11. The Woodward

[Wanderer]

 

I know, there are a lot of people who can't see this card without thinking of 'Strength' in the Greenwood - which is a much-beloved, and very different card. Don't compare it. If you prefer the Greenwood deck, simply use that. This is one of the biggest differences, and needs to be treated on its own merits. I actually think that there's a lot of interest in this card, and it would be a great shame if it can't be appreciated for itself...

 

Who is the Woodward? He doesn't really appear in mythology, as far as I know, and yet 'Woodward' is a common British surname. The etymology comes from Anglo-Saxon roots, referring to a forester and gamekeeper: someone who cared for the forest, managed it, and repelled poachers. See, for example:

http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Woodward

  This, in the context of the deck, is strange; surely the concept of management is against the entire concept of the Wildwood? At least, management by human society, aiming at preserving a rich hunting park and timber source... and yet, the concept is clearly close to the intended meaning of the card. So who is he?

 

My impression is that the Woodward is the Wildwood's hypothetical original keeper: an equivalent, but much more ancient figure, who maintained its essential wildness and balance rather than managing it for the nobles. He was, perhaps, the Green Man's 'woodward'.

 

Looking at the card, we have a stern, resolute figure with a serious-looking spear, but also holding a cup. His clothes are practical, well-constructed, and not ostentatious; he dresses for what he does, and not to impress. His untrimmed beard and hair are held back simply or braided; he is what he is, and is comfortable in this honesty.

 

The most striking feature, for me, is that he wears a lynx-skin cloak, but also hunts with a lynx (Page of Stones) by his side, as intent and focused as he; my strong feeling is that the lynx is there by choice, and is a companion and not subservient; these two are equals, sharing the same goals, even though he wears the skin of another of the lynx's kind. There is no sentimentality here; just purpose and practicality. They both see through appearances to find the necessity, and are able to act on that need.

 

What is that purpose? Guardianship. Solid, down-to-earth protection of the Wildwood from those who would harm it, whether that be an internal or external threat. The Woodward knows the Wildwood; he truly understands its nature, and its harmonies and conflicts. He understands what is the way that things should happen, and is quick to spot and counter things that push the world out of balance. He reminds me of the Taoist sage, who intuitively knows the way things should be - and acts directly and immediately to maintain it. There is no malice here, regardless of the fearsome spear; despite the sternness, his goal is to maintain things as they should be, to the benefit of all - his cup held openly as a gift to those who need his aid. He's the gruff, intimidating old relative who you later realise did everything in his power to help you.

 

The background is a winter tree, a sparse landscape with fallen logs (that barely impede him and his lynx companion), with a hawk (the knight of arrows, all action and little thought) circling in the sky... and, I suspect, watching and learning.

 

Where is the 'Strength' here? It is in the ability to see what it right and do what is needed, in spite of discomfort (the winter), loss (the lynx skin over his shoulders), or distractions. Emotions do not cloud his vision, and he sees clearly in the physical realm; I suspect he has no need of the esoteric at all (perhaps this is why such a human name was chosen for him?). This is a character who is utterly dedicated to the cause of protecting the Wildwood and its inhabitants, and who is willing to become distant from the people and creatures he protects - the curse of all who take on a hard but necessary role. He is a vigilante campaigner for justice and right, whose insight never fails him, giving a total confidence in his skills and judgement. The lynx recognises all this, and joins him willingly, wanting to help with the cause but without yet the judgement to perform the role on its own. The hawk watches in order to learn how to temper its impetuosity with wisdom.

 

In short, there is physical strength here, but more importantly there is strength of conviction, of judgement, and of will. Who has the strength to always do what is needed for the good of those around him, at a cost of loneliness and loss of control over his own life? The Woodward may be slightly one-dimensional, but that dimension is one of the most important roles in the Wildwood, allowing all others to be what they should be, and the forest as a whole to thrive.

 

[Wanderer]

The Woodward has come up for me a couple of times recently, in very similar positions, and this is what has led me to spend so much time thinking about it. I'm adding them here to illustrate how I think it can be read in context, but more examples are extremely welcome!  :)

 

Firstly, it appeared representing myself in a reading about my work and position in the community. I'm a fervent supporter of nature in all its forms (particularly the overlooked, like the smaller insects or the 'weeds'), and I took this to be emphasizing my role as a local champion of understanding our non-human neighbours and environmental context (far too often ignored, or seen as a source of hassle or something that needs to be controlled). Trying to preserve Nature by changing people's views is one way of maintaining what is left of the wild balance.

 

The second time was when I experimented with a past life reading, and it came up with this as the past life, with empowerment being its impact on my current life. I had a strong impression there of it representing a (perhaps solitary) campaigner for right and justice, someone who dedicated themself to a cause and perhaps suffered for it. It defined them, and how people saw them. Its influence today gave me the independence of thought to be able to take the initiative and create changes, rather than prevaricating and worrying - which is useful, although a bit of the Woodward's self-belief wouldn't have gone amiss!

 

In both cases we're looking at someone dedicating themselves to a cause aimed at maintaining how things should be. This is very much a Taoist concept; the more I look into the details of this deck, the more oriental (and specifically Chinese) archetypes emerge, which I find very interesting... since I'm sure it's not deliberate.

 

 

[ilweran]

I don't know about 'a lot', but certainly for me it's a change I'm not keen on. However I have perhaps softened my stance (very slightly, and in limited ways...)

 

The Wildwood seems more grounded than the Greenwood, and Strength in the GW stands out in the deck somewhat:

 

• It's not in a forest, there's not even a single tree (I know it's not alone in this, but to me it stands out. The Pole Star, for example, is understandable in it's lack of trees)
  
• The possible associations with Egyptian goddesses Sekhmet or Bast in her earlier lioness form (a link with ancient Egypt is also found in The Lovers card)
  

 

It's noticeable that these elements are changed in the WW card - The Woodward is male and is wearing an animal skin - no doubt as to whether we are looking at a shapeshifter, an animal headed humanoid or a human in a mask as there is in the GW. There is, of course, a tree as you would expect.

 

In a way I understand some of the changes. It is more grounded, more European while the imagery on GW card covers a number of continents as shown by Mi-Shell's post on the AT study group.

[Wanderer]

Thanks again, ilweran (I've been in a tent for the past week!). You're certainly not alone in preferring the Greenwood 'Strength', from what I've read and heard; and I can certainly see that it's a powerful card, in a very different way. I just want this one to be given real consideration, rather than always being merely a lesser version.

 

I do agree that this is a much more local, grounded card, in keeping with the feel of the rest of the deck. Keeping it as a version the quasi-Egyptian abstract just wouldn't work in the Wildwood concept, even though it can work much better in a shamanic vision-based deck with similar roots. In some ways, the Woodward does feel a little as though it were shoe-horned in because such a change was needed, but now that it's settled a little for me, it does seem like an entirely natural invention that serves the role it needs to.

 

My impression of the Greenwood 'Strength' is that it is about inspiring or encouraging strength in the viewer, whereas the Woodward is a little more impersonal and externalised. He's someone we can choose to learn from, or not; someone we can observe rather than someone directly challenging us. I suspect this feeling will come up again in other cards; the deck's insights are often through narrative and parable more than overt, direct interaction.