The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw June 7, 2016: Gunnlod/Two of Cups; Kenaz-reversed; Bara/Nine of Cups.

Be careful today. The sea is eroding the ground beneath you, and you don’t have much light to see the path. Someone (maybe you) is not dealing honestly and fairly, putting their goals ahead of their ethics.

Whatever you agree to today, be sure it is something you can live with, and that you can live with yourself for making that agreement. You may be tempted to make a less-than-perfect deal in order to get free of a problem; before agreeing, be sure you are not creating a bigger problem.

Be prudent, be careful, and avoid making commitments until this energy clears.

African Day
~Gloria de Sant’Ana
Translated from Portuguese by Allan Francovich and Kathleen Weaver

The crows mark
long trajectories in the white day,
over the
heads of the black singers.

There is a scattered wind,
scratching in the leaves of the trees,
slow melodies
of old disgraces.

And traces of light
from a sun implied by still clouds
fall from the roofs
and beat on the stones.

Everything today is heavy
like an engraving of rhythmical attitude,
struck in glass panes
cut from the Bible.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Draw May 28, 2016: Active Influence—Groa/Nine of Wands; Rune—Wan; Hidden Influence—Hela/Death.

Changes are occurring all around you, and hopefully ones of your own choosing. However, Wan indicates that outside influences are at work, so you may find yourself dealing with unexpected detours, delays, or complete derailment of your original plans.

It’s okay. Whatever is going on, Groa is here to remind you that you have the resources and skills to deal with whatever has fallen into your path. You may need to learn new skills quickly, or new ways to apply your current skills to the situation. Whatever is going on, Groa assures you that you can handle it.

And what is going on? Hela’s presence says inevitable and irrevocable change is what’s going on. Your old ways of being are absolutely at an end. Let go of what no longer serves you well (and quite possibly never did serve you well). Cast everything into the fire and walk away.

Wan represents the primal void of Ginnungagap. Nothing and everything at the same time, Wan reinforces the message from both Groa and Hela. A new life is emerging; empty-handed and prepared, you are ready for that new life.

Look ahead, not back; the past is finished, and the only way to go is to move forward, and you have what you need to walk your new path.

The Bride’s Nights in a Strange Village
~Helen Dunmore

At three in the morning
while mist limps between houses
while cloaks and blankets
dampen with dew

the bride sleeps with her husband
bundled in a red blanket,
her mouth parts and a bubble
of sour breathing goes free.
She humps wool up to her ears
while her husband tightens his arms
and rocks her, mumbling. Neither awakes.

In the second month of the marriage
the bride awakes after midnight.
Damp-bodied
she lunges from sleep
hair pricking with sweat
breath knocking her sides.
She eels from her husband’s grip
and crouches, listening.

The night is enlarged by sounds.
The rain has started.
It threshes leaves secretively
and there in the blackness
of whining dogs it finds out the house.
Its hiss enfolds her, blots up
her skin, then sifts off, whispering
in her like mirrors
the length of the rainy village.

Hope Chest

~ Elaine Equi

It is shaped
like a dunce cap
It is a bottle of perfume
at the foot of a cross.
It is a photograph
that hums.
It is early
It is day
It is a bed
no one has ever slept in.
It is just a dream.
It is a rosary of lentils.
It is the part you always forget.
It is a woman with an infinite number
of pages.
It is strictly off limits
except when it isn’t
that being the hour when you
finally arrive
completely unexpected and gorgeous
as usual.