Real Security

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Four of Earth (Pentacles); from the Ascension to Paradise Cards, the Hornbill:

If money is your hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. ―Henry Ford

The Four of Earth (Pentacles) represents security, not from a tight grip on our money and possessions, but from the result of learning skills and working hard. Being diligent, capable and willing to add to our knowledge keeps us resilient when changes occur. Hornbills are known for having a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly colored and a horny casque (A hard structure resembling a helmet). Their 'helmet' suggests we protect our stability by continuing to update our knowledge and skill set rather than be complacent. 

Valor Doesn't Need Bling

This week I'll be using the Rosetta Tarot along with its companion book The Book of Seshet. This set was created by M.M. Meleen and published by Atu House. The oracle deck I'll be using is Ascension to Paradise, a book and deck set created by Jane Toerien and Joyce van Dobben and published by Binkey Kok. Today's draws are the Seven of Wands and "Hornbill:"

I'm waiting for the doctor's office to open this morning so I can tell them the antibiotic that made me feel better (that I'm supposed to take for 8 more days) has now made me sicker than I was to begin with. As I look at Meleen's version of the Seven of Wands, I see six artistically designed and detailed rods, and one crude wood one in front. That's kind of how I feel today; I tend to feel "less than" when I deal with people who I think have more power, knowledge, money or authority than I do. Yet the Thoth title of this card is "Valor." In other words, I need to buck up and build a backbone. After all, it is my body we're talking about.
The Hornbill is a large bird given its name because of the shape of its beak. When a female lays her eggs, she stays inside while the male plasters the structure around her. He leaves only an opening big enough for her hooked bill to protrude through. Once it hardens, it offers excellent protection from predators for the developing birds inside. The Hornbill's message is one of defense; the assertiveness of the Seven of Wands has nothing to do with "winning," but with guarding. My rights are important, no matter what my inner whiner tells me.