Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Empress

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Prompt: Pull the Empress from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the Empress in the Tarot of the Hidden realm with the card(s) from your own deck. How would you read them differently and why? Share your card(s) and your interpretation differences between the imagery on the cards.

In comparing these cards you will see that I often see the Empress as being a combination of all four Queens in the tarot.  The energy of these four queens can blend in many different ways, and this is how I ten interpret the different messages and energies within each of the card’s imagery.

The Empress in the Tarot of the Hidden RealmTarot of the Hidden Realm – In this Empress we have the embodiment of inviting warmth and a bountiful harvest.

The autumn shades, the many apples, the earthy tones and blossoms in her hair… it all points to not just the harvest season, but a successful and generous harvest. Her expression is soft and kind, warm and content, the angle of the head promising receptivity and shades of the hair a kiss of warmth.

Open and receptive, I see a good deal of the Queen of Pentacles in this card’s imagery, blended with a touch of the Queen of Wands in her passion to bring to harvest her bounty, and Queen of Cups in the gentle receptivity in her expression.

The Empress in the Tarots Universels, Zero Pop Deck, Tarocchi di Vetro

Tarots Universels – Angular features and the angle of the Empress’ head in this imagery speaks of a sharper energy here. She is more regal and less earthy, leaning more into the energy of the Swords, and perhaps the Wands… whereas the Empress in the Tarot of the Hidden realm leaned heavily into the energy of the Pentacles. This Empress may not own a single houseplant, but she most definitely has your back and will do what needs to be done to support and nurture the growth of her kingdom and her family.

Zero Pop Deck – Miss Jupiter is radiant and warm, approachable and happy.  She has an open smile and soft curves, and a very welcoming demeanor. Her softness and her expression both call out to me the Queen of Cups, while the tilt of her head and body language sing of the Queen of Swords.  This Empress is emotionally supportive, but won’t let you wallow.  She’s hands-on, and she’s going to encourage you to pick yourself up, throw back your shoulders, take a deep breath… and try again.

Tarocchi di Vetro – Graceful and serene, this Empress is filled with an aloof air, but the bounty all around her is undeniable. She’ll listen to your problems and give good advice, and and will save her comfort for when you really need it.  You will never doubt the warmth in her heart or the nurturing in her soul, it’s there in the soft angles of her features and tilt of her head, but nor will you ever take her for anything less than the authority figure that she is.  Out of all the Empress cards covered here in this post, I feel the imagery here most evenly balances the energy of all four queens in the tarot the best.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM, TAROTS UNIVERSELS, ZERO POP DECK, TAROCCHI DI VETRO

Finding the Fire Within – Part III

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Stretch Lenormand - Finding the Fire Within Reading

How can I incorporate self-discipline to stay true to myself moving forward?

Dog and Birds – Be kind and loyal to yourself. Don’t allow your inner narrative to turn ugly and hurtful, but instead use your self discipline to bolster yourself with positive feedback and kindness.

What should I avoid?

Scythe and Ship – Being cruel to yourself isn’t going to get you anywhere. Self- flagellation only holds you back.

What lessons have I learned from this process?

House and Child – To see my personal “sphere” in a different light that is more open and positive than before.  Opening my eyes required re-framing how I see things, and these readings have assisted me in that, allowing me to take a fresh look at what I’ve built in my life and the shelter it provides.

What inspires me to be true to myself?

Broom and Mountain – This answer might seem a bit odd, but it’s the things that I have struggled to overcome that give me the strength and inspiration to be my  true self.  Some organisms grow best in ash instead of soil.

How does my authentic self align with my purpose?

Letter and Fish – By chronicling your journey as you work to learn to better go with the flow of life’s currents, you don’t just allow yourself to reflect back on your personal journey, but allow others to be inspired in the sharing of it.

A card for self-care.

Cross and Stork – Don’t forget that you require a certain amount of recovery and recuperation after shifts of fate and unexpected changes.  It’s okay to give yourself that time, to allow yourself to sink into it instead of pushing forward.

DECK USED:  STRETCH LENORMAND

Full Moon in Pisces – September 2021

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Today 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 about the ebb and flow, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Full Moon In Pisces Tarot Reading - Journey of the Bearded Tarot

1. What emotional wounds need to be cleansed by the healing waters of the Pisces Full Moon?

Five of Air – Your sense of defeat. It can be hard to keep going when you feel beaten down and are just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Take a breath and let these feelings ease, and release that tight grip you have on the anticipation of more to come.

2. What do I need to surrender to the ebb and flow of the Universal ocean?

Four of Earth – Let go of the expectation of yourself that everything you do has to be perfect. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough.

3. What emotions is the Full Moon magnifying that need to be explored?

Page of Fire – You need to look more deeply into why you feel the need to push so hard. What is it that has you so determined to drown yourself in work before the holiday rush has even begun?

4. How can I allow my intuition to flow with more ease?

Hierophant Rx – Be less rigid with yourself and others about how things are “supposed to be”. Individuality, as  you know, holds a massive amount of value.  Everyone’s path is different, including your own, so don’t be so exacting with yourself. Adaptability and flexibility are extremely important.

5. What messages is the Universe sending to me as I sleep?

Knight of Water – This card is an echo of a message provided in my Self Care Saturday reading for this week. Watch closely for those looking to manipulate you through emotional means. Pay attention to the tugging of heartstrings that feel like marionette strings on your will and decisions.

6. Message from the Ancestors.

Five of Earth – You’re not going to get where you want to go this week. Don’t get discouraged, just adapt and keep going.

DECK USED: JOURNEY OF THE BEARDED TAROT

Comfort + Support Tarot Reading

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Intuitive Tarot in the Comfort + Support Spread

Roots – What Grounds You

Ace of Swords – The knowledge that you are capable of bringing new ideas to life when you wish to do so. You are not at the whims of fate, but rather can take your ideas and use them to create your own future.

Support From Your Guides

Nine of Swords Rx – Remember that your fears and anxieties are a cage that hold you back. In overcoming them, you are set free.

Support From the Divine Masculine

Six of Swords – You are strong enough to make the changes needed for a better future. Don’t look back. Old habits are left behind for a reason, and picking them up will pull you backwards.

Support From the Divine Feminine

Ten of Cups – Stay focused on what is important to you. Protect the newly born in your life that brings you joy and pleasure.

Support From Your Higher Self

Queen of Cups – Continue to allow yourself to be vulnerable. Being open and vulnerable even through the hard times is the only way to teach yourself to not shut down with these more difficult times, which in turn will help you grow to a point you will no longer feel the need to close yourself off in the future.

Action to Take Now

Two of Cups – Connect with those closest to you that you hold near and dear. Allow them to support you and move along with you at your side in this journey.

Action to Take to Help Move You Through

Three of Discs – Work together. You don’t have to do everything yourself, in fact you shouldn’t. Working together doesn’t just spread out the work load, but brings in other skills and abilities that you don’t personally possess. It is also a bonding experience.

Continued Self – Care

King of Discs – Make sure you are getting the grounding energy you need. It’s important to have a strong and stable foundation to lead from. When you aren’t stable, you have a habit of retreating into yourself and that will not assist you in what’s coming over the next few months.

DECK USED: INTUITIVE TAROT

Finding the Fire Within Part II

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Finding the Fame Within Part 2 - Lenormand Reflet di Lune

How can I release my fears and insecurities?

Anchor and Crossroads – Make sure that you are grounding yourself, so that when difficult choices arise you’ll be on solid footing. It’s always more difficult to make good decisions when your life feels chaotic and your energy is out of balance.  This process becomes even more difficult when that imbalance allows fears and insecurities to slip in and pollute the decision making process.  By having a steadily grounded foundation under your feet during these times, there’s less chance of those emotions screwing with your decisions.

What steps can I take to more deeply embrace my true self?

Lady, Moon, Cross – You need to return to doing regular lunar rituals with L. Not only do they provide a deeper connection with your path, your spirituality, and the energies surrounding you, but they connect you more deeply with L as well. As your other half, she is a part of you and you a part of her.

How can I protect myself from external factors?

Ship and Lily – Visit your mother.  You may not entirely understand how this can protect you from external factors, but the cards here indicate that visiting your mother will do so.  Perhaps it will douse the fire of her outrage and future machinations or something.

How can I boost my confidence to express myself?

Book and Key – Knowledge is power. Do your research so that whatever you are expressing yourself about can be resourced if needed. Having a strong foundation of sources to back up your knowledge will provide you with more confidence in what you are saying. Consider, on certain topics, noting down a list of resources for future reference.

What guidance do I need through this process?

House and Mountain – Retreat to the comfort of home when things feel insurmountable. Allow that comfort that both your physical home, as well as Gid and L, can provide to soothe you and shore up your strength to try again.

Self Care – Fish – For now? Just go with the flow. You can worry about the more challenging stuff later on.

DECK USED: LENORMAND REFLET DE LUNE

Your Path… In Fiction

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So, my Friday paganism posts have sort of become a rare once in a while thing.  Which, is fine. But, I really enjoyed a question posted last night on one of the Discord servers I am a member of. I thought I’d share my response to it here.

Question for September 10th: How would you describe your practice if it belonged to the main character of a story?

RainforestPath

The man knows so much of the natural world and was friends with the forest and the things hidden there in the shadows between the trees and the dark hollows of nurse logs.

He is bonded to the world through earth and soil, crystals and sand, leaves and bark and clinging moss. Their energy is his energy, and his is theirs in turn, and with every day that passed his roots entangled more and more with those of the trees and green things within the damp forest soil.

Through this connection, the world speaks to him and he takes that knowledge and carries it forward, offering it to others that might seek to listen and learn. Using it to benefit those that reside in his heart, protect those that he holds near and dear, and to encourage those around him to do better… and be better.