Morning Serenade
Birds sweep through
air above water
following air currents
between dives
to catch hovering bugs
their song sweet
and bright
and welcoming
to blue skies
as the sun burns off
the film
of gauzy clouds
Inviting visitors
to sit and stay a while
The Barrier
Time to slip
beyond the fronds
to dappled shade
and hushed spaces
filled with
moss draped surfaces
and damp earth
take a breath
and let the whispers
of hidden friends
skittering through
underbrush
tempt you deeper
among the trees
Deceptive Beauty
Rough and rocky
the water’s cold
gray mixed and choppy
it will numb the toes
yet with such a view
it’s hard to take care
it seems so harmless
when you’re there
I want to dive in
and explore beneath
then slip into the forest
and get lost
among moss and trees
The Secret Squishy
Prickly edges
jut out
in angular patterns
with insides jagged
and not inviting
yet you reach anyway
and discover
what appears sharp
is soft as rose petals
and feathered down
while soul’s arid ache
waits
for the kiss of dew drops
Prompt: “Pull the card from your deck that matches [The Chariot from Tarot of the Hidden Realm]. Compare the imagery between the card provided and the card from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?”
Tarot of the Hidden Realm – Here we see controlled abandon in the card. In the expression on the Fae’s features is joyous celebration of that abandon, but also a thread of confidence that displays even as she enjoys the ride, she is the one in charge of not just the speed at which they move but the direction that they go in. This sense of control is reinforced by the bridle that the unicorn wears. The imagery here tells us that control doesn’t always have to be joyless and stoic. Sometimes it’s in savoring the ride as we ride the chaos… instead of the chaos riding us.
Icarus Tarot – Here in this card we have stagnancy in the sphinx that are attached to the chariot, and yet, there is absolutely no doubt that this figure is going to get where they’re going. Fierce determination is in every cut and contour of the driver’s visage, control clear in the cut of the hands and curl of the fingers. This card displays savage determination and a will to come out on top, no matter the obstacles in their path.
Hydesville Tarot – Here we have the most “classic” of the images between the cards displayed with the military leader in full regalia, spear at the ready and in full control of the two horses (Pegasus in this case) that pull his chariot forward. No reigns needed, for his control is complete and undeniable. The symmetry and balance present create a solid sense of stability. The expression on the driver’s face is one of studious determination. They know where they’re going, have a plan, and they clearly have everything well in hand.
She-Ra And The Princesses of Power Tarot – Here in this card we have a lesson in extremes. This card’s imagery is about losing control or taking on too much control. When you lose control, others may step in and take the reigns, but are you sure that they can be trusted? On the flip side, too much control leaves you like the figure in the background. Alone and ignored, forgotten or feared. This Chariot card is about finding balance between too much control… and not enough.
The Draw
Powdered sugar hilltops
flirt with the senses
luring
tempting
and promising adventure
as they whisper
about cool temps
and a crisp nip
to the air.
Come, they say.
Come climb higher
til altitude causes
panted breaths
and sweat to cool
on the skin
Twisting the Leaf 