Sea and Sky
Clouds dance
like waves
rippling along
a surface
of rich blue
as rising sun
flirts with
horizon’s edge
not yet ready
to crest
and burn away
the seafoam
of the sky
Author: Twist the Leaf
Last Harvest 2022 – Samhain
Coming up on October 31st is the third and Last Harvest of the 2022 autumn season. Although this holiday (which is also known by most as Halloween and by many as Samhain) is celebrated around the world by those that embrace the rich history of many traditions that originated in Paganism, most don’t realize that is what they are doing… or that this holiday carries special significance as the eve of the Day of the Dead when the veil is at its thinnest between our world and those that have passed.
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 Winter Solstice (aka. Yule) in December.
Theme of the Season – Samhain, First Quarter Moon, Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
Samhain is a time of connection. It is a time when those that have passed have the chance to reach through the veil that separates the living from the dead and connect with us… if we are open to that connection. It is a time to honor our ancestors, both of the blood… and of the spirit.
The First Quarter Moon is a time of preparation, when the world is building in energy and the moon is growing towards full. There is a moment… a pause here where the world takes a breath before the final plunge towards the peak of the moon’s energy.
The Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a representation of stability, responsibility, and strength. It is a spice used in protection as well in many rituals and spells. On mundane matters, it is an antioxidant, and also an antibacterial that has been used for centuries to fight bad breath and gum disease.
When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is one of preparation and protection. Reinforce your wards and make sure that you aren’t allowing yourself to to be pulled into interactions with those on the other side that could be harmful to you. Only through cleansing and protections can you ensure the season goes smoothly and you will be able to continue to build energy toward the full moon to come.
Earth – Seven of Cups – It’s time to par down on your responsibilities. This includes those things that you do on your spiritual path that you can cut back on during the season ahead. Practical matters need to take precedence.
Air – Death atop King of Swords – You have no time right now to be stuck up in your head. Make sure you are communicating clearly and helping to guide others through the transition into the holiday season as smoothly as possible.
Water – Three of Cups Rx – There is no room in your life first parties and revelry at this time. With the holiday rush upon you in a mere week, you have to buckle down and temporarily set aside your desire for fun and frolic.
Fire – Ace of Swords Rx – There is also no room for new ambitions and new ideas right now. Write them down and save them for later what’s the holiday season is over. You can then explore to your hearts content once more.
Waning – The Dusk Child and Ruins – Shadow work and the digging up of the past needs to take a back seat for a while.Time will come when you can pick up this part of your practice again, but for now it’s time to set such things to the side.
Waxing – The Shaman and Autumn – Pay attention to those things that feel like they are falling apart. It makes you feel vulnerable, but the process is actually one that builds strength if you are a part of the process instead of a “victim” of it.
DECKS USED: SABBAT THEMED ART CARD, PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 & 2
Finding Comfort Cartomancy Reading
The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “Let’s talk to our divination method of choice about what we can do to make ourselves more comfortable.“
What can I do to make myself more comfortable spiritually?
Page of Clubs and Five of Spades – Be proactive in connecting with those practices that inspire you.
What can I do to make myself more comfortable emotionally?
Seven of Spades and Eight of Spades – Strategically work to distance yourself from those things that frustrate you.
What can I do to make myself more comfortable mentally?
Ace of Spades, Ten of Clubs, Six of Clubs – Communicate clearly your refusal to allow peer pressure and social obligations to overwhelm you.
What can I do to make myself more comfortable physically?
King of Diamonds and Four of Clubs – Make sure that you are balanced and steady in your pursuit of your goals. Only with a steady foundation can you effectively build towards success.
DECK USED: BICYCLE BONE RIDERS PLAYING CARDS
Being Who You Want To Be
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Seven of Wands is traditionally a representation of fighting for one’s beliefs, standing up for one’s principles, and confrontations that challenges one’s values.
The imagery here feels like the center man might be reacting to the others being different than himself than them being a true threat. Their spears are not raised or glowing with danger, after all, only the center figure’s is. And it almost looks like the creature on the left is trying to communicate, but that the central figure is too caught up in their reaction to listen.
Today’s message is to make sure that your reactions are aligned with your principles and values before acting on them. Sometimes gut reactions are not aligned with who we want to be… and it’s important to catch ourselves during these moments and redirect our actions.
DECK USED: NECRONOMICON TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 27th and 28th
Spellwork: What needs manifested in your life right now?
Destination and Disillusionment – Clarity concerning where you are headed and how you are going to get there. Strategy and a good game plan for the last quarter of the year is essential to making sure that this time goes smoothly.
Harvest: What gifts of the season are ready for harvest in your life?
Magical Thinking and Hoarding – Pay attention to what you hold onto that needs released, and purge those things from your life that are holding you back. Continuing to hold on to them while pretending it will all work out will only cause problems through the season ahead. The gift here is the ability to look at these things with an unbiased perspective and the ability to do something about them.
DECK USED: SHADOW OF THE MACABRE ORACLE
HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Question for October 28th: How can I better integrate all aspects of myself?
Reading Summary: Accept that the journey is just beginning and you have a long way yet to go in knowing yourself fully (Knave of Swords). Be generous with yourself and others (Six of Disks), and look for opportunities to improve yourself in solid and grounded ways (Ace of Disks).
Take Away: Insecurity and imbalance is a problem that holds you back. As are the less than generous inner narratives that create a strangle hold on your creativity and strength.
In order to integrate more of yourself into your day to day life, you need to feel safe. Safe and stable. Only when these criteria are met can you delve into those deepest parts of yourself you’ve yet to explore and get to know.
DECK USED: NECRONOMICON TAROT
I went through all of my KS pledges and did some weeding. I ended up cancelling a total of eleven pledges from my list.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Shaded Bits
Secrets lie
buried
in dark petals
and hidden
niches
and as we
turn our faces
up to the sun
only the pieces
still
in shadow
show the truth
of who we
really are
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Greener Grass Ahead… Maybe
Today’s meditation was skipped (again).
Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of leaving behind what is not working in order to head towards something that will work better. This card includes themes that involve frustration, abandonment, disappointment, and withdrawal.
You know that saying about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence? Here it is with a Halloween twist. The superhero looks back at all the little pumpkins and the one on the hill seems bigger than life and so much better! Yet I bet once he climbs that hill he’s going to find it’s the same size as the others… it just looked bigger beforehand.
Today’s card asks us to examine where are we over-glorifying something either unattainable, or that will cost us much to obtain? Is it really as good as we’re playing it up to be? Is it worth the sacrifices we’ll have to make in order to seize it for ourselves? Or are we building it up into something it’s not, chasing a mirage instead of reality?
DECK USED: TRICK OR TREAT TAROT
HealingThruTarot’s October Shadow Work Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 26th and 27th
Where am I not taking responsibility for my actions?
Betrayal and Contemplation – When you feel betrayed by others, you have a tendency to get stuck in that feeling instead of seeking out where and how you might have contributed to what happened. This isn’t the same as blaming yourself, but rather, it is a need to seek where you could do better moving forward.
How can I begin to hold myself accountable?
Patience and The Call – Take time to really think things over and discuss them with others in order to obtain a wider perspective of the situation.
DECK USED: SPOOKY SEASON ORACLE
Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Question for October 27th: The Wicked – They took their brooms to seek the night, what wisdom can witches of the old provide?
Reading Summary: You only get one chance to live life to the fullest (Ten of Pentacles), don’t waste it by allowing stagnancy to take root (Four of Pentacles), being over critical with yourself and others (King of Swords), or by pushing so hard in your ambition that you are left all alone (imagery in the King of Swords).
Take Away: This is a reminder of some of the habits you have picked up that hold you back from truly enjoying life. It speaks of a need for balance between your ambition and the stability and peaceful stillness that you crave, as well as staying mindful of that inner critic that loves so much to tear you down and cause disruptions in your life.
DECK USED: TRICK OR TREAT TAROT
This is another catch-up post, and I don’t recall what I might have done for self-kindness on this day.
Twisting the Leaf 