Leave Them Be

From the Anima Mundi Tarot, Temperance; from the Nature's Pharmacy deck, Witch hazel:

You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone. ―Marcus Aurelius

Wyreweden uses an azalea to illustrate her Temperance card, a shrub that is seen in nearly every yard and park in the southeast. Its eye-catching blooms occur early in the spring in colors of white, pink, red and purple. This ornamental prefers dappled sunlight rather than the extremes of sun or shade. Symbolically, it represents emotional evenness or equanimity. Due to its astringent and antiseptic properties, Witch hazel has been used for centuries to soothe minor skin irritations. This plant encourages us to soothe our emotional irritations rather than continue to inflame them with nonstop opinions, assumptions and judgments. We may find when we do that we're more the cause of our disturbance rather than the situation itself.

High Alert

From the Sheridan-Douglas Tarot, the Nine of Batons (Wands); from the Pages of Shustah, 'Witch Hazel:'

           This green man is a balance of stability and alertness in a stressful situation. He may have a calm demeanor, but his senses and instincts are on high alert. How does he keep from freaking out when the heat is on? The vine that wraps around him is rooted in the ground.While he waits, he stays present to what is currently in front of him rather than getting lost in any 'what if' stories in his head. Witch Hazel has a long history of use because of its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. The Mohegan tribe taught English settlers how to use the saplings to dowse for water. This card implies healing and suggests one's 'thirst' will eventually be quenched. There is work to be done now, but rest and refreshment are just around the corner. As the Masai Proverb reminds us, "There is no hill that never ends."

Use Your Noggin

From the Via Tarot, the Seven of Cups; from Nature's Pharmacy deck, Witch hazel:

          The woman at the top of the Seven of Cups is being held hostage by a dragon like creature. Subtitled the 'Lord of Debauch,' it could easily be known as the illusion of success and pleasure. You know how it is... We're stressed or worn out, so we succumb to a way that looks easier than another. We don't look more deeply because we don't want to know. If we did, we'd see without a doubt that we're about to engage in a behavior that goes against our principles. It's five minutes of elation followed by months or years or remorse. Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) shows up just in time, a plant known for it's astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. It shrinks things down (the ego) and cools things off (impulsive action). What I love about the plant besides its herbal value is its bright yellow, frilly flowers. Their color is symbolic of the intellect, a suggestion that I should use my head instead of being led by my desires.