May 12 | 2023 — VII of Vessels
I hope you brought your binoculars because we are going to be doing some bird watching today. The focus in this card is the white bird who is doing an unfriendly dance with the black and red birds.
If you recall from the previous card, the VI of Vessels, part of the process of gluing our guy back together and creating this new, more perfect shape was the (re)birth of the white bird above his head, a representation of our spiritual self.
In the VII of Vessels, our spiritual self has started his ascent into the sky, learning to fly on baby wings. However, he is accosted by a blackbird, a representation of the shadow work that was previously done to bring about our transformation. This represents doubts, temptations, and that little red devil that floats over your shoulder, provoking you with thoughts of unworthiness and pushing you to abandon course.
The red bird, on the other hand, is a supporting guide, helping to mediate the discourse between the squabbling birds, as the red bird understands that the true path forward is a merger of the white and black birds. Its purpose is to support the best qualities of each, to bring them together on a singular journey. This, like everything else on this path, is not an easy journey, but the red bird is there to let you know that are you not alone.
Message of the Day: Compared to the other cards in the suit of Vessels, I think this card is pretty easy to come to terms with once you understand the representation of the birds.
But I think the representation of the black and red birds is interesting when looking at a spiritual journey — and maybe not even spiritual, but perhaps just the general pursuit of betterment. You set a goal, something you want to achieve, and there are always going to be blackbirds and red birds.
The blackbirds are the ones who try to pull you back. They are enablers. They want you to go party with them “one last time” or have that cocktail with dinner. They buy Oreos at the grocery store and forget to wash your gym clothes. They constantly find a way to put temptation in your path that can lead you away from your intended destination. But more than physical people, the blackbird is your self-doubt, your low self-confidence. It whispers you are weak and wants you to ignore the progress you’ve made.
The red birds, on the other hand, are your supporters. They are there to help you on your path by checking in with you, sending encouraging text messages, countering the offers to party with a movie night with friends. They buy you Catalina Crunch Snack Mix instead of cookies. The red bird, however, is also there to pull you up by your britches and remind you of your purpose and keep you focused. It reminds you of your worth and celebrates your progress.
Understanding that both birds are a necessary part of your journey is frustrating. In the previous cards, there have been great attempts to separate ourselves from our ugliest parts, the parts that weigh us down, the parts that lead us away from spiritual enlightenment. Identifying toxic people, poisonous personality traits, unnecessary vices… that separation was necessary for our rebirth, only now to have it (literally) fly in our faces?
As we soar to new heights in this new spiritually awakened form, we have choices to make and we must be constantly vigilant. There are plenty of people who claim to be supportive but offer the darker path when things become difficult. These are wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is where vigilance and resilience must win, and the red bird is there to help you on the way.
I feel like, in a way, the red bird is your conscience, your Jiminy Cricket. It understands right and wrong and has the advantage of having a “birds-eye-view” of what’s happening. They can prompt you in one direction or the next; but at the end of the day, the choice is yours to make. You can accept the advice and soar or you can ignore it and fall prey to the foxes below.
Deck shown above:
Originally posted at Pixel-Tarot.com on May 12, 2023.
