Green Wheel Oracle

Winter Solstice 2020 – Yule

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The Winter Solstice is today! This holiday is (in essence) the Pagan equivalent to Christmas. Fun fact… when Christmas was placed on December 25th, the church chose that day to coincide with the pagan holiday of Yule (because as most know, Christ was actually born in the spring, not in December).

Although many of us have been feeling like we’ve been in it for months, the Winter Solstice is the “official” first day of winter, and marks  its spot on the calendar not by its date, but by being one of only two days each year where the daylight and darkness are equal.  In my path, this holiday marks a day of hope for the future, and candles are lit to celebrate the return of the sun as it begins to now become more and more prominent with each day that passes and every day becomes longer as the nights decrease.

Winter Solstice Tarot Reading - Light Seer's Tarot, The Green Wheel Oracle, The Spirit Animal Oracle

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 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 upcoming Imbolc at the beginning of February.

Theme of the Season – Midwinter, Cold Moon, Owl – The Midwinter card in this deck is also titled as “The Hunter” and it speaks of the hunter bringing anarchy and chaos that is then followed by a time of restoration and regeneration. It is impossible not to note that this is the same pattern that you go through in the six weeks leading up to the Winter Solstice, as the chaos of the holiday rush abuses the body and mind and brings you to the point of needing to then rest, restore, and recuperate.

The Cold Moon encourages generosity and the connection and reaching out to others. It is a time when families gather and huddle together, communities support each other, and the cold winter months are survived through interconnection and the uplifting strength in numbers.  In order to stay connected with nature, people bring nature indoors during this time of the year when the elements do not allow as much time among the outdoors in order to decorate our homes with the beauty of nature even in the darkest of seasons.

The Owl in this deck is also known as an “Arrow in the Darkness” and references the owl’s keen senses and focus while hunting even in the darkest of nights.  The Owl is a reminder to stay focused on your goals and not allow yourself to become distracted by the darkness, doubts, or turbulence.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is a reminder that it is time to set the chaos behind me and stay focused forward into the goals for healing and self care that I’ve set forth, and connecting with those that hold importance in my heart and my life. Now is a time to reconnect with my feelings, including the compassion I feel for others, and allow it to guide me out of the dark and into the light.

Earth – Six of Swords – The spoils of war lie at your feet and now is a time to take stock of what you’ve won with your hard work, dedication, and ambition. As things slow down, take what you’ve won and move forward into a new and better place.  Don’t run away, but make wise decisions that will continue to move you in the right direction.  Don’t look back and rehash what is done and over, look forward.

Air – The World – You have the opportunity to do things differently this time around. Every year you fall into a horrible funk in the handful of weeks that follow the holiday rush.  This is a time when you cycle back to start again and try again to find a better way forward.  Focus on the light and not the darkness. Keep your head up and your eyes forward.

Water – Eight of Pentacles – As you move into this new cycle, remember all that you have learned before and carry that knowledge forward with you.  Returning to a healthier way of doing things and an exploration mindset toward your emotional growth will go much more smoothly if you tap into the knowledge, techniques and abilities you have already gained over the past year.  You are not starting from scratch.

Fire – Knight of Cups – Apologize and be kind to yourself.  The abuse upon yourself this last few weeks has been pretty extensive, and over the handful of weeks ahead you need to turn towards making that up to yourself and being kind.  There’s no harshness needed.  Make helping yourself and loving yourself a priority for a bit.

Waning – Panther Spirit – It’s time to let go.  You’ve mustered every shred of power and strength you have to make it through the last five or six weeks.  Now it’s time to ease that grip and let that go.  You do not need to continue holding on so tightly.

Waxing – Groundhog Spirit –  An echo of the waning Panther Spirit, the Groundhog Spirit also encourages letting go. All that tension and all those unhealthy tendencies allowed to go on during the rush are now no longer serving you and it’s time to let them all go and return to something healthier and that will serve you much better for the weeks (and months) ahead.

Take Away –  Like the theme of Yule itself, this reading is about seeking the light and moving forward into it.  It’s about new beginnings and finding hope while making healthy choices and connecting with loved ones.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Last Harvest 2020 – Samhain

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Coming up on October 31st is the third and Last Harvest of the 2020 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 not just as the day before the Day of the Dead when the veil is at its thinnest between our world and those that have passed.

In my path, the last harvest is not just a time to remember our loved ones that have passed on, and reach out to them more easily… it is also a day that marks the end of the harvest season as well as the year’s cycle as a whole. The earth has gifted us with her abundance throughout the spring, summer, and fall and now settles in to rest through the colder months ahead.

Samhain Tarot Reading - The Last Harvest

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, Owl, Singing Moon – Samhain is a time when the veil is at its thinnest. It is a time to reconnect with and honor the earth and her stories. As the land gives up the last of her bounty and prepares to rest in the cold months ahead, it is important to honor all that has been offered.

The Owl is a warning of struggles to come and a reminder to keep our eye on the prize.  It’s with the owl’s keen hunter’s instinct and sharp precision that the owl leads you forward through chaos, and is there to keep you on track along the way.

The Singing Moon is a reminder to examine your path and your goals, and evaluate if they are still what you want or if there is a better opportunity you’ve been neglecting for goals that no longer suit you. You can stay the path if that’s what works, but don’t be afraid to roll the dice if it isn’t.  Just keep in mind that small changes in the present can have far reaching repercussions.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that is seen here is one of chaos and focus on one’s values and goals.  Don’t allow the chaos to steer you off track, but at the same time, make sure that you are on the path that is right for you and not an empty echo of some past goal that no longer applies.

Earth – The Empress – You’ve done pretty well over the past few months at taking care of yourself, but in the months ahead you’re going to have to make a more focused effort at providing yourself with what you need.  That means making sure you’re getting out for walks in the woods and feeding yourself healthier food so that you can physically withstand what’s coming.

Air – Six of Pentacles – Share and share alike applies to more than just the spoils, but also the work load. Make sure you are mapping out and planning what needs done and who is going to do it so that you don’t end up shouldering too much on your own shoulders. Good planning will help you better distribute the weight of responsibility you feel.

Water – Knight of Cups atop High Priestess – You’ve done really well at going after what you want concerning the new emotional growth you’ve been fostering over the past few months.  To keep that alive on the path forward through the next couple of months, make sure that you are allowing you intuition to lead.  Don’t tuck it away and let it get rusty, but instead actively participate in keeping it in the loop, and your emotions as well.

Fire – Ace of Wands – Vroom Vroom baby. Pick up that torch and set fire to the world.  The girls need your inspiration and fiery spark to set their own enthusiasm ablaze.  Show them just how infectious your enthusiasm can be using creative ideas to get them involved more.

Waning – Nightingale Spirit atop Badger Spirit – Don’t be so damned pushy right now. It’s good to involve the girls and to find ways for them to take their share, but you need to do it from a place of love and light, not through stress and demands.  A little more honey, a lot less vinegar.

Waxing – Flamingo Spirit – Creativity is rising and opportunities are on the way.  The Flamingo is here to remind you to be fully in the present.  Learning from the past and planning for the future is all well and good, but it’s the present that needs your full attention right now. Trust that the future will be there for you to deal with later on. This includes needing to get your ass back into daily meditation, as that meditation helps you to more easily stay grounded in the present.

Take Away – There’s a hint of kudos in how I’ve done at accomplishing my newfound goals this year.  The key here is that chaos is coming and in order to move through it smoothly I’m going to need to make sure I keep my gaze unerringly on the prize.   Not by looking forward into the future, but by bearing down on the present and taking everything one day at a time, one hour at a time.  There is also a reminder that I’m the one in the lead between the three of us, and in order to make sure things go smoothly concerning distribution of the responsibilities, I need to make sure I lead with kindness and inspired enthusiasm.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Second Harvest 2020 – Autumn Equinox

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Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox.  This is considered by many to be the first day of Autumn, and is one of only two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length.  Like Halloween is a time when the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is thin, this holiday (as well as its cross-point in the spring) are times when the veil between our world and that of the Fae is at is thinnest… and it is when I personally experience more interactions with them than any other time of year.

In my path, the Autumn Equinox is also known as the Second Harvest (also called Mabon), and is a day that marks the transition of the growing season into full harvest.  After this day, the darkness of night begins to overtake the sun’s reign in the sky as the days continue to grow shorter and shorter, and the nights longer and longer.  The earth is winding down its abundant generosity and beginning to close up shop for the year.

Autumn Equinox Tarot Reading - Mabon

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 third and Last Harvest of the year (aka. Samhain, Halloween) in October.

Theme of the Season – Mabon, Harvest Moon, Wood Mouse, Pony – The second harvest of the year is a time of preparation for winter’s call. There is still much work to be done, but as cold weather creeps in, the last of the crops are now beginning to be gathered up for the year.  The theme of the imagery on the Mabon card is the Forest Lord, who stands for truth, integrity, compassion, and death.

The Harvest Moon is all about liminal spaces and one’s intuitive voice.  It speaks of the importance of paying attention to one’s perceptions and what our senses are whispering to us. With awareness, this moon welcomes an expanded view of not just the unknown that surrounds us and the bridges offered to us through liminal spaces, but also the world at large.

The appearance of the wood mouse in the cards drawn today is a carry over from the reading done during the previous Sabbat.  In my Lammas reading, the story of the wood mouse card was interpreted as a story about thankless work done behind the scenes and the unsung hero. This card is a representation of that energy and purpose that comes with doing the work that is mostly unseen so that the larger work that needs done can be done.

In relation to my life, during Lammas the Wood Mouse card was thought to be in reference to those small ripples of happiness and positivity that I create with each piece of jewelry I make for others.  At this time, however, I see this card as more of a representation of the preparation work that needs done prior to the onset of the holiday rush.

The Pony card emerged with the Wood Mouse card in this instance, and is about the wildness within us all.   It is an indication that I need to look more closely at these things that feel like restrictions in my life.  Combined with the Wood Mouse card, there is a suggestion that I need to take my work and make an effort to delve into it with an open heart and adventurous spirit.

When looking at these four cards together, the theme that stands out to me here is about finding pleasure in my work again and seeking it through the spark of adventure that I find in my creative process, which includes a good dose of intuition when I’m in “the zone” of bringing my creations from ideas into reality.   It’s about connecting to that inner self, that inner voice that whispers encouragement and exciting ideas, and following it’s lead into an enjoyment of the process.

Earth – Ten of Cups – Seek satisfaction.  My self care reading for this week was also about satisfaction, although ran more to the lines of feeling dissatisfied and the methods to help in finding that satisfaction that is lacking.  Here in the longer term reading of progress and my path, the encouragement is to make sure I keep my eye on the prize.  Namely the prize of finding satisfaction in my home life and resources.  There’s no reason for feelings of scarcity, so make sure you’re focusing on furthering those positive emotions and satisfaction over these things.

Air – The Devil – Temptation is in the air… literally. This is a carry over from the Earth position of this reading in that it indicates that there is an element of mental influences involved in my dissatisfaction.  These elements drive my addictions, which are used to self medicate the feelings of dissatisfaction and scarcity that whisper in my ear.  The Devil card in this position warns that this cycle is a hurdle that will need dealing with over the next handful of weeks.

Water – Ace of Wands – There is so much potential right now to allow your emotional growth to remain strong and steady.  Don’t allow all that’s going on swerve you from your dedication to this purpose.  Keep that spark of intention and inspiration bright and alive concerning keeping all that you’ve accomplished so far this year thriving and healthy.

Fire – The Fool – This card and it’s position relates back to the Pony card above and the theme of this Mabon reading as a whole. It is about finding that youthful enthusiasm for my work and through that process, sparking up your enthusiasm for your work to instill into your work, your business, and the preparations to come.

Waning – Turkey Spirit – Again we find that this reading echos the Self Care Saturday reading that was done a couple of days ago.  The Turkey Spirit card in the waning position indicates that now is a time to pull inward. Now is not the best time to let your generosity of spirit fly free.  If you want to get on track with your life and goals this season, it’s time to think of yourself for a while.

Waxing – Porcupine Spirit – Foster or playfulness and curiosity and allow them time to stretch and grow.  Dive in and have some fun with not just your work and business, but seek the spark of excitement in the “beginner’s mind” in all that you do and let it spread throughout your life in order to find joy and enjoyment in all the different elements of your life.

Take Away –  This Mabon reading is all about instilling joy and enthusiasm into the process of work and life.  It’s high time I begin looking at life and my work with fun loving pleasure rather than through the weight of responsibilities. Use this sense of enthusiasm to feelings of scarcity and discontent at bay, and instead focus upon what you have and where you want to go from here.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

First Harvest 2020 – 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.

First Harvest Tarot Reading

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.

Theme of the Season – Lammas, Weaver Moon, Wood Mouse – 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 in the correct direction.

The Weaver’s Moon is about the many hats we wear in life, and how those hats don’t change the true person that we are underneath it all.  When we put on these hats, we see the world through different perspectives and interact with it in those perspectives as well.  This teaches  us many things, but it doesn’t change us into what we present. It is about open to the many perspectives and experiences that build our lives.

The story of the wood mouse card is one of thankless work behind the scenes and the unsung hero. This card is a representation of that energy and purpose that comes with doing the work that is mostly unseen so that the larger work that needs done can be done.  In relation to my life, this would refer to those small ripples of happiness and positivity that I create with each piece of jewelry I make for others.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is one about making sure I am staying open and receptive even as I do these little things that ripple outward from me to others and from others to still more.  I wear many hats in my efforts to further my business’ growth, and yet, what is the purpose behind these things?  I am not spearheading some great purpose or showy result.  My purpose is quiet and subtle but pervasive. Concentrate on the hats I need to wear to do what needs done and wear them as needed to do the job… but don’t allow them become me (or me to become them) along the way.

Earth – Three of Swords – You may start feeling some repercussions from the irresponsible spending that you did over the spring and early summer.  Don’t allow it to screw up your head or send you into a downward spiral though.  Even if something happens that causes a gushing wound pouring blood money from its heart… just scream out your frustrations and keep going. A wounded heart can heal, and even a scarred heart still beats.

Air – Four of Cups – Stop looking the gift horse in the mouth. You’ve noticed that additional pessimism that’s been swimming up from the depths lately.  Pay attention to it.  Do not allow yourself to push it away and treat it as inconsequential.  If you don’t give it the attention it needs, it will grow and you’ll find yourself not just feeling a bit pessimistic and bored but falling off into something far uglier and harder to recover from.

Water – Knight of Cups –  You’ve been doing really good with sticking to your guns where your emotional growth is concerned.  Make sure you continue to put  your conscious attention on keeping on this path and nurturing it to flourish.  The soil is rich and you’ve planted the seeds of your emotional growth.  Results have grown from those seeds, but they continue to need TLC to make sure that they survive and thrive.

Fire – King of Cups – Added time with Gideon over the past few weeks has helped create a sense of comfortable emotional support and strength within your creative writing.  This can easily be spilled over into other areas of creative expression, if you are willing to tap into it and allow it to spread outward like a singing bowl’s sound reverberates through both air and matter alike.

Waning – Wolf Spirit – You are on the cusp of misalignment and need to take care do what you can to soften the effects of this.  Note the negative aspects that have been flitting around the edges and try not to allow them to pull you too far off course.  You can turn this around, but you might go through a period of confusion and disorientation before you find your balance again.

Waxing – Parrot Spirit – During this time of misalignment, make sure you are watching what you are saying not just to others, but to yourself as well.  Sometimes when feeling out of sorts and disoriented, you can come off sharp or condescending to others, as well as downright vicious to yourself concerning your weaknesses and performance expectations.  These are not going to help you and are unhealthy… if you want to make it through this time of misalignment smoothly and quickly, stay mindful of your words.

Take Away – You are on track with your emotional growth, but maybe not so much when it comes to your finances and portfolio.  Don’t let that get you down too much, and don’t panic if a sudden expenditure comes up to expose to you just how “oh shit” that deficit might actually be.

Depression is creeping at the edges of the shadows, staying back but toying with those small frays at the edges of the fabric of your well-being.  You’ve seen small signs of this and need to make sure you’re not ignoring them. Be genuine and be yourself, but make sure you are consciously choosing to treat yourself and others kindly, and turn your focus on finding ways to spread the pleasure and security you feel in your creativity with Gideon into other aspects of your creativity elsewhere.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE

Summer Solstice 2020 – Midsummer

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Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year and one of the eight holidays that I celebrate throughout the year. This day marks the ‘official’ transition into summer and a shift from days that become longer and longer through the spring into days from here on out will grow shorter and shorter for the next six months.

This holiday is often called Midsummer or Litha, although I usually just refer to it as the Summer Solstice. On my path, it celebrates the turning point of summer, where the build-up of creative energy from the spring crests into a time of abundance as we travel into the depths of summer in much the same way that the growing energies of the full moon crest before beginning to wane each month.

Summer Solstice Tarot Spread

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 on 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 First Harvest (aka, Lughnasadh, Lammas, Lughnasa, Lugh) on August 1st.

Theme of the Season – Midsummer, Spiral Moon, Owl – Midsummer offers the opportunity to alter one’s course, tipping one’s balance in order to alter reality to deepen one’s connection with their chosen path.

Honeysuckle resides on the center card and speaks of love, while the Spiral Moon reminds us that this is a time of deepening connection to the self.  A connection that is found through peeling back one’s inner layers to reveal the softer bits within.   Through that process, you reveal vulnerable bits.

The presence of the Owl reminds us to be certain to stay on course and focused on what you want. It can be easy to get lost in the weeds of uncertainty and old habits, especially when feeling vulnerable.  Don’t allow distractions to hinder your path or turn you away from where you want to go.

The combination of these three center cards speak of a time of growth and deepening connection with the self.  There will be vulnerability and it may be hard to stay on task with the changes you want to manifest through the season, but stay on task with your self care and your desire to deepen that connection, and you will travel through this time of growth and adjustment with grace.

Earth – Ten of Cups – Even though the upcoming weeks are a slow time for the business, this time will also allow you a sense of emotional fulfillment concerning where you are and how things are going.  Enjoy this time, and take time to appreciate the sense of ease you feel concerning your work and home life.  It won’t last forever and should be cherished.

Air – Ace of Cups and Six of Cups – There’s always a bit of messiness involved when you mix emotions with intellect.  With all these new feelings and emotional growth going on, make sure that you’re not smothering the carefully unfurling lotus within you.  Hold the flowering growth with care and foster it’s development rather than allowing your logical mind and inner critic to have free reign.  In other words?  Give yourself the room you need to grow emotionally by shutting up negative thoughts and recriminations.

Water – Queen of Wands – Be open to the joy that comes from those things that inspire you. Making space doesn’t mean you have to be bored or sedate, it means that you allow pleasure and the spark of fun into those places that are usually dry and feeling a bit boring.  By allowing this spark to flourish and joy to bloom, your growth will continue and not be half so stressful as your intellect keeps trying to make.

Fire – Page of Swords and King of Swords – Strategizing is the name of the game for the next few months.  This is not surprising, as this is usually what happens during this time of year.  The summer is often a time of preparation for the busy season to come late in the fall.  Start now and take your time.  If you start early then there’s no need to rush, and you can feel more stable over all in as you work towards being in a place of preparation for the future.

Waning – Panther Spirit – Set your relentless aggression aside. Now is not the time to push and shove towards some illusive promise of perfection. Let go of the need to prod yourself constantly forward.

Waxing – Lion Spirit – Take pride in your abilities and foster your own self-confidence over the next few weeks.  You are worth far more than the business you run and the money you make.  What you offer to the world reaches beyond these trivial things. You shine as an inspiration to others… allow yourself to acknowledge and be grateful for those qualities you like in yourself as well as the opportunities you are given to help others using your unique gifts.

Take Away – The next handful of weeks need to be a time of rest and recovery.  Stop pushing and prodding at yourself.  Stop the recriminations.  Instead, it’s time to focus on fostering your inner spark and spirit, and giving yourself room to grow within your current emotional journey.  Although there’s some prep you can do for the business during this time, there is no need to rush. Instead, a better use of your time during this time is to focus upon those things that kindle that spark of curiosity and creativity within you and allow that spark to manifest some guilt-free pleasure and joy.

DECKS USED:  LIGHT SEER’S TAROT, THE GREEN WHEEL ORACLE, THE SPIRIT ANIMAL ORACLE