The topic for this Yule Blog Hop is ‘Christmas
Present’. Well, this presents (!) a
number of possibilities. ‘Christmas
present’, as in Christmas gift? ‘Christmas Present’, as in
past-present-future? If I followed that
line of thought, there's always the possibility of a past-present–future spread. Or I could go the ‘what does this Christmas
present?’ route, as in ‘what is it going to show us, or present us with?’ Decisions, decisions.
But wait! Route... reindeer route...the route of the
Magi...the root of that story – of all
Christmas and Yule stories, myths, legends...(isn’t word association wonderful?) What’s at the root of Christmas?
Copyright Alison Coals |
With the birth of the child, be this the Sun Child or Jesus
or Mithras or whoever (or whatever) you see this as, it’s a time to
rejoice. Light and warmth are on the
increase, and the seeds of what we’ve been germinating in the winter months are
growing, although we have to wait until Imbolc for them to start to bud. It’s time to stop and take stock of where we
stand (still), and what it is we want to germinate before spring arrives.
Copyright Alison Coals |
One of my favourite images from the Wildwood Tarot *, the
Hooded Man, contains many of these symbols – not surprisingly, this card sits
at Yule on the Wildwood’s Wheel of the Year. (Images from the Wildwood Tarot, created by John Matthews and Mark Ryan, illustrated by Will Worthington, published by Connections.)
As for Christmas presents, this goes back to the Romans,
where high-ranking officials were expected to give the Emperor a present on the
festival of the Kalends (apparently corresponding to 1 January). Originally the
gift were simply branches from evergreen trees that grew in the grove of the
goddess Strenia, but later cakes and honey were given, representing wishes of a
year of sweetness and prosperity.
So back I come to that idea of a past-present-future
spread...
What Christmas present do I carry
from the past?
The Ancestor (I kid you not). I bring with me ancestral memory and wisdom, and a reminder to listen to my instinct. This card sits at Imbolc, the direction we’re headed in now.
The Ancestor (I kid you not). I bring with me ancestral memory and wisdom, and a reminder to listen to my instinct. This card sits at Imbolc, the direction we’re headed in now.
What can I present to others at Christmas? The Three of Bows. My present is my ability (or, as I see it, a goal yet to be achieved!) to be still (ah, there’s that word again) inwardly and focus; this may allow others to have confidence in me.
What does Christmas present me with for the future, in terms of my ‘route’?
The Page of Stones. I will be presented with the opportunity to learn something new, something practical perhaps, or of a ‘down-to-earth’ nature. On the Wildwood’s Wheel, this card sits just past the Winter Solstice, heading for Imbolc.
Thank you for stopping off here on your own journey through
this Yule Tarot Blog Hop! Please do come
back and read some of my other posts.
The next stops on the Tarot Blog Hop are - depending on whether you’re moving backwards, which case it's
Koneta Bailey's site ....
....or forwards, in which you're headed to
Jaymi's.
The Master List can be found here.
Along with a delightful post, I have to say that I really loved your birds. Talent!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Arwen!
DeleteLoving the images you've drawn! I also feel that the Lynx is asking you to observe, rather than act. Lynx's are the quietest "big cat" of the feline world. They won't / can't be seen unless they want you to be seen. Observe from a distance, perhaps? Time to learn by watching but not saying?
ReplyDeleteSeasons blessings to you though my friend!
Ah, I'm much better at observing than acting! Thank you... and season's blessings to you too :-)
DeleteLoved this, Alison! Being in the present and being still, so we can assess the past, present and future :) Great spread, too!
ReplyDeleteSeasons blessings,
Chloë