Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Morning Bonus Read – August

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Belle Époque Lenormand - August Lenormand Reading

What clarity will August bring?

Star – August is a time to get in touch with the optimism that you’ve let slide over the summer months and bring it back into focus.  It’s good for you, and it helps you in your journey and growth.  Focus on finding the positivity and optimism, and instilling more of that into your life.  You need it to help lift you out and away from the rim of depression’s pit.

Is there an adventure that is calling me that I shouldn’t ignore?

Scythe – Yes. But it isn’t that you shouldn’t ignore it because you want to go down that path, but rather because you need to be aware that this possibility is there so that you can avoid it.  You’ve lost time this last week, and you run the risk of it turning into a slide down into depression’s pit if you don’t get a handle on things and pay attention to how close you get to the pit’s lip.

What can I do to open my heart to all the potential for self expression that this month’s Leo New Moon can offer?

Fox and Fish – Go with the flow, but be clever about it. A raft that floats down the river will get further by taking the easy, free flowing path than the one littered with rocks to navigate around and possibly hung up on.  In both instances you are going with the flow, but one executes strategy in the journey.  Don’t resist the flow of life around you, just make sure you’re paying attention and navigating instead of floating along and being beaten by the rocks along the way.

How can I magnify the imaginative energy that this month’s Full Moon in Pisces may bring?

Man – Lean into time with Gideon and the creative play that we can enjoy together.  This time together doesn’t just magnify your imaginative energy, but is also a soothing balm to your soul.

How can I make the most of the long days of summer?

Stork – Again, go with the flow.  The summer months are beginning to wind up.  Don’t allow yourself to resist the shifts taking place as autumn approaches, but instead let them flow around you.  Tensing up and digging in your heels won’t change anything, nor solve anything.  Instead, embrace the shift into the harvest season to come.

Overall theme for the month of August.

Cross – You’re tired.  You are worn and you have been struggling. August is a time to deal with these feelings and recover from them.  Whether they are physical, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise… you can’t carry them forward any longer and August is giving you the time and space to release these things and step free of the weight you have been  struggling under..

DECK USED:  BELLE ÉPOQUE LENORMAND

New Moon in Leo – August 2021

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Yesterday was the new 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  taking back your power, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

New Moon in Leo - Tarot de el Dios de los Tres

1. Where do I need to call back my power from?

Temperance atop Ace of Cups – Again, the cards are indicating that it’s time to rest and relax, and not worry so much about your emotional growth. Soon, preparation for the holiday rush will begin as you need this time to get yourself moderated and rested, aligned and ready. The only way to do this is through moderation.

2. How can I lovingly stand in my fierceness?

Four of Swords and Strength – Taking stock of where you’re at and practicing a mindfulness of gratitude are the key to making sure that you are able to remain both kind and fierce in good measure.

3. How can I hold sacred space for my inner child to flourish and convey a light-hearted energy?

Nine of Pentacles – Again, this is a time for you to rest and it’s in this rest. The inner strength that you will gain through this time of rest will provide space for the inner child to flourish within, and allow the more playful side of their nature to emerge.

4. How can I express my love and generosity to those in my kindred circle?

The Sun – Make space for fun. Encourage it not just in your time with them, but in their own lives as well.

5. Message from the Ancestors.

Five of Swords – You’ve got this. Don’t give up.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE EL DIOS DE LOS TRES

Morning Bonus Read – Transitions

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This weekend was the halfway point between solstice and equinox. Depending on your hemisphere, it marks the start of the planting season or the start of the harvest season. Let’s use divination to enter this transition time mindfully.”

Jeu Japonais Playing Cards1. What lessons has the current season been teaching me?

King of Diamonds and Seven of Hearts – With taking up more responsibility to care for yourself as well as others, there comes a wide array of options and decisions you’re not always prepared to make on the fly.

Two of Spades and Ten of Spades – Taking time to think things through and make the best decision possible with all the information you can gather can help you avoid unpleasant endings.

2. What steps should I take to close out this season well?

Queen of Hearts – Allow yourself to be kind with yourself for just a while longer. Soon enough you’ll have to raise shields and buckle down. Wear your heart on your sleeve a while longer, both for yourself and for others.

3. What lessons await me?

Six of Spades atop Three of Spades – Sometimes shit just doesn’t go your way no matter how hard you try. You need to learn when to cut and run.

4. What steps should I take in the transition period to prepare myself for the lessons to come?

Nine of Diamonds – Time to get back on the gratitude train. Whether that’s the morning devotional done each day, or just taking time each day to really sink into thoughts on what you are grateful for.

DECK USED:  JEU JAPONAIS PLAYING CARDS

Morning Bonus Read – Self Growth

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Cat-Rot Tarot - Self Growth Tarot Spread

Your Past Self – Nine of Pentacles – Once upon a time?  I thought that I had all my ducks in a row and everything in hand.  Back when I was closing myself off to my emotions and working myself into the ground, I really thought I was in a good place.

Your Current Self – Seven of Pentacles – But I soon came to realize that there’s a lot more growth to come and it’s going to take a long ass time to work through. I began to realize that there was a lot more to life than work. I began to realize that I needed to slow down.

Your Higher Self – Three of Swords – I am my best and highest self when I’m able to look beyond my pain and negativity to see the growth and lessons these experiences are offering me. In the moment, this can be difficult, but I know that those lessons are there and I only need to find them and understand them.  It does not take the pain away, but it gives the pain worth.

What Blocks Your Potential – The Devil – Ego. Over confidence. And allowing myself to indulge too deeply in what would otherwise be harmless pursuits. I have an addictive personality, and even though I’m aware of it?  Sometimes it still manages to get its hooks in and take me for a ride I’m not ready for, causing blockages and detours, backsliding and often… recovery as well.

Family Patterns – Six of Pentacles – Being too generous and forgiving with my family.  My father’s abuse.  My mother’s narcissism. Their hurtful behavior is something that has left some serious scars, and yet I can’t manage to hold it against them.  At least not to the extent that would seem reasonable and healthy.

Personal Issues – Four of Pentacles – Overly focused on security and stability.  This is a need that grew from homelessness and severe scarcity. It comes from taking showers in the school locker rooms and sleeping under abandoned cars.  It comes from the instability of couch surfing, and an apartment furnished with car tires, milk crates, and cardboard boxes. It’s my past… and yet something I still struggle with.

Conscience – Ten of Wands – Feeling guilty about slowing down and taking things slower, not doing as much, and not progressing as fast as I’m used to doing. That hard, nose-to-the-grindstone pace that I’ve been pushing myself on for so long has taken its toll and I know it’s time to slow down, but somehow?  There are a lot of times when I feel so fucking guilty about that.  About not doing more and pushing harder.

Desire – Temperance – Less pushing and more time off. More time to connect with my spirituality and path. More time to connect with the world around me.  I have gotten a taste of the slower path and worked through some of my guilt concerning it, and I’ve come to a point where I actually crave more.  This from the man who, just a couple of years ago couldn’t take a couple hours off without going stir-crazy.

Lesson – Wheel of Fortune – Ups and downs happen. It’s part of life. Adapt, and keep moving.

Advice – Page of Swords – Slow down more. Now is the time to indulge in this behavior. Soon enough the holiday rush will start and you will have so much work on your  hands that you’ll be struggling just to keep up.  While things are slow, it’s okay to take time for yourself.  This is a new path, and there’s going to be struggles, but you’re aware of what’s come before and what needs to change.

DECK USED:  CAT-ROT TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread

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The Prince Lenormand - Monthly Key Spread

Key to Your Heart: What will Guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?

Ship – You know that whole proverb that says “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket“?   Yeah… that.  A lot of times, the Ship card is about travel and business, but in this case? It’s about making sure that you’re not screwing yourself (and your business) over by focusing too much in one area.  Even if you’re not diversifying now?  Make sure you have an escape plan for if you need to. In order to adapt and come out on top, this is important.

Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?

Letter – Write.  Write down your thoughts and your feelings, write down your anxieties and worries.  Share them with Gideon.  Fill your blog with them.  Have a big idea that you can’t explore right now? Write those down too.  List making is a good thing this month, expressing yourself through the written word is very much in your forte.  Use these skills to help ground yourself and find balance when things feel out of control.

Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?

Sun – Optimism and positivity. Sometimes I feel corny when I get this response from the cards. But the thing is? It really does work. Does it entirely take away the depression? No. It doesn’t. But it makes the time spent in them not as severe, and it makes the visits into a depression not as long. It provides more energy, and just… makes the days better. What is “it” that I’m talking about? Optimism and positivity. Making the -effort- to try and see the good side of things, including the Card of the Day activity that I do where I ask each day for the cards to provide me with a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and foster perspective. It helps, no matter how corny my inner pessimist says it sounds.

Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?

Man – Gideon will be a huge influence in your life this month, in supporting you and helping you in working through what comes up. Don’t forget that he’s there for you and don’t shy away from leaning on him when you need to, sharing with him whatever and whenever you want, and trusting him to always have your best interests at heart.

One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?

Lily – Take a pause to think things through, and don’t be shy about asking for advice from those with more experience that have time tested wisdom to offer up to you. Crones are called wise women for good reason.

Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?

Moon – You’re finally starting to come out of the mind fog that you’ve been struggling with through this season. As you do, your curiosity and creativity are beginning to thrive once more, and you’re starting to experience more enjoyment in your artistic endeavors.

Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?

Tree – Evolution from past to present. Growth that comes from finding connections to the past that will help you flourish rather than wither your roots. It is time to transform those issues that still drive your inner destructive tendencies, and turn them around into something healthy.

DECK USED:  PRINCE LENORMAND ORACLE

First Harvest 2021 – Lammas

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August 1st was 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).

This holiday is often called 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.

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 Second Harvest (aka. Mabon, Autumnal Equinox) in September.

First Harvest Tarot Reading - Lammas

Theme of the Season – Lammas, Last Quarter Moon, Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) – Lammas, which is the First Harvest of the year, is a time of evaluation. It’s a time when you want to ascertain what you want to accomplish before winter has arrived, and make sure that all those things you’ve done so far this year to get you there are still on track and moving in the correct direction.

The Waning Crescent Moon is not a time for planting new things, but for cutting out the chaff, weeding and thinning, pruning, mowing, and cutting timber. It is a time for freeing up space for growth by clearing out what isn’t working. As the moon’s energies decrease towards the new moon to come, it is a perfect time for cord cutting and cleansing practices that are used in discarding those things and people that no longer serve us, or have never served us and need to be let go.

Although Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) is used as a medicinal herb for anti-inflammatory purposes and is used in healing for a variety of purposes from bumps and bruises to sore throats, digestive issues, menstrual issues, and more. In metaphysical workings, it’s an herb often used to ensure safe travels, as well as promote peace and well-being.
[Cautionary Note: Comfrey contains poisonous pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be absorbed through the skin in simply handling the plant. Caution when using this plant for either medicinal uses or metaphysical ones is important.]

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is not so much about reaping, but about making room.  It’s about letting go, which is a theme I’ve been dealing with a great deal this summer. The message here is about making sure that I am making room in my life for what’s working and what I feel is important.  Making room for what’s healthy and right… and letting go of what isn’t.

Earth – King of Cups – You’re feeling all kinds of comfortable with yourself and your situation at the moment. You’re also getting enough time with Gideon to make yourself feel safe and happy. You’ve finally gotten over the stagnancy feelings you struggled with earlier in the year and are in a place where eddies and shifts in the currents of life are once again feeling natural and comfortable.

Air – King of Swords – Hard work is starting to pay off in the area of your mind and thought processes and clarity is on the rise as the fog you’ve been experiencing begins to clear. Direction, confidence, strategy, and the written word are all in your court at the moment. Don’t let them go to waste.

Water – Four of Cups Rx – You’re not doing as good as you could at getting the rest of reflection time that you need. Focus more on getting in that meditation every day, even on the days when you don’t feel like you really want to do it. The avoidance isn’t about time, and you know it. Forcing might make it feel like a chore, but not doing it at all isn’t working either.

Fire – King of Wands – If you take a minute to really look and see where you’re at, you’ll find that you’re better off than you think you are. Stop looking ahead so much, and instead look at where you are now.

Waning – The Unbound – There’s been a lack of structure in your life through a good part of the summer, so much so that it’s been a struggle for you to find direction. This lack of structure and direction is now coming to an end and, as the brain fog lifts, you are finding purpose once more.

Waxing – Briar – Make sure you are paying attention to the world around you and taking precautions.  Cleansing, caution, spacial awareness, and a watchful attitude will help steer you through any dangers coming your way.  Set good boundaries including protections and wards, and make sure they are steady and firm.

DECKS USED:  LAMMAS ART CARD, PAGAN UNDERWORLDS TAROT, COMPENDIUM OF WITCHES ORACLE, HEALING HERBAL CARDS VOL 1 & 2