The Woodward and Queen of Vessels - There is no easy way out

Today’s word to draw a card with is "Crossroads" and I got The Woodward and Queen of vessels-Salmon from the Wildwood Tarot.

Some of my initial thoughts where: if anybody could make the right decisions to find his way out of the dark forest it is The Woodward. But even the strong and experienced Woodward needs some quiet time to collect his thoughts and weigh his options before his can make the right choice, not only for himself but also for his environment. I wonder if his cup is also filled with coffee just like mine is, when I am trying the make up my mind about what to do next and where to go from here.

Next I got the Queen of Vessels to add some  intuitive wisdom to this post. She is the living example that the best way is most often not the easiest way. It takes a whole lot of courage and determination to swim upstream but she knows without an doubt, this is the best choice for her and her future offspring.

She advises us to not only to make our decision based on our strength but also on our intuition because together these two aspects of ourselves can show us the way out of any forest.

“You can always take the easy way out and give up, but real strength comes, when you decide to keep pushing forward, no matter what the circumstances are”

The Woodward - Hunter and Guardian

Today’s card is The Woodward (Strength) from the Wildwood Tarot. We see a hunter with a mountain lions mask. He is holding a spear with blood on it in one hand and a cup in the other. From the shaft is hanging a lion headed figure. The hunter is waiting, assessing what the right next move should be. Each moment he has to find the balance between the darkness of death and the beautiful gift of life.  He is both hunter and guardian of the forest.

The book says:  “The Woodward is a hunter whose prey is solutions to moments of crisis. He acts as an emotional backstop when fate, or the destructive energy in a situation, faces us with seemingly irrational or overwhelming disaster.” 

This card reminds me to reevaluate my own backstop; my inner place of strength and protection; How can I maintain a balanced stance like this Woodward and wait patiently for the right moment to act and the right words to say? If possible I retreat myself from a stressful situation to regain my focus and balance but usually I just have to try to keep my mouth shut, breath and pray for guidance. It is so easy for me to blurt out my first reactions and try to get my way but it is often not very helpful for the long run. My greatest challenge is to keep silent and have the patience to listen to others involved and to that soft voice within. Only then I feel I can make the right decisions for the good of all.

My two daughters: The Woodward and The King of Vessels

Today has been a very tough day indeed. At first I didn't feel like blogging at all but after my daughters both had drawn a card from the Wildwood Tarot  I knew I had to write a few lines. Let’s give my daughters some initials: S  is the eldest and M is the youngest. S has been struggling for a long time  with an eating disorder and today, after a long, kind but serious  talk she has decided to ask for professional help. I am so proud of her because I know how difficult it is to admit you can’t do it on your own. M has always been the more sensitive receptive one of this family and she has assessed her sisters problem more heavily then I have done. She sympathizes with her, is there for her  and has at the same time very practical solutions.

After our long talk they both asked me if they could draw a card.

S had pulled the Woodward :

This card is telling me today that she has enough inner strength to tell herself:  “enough is enough” and to face the situation and to act upon it. She is not a victim of her circumstances and she will move forward and do what is necessary to overcome her problems with courage and compassion.

And M had drawn the King  of Vessels the Heron

M is all about control and finding balance. In doing so she has a lot of consideration and sympathy for others who are struggling with themselves. She listens and supports where it’s needed and accepted.

I was so proud of both my girls today. I am dead tired but my love for them exceeds that gloriously.