🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Flowers

Prompt: Pull (at least) three cards and use them to respond to… “One day, wandering on city streets, you find a small garden set off the street and apparently open to all. Inside the garden, you sit on a bench, and after a few quiet moments, the flowers begin to speak to you. What do they say? Do you talk to them? What do you talk about?

Are You In The Room Tarot - Eight of Cups, Six of Wands, Magician, Ace of DiscsSome of the flowers speak of how they feel stuck and frustrated by the roots that hold them in one place when there is so much more in the world they want to see. (Eight of Cups Rx)

Others speak of an eagerness to travel and grow, and of their seeds soon to be set loose to propagate far and wide. (Magician atop Ace of Discs).

I speak with them all, listening to their thoughts and worries, dreams and fears, encouraging them to see the choices they are limited to as a boon of abundance rather than restrictive and limiting. (Dog and His Bones)

DECK USED: ARE YOU IN THE ROOM TAROT

🌑 New Moon in Leo – August 2024

The new moon is upon us!  Like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @Lionharts #theaugusttarot.

New Moon in Leo Tarot Reading with the Tarot of the Forest Witch

What heart’s desire should I manifest during this New Moon?

Wheel of Fortune atop Justice – Spin the wheel on cause-and-effect and take a chance that the consequences you predict coming to pass won’t actually be the result. You don’t have to play things so safe and close to the vest all the time.

What intentions should I set under the New Moon in Leo?

Chariot – It’s time to start moving again. The languishing and dawdling about has been a nice respite and needed rest, but to grow and thrive you also need to lean in to hard work in order to steer things in the direction you want them to go.

How can I align my actions with my hearts true desires?

Judgment – Remember where you are going and who you want to have become when you get there. Regrets don’t always come from doing something against your nature, but sometimes in standing back and not doing something that down the line you’ll wish you had.

New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Temperance – Just because it’s time to start moving again doesn’t mean it’s time to rush or push yourself. Small steps.

Other elements included in this reading:
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Citrine for for Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
Hand Crafted Goat as sympathetic representation of Amalthea

DECK USED: TAROT OF A FOREST WITCH

First Harvest 2024 – Lammas/Lugh

Today is Lammas, which is known as the First Harvest of the year. This day marks the transition into the harvest season of August, September, and October (of which there is a Second Harvest and Last Harvest that correspond to these months).

Tarotholics Harvest Challenge Spreads

This holiday is often referred to as Lammas, Lughnasadh, or Lugh, although I usually just refer to it as the First Harvest. On my path, it celebrates the beginning of Summer’s decline and ramping up of the busy season where we begin to reap in the abundance that the bounty of summer’s energies has encouraged to grow and flourish. It is a time filled with a combination of abundance, hard work, and gratitude.

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. Unfortunately, I was unable to do my normal Sabbat reading this month, so I am combining the harvest spreads from this month’s Discord Tarot Challenge instead.

First Harvest Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Lammas Oracle

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my physical health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Welcoming the Harvest – You have gotten back on track with your eating schedule, ensuring no hypoglycemic episodes and helping in staying off the irrational scarcity feelings that start to crop up in all areas of life when you start trying to cut back on food intake.

The Chaff – What seeds for my physical health & growth have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Harvest Basket – You are still struggling to carry too much on your shoulders. In order to continue with healthy physical progress in areas where you are thriving, you need to work on letting go of taking on too much on your own.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my physical health & growth in the Fall?

Craftsmanship – Work on honing your craft and toughening up your hands and forearms for the overwork that will come as the holiday season comes into focus. Build up that strength and endurance now so you won’t be injured later.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my mental health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Fennel – You have been working on fretting less and trusting that you will get through obstacles instead of decimated by them. With your emotions in play (as you try not to bury them and ignore them), it’s difficult to not be affected more intensely by setbacks and hurdles. You are doing well at learning how to not let your anxiety spiral in these instances, and instead focusing on solution based thoughts and plans.

The Chaff – What seeds for my mental health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Coneflower – You don’t need any more independence than you already have. Quit trying to scrape up more. You need to instead focus on allowing others in and asking for help, even in times when you feel you don’t need to.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my mental health & growth in the Fall?

Rooster and Hens – Get out in nature and enjoy time outside among the trees, exploring new trails and old alike. Revisit the joy that noticing natures little changes from one day to the next gives you. These excursions help create clarity of mind, and revitalize you both in mind and body.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my emotional health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Citrine – The confidence you have gained over the past few months is of the gentle and uplifting sort. You are discovering that confidence in others and your connection to them is just as important as independence and having confidence in yourself.

The Chaff – What seeds for my emotional health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Garden Tools – You are not on your own and (yet again in this reading) you are being reminded that independence doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off from others. That right there is the line where independence becomes unhealthy.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my emotional health & growth in the Fall?

Vegetable Garden – Touch base with yourself and your progress. Make sure that those seeds that need to flourish are doing so and thriving, and that the weeds of unhealthy thoughts and old habits that could choke them out are being pulled and discarded.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH LAMMAS ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from July to August

Month End Oracle Reading with the Wild Spirit Animal Oracle

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

Penguin – Remember not to close yourself off to the emotional support of others. There’s a video out there of a waddle of penguins shuffling together over ice. One of them falls and they all seem to go “daaaamn” together while the other then makes a sound that sounds an awful lot like “FUCK!” Take a lesson from this penguin, and accept others efforts to show empathy with grace.

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

Crow – Now is not the time for new projects. If you are feeling inspired? Write it down for posterity. For right now, go with what you know instead of chasing potential.

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

Frog – That opportunity to pursue the potential of your inspiration and ideas is coming. Although now is not the time, remember that that won’t always be the case.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Cow – Don’t trust others to know what you need and provide it for you. It’s far more important to tend to your own needs. No one has better insight to what you need than you yourself, so stop ignoring these things and expecting others to catch you before the self-neglect goes too far.

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

Bat – Taking a step back to look over situations fully is going to be important in the weeks ahead. Don’t react impulsively, but instead take a breath and a pause first. Sort out what’s really going on, then act.

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

Beetle – It’s time to examine the desperate grasping reactions you’ve had to change in the past, and begin exploring different ways you can let go and go with the flow, trusting that you won’t be crushed in the process.

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

Dove – Take some time this month to reflect upon how freeing it feels to let go of blame and guilt.

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

Fox – There is deception afoot. Make sure that you are paying attention and not being manipulated into situations you don’t need to be a part of. Such distractions, if allowed to go unchecked, may lead to them taking from you those things you value.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

Owl – If you take care to pay attention (Fox) and take a step back to more closely examine the situation and those involved (Bat), you can move though this month’s difficulties with wisdom and grace, and with your own priorities in the fore.

Message from the Spirit World – Tread with caution moving forward into the month ahead. You need to work observing the world around you with clarity and making sure to pay close attention to other’s motivations and perspectives. It’s only when you take the time to see the whole picture that you’ll be happy with your choices.

Message from the Mind’s World – Lots of inspiration is coming your way. Although the reading above indicates that now might not be the best time to -act- on these new ideas and inspiration, that doesn’t mean they’re not of value.  Make sure to jot them down so that you can explore then more in depth when the time is right.

Message from the Physical World – Pay attention to your body’s needs. Emotions can cause you to shut down and that inner narrative often leads to self-neglect and punishment.  Instead of falling into these bad habits from the past, look at how those emotions are affecting you and make a conscious choice to take care of yourself regardless of the urges they bring to the surface.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pansy flowers for Self-Kindness and Tender Emotions
Cedar cleansing stick for Protection and Cleansing
Green Aventurine for Releasing Old Patterns
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Unpleasant Situations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: WILD SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

🌕 Full Moon in Capricorn – July 2024

Tomorrow is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @lightningwildflower.

Full Moon in Capricorn Tarot Reading with the Good Fortune Tarot

What long-term goal can you begin to work toward now?

Three of Cups – Wringing more fun and enjoyment out of life with others. Life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time, but should also be a celebration. It’s time to start working towards and stealing more fun into your life instead of always putting it off for later.

What is the first step in reaching this goal?

King of Pentacles – Own your time and your achievements, and signal to others that you are ready to save your life instead of just striving through it. Appreciate the stability you have earned, and stop worrying so much about it being ripped out from under you.

How can you take greater responsibility for your actions?

Eight of Cups – Instead of sticking around to own the responsibilities that are dragging you down or frustrating you, take a greater responsibility for your actions by walking away from those that don’t work instead of holding onto them.

What structures in your life will support your growth?

Ten of Cups – Remember that you already have happiness in your life and people around you that make you happy. You’re not reinventing the wheel here, but learning how to saver fun and happiness more.

Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

The Lovers – The only way to make healthier choices for yourself is to remember to think through your actions rather than just falling into what’s easiest or most familiar.

DECK USED: GOOD FORTUNE TAROT

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Door

Pull (at least) three cards and use them to respond to this prompt: You’re walking through the forest and you come across a door. It doesn’t look like it goes anywhere, but the key is in the lock. What do you do? And what do you find?

White Sage Tarot - Six of Cups, Death, Page of Swords, Queen of Swords, Knight of Wands

I amble among the towering trees of craggy bark and drooping fronds blended with the drape of lace like moss, the scent of evergreen and wet in the air as soft moss and pine needles act as a spongy carpet beneath my feet.  Each step is a childhood memory as scents of fern and cedar mix with fir and pine, the air holding a cool dampness that soothes the sinuses and fills the senses with breath after breath of fresh air. (Six of Cups)

In this place of memories I seek to find grace in the face of change, and it is as I wander that I come upon a door nestled among the trees. It stands straight and tall, and when I circle around behind the trees it seems there is nothing on the other side, and yet energy in the air says different and speaks of mysteries and secrets.  Drawn in, I reach for the knob and turn it, opening the door with a sense of inevitability and curiosity, as if every step I have ever taken has lead me here.  Here to this door and this moment… and I step through. (Death)

On the other side, the world appears the same as before, and yet it is I that have changed, not the world around me.  In crossing the threshold I acknowledge it is time to begin again… to begin anew.  It is time to take all that I have learned and be reborn on a new quest to learn more and continue to grow. (Page of Swords)

Within myself the spark of eager anticipation bursts into action.  I hear laughter on the breeze and rustling among the trees, and I am inspired to dart forward into this new world that is me.  Dart forward and dash among the ferns and the fronds, chase that soft tinkle of laughter among the leaves and the tree trunks, and become lost, once more, in the wonder of life around me. (Knight of Wands)

Now lost among the trees in a forest both familiar and also brand new, I wander, experience, and explore. There is so much to see and experience, and I’m prepared for the journey and to guide others that I meet along the path the way forward into the forest as well. (Queen of Swords)

DECK USED:  WHITE SAGE TAROT