Nosy Witch Questions: The Chariot

The Chariot: Favorite witchcraft tools to use?

Is it a little too on the nose to say Tarot cards?  *grin*  While, yes, it is a little bit obvious, they’re my favorite tools.  Thanks to a bit of a tarot renaissance and some truly awesome indie artists the world of Tarot cards is getting more and more diverse.  While we still have a long way to go in getting more diverse representation in Tarot, I am delighted at the progress that’s being made.  I can actually find queer witchy decks, years ago if I’d wanted that I would have had to create the deck myself from scratch and even if I had, I wouldn’t have had a way to share it. Now I can find a deck for just about any kind of energy I want to work with and that is amazing.  Now, if I could only stop buying new ones…

Kidding. Mostly, I’m going to keep on collecting them like the tarot magpie that I certainly am.  Even if I don’t get to read with all of them as often as would be great, I want to keep supporting deck creators by giving them my money in exchange for amazing decks.

I also like using herbs and plants, lavender is my absolute favorite plant ally.  This year I’m hoping to harvest some of my own home grown lavender that is growing in my gardens.

I also get a lot of use out of candles in my work.  I find the act of lighting a candle helps me clear and designate a space and time for sacred work.  It gives me something to focus on when I’m getting started.  Clear my thoughts, light the candle, and watch it flicker and dance.  I also like the ritual of choosing the appropriate color for what I’m working on.

What are your favorite tools?  What should I try next?

 

Card of the Day: The Archer

Today’s card is The Archer from the Wildwood Tarot

The Archer is the seventh of the Major Arcana in the Wildwood Tarot deck.  This is where the Chariot is in the RWS decks.  The Chariot normally means swift decisive action and I love the symbolism and images in this version of the card.

There are echoes of the Chariot here, the two hounds hold the space of the Sphinxes and you can’t get more swift than an arrow loosed from a bow.  The position of the arrow here gives a new twist to this card.  The Archer holds the arrow, she hasn’t fired it yet.  It takes a lot of strength and discipline to hold an arrow nocked and wait.  That’s a recurve bow as well.  Newer compound bows make it much easier to hold position back there, fletching at your cheek, but the old ‘Robin Hood’ style requires your strength the entire time until you release the arrow.  I think her holding the arrow unreleased here is indicating that swift decisive action is ready to be loosed, but that you should be focused and disciplined about where you target your actions.

There’s a message about the stored potential energy that’s held in the tensioned wood of the bow and the taut string.  It’s poised and ready to be wielded in service to the Archer as she hunts her prey.  She’s had to work hard to build her strength in order to use her bow, and she takes careful aim.  She is literally declaring her intention here.  So there’s a powerful message about focusing your intentions behind your actions and projecting your will outward into the world.

When you see the Archer, know that you are powerful and be ready to loose your arrows into the world.