Risking Life+Limb

What’s a mouse to do when a snake is looking right at them?

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The Wooden Tarot Fool
The Wooden Tarot

#affirmation Some will hate today’s card, I’m sure. Me? I love it. It captures the message beautifully. What’s that message? Oh the one of taking risks, leaping without looking and assuming all is possible despite the odds.

Yep, it’s the Fool. And what an interesting fool it is! Here is a field mouse ready to take off on his or her next great adventure. The traditional stick features a flower as a bag. The cliff? Well that’s a snake. A boa from the looks of it. I love that the snake has moss and growth on it to represent the leap from security into the unknown.

Will the mouse make it? Will the snake win this time? Only the jump will answer that question.

Terrific interpretation of the Fool card. Swartz nailed this one. There’s danger and optimism clearly detailed here. I think this has to go on my top ten list of favorite Fool cards.

Today’s affirmation:

I am a fool. I am my own best friend. I encourage myself to take risks and make leaps of faith. I trust in the path I have chosen. I know that I will survive whatever is in front of me. Loved and loving, I love each of you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

The Wooden Tarot, http://www.skullgarden.net/art/the-wooden-tarot/

#affirmations
#dailyaffirmation
#tarot
#seekjoy

NOTE: I have added a (c)A.L. Swartz to the images to protect the artist’s rights.

Balancing Otters+Third Eyes

Today’s card from @gardenskull is not one I really get…yet. What can you add to my interpretation?

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The Wooden Tarot  Temperance
The Wooden Tarot

#affirmation So today’s card is one that I am not so sure about. Working with the Wooden #Tarot again, I have drawn Temperance. Artist A.L. Swartz has gone off on a tangent with this one.

First, let me tell you how much I love otters. One of my favorite necklaces features the Three of Water from the Gaian Tarot. It is three otters. This otter as Temperance gives me pause.

Temperance is a card of alchemy and change for me. It is about balancing all elements to come to something new. It can also be about moderation. Normally you see land and water with this image. Here you don’t.

An otter swims past on its back. The third eye is open but partially hooded as if there is some inner seeking going on. The otter is surrounded by water or is that air. It puts me in mind of a shroud–maybe the caul the seer child is said to have at birth. two lily-like flowers are on either side.

As a land/water animal, the otter works for that part of temperance. And it is in a restful state which speaks to me of that balance of life–the pausing between playing and working. The surrounding shroud of white and grey might be the veil, or more correctly, the Veil. Perhaps this otter is on the other side peeking through.

I will have to work with this one a bit more to fully grasp what the artist’s message is here. I do like the card though–simply because it has an otter. I’m easy.

Today’s affirmation:

I walk my path knowing balance. I appreciate the ups and the downs. I honor my grief for it leads me into joy. I honor my joy for it leads me into grief. I understand the importance of balance. Loved and loving, I love each of you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Temperance, The Wooden Tarot, Skullgarden.net

NOTE: I have added a (c)A.L. Swartz to the images to protect the artist’s rights.

Stones, Antlers + Victory

How many stones do you need to achieve victory? Working w/ @gardenskull’s tarot today

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The Wooden Tarot 6 of Stones
The Wooden Tarot

#affirmation I am sticking with this selfie #tarot deck for this week. I am enjoying exploring it.

It has an unusual suit system. Plumes are Air which I assign to Swords(East). Stones are Fire which I assign to Wands(South). Blooms are Water which I assign to Cups(West). Bones are Earth which I assign to Coins(North). Your mileage may vary.

The artist is A.L. Swartz, aka @gardenskull. His bio states that he lives in Alabama with his husband. GO #TEAMQUEER! 😀

This is the Six of Stones. He’s used crystals here with an orange/red/yellow coloring. I like how it captures the essence of fire. Traditionally the Six of Wands is the card of victory. I think this antler crown works. There’s a message of hard work too because bringing down an 18 point buck isn’t easy.

18 points because there are nine showing here on the one antler.

So a message of victory from the Wooden Tarot today leads us into our affirmation.

Today I win. Today I understand that each step, painful or easy, carries me towards my goal. I believe in myself. I believe in my ability to succeed. I am open to infinite possibilities. Loved and loving, I love each of you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Six of Stones, The Wooden Tarot, SkullGarden.net

NOTE: I have added a (c)A.L. Swartz to the images to protect the artist’s rights.

Moths, Skulls + Selfies

Check out the cool interpretation of the Magician card by @gardenskull. New selfie #tarot deck.

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The Wooden Tarot Magician
The Wooden Tarot

So today’s card is from a brand new selfie deck. Selfie as in self-published–I amuse myself.

A.L. Swartz, aka @gardenskull, has created an intriguing deck. There are a few things that are holding me off from adoring it, but I’m working through them. I’ll do a full video review in a month or so.

One thing that I love? Moths.

It’s true. I am a fan of moths. The Luna moth, in particular, holds a very special place in my heart. I’ve seen one once when I was young. I was made to think that it was a very rare thing. Since I’ve only seen one other, I’ll have to hold on to that thought.

Swartz has chosen to use the Luna moth as his magician. With feathery antennae pointing up and the lower wings folded to point down, he’s captured that piece of the Magician nicely. The lemniscate is below in the form of a twining vine where you can also see a bit of binding holding the moth’s wings together.

There are enhanced eyes on the wings and if you look closely, you will see a second set of eyes hidden. A skull adorns the soft white fuzz as well.

This is, for me, a clever interpretation of the Magician. As above, so below is one of the phrases I need my Magician to evoke. This does that for me. It’s more the hidden eyes than anything else actually.

Which brings me to today’s affirmation:

Today I seek what’s hidden. Today the arcane paths open up to me. I step onto my path knowing I am protected. I invoke the elements to guard me as I proceed. Love and loving, I love each of you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Magician, The Wooden Tarot, SkullGarden.net