The Devil Meets The Wolf Woman

This morning I drew The Devil card. I have come to think of, and respond differently to this card. I no longer have the left over religious hang-up and misconception about this mythic figure. Though fortunately I never grew up with the so called "fear of the devil". I am not saying I don't believe there are spiritual dark forces  that can enter our lives in the form of bondage, but these don't have to control us, with a faith in the God of our understanding, a Higher Power, or a greater good in the Universe that is stronger than dark forces..

This card embodies the Greek Mythic god Pan. The impish trickster, rather like a misbehaving youth. He symbolizes the state of being wild, fertile, untamed, half man and half goat. He is not evil, dwells in a cave, and in a inaccessible realm of the unconscious.

I think Pan has much in common with the Wolf Woman, La Loba, the Wild Woman, half woman and half wolf, as she too is very much a wild one, untamed in nature, and in the natural state. She dwells in a den living by instinct and intuition.

On the eve of Summer Solstice is it fitting that I think of Wolf Woman.

The Empress - The Queen of Nature

I always feel happy to draw the Empress, Demeter the Earth Mother, matriarchal goddess, mother of Persephone. She is a welcome site and gives me the sense, all is right with the world, especially after the big storm this week. This card makes me feel very grateful, hopeful and optimistic for the day, and for the future.

The Empress lightens my heart, and brings thoughts of sunshine, flowers, growing things and the Spring. She has  pomegranates decorated on her dress, and she is obviously carrying a child, signifying her fertile nature, and the creative growth within.

The water flows in the background which is life and spirit affirming symbolizing, flowing feelings and fertility. She wears a necklace with twelve stones, representing the astrological signs, and wearing her crown that represents her as ruler of nature and instinct.

The Empress embraces and cares for the good earth, and she is a creator, encouraging and urging us to do the same and to take good care of the earth and of ourselves, mind, body and spirit. She cares for all vulnerable creatures. Without her we cannot appreciate our physical selves and we are disconnected living only in an intellectual world.

A new creation whatever it is, needs patience and nurturing, in order for it to grow to full term. The Empress symbolically reflects the mothering experience, not necessarily in a physical way, but on an inner level.

Nurturing and caring for ourselves like a mother would, is probably one of the most difficult things for us to do, as women are often much more comfortable mothering, nurturing and caring for others. It is essential that we learn how be a mother or to re-parent ourselves, because if we can not care for ourselves, we not only short change ourselves, we are not able to fully care for or be present to another. We can risk burnout, may become resentful and bitter, because we are constantly giving to others, feeling that we are being taken for granted, revealing the dark side of Demeter.

Wild Woman Singing Over The Bones Egg Tempera, Catherine Meyers 2013