Druid Animal Oracle: DOG

[Meditations upon Philip & Stephanie Carr-Gomm's Oracle Cards. I'm coming down with an illness, so the next few days some posts may be missed.]

Illustration by Bill Worthington

Today's Card: DOG-- "Cu" in Gaelic: Guidance, Protection, Loyalty

The card shows an Irish wolfhound resting placidly by a stream next to a large rock face with a cleft or cave in it. Tufts of grass and other plants are seen on the periphery.  The dog wears a gold collar.

I step through and the large dog looks alert instantly, with a twitch of its whole body. It was bored and waiting until my arrival, just patiently hoping for my companionship. She happily thumps her tail and greets me, sniffing me and playfully pawing the ground a little.

I sit upon the grass, listening to the water of the stream as it burbles past. Behind Dog I can hear a small waterfall. Now that I can see around the dog, I realize the darkness in the rock face is a cave, with water lapping at its entrance.

Dog lays down next to me for a time. I know we have a task, but first we're just getting comfortable with one another. I have issues with dog energy and need to commune for a while. Dog understands and is happy to comply.

Finally, I get up with the dog and stare at the cave. We have to go in, its pretty obvious to me. Dog tells me, in her own nonverbal way, that I have no reason to be worried, she would never let anything bad happen. She jumps into the water first, and dog-paddles to the cave, urging me to follow. When she gets out of the water at the cave, she shakes the water off, throwing droplets all over that make a small rainbow in the gentle sunlight.

I admire this spectacle for a moment before wading into the stream, swimming through the deeper part, and then emerging quickly at the cave's entrance. The cave is dark, and I can't see after 40 or so feet inside. But Dog leans against my legs and hips (she's big!) and I easily reach for her collar, and she leads me inwards. I now have a seeing-eye dog!

In pitch darkness, I'm led slowly inwards and down until I see a bluish-white light. Rounding a corner, a bright orb shines over a standing stone in a large open area of the cave. It appears like a miniature star. I realize its important to reach for it. When I do, it pulses and makes a bright flash, which disorients me and makes me dizzy. From behind, Dog leans and keeps me from falling over.

I'm not sure what happens now. The light seems to be above my head, it dances around a little and then remains above me as Dog leads me back towards the cave's entrance. I will need to know how to summon this light in later journeys, she tells me. All I ever have to do is call for her help, and she will bring it with her. Once we reach the entrance of the cave, the light dims a little and quickly retreats back deeper into the cave.

Before going back into the water to cross over, I realize I'm a little confused... that was it? The dog looks over at me and seems amused, shaking her head vigorously, making a chuffing sound. That was it for me, she says, because I didn't balk at trusting her to take me into the cave and back. Many do. The cave was linked to the transition between life and death, and I've already taken the leap of faith once. I don't have the fear of what lays "on the other side" like most...

Oh! I remember that in Celtic lore, dogs guard the entrance to the Underworld, so that makes sense! They are usually black, but this bitch (heh!) is of a lighter tone, not quite so serious and stark. She heads back into the water and crosses to the shore of the stream, and-- once more-- I follow.

Its about trust. Dog is pleased with me. I haven't forgotten how to trust, despite many betrayals. Its true it leaves me vulnerable, but it also means I have the strength and ability to connect and commune that those without trust can never have. She doesn't want me to lose that.

I lean against her chest for a little while, thanking her for showing me this truth, and for her help ahead when I need it later. I'm hoping my dog energy issues will be better, and ask Dog to intercede on my behalf if and when she can. She seems willing, but gives no clear answer. She gives me a couple tiny licks on my cheek and neck, and then I get up to return to my realm.

END.

Druid Animal Oracle: BOAR

[A continuation of meditations upon a card deck by Philip & Stephanie Carr-Gomm. Interestingly, the companion to this card, the Sow, was drawn only 2 days ago.]

Illustrated by Bill Worthington

Today's Card: BOAR-- "Torc" in Gaelic; The Warrior Spirit, Leadership, Direction

The card shows a boar emerging from a thick and dark forest into a small clearing with a helmet, horn, and stone with a pictograph of a boar etched upon it, a comb upon its back. A well worn path winds past the foreground and fades into the background.

I step onto the path before, realizing I am nervous to meet the boar. I have too often been abused by aggressive people, and the boar is a very aggressive and dangerous animal. The boar grunts reassuringly and digs at the ground with a hoof. I realize the dark forest is also a little intimidating to me.

The boar wiggles his snout, kicks the helmet, which clangs, and seems to tell me to put it on. I do so, feeling a little silly. Then he noses the horn, so I pick it up and blow it. He seems to nod approvingly and then takes off down the path along the woods that lays before me. After a few steps, he waggles his tail and looks back, so I obligingly follow him.

I hear drums in the woods, and see distant shadows. There's a feeling of drama and danger. I must be ready! Boar begins to run down the path and then ducks suddenly into the woods. I follow him to duck behind a stand of trees. Some group of people run past on the path, apparently hunting us!

This is not like the other journeys! I look down at the boar, but he seems to laugh eagerly. He's looking forward to a fight! Soon, we are running and ducking behind trees through the forest. We're going to attack their camp! They left it to hunt us, and so left themselves wide open...

When we get to their camp, I feel as if this fight is more like a game. I have to stay alert and not allow fear to overwhelm me. I have to remember what I must do. I have a mission with orders to follow. So I quickly move around camp and sabotage several areas, creating traps and moving weapons and armor, dumping food and so forth. Then we move into a hollow under a large tree to watch and wait.

The men return, exhausted and disappointed. They realize their camp has been messed with, and-- after searching and finding no one there-- toss their weapons down. That is when we burst from our hollow and run through camp, stealing a special hammer that goes with the horn and helmet! Utterly unprepared for our raid, the hunters can only fumble as we get our prize and run back into the woods. I blow the horn one last time to torment the losers of the hammer.

We head back for where we started. Once we reach the rock with its boar etching, the beast knocks down the rock and digs beneath it. I place the hammer there and its buried to be hidden beneath the big stone. It'll be the secret that Boar and I keep from those who would take it. I give the horn and helmet back to the Boar, I know he will hide them in the woods again. Only then do I learn what my time with Boar has been about.

One may learn about war or aggression by studying it (helmet), and they make talk about it and make lots of noise (horn), but only those who are willing to take action can call themselves warriors (hammer.) I wonder why we buried it then-- because most people don't know how to wield it fairly. They knock everything like a toddle with a stick. Aggression should only be used when wisdom calls for it to defend against evil, to protect both the vulnerable (like children and the elderly) and the productive (adults who contribute to the survival of all).

The Boar is all about how to use violence judiciously. He is all about how to be prudent with our power to cause physical harm. One must plan, and communicate with allies first, and only then take up the hammer and do what must be done. Then, he is all about daring action, and guerilla warfare, and clever strategies!

It seems straight forward to me. It makes me think of military training and discipline. This is not an area I deal with much, but I believe I can understand and respect it.

I kneel and scratch the Boar all over his head, and kiss the spot between his tusks, and thank him before stepping back into my own realm.

END.

Druid Animal Oracle: WREN

[Continuing my meditations upon the card deck by Philip & Stephanie Carr-Gomm. Today's card is one of the hardest to interpret. Today I hope to crack its meaning completely.]

Illustration by Bill Worthington

Today's Card: WREN-- "Drui-en" in Gaelic: Humility, Cunning, God

The card shows a wren upon her nest built upon oak, ivy, moss, and fern. She and her nest are hidden behind rock crags or standing stones. Beyond, you can see the waters of a lake and the shores upon the other side of it. It is sunrise after a long nights storm; lightning still thunders above. The wren, undeterred, hold a feather in her beak.

I step through the doorway and find myself sitting in a great oak tree. Its a bit crowded, as I am face to face with a bird and her nest, which are at my eye level. The wren hops on her branch, tilts her head, and looks at me. She then hops closer to place the feather in the palm of my hand. I look at it, and carefully hold it so as not to crush it. Its very tiny, and in this place I feel like a clumsy giant.

Now, once more, I must follow. She first checks her eggs. Her mate is on his way to take his turn, and she then flits through between the rocks. I scramble to climb down out of the tree-- halfway down I can reach the rocks. I squeeze through, and find myself on a shoreline of white, round stones. I look back and realize its a clever hiding place for the nest!

The wren is nearby, hopping from rock to rock. I know this shoreline! I've been on it in a dream before! I walk towards the wren as a bright flash overhead, followed by tremendous thunder, transforms the world for a brief span of time. Looking across the lake, I see the roiling waves. Its windy and all the world seems under threat. But the storm doesn't hate the land, it merely is... I realize the wren is telling me this, and I sit down on the odd 'beach' made of nearly identical white stones, thinking about how much her eggs resemble these smooth stones.

The wren prompts me to look at the tiny feather in my hand. I do, and watch as the wind makes it bend and twist. If I let go, the feather will fly away into the lake, to be drowned and exist no more as a thing of the air. I look up at the clouds, amazed at how black they seem. She tells me that I am like this feather. A delicate and precious thing that comes into the world, fragile and easily undone.

More lightning and thunder. I realize that both the chaotic thunderstorm and the beautiful sunrise with clear skies to the east are about the God/dess. A tremendous power over life and death. A great and broad mind that can be so overwhelming. The powers of the divine bring both birth and demise to us all, but not with malice. Its job is complex and incomprehensible. We are the tiny beings that come and go briefly into this realm.

The wren tells us what to do to survive and even thrive, in the face of such power, despite our puny and insignificant existence. She flitted back to the crack, and I followed, squeezing through and then climbing the oak branches back up to her nest. Her mate, seeing us, flies away.

Once I am back to my perch by her nest, she shows me what to do: weave my feather into the nest. I do so, carefully, as she tells me this is what life is about: finding a safe harbor and building a nest for our lives. We are to watch, and listen, and learn of life and of the divine powers, but always with a knowledge that we must be cautious and clever!

Ah- yes! I get it. I understand the teachings of the wren. I hold out my two cupped hands for her, she hops into them and I bring her up to my face to give her a tiny kiss on the top of her head as thanks. I then lower her to her nest and return through the doorway to my world.

END.

Druid Animal Oracle: SOW

[To begin with, I'll be meditating each day upon a series of Druid Animal Oracle cards. Just one a day. I'll share any thoughts, feelings, or impressions I get from spending a few minutes per card. We'll see if and how this lends to my spiritual life. This technique uses imagination for a short journey.]

Illustration by Bill Worthington

Today's Card: SOW -- "Muc" in Gaelic: Generosity, Nourishment, Discovery

The card shows a semi-domesticated female pig with her brood of striped-back piglets. They are foraging for acorns on the edge of a wood overlooking a field of wheat. Deciduous woods are beyond that, and a bare hill peeks out behind the trees.

I step through the doorway and little ones squeal and scatter. Their mother looks at me, and if a sow could smile with amusement, she would be doing just that. I take a few steps forward and look at the field of wheat. So neat and all in rows. The sow silently follows behind me, her piglets calmer now, are following her.

She walks ahead of me into the field of ripe wheat and I walk behind. We leave a path through the crop. Her piglets think its a game, and duck in and out, leaving very little impression. They stop and eat bits of fallen grain as we go. I put my hand out and let the wheat tops brush my palms. The sow grunts happily, and I follow her.

She leads me into the edge of the woods on one side of the wheat field. There's a grove of apple trees there, and I reach down to pick one off the ground. The piglets quickly go through the fallen apples. I take a bite of one and then share it with a couple of piglets.

Next we cross a small brook, where everyone gets a drink, and on to some blackberry brambles, where I pick a few to eat and the little ones eat fallen ones off the ground again.

When we get to the edge of the woods, the sow shows me the bare hill. There is nothing growing there-- only short grass. Its a good place for some activities, but nothing she cares about. Still, I climb it and decide to talk to her there. The piglets stay behind, happy to play and hunt for mushrooms.

I'm getting that much of this is about our/my relationship to food. The search for food is an ongoing hunt. There is plenty. Food is abundant, so the sow and her brood are very relaxed about it and share and things seem okay for them.

Our conversation is not in words, but I understand her. We need to be 'fed' affection as much as we need to be fed food. Without feeling loved and cared for, we sense we need to hunt. But we get confused and think we want food, when really we want to be nurtured by companionship in a safe place. The sow is a part of the mother in the Universe that feeds us freely and happily. Without her abundant energy, we are afraid we'll be left alone on the bare hill.

I look around that hill. The place where it is lonely and bare. I can see much from there. But I'm not trapped. I can always go down into the woods or fields to find new sources of sustenance. The sow is telling me that if I need help to not overeat sometimes, I should call on her. Ask her to help me remember that I'm not stranded on a bare hill. She will let me know to ask for a hug, or to pet my cat, or cuddle with my fuzzy blankets, if I am feeling a hunger that is not for actual food.

I never thought on calling on spirit animals for such a thing before. Not really. Ravens sometimes and rabbits are omens to me, but asking for help from a pig so I can feel okay about food? Hmmm! I tell her yes, I would like to ask for help! She's happy.

We climb down from the bare hill and join the piglets. The run up on their short little legs and nuzzle their mom, and we all continue to walk through the woods to the open fields, and I run a little, and let the wind blow my hair, until we reach the doorway to my world where we started.

I thank the Sow for helping me understand her more deeply and personally. I kneel and kiss her on the top of her muzzle and scratch her between the eyes. She grunts in pleasure. I say good-bye and return.

END.

One Pagan's Path

Art by Steve Henderson

I've recently begun a renewed routine of pagan practice. Mostly private for now, intensely personal, and meant to help me continue to build upon my experience as a magickal practitioner.

This blog will share my daily meditations on various symbolic themes, events, virtues or vices. My goal is to spend a few minutes every day upon a chosen topic, then write it down here.