Healing Herbal Cards Vol 1 & 2

Imbolc 2024

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The time between February 1st and 2nd is Imbolc (also known as Candlemas, Imbolg, and Brigid’s Day), which marks the half way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and signifies the transition from winter into the first stirrings of spring. This holiday is about life renewing, but in the hidden darkness of cold months and dark earth. Deep in the darkness seeds stir and roots begin to feel the warming of the earth as the days grow longer and nights shorter. Life awakens, invisible in its infancy.

imbolc

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. Usually I use an adaptation of my Self Care Saturday spread, but focused on progress and my path. For this year, I’m using the #DiscordTarotholicsFebruary2024 Imbolc Spread instead.

Imbolc Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Imbolc Oracle

What seeds need planted in my life right now?

Kulning – Homecoming. There is a theme of appreciation for hearth and home rising in your life right now. It is a time to view home once again as that place of refuge, rather than just a place of work and toil. You can get through any obstacle in your path as long as you have that steady foundation of home and family to lean into.

What preparations do I need to begin making to prepare those seeds for growth?

North Star – Work on strengthening your connection with your “true north”. It is through aligning with your own personal values that you set the stage for growth in in the areas mentioned above in the Kulning card.

What in my life is beginning a phase of reawakening and renewal?

Snowflakes – You have an opportunity at this time to reconnect with more appreciation and gratitude for all that is around you and all that you have accomplished. It’s through this mindset of appreciation that you are able to take pride in what you have instead of constantly pushing yourself for more.

How can I best foster that awakening?

Dawn – Slow down and become more of a witness instead of an actor in the situations and activities around you. Pause more to appreciate, rather than constantly focusing on moving forward.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH IMBOLC ORACLE

Winter Solstice 2023 – Yule Day Lenormand Reading

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Yuletide Lenormand Reading with the Simply Christmas Lenormand

What aspect of yourself is seeking growth?

Cross and Letter – Communicating your struggles to others is something that you’ve always had difficulty with, and it results in you taking on more and more burden instead of it being distributed among those that could help. This is an area you still need to work on, for as much as you’ve improved in this area, you still have a long way to go.

How can you shed light on this aspect to allow for that growth?

Dog and Key – The key here is in trusting those that are loyal to you. Sharing your struggles and how you are doing with them opens you up to vulnerability.  It’s through those that are trusted and loyal that you are safe in opening up and sharing. Cast your attention their way.

What needs to be sacrificed to allow room for this growth?

Tree and Lady – Stop worrying so much about her health and well-being, and instead focus on your own.

DECKS USED:  SIMPLY CHRISTMAS LENORMAND

Winter Solstice 2023 – Yule

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The Winter Solstice is coming up on December 21st! 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.

yule

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.

Winter Solstice Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Yule Oracle

As the Sun is reborn, what is being illuminated for me on the darkest day of the year?

Offerings – A realignment of values is asking you to spend some time examining your intentions and goals.  Having a clear focus and a path forward doesn’t happen automatically, it happens when transition is in play and you take the time to pin down where to go next.

What do I need to release and surrender to the Sun’s Fire?

Gatherings – Social obligations, especially those that feel like obligations, need to be set aside. If your social obligations are fun, or feel good?  That’s great!  But if they feel like a chore, it’s time to let those feelings of obligations, and the activities that come with those feelings, go.

With light beginning to return, what intentions should I set?

Mother Mary – Self care needs to be at the top of your priority right now.  Give yourself the care and understanding that you have been withholding over the past few months.  Now that the holiday rush is drawing to a close, it’s time to start plotting out how to incorporate self care back into your daily life again.

How can I hold space for the light to spread & strengthen my intentions?

Falling in Love – Spend time with Gideon and getting back the balance or rightness, comfort, and security that he contributes to your life.

What will manifest from my Winter Solstice intentions?

Gratitude – More and more to be grateful for is on the horizon. Reconnect with appreciating the little things as well as the big ones.

Message from the Sun.

Self-Care – You can’t care for others and effectively reach for your goals if you aren’t caring for yourself. Your cup is currently empty.  Take the time and set the intentions needed to help yourself refill.

Message from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Merriment – Savor the holidays and every day. Find things to cherish and enjoy on a daily basis.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH YULE ORACLE

Last Harvest 2023 – Samhain

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Tomorrow is the third and Last Harvest of the 2023 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 as the eve of the Day of the Dead when the veil is at its thinnest between our world and those that have passed.

Samhain

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 picked one off the internet that fit the theme of the holiday to do instead.

Samhain Ritual Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle

Card to describe the upcoming darker half of my year.

Banshee – You are going to have to stay on top of self destructive tendencies over the next few months. They are due to rise up and become a problem.

What do my ancestors want me to know.

Silence – Keep up on your meditation. It can help in combating those self destructive tendencies as well as keep your connection to your ancestors and guides stronger over the dark months ahead.

Why this message is important for me to know.

Divination – You get more out of yourself (and out of your ancestors and guides as well) when you keep up on your meditation. It is easy to lose yourself in the rush, but healthier not to.

How can I protect myself from negative energy.

Owl – Don’t ignore the encroaching darkness within you when it comes. Use your tools to confront it and bear it back instead.

A shadow aspect of myself that’s calling me to explore.

Dark Moon – Some of the triggers of your depression live in the past. It isn’t all chemical.

Guidance from my ancestors.

Ancestors atop Transformation – Make sure when you petition your ancestors for guidance that the one’s speaking to you have your best interests and well-being at heart.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE

Second Harvest 2023 – 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 that 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.

Mabon Altar

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.

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 picked one off the internet that fit the theme of the holiday to do instead.

Autumn Equinox Spread with the Poison Apple Tarot Oracle

Where to focus my energy this season

Judgement – Staying true to yourself and who you want to become is where you need to ensure your energy is focused this season. There will always be potential distractions to draw you off track, and that is potentially even more true as we lean into the journey towards the final harvest next month.

Growth I’m bringing into Autumn

The Hierophant – You have learned a lot of skills over the summer that you will carry with you not just into Autumn, but the rest of your life. Physical skills, emotional skills, interpersonal skills.  How to take care of others as well as expanding on your own intuitive abilities. These things will in time become foundational knowledge for you so that you can stretch and grow even more.

An obstacle of this season

The Emperor – Don’t allow yourself to become an evil taskmaster pushing yourself too hard, and don’t allow others to treat you that way either. You only have a little bit of time to recover and find your center before chaos begins, and forcing yourself to push too hard now will be a detriment later.

Something to shed

The Touch – It’s time to lean into being less hands-on in the healing process of others. They need to re-establish their independence so that you can then re-establish your own.  When you do too much for them and help too much, it hinders that process.

Something to forgive

Wheel of Fortune – Life is unpredictable. It’s no one’s fault.  Don’t blame yourself… don’t blame others either.  Just roll with it and move on.

Something to harvest

The Gift – As previously touched upon with the Hierophant above, make sure that you are taking time to acknowledge the gains you have made over the past few months in your abilities, both mundane and more.

Something to embrace

The Fool – Head into Autumn with enthusiasm. Don’t get hung up on the shit that will try to hold you back or drag you down.

DECKS USED: POISON APPLE TAROT AND ORACLE

First Harvest 2023 – Lammas/Lugh

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Tomorrow 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).

First Harvest Moon

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 picked one off the internet that fit the theme of the holiday to do instead.

Lughnasadh Tarot Reading with the White Neuman Tarot

What skill have you grown that will best serve you?

The Devil Rx – Resisting temptation and being more discerning in indulging in your addictions.

What is still ripening and needs time to further mature?

Nine of Pentacles – Learning to appreciate your accomplishments and those things in life that make you feel fortunate, rather than ignoring them for the negative viewpoint or your ambitions.

What needs to be sacrificed/released for you to prosper?

Ten of Wands – Stop trying to do everything. It’s too much. If you don’t want to drop it all and screw it all up, you need to start selectively lightening your burden where you can.

Will your current path serve you well as we prepare for the darker months?

Page of Wands Rx – Not really… No. You need to be open to learning a different way to getting to what you really want.

What do you need to focus on between now and the autumnal equinox to prepare?

Eight of Wands Rx – Make sure you are taking things slow. You still have plenty of time to prepare for the holiday rush, and there’s no need to push yourself right now.

DECK USED: WHITE NEUMAN TAROT