To Know, To Live

From the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, the Hermit; from the Heart of Faerie, the Green Woman:

 I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

~ Henry D. Thoreau

          Living in nature with only the bare essentials has a way of clearing away the cobwebs. We learn that things are born and things die, that life is always moving and in flux. Actions have consequences; what we plant will grow and produce fruit, whether it is welcomed or not. It's easy to follow an old path through the woods, but more difficult to make a new one - just as it is with behaviors we repeat or try to change. Yet the soulsearching of the Hermit is not meant to depress or shame us, but to encourage us to live more skillfully and compassionately. The gentle, creative energy of the Green Woman would recognize Thoreau's longing. She reminds us that while we are all creatures subject to the laws of nature, today is a good day to LIVE.

Let's Get Crackin'

From the Wayfarer Tarot, the King of Fire (Wands); from the Curious Oracle, Green Woman (Nature):

          "Let's get crackin', this is happening, and no one's napping until we're done." This King, standing on a hill as he supervises his latest project, likes to create and construct. His favorite part of the process is seeing the completion of his vision - he believes in having a timetable and doesn't approve of slackers. He'd heartily agree with Pearl Buck: "I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that." Yet the Green Woman card is an admonition for moving at the pace of Nature. Humans aren't machines and projects rarely get finished without a few snafus along the way. People need time for rest and play to be productive, which will also give their minds a chance to unwind and come up with some solutions without being hampered by stress.

Slowly Savoring

This week I'll be using the Fairy Lights Tarot created by Lucia Mattioli and published by Lo Scarabeo. This morning's draw is the Hermit:

Under starry skies, an aged man slowly makes his way along a forest path. The booklet that comes with this deck encourages the querent to "retreat into silence and study to deepen your comprehension of the Universe." The rounded back of this elder reminded me of a snail, and indicates the understanding I seek must be achieved at a snail's pace. No weekend workshop will do; I must take my time as I learn and reflect, or else I might miss out on something important. The way he watches the ground closely as he moves along tells me that the wisdom I seek is right under my nose, rather than far off in the heavens. Though an exotic trip might be nice, it's not necessary.

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Heart of Faerie, created by Brian and Wendy Froud and published by Abrams. Today's card is the "Green Woman:"

I recognize that look of serene pleasure; it's the same expression on my face when it is chilly and I suddenly feel the warm rays of the sun (or when it's hot and I feel a gentle breeze). The Green Woman is the other side of the coin from the Green Man. While he is the raging river rapids, she is the trickling stream; while he is the mighty oak, she is the fragile wildflower. She balances his "wow" factor with gentle beauty. I think the combined message of the Hermit and Green Woman deals with the personal study I've decided to undertake. Both cards tell me to go slowly and savor the details. The Green Woman reminds me that I don't need every book on the subject - a few good ones should suffice. This exploration is supposed to be enjoyable, not a grueling challenge.

Take a Breath and Keep Swimming

  From the Tarot of the Secret Forest, the Moon:

Two moth-like beings stare at the full moon as if spellbound.  This card reminds me that there at times when I can come under the influence of certain people, places or things that cause me to act in ways I wouldn't normally behave.  Like a drug, they skew my perceptions and cloud my ability to make discerning choices.  Of course the first task for me is to recognize how my thoughts are being manipulated, then I can work on my emotional sobriety.  When I move out from under their realm of influence, it feels like that first gulp of air after being underwater too long...

     From the Faeries' Oracle comes the "Green Woman:"

This fairy reminds me that I must grow or die - I cannot stand still.  Complacency, apathy and self-pity are not my friends; they can lead me into a dark tunnel from which I might never emerge.  My life will never be a freshly plowed, fertile field with perfect weather and no stones or weeds to deal with.  The Green Woman teaches me to make the best of what comes my way, with patience and perseverance.  And a quirky sense of humor can't hurt either...