Don't Expect It to be Easy...

This week I'll be using the Wildwood Tarot, created by the writing efforts of Mark Ryan and John Matthews, and illustrated by Will Worthington. Today's draw is the Nine of Bows (Wands):

In legends and lore, the hero or heroine must always face a great challenge, not just to prove how tough they are, but to see if their heart is truly committed to this quest. In this Nine of Wands is the Woodwose, a large and hairy wildman of the forest, who has come to see if I have the courage and determination to reach my goal. Will I earn his respect and be allowed to pass, or will I whine and complain about how life isn't fair and give up? Perhaps if I can maintain my sense of humor and realize that such trials happen to everyone, I'll soon find that sunny spot where I can let down my guard and rest.

The other deck I'll be using is the Shaman's Oracle, created by John Matthews and Wil Kinghan. Today's card is the "Spirit of Love:"

The image on this cave wall looks as if someone rolled flower petals into balls and used them to create a figure with its arms open in acceptance. I am reminded by this spirit that feeling forced to do something out of fear will only create anger and frustration, but acting from love creates respect and kindness. Love doesn't mean I can't have boundaries (such as you might impose on a child), but even those can originate from the heart. As I work toward my goal, I imagine my challenges will be met and resolved much easier through an attitude of love.