Growl with Claws Retracted

This week I'll be using the Fairytale Tarot, a deck and book set published by Magic Realist Press and created by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov. Today's draw is the Queen of Wands:

Since both the RWS and the Thoth decks include a cat in their depictions of this queen, it seems natural that the Fairytale deck uses a story about a cat. Kit, the feline, saves a princess from certain death at the hands of a troll. When they both return safely home, the cat turns into a princess herself. For me, the cat represents the passion within the princess; it urges her to fight for her life and for what she loves. I think all of us have this burning ember within us, and I am advised to fan it into a flame to protect and nurture what is important to me.

The oracle deck I'll be using this week is the Tree Affirmation Cards created and self-published by Victoria Sofia Lewis. This morning's draw is the "Pendiculate Oak:"

I face my difficulties with courage and open my heart to compassion.

I don't know about you, but when I am facing a battle or challenge, I find it quite hard to be compassionate to the other party involved. As an example: the other evening I found a group of parents from the ball park standing in my yard smoking (which they don't allow at the ball park). I asked them not to smoke in my yard, and one of the women glared and said, "Where do you want us to smoke? Out in the street?" I told her that would be great. Had I been in possession of a high-powered fire hose, I would have turned it on all of them, sending them into the next county if possible. When I have such thoughts, I try to remember a quote by Ram Dass, “We're all just walking each other home.” Some of us are a little more lost as we wander on our journeys, and while I don't need to let anyone leave tread marks on my face, a little compassion added to my passion can go a long way.