Pledge Allegiance

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Seven of Wands; from the Druid Animal Oracle, the Dog:

Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?

―Charles Bukowski

This fellow is energetically asserting himself against those who would like to knock him from his perch. Goals take a lot of mental willpower and physical effort, but above all, they require us to stand up to our challengers and challenges. It's easy to evolve into the person who always asks "What should I do - what do you want me to do?" Instead we can look within, discover our own values and dreams, and pursue what we feel led to do. The Dog is a symbol of guidance, protection and loyalty. Yet the person we often let down the most is ourselves. Don't we deserve our own allegiance?

A Question of Loyalty

From the Navigators of the Mystic Sea comes the Knight of Swords; from the Celtic Lenormand, the Dog:

         The keyword 'penetration' has been assigned this knight, though he seems to have lost his sword and some of his armor. Or is he dropping these things on purpose? He could be a whistle-blower or someone who could no longer stand for ongoing dishonesty or injustice to continue. Being willing to speak the truth does make him vulnerable. Such people must often penetrate the walls of silence that established groups seem to form to protect themselves. They could be cops who come forth about unnecessary violence, Catholics who speak out about pedophiles, and political party members who realize their stance does more harm than good. As can be seen from the Dog, these folks have their loyalty questioned. They may suffer and pay dearly for speaking out and exposing the group as a whole. But perhaps these Knights are faithful to humanity as a whole and not one specific group.

Supporting Initiative

From the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Ace of Staves; from the Viking Lenormand, the Dog:

          Jackson describes the Ace of Staves as 'swift initiative.' Just for the heck of it, I looked up 'initiative' on Thesaurus.com to see what other words were similar: drive, push, enthusiasm, eagerness, enterprise, inventiveness and spunk. Those words represent my feelings when I have a great idea or insight and want to put it into form. But before taking action, one of the first things I do is share my thoughts with those who are supportive yet honest with me - my friends (the loyal Dog of Lenormand). There is a line in the children's book Charlotte's Web where Wilbur (the pig) asks Charlotte (the spider) why she went to so much trouble to help him. She replies, "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing." What a tremendous gift indeed is friendship, and one that helps me thrive and grow in a world that is often a hard taskmaster. In the words of Anaïs Nin, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." To all my friends, both old and new, close by and far away, I offer up a sincere 'thank you.'

The Devil and the Dog

This week I'll be using the Tyldwick Tarot, created and self-published by Neil Lovell. I'll also be using the Antiquarian Lenormand, created and self-published by Maree Bento. Today's draws are the Devil and the "Dog:"

          The Devil made me do it? Uh... no. See the mirror with the goat head at the top? That's a big clue that whatever is going on with me is an issue that has nothing to do with demons taking over my mind and body. I'm the problem, not some external force. My fear, sadness or anger can keep me from placing candles in that sconce and lighting a fire in the hearth so I can take a closer, clearer look. I woke up feeling restless and irritable this morning; it's hard to blame that on anything or anyone when the day hasn't even started.
          I miss having a dog (though we still have two cats). Whatever you want to do, they want to do as long as they can be with you. Loyal, loving and protective, they are some of the most devoted pets. The Lenormand Dog nuzzles my hand to encourage me to remain kind and trustworthy with my family, friends and acquaintances no matter what my mood. I don't want to wind up in the doghouse by making some careless, snappy remark. And if I turn that same love and kindness on myself, I might just discover what's underneath my prickliness.

Snake Oil Salesman

From the Revised New Art Tarot, the Hierophant; from the Viking Lenormand, the "Dog:"

          The two monks groveling at the feet of the high priest make my skin crawl. The smug expression on his face doesn't help any either. Beside the priest is a pentagram; this symbol was said to have been used by followers of Pythagoras to make themselves known to each other. They called the sign hugieia, meaning 'health' or 'wholeness.' Is that what the high priest is peddling to them? I notice he has a veil behind him like the high priestess, but unlike her you have to play by his rules to have access. As with all groups, conformity is expected to some degree. The Dog in Lenormand represents loyalty, trust and guardianship. The Ten of Hearts indicates the motivation behind this faithfulness is great love. The high priest is on a pedestal, both literally and metaphorically. Does such heartfelt devotion make you blind to truth and reality?  Okay boy, bark once for yes and twice for no...