Tarot 14 Woman of Earth: "the GARDENER"

Nurturing the world without ever meaning to, it simply is naturally for her to do so

The gardener has just found that her garden has produced a rose unusually late in the season just when the grapes are ready to harvest.  She stops to marvel at it and the single red rose becomes a significant symbol to her.  She, too, has just discovered that she is pregnant with a long-awaited expectancy that has come to her after an extended period of barrenness. 

INTERPRETATION: This woman, in a brief time will grow into the mother image pictured in the Ace of Earth, bringing the Suit of Earth full circle.

All of the women in all of the suits should be considered as having active attributes of the positive and negative of each of the suits. 

The woman of earth, “the GARDENER” is clearly a maternal figure.  She represents all of the womanly attributes: beauty, nurture and care.  If her energy runs too strong her children can be too clingy or may never leave her home.

The woman of fire, “the SNAKE CHARMER" always turns men’s [and some women’s] heads.  She is a temptress and seems to have the kind of aura that makes her mysteriously popular.  Beware as she represents the worst types of envy and retribution and when handling this type of energy you must be careful how you use it, as flying into a rage may have terrible consequences you never intended.

The woman of water, “the GOVERNESS” is a quite ethereal being.  She is always calm, and often placid.  She will pick up a crying infant to soothe it, but forgets to do the checks to see if something is actually hurting the baby.

The woman of air, “the PILOT” takes herself very seriously.  She is likely to have either an important position in her career or is in charge of some rather large responsibilities.  It is very hard for her to understand a joke.  She will often seem remote or cold.  Her professional status can isolate her.

When you encounter the Gardener you are likely to notice that she wears sensible shoes, gives down to earth advice and is simple in her needs. You will know her by the dirt under her fingernails and her green thumb.  When you first meet her, she is likely to offer you the information needed to grow or make something. 

Notice in the image that the world is slightly hidden beneath the leaves as it gently matures under the gardener’s careful tending.  No matter what chaos and destruction seemingly inhabits your world, remember the feminine energy of nurturing care continues ceaselessly.  Wherever that parental love permeates it is multiplied and positively affects the world, protecting it from total destruction.

The gardener will birth her harvest.  Seedlings become fruits and she gathers them up in her careful and dirty fingers.  Your harvest time has come.  Be aware that the seeds you planted long before this; are manifesting for you now.  Ensure you pay attention and embrace the opportunities when they arrive.

This is the time to expect something you have longed for becoming an actuality. When it arrives do not pinch yourself to see if you are dreaming, you won’t need too because believe me, you are fully awake. 

If you are undertaking the role of the Gardener you will find that you will go through an extremely creative and productive period.  You will find that you will hit a pace, where everything you have learned, experienced & envisioned join up and make you masterful indeed.

If you are being influenced by a Gardener in your life, they may be there not only to assist you in some project or other but also to nurture you in some way. Use “her” to organise and make things happen and be certain she will carry out her “duties” in her own individual way.  If you allow her to do it the way she wants to and acknowledge her work, you will have a seriously good outcome.

If you have been feeling lonely, the Gardener will invite you to nurture yourself.  This can easily be achieved by taking some time out and listen to some mellow, instrumental music, when you are feeling relaxed, close your eyes.  Breathe deeply three times and just listen to the music a bit longer. 

Then count backwards, 5, 4, 3, 2...1, in your mind’s eye picture yourself in a gentle, green woods. Find yourself walking down a safe grassy path through the woods.  In the distance see and smell a campfire and move toward it. 

Move deeper into the woods until you are closer to the fire.  You notice a small figure sitting with its back to you.  So as not to frighten the little person you cautiously approach and call out a friendly greeting. 

When the child turns to you, it looks familiar and suddenly you realise it is YOU as you were as a child.  Approach and take time to encounter each other.  Realise why the child is happy or sad, frightened or angry or hurt or content, etc.

Realise too, that your child-self will be able to communicate his/her needs, desires, hopes, fears, beliefs and dreams. Accept them, no matter what they are; try not to judge them in any way, no matter how they make you feel, accept them. Your child-self cannot lie, it is still too innocent.

Allow yourself as an adult to promise your child-self that you will parent and love your whole-self just as you would with your own child.  Take as much time as you like with your child-self.  When you are ready, say goodbye to each other and walk back through the woods from whence you came.

As you recognize the place where you began, close your mind’s eye and count 1...2...3...4...5...6... When you are ready take a deep breath and slowly open your eyes. Take your time “coming back into the room” before moving about too quickly. 

You can revisit this meditation at any time now that you know how to get back to nurture your child-self.  The more you work at this relationship of parental love  the more it will resonate within your life.

..."Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at."

"I am a fox," the fox said.

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "I am so unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said. "I am not tamed."

"Ah! Please excuse me," said the little prince.

But, after some thought, he added:

"What does that mean--'tame'?"

"You do not live here," said the fox. "What is it that you are looking for?"

"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that mean--'tame'?"

"Men," said the fox. "They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests. Are you looking for chickens?"

"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends. What does that mean--'tame'?"

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to establish ties."

"'To establish ties'?"

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . ."

"I am beginning to understand," said the little prince...”

---The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943


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Best Wishes, Gabrielle Elliot ©2011