Unity Of Purpose

The Wildwood Tarot uses symbolism born of the forest. Many of the humans depicted have animal heads, for example, and each card is full of Celtic and forest symbolism. I love this deck so much that I use a magnifying glass so that I don’t miss anything on each card, the deck is that beautiful. The authors of the deck have changed the titles of many of the cards to give a more pagan feel and orientation. It also appears that cards 8 and 11 of the Major Arcana have been switched back to their original order, changed in the Rider-Waite deck to align with Hermetic astrological correspondences.

Today’s three-card reading presents with three cards from the Major Arcana, each one retitled to something new. The overall numerology of the reading is thirteen or what I view as the Master Witch number. However, it technically reduces to four or structure and foundation, so I’ll look at the reading from that standpoint.

The Stag stands resolute holding an ax in his left hand and a shield in his right while an athame is attached to his side. The shield itself is adorned with an oak tree indicating as above, so below energies while two holey stones hang from his garment. The Stag embodies Elemental Air and justice and the notion that we are stewards of the land with the responsibility to live in harmony and balance with the Earth. The Earth needs us as much as we need her and we preserve that unity by how we conceive of our role in this fundamental relationship. The Stag speaks to cause and effect as he stands there waiting for our response. Will we protect our blessed home or will we prefer our own needs over the greater good?

The Blasted Oak replaces The Tower in the Wildwood deck as we see a man falling to the ground, blown off a branch by lightning, his arms and legs burning from its fiery explosion. The universe creates and destroys. The Blasted Oak asks us to let go of what no longer serves and to let go of arrogance and greed. As with The Tower, the Blasted Oak tells us we need to clear away any illusion and to transcend any loss we might experience.

The Chariot from the Rider-Waite deck is depicted by The Archer, her arrow ready to strike its target. She is protected by her two white dogs while all three focus intently on her intended prey. The arrow itself represents Elemental Air and our intellectual presence and here it indicates patience and focus. She is the power of the Goddess personified as her courage and strength are on display. Just as surrender is part of The Chariot, it’s the same with The Archer as she surrenders to her intuition and the energy and momentum of the moment, raising her bow and letting the arrow release at precisely the right time to achieve her goal.

Responsibility comes through in today’s reading as The Stag reminds us of our responsibility toward the land, to self, and to each other. We incorporate an understanding of cause and effect and adjust our choices accordingly, willing to let go of that which no longer serves. Instead, we’re ready to allow our intuition to guide our way forward, aligning in that still point where truth resides.

Clearly, today’s numerology of four factors in with its energy of structure and foundation and the responsibility we each have in its establishment. Just as the Earth waits for us to remember the relationship we have with her, as we resolve that relationship, with some focus and determination, we will resolve our relationships with others.

Imagine that! Unity of purpose surrounding the planet we live on…Living as one family…

Blessed Be