A Tiny Tarot Reading for the New Year

This morning I decided to draw two cards for the coming new year just for an overall view; a kind of theme.

The first card would provide the question or the situation and the second card would be an advice or an elaboration for the first card. I've used the original Rider Waite for this mini reading.

The first card I got was the Four of Cups. This card is asking me to consider when I feel really content. Is it because of the beauty of these three cups, or is it about the content or is it perhaps because I have the time to sit beneath a tree to relax? But what about the fourth cup? Do I need it on order  to be more happy and content? Does this cup hold the promise of  perfect everlasting happiness and joy. It is something I need or just want because it has been made available?

This card has brought up a lot of timely questions because My word for 2015 will be “Simplicity”:

Trying to be happy and content with the small things, feeling gratitude for the daily events and also trying not to be not so easily influenced by YouTube and blogs etc. as to what I “need to have”  in order to be happy J.  

Of course there is so much more to this word then  what I can write in this post for now. I  will have an entire year to further explore the depth of its meaning.

The second card is the Magician.  The first thing I noticed were the four tools on his table which is all he needs for making his magic happen. If I would tap into this archetype I would find my inner strength would be enough to be fulfilled and happy. It is in myself where my true power resides.  Not even in the tools in front of me. Whatever is in my three cups or in the fourth; they are merely things to enjoy but not necessary to become fully who I am supposed to be.  

It sounds good to me and hopefully I will remember this when the next “temptation” comes along

Eight of Cups - My Christmas talisman

It is the day after Christmas and I feel good. Christmas is for me, as it is probable for many of you a Holiday which can bring out a lot of mixed feelings and expectations. Because of that, I thought it would be wise to have some sort of an anchor or talisman to hold on too.  A kind of lifesaver so to speak. And  as a representation of this I choose the Eight of cups from the Druidcraft Tarot. In this card I see myself wearing a protective indigo cloak, holding a rod of perseverance and climbing up towards a breathing space. I am leaving my loved ones for a moment behind with their filled cups and enough to eat and I am off to my refuge. Most likely my little room upstairs, or even an unnecessary visit to the toilet. When a physical  retreat isn't an option there is always that safe place in my mind. A  little nook  with my comfy chair near a softly burning hearth where I can knit or just sit and be quiet, watching the flames and listening to the crackle of the fire. Breathing in, breathing out and I am there…. Just for a minute or two.....

Christmas went well, my husband was happy and we were happy for him. Later on in the evening we have watched  a  movie together and that was day one. This morning I went to visit my husband on my own which was new because he always visits us twice with Christmas. But this year we wanted to try to make a change which I thought would benefit us all. (And it did!)

And now I am blogging in a quiet peaceful room where everyone is doing their own thing and it is good and I love it J

Winter Solstice Tarot Reading

On the evening of the Winter Solstice I did a tarot reading for myself.  A lot of the blogs which I visit regularly had several spreads to choose from: Beth from Little Red Tarot shared with us her Winter Solstice/New Moon Tarot Spread

Sarah from the Tarot Parlor came up with  a Short & Sweet New Year Spread which is of course also perfect for the Winter Solstice.

Last but not least Kerry from Neopagan Priestess has posted her Yule spread.

This is the one I've picked for myself to use on this special night. Not only because it is a very profound spread but honestly also because it was the smallest one and I do like my spreads to be both meaningful and simple.

I love it when I can visualize these small spreads during the following days and when I do decide to blog about them there is less to translate. (just kidding J  )

Kerry's spread has two cards with the following questions:

1) What will help me sit with the darkness right now?
2) What will help me transform  it into light?

I've used the Wildwood Tarot which is personally for me the most wintery deck I have and I've got:

       

1 The Seer (The High Priestess)

In the card of The Seer,again we see the symbol of water. The Seer is using it for scrying and to me that is a lot like “diving deep”  from my previous post. When you look at her face she is very concentrated and perhaps a bit anxious for what she is about to see beneath  the surface of the water but when the moon is dark and the Winter Solstice is here, it is just the time to explore these caverns of your soul. You may encounter secret longings, abandoned and or sacrificed parts of yourself, less favorable traits and so on. Just to look at them and acknowledge them can help you to feel a bit more whole again. 

2 Ace of Stones (Ace of Pentacles)

Then there is the Ace of stones: a large standing stone to go to and wrap your arms around in order to ground and center yourself after being submersed into your inner darkness. To transform this darkness into light you just have to be and to do. Take the opportunities given to you to really engage in the here and now.  I have been sitting on the bench to long due to my neck pains and had too much time to worry and feeling sorry for myself.

Being just a few days away from Christmas there will be a lot shopping, baking bread and cookies and (a bit of) cleaning to do. I am going to try to participate in these activities as much as I can without overdoing it. Watching over my physical well-being is also a gift from the Ace of Stones.

Deep Dark Sea Mermaid - Diving deep can be scary

Time is going quickly. Midwinter is just around the corner. That same night the moon will be dark too, so it will be a dark night for sure.

Some say this is the night to dive deep into your own darkness and then emerge from that place  to let the Light inside you be born again. Because that is the theme of Yule, Midwinter and Christmas: the Rebirth of Light.

It can be a scary thought to do this, but not diving, not knowing what lies beneath the surface can be even more frightening. Our minds can make up more hideous monsters then we would ever have to face.  So let’s dive. I know what I will find  there: a white paper, an empty journal, a dried up inkwell, symbols of my  fear of no words to write. Lately I’ve been playing with my cards and although they are meaningful for me personally, they don’t stir my inspiration to write about them. My mind goes blank. Maybe it is because I don’t feel well and it is too much effort to translate my thoughts into English but maybe it is also because I’ve just run out of things to say for now.

Since I don’t know the answer I will just dive and hopefully I will find some sparkly flashes of light there which will rekindle my inspiration…. 

Wishing you a wonderful and enlightening Winter Solstice

Tarot bag from Tiferet tarot and Update

Late November I've participated in a giveaway hosted by Steve Bright form Tiferet Tarot

and I won!!!

 The winner would receive one of his handmade beautiful tarot bags. Since Steve is a qualified designer and fashioner of clothing, this bag is a beautiful crafted piece of work. It is a lovely soft bag to hold in your hands. It has a matching lining and is softly padded. My bag has a design with birds and little bows. The bag closes with a magnetic press stud. On the front side is little tuck bag for a LWB or a crystal or something like that.

Steve, Thank you so much for this beautiful gift I am so happy with it. I don’t have a special deck for it yet. For now it holds the deck I am currently working with and it has found a regular spot on my simplified altar. I can highly recommend purchasing such a Tarot bag, either for yourself or as a lovely Christmas gift

I love to hold it in my hands while and feel it while contemplating my question for the card I am about to draw. This way it has become a part of my daily little tarot ritual

After ten days of mostly rest I am still experiencing al lot of discomfort in my arm from the pinched nerve in my neck. I have started with leaving some comments here and there because I do miss you all. Typing and sitting behind my laptop is still painful but I wanted to write this post so much to express my gratitude to Steve and say hello to my blog friends

Hugs

The Lord – Asking for help is so difficult

Today’s card is The Lord  (The Emperor) from the Druidcraft Tarot. This card represents the archetypal father, the divine parent, masculinity, fertility, structure and leadership. The eagle in the sky symbolizes his clarity and his ability to analyze any problem. He is also the representation of God on Earth. After my latest card (the seven of Wands, it feels like he is coming to my aid. So today I see him predominantly as a representation of my Divine Parent, who wants to help me to set some clear boundaries and to bring more structure into my life.  All for the purpose of protecting me mentally and physically. Lately I am getting more and more problems with my neck and I am very worried this will result in a hernia again. (the fourth one) Tomorrow I am going to  see the doctor. It was M who took that part of The Lord in this for she insisted to make an appointment. Usually I tend to wait far too long before I admit I need help. This is true for every area of my life. It is so hard for me to ask. But we do have to ask before we will receive. This is true for mundane as well as for spiritual matters. We have to ask for help  and guidance in order to be open enough to receive it.

"Ask for help not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong." Les Brown

PS. This afternoon I've been to the doctor and she gave me some painkillers and the advise to take it easy and rest regularly. And of course to ask for help. For now I will have to stop blogging for a while because sitting behind my laptop isn't that comfortable.
I hope to be back very soon

Seven of Wands - Friend or foe?

I've taken up my own challenge and I have cleared my altar up to three items: one big white candle, one a white clothe, a tumbled Labradorite, and the Druidcraft tarot. Until so far I am enjoying it very much. My altar radiates simplicity and peacefulness. No distraction from all kinds of little symbols and decorations. For now, I like it.

Today’s card is the Seven of wands from the Druidcraft tarot. This is a fitting card to pull for the holiday season. My initial impression is to defend my own boundaries mentally as well as physically, during these busy weeks. But when I look a bit closer maybe these men are not approaching to attack the guy in his refuge but merely to share their ideas and to ask for his help, Maybe this apparent attack exists only in my mind, triggered by my need for rest and solitude. Perhaps I should try to and listen first and decide how I want to spend my time and energy, always remembering to keep quite a bit for myself too. So today I will try to listen attentively before thinking an defensive NO! Defending boundaries is not only about killing all the trespassers but more to distinct friend from foe

Four of Stones - emptying my drawer

For today I've pulled the Four of Stones from the Chrysalis Tarot. The keyword for this card is “Possessions” which is beautifully depicted in this card as a bejeweled chest probable filled whatever stuff is most prized in your opinion.

I pulled this card when I was rummaging through my tarot drawer and my drawer with “magical stuff, like altar cloths, candles and crystals etc. I am very fond of these things. Playing with them, handling them is almost soothing. But I wonder if I am letting these items blocking my way to what really matters? The chest in the card is  “blocking the pathway of self-understanding.” Do I need these things to feel spiritually connected and if so: Why and to what extent?

Maybe because I am a very Swordy type of person, I think I need these items to instantly connect with Spirit, without having to read lengthy prayers, ritual texts or informative books. Smelling incense instantly puts me in the right mindset. Touching a crystal relaxes me and oh my goodness, playing with my cards is such a wonderful way to access my intuition. Maybe it isn't the fact we use these tools which might be hindering us, but more the way how we perceive them. They are nice but not necessary. They are not magical themselves but they can help to evoke the magic within us. Holding a mala while chanting is nice but buying the next perfect mala isn’t going to improve this practice. I wonder how I would feel if I would empty my chest/ drawer/room for one week and only keep three things….: one deck, one crystal,  one candle………..