Caitlín Matthews | Court Cards | Arrows

THE WILDWOOD COURTS EXPANDED 

Here are the Wildwood Courts with background on each of the animals. None of these definitions is definitive or exclusive.  We will explore the Courts in a variety of different spreads and practices until you are more familiar with the messages they can give. While there are no reversed meanings given in the Wildwood Book, every card has its own poorly-aspected as well as well-aspected patterns. The surrounding cards will often reveal these different aspects, but I’ve hinted at some of the extreme aspects here. Remember that court cards can represent people and qualities that are beyond age, race or gender.  At the end of the meanings are questions that may be helpful when it comes to reading the card in a spread.  Ask yourself or the querent these questions in relationship to the issue and discover how easy the card is to read!

Black Friday | Wildwood Special Offer!

Coolwater Productions is the official outlet for the Wildwood's three collaborators in the US.  Today is Black Friday in the States and Coolwater has a special offer on The Wildwood Tarot!

For only $19.99, you can purchase a copy of the book/deck set AND receive a postcard signed by all three of the creators!

This is your BEST chance to get a copy for your collection!

Here's the link - go and explore The Wildwood with Coolwater!

JOHN MATTHEWS | WILL WORTHINGTON | NEW COLLABORATION ANNOUNCED!

Merlin's first public appearance!

THE CAMELOT ORACLE

By John Matthews

With art by Will Worthington

Really happy to announce that Will and I are about to embark on another collaboration – the third I think, or is it fourth? THE CAMELOT ORACLE is a card system – not a tarot - that allows people to explore the Arthurian archetypes, adopt champions and embark on adventurous journeys of self-discovery using the cards and a brilliant and amazing map created by Will and I. 

So at last we are working together on the subject that originally brought us in contact with each other: The Legends and myths of King Arthur. Will has an amazing and brilliant take on these characters, and I hope to supply the necessary archetypal and oracular references. The pack will be published some time in 2012 by Connections (Eddison Sadd) the wonderful publisher of The Wildwood Tarot.

More news as and when it breaks. But you heard it first here!

John Matthews 17.11.11

Caitlín Matthews | Court Cards | Part 2

Following on from her work in Part 1, here are more exclusive exercises from Caitlín Matthews, focussing on the Court Cards of The Wildwood.

COURT SPREAD TWO:  THE THREE ROADS 

So are Courts just representative of people or can they be other things also?  In my reading of the other day, 6 out of 9 cards were courts: some of these were aspects of the client, but others were trends or work that she was engaged with. In this spread, you draw unseen one Major, Minor and Court card and read them in three different ways, permutating the cards until you’ve read them in all three positions.  This is part of the wisdom of what I call ‘sticking with the cards you first drew.’  And yes, we‘ve all groaned on turning over our cards and shameless stuffed them back in the pack and drawn some others, haven’t we?

Caitlín Matthews | Wildwood Court Cards | Part 1

THE WILDWOOD COURT CARDS

by Caitlín Matthews 

PART ONE: COURT CARDS AT LARGE

Many of us working with the tarot find it hard to cope with more than one court card at a time.  For example, this morning I did a 9-card reading that had a staggering 6 court cards in it. How do you know when courts are supposed to be people and when they are events, or could they be pointers to personal traits within the querent?  If you get a King, does it only signify a man? Or could it be a woman or a process you are going through?  Arrggh! For some people, just one court card in a spread can bring up anxiety and lack of confidence.



Most tarot books have acres of words about the Major Arcana, much less about the Minor Arcana and almost nothing on the Court Cards, so it’s not surprising that we sometimes find them a little intimidating.  It’s like being huddled into a room with a group of people you feel you don’t know very well and made to make polite conversation. 

But when we play a card game, the court cards are the most important ones to have in your hand! When the playing card deck was assimilated with the 22 tarot cards into a 78 tarot card pack, the courts suddenly had a little less prominence.

John & Caitlin Matthews | Hawkwood College | Stroud

9-11 December 2011- JESUS AND MYTH: A Gnostic Pilgrimage into Myth, Folk Belief and Paganism 

John and Caitlín Matthews with special guest, Mark Townsend

        'Myth is something that never happened but is happening all the time.'

                                                                  - Sallustius, Greek poet.

We invite you to join our 27^th annual Hawkwood mythic showcase where we discover the how the roots of Gnostic, folk beliefs and Paganism all meet together in the myths surrounding Jesus in this winter gathering of our mystery school where all are welcome.

The director and writer of The Emerald Forest, John Boorman, once said that ‘Christianity is the imposition of a desert religion upon a forest people,’ but that is not quite true, since many of the foundational pagan myths that were drawn into the figure of Jesus derive from the myths of the green gods who die to rise again: Dionysus, Attis, Adonis and Osiris, which the Classical mysteries celebrate. The ecstatic cult divinities of the pagan world elide seamlessly into the one who called himself ‘the True Vine.’ We follow the track of that wild and free spirituality that leads to the heart of true knowing with one of the shepherds of the Western Mysteries.

This magical weekend includes the ritual, Finding the Oil of Mercy, based upon Gnostic myths, creating an opportunity to unite with ancestors and descendants through time and space in a healing communion of spiritual hospitality. The living myth that deals with the work of healing and reconciliation is a story needed in all ages: it tells of the individual’s pilgrimage, the soul’s story and the healing of communities and nations from the wounds of tribalism.

If Jesus meek and mild turns you off and Christianity is not your thing, then this course is for you as we explore the roots of this living myth with non-denominational and inclusive welcome, as well as some miraculous magic by Mark.

I have no dwelling; and I have dwellings. I have no place; and I have places.

I have no temple; and I have temples.  I am a lamp to those who see me.

I am a mirror to those who understand me.   I am a door to those who knock at me

I am a way to you,  a wayfarer. Now answer to my dancing!

From the Gnostic Hymn of Jesus

Caitlín and John Matthews have given a unique and hospitable winter course in December at Hawkwood for 27 years as part of their mystery school teaching in the Western Mysteries. Join us and become an honorary member of ‘the Company of Hawkwood’. This relaxed weekend is where friends and like-minded newcomers can meet together at this special time of year, to celebrate the season and bring the stories, myths and rituals home to the heart. Caitlín contributed to Mark's book, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes. For their books, courses, training, see www.hallowquest.org.uk

Mark Townsend served as an Anglican Priest for 13 years before resigning his membership of the Church of England in order to express his ministry in a far more eclectic way. While still a Christian Priest, he is also a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and The Magic Circle. He uses magical illusions and mythology to open up his audiences to their own deep inner magic and has taken his 'Soulful Magic' all over the world, performing to such diverse audiences as Roman Catholic nuns and Massai Warriors. BBC's 'Extreme Pilgrim,' Rev. Peter Owen Jones refers to Mark as a 'Priest at the Edge.'  His new book, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes is released in 2012.  www.magicofsoul.com

BOOKING: Single: £276, Shared: £248 Non-res: £210. Please send a non-returnable deposit of £80 payable to HAWKWOOD COLLEGE and SAE for map and details, to Hawkwood College, Painswick Old Rd., Stroud, Glos GL6 7QW. 01453 759034 email: info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk.