Sabbat Art Cards

Last Harvest 2024 – Samhain

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Today is the third and Last Harvest of the 2024 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.

pumpkins

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. Like a number of times this year, I’ve chosen to deviate from my regular spread this Samhain, and am doing the Tarotholics’ Thinning Veil spread instead.

The Thinning Veil Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for October 30th : Do the Thinning Veil Spread

What Spirits have come to visit and walk with you while the veil is thin?

Coming of Winter – Remember that not everyone who comes to you when the veil is at its thinnest has your best interest at heart. This is the easiest time to break through, which means even those that are undeserving of your attention will try to do so.

How are these Spirits assisting in keeping you safe?

Spider – Although this is not their intention, those that are undeserving that come forth through the veil present you with an opportunity for growth by confronting your fears head on instead of trying to avoid them.

What should you offer to the spirits that are watching over you?

Wolf – Gather close and connect with those that you know can be trusted, and leave the others behind in your dust. If there are those that don’t deserve your attention?  Don’t give it to them.  Give it, instead, to those that do.

What cycle from the past do your Ancestors hope that you will break?

Bat – Trying to avoid change instead of embracing it holds absolutely no benefit for you, and is a habit that it’s time to put some energy and effort into discarding.

What do you know deep within your bones?

Healer – Deep in your bones, your calling is to help others through your own personal strengths and fostering empowerment. It may not always feel like you are providing any help to others, but these inclinations will rise again and again throughout your life during times when you have the energy to fulfill this calling.

What do the Spirits and Ancestors need for you to learn?

Broom – It is time to remember and relearn gift of cleansing that fresh air brings. You’ve done a lot of avoiding this year in concerns to getting outside among the trees, and need to reestablish with that connection.

A message for you from the Spirits and Ancestors.

The Underworld – Again, stop fighting change and surrender to it instead.

DECK USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE

Second Harvest 2024 – Autumn Equinox

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Today 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.

rosehips

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 with the Orenda TarotAmber – Where do I need to work on my emotions to create more balance in my life?

The Empress – Being nurturing takes kindness. You’ve got the disciplinarian side of things down pat, but your skills at nurturing kindness is in need of some work… especially when directed at yourself.

Cedar – How can I use my present day fortitude to strengthen my future protection?

Six of Cups– Retain what you learn today to help you in picking and choosing your battles down the road. Not everything needs or deserves your attention, and the information on discerning which things do and which don’t need that attention and energy lie in what’s happening in the present. Pay attention.  Gather information for later.

Marigold – Where should I focus on my health in order to develop a happier outlook?

Nine of Pentacles – Instead of focusing on what hasn’t gone your way, focus on what has. Where do your successes lie concerning your physical health? Take time to appreciate these things instead of discounting them as inconsequential. Give yourself some credit.

Walnut – How can I be more discerning in picking positive friendships?

Ace of Wands – Watch your enthusiasm and make sure it isn’t getting out of control. When things feel new, there’s a lot of “extra” emotion and excitement involved, this is true whether it’s friendships or anything else that’s new in your life.  Just make sure you’re not so enthusiastic that it’s blinding you to new people’s faults and flaws.

Sapphire – How can I discern between logical thought and true wisdom?

Seven of Swords atop Six of Swords – Logical thought has no direction but is about gathering knowledge and using it. True wisdom, on the other hand, encourages forward movement toward something better. (Ie: A better you, something better for you/ somewhere better than where you are, etc.)

Yarrow – How can I move from a place of trauma into a place of healing?

King of Pentacles – Focus on how your stability supports both yourself and others. Your past trauma is all about instability.  Instead of constantly striving for more and more of what you already have, take time to really look at that stable foundation that you’ve already built.  There are places where you can improve upon what you already have without gathering more and more in the process.

DECK USED: ORENDA TAROT

First Harvest 2024 – Lammas/Lugh

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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).

Tarotholics Harvest Challenge Spreads

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 am combining the harvest spreads from this month’s Discord Tarot Challenge instead.

First Harvest Oracle Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Lammas Oracle

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my physical health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Welcoming the Harvest – You have gotten back on track with your eating schedule, ensuring no hypoglycemic episodes and helping in staying off the irrational scarcity feelings that start to crop up in all areas of life when you start trying to cut back on food intake.

The Chaff – What seeds for my physical health & growth have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Harvest Basket – You are still struggling to carry too much on your shoulders. In order to continue with healthy physical progress in areas where you are thriving, you need to work on letting go of taking on too much on your own.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my physical health & growth in the Fall?

Craftsmanship – Work on honing your craft and toughening up your hands and forearms for the overwork that will come as the holiday season comes into focus. Build up that strength and endurance now so you won’t be injured later.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my mental health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Fennel – You have been working on fretting less and trusting that you will get through obstacles instead of decimated by them. With your emotions in play (as you try not to bury them and ignore them), it’s difficult to not be affected more intensely by setbacks and hurdles. You are doing well at learning how to not let your anxiety spiral in these instances, and instead focusing on solution based thoughts and plans.

The Chaff – What seeds for my mental health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Coneflower – You don’t need any more independence than you already have. Quit trying to scrape up more. You need to instead focus on allowing others in and asking for help, even in times when you feel you don’t need to.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my mental health & growth in the Fall?

Rooster and Hens – Get out in nature and enjoy time outside among the trees, exploring new trails and old alike. Revisit the joy that noticing natures little changes from one day to the next gives you. These excursions help create clarity of mind, and revitalize you both in mind and body.

Seeds Sown – What seeds for my emotional health & growth planted in the Spring have flourished and grown strong?

Citrine – The confidence you have gained over the past few months is of the gentle and uplifting sort. You are discovering that confidence in others and your connection to them is just as important as independence and having confidence in yourself.

The Chaff – What seeds for my emotional health & growth  have not flourished and need to be let go to encourage healthy growth in other areas?

Garden Tools – You are not on your own and (yet again in this reading) you are being reminded that independence doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off from others. That right there is the line where independence becomes unhealthy.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive healthy harvest for my emotional health & growth in the Fall?

Vegetable Garden – Touch base with yourself and your progress. Make sure that those seeds that need to flourish are doing so and thriving, and that the weeds of unhealthy thoughts and old habits that could choke them out are being pulled and discarded.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH LAMMAS ORACLE

Beltane 2024

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The last evening of April through the first day of May 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.

May Day Oracle Reading with the Liminality Oracle

Dandelion – How can I use my inner strength to help me in healing old wounds?

Alliance – Connect with those you truest to help get you through the healing process, and find an accord with those you don’t trust in order to facilitate peace.

Bees – Where could I put in more effort to help my community?

Balance – More effort is not what you need right now. Putting in more anything is not what you need. Moderation is what you need, or you will wear yourself too thin. Practice temperance, and allow your social burdens to balance themselves out.

Garnet – What do I need in order to foster a greater sense of self empowerment?

Inspiration – That creative spark within you has always been the path to self empowerment for you. When you connect with it, it creates for you a sense of enthusiasm and confidence.

Swallow – Where do I need to more openly display my love and loyalty to others?

Center – To yourself. Love and loyalty to yourself is something that others look for. It speaks of a knowing of yourself that’s deeper than logic and the mind. It lets them see the depths of you without as much vulnerability on display.

Malachite – How can I better use intention to bolster the abundance in my life moving forward?

Journey atop Deception – Distance yourself from those that deceive. This is a part of their nature and will not, in fact cannot, change. Pull away and move on from allowing them to hold sway with you.

Goat – How can I best overcome obstacles before me at this time?

Defend – Don’t stop fighting. Giving up is not an option, or at least not a healthy and safe one. Keep fighting for what is important to you.

Primrose – How can I add more of the exuberance of young love into my life?

Guidance atop Rhythm – Seek guidance in finding your own rhythm. It isn’t through following others that you find your own joy and exuberance, but in breaking out of the mold and finding guidance in those sources you have always connected most strongly with.

DECKS USED: LIMINALITY ORACLE

Ostara 2024 – Spring Equinox

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Today 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, as a result, 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.

Today’s spread takes a look at some of the elements associated with the Spring Equinox, and the advice they have to offer us.

Spring Equinox Tarot Reading with the Lili White Tarot

Tulips – Loyalty / Forgiveness: Where do I need to practice forgiveness to foster stronger loyalty?

Knight of Wands atop Page of Wands Rx – sometimes when you wing it instead of taking your time to learn things at a reasonable pace, things go awry. Let go of the blame you feel in these moments. Experimentation has value, even in the times it sends you back to the drawing board.

Robin – Compassion / Patience: How can I give myself more compassion and patience?

Four of Swords – Give yourself the room to rest and recover that is needed. You wouldn’t push someone else in your own situation, so stop pushing yourself and use this time to strategize instead of acting.

Rose Quartz – Unconditional Love: How can I be more open to offering unconditional love to others?

Eight of Cups Rx – Be ruthless in cutting out those in your life that don’t deserve your love and loyalty, and it will open up more of those qualities in yourself to give to those that are truly deserving.

Aquamarine – Calm / Courage: What do I need to help me to stay calm and courageous in the face of adversity?

The Empress – Time in nature, nurturing relationships with both yourself and others, and a mindfulness towards abundance.

Butterfly – Transformation: What sort of transformation is waiting for me this spring?

King of Swords and Deserve – You deserve love and happiness, but sometimes to get it you have to take up the reigns, strategize your path forward, and take others with you along for the ride.

Clover – Luck / Protection: Where in life will luck play into protecting me from potential harm?

King of Cups – You are very lucky in love, and in having someone in your life that doesn’t want to just hear about your emotions, but wants to help guide you in learning about them.

Rabbit – Fertility / Abundance: How can I encourage more abundance in my life this spring?

The Moon Rx atop Five of Cups – Take care to be aware of when uncertainties make you sour. You don’t have to snap back or become negative during these times, but it’s something that you’re going to have to keep an eye on and be aware of or it will happen again and again.

DECKS USED: LILI WHITE TAROT AND EARTH ANGEL ORACLE

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