Half way into November already!? This poor little site, forgotten and seemingly abandoned. Time for a little TLC, starting with a quick little post to get the ball rolling.  

As we head into the most magical, stressful, frantic, holy, lonely and social time of the year, a fitting Major Arcana Key to spend some time contemplating is the Temperance Card. 

A card of balance, but not balance within stillness - this is the integration of the disparate. The tempering of our lives through peace interspersed with frenzied activities.

Think of the metalsmith tempering the sword through endless rounds of heat and cold. Temperance is the alchemy of creating something unique and resilient through a variety of experiences. These experiences are not necessarily meant to be good or bad, positive or negative - these experiences are meant to be varied. The variety of encounters, trials, events and situtations have the affect of tempering our lives and our souls. 

I'm hoping to call in some Temperance energy this winter season. It's difficult finding the balance between social committments, family obligations, daily work and quiet time. Temperance is the effort involved in just enough to be satisfied and content  - and it is an effort to not push past satisfaction into too much. 


Photo: The Rider Tarot Deck U.S. Games

Let’s talk morning routine, or when done with intention and focus, morning ritual. What does yours look like? Are you happy with it? I’m in a constant state of trying to improve mine. Right now I’d like to make a habit of dressing as soon as I leave the bed. So far, this happens only around 10% of the time, sigh. I’m thinking as we move more into summer here in the Pacific Northwest I will naturally want to dress versus throwing on my fluffy winter robe - too hot!
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Another not quite habit, ritual or routine is taking a few moments when I first wake to consciously focus on gratitude. This one is pretty hit or miss, but I do think this would raise the vibe for the rest of the day - I just need to remember to do it.

At this point I’m starting to get hungry, so breakfast is next. I’d love to say I have a varied diet but that’s not the case -  I don’t like to think about breakfast so usually do the same old - same old every day. For me that’s cereal with sunflower seeds and fruit (chopped pear) in flax milk. Every day for the past few weeks. I’m sure I’ll get bored enough to move on to something else pretty soon.

The last consistent morning ritual is rolling out the yoga mat and following along with various Youtubers (Yoga with Adriene, Bad Yogi, Ashley Sky Litecky, etc) for about a half hour. This is followed by a few minutes of meditation if the house is still quiet.

That’s about it for me tarot friends. What does your morning routine look like?



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This is one of my favorite court cards. Earth of earth - Pregnant - the creation of spirit into matter. The birth of ideas, projects, aspects of self. It’s the brink of transformation. The Page of Pentacles is hyper focused, in fact he could be too absorbed in one thing. There is a deep fascination seen clearly in the Rider/Waite/Smith version.
The absorbed manner in which this page contemplates the pentacle implies a time of solitude and devotion. Learning to trust the wisdom of the body, the earth, the physical as well as one's own instincts.
I have  heard this called the most spiritual of the court cards - this Page  is someone open to guidance from the earth itself; perhaps in the form of a vision quest. There is a desire to learn through hard work and diligence.

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Here we have someone open to learning, to new experiences and new skills. Work, study, scholarship - this is someone amenable and receptive.

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Here we are at the end of February, always a hard month for me. Here in the Pacific Northwest it’s dark and cold. The last bit of winter always seems to drag. Anxieties, fears and insecurities abound at this time. It’s an end of winter slump that I am ready to kick to the curb.
This morning I decided to use Ethony’s Fear Releasing Spread for a little clarity and advice on moving forward with my goals. My only changes were is the card layout in order to add an energetic lift to the whole releasing aspect of this spread.

Card #1 - Why am I afraid?
Card #2 - What can I do to confront my fear?
Card #3 - What can I do to release my fear?
Card #4 - What can I replace my fear with?
Card #5 - What is my next step forward?

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Let’s have some fun with Goddess Power. I’ve had these cards for ten years and still get a kick out of  the artwork.

The deck is called Goddess Power by Cordelia Brabbs and I believe it’s intended audience is teen and preteen girls, but ... whatever!
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Come on G-girls! Let’s start the week out right by tapping into our goddess power :)

Take a second to center yourself, take a slow deep breath and then pick a card …

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Originally these were for my (then) preteen daughters. But ten years later and the girls are off to college, the cards have  been “left on the shelf” just waiting for someone (me) to pick them up again and as the guidebook explains,  “learn to unleash your inner goddess”!

Kay, I’ve picked my card, have you?

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Hathor - This awesome goddess knows  how to have a good time! Pleasure and fun! Even though life isn’t always a party Hathor asks you to make the most of every last drop of enjoyment you can squeeze from your life. This weeks motto is: life is a celebration, find the fun and dance joyfully through your life!

Maat - Another Egyptian goddess, this one a bit more focused on responsibility and justice. Now’s the time to assess how balanced your life feels. Do you need to honestly take a look at your actions, are they in alignment with what you value? Maat asks that you live an honest and responsible life which keeps your heart light as a feather!

Vesta - How cozy is your home? This Roman goddess asks you this week to put some extra effort in fluffing your nest. Wherever you call home, take a little extra time for clutter removal, rearrange the furniture, add some fresh flowers, make your personal space a bit more beautiful, a bit more peaceful.
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Many would say we’re collectively going through a Tower time. So much chaos, destruction, division and fear. Our foundations are crumbling and breaking down. It’s left many of us bewildered and directionless. When the authorities, the experts, the hierarchy seem to be floundering, where are we expected to turn?

It’s at this low point, when there’s no one to turn to outside ourselves that we dive inwards. We become what we need ourselves to be. That becoming is personified through the archetype of the Star. The divine inspiration, the hope for better times to come and the connection to our own divinity. That is the Star.

One who is calm, peaceful, free from fear and shame. Quietly composed, doing what must be done - “taking a knee” to pour forth the never ending waters of creation, life, art, unformed energy. That pool of water her foot magically rests upon can be thought of as our collective unconscious. The Star maiden is moving that energy but not mixing with it. She’s at peace observing the endless supply, no need to worry over safeguarding that water.

The Star’s light isn’t obvious in the light of the sun. We don’t bother to search for the stars during the long days of summer. It’s only during the dark time, that we notice and appreciate the shining light, and the hope the Star represents.

For so many of us this is that dark time. This is when we are called to center ourselves, look within and find what we need to keep going. That wellspring of illumination, of faith and of optimism so necessary to move forward. The Star asks us to look within, find that inner spark and be the light we so desperately need. To quote Glenda the Good Witch, “You’ve always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself.”

Image: The Star from The Rider Tarot Deck, U.S. Games

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