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.
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.
Twisting the Leaf 