2 Cups

The promise of the Druidcraft Tarot's Ace begins to be fulfilled in the 2 of Cups.

Two lovers stand in a windswept landscape, gazing into each other's eyes as they hold their cups aloft for each other to drink from.

They are equally matched in stature, pose and even in the billowing of their robes!

No surprises here - this card is about love.

While it often speaks of romantic love - and usually the misty-eyed idealistic stage of a relationship, it can also point towards partnership in other areas too; maybe family, friends, or colleagues.

The 2 of Cups promises that the creative juices will be flowing when like-minded people work together.

This card can also indicate that it's time for you to be more loving to a part of yourself too - perhaps you deny or ignore your creative urges?

For me, the woman having the stone at her side signifies good solid groundedness on one partner's part.  The Water beside the male and the grave behind him can indicate that a tumultuous emotional time is now behind one of the partners in the situation.

The 2 of Cups asks:

Where can you bring healing through love?
How can you be more loving towards your creative self?

#tarot #druidcraft  (Ali)

XVI The Tower

Cernunnos helped us identify our delusions and obsessions and with that new awareness, we now encounter the destructive forces of the Druidcraft's Tower.

A bolt of lightning darts out from a brooding storm cloud, striking at the great tower, shattering the walls and illuminating the interior with its explosive power.

Two small figures plummet from the Tower, towards the rocks beneath.

When The Tower appears in our life we can expect cataclysmic change - change that threatens to dash us to death on the rocks; change that rocks our very foundations.

We begin to immure ourselves into Towers from the moment we are first labelled with a role:  We are Son, Daughter.  Perhaps at the same time we become brother or step-sister.  Then we become 'Pupil', 'Colleague', 'Friend', 'Enemy', 'Boss', 'Girlfriend', 'Wife', 'Mother' and so on and so on.

These are all roles that society has made for us, or we have made for ourselves.

You know that you are not the same person with your children that you are when you are advising on mortgages in your place of work.  You are not the same person that you are with your lover that you are with...your husband?

They are ALL you, but different facets of you.  Behind that ever-growing facade YOU sit, unable or unwilling to start chipping at the plasterwork that holds you, Rapunzel-like, in the Tower.

SUDDENLY!

A bolt of lightning comes out of nowhere and strikes at your Tower.  And yes, your very foundations are rocked as your defining roles are blown apart, like bricks in the wall.

And the Tower begins to shake and tumble to the ground.

But, in that terrifying demolition and release comes an exhilarating liberation and opportunity for growth.  You can clear away the rubble, get back to your foundations and build anew.

Tower asks:

Where has destruction provided illumination?
What roles no longer define you?
How does the way you see yourself differ from how others see you?


#druidcraft #Tarot    (ali)

XV | Cernunnos

After the blending and healing offered by the Fferyllt, we enter the presence of the Horned One, Cernunnos.

We see the lovers sated after their love-making, sleeping in the long grass.  Behind them stands the imposing figure of Cernunnos.

In traditional decks, this card is The Devil, but here Cernnunos represents the dangers of becoming enslaved to our passions.

And our passions may begin innocently enough - the buzz from buying a pair of new shoes, the occasional recreational drug with friends, the high of sex.  But we would do well to remember that these material trappings cannot be allowed to become our masters.  If they do, then we then fall into the chains of servitude before the altars of addiction, obsession and greed.

Some people never raise their heads to appreciate the pale glory of the moon or accept that there is more to life than worshipping the almighty dollar.  They are as blind to the true glory of the life-force as the sleeping lovers in the long grass.

Cernunnos calls us to AWAKEN to the world and to live to our fullest potential within it.  We are not asked to turn our backs to the world and deny its wondrous gifts, but to harness our desires, accept our responsibilities and live as gloriously conscious creatures on this magnificent planet.

Cernnunos asks:

What enslaves you?
Are you sleep-walking through life?

#tarot #druidcraft    (Ali)

King of Wands

The watery energies of the Queen of Wands have now burned off and we are in the entirely fiery realms of the Druidcraft Tarot's King of Wands.

Expansive, magnetic and passionate, the King of Wands is a compelling authority figure.

With a nod to the Rider Waite Smith symbolism, the King's collar shows two lizards biting their tails - the famed salamander who represents the element of Fire.   Likewise, the rams heads on the throne suggests a link with Aries.

Very much a Big Picture character, the King of Wands is not interested in the minutiae or detail of a project.  He likes the unfettered horizon of the whole project leaving the thrashing out of the nitty-gritty to others better suited to the task.

He is a restless soul who dislikes being confined by physical, mental or spiritual restraints, preferring to roam freely to express himself without constraint.

Being purely a fiery creature, the King of Wands runs a risk of overwhelming those around him with his all-consuming passions - whether it's for making beer, keeping bees or running for President.  His inability to thrive if restrictions are too tight can affect personal relationships - never has the phrase 'he needs his space' been more appropriate!

Today the King asks you:

What grand projects will you dare to launch?
What passions ignite you?


#druidcraft  #tarot   (Ali)

8 Wands

And so the Warrior who has hurtled himself off the ramparts and into his challenges needs to act quickly.  Here in the Druidcraft's 8 of Wands we see that speed taking shape.

A young man stands on a hill, the sea glittering in the distance.  Before him, 7 Wands are jammed into the ground and he takes the 8th and throws it with all of his might.

This is the Wand, not as weapon, but as javelin - whistling through the air and coming to rest....where? Somewhere far below!  Imagine the people's reactions to the arrival of his Wand!

This is the core of the 8 of Wands - something flies at speed - could it be a message? News of some kind?

As it hits the ground, its journey is complete - the task is done - the thrower has accomplished his goal. You might find, when this card arises in a reading, that something is now reaching its natural conclusion.

The news or message might be expected or - like the javelin - an unexpected surprise.

The 8 of Wands asks:

What has carved its arc across your sky and is now coming to rest?
Be alert for news - especially good news.
What's unfolding quickly in your life?

#tarot #druidcraft   (Ali)

6 Wands

In the Druidcraft Tarot's 6 of Wands, the hunter and his men are making their way home as the sun sinks low on the horizon.

From the ungainly banging around in the 5 of Wands, we have made great progress and now stand victorious over our recent trials.

The hunter, on horseback,  carries his hawk on his wrist.  Behind follow the beaters who triumphantly carry home the game.  The hawk does not wear a hood and he (and the horse!) look towards us with great interest as the group makes its way towards us on the puddle-dappled path.

This card trumpets victory and leadership!  Only one person sits atop the horse - the rest follow behind.

It can also indicate that you have attained a degree of mastery over the self.  But take care because this is only today's victory, the process must be repeated in order to ensure continual victory.

We must remember that without the abilities of the hawk, there would be no success for the hunter - give respect to the gifts that enable your victory.

The 6 of Wands asks:

Recognise where you are victorious in the outer world!

Where do you demonstrate your powers of leadership?

Acknowledge that 'victory' is an ongoing process!

Can you find the valour of the 6 of Wands within you?

#druidcraft #tarot  (Ali)