nine of wands

A lion was captured and placed into captivity in a concentration camp. He was surprised to find other lions who had been there for years, some had even been born into captivity in the camp. He caught on to the social structure of the lions in the camp very quickly. They had banded together into various groups.

One group was very social and spent their time socializing. Another was into show business and performing and kept themselves busy entertaining others. A third group was cultural in its nature and their purpose was to preserve traditions, customs and the history of the times when lions roamed free. Other groups were religious, when they gathered they sang uplifting songs about a time in the future when there would be no fences in the jungle. Some of these groups attracted people who were creative and artistic. Other groups attracted revolutionaries and they gathered to plot against their captors or against other groups with revolutionary aims. Occasionally a war would break out and one group would wipe out another or the guards would be killed and replaced by a new set of guards.

The newcomer also observed one lion, often near the fence, who always seemed to be in deep contemplation. He was a loner who kept to himself, joined no group and avoided associating with the others as much as possible. He commanded the admiration and the hostility of everyone, for his presence created fear and self-doubt among the others.

He told the newcomer "Join no group. These poor fools are busy with everything except what is essential." "And what do you think is most essential?" asked the newcomer. "Studying the nature of the fence."

~from tarot canada

New Lesson Plan

The Universe and I agree,
some Starry nights hold a gift for me.

While Freya chants a runic tune,
her Nornic messages are woven in dew.

A memo to a memo requires focus.
"Pardon me, sir, is that the humming of locust?"

"Besides," Coyote teasingly chides,
"don't you already have a degree in hocus-pocus?"

"Con te partiro," quoth Raven taking wing.
How epic the aperture shows this Spring's fling.

Now back to my studies, I'm off to roam,
through Eleusinian fields with
a slender graceful tome.

~May 20, 2009

* * * * * * * *

You're master of what you've lived,
artisan at what you're living,
amateur at what's next to live.

* * * * *

You build lifetimes
as spiders build webs.
Lots of trials, sometime
to fit one strand.

~Messiah's Handbook:
Reminders for the Advanced Soul

* * * * * *

The Warrior of the Light recognizes the silence
that precedes an important battle.

The silence that says "Things have stopped.
Why not forget fighting and enjoy yourself
a little." At this point, inexperienced
combatants lay down their arms and
complain that they are bored.

The Warrior listens intently to that silence
and understands that somewhere
something is happening. He knows that
devastating earthquakes arrive without
warning. He has walked through the
forests at night and knows that it is
precisedly when the animals are silent
that danger is near.

While the others talk, the Warrior trains
himself in the use of the sword and keeps
his eye on the horizon.

~Paulo Coelho
page 55