We are now moving on to the Water element in this deck. All of the animals in this element (or suit) speak to our hearts, our emotions, our intuition, and our ability to connect. With the Water element, we are tasked with finding ways to flow with our emotions, nurture ourselves, cleanse what needs to be cleansed, and share in the kindred connection of emotions.
Naturally, with a Water element, all the animals here will be ones found in water, or have some connection to the water in real life. Some have a relationship between both Earth and Water, so feel free to bring in the energies of Earth that we just learned about when you connect with these animals, and these cards,
Also, just like the animals we saw, and the ones yet to come, we do not have numbers. Rather, we have a level of consciousness that will continue to rise with each card we move through. You do not have to include this in your relationship with these animals. It is merely something to consider.
Beginning with our first card in the element of Water, our first initiation and introduction into the heartspace is the animal that lies in the murky waters. Moving like ghosts in the darkness, we begin with the Crocodile.
Resting and Gathering Energy with the Crocodile
The Crocodile is a supreme specimen of evolution. Their last evolution was around 200 million years ago. They are truly modern-day dinosaurs. This is what makes the Crocodile so special, and a great animal to begin our initiation into the element of Water.
They have won the game of evolution. They are still here, waiting in the waters, inciting fear and awe. Being cold-blooded, they move with the cycles of the Sun. Heating their bodies when needed, then retreat into the shadow to cool off, replenishing their energy stores—a good reminder for us all.
The Crocodile is a card of rest and stillness. This is something that, especially in this crazed, unsleeping world, would help us in our own lives. The Crocodile is strong and formidable, so removing itself from the external world is not an act of cowardice or giving up. The Crocodile recognizes the needs of the self and acts accordingly. This is a beautiful invitation that comes from this card. Our emotions can quickly become heated, causing us to lose sight of the bigger picture.
The Crocodile is here to teach us mindset. When we can recognize that we need to remove ourselves, step away, take a breath, and observe what is happening within and around us, we come into a place of mastery. We are no longer victims to circumstance. We culminate from within. This doesn’t mean wallowing or dismissing our emotions either. It means that we let our emotions flow through us, no matter how hard.
Trying to silence our emotions doesn’t make them go away. We can suppress them for a while, but if we haven’t created mindfulness and awareness, these feelings will eventually surface- usually in ways that are less than helpful. When we can respond instead of react, we truly address the situation at hand, but from a space of calm and collected, not heated or triggered.
Guidance from the guidebook
Some key references from the guidebook
Keywords / phrases: Resting, Submerging, Collecting Energy, Cooling Off
When in balance: wise, patient, a silent powerhouse
When out of balance: feels stuck, lashes out
To bring into balance: rest, Makarasana pose
Following the guidance from the guidebook, working with the Crocodile means stepping into your internal solitude, and removing yourself from the external world. Here, you can regroup with yourself. You can build your awareness and stamina. You can replenish your internal energy so that when you come back to the surface, you are moving from a space of wisdom, sovereignty, and power.
One of the most important things to remember is that when our Crocodile energy is out of balance, it isn’t because we planned on it. We often don’t realize how depleted we are until it boils over, and we recognize how tired we are, how weary our bodies are, or how detached we are from ourselves. Crocodile energy reminds us that rest, yoga, meditation, walks in nature, listening to music, enjoying a good, or anything else that returns you home to the body, is not some hippy shit. We all need more and better rest.
We do the world a service when we take the time to fill our cups and cool our energies down. It is completely understandable why most of us are on edge, lashing out unintentionally. We are all worn thin as paper, and the world keeps calling our numbers and making demands. You owe it to yourself to recognize when and where your boundaries lie, and what you need to do to regroup and cool off.
The Crocodile, with its ancient bloodline, was not made to be constantly on notice, able to reach, or ready to go at the drop of the hat. Crocodile comes from the place and time where things moved to a more natural rhythm. Recognize where you could do the same. Perhaps it is removing your accessibility. Maybe it is timing yourself to a more seasonal or lunar shift. Maybe it is lessening the artificial light around you. Whatever it is, make the choice and follow through. Your wisdom is already building.
Ashlie McDiarmid
Hello there! I hope you liked this blog post. As a tarot and oracle reader, my goal with my blogs is to offer you content, resources, and access to the tools that have transformed my life.
I believe that your own intuition is the deepest form of knowing, but here in my little corner of the internet, I share insights based in intuition and instinct. I share my love for nature, witchcraft, and the wild spirit.
- If your spirit is at home in wild places
- If you feel the need to claim your autonomy as ritual
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