Whatcha trying to say Crow?

The Peace Practice draws a monthly tarot card from our favourite deck, The Wild Unknown.  We look at what message the card might hold for us as a Universal Human Collective, from the perspective of Peace.  How might we find Peace in the story unfolding for the month ahead?  What do we need to learn to come to this place of Peace?  How do we find Peace within any challenges and messages the card brings?

Welcome to the October 2017 post of our Peaceful Tarot series

The Hierophant

Traditionally The Hierophant represents the card of religious guidance. As many in the world begin to raise their spiritual vibrations you may find yourself yearning to learn more. Are you being called to a group, an institution, a community that will help you grow your spiritual wings? Are you being called to bring yourself to teachings and learnings outside of yourself? The Hierophant is a card that offers to connect the esoteric down to the earthly plane, guide you with order and structure, rituals and traditions.

As we ponder on The Wild Unknown Hierophant card we see the crow (raven) with the key. He calls a message shrilly. Because that is what Crow does. He brings something to consideration that might need to be looked at in more depth, he draws your attention to a subtle, or not so subtle dispatch that you may be well served to take note of.  He teaches you more of what you know and more of what you do not know. 

In Australian Aboriginal lore, Crow is regarded as an ancestral being, but also at times, something of a trickster. Many myths surround his cunning, intelligence, strength, power and mystery. Indeed in many other ancient cultures, the Crow is a distinctly important mythological symbol as he is associated typically with so much – and that which varies from good luck to bad luck and with everything from the creation of the world to the bringer of sunlight! The ancient Greeks will say Crow assists Apollo, the God of Prophecy. In the Appalachian Mountains if he calls in the morning before another bird sings, it will rain. In some places, two crows mean health, four mean wealth, and the Book of Genesis tells us that Noah sent Crow out from the ark after the great flood, to find land. Regardless of beliefs, what is certain is that Crow plays a strong role as a messenger of the divine.

 

 

So Crow can be many things. Depending on what you believe. So what do you believe? How do you know what you believe? Is your belief structured to how you grew up, what you were told? What your Mother, Father, Brother believes? What the teacher told you? Did you form your belief on an article in the news? Are you confused with what you believe? Do you swing between branches on your belief? Or do you just ‘know’ what you believe? What is the trick in working out what you believe?

When at times we feel we need guidance, we seek more education, more knowledge. We look to groups, different circles to widen our opinions, to learn more, to broaden our perspectives. The Hierophant is a card of spiritual knowledge and represents a gateway of knowledge and wisdom to higher consciousness through ordered sacred alliance. The Hierophant can be a transmitter of wisdom and spiritual matter when we crave for knowledge.   This wisdom turns the key. To turn the key is to find the order and awareness required to really locate our inner spiritual being.   So how do we do this?

In the Hierophant card, Crow sits on the key. A key connected to the divine spark from above. He calls shrilly as he firmly clutches the key. And the connection is charged between the key, through Crow, to the divine.

The Hierophant urges you to seek the knowledge from yourself and if guided or when you feel you have come as far as you can on your own, to seek out a teacher, an adviser, a confidante or mentor to bring you to a compassionate understanding of your own personal philosophy. That is the key. And that is the trick.

Your own personal belief.

To bring yourself to a total perspective of trust in what you feel, see, know, remember and believe rather than follow another’s dogma just because they believe it so faithfully or just because that is what you have been taught.

We all have a need to find the answers through study and discussion. We listen and learn through others points of view, from others eyes, through the ordered teaching of tradition and structure. There is nothing wrong with this. It is the way of the world. We learn by example. We learn by experience. But to truly find and sit with your own truth, you may need to seek out the mentor or teacher that can help you develop your own belief system, not one that requires you to adopt their own.

 

And of course, we can go within. The most important port of call in a storm. The Hierophant is a card that encourages you to seek wisdom outside and also the wisdom within. So with the order and foundation of the traditional teachings, with the wisdom of the new learning’s - go also on this journey inside. Unlock the mysteries and answers from the depths of your own being. Listen, learn, discuss, research – do what you will with the spiritual mentor(s) of your choice and then do what also needs to be done by acting at all times according to your own conscience. Listen and remember the internal messaging to self. And you will remember peace.

Many blessings,

Elaine

 


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