The Devil – Please wake me up!

Today’s card is Cernunnos, The Devil, from the Druidcraft Tarot. The two figures from The Lovers are in a deep sleep, probably dreaming of their sensual encounter in that card. 

Cernunnos, The God of the wild hunt and the underworld, is watching them, curious, if or when they will wake up. He is not evil or holding them captive against their will. He is just observing if those two can manage to embrace the material aspects of life without becoming addicted to them. As everything and always in life, this is a fine line to walk:  too much will often lead to addiction and obsession but too little can bring about disgust for everything physical. Both excesses are prone to cause a lot of damage to ourselves. The challenge of the card is to wake up and continue our journey even if that leads us to the next card: The Tower.

So who what energy can wake us up? The Queen of Wands, the good with of the deck. She has a pointy magic wand in her hand and when I look at those two naked bodies in the other card, it is not difficult to imagine what she will do with her wand…

Sometimes we need a bit of external encouragement when we can’t find it within ourselves. This could be a new project or hobby, a conversation with a friend or reading an inspiring book, as long as it sparks our inner fire and puts us on our feet again.

Today, for me, the Queen of Wands represents my excitement to join two IG challenges for the month of October: One about shadow work and the other one about connecting to the Feminine Divine. Will I finish them?  I don’t know, but I do love the thrill and the creative boost of starting these two challenges.

The Devil – Babysteps towards freedom

Today’s card is The Devil from The Wild Unknown Tarot.  He is the personification of temptation and indulgence.  He is all about satisfying the primal needs of our ego. Numbing us and tempting us to distract our mind from whatever needs our attention is his number one goal. Of course, he is not some evil mythical creature. No, he is an undeniable part of who we are. 

It often feels like he wants to keep me from exploring my inner shadows; from dealing with my issues so I won’t grow and change. The Devil is not keen on change; he wants to keep everything the way it is now. Safety and comfort are his favorite disguises to keep us in bondage.

So what to do if we do want to change and move forward in life and I pulled the Ace of Pentacles. Immediately my eyes were drawn to the fiery parts in each card: The devils burning feet and the glowing center of the trunk. It feels as if we can redirect the energy we give to our inner Devil towards a new beginning, an opportunity to change however small it might be.

My main numbing strategy is screen time.  Not the time I am blogging or reading other people’s blogs, posting pictures on IG and enjoying other people’s posts. No, it is the mindless clicking, the checking en rechecking for updates or new emails. It is watching too many YouTube videos and last but definitely, not least it is binge-watching crime series. This habit consumes so much of my precious time and energy.

So starting from today I am going to finish the two knitting projects I have been neglecting lately. Hopefully, this will help me to find some inner peace and keep me more present and aware of what’s going on in the here and now.

Defeating The Devil with the Ace of Pentacles

Today’s card is The Devil from the Original Rider Waite Tarot. We see a horned beast sitting on a block of concrete. A man and a woman are loosely chained to this block. If they wanted to, they could free themselves but fear and insecurity have stifled them.

The Devil is that part of your mind that whispers that you can’t do it, that you aren’t worthy or good enough, that if you can't do it well you’d better not do it at all or that you are just too tired today to do anything at all.  All these limiting and oppressing thoughts will keep you from moving forward, from growing, from becoming who you are meant to be and simply from enjoying your life.

So what to do when The Devil pays you a visit and throws his chains over your head? The Ace of Pentacles encourages us to get up and do something: do the dishes, water the plants, gesso a page. Whatever comes to mind, however simple it may be, the first action after the initial thought will set you free from the Devils influence.

What could be your Ace of Pentacles today?

Year Ahead Spread April – Jera and The Devil

My rune for April is Jera (harvest,year), which is the rune for cycles, the turning of the wheel, slow and steady development and karma.

 “What you sow you will reap” is a very fitting phrase for this rune.

So far it is looking quite promising but the card I pulled for this month seems much more challenging: The Devil from the Wild Unknown Tarot. For me the Devil has a  broad range of meanings. From honoring our sensuality and enjoying the physical  part of our life to serious cravings, addictions and obsessions. As most human beings,  I move between those two and encounter every other aspect of The Devil in in between.  For me he is not always “bad” or “sinful” but he is a seducer and it is often very tempting to  indulge ourselves

So how do these two fit together? Maybe The Devil will shake up the harmonious slow energy of the Jera a bit but Jera will keep me accountable  for every “slip” I make, how enjoyable it might have been.  Perhaps Jera  will also encourage me to pause before I give in and let me asses if it is really worth it. How often do we want to experience something very pleasurable only to regret it afterwards: eating that second piece of cake, buying the best deck ever, binch watching TV series etc. Jera  ask us to consider, before taking action, if we should indulge or restrain. And mind you this is not the same as living with a big “NO NO” in our mind. It tells us to be cautious but also to live a little. And Oh, if you think you have outwitted the Devil this time, Jera will make sure he is just a around the corner to try to tempt you again when you are expecting him the least

Of course I don’t now how this month will turn out but it feels like a interesting and probable exciting pair to work with.

Within -without -advice : Not all that glitters is gold

Today I pulled some cards from my Original Rider Waite tarot for a “Within - Without – Advice” reading and I got:

What immediately stands out is the bright yellow in the first and the last card. This tells me my reading will be about finding truth and becoming aware of something important.

Within - Nine of Cups

This guy is a very happy guy. He has all he ever wanted. Every cup is filled with something which fulfills  him and brings him joy. But I cannot help but wonder when it was the last time he has checked the content of his cups. Are they still fresh or are some of them stale or past their expiration date.  It is wise to discover what it is that really feeds your soul before you expose yourself  to….

Without - The Devil

Yes, The Devil wants you to believe everything he promises you. He deals in short time rushes and quick fixes. Often at first, they do feel good when we give in to them. And it is hard not to, when we are tempted with so much glitter and glamour. In a society which promotes consumerism, the temptations are many. The (Social)media bombards us with everything we seem to “need” and  “want”  and it is up to us to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Advice - Seven of Swords

And that is exactly what this guy is doing here. Besides being about  lies and deceit, for me this card is also about being the lone wolf who stands out from the crowd and who knows how to take care of his own needs. He chooses the swords which are right for him and leaves the rest behind. He is not easy influenced by smooth talk or advertising campaigns. He knows that short cuts are often dead ends and that not all that glitters is gold

In short, being aware of what truly fulfills us will armor us against the influences of consumerism and will help us to chose wisely from the broad range of choices we are presented with on a daily base.

The Magician and Bindweed – The Power to Break Free

 

Today’s cards are The Magician and Bindweed (the Devil) from the Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert. Although the cards come from a different deck they form a fitting follow-up on yesterday’s post.

The Magician reminds me of the power I have to change my life. Nobody else but me can make the necessary decisions and act on them accordingly. I drum through my life either on a humdrum rhythm or with creative passion or maybe with a healthy balance of both. 

But when we see Bindweed there is some serious need to wield my magical powers in order to set myself free. To stop thinking about creative expression and start drumming vigorously. With every strike of my brush or my pencil the bindweed dies and withers. Now it is not about the quality of my art but the quantity. Just break free and start gardening later!

For now this will do and I am going to slap some paint on paper and feel free!
P.s And I loved it!

Bella Rosa is recollecting memories

Today’s card is Bella Rosa (the Devil)  from the Chrysalis Tarot. This female devil comes to us from the Carnival of Venice; beautifully dressed and with her face behind her white mask. Nobody is to know who she really is. Her true self is hidden deep down inside. She probable has lost her sense of self along the way too. She is wearing gloves so she doesn’t feel the thorns nor does she see the beauty of her rose. She is detached from real life and is soothing herself with artificial material obsessions and habits. Her mirror symbolizes her self-indulgence and narcissistic ego.

No matter how difficult it might be, it is time to get real. To remove the mask and look in the mirror; to see who you really are and to feel what you really need.

And what could that be?

The Mime (Page of Spirals) is hopping carefree and merrily towards us accompanied by her ram. She will help us to recollect lost, fractured and repressed memories. She will be like a comforting balm for your soul after you've taken of your mask. She will return who you truly are to mindfulness. The good and the bad stuff. It all deserves to be known. It all is worthy of our compassionate love and of deep listening. You might be surprised by the wonder of who you are without your masks and costumes.

Affirmation: Today I will open up to find and recollect parts of my true self and I will cradle them like a long lost child

Pan – Live a little!

To be honest, my first impression was to put this one back in the deck. But then again after having drawn two days in a row such morally correct cards like The Emperor and Justice, I thought it was time to loosen up a bit. This card depicts Pan holding a woman in one arm and a chalice filled with wine in the other. The woman is held loosely by his vines and she doesn't seem to mind at all. He is not the typical devil you see in many decks but he is the Spirit of the Wild and the Green. He is asking, perhaps  tempting us to let go of our self made boundaries and restrictions; to let go of wanting to be too spiritual and to do good all of the time. He appeals to our wild nature which we deny often for too long. And if so the chance of indulging ourselves excessively is so much greater than when you  dance with the wild and the free on a regularly and integrated basis. We are both physical and spiritual beings and one side isn't less valuable than the other.

So for me this card suggest to be treating myself with some physical pleasures without being afraid of consequences and feelings of quilt afterwards. Deep down there is always the seeking of Balance so dancing a little bit out of the center isn't that bad at all.

“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods…”(Byron)

Interview with the Wildwood Tarot

Never before have I done a deck interview spread with a new tarot deck. But yesterday, with this deck it felt like it was the appropriate thing to do. In that way we would get formally introduced to each other. Although I know it’s just a pack of 78 cards, it feels like there´s an old energy  surrounding this deck. It’s making me a little bit hesitant to approach it; to work with it. I’m not that overly sensitive, so this is rather new for me and I am wondering: who am I kidding? That’s why I decided to do the deck interview. I've mixed up some the other interview spreads that I've found online. These are the questions for my deck and the cards that I've drawn:

Wildwood Tarot deck  interview

1.       Who are you?

The Wheel -  I am the loom of the Wildwood and I will teach you how to weave

2.       What is your most important characteristic?

Eight of arrows -  I have enough courage and dedication to keep going even when our thoughts  collide and dilemma’s arise. I will keep my torch burning hoping for better times.

3.       What are you going to teach me?

The Gardian - I will show you how to face your fears and how to enter the dark caverns of your mind.

4.       what can I give you in return?

Ten of arrows -  Respect and reverence and an open communication

5.       What are your strengths as a deck?

Knight of bows – fox – I am determined, dynamic and clever, and where necessary innovating.

6.       What will our relationship be like?

Four of vessels – beware of boredom and disenchantment after the first rush of infatuation . We’ll strive to keep things fresh and alive and search for new challenges.

7.       Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?

Queen of vessels – My child I will guide you with love through the Wildwood and I’ll ask you to dedicate yourself with an honest and open mind to our journey together

This was a very deep experience. I just sat at my table watching my cards and felt really connected to whatever it was I felt. For some cards I had to look up additional information in the guide book but the overall message was very clear… I had to laugh about the gift of respect this deck wants from me. I was right about that J

Also the Fox of bows has given an unexpected touch to this reading. “Innovating and clever” wasn't what I had in mind for this deck. It has added an unknown spark of wit to it.

This reading has been very helpful to get the edge of our first real encounter and we’ll see where we’ll go from here.

New Moon in September

After a meditation in my garden, I drew two cards for this new moon from my Osho Zen deck. (This is an idea from Neopaganpriestess).

What should I let go of: Conditioning

What should I welcome in my life: Playfulness

Osho Zen Tarot

 These cards gave me the goosebumps for they talk about attitudes I really want to try to let go and to develop.

The time is now right for me to shed my sheepskin and let my wild woman run free to play and enjoy herself. Perhaps first like a gentle fun-loving cat to rediscover my inner self. But I am certain my inner Lioness will emerge in due time.

I have combined this spread with a slight variation of the tarot spell from Monsoonmagick:

Pick three cards from your deck that represent your intentions for the next mooncycle and put them on your altar as a focus point;

One card for the waxing moon; for what you want to welcome in your life.

One card for the full moon; for your goal. What do you want to have accomplished  and is to be celebrated on the full moon.

And one card for the waning moon; for what you want to release or be careful for.

From my Crystal Visions Tarot I’ve picked the matching cards: The devil and Page of wands,

so for the waxing moon I've already got the page of wands. For the full moon I've picked the Strength (Yes, me and my lioness J) As my goal for the full moon is to embrace my inner lioness. For the waning moon I've picked the eight of swords. My all-time nemesis card.  I want to be strong enough to prevent myself from falling in to repetitive blocking and paralyzing thought patterns.

All four cards are now on my altar. During this waxing moon my page of wands is on top. I put some  carnelians around them to enhance the energy.

Crystal Visions Tarot - Jennifer Galasso

I am very excited to work with these three cards this monocycle and I will let you know how it went.