Daily Angel Oracle Card: Jeanne D’Arc, from the Goddesses and Sirens Oracle Card deck, by Stacey Demarco, artwork by Jimmy Manton

Jeanne D’Arc: “Faith”

“Hold on to your dreams even through adversity. Develop faith in yourself and in a spiritual power. Trust is important. You must trust your own leadership abilities, or improve them. Be not afraid – you were born for this.”

“The Maid of Orlean’s, the teenage Jean D’Arc (Joan of Arc) remains one of history’s greatest women. The sheer amount of primary sources left to us, including eyewitness accounts, court documents, and even letters written by Jeanne herself, are testament to the incredible power of this young woman. She remains a national heroine of France, a Catholic saint, a symbol against political repression and an inspiration to women the world over.

Part of the magic of Jeanne is that she was a country peasant girl born in 1412 into a society that was patriarchal and very hierarchical. The daughter of ordinary people, she claimed to have been receiving divine visits from Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine since she was a child.

IN the midst of the Hundred Year’s War, two French factions, the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, were fighting for control over the throne. English invaders, backing the Burgundians, took advantage of this chaos and captured many French towns, including Orleans. Jeanne’s visions told her to lift the siege of Orleans and to take the Dauphin (the uncrowned Charles VII) to Rheims for his coronation. She managed to get access to Lord Robert de Baudricourt and convinced him to take her to the Dauphin. She famously cut off her long hair and dressed in a male page’s clothes for the journey, so that she would not be conspicuous during the long ride. The Dauphin was sufficiently impressed and insisted that high ranking theologians and inquisitors examine Jeanne. All deemed that there was nothing improper about her. She was good, humble, chaste and pious.

And so, Charles raised an army, and Jeanne rode with him to Orlean’s, where a series of mighty victories encouraged a campaign that quickly put Charles on the throne in Rheims. Dressed in shining armor, riding astride a battle horse, and carrying her battle standard, teenage Jeanne inspired and rallied everyone on the battlefield. We see her strength and conviction in her communications to her enemy. Her Second Letter to the English in 1429 stated: “My lord commands you to go back to your own land; for it’s His will, or otherwise I will cause such a disaster for you.”

Jeanne was incredibly intelligent and inspiring, but the trial transcripts from when the English captured her and accused her of heresy make for sobering reading. They attacked everything from her visions to her loyalty, and even her hairstyle and clothes. Her answers were those of an aware and astute young woman. Her faith in herself and her God shone through in the face of hostile clergy, a barrage of law makers, and death itself.

While Jeanne was convicted of heresy, this was only a crime if it was repeated. One of the stipulations of Jeanne’s reform was that she was only to dress in feminine clothing. Still imprisoned, she complained that she was the victim of an attempted rape and decided to dress in men’s clothing again for her own protection. This was enough to condemn her, and she was executed by burning at the stake simply for dressing in men’s clothing. Eyewitness accounts say that she held on to her faith until the end and asked clergymen to hold up a cross so she would see it as she burned.

In 1456 a legal retrial in absentia absolved her of her crimes; the Catholic Church made Jeanne D’Arc a saint in 1920. Her statues are all over France, but the most famous rests in the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Jeanne comes riding into your life with her battle standard held high! Legend has it that, as she rode bravely toward the enemy, she said: “I am not afraid. I was born for this!” Her energy can help inspire complete faith in yourself and in a higher power, to lead you to your greatest good. When you need the energy to do what you think is right (even in the face of what others think you should do) or to trust yourself and your own visions for your future, ask Jeanne for her help. Jeanne was single-minded and kept her focus, and this is ideal energy to use when you need inspiration to carry on through obstacles. Her courage and her sheer goodness are also wonderful attributes to hold on to, especially when faced with outside pressures you know are not healthy.”*

~ Stacey Demarco

Now is a time of releasing all that holds you back. It is a time to have faith in your passions and your dreams; and most importantly, to follow your heart. It is not a time to be sidetracked by the fears, judgment or approval of others; this is your path and yours alone. Self belief and self reliance are key. Rather than asking permission or advice from others, find inspiration in those who are doing what you want to be doing and let them be your role models. As you step into your own power, you can be a role model for others to do the same. 

All of our self held limitations are being tested now, they are being brought up to the surface for us to experience once and for all, and it is up to us whether we allow ourselves to get stuck or break through them. You are so much more powerful than you think, and you are being given these tests so that you can prove this to yourself. Once you realize that you can conquer anything that comes into your path, doors will open to you so that you can embrace the opportunities that await you.

Harness the energy of Jeanne D’Arc and get ready for battle. For this battle is one of the Heart and Soul vs the ego, society, cultural beliefs and outmoded belief systems. It’s going to be quite a battle.

Have faith in yourself and remember: you are Victorious.

And so it is

Namaste

Dee

~Archangel Oracle

*Goddesses and Sirens Oracle Card deck, by Stacey Demarco, artwork by Jimmy Manton