Mel's card shows a lovely young woman, from various angles, sitting by a body of still water. The setting is lush and green, and the sky is filled with clouds. It is a very peaceful setting. A person could easily imagine her seeking out this place for peace and rest. She is accompanied by the falcon, a totem of vision, and also of nature tamed. Falcons after all are predators, but people have kept them as pets for hundreds of years. In the middle ages falconry was considered a noble pursuit.

Well, I have been battling a flu for a few days, as well as a broken foot for a few weeks. So I guess its not too surprising that this card should come up. After all this card is about rest and recovery, as well as release. On the one hand we wish for the vision of the falcon. We wish to see the deity at work in our lives. Yet that is so very challenging when we feel our own bodies failing us. Illness can focus our attention on ourselves, turning our vision away from the beauty of the larger world.

Yet I think that contemplating that larger vision, helps us heal. Beauty is an essential and important part of creation. The simple act of observing beauty lifts us spiritually. I doubt there is an adult person, regardless of circumstance, who has not at least once stopped whatever they where doing to observe something beautiful. At moments like this, we know, that we are part of something larger than ourselves, we experience, Awe. Awe not a word we hear all that often in our materialist world. When we do experience awe however, I think it renews us, re-energizes us. That all to brief reminder of deity also reminds us, that we are not alone, no matter how we are challenged. Ironically, Awe is not something we can share, I can point out the sunset to you, but you must experience its beauty for yourself. Sometimes, we just need to be alone with God. I think this is why Mel has depicted the girl by herself.

The Robin wood, like the UW, shows a stone sarcophagus. The resting place of a fallen knight. So while, Mel's card emphasizes the aspect of recover in this card. The RW and UW, remind us that sometimes release is the only end to ones pain. We experience disease. Sometimes it is the manifestation of our own dis-ease in the world. One should not forget however we are mortal beings in the physical world, and disease is part of that world. Even the most beautiful and joyful persons can fall ill. We do not get to know, when or how, the deity will challenge us. Or if our challenge is meant to provide a lesson for others. Perhaps, the best we can do, is sit quietly beside the girl, and gaze out at the still water.

Divination: Convalescence, Recovery, Relief from suffering, Replenishment, Sabbatical, Solitude.

Reversed: Activity, Circumspection, Economy, Precaution.