Coming to Terms

For the April 'poem a day' challenge this year, I'm writing haibun to explore and reflect on my new Tarot deck, Forests of Enchantment. 

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For Justice/Balance we are given The Huntsman, an immortal being who, we are told, dispenses Justice in the forest by protecting the vulnerable. I find it hard to reconcile this with human hunters who go out and kill things. I remind myself there are honourable hunters who kill for food and don’t take the young or their mothers. 

‘The law protects the innocent,’ the text says. We know things don’t always work that way. But then it says we must obey the laws of nature, and that makes sense. (If only, as a species, we would!) 

Finally, I read: ‘The Huntsman’s horn is blown to call the Wild Hunt that rides through the forest on May Eve and All Hallows’ Eve. It is also blown as a lament at the death of an innocent.’ Hmm, I know the Wild Hunt as being led by Odin, chasing down lost souls. Perhaps there are gaps in my education?

Altogether, I am uncomfortable with this interpretation of the Justice card. But I remember what James Wanless told his Voyager class about different Tarot decks: ‘Love the one you’re with.’ (You know the saying, ‘If you can’t be with the one you love …’) If  I’m to read with this deck, I must accept this interpretation or else I won’t be able to give a client the complete message. 

And after all, the interpretation is only a way of elaborating on the immediate meaning of Justice and Balance. 

see-saw –

the weight of the riders

equal