I love affirmations and use “oracle” decks to provide a positive boost in the morning or whenever I need a lift. It’s my way of telling the Universe I’m open to listening to their message: “Have at it!” “I’m listening!” “Tell me more!” I hope you enjoy as I introduce some of my favorite cards and quotes in my newsletters! These make great gifts for any occasion as well as can be used as inspirational hand-outs in class if you are a yoga instructor.
As I pulled out my many, many books on Nature and connecting with Nature via plants, animal totems, and the environment, I knew that this month’s featured deck should be my Native American cards. Which one to highlight? Yes – I have more than one. Literally just as I was pondering this question, I ran across the suggestion by Jamie Sams that you can combine the following two decks he was part of creating. Ok, I’m listening. So this month we have two decks.
Sacred Path Cards, The Discovery of Self Through Native Teachings:
This extraordinary tool for self-discovery draws on the strength and beauty of Native American spiritual tradition. Developed by Native American medicine teacher Jamie Sams, this unique system distills the essential wisdom of the sacred teachings of many tribal traditions and shows users the way to transform their lives.
The 44 beautifully illustrated cards, each endowed with a particular meaning and message, may be drawn individually for a daily lesson or laid out in a series of spreads that open up different paths to inner knowledge. Used with the accompanying text, which explains the various forms and methods of interpretation and divination, the cards are a powerful tool for enhanced self-awareness and positive change.
The back of both of these decks aren’t something I’m going to show this month. The Sacred Path Cards show the image of a Zuni Sun, and the Medicine Card deck shows a lightning bolt strike image on the back of each card.
5, Standing People, Roots/Giving: I chose this card for emphasis on trees and their giving nature—something I’ve experiences first-hand, as discussed in my opening. There are six pages on the meaning of this card in the accompanying book. I’ve chosen to highlight only a few brief points, and then the application.
The Standing People, the trees, are our Sisters and Brothers. They are the Chiefs of the planet kingdom. The Cherokee teach that the Standing People and all of the plant kingdom are the givers who constantly provide for the needs of others. Some trees bear fruit and some provide healing on the emotional or physical level. Walking in Balance can be achieved through remembering our roots, the only physical tree-part we are lacking as humans. The Standing People teach us how to run our roots deep into the Earth to receive spiritual nurturing as well as the reconnective energy that keeps our bodies healthy. Without the roots we lose Earth-Connection and can no longer Walk in Balance.
The Application: The Standing People card speaks to us of roots and giving. We must nurture ourselves through connection to the Earth in order to give freely without exhaustion. The root of the Self is where strength is gathered. Without this connection, dreams cannot manifest and our giving cannot be compensated by the Earth Mother. If you are spaced out, stop and reconnect.
Be still and become the trees in order to observe what is growing in your forest. The root of every answer for physical life is found in the Earth. Look to your family tree for the strength offered by your Ancestors. Lift your branches high, seeking the light of Grandfather Sun and you will see how your roots make you of the Earth and yet a bridge to the Sky World.
The Standing People are asking you to give of yourself. Ask yourself if you are willing to give and receive. Count the root of every blessing with gratitude. Find any blockage that limits your root system or ability to go deeper. Then remove that feeling and go deeper once again for the answers you seek. Remember that we are also the root of the future and through our lives, future generations are nurtured. Weed out anything that will inhibit future growth and you can stand proud among your Tree Relations.
Medicine Cards, The Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals:
The wildly popular Medicine Cards has been a bestseller since its release in 1988. The new, expanded edition was released in late July of 1999 by St. Martin’s press. The Medicine Cards package contains an expanded text in a hardback book and a set of beautifully illustrated cards with the messages of 52 animals rather than the former 44 animals. The Medicines of the new animals teach us the evolving life-lessons that we need to embrace as human beings facing the new millennium and our continued healing processes. Nature is reaching out to us to lend a hand and the creatures are offering us a way to grow beyond our former identities. The additional animals include: Prairie Dog, Wild Boar, Blue Heron, Salmon, Alligator, Black Panther, Jaguar, and Raccoon. The authors are happy to add to the joy felt by millions across the globe who have reaped benefits from the guidance of these animals and their wisdom.
30, Rabbit: I chose this card because it represents an animal seen fairly frequently, and sincerely loved, by my husband and I around our neighborhood—okay so perhaps they could have left our Tiger Lily flowers alone. I suspect the same is true for many of you. I’ve chosen to highlight only the lesson out of the three and one-half pages in the companion book.
One note on animal totems as I understand it: Every time you see an animal, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are your totem or have a message. You’ll know it when they are meant to bring a message. One year at the Renaissance Festival a dragonfly was flying around my head. I bent around and down toward the ground to get it out of my way. When I rose back up to standing, the dragonfly was literally staring at me nose-to-nose! THAT was a definite message to me! You’ll know, be it subtle or not. Now for the Rabbit:
If you pulled Rabbit, stop talking about horrible things happening and get rid of “what if” in your vocabulary. This card may signal a time of worry about the future or of trying to exercise your control over that which is not yet in form—the future. Stop now! Write your fears down and be willing to feel them. Breathe into them, and feel them running through your body into Mother Earth as a give-away.
If you pulled this card in the “contrary” position, i.e., upside down, the paralyzed feeling which Rabbit experiences when being stalked is the lesson. If you have tried to resolve a situation in your life and are unable to, you may be feeling frozen in motion. This could indicate a time to wait for the forces of the universe to start moving again. It could also indicate the need to stop and take a rest. It will always indicate a time when you need to re-evaluate the process you are undergoing, and to rid yourself of any negative feelings, barriers, or duress. Simply put, you cannot have your influence felt until you rearrange your way of seeing the present set of circumstances.
There is always a way out of any situation, because the Universal Force does move on. It is the way in which you handle the problem that allows you to succeed.
Take a hint from Rabbit. Burrow into a safe space to nurture yourself and release your fears until it is time again to move into the pasture, clear of prowlers who want a piece of your juicy energy.
Back in November, I highlighted one of my favorite decks—a wonderfully whimsical, inspiring, thought-provoking Enrichuals© deck, created by local author, artist and creativity coach, Suzanne Vadnais Monson. Refer to the November newsletter archive for a sample card. Suzanne has graciously agreed to let me make them available on Better Day Yoga’s product page online! (As of 2/3/23 there are seven decks left. When they’re gone, they’re gone!) https://betterdayyoga.com/products.htm
