TALE

An intimidating figure, the osprey hovers aloft while clutching an arrow in its talons, wings fully extended in an impressive display. A bow is situated just behind while shooting stars careen down from the heavens. The raptor’s piercing gaze stares dead ahead, locked solemnly on his target. He won’t be distracted by the spectacle above.

ENVOY - THE DEADEYE

The Deadeye is an expert in capitalizing on opportunity as it presents itself. They know what they want, search tirelessly for their mark, establish the right line of sight, and wait patiently for their moment to strike. All the time they spent setting up their objective could be squandered in an instant if they lose focus or even worse, fail to act. The Deadeye lives in the moment so that their prey does not deftly elude them.

ARTIFACT – BOW & ARROW

The Bow & Arrow are a tool of great skill and discipline, and they are inextricably linked together. One does not work without the other. To use them, you must see your goal clearly, and understand what it takes to make your shot. Draw upon the stillness of the calm before the storm. Let it herald an instant of action. If you’ve done everything right the masterstroke falls swiftly and accurately.

PATH

We must pay ever closer attention within the whirling tension of a pivotal juncture. With foresight and attention to detail a precise plan can be put to great efficiency. One of the best ways to achieve a goal is to try to see what it looks like when it’s accomplished. What are the proverbial ‘ducks’ that must be put in a row to get to the finish line? What distractions can you do away with?

TALE

A massive baleen whale careens across cerulean ocean waters. Its herculean figure is nearly dwarfed by the gift it totes aloft with its tail. An ample cane reed woven basket teeters there, nearly overflowing with a bounty of clams gathered from the sea floor. It is the plenty of a proper haul.

ENVOY - THE GATHERER

Emerging from an exhaustive search, a weary but satisfied harvester slumps a vessel heavy with the fruits of their labor from their shoulders. The Gatherer is a gregarious character, as happy to share what they’ve brought to the table as they are to stow it for later. They are perhaps deceptively selective, careful to choose what spoils to collect and which to leave behind for another day. They must keep a keen eye in order to bring back with them only items of truly great value.

ARTIFACT - BASKET

The basket as a series of forms exemplifies extraordinary adaptability. To be flexible when times call for delicacy. To be rigid when they call for strength. One may be woven to hold a great deal of contents, another to hold something small and precious. The weave of the reeds, barks, and grasses determines what is gathered and how it is processed or stored. In all forms, the basket symbolizes gathering, balance, and plenty. 

PATH

No one person can carry the weight of the world alone, but sometimes more is
required of us. Be cautious of how much you are trying to carry right now. You may need to acquire the help of something or someone outside of yourself to accomplish what you are setting out to do. At times it takes banding together - learning, sharing, and connecting, in order to form a whole that is more useful than the sum of its parts. This is also a time to be thoughtful about the things you are carrying with you. What needs to be sorted, filtered, sieved, or rinsed? What is most important to hold on to?

TALE

The blade of a copper-headed axe splits the lip of a slowly deepening cut in a black walnut tree, set to crack and topple. A beaver follows suit, gnawing dutifully with iron hardened teeth into the paper birch he needs to collect if he’s to repair his dam. A bit of drudgery well worth the effort.

ENVOY - THE CONQUEROR

An embodiment of the strength of will. Dauntless, pushing ever forward, The Conqueror must always see things through to the bitter end. To them, the stakes are too dire, and the prizes too valuable. And so, they spare no effort in the siege, hacking away bit by bit until their work is done, or they are completely spent. The Conqueror wrestles with proving that, with enough grit, even the smallest of us can accomplish very large things.

ARTIFACT – AXE

It’s not difficult to grasp the ins and outs of swinging an axe. It’s a simple device that any brute could use. It’s more what the axe is meant to accomplish. To fell a great thing is no easy task. The wood is tough and heavy. Yet sometimes all it takes is temerity and determination to overcome the obstacle before you.

PATH

Immeasurable difficulty often stands between people and their wants and needs. As you come to this challenge, strive to let yourself be governed by the fear of failing. Stepping headstrong into a challenge is at times the only way to rule that fear. But as you do, be wary of becoming too obsessed, and letting other things stray out of focus. In the end, you might need only to rely on your own resolve to carry you through. What is it that stands in your way, and what can you do to take control of it?

TALE

Powdery pigments fill luminous saucers, primed to exhibit what a skilled hand will make from them. A shimmering abalone shell wrapped in the tendrils of an octopus sways about the deep abyss, compelled solely by her imagination. The basin’s contents are transformed into an outflow of her expression.          

ENVOY - THE ARTISAN

Creativity flows from the Artisan. She puts form to purpose using aesthetic for illustrious musings. She is the founder of culture and delight. Able to justify or denounce all emotion in a flash of color. She decorates curiosities in near impossible ways. She is the dreamer of dreams and must flow and move as the brush stroke falls. The Artisan inspires us because she understands the balance between control and spontaneity, and instinctively knows which to follow.  

ARTIFACT - PIGMENT

The right application of any medium can easily become the most decorative spectacle to those curious enough to look upon it. A message is most impactful when it’s designed with purpose. Style, intention, and invention are the picture of individuality, and specificity ensures that such a picture is influential. Artfulness is figuring out the best way to show others what you want them to see.

PATH

Authenticity is the key to expression. That’s what makes us unique. We control what we do, make, say, and think. Through this we can intentionally fascinate others. Being authentic and original requires discovery, but you must also be mindful of how your distinct expression enchants the world around you. Where do you discover being? When is it time to flaunt? Consider what is the best vehicle for your personal expression.

TALE

Carefully poised, a scorpion plays guardian amidst a backdrop of shadow, waiting to ward off any ill thing that would dare cross the threshold of its territory. With a bit of warmth, the alighted wick of an elaborate clay lamp casts away the darkness. A snare of thorns instructs the unwelcome to find another course.

ENVOY – THE TUTELARY

From sacred fountains to the inner houses of the soul, things of great importance need great teachers and stewards. A Tutelary figure, wise and strict, to strike light against gloom and iniquity. Tutelaries despise intruders and are wary of the uninvited, so they often have trouble letting others in. To those in their inner circle, they prefer to impart their wisdom about the domain over which they preside, lest the forgetful lay ruin to the power secreted within. 

ARTIFACT – LAMP

We use the gift of fire to light our path through the darkness. The oppression of the night was never better staved off than by the long burning, stable glow of the lamplight. Pointed in the right direction, it can illuminate the mysteries of the deepest dusk, lighting the way to safety. With this guidance, we can face the unknown and disperse the shadows that might cause us to falter.

PATH

Recognizing and respecting boundaries is as important as setting them for yourself. Amenability can go a long way to helping you navigate the impasses of life. It’s important to remember that having something worth protecting is a
considerable responsibility, and without diligence and care it may dwindle away like lamp oil, or worse yet be stolen away. What tools do you use to illuminate the truth? What threats are encroaching that need to be warded against?

TALE

A silver circlet adorned with the emblem of a keystoned arch floats elegantly above velveted barbs of a bull moose’s antlers. He’s a brawny giant who haunts his domain, wandering about it wreathed in elegant tendrils of clematis. A puff of steam exudes vim and vigor.   

ENVOY – THE SOVEREIGN

An imposing and awe-inspiring figure, the Sovereign commands respect from towering heights. With strength and vantage, he moves about his realm, a paragon of raw eminence. Might makes right, yet a sufficient challenger to his rule could be his downfall. His willingness to take confrontation head-on is paramount to establishing his legitimacy. Hardship is the price of the Sovereign’s prosperity.

ARTIFACT – CROWN

The crown is a symbol of leadership and agency. At its best it is a beacon of hope and duty, and that there is a force in the world dedicated to order and good. A sense that the hierarchy of natural order is working as it should. It signifies dynasty and jurisdiction within a specific territory and stands to correct
injustices and misdeeds under the purview of its rule.

PATH

The weight of authority comes with responsibility to the common good at the ruler’s expense. Every step along the way to that is a season of growth, which leads to strength of character and position. What sacrifices do you need to make in order to achieve prominence in your domain? What moments call for fortitude and
restraint?  

TALE

Rigid and alert, a crab secures its position atop the bulwark of a well-worn helmet that has seen years of arduous service. A marine snail waits beneath the helm’s comb, taking what shelter it can inside the beaten hull. Dune grass holds tight yet bends wildly in the torrent of an oncoming storm.

ENVOY - THE SENTRY

Foul weather is the Sentry’s friend. It is a warning that the tides might be turning against him. A sturdy outlook and a thick brow keep him secure when the ocean slams against the shore. The Sentry seeks safe harbor wherever he can, whether behind a timeworn dune or on the ocean floor under the rolling current. He shields himself against the bashing waves, a guardian against death and a defender of life.  There is a willingness to offer up a part of himself in service to a greater cause.

ARTIFACT – HELMET

A helmet serves the wary well. It protects you from the outside world, which always presents an inherent danger. Putting one on is an act of self-preservation, but it is also a signal to others to protect themselves. It reminds us of the natural world. That it is difficult, and cruel, and often neutral to our concerns. We can use the resources around us to become tougher than we would otherwise be.  

PATH

Guarded people are often unsuspecting of their own wounds. A pinch or a scrape here, a bump or a bruise there. Over time those wounds can build up and make things complicated. Taking precautions when it seems right may just carry you through the storm. But know that if you’re too cautious you may become blind to great opportunities, and that being too defensive may push others away. How do you protect yourself out in the world? When is it fruitful to share your vulnerable side? What are you willing to lose to protect yourself?  

TALE

A mother brown bear warms herself while snoozing atop a masoned hearth. Hunks of split burl roast in its stone firebox, readying the oven for baking. Her cubs tangle playfully into knots under a backdrop of ample golden wheat.

ENVOY - THE DOMESTICATE

The Domesticate is quite at ease providing a nurturing, comfortable setting, far from the turmoil and troubles of the outside world. She’s welcoming, and hospitable, yet keeps the space she inhabits in a manner particular to her tastes. There is something effortless yet careful about it. She deals with things when it suits her and in her own way, taking pride in having command over her realm. The privacy she creates lets others be more themselves.

ARTIFACT – HEARTH

Since pre-history the hearth has been the center of the home both literally and symbolically. It is the strongest unifier for everyone under the roof. It nourishes, warms, and fills the space with character. It is a gift giver, a place to make merry, and also a place to find peace and quiet. But a hearth must be tended to and mended. Soot builds up and cracks form on the stone. You cannot bake bread in a broken oven. Take care of your sense of home and it will take care of you.

PATH

The road is often weary and there comes a time to dust off your boots and take a respite. To gather with friends and family, to raid the pantry, recuperate, and to be in your own space. Now may be the time to enjoy the comforts of home, or to provide a sense of welcoming for others. Where is your ‘center’ from which you can find peace? How can settling down benefit you right now?

TALE

A vulture patiently leers at a likeness of itself, crudely carved from a bar of lathery soap. They stand toe to toe in an odd and stark reflection of one another. A pair of bones picked clean hang above in the balance, while below, scapes spring forth from an overripe head of garlic. Its skin begins to shed revealing the flesh inside.    

ENVOY - THE CUSTODIAN

The Custodian tends dutifully to the untidied corners of their house, combing through messes of undesirable accumulations. They rummage through the mire for what can be salvaged and put comfortably out of mind what’s best left alone. Routine maintenance is as serious a matter as life and death for them. They create equilibrium in their lives by consistently laboring at the most mundane yet paradoxically abject of tasks. The Custodian is a neutralizing force of renewal.     

ARTIFACT – SOAP

Restoration back to a pure state is a therapeutic, curative process. It’s one we must attend to regularly to wash away the filth and grime we no longer need or want to carry with us. Rejuvenation of the spirit through purifying the body is a care that soap can provide. But that sense of joy and pride in restoration, like rising again from the ashes, can easily stray into the boundaries of compulsion. It’s alright to play a little in the dirt. 

PATH

Over time we amass layers of neglected negative thoughts and emotions, stresses, and unfinished plans or projects. There comes a time to clean house, pick out what lessons that can be learned from these lingering plots and energies, and scour off the rest. Holding onto them only brings the overwhelming diseases of apathy, self-doubt, and impotency. What is it that needs purging? What are good routines for removing the unnecessary?

TALE

Two dominant bighorn rams lock together in a thunderous and brutal collision to establish their rightful place in the hierarchy of their herd. Between them, a heavy headed bronze hammer with an adornment of red jasper takes the brunt of the impact without faltering. The echo of the clash reaches far.

ENVOY - THE BELLWETHER

Competency compliments order, and no idol more masterfully exemplifies this than the Bellwether. With vision and purpose, he surefootedly shapes and drives the pieces of a whole together, molding them into successful projects, personal goals, and meaningful relationships. Gripping these pieces tightly together, he defends that labor against anyone who would come to take it or tear it down. The Bellwether forges forward, blazing a trail that inspires awe. Though he strongly values stability, he can grow rough and bullish.

ARTIFACT – HAMMER

Simpleness belies the true power of the humble hammer, which represents the ability to perform the many tasks necessary to construct anything from a hut to a monument. It drives nails, forges metal, unifies grooved wood, pulverizes stone, and much more. Using one demands stamina to endure repeated strikes. The pressure building with each blow demands concentration. It’s all too easy to miss the mark, waste your potential, and sap your own strength. The hammer leads the arm, and a true strike uses only the force needed to get the job done.

PATH

Building something that stays together is often more difficult than it appears. It might not matter how well you can see the final picture or what your intentions are. Failure is always possible. Taking an eye off the ball or an ear off the track means the hammer bends the nail instead of driving it in, and the jilted ram goes off with his tail between his legs. Skill, consistency, and order are the
keys to success. What are your proficiencies and strengths? How do you wish to influence and shape your future? The world?

TALE

A clay-smeared nightcrawler springs out from a freshly overturned garden furrow, entangling itself with the well-worn hickory adze that helped dig its way out. A ripened squash, climbing overhead, dutifully dispenses its seeds onto the newly aerated soil.  

ENVOY - THE TILLER

In the cold hard earth, where the cares of the world go to bury themselves and decay, lies a foundation for spectacular growth that only hard work and good planning can exhume. This dark place is the Tiller’s domain, where they spend their days sifting through the memories of the deep, churning them up into new
perspectives, methods, and ideas, to bring back into the light. They put these new hard-earned nutrients to work for them in hopes that they will yield abundant fruits for the future.   

ARTIFACT – ADZE

An adze is a dirt digging tool. It’s used to dig plot holes and rows, preparing them for planting seeds and bulbs. If our minds are gardens, the adze would symbolize the strength needed to pull up old thoughts and dreams to condition ourselves for something we plan to create or do. To aim ourselves toward the fruition of our goals and expose us to the possibility of failure. This unearthing can be difficult and may dredge up negative emotions but can often lead to better outcomes.

PATH

Digging down into our memories is never easy. It’s a messy struggle rife with snags and obstructions. Most would tend to leave their roots and stones in place, but you can plan better for your goals by finding the right spots to dig, as the nightcrawler does intuitively. What needs to be uncovered? What lessons from
the past can help you move toward success now? How can digging a little deeper enrich your soul?

TALE

Two florescent yucca plants set a stylish scene for an attractively patterned, black-billed magpie. Its prismatic wings are outstretched on full display as it gazes intently into an ornate necklace set with a polished obsidian mirror.

ENVOY - THE ENLIGHTENED

The Enlightened is an ethereal figure, transfixed on the liminality between two worlds. One is the natural, corporeal reality to which we are bound. The other initially appears as a cheap imitation of the first, but with careful examination opens upon the vastness of the inner self, with its luxuriant lace of insight, personal growth, and the goodness of pure being. The Enlightened is simultaneously torn between the glitz and embellishments of outward appearance and searching for profound meaning and wholeness within.

ARTIFACT – MIRROR

A mirror is no mere curio of parlor tricks. It is a threshold that goes beyond cosmetic superficiality, where self-reflection illuminates the soul. There you can recognize your true self, the good and the bad. Knowing yourself more fully makes it easier to understand others and how they perceive you. This awareness allows us to see the radiance of others and extend kindness to them despite the differences and flaws in between.

PATH

Mirrors fracture and feathers fade. Just as important as cleaning up and putting your best face forward is tending to the fragments of a broken spirit. There will be times when you can no longer see yourself fully, and you will have to sort through the pieces of your life like a puzzle and put them back together. What aspects of yourself need preening or mending? How do you embellish yourself, and how might others perceive that?