Tightening Saddle Belts

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, Strength; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Kiwi:

Rather than a lion, Williams uses a donkey for his Strength card. Unfortunately for the jester attempting to ride him, he's forgotten to buckle and tighten the saddle belt. As someone who once was on a galloping horse when the saddle slipped, I can affirm it can be a memorable experience. In a card that denotes courage as well as compassion and tolerance, that saddle belt suggests self-restraint. If we want to be the captain of our fate, we'd better learn to control our own rudder and sails. Learning to feel what we feel without a knee-jerk reaction takes intentional practice. The Kiwi suggests it might also require courage. This flightless bird, known as the hermit of the forest floor, is about the size of a chicken yet lays an egg that is 20 percent her body weight. The kiwi has very strong, muscular legs that are used for running and defense. Added to the Strength card, courage implies grace under pressure, to remain focused rather than intoxicated with emotion. Such clarity helps us choose the right words and actions with careful consideration.

Art by Hannah Willow

Wishing everyone hearts full of warmth, wonder and peace this holiday.

Dedication with Daring

From the Ship of Fools Tarot, the Knight of Coins; from the Wisdom of the Four Winds, Kiwi:

          I was curious about the crowned pig this knight rides; the original illustration shows the sow with a bell around its neck. After doing some investigative research, I found out this was a "tantony pig." These runts of the litter were donated to the hospital built by St. Anthony the Abbot, a prominent figure among the Desert Fathers. Identified by the bell around their necks (the monks who ran the hospital were "bell-ringers" when asking for donations), they were allowed to run free and forage on what they could find; it was considered an act of charity to feed them. The whole idea of physically donating and caring for something (both the pigs and the hospital) in order to help the community as a whole reminds me of this responsible and loyal knight. He asks me, "What are you dedicating your energy and resources toward, and who benefits?"
          Kiwis are shy and nocturnal. Being a flightless bird, it digs burrows instead of having a nest. It lays the largest egg in relation to body size than any bird in the world. These unique traits explain Brailsford's choice of the keyword 'courage' for this animal: "Dare to be different; that makes the difference." The combination of these cards reminded me of how the current generations have a fear of poverty and operate from a sense of lack. It does take courage to open one's heart and share one's resources (whether time, energy or money) without being threatened by not having enough.