Thursday, December 31, 2015

2016: The Year of the Hermit
Original Writing by Kathryn Ravenwood


The Hermit – from the Cosmic Tribe Tarot, Stevee Postman/Eric Ganther

The beginning of a new year brings us a turn on the wheel of the Tarot. The numbers of 2016 add up to 9: the number of The Hermit in the Major Arcana. What this means is that for the entire year the Hermit will be an energy archetype for us. Notice that the Hermit does not carry a huge spotlight to point the way. Rather it is a small lantern illuminating only  the space around him. A slim crescent moon above leaves the night mostly dark. The Hermit is poised at a doorway indicating a passage is at hand.

That passage is the journey inward and the Hermit is our guide. After a year of exploring Strength (card #8 from 2015) in ourselves, in those around us, and in the world, we have, hopefully, achieved a deeper level of self-understanding about what makes us strong, what our weaknesses might be, and possibly how we (or others) misuse strength to compensate for those weaknesses.

Now it is time to  go within, shining the Hermit’s light of wisdom for our own enlightenment. Each of us must evaluate and understand not just our strengths and weaknesses, but our very  essence, our true self. We must contemplate the passage of our own life so far. The outside world is less of a focus now. Yes, we still have to live and function “out there” but the Hermit calls us to discover the inward landscape. This is a journey many avoid. It is not for the weak - thus we have been given a year of Strength to prepare us.

The Hermit explores the underworld of her own nature. She is accompanied by Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the entrance.  As Eric Ganther wrote, “two of her heads look forward, keeping distracting thoughts of the future at bay, a third looks behind to keep ghosts from past situations from interfering.”  Discovering the truth of who we are requires us to be focused and present. We all need time out to discover the wisdom that awaits us beyond the walls of daily routine, mindlessness, disruptions, and pre-conceived reality. But within those walls is a dark doorway – the doorway the Hermit must walk through. 

The Hermit carries a light in one hand indicating others might follow close behind, but the real light shines within. This is perhaps my favorite Hermit card of all the decks. While standing in the dark, unable to see very far beyond the small lantern, the Hermit is illuminated with all of life within her. It reminds us that we are the center of life, we are the embodiment of the Divine, we are each a beautiful landscape giving hope, light, and solace to those who still seek their way in the darkness. Truth does not lie in the superficial realms. It is not an easy prize.  It is not “microwave enlightenment.” Truth is a process that takes our whole lifetime. There is always something else to discover, another season to explore in the landscape of our private existence. 

Honor the Hermit in you. Get to know her/him on a deeper level this year. Follow the lantern of truth to explore the underworld of your darker realms.  Take some time out.  Go to your favorite place and spend time alone, just be-ing with yourself. Make time and space for Spirit to reach you. Ask and listen. Dim the lights, turn off the electronics, soak in a soothing bath, take a long walk, spend time with your altars. Enjoy some solitude. (When was the last time you really did that?) There is nothing so dark inside us that the beautiful nature of who we really are cannot shine through and illuminate.


Kathryn Ravenwood – January 1, 2016  (www.kathrynravenwood.com)


Monday, December 28, 2015

2015 and Strength


From the Paladini Tarot
Original Writing by Kathryn Ravenwood

2015 is coming to an end.  It has been an “8” year, the year of the Strength card in the Tarot.  Looking back it seems that strength exerted a strong-arm hold on us and went out of its way to be noticed. The news has been full of violence, retaliation, terrorism, politicians exploding with bully language, and an ongoing litany of push-and-shove attitude and attention getting antics. 

Is this strength? Unfortunately, it is the dark side of strength. The side that uses power to impose personal will upon others for gain that is used abusively. But strength is far more than this. It has its light side as well. Many of us used it this year to flex our physical and spiritual muscles to dig in deep and discover what powers lie within us. We have applied this effort to accomplish positive personal goals, to overcome grief, hardships, and to help others. We have found strength to create, to carry on, to be vulnerable enough to expose our weaknesses and fears, so that we can move forward in meaningful living and celebration of the divine.

We are humans living in duality with free will to express ourselves as we choose. Part of finding balance within ourselves is to come to understand the true nature of Strength.  In the Paladini Tarot card above, we see a woman and a lion fused as one. The infinity sign above her head reminds us of the divine nature of our human and spiritual duality working together. We are called to understand that strength and power are tools given to us to expand the divine through our actions. It is perfectly good and right to use our power and strength to improve our lives and to be the best we can be. What makes us strong is then called upon to be in service to help others be strong.

In the Egyptian pantheon, Sekhmet is the lion-headed goddess of power. She is the goddess who maintains the order of Ma’at – the sacred balance of the universe. Stories of her strength and even her rage are legendary. What is often forgotten about her is her fierce compassion, her ability to use her strength and power to serve that higher purpose.  Sekhmet’s fierce compassion is the kind that when a lioness’ cubs are threatened in times of severe draught or no food, she will kill one so the other can live. That is fierce indeed. The other side of Sekhmet is often shown as the goddess Hathor, who is known for her celebration of love, life, passion, and sensuality. Look again at the card above and see Sekhmet and Hathor living as one great being, sharing consciousness and experience in divine balance.

As we come to this year end, take some time to contemplate your strength. How did it come up this year?  Did you honor it and use it wisely? Did you hide from it or give it up to someone else’s power plays? Did you celebrate your unique powers and share them with others?  Did you take time to lick your wounds and learn to heal?  However Strength played out in your life this year, may its lessons continue to guide you to embrace your unique and precious life. As you come to find that higher balance within you and have the strength to use it to better yourself, you  help to shift the world and bring a little more light to the darkness. And we need that. We need you.


…Kathryn Ravenwood December 2015
THE THREE OF PENTACLES


From the Rider-Waite Tarot
Original Writing by  Kathryn Ravenwood

Getting on track with our goals is sometimes a challenge. We have lots of ideas, maybe even try out various things that interest us, but we don’t seem to get much done. We can get distracted by unfinished projects that are stacking up, other people’s opinions, procrastination, and that pesky buzz kill - perfectionism. How are we supposed to get anything accomplished?

Hard work pays off. When we apply our talents and creative abilities to a project, keeping our intention and focus present on our goal, we get into that creative process of doing our work.The Three of Pentacles is the time when we apply ourselves, start the project that pays off later, use our sometimes nascent talents to later become the master craftsperson. We learn as we go along. We spend devoted time to our goal and it eventually is accomplished. Applying our creativity to our work inspires us in unknown and unexpected ways that are a pay off in themselves.

Artistry and hard work are evident in the above picture of a section of a beautiful cathedral. The artist has stopped work to confer with his apparent patrons who are most likely paying for the project and possibly coming in with yet another change order requiring the artist  to shift plans and redirect her efforts. The work is obviously long term; a cathedral is not likely to be completed in one artist’s lifetime and certainly not by one person alone. Yet each artist who contributes to a part of it has her work displayed for the life of that building - perhaps hundreds of years. The project that started with a chisel or paint brush has paid off with durability, beauty and serves as influence and inspiration to others who might just be starting on their own creative path.

And what about that perfectionism I mentioned earlier? I don’t know about you, but that is one of the biggest reasons I don’t get anything done! Before I even get started I am hung up on it not being good enough. It is not that I think I am not capable  - I do - but I am my worst critic. Maybe it is just an excuse not to do the work.  After all, the Pentacles are about working and manifesting in the physical realm. All our ideas and opportunities get us no where unless we actually apply ourselves in the work. 

The threes in the Tarot are all ruled by Empress , card three of the major arcana. The three’s are about creating, not perfection. When we give birth to an idea or project it is like  a child- we are not sure what it will be like when it “grows up.” The joy and gift of it is in the doing, the experiencing, and the act of making it happen. Perfection comes later.  A writer has to first draft an article to get started; the proof reading, editing, and fine tuning come at the end of the process. But without that first draft, the manuscript never gets done.

If the Three of Pentacles is speaking to you, get out the tools of your trade, your cookbooks, pots and pans, your computers and notepads, your paints and crayons, your fabric and scissors, beads and wire, and get started. Be in the creative moment and enjoy the process. And repeat often! You might just find your skills and talents amaze you. They might even propel you to do more. The discipline of the practice will lead you ever forward. Even the master craftsman has to get started, has to show up at the workbench, has to keep her work fresh and interesting, and stay engaged. 

So enjoy the process, apply your skills, get discipled and have a good time. Beauty and truth need your hands and eyes for expression. 


…Kathryn Ravenwood 12.6.15