![]() 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
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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! 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. While the coffee’s brewing the pets are fed and the window coverings are opened, letting in as much natural light as possible. If I’m lucky I’ll catch a glimpse of the hummingbirds visiting the yard, notice new blossoms, noisey morning doves and whatever the weather looks like that day. And then the best part of my morning! Coffee and metaphysical studies - this could be whatever book I’m currently working through - right now it’s The Complete Tarot Reader by Teresa C. Michelsen. So much great content and valuable exercises in this book. I tend to jump around between books and tarot decks as the mood suits me. Next is my personal tarot readings for the day, including sending a quick snapchat to my daughters with their card of the day as well. Journaling and scheduling the day ahead - I’ve heard it’s more productive to plan your day the night before, but haven’t tried that tip yet. 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? ![]() 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. Here we have someone open to learning, to new experiences and new skills. Work, study, scholarship - this is someone amenable and receptive. Pages in general can represent messages, the Page of Pentalces in particular could indicate messages concerning health, money, work or study.
Decks pictured: The Rider Tarot Deck, Tarot of the Sidhe, The Green Witch Tarot and The Star Tarot 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? #1 Why am I afraid? - Page of Wands (Prince of Wands in the Star Tarot). Here we have someone in the act of manifestation, he has a magic wand (lucky duck) and is using inspiration and his will to create. The fear here would be of the whole manifestation process. The creation cycle is messy, the finished product is never perfect, there’s the fear of looking like a newb. Most of my goals involve pushing myself outside my comfort zone which can be exhilarating as well as terrifying.
#2 What can I do to confront my fear? - Nine of Cups. Ah, the wish card! If only it were that easy, right? Put my focus on that which I want/desire/appreciate and it will magically appear! Nah, it’s not quite that simple. This lovely card seems to be calling me out for wanting exactly what I fear. Isn’t this most of us though, wanting the promotion but not the added responsibility, wanting the relationship but not the emotional pain? It’s the push/pull cycle that stops any forward movement. I’m being called to recognize the hidden fears that come along for the ride. #3 What can I do to release my fear? - Six of Wands. How perfect! Here we have someone reaching for their star. I can release my fears by letting myself be seen, by stretching and striving and believing in myself! This is a card of glory, of hitting the mark, of success. Keep going, keep striving. #4 What can I replace my fear with? - Nine of Swords! Ack - if there is one card that no one wants to see in a reading, this is arguably it! This is the nightmare card. The middle of the night worries, dark night of the soul card. You can’t be here on earth, living life and not experience this. And since this is something common to us all I can replace my fears with the knowledge that this feeling is a universal experience! We all feel this and by acknowledging the universality of this feeling, it’s already lessened. I am not alone, you are not alone. #5 What is my next step forward? - Two of Wands. Get a plan together. Outline my goals, create a schedule, do the research and be strategic. Make a plan, Stan! That lovely wand energy of inspiration and creativity is a great antidote to the winter doldrums. I’m off to work on my plan :) Deck: The Star Tarot by Cathy McMlelland Here’s a reading I did this morning looking at the moon cycle we’ve just entered with the new moon in Capricorn. This new moon occurred at 6:17pm last night, Tuesday the 16th of January (PST).
I’m using The Moon Cycle Tarot Spread created by Ali from The Hermit’s Handicrafts. New Moon - Card One represents the main theme of this new moon cycle, the general feel and the overall energy. Ten of Water: Fountain of Love - Lovely, lovely new moon energy, especially after the tumultuous past year. Here we have the culmination of emotional lessons learned through the suit of water (cups), we’ve reached the pinnacle and have hopefully integrated those lessons into an outpouring of love fostered through wisdom. Waxing Moon - Card Two indicates the energies being carried over from the last moon cycle. This energy while present now, reached its peak during the last moon cycle. Two of Water: Sacred Cord - another message of love pertaining to one on one relationships. The bonds between partners in love or business. This card speaks of a connection being made between two individuals. So much love with these initial two cards - this month is looking good! 1st Quarter Moon - Card Three represents the new energies coming in this month. Brother Water - more emotional water energy mixing with air energy so that it is funneled into creativity, passion projects, art, poetry, romance! We’re taking the energy, the impetus from the last moon cycle and building upon it to not just expand love but to create with all that good love energy :) Full Moon - Card Four explains how we’ll use this energy for the highest good of all. Brother Earth - the message here is to be thoughtful, meditative and move with the environment. It’s much harder to move against the current - the wisdom of this card is to take a pause, evaluate the situation and move thoughtfully forward. To calmly, diligently keep working toward the goal realizing time and patience are involved. When in doubt… meditate. 3rd Quarter Moon - Card Five tells what to let go of to allow this new moon energy to work. The Moon - here we have a major arcana card clearly calling us out to stop looking for monsters outside ourselves, stop fearing the dark- sure the monsters are still out there but many times what we fear isn’t real - it’s the reflection of the reality. Exactly like how the moon’s light is in reality the reflection of the sun. We’re starting to see the reality not the reflection this month! Waxing Moon - Card 6 explains what changes need to be made to integrate this new energy. The Fool - another major arcana key indicating it’s time for a leap of faith. To step forward into a new way of being in the world with a fresh perspective. Let go of the past and what hasn’t worked - it’s time to try something new, something to get excited about, a game changer! The only way to evolve, to become greater, bigger, better is to take a chance, have faith and move forward into the unknown with enthusiasm; focusing not on the outcome but the process. It’s all about the journey not the destination with this card. Darkmoon - Card 7 indicates the lessons to learn in this moon cycle. Father Earth -this card indicates our lessons this moon cycle involve mastering our potential, our capacity to manifest, to grow and to accomplish without uncertainty or fear. The lessons this month involve prosperity and growth in the material world. Focus on finances, career, homes and possessions - what we have created here on earth. Deck pictured: Tarot of the Spirit Now’s a time to dig deep - to get to the bottom of your particular challenges. Scorpio’s are the detectives of the zodiac and love nothing better than getting down in the dirt, so to speak, exploring the inner darkest corners that other signs try their hardest to avoid. Sex, death, taxes (shared money), dreams, career changes, letting go/releasing the past. These are all themes of this new moon energy. Now is the time to get your books caught up - balance the checkbook, research potential purchases. Look into your affairs and get a good handle on just where you’re at and your future goals. This can be confronting if you’ve been avoiding certain areas of your life, but knowledge is power! Only by facing the shadow can you make a change or make peace with it. Now is the time of the dark goddess Lilith. Adam’s first wife, the one who refused to be subservient and was therefore cast aside to be replaced by the docile Eve. Lilith represents the hurt, angry, wild and unacceptable parts of ourselves we try so hard to suppress to get along in society. She asks us to honor our feelings no matter how dark and unacceptable they may be! 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! 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 … 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? 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. ![]() Full Moon November 3/4 2017. Taurus full moons are great for grounding and stabilizing. There is a steady down-to-earth feel at this time. Taurus energy is patient, sensual, practical, protective and acquisitive. This is wonderful for wealth manifestation, for artistic or creative endeavors or even the appreciation of a fine meal. How will you celebrate this full moon? Here is the full moon spread I'll be using to work with this full moon in Taurus.
![]() 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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November 2018
CategoriesAuthorA little about me - Virgo Sun, Scorpio Rising. Love to read the cards. |