taken on other facets too: wellness, comfort, safety and planning.

The time is not always now for everything.

― Ava Richardson

Barrier Test

This week I'll be using the Wild Unknown Tarot, created and self-published by Kim Krans. I'll also being using the Pictish Oracle, created by myself and brought to life in 3-D form by Alaska Laser Maid on Etsy. Today's draws are the Seven of Swords and the Crescent and V-rod:

          You almost don't notice it at first - that seventh sword tucked beneath the fox's tail. He might pretend to be asleep, but he's keeping a watchful eye out. Is he playing a defensive or offensive game? He obviously has information or an idea that could be used in either way. Yet he's content to rest instead of attacking, which makes me think he's keeping a secret tucked away for a purpose that involves self-protection. The Crescent and V-rod symbol appear approximately 32 times on Class I stones that have been inscribed by the Picts. Though many have guessed its meaning to range from death to weather magic, J.N. Bellchamber makes a good argument for it representing a seasonal sundial - a sort of farmer's almanac. Added to the Seven of Swords card above, the tile seems to encourage a calmness that would lend itself to right timing. Information used as gossip or character assassination is its impulsive form; used with mindfulness and compassion, it may be helpful rather than harmful.

Yogic tradition has it that speech must pass before three barriers prior to being uttered aloud. These barriers come in the form of three questions: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

― Prem Prakash

The Force of Friction

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Ace of Wands:

Potter calls this card the "Spark of Life" and illustrates it with a bow drill. This tool was an ancient way to start a fire by using friction to convert kinetic energy into heat. Friction is simply a force that holds back the movement of a sliding object. Think of the physical resources you might have at hand - these would be represented by the stable surface (or the base board of the bow drill). Then we have our creative ideas and inspirations, which are the sliding object (or the rotating shaft of the bow drill). Add the two together, and we will have enough heat to motivate us to action. What will you do with the sparks you generate today?

From the Pictish Oracle comes the tile "Crescent and V-rod:"

It is interesting how this symbol and the card above resemble each other. The Crescent and V-rod appear approximately 32 times on Class I stones, indicating its importance to the Pictish people. Experts have suggested a wide range of theories about its meaning, from death to weather magic. However, Jason N. Bellchamber makes a compelling argument that it may have been used as a seasonal sundial or farmer's almanac. As such, I've assigned the keywords "right timing, pace, schedule, and preparation" to this symbol. In applying these ideas to the card above, I instantly think of how quickly you must act once an ember is created by the bow drill. It is carefully placed in a tinder bundle and then coaxed into a flame. As the flame grows, twigs and then branches can be added. The message from this combination today is to move into action, but do so at a slow, patient pace. What I want to create must be nurtured, rather than rushed into being.