Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle

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

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

Mysteries Abound

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Macabre Tarot - The Divine - The High PriestessToday’s draw is The Divine (the High Priestess) card, which is traditionally a representation of intuition, secret knowledge, the subconscious, and is often connected to lunar cycles.

The eye in this card holds a lot of my focus today, as does the fact that it is cast up towards the arc of moon phases above.  It brings to mind thoughts about how there is far more to life than meets the eye. Whether your beliefs include God, or a Pantheon, or ancestral spirits, or guides.. or none of these at all. There is no denying that the world is filled with mystery.

Today’s card is a reminder that these mysteries are all around us, free for us to explore if we wish, or just sit in wonder and admire. No faith necessary, no religion required.

DECK USED:  THE MACABRE TAROT

Mr Lionhart’s Seasons of the Witch Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 1st thru 3rd – The Omens

The Horror Tarot and Seasons of the Witch Samhain OraclePrediction, path, or prophecy, what will October bring for me?

Death and Third Harvest – A lot of small changes will happen over the month of October, culminating in the completion of a larger transition into something new by Samhain. Take your time in gearing up for the holiday season. Do a little a day, and by the time the holiday rush begins you will be ready.

As above, so below, show me where I need to go.

Ace of Swords and Intuition – Listen to that intuitive voice within you when communicating with others this month. Logic isn’t enough. You will need to delve deeper and seek guidance from within, as well as those that communicate with you through the language of your intuition.

From today until Samhain, how or where should I begin?

Judgment Rx and Grief – Don’t allow negativity and self judgment, or the mourning of the idleness of summer passing, to drag you down and cut you off from your path forward. Keep negativity in check, so that it doesn’t sink in and cause you emotional turmoil.

DECK USED: HORROR TAROT AND SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for October 1st: Jack o’Lantern – What makes you smile or lifts your spirits?

The Macabre TarotReading Summary: When you and/or others are able to take disappointments (Three of Daggers) and piecemeal the experience gained from them into  progress toward your goals (Two of Bones) instead of letting it be something that weighs you down or holds you back (Ten of Bones).

Take Away: Turning a negative experiences around into a positive ones is uplifting for you. Finding the boon in negative experiences lifts your spirits, whether it’s you, something you’re involved in directly, or just witnessing someone else do it.

DECK USED: THE MACABRE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Lots of play time with Gideon today.  I had to skip my nap, but I don’t regret it at all and didn’t need one all that bad today anyway.  I needed the time with him much more.

Don’t Be Discouraged

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and was the sixth installment of the Foundations III series on the Balance app. This meditation dealt with the labeling of thoughts and sensations, and introduced special awareness through sound and (towards the end) sight.

Pazzol Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Knight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of  an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, manifestations, home, health, and the physical world.  This often translates into an active pursuit of these particular themes, alibi… usually a slow moving pursuit, as the Pentacles suit as a whole has a tendency to take its time.

Today is an orders day, and I am…. so not interested.  I say that a lot recently, don’t I?  But it’s true.  I’m not experiencing the joy I once did in my work and that in turn means that I’m not getting the same amount of enthusiasm.   I keep trying to get back in touch with that enthusiasm, but… It’s not happening.  At least not quickly.

These cards are a reminder to keep trying. Keep going.  Things might be going slow and they may not feel like they’re moving fast enough, but they -are- moving.  Just keep going… it’ll be fine.   This message is about keeping the faith, and keeping your eye on the prize, no matter how discouraged you might feel in the moment.

DECK USED:  PAZZOL DECK AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

Mr Lionharts’ #TheOctoberTarot #SeasonoftheWitchChallenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st and 22nd

Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle and Ritual Abuse TarotFor each full cycle, each moon to come, what am I to conjure before the end of ’21?
Transformation and Page of Swords

Focus on improving your communication with those around you.  It’s not always easy to get yourself across the way you want.  Remember this struggle is something we all deal with, and you can foster better communication by making sure that you are being open about your struggles instead of trying to pretend you’re not struggling and everything’s fine… which comes off a bit heartless when you are fumbling the message.

I embrace all that makes me, and all that I do, what path am I crafting for ’22?
Creativity and Four of Pentacles

As I move towards 2022, you are building a path that includes a deeper sense of rooted security, comfort, and dependency upon your creative spark, and a greater appreciation for what that spark does for you.

DECK USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE AND RITUAL ABUSE TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for October 21st

Patrick Valenza's Abandoned Oracle and the Pazzol TarotYou – Dismemberment and Ten of Wands – Feeling discombobulated and overwhelmed. The thing is? This isn’t lighting a fire under my ass the way that it would normally.  Instead I seem to be feeling a bit like I’m spinning my wheels and not going anywhere.

Your Current Path – The Crematorium and Five of Cups – Nothing is going to be good enough this holiday season, and you are going to be burning the candle at both ends. This is not unusual for the six weeks or so of the holiday rush, and is a path you have tread upon again and again.

Potential Outcome – The Madwoman and The Lovers – The outcome of this path is a time of forced recuperation as your body and mind revolt from the abuse, and it begins to feel like the world is falling apart around you when really it is you falling apart. As you arrive at the end of the holiday rush, you are at the end of your rope and exhausted, struggling with sleep deprivation, and in need of some healthy choices to help bring yourself onto a track of recovery.

DECK USED: PATRICK VALENZA’S ABANDONED ORACLE AND THE PAZZOL DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I’m playing catch up on posts at the moment and I have no idea what self kindnesses I might have done on this day. I know that I had my smoothie, though, and that I added a large pinch of spring mix added in.

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Tarot de Marseilles par Pole Ka, Halloween Oracle, Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle

Earth – High Priestess and Skull of Light – "Allow yourself to be seen, to see, and to act upon what is shown to you.  The time has passed for hiding, for pretending, and for swallowing our discomfort by accepting the status quo when it really doesn't suit us." - guide to the Halloween Oracle

The above quote speaks very clearly about what is expressed not just in the Skull of Light card, but also in it being combined with the High Priestess card. In order to preserve the stability that you cherish, this week it will be important to open up to your intuition’s voice and what it has to say.  Clear away the cobwebs and fog that has you feel like you’re stewing in confusion and allow your inner voice the room it needs to speak clearly.

Air – The Chariot and Ancestors – This week, take the gifts that your ancestors have passed down to you and use them to move forward into the challenges that are coming.  You were born with a unique set of qualities and gifts that allow you to handle what is coming with control and finesse.  Have faith in yourself and charge forward with the knowledge you can do this.

Water – The Lovers Rx and Zombie – Spend some time this week reconnecting with your values and what is truly important to you.  The chaos is coming, but that doesn’t mean letting go of your moral compass or your values in order to deal with the chaos, but rather that you hold onto them tightly and continue to work toward being both authentic to your truth and true to your path.  Center yourself on that path and make decisions and choices that align with it instead of allowing outside influences to try and sway you.

Fire – Page of Swords Rx and Invisibility – These cards are an echo of the theme in the Water section of this reading, and a reminder that manipulation comes in all forms. Make sure that you are being authentic to your own path and your own values, and not letting outside influences tug you askew.

The fact that this message is repeated between the Water section and the Fire section indicates that this manipulation is going to come through on an emotional level and will niggle at your drive and desires.  Don’t allow these manipulative nudges to convince you to take action in a direction that does not align with your values and moral compass.

Waning – Goddesses of Samhain –  The time of gentle nudges and easing into the ebb and flow of changes is coming to an end this week.  There is nothing gentle in what is approaching, and you need to release the desire to linger in that more gentle space so that you can “go into battle” prepared.

Waxing – Potions & Spells – Empowerment is what you need to focus on stepping into in the week ahead.  You have the skills and abilities needed to make what needs to happen come about, so grab the reigns and start steering things in the direction you desire to go in.

Take Away – This week’s self care needs to focus on clearing out the mental fog that is blurring the lines not just in your thinking, but also in your inner knowledge and intuition. Take time to breathe fresh air through your mind and get yourself centered.   Once you’ve cleared out the cobwebs, ground yourself in your values, then grab the reigns, shake off the remnants of stagnation clinging to your shoulders, and get moving.

DECKS USED: TAROT DE MARSEILLES PAR POLE KA, HALLOWEEN ORACLE, SEASONS OF THE WITCH SAMHAIN ORACLE