Sun streaks through fog
divides by cedar
smiles on hot pink primrose

The Stone Moon

Rider-Waite question

Secrets and Sources of the Rider Waite Smith Minor Arcana

Arthur Edward Waite

Who actually designed the Rider-Waite Tarot cards? Did A. E. Waite unfairly take too much credit for the deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith? In this two-part webinar we’ll examine the evidence. It seems pretty clear that Waite had something very specific in mind for the Major Arcana, so do the Minors belong to Smith?

Check out this link for the full article:
 http://globalspiritualstudies.com/shop/presentations/tarot/mary-k-greer/secrets-and-sources-of-the-rider-waite-smith-minor-arcana/

When the goddesses gather...and they do...at unexpected moments on the trail...in the supermarket...on the shores of lakes and under the moonlight...and also at my kitchen table...I am grateful.

Note to self:  Keep Looking UP!

Where is Your Lion?

Where Do You Turn?

   When you're feeling weak and silly, incompetent and lost, exhausted and annoyed, where do you turn?

My tarot deck was tucked into the bottom of my suitcase in the overhead bin.  Beyond access.  Babies were crying.  The bathrooms were full. The man across the aisle from me pulled gloves out of his pocket and spit a wad of chew into them.  I could still smell the chemical they used on the wings to de-ice them.  That's why I was an hour late to Dallas and missed my flight.

My angels were taking a nap.  A gang of faeries was laughing at the human condition.  My battery died on my tablet at a very intense part of the book I was reading and I was 30,000 feet above Mother Earth, not where any self respecting Capricorn wants to be.  I couldn't think of a single Al-Anon slogan.

So where does comfort come from?  Where was my mind?  Obviously drenched in an array of discontent.  I wanted to get up and offer to hold the baby but it didn't seem likely.  I sent Reiki energy and asked what I could do for myself.

That's when Strength walked down the aisle, peaceful with that little twisted halo over her head and Lion in her eyes.  I smiled.  Smile muscles always bring relief.  Yes.  Strength was on the plane with me, up in the air where everything was up in the air.  Lion passed the sleeping rag doll cat in a kennel under the seat and came right to me.  In Lion eyes with Lion breath, I communed with the great balance of the divine feminine and the essence of wild on the verge, steady, confident and ready for whatever happened.

I put on my sunglasses, pulled my hat down and took a cat nap.

Strength

Strength also called Fortitude

A collage of images fold into a kaleidoscopic overview of various decks:

Swiftness, energy expanding, open, kind, firm, oneness  act with the universe with clarity; reading the field, moving quickly on a moment's notice, spontaneous

Mindful between extremes of reality; four directions, internal/external; ingest my fear, my beast, everything I judge is mine to own

An angel, infinity always is with me, a halo: the crown chakra;  down to the spinal chakra; embrace the lion within; palm on third eye; eye the Sun, source of strength; strength is the source

Head held high; enchanted, power of instinct; unity, infinite, tao of wholesomeness, well of feminine mystery

Crystal vision, majestic, paw swipe to protect; serenity; flow like an eagle

Jupiter conjunct Lilith, our beast; the feminine we have not owned; Strength is Lilith in the darkness

Tame the wild boar; as Ariel, the protectress of wild things

This word collage comes from the Wisdom Women

of Rotarota: Tea & Tarot

#8 STRENGH

Me:  I am woman--hear me roar.  

Lion:  You don't have to roar.  I'll take care of that for you.  I'm known for my powerful voice.     Remember when you were seven, you went to the San Francisco Zoo and you stared and stared at that massive lion?  You willed him to roar.  When he did, you were startled, a bit afraid and you felt the connection.  

You've known the world of felines since you were four.  That day you began your shaman's ride into the unknown invisible magic of the world.

You talk to wolf, walk with him but I too am with you.  Imagine the depth of my purr, far greater than that pipsqueak cat of yours.  I am Lion, King of your Heart Center.  Allow me to help you open, walk with  balance from your baqua.  Know your stride is guided;  dress funky and fun and when you weave the elegant tapestry of life, your hand, close to my mane, your wildness flickers along the spinal pearls.  I am that close to you at all times.

Do not be afraid.  Just go.  Go on the path where the green grass is icy, go on the sand and smell the salt, follow your choices for I am with you.  Use my voice for your enthusiasm.  Be with me.