Pagan Underworlds Tarot

First Harvest 2022 – Lammas

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Today 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).

Lammas

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.

Lammas Tarot Reading for the First Harvest with the Pagan Otherwords Tarot, Compendium of Witches Oracle, and Herbal Healing Oracle Deck Vol 1 & 2

Theme of the Season – Lammas, Waxing Crescent Moon, Elder (Sambucus nigra)

In this card a woman dances among sunflowers, celebrating in her harvest with the product of her labors cradled close under one arm and boline in the other hand ready to reap what she’s sown. There is pride in the angle of her jaw and tilt of her head, strength in her posture, and voluptuous elegance in her form.

The Waxing Crescent Moon is a symbol of growth, creativity, and attainment and welcomes the energies of positivity and expansion into one’s life.  It is a time for welcoming in new habits, new themes, and for leaning forward into changes that you wish to control the direction of with your actions and will.

The Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a tree of transitions and change, guarding liminal spaces and providing purification and protection within the transitional places that we travel between. The dried bits of this plant can be used for spellwork involving physical and emotional healing, as well as hex breaking, purification, and protection.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is one of healing through progress.  You are at a place in your life and upon your physical path where you have choices to make and these cards encourage you to lean hard into positivity and optimism.  Don’t allow yourself to step out of the light, but instead take an active role in making sure your harvests this year are abundant and plentiful.

Earth – Four of Wands – You are comfortable and relaxed in your path forward at this time. You know what needs done and have a solid plan as your foundation.  Use this energy to carry you toward your goals rather than wallowing in the comfort in more languid ways.

Air – Nine of Swords – Careful that you don’t let your worries become hurdles that hold you back.  Negative thoughts and a pessimistic inner dialogue won’t help you in making progress at this time.  Better to set these things aside so that you can move more freely and continue to charge forward toward your goals.

Water – The Moon Rx – Moments of uncertainty can feed into negativity. Make sure that you are not giving uncertainty the chance to grow and thrive in your life. If you have to “fake it ’til you make it”?  Do so.

Fire – Knight of Pentacles – Business is slow right now and that’s a good thing.  Don’t become restless during the lull, but instead use this time wisely on other things.  It won’t last forever and you want to work on what you can get done now so that when things pick back up you can feel a sense of accomplishment from the slow season.

Waning – The Memory and Pruning – It’s time to set aside self reflection and deep exploration of inner thoughts and feelings. Action is needed, and you can’t stand in stillness and mull things over, and -also- act at the same time.

Waxing – The Explorer and Mirror – Movement and knowing yourself.  This is the theme you need to lean into at this time.  You know what you want and need, and it’s time to take the steps and action to reach the fulfillment you seek.

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

Summer Solstice 2022 – Midsummer

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Today is 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.

summersunrise

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.

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.

Summer Solstice Tarot Reading with the Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Herbal Healing Deck, and Compendium of Witches Oracle

Theme of the Season – Summer Solstice, Last Quarter Moon, Grass Lily (Ornithogalum umbellatum)

This year’s Solstice card shows an explosion of verdant growth under the nurturing rays of a radiant sun. It speaks of the abundance of the season and all of the growth that goes on during this time of year while the sun is shining bright and the earth is warmed into fertile ground.

The Last Quarter Moon is a phase that is dedicated to the energies of release and letting go. It is a time for gratitude, generosity, and for cutting ties with those things (and people) that are no longer benefiting you and your life.  As the moon has waned, we have examined what these things (and people) might be and it is in this phase of the moon that we now take action to cut those ties loose.

The Grass Lily (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is associated with themes that have to do with innocence, purity, honesty, hope, and forgiveness.  The flowers and bulbs contain cardiac glycosides, which make them toxic to humans and livestock. Although toxic, in certain regional areas they are (in moderation) eaten and/or used in homeopathic remedies.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here strongly echoes the phase of today’s moon and making sure that when you let go of those things that are no longer suited to you that you truly -let go- and don’t secretly cling on some internal level.  Make it a clean break so that you can foster the growth of new and better things.  These new and better things need room in which to flourish that can’t be cluttered with regrets or clinging to what’s being cut loose.

Earth – The Empress – With all that’s going on in your life and all you have plans to accomplish, make sure that you are not losing sight of what is really important. Take care of yourself. Take care of others. These things should come first.

Air – Justice – What goes up must come down and what goes down will bounce back up. Don’t let the ups and downs of life in the process of seeking balance frustrate you. Ride them like ocean waves instead.

Water – Three of Pentacles – “That penis didn’t erect itself, it had help.” (Quoting the voice in my ear.) A relationship is a group effort, not a solo mission. Take time to appreciate all that you and Gideon have accomplished together.

Fire – Ace of Wands Rx atop Page of Cups – No entertaining new ideas or inspirations right now. Explore what is already before you more thoroughly instead.

Waning – The Scholar and Goat – Your time of intellectual contemplation and stewing on plans in the background has come to an end. It’s time to start acting instead of thinking about it.  Movement is your friend.

Waxing – The Preserver and Pomegranate – Begin reaching for those things you value and moving into making sure that they are being cared for properly.

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

Beltane 2022

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This Sunday is Beltane, which is also my sister and I’s birthday. Like Halloween is a time when the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is thin, this holiday is the time when the veil between our world and that of the Fae is at is thinnest.  I personally often find myself amped up with extra energy around this time of year, which I most often use to spend more time playing in that thinning veil as much as possible.

Beltane Reading with the Sabbat Themed Art Card, Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Compendium Of Witches Oracle, Healing Herbal Cards Vol 1 & 2

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 Litha in June.

Theme of the Season – Beltane, New Moon, Viola tricolor

Beltane is a holiday permeated with themes that have to do with being in the peak of spring, fertility, and the growth and bounty of the summer to come. It is a holiday filled with the energy of anticipation and abundance.

The New Moon is a time of beginnings, where the seed of new energies are presented and the spark of energy for growth is sparked. It is a time to embrace new beginnings, set intentions, and launch new projects.

The Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor) is a beautiful wildflower that is also cultivated as an ornamental. It is a diuretic, as well as having been used to treat respiratory issues caused by inflammation, as well as certain skin issues like eczema. Metaphysically, the wild pansy represents represents purity, love, and death, and is often used in spellcraft surrounding these themes, as well as in easing grief from separation and loss.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is about letting go of expectations, and starting fresh.  This feels never more true than in this moment, in this time when I am between sickness… and recovery and wellness. My body purged clean.  A new start approaching.

Earth – The Devil – You are currently embroiled in a battle with your addictions and addictive impulses. Continue the good fight and keep a diligent eye to make sure that this battle doesn’t cause further disruption to your finances and home life.

Air – The Hermit – Take a moment to reflect on where you are and where you are going. Alone time might not be feasible at the moment, but reflection upon yourself and your path is. Consider who you want to be, and who you want to become.

Water – Six of Cups – You had a serious backslide this week in the area of your emotions. Acknowledge it, but don’t dwell on it. You can’t undo what has been done, but you can carry your mistakes with integrity and make sure they do not end up repeated again.

Fire – The Chariot – Seize control and make sure things are going in the direction you want with your business. When things are running smoothly here, the rest of your life often feels as if it’s easier to get it to fall in line.

Waning – The Explorer and Autumn – It’s time to stop allowing your melancholy and disrupted energy to hold you down and keep you stagnant. Allow the fresh air of spring to swirl through and sweep away the cobwebs.

Waxing – The Shaman and Standing Stone – Self exploration and laying yourself bare is a part of the process at this time in your life.  It’s frightening, and it can be painful, but this is how you become who you want to be, by taking yourself apart and then putting yourself back together again better than before.

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

Ostara 2022 – Spring Equinox

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Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox, which is considered by many to be the first day of Spring, 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. After this day, the brightness of daylight begins to overtake the dark hours in the sky as the days continue to longer and longer, and the nights shorter and shorter.  This transition is the basis within the celebration of the holiday itself, as we celebrate the warming and awakening of the earth as she prepares to share her abundance and generosity with us all.

In my path, the Spring Equinox is also known as Ostara.  Although this holiday is celebrated (as Easter around) the world by those that embrace many traditions that originated in Paganism, most don’t realize the full and rich history that this holiday holds.

Sabbat Holiday Cards, Herbal Healing Cards Vol 1 & 2, Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Compendium of Witches 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 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 Beltane at the beginning of May.

Theme of the Season – Ostara, Waning Gibbous Moon, Betula alba (Silver Birch)

Ostara, as mentioned above, is a celebration of nature’s awakening after the long winter’s sleep.  It’s about the eager energy of spring finally beginning to show itself to us in visible ways, and the uplifting hope that comes with this renewal of energies in the world around us.

In farming, the Waning Gibbous Moon is a time of planting (with the exception of annuals) and transplanting, as it’s believed that absorption of nutrients from the soil occurs the most during the waning phase of the moon, and this sets up bulbs, tubers, and young plants with the energy and food needed to burst into growth for the approaching new moon to come. 

Metaphysically, it is a time of release, in which we focus on ridding ourselves of bad habits, negative thinking, and other barriers that hold you back from growth, creating room for more positive energy to flow in as the new moon approaches.

Silver Birch (Betula alba) symbolizes new beginnings, renewal, purification, and protection. This tree holds lessons for us in how hardy even the most fragile of us can be, and in lessons to do with potential and growth. Its oils, extracted from the bark, can be used as an insect repellent as well as to treat certain skin conditions, while an infusion from its leaves is both a diuretic and antiseptic. It’s sap also has healing properties that are useful in treating urinary tract infections.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is as the Ostara card says… “The land shall sign with the promise of Spring”.  Yes, the equinox is here and yes, spring has begun, but it is the promise spring brings that we see in these cards.  A promise that in the days and weeks to come we will find energies renewed, and life once more ready to emerge and grow strong.  The abundance is not quite here, but it’s coming. The promise has been made… and it’s coming.

Earth – Five of Cups – Dissatisfied and pessimistic. This is something you’ve been battling a lot over the past month or so and you’re finally at a place where you are aware of what is going on and that it’s not just a fog but a depression. This awareness has the potential to allow you to see your moments of dissatisfaction with your current progress towards manifesting what you want as a side effect of that depression.  An illusion instead of reality.

Air – Knight of Cups atop The World – Stuck in the moment and not focusing ahead on where you’re going but instead on old ideals. The Knight faces toward the past and toward the world of potential that the past holds.  Turn around and look forward towards the future, instead of staying stuck focusing on past ideals.

Water – Three of Wands – You’re getting there. The depression screws with your emotions, but you’re on your way to clearer skies. It may not always feel like it, but keep moving forward and don’t look back (an echo from the Air section of this reading).

Fire – Seven of Swords – You need to let go of what is too heavy to carry. Moving forward is easier without all that weight. Ease up on the expectations you put on yourself and let go of the responsibilities that don’t matter right now. You can pick stuff up later on after you’re feeling better if it’s still important at that time.  Right now, it’s just too heavy and is weighing you down. Take only what you can carry and leave the rest.

Waning – The Mystic and Staff – Wandering into the woods with no direction and allowing yourself to meander is not going to serve you well right now.  You need direction, purpose, and focus at the moment to assist you on your travels both spiritually and in life.

Waxing – The Reconciler and Moon – Accept what cannot be changed and focus on what you can alter through reasonably chosen achievable steps. Don’t allow your imagination and what is illusory to stand in your way, but instead use determination to seek clarity, purpose, and direction.

Take Away – Everything here is about opening up to potential. There is a great deal of opportunity upon the road ahead, but in order to see that opportunity clearly and take advantage of the healing it has to offer, it’s going to be necessary to confront inner demons and let go of the negative bad habits that are tying your hands and holding you down.

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

Imbolc 2022

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This evening through ’til tomorrow evening 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. 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 Spring Equinox at the end of March.

Sabbat Themed Art Card, Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Compendium Of Witches Oracle, Healing Herbal Cards Vol 1 & 2

Theme of the Season – Imbolc, New Moon, Echinacea pallida

Imbolc – Beneath ice and snow, the earth stirs. The sun’s rays spend more time kissing her skin, and she warms deep within.  Seeds, once frozen solid and dormant in the cold, begin to awaken within the depths of the soil.  We cannot yet see what grows as seeds and roots begin to awaken from their sleep, but soon these stirrings will break free from the surface to share their renewal with us all.

New Moon – In the ebb and flow of the moon’s cycle, the New Moon is a time of rest. This lowest point in the moon’s energy and influence gives us a moment to pause.  To breathe.  To reflect upon the now, and on what is to come.

Echinacea pallida – In spellwork (at least in my path), Echinacea flowers are most commonly used as both an energy and intention amplifier, as well as sometimes as a blood substitute. It can also be used to bolster stamina, and increase one’s protections and/or prosperty.

When looking at these three cards together, the theme that I see here is that now is a time to gather strenght.  Instead of expending it at every turn, let it spool in and grow.  Give yourself time to shore up your reserves and build upon your energy base.  Just as the roots begin to feel the warmth of the sun, absorb it in and begin to gather energies needed to burst forth with new life in the spring… so too do you need to do the same.

Earth – Two of Pentacles Rx – You can do better to get a balance in your life in the areas of your self-care and your stability endeavors (finances, responsibilities, etc). The feeling of imbalance in your life right now is about the fact that you are not focusing enough on making sure you’re keeping things distributed in a healthy manner.

Air – Two of Wands Rx – Don’t stall out. There has been a good deal of advice from the cards lately on how to keep from feeling as if you’re falling into a mire of stagnacy.  Make sure you are taking small steps forward instead of induging in inactivity and resistance.

Water – Page of Wands – Stay motivated to explore your emotions, and invested in learning new ways to manage your emotional health and well-being.  You need to stay on top of this and aware of what’s going on with these elementsof your life instead of discounting them and ignoring them.

Fire – Five of Cups – Everything echoes back to your emotional well-being and stability right now. Make sure you are focusing on optimism and not allowing yourself to sink or stall out. Doing so will set you back everywhere.

Waning – Weaver atop Veil Walker – You have spent too much time focusing on the practical and need to turn instead to something more frivolous.  Life doesn’t always need to be about survival and what you need. Lighter times and having a bit of fun are just as important.

Waxing – Comforter atop Distaff – Set down your authority and responsibility long enough to truly enjoy and savor the little things and small comforts.  Sometimes if you spend too much time tending the soil, you end up missing the blooms.

Take Away – This entire reading is a warning on an incoming depression and encouragement on how to mitigate its effects. Although this reading is usually about my spiritual journey, what we see here is that something else (the depression) is going to overtake that journey if I don’t find a way to keep it in hand.

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

Last Harvest 2021 – Samhain

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Coming up on October 31st is the third and Last Harvest of the 2021 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.

Solstice Art Card, Pagan Underworlds Tarot, Compendium of Witches Oracle, Healing Herbal Cards Vol 1 & 2

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, Waning Crescent Moon, Berberis vulgaris (Barberry) – In my path, Samhain is not just a time to remember and pay our respects to our loved ones that have passed on, as well as 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 of seasons as a whole. The earth has gifted us with her abundance throughout the spring, summer, and fall and now settles in to rest throughout the colder months ahead.

Magically speaking, the moon’s waning crescent phase is a time of purging, severing, or otherwise cutting free things that need released and let go. This theme carries over into farming and gardening, where the waning crescent is a time of pruning and trimming, weeding, cutting timber, and other purging practices. This is the phase that the moon will be on during the night of Samhain, and as children reap in candies and treats, the magical and spiritual worlds will be in a phase of letting go and saying goodbye to those things that are no longer serving us.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is primarily a digestive herb that is used to treat a wide variety of ailments that have to do with purging waste and toxins from the body.  This includes not just treatments of the gastrointestinal tract, but also the liver and kidneys. In magic, it is used in spellwork that has to do with release, creating barriers, protection, and atonement.

When looking at these three cards together, the overarching theme that I see here is that this Samhain’s theme is all about releasing what isn’t working and letting go of the things that are holding you back.

Earth – Queen of Pentacles – The queen is a nurturing soul at heart, and is here as a reminder that you don’t need to beat yourself up over your mistakes.  Just fix them.  So you slipped on your self care.  It happens. Now it is time to get back on track. Self flagellation will only exacerbate the problem.

Air – Knight of Wands – A breath of revitalizing fresh air is needed.  Take some time before you leap forward into the fray, to ascertain what you want out of the next few months.  Sit with it and work it out in your head before charge into action. Things pan out better when there’s strategy involved.

Water – King of Cups atop Seven of Pentacles – Seek out help from Gideon to help you better deal with slow growth as you move forward. Your patience sucks, but with his encouragement, you are better able to weather the “long game” a great deal better than you do on your own.  Whether it’s his encouragement, or his providing you with a bit of distraction, in either both cases, it makes the slower growth of… well damned near all of your goals and desires… far more tolerable.

Fire – Seven of Wands – Once you’ve taken the time to figure out where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, stand strong on those goals. It’s hard to not get distracted, especially when there’s mental health issues involved like what you’ve been dealing with recently.  Push back against obstacles instead of letting them trip you up.

Waning – Familiar – Stop ignoring the advice coming your way from your loved ones and spirit guides.

Waxing – Rest – You are going to have to take some time to get some true rest. Not the restless rest that you’ve been getting, but actual guiltless rest that will help recharge and recover before the holiday rush really swings into gear.

Take Away – It’s time to let go of self abuse and self sabotage.  It’s time to allow yourself true rest, as well as the recuperation  you need.  Stewing and spinning  your wheels is getting you nowhere and will tank everything you have been working for and want to happen. Use the tools and help that you have at your disposal to get you back on track.

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