The Untrained

From the Greenwood Tarot, Balance (Temperance); from the Rune Cards, Oak (Ac):

Discipline is not the enemy of spontaneity but rather its foundation. Without discipline, our actions are dictated by fleeting impulses, external influences, and the whims of an untrained mind.

—Raffaello Palandri

Potter's Temperance shows a blending of dualities that creates someone who is grounded and at one with themselves. This card is not meant to rain on our parade or take away our fun. But it does ask us to consider what is pulling on our leash, what is driving our extremes in thought or behavior. The problem with extremes is that they always pour kerosene on the bonfire - we find neither peace nor contentment. Oak's rune poem reads: 

The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.

Often it traverses the gannet's bath,

and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith

in honorable fashion. 

 

The poem praises the oak for what it offers, yet note the last line about the ocean. It refers to the oak's strength being tested by the ocean when it is used in the building of ships. We need inner strength to resist the pull on our leashes, to develop the freedom to choose rather than simply follow our impulses.

Uncompromising to Clarity

This week I'll be using the RainShadow Tarot, created and self-published by Claire Mack. I'll also be using the Liminal Spirits Oracle, created by Laura Tempest Zakroff and published by Llewellyn. Today's draws are the Moon and Oak:

One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.

― Aldous Huxley

B.F. Skinner taught that we are conditioned through reward or punishment for certain ideas and actions. Soon our responses become channeled automatically. But when regularly fed new information and evidence, a part of our mind might rebel - showing up in random thoughts, dreams, or slips of the tongue. We may feel confused about what to do as we consider other options. The woman who believed it was sinful to leave her emotionally abusive husband begins googling divorce attorneys. No longer submerged, we seek to hitch our wagon to our own star. The Oak's wood is known for its strength and durability. When we begin a course change, fear and guilt may cause us to question our decision. Oak reminds us that our inner wisdom is deeply rooted and worth the price of following.

Energy Expense

From the Ferret Tarot, the Eight of Wands; from the Nature's Wisdom Oracle, Oak:

Scientists call them FRAPs (Frenetic Random Activity Periods), but pet owners know them as the 'zoomies' - times when our four-footed companions make laps around the house like NASCAR drivers. Ferrets (who always seem to have energy when awake) are not immune, running, jumping, and twisting in the air. Oak has wood that is dense and durable, but the tree itself is impressive as well. Their roots generally lie only 18 inches under the soil, yet they may spread four to seven times the width of the tree's crown. The strength and stability of Oak suggest we prepare for the energy expense we'll need ahead - eat healthy, get enough rest and don't sweat the small stuff.

Healing Arrows

This week I'll be using the Greenwood Tarot, created by Chesca Potter and published by Thorsons. The oracle I'll be using is the Rune Cards, created by Tony Linsell and Brian Partridge and published by Anglo-Saxon Books. Today's draws are the Nine of Arrows (Swords) and Oak/Ac:

Based on paintings found in the caves of France, there is speculation that the hunting bow may have been used as a musical instrument from as early as 13,000 B.C. In Potter's drawing, a woman uses her bow as a healing, musical instrument rather than a weapon. The Anglo-Saxon poem for the rune for Oak (Ac) speaks of this tree with much respect as it feeds the pigs which provide meat for men and it provides the wood to make their boats. Thus it represented usefulness and potential power. Together, both of these cards remind me of a quote by Pema Chodron: "If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it's fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there's an arrow in your heart and to relate to that wound." In other words, we drop our story line and look beneath it to see what is creating our anger or fear. We tend to our wounded heart rather than trying to battle reality.

Use What You've Got

From the Anna K. Tarot, Temperance:

In Klaffinger's version of Temperance, there is no blending of liquids only a strong nod to balance. The woman's bowls of water are equally filled, and there is no hint of the three "Es" here: excess, exaggeration, or extremes. Can you imagine what her load would be like if she had a full 5 gallon bucket on one end and a thimbleful of water on the other? She would be struggling to make it up those steps, and it is likely both would tip over and lose their contents. So what is the alternative? The three "Ss:" simplicity, straightforwardness, and self-discipline.

From the Green Man Tree Oracle comes "Oak - Duir (Dair):"

Anyone who's ever done any building or woodworking can attest to the keywords most often associated with this tree - strength and endurance. Though we all tend to emphasize our weaknesses, I think everyone has areas where they shine. The Oak implies that my strengths (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually) are how I can help keep things in balance. It suggests I use what I've got to do what I'm good at doing.

Enjoying and Enduring

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

We won't be sad, we'll be glad

For all the life we've had

And we'll remember when

~ Alan Jackson

It's funny that the older people get, the more they seem to use the phrase "remember when." In my case, my school years and young adult life were filled with struggle and pain, some self-inflicted but a great deal not. Instead of feeling nostalgic about times past, I tend to lean more toward's Bill Wilson's statement: "We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." It can be easy to remember with blinders on, seeing only hurt, shame and self-destructive behavior. Yet there were good times too, if I'm honest with myself. This card reminds me to bring balance to my views of the past and the present. To borrow Charles Dickens' words, my timeline will show both "the spring of hope" as well as the "winter of despair." If I were to do a survey, I imagine everyone else would agree their histories show the same emotional ups and downs.

From the Rune Cards this morning comes "Oak / Ac:"

The limb and cavity shown in this image reminded me of the water oaks we have in abundance here. They often drop limbs and  have sections of heart wood rotted out by fungus or disease. Yet they continue to produce massive amounts of acorns for birds, squirrels and other wildlife as well as provide homes for them. The rune "Ac" is often said to represent strength, but it is more accurate to say it symbolizes endurance. It means not yielding or crumpling no matter what fate throws in the path. As I combine the meaning of these two cards, it's easy to see they remind me that I'm still standing and living life. What kind of attitude I have while I both enjoy and endure it will be up to me.

Requirements of Love

  From the Touchstone Tarot, the Two of Cups:

Regardless of how much I think I have in common with someone, there will always be differences.  Here the male and female figures emphasize finding harmony even though there may be divergent opinions and ideas.  Does this partnership bring me joy (as shown by the two dolphins in the background), or does it bring me only sorrow?  Must I compromise my integrity in this relationship, or is there a sense of respect for each other's ethics and boundaries?  I prefer peace and accord, and I can bend and shape my opinions if needed.  But I must make sure I do not make malleable those parts of me that are important.  True love won't require that of me.

     From the Rune Cards comes the "Oak/Ac:"

The oak on earth to the sons of men is food for flesh.
It often fares over the gannet's bath, and there the ocean
tests whether the oak honours the trust we place in it.

What impresses me about this oak is that even though it's dropped a huge limb, it's still producing a crop of acorns.  This rune does not deal with strength as much as it does endurance (think of a charging buffalo as opposed to a mountain).  No relationship is worth hanging onto if it can't persevere through a few stormy seas.  If it's a worthy alliance, weathering such problems will only make it stronger.