 |
A young and beautiful figure opens
their heart to the universe. Clothed in feathers and
greenery, they are illuminated by the heart of the
Greenwood. There is a playful and naive aspect to their
character. and they hold the sun and moon in their hands
like balls. Although they are suddenly inspired by
insights into another world and life, and are open to
exploring it, they do not have the understanding or
responsibility necessary for grounding it. However, it is
often The Fool that sees more of the patterns of life,
however momentarily, than those whose feet are firmly on
the earth. So in this card The Fool has a
‘vision’ of their future journey, a labyrinth,
shimmering with stars behind them. |
| The Fools’ soul
is re-animated, but just as a butterfly may live for only
a few days, this state of divine illumination is not be
maintained for long periods as it leads to
‘burn-out’. Many poets, writers, and musicians
die young, unable to move from this state of being. The
path forward is explained in the card. The knotted
kerchief (of red and white-one’s essential energy)
contains one’s previous experience. The Fool must
pick that up and take it with them, rather than leaping
blindly , unwilling to face responsibility for the
potential re-creation of a pattern of behaviour that
needs breaking. Note that the ‘Fool’ stands
unaware of the precarious slant of the cliff, and is
out of their tree; i.e. standing above the tree that
is their grounded body. The Fool must fly off the cliff
and follow the inner voice of their heart (as yet
undeveloped) the small white deer, so that they can walk
on the land and meet the first guide on their journey-The
Ancestor. |
| |
|
| The Ancestor
(traditional card Heirophant) |
| Minor arcana: Aces
Position on wheel; Imbolc. Element: earth/fire Chakra:
crown. Colour: Violet. Polarity: |
| white. |
|
 |
This is an image of my very first
vision that appeared to me many years ago. Even though I
did not understand it at the time, I remained true to it,
and knew that by having it my life had irrevocably
changed. The image shows a reindeer figure (female
reindeer are antlered) holding a frame drum and a leaping
horse drum stick with which she is beating the heart of
the frozen land alive. Beside her, there are reindeer
prints in the snow, demarcating your way into the
Greenwood to begin your initiatory cycle. The first
trackways were made by the repeated travelling of tribes
along the migratory routes of the reindeer, who followed
the same paths for thousands of years. |
| The reindeer were
therefore seen as spiritual/shamanistic guides, along all
actual as well as visionary paths. (This is brilliantly
documented in the Saami film ‘Pathfinder’). The
Ancestor is therefore the guardian of all those
who have walked these ways before you, holding the gentle
wisdom of all ancestral memory. She is the creatrix,
calling forth the four elements, (the Aces), and
therefore the world itself, into being. |
| Venus rises beside the
new moon as first light breaks. This star is also your
star of destiny, the guiding star of your life, your soul
or guardian angel. Healing energy renews, and cleanses
the crown chakra and aura, pouring down from a higher
source- The Star. |
| Drawing The
Ancestor means a new start; profound insights,
spiritual guidance, a feeling of being on the right path,
being guided by means of dreams and visions. A spiritual
blessing on one’s life. |
| |
|
| The Pole Star |
| Minor arcana; Aces
Position on wheel: Imbolc. element: earth/fire |
| Chakra: crown.
Colour: Violet. Polarity: white. |
| Time of day: first
light Chakra: crown Colour: Violet Polarity: White |
 |
If The Ancestor is
associated with the beginnings of human consciousness,
and the formulation of a mythology based on the
interaction between people and the land; then the Star
is concerned with creation myths of the earth itself.
Where do we come from? Is there a spiritual consciousness
behind our existence? Is there a deeper purpose
underlying our lives? Ancient beliefs thought that the
souls of the dead returned to the stars, and new born
souls came into physical incarnation from the stars.
Nowadays great importance is placed on recording our
exact time of birth so that our astrological chart can be
generated, giving us a life pattern based on the
interaction between earth, planets and constellations. |
| We consist of atoms
and particles like stars. The most ancient symbol of life
and death in European culture is the cup and ring mark,
and this is the shape made by stars forming themselves in
the cosmos. This shape itself clarifies why The Star
card is linked to the Aces-from nothing, something is
formed, i.e. 0 becomes one. The Star and The
Ancestor form a creation myth; because this has been
forgotten it is important to restate it. |
| ‘From the essence
of stars in the universe, the earth was created, and was
blessed. The first tree on earth was the silver birch;
the World Tree. From the tree emerged its guardian, the
first reindeer, The Primal Creatress, who waits until the
first light, the dawn of human consciousness, aware of
the guidance and blessing of her origins The Star.
With an archaic singing, She drums the manifest world
into being. First the four elements, the Breath of
life, the Spark of life, the Waters of life, and the
first land-the Foundation. Then She calls the
primal forest, the birds and animals, the first people.
She then marks out the first pathway with her own totem,
the reindeer. And she will walk forever with all
generations, so that they may remember their origins in
the stars, and learn wisdom from those who have preceded
them.’ |
| In the picture of The
Star card, healing, radiance and a renewal of
blessing pours down upon the pole (crown) of the earth. |
| By visualising this
card and the purity of the four elements, you can work
towards healing the terrible damage we have inflicted
upon the ozone layer, water system and the earth itself. |
| Positive, focused and
energised visualisation is a very powerful means of
effecting change. |
| Drawing The Star
card signifies a renewal of spiritual energy, cleansing
and healing, a revitalised sense of direction, guidance
from your ‘lucky star’, an intuitive knowledge
of your destiny. |