Elders

Birthed from seed within the belly of the moon, they are the wise felt touches over our hearts and felt deep within the marrow of our spirit.

Elders are wise. They are the ones who’ve lived and experienced more ups and downs, twists and turns than the rest of us. Elders were the storytellers and keepers of knowledge, they were the ones we sought when in turmoil and who would hold us as we wept for the unfairness life can bring. They had compassion for us but also gave sage advice drawn from their decades of experience.

Today many elders are seen as a burden instead of cherished loved ones who deserve the right to be supported and cared for in their old age. Many elders have not been given the space to share the wise words of their traditions because our modern world moves too fast for their slow wisdom. Yet there are those among us, particularly witches, who still see the wisdom in their old ways.

If you hold the Elders card, it is to remind you to have compassion for others and to never disregard someone’s wisdom or experience. A Zen saying tells us, 'You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.' This knowledge can be applied to wisdom as well. Often the thing you need most when life is moving so fast is to slow down and see what you’ve been missing, or in this case, who you’ve been missing.

This card is a call to meet with your elders to see if they have wisdom to share about your ancestors that can help you on your path.

When Elders is in reverse, know that you are in need of sage advice and should seek that advice before making any decisions. Now is not the time to act impulsively. You do not have everything you need to move forward at this time. Likewise, during the next moon phase, take special care to think before you speak. You may be in danger of saying things that cannot be taken back.