Today’s card is from the re-envisioned Greenwood Tarot now sold as the Wildwood. Here is the King of Arrows (Swords) seen as the Kingfisher. This is a bird whose very name invokes a very real and very large king in my world.
I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan of Huey P. Long, former governor of Louisiana. He was assassinated in the capital building. It’s something of a pilgrimage for all Louisiana children to go to the capital to see the hole in the wall where one bullet struck.
I was taught by a woman who told stories of her early teaching career. Days when a whisper against Long in north Louisiana on a Monday could find you with out a job or prospects in Louisiana on Tuesday. The man had a long reach.
The Kingfisher of the avian species is one I’m also familiar with. I’ve been fortunate enough to see this bird in person on several occasions. Don’t try to get into his fishing range if you are another fishing bird. He will use that long, pointed beak to drive you off. What is his is his.
I think we all can have those moments of “Mine! It’s mine, mine, mine!” I know I can. Particularly around food. I feel threatened and angry if someone eats my food. It’s one of my stumbling blocks.
Another thing about this particular king is his focus. This bird doesn’t get distracted. He can sit for hours watching his water waiting for the fish to surface. I’m not that patient. Are you?
I see the two sides of this king today. One the all-consuming, all-selfish ruler of his world who doesn’t want to share and can’t see why he should. Two the focused individual who shepherds his thoughts from incubation to fully fledged ideas that can take wing on their own.
For my 180 seconds today, I am going to contemplate why I am so stingy around food. Why I have this prehistoric, knee-jerk reaction over the last cookie or the last cracker.
What will your 180 seconds be today? I challenge you to search in yourself for one area where you don’t share well. Then examine that to see if you can figure out why.
If you feel safe, tell me here. And I will be doing yesterday’s readings tonight so don’t despair if you were one of the folks who participated yesterday!
Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.
King of Arrows, The Wildwood Tarot: Wherein Wisdom Resides, 2011