Parting the Mists

Today we were greeted by what I consider an auspicious set of cards: A Land, Sea, and Sky trio. The Stag is the key card today and is described below, but the Hawk respresents Nobility, Recollection, and Cleansing while the Otter add Joy, Play, and Helpfulness to an otherwise solid but serious set of cards.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and came through the Arctic weather blast OK.

Blessings!

Thistle

Stag – Pride, Independence, and Purification

The card shows a stag bellowing as it stands before a gateway of birch trees. According to Druid tradition, the birch is the tree of beginnings, and the stag is a creature from the beginning of time. The gateway represents the place transition from this world to the Otherworld, and the stag is often seen as Otherworldly messenger. On the rock beside him is the carved figure of a man wearing antlers – he is the god Cernunnos, Herne the Hunter, or Merlin. The plants in the foreground are all associated with the stag – pennycress, (deer’s pot-herb), mountain sorrel (Deer’s Sorrel), common asparagus (deer’s son’s leek), and heath rush (deer’s oats).

Meaning: Damh brings us the qualities of grace, majesty, and integrity. Contemplating the stag can help you achieve a greater sense of poise and dignity. If you are ever confronted with a situation in which you feel vulnerable or under scrutiny, such as in the court of law or a public appearance, by attuning to the stag and asking for the protection of his spirit you will find yourself feeling calmer, stronger, and more dignified. The stag signifies independence too – both spiritual and physical. By drawing this card you will be able to find the strength to gain and maintain your independence. In Ogham, the Druid language of the sacred trees, the Stag is related to Beith, the birch tree and and number one. The Birch is associated with the blessing of beginnings. It is auspicious to draw this card when contemplating new projects. The stag’s connection with fertility and sexuality signifies that you will find a way to bring dignity, grace, power, and integrity to your sexual life.

This card can also show that you need to examine the degree to which your pride is helping or hindering you. Pride can be a valuable feeling when it helps you to give only your best, but it can also block your development and enjoyment of life if it exists only to protect your feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy. Ask yourself whether your pride is serving you, and if not, see whether the qualities of the stag can help you find integrity and dignity without the need for inappropriate pride. The stag-god, as Lord of the Hunt, is responsible for culling, which can be seen as a process of purification and sacrifice, maintaining a proper ecological balance. Drawing this card reversed may signify the need for sacrifice or purification in your life – perhaps through a letting-go of unnecessary possessions or emotional attachments, thereby helping you to gain independence and integrity.

Druid Animal Oracle by authors Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and artist Will Worthington