Eight of Wands - Confidence

This card always takes me back when first seeing it, because of the ship in the turbulent sea. Then when I see the dolphins, it gives me the feeling of joy that freedom gives.

 It's always surprising to me when I draw my daily Tarot card. I look at the card, and often think, what the heck can that card possibly mean? This can't make any relevant sense? But the cards always make sense, regardless if initially, I think that they don't. This morning is no different.

The Eight of Wands brings the message of having confidence, and hope in forward progress, after struggle.

When we go through hard times, and struggle with burdens for so long it is an indescribable, wonderful feeling when we are released from them. Old habits, routines, and ways of living under duress, abuse or whatever our burdens, are hard to let go of sometimes, because they become entrenched in our personalities, we get used to doing without, and just trying to keep our head above water, to survive. It can be hard to trust life again.

This kind of circumstance makes me think of something I heard about today on CBC Radio. The story of Raju the elephant, and how he was rescued from his abusers in India, by an organization called Wildlife SOS. It's a very painful story to learn about, but at the same time a happy one, to know he has been released from being abused and in captivity after 50 years in chains.