Minor Arcana
Earth Cards
Earth Cards
GREEN in this system relates to the element of EARTH
Imaginosophy Earth cards instruct us in the ways we live in our bodies and on the planet. Their natural expressions have to do with money, sexual and survival drives, as well as our connection to the Spirit of the Earth. We believe it is possible to work directly with the living landscape and the many sentient beings who are part of the world. The silver shield in the center of each of the Earth cards represents that which is hidden in the Underworld (or unconscious), while the images in Green represent what is happening above the surface in the forest and in our lives.
Earth Cards are about the ordinary aspects of life, especially regarding the ways in which we struggle and/or thrive in the material world. The Trees, Coins, Shields, and Pentagrams depicted here are expressions of the Element of Earth. In the Celtic Wheel of Life Earth is related to North, the direction of the ancestors. North is traditionally related to black or white, the colors of the Milky Way. In this deck, we equate North with green, because the planet is covered in green. Ireland is often thought of as green and gold, and the Elementals love green.
Green is the color of the compassionate heart, and the love and friendships that connect us all. It also reminds us of the heart-felt relationships we have with our ancestors who have crossed to Otherworlds and those who still kindly smile upon us.
Each Earth card has a special tree and offers tree wisdom. We have a unique symbiotic relationship with trees. When trees breathe out, we breathe in. They are our vertical teachers and can teach us a great deal about the living landscape. The wise often say if you want to know more about an area, ask a tree. In Ireland the first language was known as the Ogham, which is the language of the trees.
Insects also play a vital role in the living landscape and act in Imaginosophy as animal totems. Indigenous cultures around the world recognize that many insects can act as guides, offering insights, opening new levels of awareness, even giving us glimpses into the future. Most insects have cycles of power and are often strongest during a particular season, which may also give another level of meaning to the reading.
All the Earth Court Cards arise out of the Ulster Cycle which is based on mythological-histories from 1BC Ireland. Imaginosophy re-imagines the Spirit of the Earth, the animated living landscape, including the tree people and faery kingdoms.
Ace of Earth – Abundance
Keywords:
Wealth – Good fortune – Plenty – Affluence – Health
Reversed
Obstacles – Missed opportunity – Hesitation.
Meaning:
The Ace of Earth is a card of good fortune, abundance, balance, and success in life. A gift has presented itself to you and now it’s your job to bring it into full manifestation. Like all Aces, this is a card of new beginnings. With good planning and advice, you may have an opportunity to bring more abundance into multiple areas of your life. The Ace of Earth suggests unexpected good news is coming your way.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Imaginosophy pictures the Spirit of the Earth working harmoniously with Elemental forces. This card indicates that the timing is winter. A double five-pointed star inside a silver shield is surrounded by silver Oak leaves and tree like spirals and white Mistletoe berries. The plants inside the shield appear to be asleep, as if awaiting spring. The circle or shield is surrounded by living Holy leaves and berries, which begin to appear in the autumn. A Ladybug flies skyward as if seeking the light, her orange wings mimicking the shiny red berries.
A pentagram emerges from the green background; an ancient spiritual symbol of eternal symmetry that is considered sacred to almost any wise person seeking divine knowledge. Since we are in an ecological crisis, moving back into harmony with nature and the five elements seems wise. The movement of Venus creates a perfect pentagram in the sky over every eight-year period. The pentagram symbol points to a person who is aligned with all the elements and spirit; a person who is happy in their body and stands firmly on the Earth. The pentagram is related to the human body with outstretched arms and legs; the five senses; and the five elements.
Tree Lore:
The Holly tree is generally used during the winter holidays for decorating because it is one of the few plants that has strong healthy leaves that time of year. The spikey green leaves are protective. Beginning in the autumn, the females produce bright red berries, which provide sustenance for many birds. In the Ogham Tree Lore, Holly or Tinne is one of the most powerful of the chieftain trees. It grows in woodlands harmoniously with Oak, Hazel, and Beech trees. At Midwinter the Holly/Tinne changes position with the deciduous Oak and becomes the King of Trees until Midsummer, when the roles reverse again. As an essence, the Holly is balancing and stabilizing. It helps lift negative energies such as jealousy and vexation, supporting us in solving the issues that reside in our hearts. When there has been some sort of personal injustice or absence of love, Holly helps us reestablish a generosity of spirit.
Insect Totem:
Ladybugs are considered powerful totems, even healers. Those lucky enough to have them as guides are considered gifted with the potential of becoming the best version of themselves. There are six thousand species of Ladybugs, Lady Beetles, or Ladybirds. They are a well-loved insect and appear in many myths and legends. An Anglo-Celtic tale suggests that the number of spots on the Ladybird indicates how much money you will make. In Scotland if a Ladybird landed on a young woman, it indicated the direction from which her suitor would come. They would sing this little ditty: “Fly away east or fly away west, and show me where lives the one I like best.”
Adage:
It is prudent to keep enough capital for an adventure.
Grail Question:
What is the gift that has been given to you?
Two of Earth – Partnership
Keywords:
Duality – Right relationship – Friendships
Reversed
Obstacles to partnership.
Meaning:
The Two of Earth indicates that you are being invited into an alliance, a marriage, or some sort of partnership with another. This relationship might be with an unseen aspect of nature, a spirit, or even a pet. The partnership could be with someone who can teach you about creating material comfort or living sustainably in right relationship to the Earth. Many of the Celtic and pre-Celtic people believed that to experience reality the Oneness needed to divide itself into the God and Goddess. In order the know ourselves as individuals, we enter into dualistic relationships with each other and the world. If you have drawn this card in a reading, know that some sort of union will enrich your life.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
Two of Gwyn Ap Nudd’s white hounds from Annwn, the Celtic Underworld, stand haunch to haunch in front of a Tree of Life made of double hearts. Four faeries stand in each of the cardinal directions, representing the elements. Outside of the dark shield, the world is green. A Brown Moth flies skyward as if seeking the light. Several Birch leaves adorn the drawing. There is a sense that the hounds and the faeries are inviting us into right relationship with nature. Two young leaves shootout from the Tree of Life as if inviting our hearts to open to a new way of partnering.
Tree Lore:
About 8500 BC, after the Ice Age in Britain, the Birch was the first tree to grow, followed by Aspen, Pine and Hazel trees. In Celtic mythology the Birch is a tree of beginnings, renewal, and purification. The slender silver skinned trees in Gaelic poetry are sometimes called “finnbhean na coille” or the fair woman of the woods. In Wales wreathes of birch were given as love tokens. In several countries the Birch was used as a maypole and was also used for broom making. As well as a tree of romance and love, it was a symbol of purity and a protection against evil spirits. The Birch or Beith is the first alphabet in the Ogham or Tree Lore language.
Insect Totem:
The Moth represents metamorphosis or change. They like the nighttime and encourage us to be optimistic even when life seems dark. Moths have existed on the planet for about 190 million years, and their DNA carries ancient wisdom. The brown color of the Moth suggests that it is time to get back to the land, for nature teaches us how to live, thrive and fall in love again.
Quote:
“Beneath you birch with silver bark
And boughs so pendulous and fair,
The brook falls scattered down the rock:
and all is mossy there.”
– Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Grail Question:
Who do you love?
Three of Earth - Teamwork
Keywords:
Creativity – Talents – Livelihood – Collaboration
Reversed
Obstacles to teamwork.
Meaning:
Our work matters because we build upon the skills we have mastered. The Three of Earth suggests that a plan is being implemented. It generally takes teamwork to manifest ideas into the material plane. In this case it seems the job is being done collectively. Remember to support teammates, while still retaining a unique vision and perspective. As we develop our creative gifts and capacities, we can weave our dreams and visions into songs, stories, and art, or even the building of houses or farms, or businesses. Threes remind us of the principle of the Threefold Return, which states that what we do will be returned to us magnified. If you have drawn this card in a reading it suggests that you are enjoying being part of a team, and/or that you are close to the completion of a goal.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
The Triskele or Triple Spiral is at the center of the silver shield. It is one of the oldest symbols of spirituality. The Celts believed that things happened in threes. From the three waves of the Triskele an eight petaled mandala is formed. This is reminiscent of the Padma (the lotus), the central symbol in Buddhism. It is chosen because the lotus grows in the mud but grows upward and blossoms in the light, like a person who overcomes the power of ignorance and reaches enlightenment. From the Padma, eight flowers blossom between eight goddesses. The outer rim of the shield displays two more symbols, eight triquetras and eight quaternity knots. There is a Celtic saying that all truths have four corners, and this idea is reflected in the artwork. Around this complex group of symbols are a series of Beech leaves and Beechnuts. A green Beetle sits in the lower left-hand corner as if observing the life of the inner world.
Tree Lore:
Beech is the Queen to the Oak King. The Beech is said to be the Mother of the Woods, and her nuts which ripen in late autumn were once a valuable food source. Collecting the nuts once strengthened the bond between Celtic clans. Beech’s Irish/Gaelic name is Phagos, and the tree is linked with written wisdom. The Irish god Ogma is recognized as the deity who wrote the Ogham Alphabet. Apparently, he wrote it on Beech bark. Historically, thin slices of the tree were used for the very first books. This meant that wisdom could be passed on to future generations. As a flower essence, Beech helps us become more tolerant and to see the good in others.
Insect Totem:
The green Beetle is a symbol of good fortune. They are communal creatures, working together to create stability within their habitat. They are wonderful representatives of cooperation and teamwork. As a totem, the Beetle teaches social awareness and reminds us not to burn out but to collaborate instead.
Adage:
Third time is the charm.
Grail Question:
What are you creating?
Four of Earth – Security
Keywords:
Self-care – Foundation – Legacy
Reversed
Need for self-care – Miser.
Meaning:
The Four of Earth is a card of manifestation in the physical world. Grounded in the material world, the time has come to create a firm foundation for yourself which will serve you in busier times. This is a card that suggests is an appropriate time to rest and to contemplate before moving forward. The shadow side of the card would be the miser who cannot release any of his material positions and becomes stuck in his own greed. The healthy view is that of physical and financial well-being. It may indicate being pregnant with a child, an idea, or a project, or awaiting the right moment for birth. If you have pulled the Four of Earth in a reading, thought needs to go into creating a sustainable future for yourself and your loved ones.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From the center of the artwork a symbol emerges of a central circle and cross with overlapping semi-circles. The circle and cross is an ancient emblem dating back to the Bronze age. It represents the union of the Spirit of the Sun with the Spirit of the Earth. It was used by kings as a symbol of power and security. The Apple blossoms remind us of the many stories about magical apples and their ability to connect us to the Otherworld. The blossoming silver Apple trees of the inner world mirror the white blossoms in the apparent world. The Spider indicates that humans spin stories to fit the needs of their generation.
Tree Lore:
The Apple tree or Quert is the 10th letter of the Irish Ogham and it is associated with wholeness. Apples contain vitality and life force that nurtures men and women. The county of Somerset in southwest England is known for its apples and grows over a hundred varieties. The ancient name for Glastonbury was Avallon, which means Isle of Apples. The healing properties of apples has been known for thousands of years. The only native apple tree in Britain is the Crab Apple. A person who works with the Apple Ogham may open their healing capacities.
Avalon is ruled by Morgan le Fay, a faery queen and sister of Arthur. The Apple tree is often used in Celtic Shamanic journeys to the Otherworld. There are tales of faery women with silver branches entwined with bronze, silver or gold bells that enchant heroes. According to the OBODs, Merlin’s teacher Gwendolleu introduced him to sacred Apple Grove, and it was here that the faery women opened his clairvoyant and prophetic capacities.
In ancient Greek myth, Gaia gave Hera an Apple tree when she married Zeus. It is said by bards that the tree was kept in the Hesperides guarded by a dragon. Judeo-Christian folklore suggests that the Apple is a tree of forbidden knowledge. The serpent gave Eve and then Adam the Apple which when bitten opened their minds to good and evil, and from then on humanity has been cast out into a world of duality and suffering. Originally the story was about a fig or pomegranate, but the story was changed in Western Europe to disparage the sacred Apple.
Insect Totem:
The black Spider in the lower left-hand side of the card has woven a web in which she waits for a meal in the form of a fly to come to her. She works for her dinner and knows what she needs will come to her. The Spider weaves stories that can entrap or enchant. Spiders often inspires fear and invites us to explore the shadow self, examine the tales we spin about ourselves, especially our bodies, and finances. The Spider teaches that we are the weavers of our lives.
Adage:
It is wise when you are young to set yourself up to make a good living.
Grail Question:
What within you seeks healing?
Five of Earth - Challenges
Keywords:
Temporary Loss – Burden – Rejection
Reversed
Facing loss – Ancestral messages.
Meaning:
During our lives, we will encounter challenges, loss, and suffering. The Five of Earth does not indicate that we are being threatened, but we might feel stuck in a rut. Challenges can force us to open to a new direction, perhaps choose a path we have feared. Even if we feel immobile, we can be open to the possibility of change.
This card can indicate issues with the material world, such as a financial loss, a burden, or health crisis. If you have pulled Five of Earth in a reading it may be time to get in touch with the lifeforce that is lying dormant in your roots. Knowing that spring and natural prosperity will return, allow yourself to feel the deficient places within your being and ask how you can build a stronger foundation so that ultimately you and those around you can thrive.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From the green background emerges a Hawthorn tree encircled in a silver band of dots and dashes. The green leaves and the nutritious red berries on the outside suggest that the timing is mid-autumn, just before Samhain (Oct 1-Nov). The bare branches suggest that Merlin is in the winter of his existence. Because they transform many times in the cycle of their life, the butterflies remind us that change and transformation are natural and that we can trust the process.
The Hawthorn is one of the most common trees of the British Isles. Much folklore surrounds the enchanted fairy tree, which tends to be small and grows in hedges. In Nimue: Freeing Merlin, the old wizard is sealed in a giant magical Hawthorn tree. This card depicts Merlin in his tree tomb awaiting the time of his return. The lower part of the tree is one with the wizard’s beard. His eyes have become as green as springtime grasses and his hair is part of the Otherworld.
Tree Lore:
Hawthorn was called Huath (pronounced Hoh-uh) by the ancient Celts. It is said to grow amongst the Oaks and Ashes and attract the faery folk. Huath is certainly connected with the wisdom of the Green Man. It is said that the essence of the Hawthorn cleanses the heart of negativity, and herbalists report that the red berries can be used to tonify the heart. The ripe berries are also high in vitamin C and B complex.
According to legend, the Hawthorn is said to spring from lightning. In mystical Christianity, a holy thorn was said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea (the uncle of Jesus) when he brought the Grail from the Holy Land. The story may have been told to transform the Hawthorn’s association with Beltane and sexuality.
Hawthorns were said to act as threshold guardians to the Otherworld and for that reason they are often found by sacred streams and wells. Water that rose from deep within the terrain was thought to help one connect with the ancestors. There are still places in Britain and Ireland where strips of cloth known as clooties are tied to branches of a special Hawthorn in the hopes that wishes will be heard.
Insect Totem:
The green butterfly hovers over the imprisoned Merlin representing life and revitalization. Even in difficult times, good fortune is always close. Like Merlin, the butterfly constantly engages in the process of metamorphosis and reminds us to have faith in each season of our being.
Adage:
Bravely embracing failure and rejection, we build character and resilience.
Grail Question:
How does failure or loss serve you?
Six of Earth – Generosity
Keywords:
Kindness – Exchange – Gratification – Harmony – Good Luck
Reversed
Lack of generosity.
Meaning:
When you pull the Six of Earth, it is a reminder that although the Earth is generous, it is wise to use all resources wisely. It is time for us to learn to live in harmony with the Earth and be good stewards. In the magical tradition there is a law of the returning tide, in which the magician plants seeds of love, healing and generosity. This may be a good time to volunteer or become involved in a charity or philanthropic project or organization. Being generous is a powerful practice. It may be that you are experiencing the benefits of some of these harmonious blessings.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
A white fairy tree emerges from the center of the card. It is a glowing Otherworldly Hawthorn. Six birds fly upward from its branches appearing almost as angels. The trunk of the tree has a feminine shape, and the tree was said to be sacred to Brigid. The double silver and black bands or circles seem to have a protective quality. It is a reminder that those who protect their vitality have the energy to give. Like the Rowan, the Cricket in the upper right hand corner is a sign of good luck.
Tree Lore:
Rowans have a tendency to pull one toward the imaginal. They are known as trees of light and fire with the ability to connect the human world to the fairy realms. Known as a tree of protection, the Rowan was traditionally planted near a home to protect it from lightning strikes and other forms of harm. It has many magical connotations. In Sanskrit, Rowan means magician; in Norse, it means a charm. In Scandanavian lore, the first woman arose from the Rowan. In Greek myth the Rowan sprang from the blood of an Eagle who had been sent by Zeus to recover his sacred cup.
The Irish Ogham name is Luis (pronounced ‘loosh’). Although it is a small tree it can live for a few hundred years. In folklore those who tied red strings around Rowan trees could ward off a strong spell. The Rowan was sacred to the Celts and it was known as one of the Druid or wizard trees. There are tales of Druids breathing in the smoke of Rowan fires to induce trance states to see if the tribe was protected or in danger. The Rowan is said to shield against evil spirits, and was burned on funeral pyres to protect the living and the dead. The tree blossoms generously in the spring with creamy white flowers. It is revered as a tree of good luck. In the autumn all sorts of birds including waxwings, redwings and other thrushes flock to the tree to gobble up the berries.
Insect Totem:
The Cricket as a spirit guide brings luck, good fortune and happiness. A Cricket singing away in a home protects against bad vibrations. A mature female can lay a hundred eggs a day and several thousand in her lifetime. The Cricket is a sign of wealth, fertility, and generosity.
Adage:
“That’s what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.”
― Simone de Beauvoir
Grail Question:
How do you give to others?
Seven of Earth - Patience
Keywords:
Stamina – Quietness – Docility – Ingenuity – Fortitude
Reversed
Challenges with waiting.
Meaning:
Contemplate for a moment the gifts, treasures, and rewards of your life. Seven is the number of magic and we often operate in seven-year cycles, for example the human body remakes itself every seven years. It takes time to cultivate what we want in our life, similarly it takes focus and hard work to plant and grow a garden. Once you plant your seeds, trust your hard work will pay off. The challenge is in the waiting, especially if you are in the in-between place where all the activity is happening underground (in the soil) or within (the soul). Simply let the plants grow, they will eventually bear fruits and nuts. If you are patient, you will reap a reward.
If you have drawn the Seven of Earth in a reading patience is needed, otherwise everything you have been cultivating could be ruined. You might feel frustrated wondering if your efforts are going to pay off and if the garden will indeed sprout. Even though you might want action, there is nothing to do but wait and see.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From the Green Earth a Devic figure sends her roots out like a nervous system underground. She is feeding the wisdom of the forest. Trees that have grown naturally are in constant communication with their neighbors. The star above the Deva and the horizontal moon below suggest that magic is at play. Her roots reach out to the silver circle (representing Spirit) lined with Hazel leaves and above there are some ripe Hazelnuts. A Beetle hangs out on a leaf.
Tree Lore:
In the Celtic world Hazel trees grow at the heart of the Otherworld. Nine trees drape across the Well of Wisdom dropping their hazelnuts (described as purple nuts in that realm) into the water. Bubbles of inspiration are released into surface of streams. The Salmon of Wisdom eat these nuts and those who eat the nuts or the Salmon gain poetic and prophetic wisdom.
One of the chieftain trees in the Celtic tradition, the Ogham name for Hazel is Coll. It is one of the oldest native British trees. The nuts were used for food and once upon a time cutting down a Hazel was considered publishable by death. The Hazel Doormice (endangered now) eat the green nuts. A wand or staff made from Hazel wood was often used by Druid priests, and it is also a wood used by dowsers.
Insect Totem:
The Beetle as a totem reminds us that even though dramas might be going on all around his leaf, wisdom is found in staying centered. From his perspective beauty can be found everywhere and within everyone. Beetles never give up on a project. As guides Beetles teach us how to bring projects into fruition.
Adage:
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Grail Question:
What seeds or gifts are bearing fruit in your life?
Eight of Earth - Cultivation
Keywords:
Talent – Learning – Skillsets – Mentorship
Reversed
Obstacles to learning.
Meaning:
Success is found when we pour ourselves into our projects and believe in our abilities. Eight is the number of achievements. Moving in rhythm with the Sun, Moon and Stars helps us work harmoniously with Earth. It takes self-discipline to stay in alignment with the natural world and it is worth the effort. This is the moment to choose to do the work that you love; or bring love into the work you do.
If you have pulled the Eight of Earth in a reading, it may be time to take a course or train under someone to develop a special skillset. Talents that are developed and mastered can be passed to future generations. It takes a team to cultivate a true gift.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From a Triskelion in the center of the drawing, swirling lines birth worms, slow worms, and legless viviparous lizards. For the health of the soil, no other living creature is more important than the humble worm. Earthworms aerate the land, distribute nutrients, alter soil structure, water movement, and help plants grow. In the artwork the worms appear to be kissing the Periwinkle flowers, which is symbolic of the way in which worms and reptiles encourage life to flourish. Periwinkle flowers are fairy favorites for they represent friendships. In in their silver form the Periwinkles have not yet manifested, but their allies will help them. Two bees buzzing around the Alder leaves suggest that they support what is being cultivated.
Tree Lore:
A wood that is resistant to water, for centuries Alder has been a favorite for the makers of clogs as well as builders of bridges and other types of outdoor construction. It also makes a fine coal and was even used for gunpowder. The sap runs red orange when cut and the tree can look as though it is bleeding. The cones make a black dye and incense made from the bark can disperse negative thoughts.
The Alder in Ogham is known as Fearn (pronounced verern). It is a tree that grows near water and colonizes wet treeless ground. The roots are water resistant, and the Alder brings stability to creek and riverbanks, as well as enriching the soil. Like Birch and Hazel its seeds come in the form of catkins. The Alder grows up to ninety feet in height but only lives for about one hundred and fifty years. However, when the old tree dies new shoots form at the base of the trunk.
In Celtic lore it is known that in remote places Alder trees have fairy or elf doors in their trunks. There are also gateways to the underworld. A whistle or other musical instrument made from Alder can summon the North Wind. On moonlit nights you might hear an alder flute and the music will swirl upwards and combine with the songs of the stars.
Insect Totem:
The Bees are very productive, but they know to stop and smell the flowers. Since they know how to create sweetness (honey), people who have Bees as guides often become lightworkers and healers for their communities. The Bee-Spirit is a strong protector.
Adage:
“Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.”
– Plato
Grail Question:
What talent are you developing?
Nine of Earth – Achievement
Keywords:
Success – Comfort- Satisfaction – Achievement – Accomplishment
Reversed
Obstacles to accomplishment.
Meaning:
The Nine of Earth offers a sense of luxury, enrichment, and fulfillment. Your hard work or investment has paid off, the harvest is in, and now you can enjoy the benefits of a successful life. When your needs have been met, you can begin to relax and envision a peaceful existence. Aware of your inner and outer riches, you may pass on what you have learned to your children and/or community. This is a time of contentment. You may feel self-assured, even blissfully spiritually aware.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From the center of the card a silver serpent (representing the creative force of life) kisses an acorn awakening it from its slumber. It is spring and the time has some to emerge. The silver Oak leaves are the ancestral dreams of the Oaks that once were and will be to come. The Green world shows many Oaks already in summer fulfillment. Blue Butterflies fly in the warm air reminding us of the constant metamorphosis of life and transformation.
Tree Lore:
In the Celtic tradition the Oak is considered the king of trees. It is strong, endures over centuries, and is steadfast. The Ogham name is Duir, which comes from the Sanskrit word Dwr, meaning door. Midsummer is when the Oak is in its strength. This is the time of year when the goddess gives up the old king for a new one. The king (in the form of an Oak) offers himself up as a sacrifice for the land so that it may flourish for another year. There are those who trace the word Duir to Druid, the knower of the Oak. This is interesting since Druids were able to access doorways across the planes of existence to higher consciousness.
The Oak is sacred to many gods including Zeus, Jupiter, and Thor. The Druids often worshiped in Oak Groves. There are some poets who say that King Arthur’s Round Table was made from the cross section of an enormous Oak tree. The roots of the tree mirror its branches, and the Oak can be a perfect Tree of Life.
The Oak is connected to the Dagda, the father figure and king of the Tuatha de Dannan. Dagda is known to have carried a big stick or cane made of Oak (or sometimes Blackthorn) called a shillelagh, which over time became an Irish walking stick, thus the expression: “Walk tall and carry a big stick.”
Insect Totem:
In many parts of the planet the Butterfly is considered the soul of the world. In ancient Greece, the Butterfly represented the psyche, soul, and our flight toward immortality. The Blue Butterfly is a healing ally and can be called upon during times of personal transformation. The Butterfly invites a brings lightness a lightness of being.
Adage:
“Seventy percent of success in life is showing up.”
– Woody Allen
Grail Question:
What is your legacy?
Ten of Earth – Accomplishment
Keywords:
Financial Security – Pleasure – Joy – Good Life – Wealth
Reversed
Something blocking wealth.
Meaning:
The Ten of Earth is a card of material success, reward, and financial accomplishment. Life gives the impression of being solid and we feel happy, even satisfied. Couples are in love; the family is thriving, and business is going well. All seems good on the Earth. Once our needs are met, generosity simply becomes a way of life. When we land in our bodies, we become a warm hearth where others love to gather. Our strenuous work ethic can be replaced with a balanced lifetime practice of being in joyous service to humanity. It feels good to help others. When we choose balance, fairness, and good company, we see that careers, friendships, and healthy living simply open for us.
If you have pulled Ten of Earth in a reading, congratulations. You have succeeded.
Symbolism/Image as Guide:
From the center of the card, an Irish clover emerges surrounded by a golden ring of good fortune, then a ring of pearls and a rainbow. Four geese fly around the clover, trinity, symbols of wealth and good fortune. Geese thrive in a flock and are excellent at helping each other survive. As a spirit animal, they help a person navigate successfully through life. The golden apple is symbolic of health and immortality. The white Butterflies flying around the circle remind us that life is always in a state of metamorphosis and to enjoy this special moment. The rainbow is loved by cultures around the world. In the Greek pantheon, Iris is known as the goddess of the rainbow, and she always delivered messages of peace and good fortune. All around the world rainbow are a sign of hope. One might even find a pot of gold at the rainbow’s end.
Tree Lore:
Humanity’s relationship with Apples dates back over five thousand years. The Apple tree or Quert is associated with wholeness. Pomona is the Roman goddess of Apples. Ovid describes her as a wood nymph who rejected many suitors but finally married the lusty Vertumus, and together they created prolific orchards. That story runs contrary to the Judeo-Christian tale of the forbidden fruit. In Greece any man who wanted to propose to a woman would have to throw her an apple. If she caught it, then she had accepted his offer.
The Golden Apples of the Hesperides are like those of Norse mythology. They are gold, beautiful and linked to immortality, and also fertility and sexuality. The Golden Apples belonged to the gods, who could grand them or take them back from mortals. Even though as one of his twelve labors Hercules found the Golden Apples of the Hesperides and successfully gave them to King Eurystheus, Athena took them back to the garden at the edge of the world. In Norse mythology it is Iduna who guarded the Apple of eternal youth. In the Celtic world Avalon was an island of apples, and it has long been associated with the Glastonbury Tor. The wounded King Arthur was taken to Avalon by his sister Morgan le Fay for healing and will return when the time is correct.
Insect Totem:
The White Butterfly represents spiritual communication and good luck. They are like angels who watch over us. White Butterflies as totems help us become stronger and more connected to spirit. They will assist us in encouraging great things to happen.
Adage:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
– Lao Tzu.
Grail Question:
Tell me a way you have succeeded.
