Make Believe
Up at dawn
and off to work
no one sees
the inside hurt
the quiet cries
and the
bleeding wounds
that hide
behind
a friendly grin
as I pretend
I’m not aching
for an end
Month: September 2025
Second Harvest 2025 – Autumn Equinox
Today is the Autumn Equinox. This is considered by many to be the first day of Autumn, and is one of only two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the Equator, and thus day and night are of equal length. Like Halloween is a time when the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is thin, this holiday (as well as its cross-point in the spring) are times when the veil between our world and that of the Fae is at is thinnest… and it is when I personally experience more interactions with them than any other time of year.
In my path, the Autumn Equinox is also known as the Second Harvest (also called Mabon), and is a day that marks the transition of the growing season into full harvest. After this day, the darkness of night begins to overtake the sun’s reign in the sky as the days continue to grow shorter and shorter, and the nights longer and longer. The earth is winding down its abundant generosity and beginning to close up shop for the year.
Like with new moons and full moons, I usually do a spread to check in with myself and give myself some direction for the next couple of months for each solstice, equinox, and other Sabbats. This spread is an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, so there are sure to be some similarities in how it is read. The focus of this spread, though, is not about Self Care, but rather about progress and my path. The time period is also longer, reaching through the next handful of weeks until the celebration of the upcoming third and Last Harvest of the year (aka. Samhain, Halloween) at the end of October.
Theme of the Season – Mabon/Abundance, New Moon, Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Mabon is a holiday filled with abundance. As the Second Harvest begins, we reap the rewards of all our hard work, stockpiling a cushion of abundance for the months ahead when scarcity will have the opportunity to step in and influence our lives. Remember that celebrating your hard work is important. The work done during this season builds up for us the strength needed to get through the sparse cold of the winter to come.
The New Moon is a time of beginnings, when we take the ideas we have been fostering in the back of our mind and bring them forward to prioritize and begin to encourage to grow. Planning is the first step to acting on one’s dreams, and the new moon encourages us to plot and plan to our heart’s content concerning those things most important to us, and that we want to accomplish or achieve.
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is truly a jack-of-all trades kind of herb. Oh, did I say herb? Are you aware it’s actually considered a weed? Regardless, it’s not just delicious, but also possesses a swath of medical benefits and magical uses.
As a medicinal herb, dill is a spectacular choice for treatment of a variety of stomach ailments, bad breath, gas, and even hemorrhoids. It is also been shown to help lower blood sugar levels, is full of antioxidants, and high in flavonoids which are known to help in protecting the heart due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may help lower cholesterol. It’s essential oil is also antibacterial.
Metaphysically speaking, dill is an herb with many various uses from love and abundance to luck, protection, fostering adaptability, attracting money, and even hex removal and binding magic. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, for you can find a myriad of spells for all sorts of purposes that use dill as an essential ingredient.
When looking at these three cards together, what I see here is an encouragement to focus on the things that you -can- do and be grateful for all you’ve accomplished. Even if in life you are struggling right now, work on staying calm and use this time to appreciate all that you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have or can’t do. Calm and ground yourself as best you can, and focus on taking care of yourself and your health right now.
Earth – Page of Pentacles – Be open to learning new things, but at a slow pace. Don’t push, but instead contemplate and savor. Roll new methods and skills needed around in your head and practice at them. You’re gonna feel like a novice for a good while longer, so be sure to use your spiritual practice to help bolster your confidence and foster patience as you move forward.
Air – Ace of Swords – Communication is key right now, as is information gathering. New ideas are coming, and you’re not going to want to just listen to them, but share them with others as well. This open communication will encourage new ideas and creative thinking.
Water – Eight of Swords Rx – It’s really difficult right now for you not to bury your head in the sand and hide, but a part of the communication mentioned above is also about listening. Make sure that you are keeping your eyes, ears, and mind open. What you glean from doing so will help remove barriers that are currently in your way.
Fire – Five of Swords – The mentality of defeat is just that… a mentality. A choice. You can stand strong to weather the storm and come out on top, or you can lay things down and walk away defeated with your tail tucked between your legs. Choose to fight, and you choose to win.
Waning – The Healer and Sickle – You cannot heal or adequately attend to others when you yourself are unwell. Step back from investing so much of yourself in others well-being on your path and practice right now. You need to be focusing this energy on yourself instead, at least for the time being.
Waxing – The Unbound and Roots – Reconnect with your roots by getting out in nature and doing those things that help you to feel that you are thriving. Connect with the wild, and let it lift you up into a better and healthier mindset as it fosters within you the grounding that you need right now.
Take Away – This season is all about taking care of yourself and your own needs. Make sure that you are getting the outside time that you’re craving. Even if it feels inconvenient; you still need it.
Don’t allow yourself to fall into the pit of despair, or hold yourself apart and hide away. You need to be open and aware and thinking clearly, so that when opportunity to begin learning anew arises, you’re able to step in and start right away. The learning curve on what’s coming is going to be a steep one, and you need to be ready to start as soon as possible, communicate openly with others as you go, and listen with an open mind to their feedback and ideas.
DECKS USED: JAHRESKREIS ORAKEL DER KELTISCHEN FESTE, PAGAN OTHERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 – 3
The Soul’s Exhale
Today’s meditation was a self directed ten minute session that was focused on a Forest Meditation card, which states, “The Home of Senses” and, in the guidebook, encourages seeking comfort in your surroundings by expanding your senses and letting them guide you, then focusing in on what drew you in the first place.
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Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of action, speed, alacrity, fast paced events or change, or having a target goal in your sights that you are charging towards.
Where in your life do you feel most at ease? Where is that place where your inner tension eases up and the knot in your solar plexus unfolds? Is it your own home where you find that deep breath for the soul? Is it another house? In the woods? In your car? At the beach?
We all need these moments where we breathe easier and tension falls away. We all have places where we don’t have to work at these moments of peace, but instead it feels almost as if they’re gifted to us.
Today’s message asks us where these places are for you, and encourages visiting them and appreciating them posthaste.
There will always be times when you need that breath of air for the soul and ease of tension. The message for today is an encouragement to identify where these places are, acknowledge what those places gift us, and not to hold back on giving yourself that when you need it.
DECK USED: CASANOVA TAROT AND FOREST MEDITATIONS
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompt for September 21st : Do the Second Harvest Spread
Amber – Where do I need to work on my emotions to create more balance in my life?
Taco Drake – Your issues with scarcity mean that you’re always grasping for more and never feel like you have enough. This mentality translates to your emotions that you are never enough and can never do good enough. To create more balance in your life, you need to work on easing up on this cycle that your issues with scarcity create.
Cedar – How can I use my present day fortitude to strengthen my future protection?
Pansy Plucker – Even during times when you are struggling and at the end of your rope, make sure that you are continuing to seek out the small pleasures and little joys in life. Being able to bring this positive practice forward with you into the future will help to protect you from the negative self talk in your head.
Marigold – Where should I focus on my health in order to develop a happier outlook?
Metal Nibbler – Pause before you put stuff in your mouth. Work on eating healthier, instead of just grabbing whatever is available and easy. Quick snacks are all well and good until it turns out that that’s all you’re eating all day long. When your diet is balanced, you feel happier and healthier.
Walnut – How can I be more discerning in picking positive friendships?
Teacup Lung – Make sure that those you choose to associate with aren’t adding more drama to your life. Look for those that are there to support you when you need it and care about your well-being, instead of having their own ulterior motives that leave them unconcerned with your struggles.
Sapphire – How can I best discern between logical thought and true wisdom?
Tinker Imp – Play with these thoughts and look at how to apply them to different scenarios in life. Wisdom doesn’t need tinkering, but logic often does.
Yarrow – How can I move from a place of trauma into a place of healing?
Oracle Wyvern – Stay open to working with your ancestors and guides. They are there to help you if you’re open to it, and will come to you when you’re ready if you trust them to step in when needed; but no sooner.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dehydrated Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: 100 DRAGONS ORACLE
I bought myself frosted two-bite brownies today, and they are delicious.
Gideon’s Challenge – Nineteen
Nineteen
“You aren’t
nineteen anymore.”
The words hit
like a bowling ball
in the gut
and I’m not
sure why
when this fact
has been true
for well over
a decade
at this point
and my mind says,
“So what?”
while by body says,
“Exactly right.”
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)
These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.
The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?
Earth – Seven of Cups – “One situation improves another.” – Guidebook
Our situations in life are created by the building blocks we use to get there where we’re going. Each time you make a choice, it influences your life and all of the things in your life, as well as your trajectory forward into the future. Make sure this week that you are making choices that align with the direction you want to go in.
Air – Knight of Cups – Sometimes it’s not enough to know which direction you want to go in. You actually have to take action to get there. Just make sure that those actions you choose are well thought out and strategic; not reactionary or rash.
Water – Five of Wands atop Knight of Swords – Take care to temper your “get up and go” this week. Although stagnancy is not your friend, you need to make sure that you’re discussing your plans and ideas with others and getting their input before you move forward. This week is not a “do it now and tell them about it later” type a week, so try to avoid that mentality.
Fire – King of Swords – A good leader listens to those that they lead. Strategy is a big part of your path this week, but part a of strategy involves listening to others and weighing in their ideas along side your own. Make sure that you are actually listening, and not just “hearing” them.
Waning – Mice and Whip – Negative thoughts are corrosive and unhealthy. Make sure that you’re whipping your self into shape where this is concerned instead of sinking into those negative narratives going on in your head. They might feel familiar and familiar, but they’re poisoning the well.
Waxing – Ship and Rider – Participate in the world instead of holding yourself apart from it. Make sure that you’re paying attention to the direction you’re going in with the choices you’re able to make for yourself; for even while your current path is being forced upon you, the unexpected can still rear up and land in your lap.
Take Away – Your emotions have you in a state where acting without thought or through emotion alone is very much your first instinct. Take care not to rush or make snap decisions this week, though, no matter how much you are tempted to do so. Move with caution and care, and think things out including sharing them with others for their input, before taking any actions.
DECKS USED: FENG SHUI TAROT AND EARTH LENORMAND ROMULUS AND REMUS EDITION
Never Good Enough
Today’s meditation was a ten minute long self-directed session based upon @thelatestkate’s affirmation that says “Maybe today is not an “improve yourself” day. Maybe it can be an “accept yourself and get through” day instead.”
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The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 20th : Equinox
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of pessimism, regrets, doomsday thinking, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).
I have a tendency to push too hard and expect too much. And, as true as this is in regards to other people and things around me, it’s significantly more so in how I treat myself.
I was raised to understand that “doing your best” requires self sacrifice… and that you should never do less than your best. That means that to do your best is to neglect your own needs for the cause. You put everything you have into the perfection that you are seeking to achieve. And, at the end of the task, you don’t look at what you’ve accomplished with pride, but with modesty and humility. Because secretly you know you could have sacrificed more, and in doing so done better.
This is the mentality I was raised with, and one I still struggle with even now. I know it’s unhealthy, but it’s deeply ingrained and difficult to root out.
The message for today is to take a look at your expectations, especially towards yourself. Where are you pushing so hard that no matter how good you do, it’s never going to be enough? Take time today to examine why you are treating yourself this way, and look at ways to ease up on yourself.
After all, no harvest is perfect. So, consider how you can be happy with your achievements and celebrate them, instead of tearing them down.
DECK USED: CHANG’AN’S ILLUSION TAROT AND THE LATEST KATE AFFIRMATION
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompt for September 20th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s New Moon?
Reading Summary: Rest remains your number one focus for this new moon (Four of Swords), as well as making sure that you’re staying connected with those that are important to you and enjoying your time with them (Three of Cups). You have a lot to be thankful for, and you should be enjoying these things instead of torturing yourself with uncompromising expectations (Four of Wands atop King of Swords).
Take Away: Although as time goes on this month, you’re trying to create a little wiggle room, don’t get so wrapped up in it that you forget that you’re supposed to be resting and waiting, not taking action. Don’t become so obsessed with your little experiments that you lose sight of that. Spend time with others that you like and care about, and enjoy their company. Give yourself some time to relax, and make sure that your aspirations and impatience for movement don’t cause you to get ahead of yourself.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Ceramic Red Maple Leaf Impression for Adaptability and Connection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: TAROT FOR PREGNANCY
@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompts for September 19th through 21st
What lessons can I take with me from the past?
Judgment and Maternal – All of them. You carry those lessons forward with you through your life and into death and what comes beyond.
The one that you seem to be most resistant against thus far is your “mother issues”. You may want to get that sorted out before something happens that makes it impossible to do so.
How can I accept myself more as I am?
The Lovers and Natural – Open yourself up to vulnerability in healthy, low risk ways. Instead of discounting those things about yourself that are positive and good (as you have a tendency to do), take time to appreciate them instead. Foster self acceptance by making choices that validate yourself and those areas of vulnerability.
How can I improve my mind-body balance?
The High Priestess and Pacific – Go with the flow of what you know through your intuition, rather than through logic. Sometimes it’s that inner knowing that has the real answers you need, even for the mind and body. When you connect to your intuition and listen to what’s going on on within you, it allows you to gather knowledge that you wouldn’t otherwise have about yourself and your needs.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Fuchsia Flowers for Stability in the Face of External Disruption
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: CHANG’AN’S ILLUSION TAROT AND CHANGE YOUR MOOD ORACLE
I remembered to bring a pair of gardening sleeves with me to protect my arms from the rose thorns.
Twisting the Leaf 