Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

The Star / Skullcap – Hopeful. In so many aspects of your life at this time, you harbor hope for better things to come. Better health. Better balance. Better stability. A greater sense of calm and connection. These are all things you are hoping for in the months ahead, and those hopes are currently riding at the surface due to the transition into not just a new month but also a new year.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Three of Swords / Pleurisy Root – Expel disappointments instead of holding onto them. It isn’t enough to wait them out and hope that things will change on their own. Be proactive in rejecting the rot of depression that disappointment can cause if left untended by giving yourself the attention and care you need during these times.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Four of Swords / Mullein – You’re sick and need time to rest and recover. This requires recuperative rest that will allow you to grow strong again. Breathe deep (do your breathing exercises to ensure that fluid doesn’t build up in your lungs) and get the rest you need. Don’t rush it.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Fool / Ginseng – Make sure as you feel better that you follow the upswing in energy. Don’t linger to wallow in the stillness of leisure because it’s comfortable. This isn’t about rushing, but it is about returning back to hale and healthy on the right foot.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Strength / Cayenne atop Six of Wands / Hawthorn – Movement is important. It sparks circulation, and when the blood is pumping the body is more open to motivation and movement. Small steps are fine. Don’t let the expectations of others push you to hurry. Just keep moving at your own pace.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Temperance / Echinacea – The words people say in anger or while inebriated are not lies. They are unvarnished moments of truth. Those things wouldn’t be said in these uninhibited moments if they didn’t live somewhere in their mind during inhibited ones. Neither alcohol nor anger creates what isn’t already there, it just makes it easier to say those hidden thoughts aloud.

Trust in the truth being shown to you.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Queen of Swords / Lady’s Slipper – The truth will set you free. All you have to do is listen and accept.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Two of Cups / Uva Ursi – Watch out for what (or who) might become a disruption otherwise harmonious relationships. Outside influences causing problems need to be gently dealt with. Take care to move on these things with caution and care, instead of your normal “off with their heads” aggression.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

King of Pentacles / Alfalfa – Stability requires balance, just like your digestive system. That means stability isn’t about stagnancy, but about building strength through movement. Don’t hunker down and brace for the storm, instead build your agility by facing storms head on and adjusting your stance to stay strong.

Message from the Spirit World – Work with us (spirits and ancestors) and let us lead a bit more in your life, and you will reap the benefits of a greater sense of stability. Not all stability is the result of tight-fisted control.

Message from the Mind’s World – You’ll recover more quickly from moments of disappointment if you continue to focus on your practices in positivity and optimism, and allow yourself time to process your disappointments instead of expecting yourself to be impervious.

Message from the Physical World – Start activity again after your illness with a lean towards enjoyment and a shrewd eye on making sure you’re not going too far or doing too much.

Take Away – There’s lots of stress here on ensuring that you keep moving, even in small ways, both in those things you want to thrive as well as your body as a whole.  It’s time for rest and recovery followed by a slow start back to healthy and hale.  Don’t push, just don’t linger in one place either.

Watch for the revelation of hidden truths.  Don’t disregard them, as people are going to be showing their true colors  around you and you need to pay attention. This doesn’t mean acting rashly on anything learned, just pay attention and gather information. This knowledge could help you out later in putting things in perspective and making priorities.

DECKS USED: THE HERBAL TAROT