Wild vs. Civilized

From the Druidcraft Tarot, Strength; from the Druid Animal, "Cow:"

          The book for the Druidcraft describes the Strength card as "the meeting between the wild and civilized selves." Looking at both draws today, that's exactly what I see - the wild boar and the domesticated cow. The woman's sword is lying in the grass; she obviously knows her inner beast well enough not to have it in hand when it makes an appearance. Though the boar is behind her, her hand rests on its back. Awareness of its presence is half the battle in not allowing it to take control. Instead, she channels its energy into the shape of the cow - who doesn't exactly look meek either. The purpose of civilizing my beast is not to take away my power and courage, but to channel it in beneficial ways. I can keep my horns as long as I don't use them to gore anyone.

It's Long, But It's Right

From the Druidcraft Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Druid Plant Oracle, "Vervain:"

          If these three saplings were peach or pecan trees planted by a farmer, he would be very happy to see healthy, green shoots appearing at the tips. But this fellow doesn't seem to be paying much attention to them; he's staring off into the distance at the road. Is he wondering how long this road to success may be? Maybe he's waiting for supplies to help the trees grow, or even more saplings to plant. But things are in such an early stage, I would suggest he pay more attention to those growing trees than what the future holds.
          Vervain (Verbena officinalis) isn't a native plant here in North America, but it has been introduced. The Pawnee have embraced it as an enhancer for entheogens - substances used in a religious, shamanic or spiritual context. That bit of information made me think of an item on a list that David Cain of Raptitude sent out: "Learn the difference between something that makes you feel bad, and something that’s wrong. A thing can feel bad and be right, and it can feel good and be wrong." It is easy to get excited about progress and want to take short-cuts to get there. Buddhism however suggests we should focus on "Right Action," meaning to act with mindfulness and kindness rather than self-centeredness. That road might be longer, but at least it won't be full of regrets later.

Wonder-working Medicine

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 Six of Cups and "Chamomile:"

          If I sit and watch kids, from tots to teens, I almost always end up reflecting on some memory. The Druidcraft book makes an important point: "At the level of the heart, linear time ceases to exist. The mind uses linear time to break up experience into past and present, but in the heart there is pure feeling which is not bounded by time." Over the past couple of decades, there has been a push for people to dig through their dysfunctional family histories. Now I agree that shining the light in those dark corners is more helpful than trying to hide them. But there is more than just pain and trauma in the past; good experiences can be found too.
          I've had a busy weekend filled with friends and family. I've relied on my herbal Yogi tea (with chamomile) to relax, not necessarily because I'm stressed, but to help me unwind from all the energy and excitement. This herb represents a break taken to rest and renew oneself. Body, mind and spirit will all be stronger if I squeeze in some time to pause and relax. I can't help thinking that reflecting back on good memories would be therapeutic as well. Gratitude is one medicine that always works wonders.

Lopping Off Relationships

From the Deck of the Bastard, the Four of Pentacles; from the Marseille Oracle, "Troubles:"

          Like the fellow in the RWS Four of Swords, this king has found a place of solitude, away from people. But in the Four of Pentacles, the king seeks stability and security of his resources: time, energy, health and finances. Yet he seems to be over-protective almost to the point of paranoia. Time to get practical and look at the facts (reality) rather than assumptions or fears.
          The Marseille Oracle image shows a framed bow saw; the frame allowed the use of thinner blades often needed to make curved cuts. The keyword "troubles" is given with the explanation that a relationship is being severed. Is this a situation where there is an unhealthy dependence, or where there is manipulative control? If so, then it is time to put the saw to use. But perhaps it is that one person is stingy when it comes to making time to spend with others. If that's the case, then someone else is liable to be lopping off a one-sided relationship.

Freedoms of Friendship

From the Deck of the Bastard, the Two of Cups; from the Marseille Oracle, "Fantasy:"

          My mom is coming into town today; I always look forward to her visits and our time together. My relationship with her has changed dramatically from what it was. Growing up, I had to share her with a stepfather and four step brothers and sisters. Between family and a full time teaching job, there wasn't any time left to spend with me. Our interactions were more along the line of "Clean your room and wash your clothes today." I was full of resentment toward her and felt cheated by our lack of relationship. Yet now that I am the mother and the wife, juggling roles and obligations, I understand. She was doing the best she could with what she had. And so the caduceus hovering over the couple in the Two of Cups feels like a relationship that may have scars but is definitely healing. The Fantasy card suggests allowing the imagination to float free. For me, it represents cutting loose the ropes of resentment from the past that held tight my relationship with my mom. It is a visual of the freedom of the friendship that is developing between us.

Who's Zoomin' Who?

From the Deck of the Bastard, the Hermit; from the Marseille Oracle, "Deceit:"

          The Hermit is almost always an older person. Like the knight, he too is on a quest. But what he searches for is a spiritual life, which is why he prefers solitude. He's made plenty of trips around the sun by now, and he's got lots of experience in dealing with the ups and downs of life. What he's discovered is that joy radiates from the inside out. If his life doesn't reflect such happiness, it's an ego problem needing the diagnosis of a self-inventory. Assuming that he's veered off the spiritual path, blaming other people won't help him find his way back.
          The Deceit card shows an old-fashioned straight razor used for shaving. Without the safety of modern shavers, it was often referred to as a "cut-throat razor." The keyword for the card made me think of Aretha Franklin's song "Who's Zoomin' Who," or in other words, "Who is fooling who?" I can imagine myself in a hermit hut listing all the people who've made my life miserable. Yet to clearly see the patterns in my life that put me in those situations or my habitual responses that caused my problems is going to require an exacting honesty. Better make sure that lantern is burning extra bright.

Seeing Behind Closed Eyes

From the Deck of the Bastard, the Fool; from the Marseille Oracle, "Inspiration:"

          The Ettellia image of the Fool is connected with folly, which is not hard to comprehend since he's walking around with his eyes closed. He's also associated with eccentricity, yet I wonder if there is a method to his madness. I'm very practical - what I see and experience, I believe in. But that kind of thinking relies a lot on the files already in my mental file cabinet. Everything gets compared to and labeled under something that has come before. Now this is not a bad thing, because it helps me stay organized and prevents me from being overwhelmed with too much information. But it's hard to squeeze in an unlabeled file that one can do something creative with. Which brings me to the Inspiration card: the image of a candle waiting to be lit. The door to the lantern is open, suggesting an open mind like that of the Fool. But the booklet suggests that I "listen to advice from those who love you." I suppose if I'm going to walk around seeing the unseen rather than reality, it could be very helpful to have folks who can act as a cane for the visually impaired.