Keywords
Burden, stress, responsibilities
Element
Fire
Astrological Association
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
THE CARD’S STORY BY: RACHEL QUINLAN
My card depicts a hag from Gaelic folklore, the Cailleach, the personification of winter, mother of all deities, and also the creator of many hills and valleys in the British Isles. One of the stories about her is that she ventures out on February 1st to gather firewood. If the weather is clear, it means winter is going to last awhile longer. If it’s stormy, then the Cailleach is asleep and will run out of firewood sooner, shortening winter. She is also described as being able to turn into a giant bird. My card shows the Cailleach shouldering her burden of firewood. She is close to her hovel, about to reap the rewards of her work.
THE CARD’S MESSAGE BY TRISH SULLIVAN
The Cailleach has toiled, her success now weighing her down. The end is close, but feels so far with this burden. She leans on her magic staff, to support her as she takes those last steps to her home, where she can rest. You need to learn to say no –you’re taking on too much at once. You’ve proved yourself and now have more work than you can handle alone. Don’t forget to accept help. See what you can do to streamline, prioritizing the most important tasks, and leaving others for a couple of days, even delegating so that you can make some time for yourself. You need to find a balance – don’t get so bogged down that you burn out.
MYTHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: CAILLEACH
Cailleach is an old hag within Gaelic and Celtic mythologies, so ancient that many of her legends are lost in time. She is a creator goddess, and a goddess of the winter, of weather in general. In some legends she shares her role with Brighde, who rules the summer months, in some they are the two faces of the same goddess. Th e end of winter is foretold by a stormy day at the start of February – if she cannot collect her firewood on that day due to the weather, then she will peacefully go to sleep. But if it is clear, and she can gather more wood for her fire, winter will continue. Th e concept of a frail old woman collecting enough firewood for winter to be prolonged was an ideal image for this car
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