Me Too

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 Star and Stag:

Taking care of myself doesn't mean 'me first.' It means 'me, too.

― L.R. Knost

When I saw the Star card this morning, I had the thought "what is poured out will be returned." But pouring out - as in giving of ourselves in service - is different from being drained and squeezed dry. The Star shows Ursa Minor in the night sky, a 'dipper' for scooping or receiving. It is time for rest and healing, a time to be refilled not only physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. We must pause, reflect and listen to our inner wisdom and guidance that may have been ignored in our busyness. The Stag, which sheds its antlers in the autumn and regrows them in the spring, is a symbol of renewal and confidence as we make a new beginning. When we are whole again, our cup will naturally overflow.

Balance of Teachings and Tonic

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Mother (Queen) of Swords; from the Pictish Oracle, the Stag:

I don’t know the exact point in humans’ evolutionary history where a genetic mutation gave moms an extra set of eyes in the back of their heads, but it’s a given fact that they have them. ~ Jake Teeny

           This Mother/Queen does appear to have eyes in the back of her head, seeming to know what people are up to without being physically present. At first it's just to keep youngsters from killing themselves until their frontal lobes are more fully developed ("Do NOT jump off the roof onto that trampoline!"). Later it is to teach them them the importance of being impeccable with their word, the need for honesty and integrity. Her sharp perception and a belief in accountability have steered a few from crumbling cliffs. Yet at the other extreme is the Stag, a symbol of Cernunnos - the master of wild places and things. The Horned One was a symbol of fertility and renewal, but even he had limits. Just ask him about clear-cutting forests. 

We need the tonic of wildness...

― Henry David Thoreau

[Just take some common sense with you. ~Queen of Swords]

Direction not Doctrine

From the Wild Unknown Tarot, the Chariot; from the Pictish Oracle, the "Stag:"

The rays of the sun shine in all directions, suggesting energy and vitality in this card. In the Chariot, this could be a good thing if these are channeled in the right direction. It's like taking a kid to Toys R Us and telling them to pick out a toy - without any guidelines or suggestions. The kid has so many choices, he or she usually winds up sobbing hysterically because there is too much to choose from. The horse wears a pentacle around its neck and a crescent moon on its brow; both are touchstones of a sort. The pentacle is a nod to the High Priestess to stay in touch with the inner self and its guidance rather than be led hither and thither by the senses and emotions. The pentacle is also a guide to stay grounded and connected to what is practical and real. It is with such focus that goals will be met and progress made.
The Stag is a symbol of the wildness of the forest. Having drawn this rune with the Chariot suggests that I shouldn't get too caught up in the guidelines. It would be easy for such restrictions to become a cage, snuffing out my energy and enthusiasm. Diets are good examples - how likely are you to stick to a food plan for an extended period of time that tells you to never ever eat certain foods (allergies or moral issues aside)? For me, that horse would come up lame before we got a few miles down the road.