In Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon, which this deck is loosely based on, The Lady of the Lake is the high priestess of Avalon, and she and her priestesses can part the mists to enter Avalon. Not everyone can do this -- in the book, it takes diligent development of natural gifts to learn to do it.
Wisdom of Avalon Oracle (Baron-Reid 2007) doesn't play on that aspect of Lady of the Lake so much. Today's card hearkens more to the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legends, and the meaning given to the card is very much like the tarot Queen of Swords:
'She is the harsher element of truth, where denial is swept away by a tidal wave of events...serious business is at stake. The Lady reminds you of your personal responsibility in shaping your reality and its consequences. Seek the sword of truth within yourself and great success will be yours.'
This reminds me of something I read recently: 'Be who you are. People don't have to like you, but you don't have to care.'
If you are responsible for shaping your reality, why in the world would you want to shape it to conform to someone else's specifications? Would you want to wear shoes custom-made for someone else's feet? Dentures formed to someone else's mouth? Noooooo! So why would you even consider shaping your life to fit someone else's mold? Because they frowned at you? Because they made a comment to you online? Ha! No way, no how -- don't do it.
Look at the key words to this card: Absolute Truth, Courage, Self-Respect, Responsibility. Look at the Lady of the Lake -- sheer power and independence. She rises from the waters of the depths of her inner knowing, wielding the sword of her intellect, and she is ready to face whatever confronts her as she surfaces. This is you!
This week I'll be drawing from a charming oracle deck called Wisdom of Avalon Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid (Hay House 2007). The inspiration for this deck is very clearly Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, though, like many, Baron-Reid says she had an interest in Avalon long before that novel came out. In any case, the ties to Bradley's books are not strong. The deck features animals, human characters, elemental faeries, and abstractions such as love, trust, protection represented by gentle woodland scenes. The artwork is beautiful, and you don't have to know anything about Avalon or Bradley's books to work out the meaning of the cards. 