Herbal Tarot

Slow and Steady Steps

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Today’s meditation was not timed, because I kind of lost track of the timer.  That said, I would estimate that it was at least ten minutes.  I took the little bit of focus I had from yesterday, and repeated it… without the harp strings this time.  In other words, as I did my piriformis stretches, I meditated on the growth of a plant from seed to adulthood.  Like last time, this was very enjoyable for me and thus how I ended up losing track of time.  The only reason I know it was at least ten minutes is because my hip flexors were very limber and well stretched at the end.

Herbal Tarot - Ace of Pentacles - Whole GrainsToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as the seed of a new beginning or opportunity in relation to finances, resources, health, or the physical world.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the stone wall with arched entrance that stretches through the background.   What I see in that wall is not just a new beginning, but a “recasting” of sorts.  A seed comes from a flower that has bloomed and faded, and thus this seed comes from a path that has passed and is now behind you. It is not immaculate conception, but rather reincarnation as you pass through the archway and into a new phase… a new cycle.   A new path created from the tail of the old one.

In the pentacles suit, this speaks to me of my endeavors to find that new balance with how I manage my work, responsibilities, and time.  It is a reminder (of which I am in need of many of them quite often) that this is a new start.  A new method.  A new way of doing things…. and it’s okay to take slow steps to assure your footing is strong and as sure as possible.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better hear and heed my inner wisdom?

Tarot for Dandelions

Reading Summary:  Don’t allow uncertainty (Moon) to distract you (Two of Swords).  Instead, soldier on (Knight of Swords) and use the tools and skills at your disposal (Magician) to follow your inner wisdom’s call.

Just sayin’?  But the more I use this deck… the more I like this deck.

Take Away:  The cards here are referring to how sometimes my intuition’s voice can sometimes get a little muddled when dealing with upheaval that causes fear and uncertainty. This is very apropos considering the upheaval I had last night with the very out of control customer that lost his shit in my email.

DECK USED:  TAROT FOR DANDELIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #2
Should I go ahead and post the piece about a controversial topic on the blog with the blogpost I started last night?

Dame Darcy's Mermaid TarotReading Summary: It’s a selfish point of view as stated (Queen of Swords Rx) and needs to be reworked from a different perspective (Hanged Man over the Nine of Swords) in order to be less insensitive and ‘blind’ (Eight of Swords).

Take Away:  Okay yeah… I get that. The post that I wrote last night on this topic was very self centered and not at all “woke” or enlightened.  More just me popping off and being a bit of an ass. The cards here warn that posting it as-is risks hurting myself and others.  I’m not sure if I’ll rewrite it, or just scrap it entirely.  Either way, I’ll take the card’s advice on this and hold off on posting it as-is.

DECK USED:  DAME DARCY’S MERMAID TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Something I am suggested to do for myself today.

Linestrider Tarot

Reading Summary:  Slow down (Temperance) and make a conscious choice on what you’re doing today (Two of Wands) , and make sure that choice involves spending time with Gideon (King of Cups).

Take Away:  Just exactly what I’ve done with the majority of my day today.  Yes, I skipped nap time to do some work, but the majority of my day has been spent with you… and I’ve loved every minute of it. I love you man. Thank you for making today such a good day.

DECK USED:  LINESTRIDER TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What do I need to change?

Tarot Sirene

Reading Summary: Passion’s direction (Two of Wands). Because being forceful (Strength) will only cause unpleasant consequences (Justice). Ie: Change your tone.

Take Away:  This goes back to the reading I did for the Tarotholics challenge, and that blog post that I want to post but at the same time was hesitant about.  The advice here is if I want to post about this topic… I need to change the tone of the post.  Because as it stands… it’s just not there.

DECK USED:  TAROT SIRENE

 

 

 

Staying Open to Change

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and another of the harp strings meditation sessions.   Another session that I had a bit of a struggle in concentrating, mostly because of the whole aggressive customer issue that was going on this morning and getting that dealt with.  I hate having to turn from kind and courteous customer service into that more firm and authoritative voice.

Anyway, it messed up my groove a little bit and because I was all stirred up and my brain was in “compose this message” mode, I really struggled at staying focused in the meditation today.

Herbal Tarot - Two of Pentacles - Yellow DockToday’s draw is the Two of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as struggling with multiple priorities, the juggling of responsibilities, and finding balance (or being out of balance) between one’s obligations.

What stands out the greatest to me in the imagery of this card today is the combination of the yellow dock on the page, and the two sailboats off in the horizon.   The meaning of the sailboats in today’s message is twofold, as they speak both of freedom as well as adaptability and how, through that adaptability, freedom can be obtained.    The Rumex crispus is one I needed to brush up on, as I could only remember that it was a good cure for athletes food and edible in small quantities.

What I found is that the spiritual properties of Rumex crispus lies in the purging of what is no longer working for you, clearing out stagnancy in order to help strengthen what is left and allow for room and growth.     This message is very much in line with my current goals.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that I need to stay open to change in order for change to happen. If I close myself off, even if it’s subconsciously, it will effect my progress.  So stay present, stay aware, and stay open.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: What unconscious rhythms have settled into my life?

Brady Tarot

Reading Summary: This reading is about “greener pastures syndrome” and the fact that when I am feeling fulfilled, I can’t stay still.  The progression here is in the new shiny thing (Ace of Roots) that I learn and master (Nine of Cups) and as a result end up bored or frustrated (Eight of Cups) and ready to move on to the next new thing (Six of Arrows).

Take Away:  Actually, this isn’t an uncommon rhythm for me, but it is one that I’ve experienced again and again throughout my life (although, not as often as Z apparently *LOL* who is where I got the “syndrome” title from).   It has to do with interests only being interesting for as long as they are a challenge, but not so much of a challenge that you can’t conquer them.   So you fall into this pattern of finding interests and exploring them until you feel you’ve reached a level of expertise, and then going “meh” and discarding them for something else.  Fortunately, I have far more staying power than Z, although I do this often with my periphery interests. 

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Philosophical Question: Is it easier to love or be loved?

Grimalkin TarotReading Summary:  In the center of this reading, we have a cat that stares adoringly at a firefly while the firefly is without any interest in the cat at all.  On one side, we have unrequited affection.  On the other we have homecoming and celebration shared with others.

Take Away:  In both scenarios (the right side and the left) there are emotions involved and in both the emotions involved include having “full cups” (even if on the left there are not as many full cups as you might desire.   I would say that, from these cards, it is better to love than to be loved.   I’m not entirely sure that I agree with that, but this is what the cards say to me.  They say that when you focus on your own heart, you will always have love… whereas if you focus on other’s hearts and love directed at you, you will always feel as if you are missing what you seek.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Think of something you are proud of and draw a card for input.
Pride: Fostering stability and responsibility in my life.

Everyday Witch TarotReading Summary: The Queen of Swords (for once) did not immediately bring to mind my mother.  Instead, in this card she appears to be saying, “Good job.  Your independence is admirable. Keep it up.”   She is a reminder to listen to that good, strong, and proud inner voice that lives within me, and to not allow my inner critic to interject.

Take Away:  You are smart and resourceful. You can be the Queen of Wands without turning into your mother.

DECK USED:  EVERYDAY WITCH TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What good habits do I have?

Tarot of Passing Showers

Reading Summary: The ability to look at personal hardships (Three of Swords) and find the positive (Hanged Man and Art).

Take Away:  In the Thoth tarot (which is the system this deck is based upon) the fourteenth card in the Major Arcana is not Temperance, but rather Art, and speaks of taking something mundane and turning it into something precious.  Balance also plays a part in this card, and when combined with the new perspectives presented in the Hanged Man’s card, it demonstrates how I approach the struggles and strife in my life… and how I heal from them.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF PASSING SHOWERS

The Person You Want to Be

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and another of the harp strings meditations.  It was very relaxing although I had a little bit of trouble focusing today.  It happens, and I try not to let it be frustrating as I know that it’s a part of meditating, as is bringing yourself back to center after your mind has strayed.  I find it interesting that this meditation seems to work so well for me when usually it is the guided meditations that I gravitate toward.

Herbal Tarot - Goldenseal - JudgementToday’s draw is the Judgement card, which used to be a really difficult card for me.  In fact, for most of my time reading tarot, this was the one card I struggled with connecting to… until last year. I attended a card study that the cards Justice and Judgement were the focus of.  In this study, these cards were presented as Justice being immediate, present- day balance of cause and effect (which was how I viewed it anyway), and that by contrast, the judgement card was about what you’ve done with your life as a whole.  How is your life path going?  Is it going in a way that you like?  Are you happy with the person you’ve become and how you live your life and see the world?

This contrast actually turned my confusion around completely.  By having set the Judgement card beside the Justice card, it made the differences clear to me, and helped me to clearly define my understanding of the Judgement card in a way I’d failed to be able to in the years prior.

What really stands out the strongest to me in the imagery of this card today is that the Hydrastis canadensis is bearing fruit.  The goldenseal plant reproduces in two different ways.  Beneath the soil, the rhizome reproduces clonally and can do so within the first year.  But the second way that this plant reproduces is through sexual reproduction above ground, which it is unable to accomplish until it’s fourth (or more often fifth) year of life.  That is what the berry in the center of the plant’s leaf here signifies.  It indicates that the plant has finally reached full maturity.

The message here in today’s card is about examining what you want in life and “checking in” with where you’re at to ensure you are staying on that path.  It’s not about money or power or superficial matters… its about maturity of the heart and the soul, and ensuring that you are the type of person that you want to be.

I think this is a good message and a very good reminder, especially as I go through the growth concerning my emotions.  Reassessment gives the opportunity to course correct values and just make sure I stay… true to who I want to be along the way.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: Where am I nearing a crossroads in life?

Dame Darcy's Mermaid Tarot

Reading Summary:   Note the color coordination connecting the Seven of Wands and the Ten of Swords, as well as the Page of Swords and the Queen of Pentacles.   The Seven of Wands freaks out as challenge starts to transition into defeat (Ten of Swords), while the Page looks back as if to say “see baby, it’ll be alright… just look where we’re going” (Queen of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The cards here depict a common cycle for me between the Seven of Wands and the Ten of Swords.  I fill my plate with all that I’m passionate about until I’m at a point of struggle and overwhelm and everything feels like it’s in chaos and I’m fighting for my life.   I struggle.  I fail.   I hit the ground and my guts spill out.   Then I have to pick myself up and start over again as I regain balance and fill my plate again. 

The Page of Swords in these cards slicing through this cycle and showing a second path.  An exit out of the loop.  At the end of that second path sits the Queen of Pentacles, indicating if I make the choice to break this common cycle of mine and stay committed to doing things differently, I can find a much more stable and comfortable place than that of the path I’ve been on.

DECK USED:  DAME DARCY’S MERMAID TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I begin working on healing my inner child’s injuries?

Sawyer's Path TarotReading Summary: Work on a better way of fulfilling responsibilities (Knight of Pentacles over Two of Pentacles) so you can have some fun (imagery on the Seven of Wands) and a more fulfilled existence (Judgement).

Key note here is in the Seven of Wands and how, although the character in this card is on the defensive and in the  middle of battle… they look like they’re having a hell of a good time while they’re at it.

Take Away:  It is telling that the responsibilities portion of this reading is a pair of Pentacles, and specifically that the Knight of Pentacles overshadows the juggling in the Two of Pentacles.  It speaks of needing to slow down and the necessity to pace myself rather than pushing so hard and being impatient.  The other two cards are a reminder that while I’m slowing down, I need to make sure I’m having a good time (even when dealing with challenges) and staying on track concerning where I want to go spiritually and the person I want to be… which is someone that’s more than just work work work, incidentally.

DECK USED:  SAWYER’S PATH TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What can I do, or keep in mind, to make today better?

Tarot of Metamorphosis

Reading Summary: Don’t worry so much (Judgement) about where your emotional growth is going (Knight of Cups). Just focus on not backsliding (Six of Swords). For the moment, it’s the present that’s important and fostering your sense of enthusiasm (The Fool).

Take Away:  Lots of guidance today to help me in getting on track with my emotional growth and keeping myself from backsliding into the bad habits of the past. The cards here indicate that it’s important for me to focus on finding those glimmering inner sparks of joy and enthusiasm and fostering them to life, and not to spend so much time worrying about where I’m going… or where I’m coming from.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF METAMORPHOSIS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How are my goals progressing?

The Golden Girls Tarot

Reading Summary: You are at a crossroads where you are going to have to make a conscious and concerted choice (The Lovers) between pushing back against that emotional growth going on (Four of Cups), or embracing it and letting it continue (Ace of Cups).

Take Away:  I want the Ace of Cups.  Avoiding the backslide into old habits is difficult, but I want that feeling of dappled sunlight on the soul that this growth has created.  It’s the feeling of lying beneath trees as sunlight breaks in dappled warmth through the leaves above.  It’s warm and peaceful and much different than the cold logic of my normal existence to date.  I’ve come to discover that I like that dappled sunlight… and I want it to continue.

I want that exploration of the emotional growth I’ve been experiencing to continue… even if maybe I haven’t really seemed much like it over the past couple of weeks.

DECK USED:  THE GOLDEN GIRLS TAROT

Constant Healing and Growth

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Today’s meditation hasn’t taken place yet, because when I laid down to do it, I ended up accidentally falling asleep rather than meditating.  SO…. I’ll be trying again tonight before bed.  As it is, I did get a decent nap in, but I also earned myself a kink in my neck and shoulder.

Herbal Tarot - Sage - The High Priest - HierophantToday’s draw is the High Priest (aka The Hierophant) which is traditionally read as a representation of tradition and institution, a guiding energy or figure in relation to religious knowledge and spiritual beliefs, and in some cases can also represent conformity to social norms.

There are a few aspects of this card that stand out to me today.  There is the man’s white turban, which (I had to look this up) is an indication of a saintly person leading an exemplary life. 

There is also the two pillars, which are the same two pillars as in the High Priestess card and represent the gateway to the spiritual realm. That he stands before these pillars instead of between them or behind them speaks to me of his energy being based in reality and the physical even as he guides those along their spiritual paths.

The third aspect is the sage plant. Salvia officinalis is essentially a healing antiseptic that is used not just for the body but also one’s spiritual health and the energies that surround them.   It is a cleansing herb that can be used to wash away negative energies just as it can be used to help heal bruises on the skin and promote healing. Whether sage is used internally or externally, it’s presence here in the card speaks of the Hierophant’s ability and responsibility to guide himself and others upon a path of healing and growth.

The message in today’s card is about following one’s inner moral compass.  Sometimes this isn’t easy.  Decisions get made and when you think about things you realize you were wrong and have to back-step, maybe even apologize, or eat crow.   It’s important that in these moments we learn from our mistakes and take on their responsibility with grace.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I attract more abundance into my life?

Tarot of Passing Showers

Reading Summary: Don’t forget that you still have a lot to learn (Page of Pentacles) and a part of learning is the mistakes you make along the way (Three of Swords). Keep hope alive (The Star), and you’ll be able to move through moments of defeat quickly and come out the other side still in control (Six of Swords beneath The Chariot).

Take Away:  It’s so easy to get too confident in something you feel you’re doing well at then end up knocked on your ass as you realize you aren’t the be-all end-all of it all. It’s easy, as well, to lose hope when you’re sitting on your ass in the mud absorbing that blow.

The cards here indicate that to attract more abundance into my life, it’s important to not lose hope in those moments, but to learn from them and pick yourself up out of the mud, evaluate what needs to change, then try again.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF PASSING SHOWERS

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to help my inner child feel less neglected?

The Brady Tarot 2nd EditionReading Summary:  Make the conscious choice (Lovers) to create a solid base (Father of Roots).  Your inner child needs a careful balance between firm guidance (Eight of Roots) and a gentle touch (Temperance).

Take Away:  The cards here are indicating that I’m not giving my inner child the structure and stability that it needs.  This isn’t about money, but about finding a place of inner grounding that allows for a solid foundation on the inside, so that my inner child has the solid footing it needs to express itself with more confidence and not fear the repercussions of backlash that a lack of temperance from my inner critic would contribute to the situation.

Thus, the answer here in the cards is to take my inner critic in hand and make the conscious and willful demand that it treat both myself and my inner child with a level and moderate voice.

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: If you could leave one worry behind, what would it be?

Grimalkin Tarot

Reading Summary: Always needing to be the adult (Grimalkin) whenever things that involve my enthusiasm arise (Ace of Wands) or decisions need to be made concerning the paths my enthusiasm might take (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  You know, I had a whole laundry list of possible answers that might have come up from the cards when asking this question, some of them selfish and some of them not… but this one wasn’t on it.  Not that it isn’t true, just that it wasn’t on the list.

The cards here speak of my need to always be responsible and in control, no matter what I’m doing or what interests or passions are driving me or have struck my interest.  In other words… It’d be nice to be a little more carefree.  It’s not really in my nature, mind you… but it would still be nice.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my biggest win?

Happy Tarot

Reading Summary: Learning to release some of my burden (Ten of Wands) by sharing it with others (imagery on the Two of Cups) so that I can ride that wheel with less centripetal force trying to make me stumble (Wheel of Fortune Rx).

Take Away:  So we are speaking here of the wheel not as a vertical wheel, but as a horizontal one, where I can stand upon its center and spin, or step off center and be pulled by centripetal force into stumbling.   By handing out some of my work and responsibilities to others, it makes it easier to stay in the center of the wheel, and easier to handle the responsibilities and obligations I carry instead of becoming overwhelmed by them.

My biggest win is in the realization of this…. and the actual absorption of this rather than simply acknowledging it and saying it’s right.  Instead I’ve taken this to heart and am truly making the effort to change how I do things, which includes allowing others to step in and help me… and asking them for help sometimes even when they don’t step in voluntarily without prompting.

DECK USED:  HAPPY TAROT

 

What We Have

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Although I meditated today, it wasn’t my normal type of meditation.  Instead I did my meditation while sitting in traffic with a combination of slow breathing exercises and focus on physical sensations such as the touch of the air moving over my skin.   It was a long drive, and I’m a bit out of practice in the commute now that I’m only taking it once every three weeks instead of twice a week.   The breathing exercises and focus on using those physical sensations as a calming influence helped immensely in keeping my stress in line as I dealt with traffic.

Herbal Tarot - Uva Ursi - Two of CupsToday’s draw is the Two of Cups, which traditionally is interpreted as a card depicting harmonious union and cooperation between two parties.

Uva Ursi is an herb of purification and cleansing, and when combined with what stood out most strongly to me in this card’s imagery today (that would be the caduceus above the cups) what I see here is a message concerning combining strengths to heal.

This card’s appearance today is a representation of our relationship and a reminder of what our union creates.

We are each strong and independent in our own right, and when brought together our skills compliment and reinforce each other, our knowledge and our emotions bolster each other, and the relationship becomes one of support and healing on both sides, each benefiting from the other’s strengths.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better channel anger into a force of positive change?

The Golden Girls Tarot

Reading Summary: Use that anger combined with the tools at my disposal (The Magician) to inspire (The Star) my passions (Page of Wands and Four of Wands).

Take Away:  The Page of Wands and Four of Wands don’t just indicate my passions in this reading, but rather those passions that create within me a sense of progress and pleasure.  Some of my passions are directionless.  Others are more addiction based.  Those are not the type of passions referenced here.

Here in the cards is a reference to the safe and secure passions that create within me a sense of accomplishment and progress while still bringing me a feeling of joy and stability.   When I need to channel my anger, it is in this direction that I should channel it, transforming it into a flare of that creative spark within me to spur forward my pursuits.

DECK USED:  THE GOLDEN GIRLS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How does my inner child feel right now?

Nicoletta Ceccoli Tarot Reading Summary: Alice is uncertainty in all three positions.
Position 1) shyness + uncertainty and a need for comfort from others,
Position 2) curious + uncertainty and a need for comforting from the self, and
Position 3) irritation + uncertainty spurred by a vicious inner narrative.

Take Away:  The current state of my inner child is one of shyness, curiosity, and a hint of irritation hidden within the wings.  All of these are overshadowed by a sense of uncertainty and a need for comfort.  When the irritation blended with that uncertainty shows its terrible face, my inner critic slips in and begins to draw blood.

So the key here is that my inner child feels vulnerable.  The flavor of vulnerability might change depending on what has captured its attention in the moment, but the sense of vulnerability and uncertainty is always present.

DECK USED:  NICOLETTA CECCOLI TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: How can I use this energy to my personal best advantage?

Dame Darcy's Mermaid Tarot

Reading Summary: Don’t forget to take in others input (Three of Pentacles) while sorting out and gathering up (Ace of Wands)what passions you’re carrying forward with you (King of Wands).

Take Away:  The previous reading on this topic indicated that discernment and destruction are the energies this month holds for me.  The cards today indicate that as I’m tearing things down to start certain pursuits and passions anew, make sure that this isn’t a solitary task.   Take in input from others, accept their help and their ideas. Allow them to help you begin anew, and allow them to be there to build you up along your journey.

DECK USED:  DAME DARCY’S MERMAID TAROT

 

Discerning with Secrets

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was just under twelve minutes long and was a self-guided meditation reaching out to touch upon that “accepting outside energy” again from the sun.  I’m still entirely sure about the practice, but it did seem a bit more comfortable today than last time.  Less… blinding.  Less brilliant and exhilarating and more comfortable and easy.  This might have been because today was overcast, where as the first time it was a sunny day.

Maruco Animal TarotToday’s draw is the High Priestess card, which is traditionally a representation of the subconscious, intuition and spiritual knowledge, as well as things that are known but remain unspoken.

So… what really stands out to me today in the imagery of this card is a little esoteric and off the beaten path…. but it’s the hooves.  Specifically, the “feet” hooves and their position that is in modern vernacular referred to as “the duchess slant”.

Now here’s the thing about the Duchess Slant.  It’s all about appearances.  This position involves keeping the knees and ankles tightly together and slanting the legs to the side. There is nothing comfortable about this sitting position.  The position is specifically used to convey a demure modesty and approachability while creating an aesthetically appealing lengthening appearance to the legs.

The message here is not about intuition but about secrets.  It’s about how you hold onto them… when you hold on to them… and when to let them go.

Secrets can create a lot of tension, especially in relationships with other people and within small groups of friends.  Like the Duchess Slant can cause one’s hips and back to ache over time?  So too can a badly chosen secret cause discomfort for the soul.

I’m not really sure where this applies in my life right now. It’s likely it’s something I needed to hear for whatever reason, for something upcoming.  Regardless, it’s a good advice and a healthy practice to only gather those secrets that won’t pollute your soul, energy, or social interactions with discomfort and tension.

DECK USED:  MARUCO ANIMAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care this new moon?

Herbal TarotInterpretation: The Ulmus fulva in the depiction of the Wheel of Fortune card for this deck (titled the Medicine Wheel) depicts the tree as the center of a circle of stones. This deck relates this card to Native American symbolism, which is not something I relate to.  But I do relate to circles of stones placed around a tree on the ground.  This imagery speaks to me of the wheel in a horizontal position parallel to the ground rather than upright depicting the traditional “ups and downs”.  

Instead, here we have a wheel  that spins round and round, creating a centrifugal force that is greater the further away from the center you go and a great deal of stability and security at the center where the Slippery Elm tree stands as the wheel’s axis.   This, in my need for stability, speaks to me of moving closer to the tree and away from the uncertainty of the wheel’s edges.  That is to say… move towards a place of spiritual nourishment and soothing strength.

This card speaks to me the strongest in this entire spread, and provides me with a different perspective on the Wheel of Fortune card that is also my card of the year.  Instead of seeing “deal with the ups and downs this year” I see a message of finding my center and what truly provides a sense of stability and comfort in my life.

That search for one’s center is followed through by the Eight of Swords.  There’s a double meaning in this card due to the Black Cohosh that is depicted here along with the classic tarot imagery.   This card speaks of being blind to the truth and stuck in a rut, but the Cimicifuga racemosa plant offers relief from the tension of this situation, giving guidance (again) that you need to search for that center… that true feeling of stability that makes things okay.     This card combined with the Wheel of Fortune card indicates that I am looking in the wrong place for that sense of stability I crave and that it’s time to reassess.

The Fool in position beneath the Knight of Wands provides guidance as to the direction to look to in order to find that which I seek.   The Fool’s enthusiasm which is paired with the symbolism of creative energy that is present in the representation of Ginseng in this card.   This speaks of a need to open up and allow myself to move forward with an open heart and defenses down so that I can follow that creative energy into the Knight of Wands.

The Knight of Wands is then where I will find that stability that I seek and have been seeking in the wrong place lately.   The Knight of Wands is all about pouring energy and passion into your actions as you bound forward into those things that bring you joy and satisfaction.  The Knight of Wands is all about vigor and passion.  He is paired with the plant Monkshood (aka Aconitum napellus) which is an extremely powerful (and extremely poisonous) metabolic stimulant. This pairing speaks of a need for a bit of caution.  There is encouragement here to leap… but make sure you look first.

Take Away: With the arrival of this new moon, my self care needs to take a to focusing upon where I believe I find my center and my stability, and examine if that is truly the best focus for me for those things.

What is it exactly that I assume makes me feel safe and secure and on solid footing in my life?

It’s time to examine this in depth and look towards those things that create a spark of passion and joy for a new center that will suit me better.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT