Ace of Diamonds: Mountain Hare Our native Mountain Hare was the original Easter Bunny, sacred to the Moon and the Goddess. Their agile leaps and boxing matches in March associate them with the beginning of the growing year. It certainly has a Spring in its step! Drawing the Hare means that there is potent magic around you. A birth, a new home, an engagement or work opportunity are all possible. Opportunities abound if you wish to take them.
Two of Diamonds: Weather Weather is produced by a dynamic and chaotic system. It is called a chaotic system because it is not fully predictable. It is produced by lows and highs. Lows and highs produce different weathers which we try to forecast with varying degrees of success. Forests, mountains, rivers and seas and even bacteria shape the weather. So with us! We have our highs and lows too. This card, the Pip card, asks you to be aware of your internal weather systems, to become a better forecaster but also to accept the chaos. Also, to be aware of the moods and temperaments of people around you. By seeing the bigger picture, you will get an understanding of how everything inside and outside of you inter-relates. Your ecological awareness, if the society you live in has allowed you to develop one, can begin to become rooted in yourself, which is a secure place for it to root. This is also a card of partnerships.
Three of Diamonds: Honeysuckle The Honeysuckle climbs the tree and crowns them with flowers. Drawing the Honeysuckle is a sign of achievements on courses and in exams and other forms of recognition. It shows great skill has been acquired. It may also be just the inner knowledge that you have done something well. Even if you don’t have that feeling, the Honeysuckle shows that you have done well and the flowers will be out soon.
Honeysuckle is used by Dormice to make their nests and is the foodplant of the White Admiral butterfly so they are a very useful plant. You can take pleasure, too, in knowing that what you have achieved will be useful to others.
Four of Diamonds: Badger When Badger appears he is telling you to stand your ground. Badger cuts through the pretence and can see when people are talking nonsense. Be true to what you know, loyal to your roots and protective of your local community. You can be fierce when necessary. Sometimes you can also be “sett” (sorry!) in your ways but maybe that isn’t a bad thing? Only you can ultimately say.
Five of Diamonds: Fox When Fox appears it can seem like it’s you against the world. Through natural intelligence you succeed against the odds. Your wit never lets you down! You are a survivor! Things feel precarious right now, but the Goddess is watching over you and protecting you. When Fox appears it can also indicate that you have a natural empathy with people who are special or different in some way.
Six of Diamonds: Long-Tailed Titmouse (Titmouse is the old-fashioned name) The nest of the Long-Tailed Titmouse is one of the wonders of the bird world. Made with at least 2000 feathers, moss, birch bark and other materials and bound together with spiderwebs it is a miracle of construction, taking the birds between 9-18 days to build. The male gathers the materials and the female is the builder of this complicated structure. Another fascinating aspect of this bird’s character is its social spirit. If a nest fails or a Long-tailed Titmouse is unable to establish a territory these birds will help parents, brothers or sisters rear their families instead. So what is the message of the Titmouse for you?
This card suggests you ask yourself 2 questions each day, “What have I done for others?” and “What have I done for myself?” This is a way of keeping the balance between 2 vital poles of well-being. Looking after your own welfare is taking responsibility for yourself. It is also showing appreciation for yourself. It is absolutely essential. Doing something for others; a kind word, a smile, a thoughtful action, is the true path to happiness. This is also a card of craftsmanship and practical skills.
Seven of Diamonds: Pussy Willow The Pussy Willow “in his splendid attire of golden fire” provides for the bees and other insects early in the year when other flowers are in short supply. So they are a very useful tree as well as a very beautiful one. The Pussy Willow speaks of abundance but the time is not right yet. It may be another year before you will benefit from all your hard work. Continue to persevere and your project will succeed in the end. Value the knowledge and experience you have gained on the way.
Eight of Diamonds: The Garden and the Gardener In every garden there is the invisible presence of the gardener. In the best gardens, s/he is like a spiritual presence, hovering beside the spiritual emanations of trees and flowers and in some way at one with them. Like God, the true gardener works with, not against, the natural inclination of their plot of land, loving the soil and the plants and creatures that abide there. There is something you may work hard on now and it can be a work of love. Can you see the invisible Hand moving in your life? Can you allow its Divine Grace to move through you?
In this suit, the number eight symbolises the infinity of natural systems. Tracing the number eight with your finger you can go round it endlessly. This is like the many cycles and endless loops of nature. Life and death chasing each other, one emerging from the other. Winter following Summer following Winter again. Day following night. In nature there is endless transformation. This is also a card of practical skills, attention to detail and meditation.
Nine of Diamonds: Bumblebee It’s time for you to be a busy bee! All of creation works not for itself but for the generations to come and their future. Nothing lives for themselves. The Bumblebee portrays this devotion and diligence clearly to us, working for her mother, her sisters and the larvae of the nest. The Bumblebee signifies self-discipline, the making and keeping of spiritual resolutions, wisdom and honest soul-searching through counselling. They signify development to a higher spiritual level.
Ten of Diamonds: The Apple Tree and the Elder Tree The Apple tree is a reminder of the importance of the senses, especially of touch, taste and smell. All these senses are very evocative and can evoke powerful memories that keep us rooted through life’s changes. The tradition of wassailing celebrated the Apple tree and held working communities together. This card asks you to be aware of the importance of traditions in your life. Often these traditions are unconscious and can include ways of dealing with emotions. They can comfort but they can also repress. The Apple tree asks you to become conscious of the role of tradition in your life, including in your thoughts; where it is a source of light and where a source of darkness. Traditions should run with the weave of our lives, not against them. Rituals should enhance appreciation of life rather than be stultifying. (Every meal should be an occasion for enhanced awareness).
The Elder tree is a reminder of the importance of older people in our life, the memories and wisdom they carry and the gifts they have given. The quality of respect that we should have for them (and people generally) is brought to our attention here.
Jack of Diamonds: Skylark The Skylark soars above the earth and sings his song so high in the sky that he is often out of sight. The notes tumble down as from a celestial fountain. But the Skylark’s heaven is on the earth and his song is for the female and to ward off other males in the area. The Skylark speaks of valuing the people in your life. Whether it is in work, at home or friends and neighbours it is people that make life meaningful (include other animals in that!) keeping this in mind you can not go far wrong. The Skylark sings that when your heart is anchored you can fly the highest and sing the finest song.
Queen of Diamonds: Tawny Owl The Good Health card. Your health is in your hands. This card speaks of inner harmony and inner truth. Qualities of flexibility and harmony pervade you. You are able to adapt yourself to situations and people out of natural sympathy. It is complete, not a pretence or an effort. This ability also guarantees your good health and drawing this card is very auspicious for your health.
Let all aspects of yourself be in harmony just as all aspects of an eco-system are in harmony. The beautiful plumage of the Tawny Owl mimics the bark of the Oak tree, providing her with perfect camouflage. She really is the Queen of the Woods. This card has a connection with the Sacral chakra and nursing. If you do not feel you have these qualities then the Tawny Owl is asking you to tune into and develop them.
King of Diamonds: Mountains to Climb The Mountain challenges us and speaks of great achievement or influence. This could be someone else in your life you can turn to for help or it may be yourself. Sometimes the Mountain signifies the importance of a parent in our lives. Parents never become just like other people. Like a mountain they look different from every direction you view them and you can never get the whole picture. But whilst the significance of parents can be monumental, for good or bad, there can be other sources of awe too and mountain signifies the need to get a fresh perspective. Whatever you have achieved it is time to go further, to reach for a new challenge. The spirit of the mountain guides you. Take the first step.