The Shaman

The Shaman in the Wildwood Tarot is essentially equivalent to the Magician in a more traditional deck...except he's so much more.  When I pull this card in a spread I see mystery, healing, spirituality, and power.  He will catapult you forward to meet your destiny, to make things happen, to find yourself, to make your dreams into reality.

There are so many symbols in this card my head swims, but I'll discuss a few.  His robe has images of the Horned God, representing wildness, humanity's essential nature, the power in self-mastery and balance.  The Shaman wears the cloak of a bear, symbolizing (according to the Druid Animal Oracle, P. and S. Carr-Gomm) the unity of instinct and intuition, "primal power," and the ability to govern oneself.  He has before him all the elements essential to life, and the swirling tattoos on his arms are reminiscent of the great spiral Universe.

He invites us into the dark forest to know ourselves better, and come into our power.

Wildwood Tarot
Mark Ryan, John Matthews, Will Worthington
Sterling Ethos, 2011