We Are One: The Big Guidebook

[Raggydoll]

Novice of Earth

By Day Soleil

 

Listen close. Nature is telling you something only you can hear. You may be striving to make your mark on the world, but now is not the time to dive into action. Now is the time to stay vigilant. You’re a novice of sorts, not quite ready for battle, and your position right now is critical for the survival of everything important to you. You draw strength from the land, so stay patient and grounded. 

 

Keywords: message, patience, vigilance, protection, groundedness, community

 

 

[Raggydoll]

Explorer of Earth

By Jewel

 

The Explorer of Earth is goal oriented, disciplined, diligent, patient and focused.  He is loyal not only to his goals but those of his family and community.  He is someone you can rely on and trust to get the job done every time.  He dedicates himself completely to whatever he sets his mind to with an eye on the future, the overall impact it will have for himself and others, and is willing to make needed sacrifices to see it through.  His mount is an Fire Ant, representing his passion for achievement, and mirroring his values and work ethic.

 

Keywords:  Industrious, dedicated,steady, disciplined, diligent, focused,persistent, hardworking, patient, and loyal.

 

 

[Raggydoll]

Nurturer of Earth

By Geoxena

 

The Nurturer of Earth rises up from the mountains, clad in greenery. She is solid, secure, practical, in tune with nature's rhythms and cycles. She extends one hand, welcoming anyone to partake of her rich resources, and sets a bluebird free with the other - encouraging independence and offering support without coddling. Like the bison mother, she is strong and fiercely protective. Her communication style is direct, even blunt. She is prosperous, dependable, Mother Earth – loving yet unsentimental, slow-moving and methodical, slow to anger, but a powerful force to be reckoned with if irritated or abused, like the storm clouds seen in the distance.

 

Artist's Statement: This card is a version of an idea that has been simmering in me for a while: that of the Nurturer of Earth rising out of a mountain, her body being of the earth. As I worked on it, the concept evolved into something a bit different than I'd originally imagined. I surprised myself by beginning with a drawing of the bison cow and calf. I hadn't planned on including a bison, but I thought of the many cultures that associate the concept of Mother Earth with cows or buffalo, and found myself drawing the cow and calf even though I wasn't sure how the pair would fit in with my concept. I was very happy with how they turned out and feel the bison mama represents the nurturing instinct and connection to one's nature quite nicely. Bison are impressively sturdy and resilient animals, and always retain a bit of their wildness, even in captivity. I also originally envisioned numerous people and animals climbing the mountain with arms reaching toward the Nurturer, but that idea shifted and, instead, I gave her hair made of tree branches and inhabited it with animals. The coin in the branches is based on an actual coin that existed in ancient Greece, which depicted the goddess Demeter, often considered an Earth Mother figure. The bluebird being set free symbolizes prosperity and happiness. The wheat stalks represent abundance and sustenance from the earth. I used Prismacolor and Faber-Castell colored pencils on Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper, 300 g/m (140 lb.) weight.

 

 

[Raggydoll]

Elder of Earth

By Raggydoll

 

This is the woman who listens to the voices of the mountains. She is fully in tune with the nature around her and she is guiding her tribe to a prosperous relationship with each other and with the land. She will listen more than she speaks and when she speaks, it will be from experience and with the greater good in mind. She will speak for the ancestors; to inform her people of traditions and of times past. She reminds them of the importance of legacy; of what they are to leave behind for generations to come. She knows life and she has seen all sides of it. She also sees the bigger picture - the Great Web. She knows that we all are interconnected and that everything we do will come to impact the world as we know it. She understands the powers that are at our disposal when we take an active role in our lives and in the creation process. A lot of the time we are led to perceive the Web more as a labyrinth; where there is little rhyme or reason for what happens. This can lead us to the false notion that we are insignificant or that nothing truly matters. The labyrinth pendant is a reminder of how it is possible to transcend that limited view of ourselves and of the world. There is a sense of responsibilities and of heritage; a reminder to do what is necessary and to think of the long term consequences. This leader - this Elder - will give you courage and reassurance. She can help you rise to your potential and to fill the shoes that you were meant to walk in, as you go forth to create footprints that can be felt for generations to come. 

 

(This card will also feature in my own deck - HER Tarot)