Don't Take Mussolini's Advice

From the Greenwood Tarot, the Knight of Stones (Pentacles); from the Rune Cards, Beaver (Ior):

We become strong, I feel, when we have no friends upon whom to lean, or to look to for moral guidance. ~Benito Mussolini

Potter's Knight of Stones is represented by a wolf and the Pictish rendition of a wolf; in Gaelic, wolf is Mac Tire, meaning "Earth's Son." The Celts thought of the wolf as a guardian and guide (Cormac - the Irish King - was said to have been reared by wolves). As much as we like to think of ourselves as independent and self-sufficient, we all need guidance and support at various points in our life. Otherwise, we may end up like Mussolini who followed no one's suggestions but his own and plunged Italy and most of Europe into darkness. True mentors don't tell us right the path to take but hold up a light so that we can see what lies down each path. The rune Ior is represented by a beaver, an animal that spends its time on land and in water. It suggests fluidity, an ease and ability to move between different thoughts and responses. Rather than being locked into one mode, we are able to choose what is most skillful and beneficial in each situation.

Consider the Cost

  From the Tarot of Timeless Truth, the Seven of Cups:

This card is generally about making choices concerning what will help me find fulfillment.  After a stressful, sleepless night, my first thought would be to choose the cup that holds a sleeping pill that would knock me out for about 24 hours.  But I realize this solution wouldn't solve my problems, it would just keep me from dealing with them.  Vey, in her companion book, says to "consider the cost" when making such a decision.  Will it affect my integrity, health, relationships, or peace of mind?  I know those short-term bandaids will not heal the gaping wounds underneath.  I'm going to have to do some work with the spiritual tools I have, which means I'm in this for the long haul.

     From the Rune Cards comes "Beaver (Ior):"

Ior is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;

it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness.
~ Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

The beaver is known for its industriousness in building a sturdy home with constant vigilance to keep it in good shape.  The lodge is built in rivers with an underwater entrance; the den inside is above the water line and has two sections, one for drying off and one for a living area.  This card reminds me that everyone needs a place where they can relax, feel secure, and find comfort.  Such a shelter can allow me the time to rest and regain my strength so I can better weather the storms outside.