Flaws and All

This week I'll be using three decks, all created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and illustrated by Will Worthington. The Druidcraft Tarot and the Druid Plant Oracle were published by Connections; the Druid Animal Oracle was published by St. Martin's Press. I've combined the two oracles and will be using them as one deck. Today's draws are the Three of Cups and Poppy:

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

~ Lt. Col. John McCrae

The Three of Cups is a card celebrating friendship, connection, and camaraderie. Every summer my cousins and I gather at my mom's house to relax, have fun, and enjoy each other's company. We weren't sure what to do this year, but after getting tested for Covid-19 in advance, we felt it would be safe to gather. The isolation we'd endured beforehand only seemed to make our get-together a gift to be treasured more than usual. The Poppy became a symbol of remembrance as a result of Canadian surgeon John McCrae's poem. Serving the Allies in World War I, McCrae was struck by the bright poppy blooms on the broken ground where so many soldiers had fallen and penned "In Flander's Field." The poppy flower is a reminder of the transience of life and encourages me to love and appreciate those around me while I have the opportunity.

The Tough and the Tender

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the High Priest (Hierophant):

The High Priest is the High Priestess' counterpart. While she teaches that there is a wisdom hidden within, he believes it comes through external ways - having a mentor, studying traditional teachings, practicing skills or rituals, and being initiated into the group. Both styles require discipline, whether it is learning to listen beyond the ego or making a commitment to a course of study. The way of the High Priest however, offers the support of others. There is a sense of belonging and connection to a tradition. I've had a hard time joining groups in the past due to not being able to accept fundamentalism and inflexibility. But lately I've found there are small pockets of open-minded people who aren't rigid in their beliefs. This is my "tribe," and they are probably the closest I'll get to committing to anything even remotely organized.

From the Druid Plant Oracle comes the "Poppy:"

The poppy is a strange mix of toughness and tenderness. Their bright flowers bloom even in the summer heat, but try to use them as a cut flower and they fade quickly. They make me think of the silk poppies the veterans would give out on Memorial Day in remembrance of soldiers who were killed. This flower reminds me of the discipline required to be part of a group, especially if I truly join and don't just hang out at the fringes. I will need to make some commitment (the tough part), but I will also find friends and acquaintances to share my journey (the tender part).