That's A Bear....

March 10, 2012: Bear, Druid Animal Oracle

Today our draw didn't want to be a Tarot card, but is from the Druid Animal Oracle, and shows us the questing Bear. So, what is S/he seeking?

Bears are rarely represented in Celtic art, except in connection with burial goods. The Bear seems to have been considered a protective spirit in the Otherworld realms of dreams and death. The Celtic goddess Brighid was sometimes styled "Daughter of the Bear", as her spring festival of Imbolc follows the rising of the star Arcturus as seen from the Celtic realms. Bear protects travelers on the road to wisdom. She withdraws from the living world into hibernation, seeking stillness in the dreaming world of the deep unconscious. She keeps herself to herself, and walks in silence.

When Bear appears in your cards, she may be advising you that you need a period of withdrawal from a situation in order to reorder your thoughts, to rest and heal and to find your balance and harmony. The greatest spiritual growth occurs during the blackest and most frightening times of our lives. Only then do we truly become aware of the infinite possibilities that lie within us. When logical thoughts provide no answers, the path of inner knowing is illuminated. The lesson of Bear is that strength comes from within---not from what you own, what you wear, what you say or even what people think of you. So..maybe the situation at hand is a Bear. But you are able to deal with it.

Looking Beyond The Moment...

March 9, 2012: Son of Swords, Haindl Tarot

Osiris is a seminal figure in Egyptian mythos, but for purposes of this card, we need to look at Osiris in his role as a mythic avatar. In so many ways, the story of Osiris parallels the story of Christ: he was born of the gods Geb and Nuit, who were Earth and Sky, and after his death and dismemberment (after a betrayal by his brother and follower), he was again re-born (without a phallus, symbolizing the generative power of a woman to give birth without having intercourse, i.e. a "virgin birth"); three wise men prophesied his coming; he was a teacher and a gentle god, lover of all regardless of social status; he was a giver of life to the poor and needy; like Christ, he "multiplied" the loaves and fishes to feed the hungry masses, represented by the legends of his making the Nile rise to bring the fish to the shore and to make fertile the land, and also his gift of grain to man, making him the "bringer of bread" in whose honor cakes of bread were consumed in a "communion"; and after his death he "rose again" since Isis re-birthed him. The legends of Osiris make him a perfect example of the "bringer of peace", the gentle teacher who looks beyond his own life to serve the lives of others, and whose focus (even in his image on this card!) is beyond the moment, beyond the mundane, and far into the realms of eternity. So--how does this relate to you today?

Your TarotWitch is very fond of the concept of "being in the moment" and for the most part that is a concept of which we must all be reminded...many of us spend most of our day "living until..."
the weekend, the next paycheck, we get out of school, the kids are grown and gone, you get the idea. But sometimes it is well to take the long view, and today is one such day. Osiris showing up in our cards is an indicator to us that we must be interested today in the long-term effects of our actions and words. Something of significance to our own future is going to come into our path today, and it is then that we must act as would Osiris, with calm, patience, gentle persuasion, and from the center of our intelligent and ethical character. And doing this will bring us benefit for both the present, and the envisioned future.

Yes, But....

A two-card spread today, one which asks "What do I need to know?" and the second of which says, "And what about the other side?"

Card #1: What Do I Need To Know? Alchemy, Haindl Tarot

This card is Haindl's interpretation of the "Temperance" card in the traditional Tarot, and he does give it a new spin. Most of us think of the idea of "temperance" as "everything in moderation", but the alchemical idea of to "temper" something, or the "temper" of something, is more where Haindl is going with this card. Look at the card; it is a confluence of opposites. The medieval Alchemist combined things with opposing elements to "temper" them, to moderate, and modulate, them into their own true nature. So too this card, for us, tells us that today what we are going to experience is many things that seem to be directly contradictory to one another--it is for us to moderate them, combine them, perform our own personal Alchemy on them and in so doing temper these elements of our day to produce synthesis, making something we can use....

Card #2: "Yes, but...": Daughter of Wands. Haindl Tarot


Simply put, Radha, the Daughter of Wands, is the avatar of joy. She's about delight in the sensual, the natural, the simple joy of living. Combined with the above card, our "yes, but" is answered with--"but me no buts. GO out and have a wonderful day amidst all the contradictions. It will all work out, and you can't do it wrong!" So--go ahead into your complicated, union-of-opposites day, and know it is all going to be a great ride. In the words of my wonderful friend Arwen, "seek joy, y'all!"

Spread of the Week...

Just a note to those who follow--life has become convoluted lately and for the foreseeable future I am not going to be able to update this blog every day. So, when I have missed a few days, we'll be doing a spread, using the number of cards equivalent to the number of days missed. So, since we haven't updated for four days, that means today, a four-card draw, and of course that almost shrieks "elemental attributions"....so--four cards, one each for Head, Heart, Hands and Hopes, or, put more simply, Air, Fire, Earth, and Water:


Card #1, Head: Two of Swords, Daniel's Bootstrap Tarot

The Two of Swords is a card about balance, and about imbalance. Where swords are fire, this card is about making choices between two things we want or will, but where swords are Air, as with this spread, we are dealing with Ideas--two ideas, neither of which is compatible with the other, and the necessity of choosing between them. There's a reason why the person on the card is blinded--neither choice shows all of itself in the first iteration. They are ideologically and intrinsically in opposition to one another, and you can't have both. And yes, you're "blind" in a way, when you attempt to make this choice...so--let's see whether any of the other cards will give some insight....



Card #2, Heart: Daughter of Cups, Haindl Tarot

Brighid is the Irish Goddess of poesy, smithcraft, and healing, and seems to be a pretty good representation of the "Heart" as we are interpreting it in this spread...it's Fire, perhaps the bardic "fire in the head", and represents what we Will, or what we want/desire/care about. As represented by Brighid, this card fits with the preceding card by suggesting to us that the power of prophecy, of intuition or the Divine Spark of gnosis or inspiration of the Gods, might serve as the key to show us what our True Will is, in the matter of the choices above. We have to make a decision, and the two choices are not clear--so use the power of Brighid to help us decide what we truly Will (which is different from what I 'want', but that's another discussion).







Card #3, Hands: Father of Cups, Haindl Tarot

Odin is the Rune-Lord in this card, sacrificing himself to himself, to receive wisdom of the arcane. Most importantly for his position in this spread, the card shows action--but, if there is such a thing, passive action. Odin acted, he did something, which is the representation of this card--"Hands" asks, "what should I DO". And in answer, the card says,
"Wait. Listen. Pay Attention. You are going to receive wisdom and knowledge here. Put yourself in the position where you can do that, and let it happen." So--our Hands must rest, and perhaps pick up a tool of writing in order to record, as Odin did, the new ideas and suggestions which the Universe will afford us.






Card #4, Hopes: Bee, Druid Animal Oracle

The representation of our Hopes, the Water/Emotion component of this layout, is the BEE--which means Community, Celebration, Organisation. Bees invite us to celebrate. Seems as if, connected to the other three cards, our Hope is that the choice we finally make will bring joy and celebration to ourselves and our community, however we are defining that word as related to this instance. Finely attuned to the position of the sun in the sky, it is the bee who brings the sacred solar drink of mead as a gift to humanity. The bee, with its highly defined social structure and extraordinarily productive and efficient community, all centered around the Queen Bee, was seen as symbolic of the ideal society - centered on the Goddess, paying homage in sacred dance to the sun, and producing an amber substance form the flowers of the fields and woods that could both feed and divinely intoxicate. So, here, this card says, "In making the Choice your Head must make, consider the needs of your Heart--Do the work of your Hands, and focus on the richness and bounty the correct choice will bring to you and all whom you love."

And so--there are our options, and there are our tools, and there are our helpers and Guides. Let's get to work...

All Those Hands...

March 2, 2012: Six of Coins, Daniel's Bootstrap Tarot

One hand reaches out, holding a variety of "coin" both portraying actual currency and the "currency" of effort and time. And below is a sea of reaching hands, seemingly clamoring "mineminemine"...

It seems that way, sometimes, doesn't it? As if there were never enough "coin" to go around, as if all we do is give, as if there isn't going to be anything left for us...and yet, the hand reaching down from above is fully extended, and there is a subtle feeling in the card that there is, that there will be, enough to go around.

Sixes are always about balance. This card bespeaks both inner and outer balance, husbanding of resources so that there is enough to give to others because you have also given to yourself. And it makes clear to us that we are not only speaking of material resources. Look carefully--besides the currency, there is the pentacle representing spiritual resources and protection, the coiled snake-rope representing both the giving of the sudden and unexpected, and the constant putting forth of energy and effort, the clay tablet representing the work of one's own hands, and even the silver medallion showing the human skeleton, reminding us to give of the Self. And we also recognize that in that sea of clamoring hands, there may be those who will give to us in their own turn...

So, that's the message for today. Balance giving with receiving--where you pay Coin, Coin will be paid to you in return. And whatever you do, don't scrimp your generous heart. Give and ye shall receive....

Acting In Harmony....

March 1, 2012: Three Of Wands, Haindl Tarot

Three flaming rods, pointing to Heaven. Three things from which never to be moved: One's oath, one's Gods, and the Truth. Three beacons of life illuminating personal darkness: Self, Sense, and Spirit.

Today is the second anniversary of the death of a beloved Craft-brother, Roy Cuchulainn Moorman. On this day it does not surprise me to have drawn the card that represents acting in harmony with the truth of the Universe. "Virtue" in the alchemical, mystical, and spiritual sense, does not mean "being 'good' " or "being 'virtuous' ". It means "being REAL." Roy was real. He was all he was, and each person who met him became by that contact more of their own Self. Today, let's take that as a beacon. Each and every thing you think or do today, put it to the test. Is it authentic? Is it truly of your Self? Is it truly of your Spirit? And then, go do, or say, or become, that thing. Authenticity. Virtue. Three rods. Acting in harmony with Universal Truth. Really, that's all there is.

Shhh.....

February 29, 2012(Leap Day): High Priestess, Haindl Tarot

The High Priestess in this deck is a radiantly silent woman gazing from behind a lovely and luminous Full Moon at the serenity of the night-silent Earth. The Moon here appears to be Full, but the High Priestess, symbolically, is not in the moonlight, but hidden behind the Moon. She therefore signifies the Moon's silent time, the darkness of the New Moon, when you are not the Sun shining upon your "Earth" but are withdrawn into your own dark stillness. It is the season when you must be quiet, must look inward. This does not mean barricading yourself in the house and refusing to speak to anyone. Instead, it means to take life slowly, to spend time alone, to keep still and feel a returning to who you are, to re-introduce yourself to your Self. If you have been very active in your business or social life, the High Priestess says to step back and look inward for awhile. Instead of trying to conquer the world, seek peace with yourSelf. Under the influence of the High Priestess, patience and calm are more important than action.

During the season of the High Priestess, you are able to find a sense of wholeness in life, and you need not try to separate your existence into pieces. It is a time for intuition rather than analysis, for feeling rather than thought. You may experience deep feelings that you cannot put into words. That's ok. You may actually, perhaps, find that you do not want to put these feelings into words. They are yours, spoken in the silent realms of your soul, where words are not necessary and you speak to yourSelf in that hidden language known only to you. The High Priestess advises resisting any demands, the clamor of your outward-focused mind, to "explain yourself." You need time, you need distance from the world, you need silence. Yes, you have commitments, to your business or to your children or to your responsibilities. But this day is sovereign. Today is the one day in the last four years when all things are turned around. You may say, to me or to your Self, "That sounds great, but I can't right now. I'm too busy." But--is this really true? Often, for all of us, at least part of our "busy-ness" is habit. If there's work to be done, yes, we must do it: feed the baby, answer the e-mail, do the dishes, go to the meeting. But after your work is done, instead of going out or scheduling something else, today is the day when you might best choose to spend some time alone. Even in a frantic day of errands, it is possible to try to develop a distance, an inner calm. Sit down, relax, be quiet. It's just you, now, you and the High Priestess. You are alone. Be still.....

OK, OK, I hear you. You're a wee bit uneasy about that, about a whole day/afternoon/evening of only your own company. Time to the Self is so rare, that when someone suggests it, most people say, "Oh, YEAH! That sounds great!" But often, we do not really mean it. The idea of doing nothing, of letting the inner life awaken, frightens us. Being alone with my Self? Having to look at my Self, listen to my Self? No, thanks! Let's go to the bar! But the High Priestess gazes serenely from behind her Moon, and asks you, "Am I really so hard for you to talk to, Self? Please stay here with me. I miss you."

The High Priestess is a card of quiet joy and inner peace. She represents your Soul, your Inner Power. Just as the Magician is the avatar of Personal Power, the outer power to Act, so the High Priestess invites you to join with Her, with your Self, in the Inner Power of serene and silent meditation. You have family, you have a sweetheart, wife or husband, you have kids, you have a job, you have responsibilities. But most of the time, the one place you are likely to fall down on or ignore your responsibilities is in taking time for your Self. Today, one day in four years, in a "time outside of time" the High Priestess is asking you to do that, to be with your Self, to be with Her. Go on, now, get outta here, go take your Self time. I am doing that, too. See you tomorrow!