Messages Abound

Hello folks. I've been focused on other areas for while after a bit of spiritual burnout and, yes, another round of depression. I'm hoping that the return of my favorite season is enough to lift me completely out of that. So far, so good.

I'm back because I wanted to share with you an interesting oracle card and tarot reading. I've been drawing an oracle card every morning for the past week to kind of reset my spirituality. I drew the tarot on a whim and I'm so impressed with how the messages seem to intertwine (don't they always?).

First, let's start with the oracle card. I drew it first and it really set the tone for the reading. I opted to draw from the Sacred Rebels oracle deck. It's by Alana Fairchild and the imagery is what drew me to this deck. The card I drew is:

"Defend to the End, The Worthwhile"

This card has such a powerful message. "You are a sacred warrior -- a defender of the heart. You have cried genuine tears of your own grief, and also the grief of the world. You have raged at injustice and oppression in your own life, and in the world. You have felt the need to protect the presence of love, for whilst it is exceptionally powerful, it can too easily be smothered under lies and fear... You are being asked to stay strong and stand your ground."

First of all, look at that image. The monochromatic tone really adds dimension, and that owl, a nocturnal being of wisdom, seems to be enveloping the feminine warrior so that they are of the same mind. That's pretty powerful imagery.

Let's move on to the tarot spread. I pulled a simple past, present, future layout using Ian Daniel's Tarot of the Vampyres. The first card that I drew is the "Strength" card.

The meaning of this card, I feel, directly ties into the meaning of the oracle card that I drew. The guidebook, Fantasmagoria, states: "This card teaches us that we have the inner strength and power to endure and triumph. This strength is solar in nature, as the card is ruled by the Sun. It is a steady, invigorating power that is all-encompassing and exuberant in its nature." I also liked what I read in the second paragraph which made sense for me on a personal level.

"The message is that we must dedicate ourselves to our tasks with passion, creativity, and joyful energy. This may be in order to give positive energy to a situation, to help us realize our potential, or to succeed in an endeavor... It may be that we need to withdraw for the moment and re-energize our spirit."

That sounds exactly what I've been doing. Not to mention that a lot of the oracle cards that I've drawn this past week have been related to themes of taking it easy, stopping and relaxing, hibernating, and enjoying the present while you recharge.

The second card, the card that stands for what is currently happening, is "Death."

As I'm sure many of you know, this card does not represent a physical death. It is a card of transformation; it is an omen of change. "In order to grow and expand in any aspect of life, the old must die to give birth to the new. We continuously depart from particular episodes in our lives, whether from childhood, youth, relationships, images of self-identity, or old beliefs and attitudes--within these endings are new beginnings. Each moment we die in the present so the future can unfold. Nothing can be lost as it becomes part of us and is a process of evolution."

Talk about a loaded card. This card is one that should never be feared. It brings in welcome change and, truth be told, a lot of the aspects of my current life are in need of renovation. My health is poor. I'm scared to leave the house and rarely do. I've gained weight and don't even recognize myself when I look in the mirror. This card, in my mind, is a catalyst that change is coming and that I am ready for it.

The third card was the "Three of Grails." This is the card that indicates the future outcome.

"In general terms the "Three of Grails" is teaching us to open fully to the bliss of life until our hearts are overflowing into the hearts of others. In our professional lives the card symbolizes teamwork, collaboration, and creative interaction or participation. On a personal level it is our inner streams propelling us to external success."

Some of the keywords for his card are: "abundance, fulfillment, gratification, celebration, good fortune, plenty, generosity, openness, spiritual gatherings, social integration, support groups, and inner growth."

In essence, the "Three of Grails" is exactly what I need in my future. This reading has been exactly what I needed in this moment. Whether it is because someone helped me pick the right cards for the situation, or because the cards are worded in a way that makes them apply to almost any situation, the outcome is the same. I have taken the messages of these cards and am beginning to integrate them into my life and spirituality.

Isn't that what change is all about?


BONUS

I recently purchased these great prints of Danu and Lugh from DrawnFromMyth over on Etsy. I wanted to show them off to all of you and also give you a quick peek of my altar for this darkening season.

Be blessed, friends.

What I've Been Up To

Hello everyone.

It's 7 AM and I haven't gone to sleep yet, so you can imagine how my face looks when I tell you that my eyes will only open about half way. I'm sure a few of you are staring at your computer screens and wondering aloud for what reason am I doing this to myself. The simple answer is that I want to do it now and I like giving myself permission to do what I want over what I need at times. It's a bit like letting my inner child eat candy all day and run around the house screaming at the top of my lungs until I wear out and either fall asleep or fall into a sugar coma.

My depression has been pretty bad lately and I've been trying to focus on my spirituality as my "thing" to focus on instead of my feelings. It's a distraction if you will, but I am sure you know that spirituality is something that should be far more than that. It is for me, too, but when you just want to stay in bed for a month and not shower, you need something to get you motivated to do anything. For me, this was it.

To begin, I signed up for Lora O'Brien's Irish Heritage and Spirituality Correspondence Course. I'm only on module 3 and it's been really interesting and thought provoking just far. This current module is even pushing me on getting out of the house a little bit as I start exploring the sacred sites in my area. Being in a small town makes this a bit difficult, of course, but I'll do what I can with what I have. If you want to learn more about the course, click here.

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Another thing I've been doing is working on my altar. It's far from complete and looks more like a shrine than an altar, but it's what I've been using for daily devotionals and it is fitting my needs. You'll probably recognize a couple of pieces (see the pretty bowls and altar pentacle tile?) from a previous post. Don't you just think they blend in beautifully? I do.



I found the cardinal votive holder at an online witchy retailer and knew that it needed to be on my altar at first sight. I frequently heard that seeing a cardinal was a good luck when I was a child, and I've long associated them with good luck. I won't go so far as to say that they're a spirit animal, but I do consider them one of my favorite birds.

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A few recent book purchases have come in and I've started to read them in the order that they've arrived. I'm currently working on Irish Paganism by Morgan Daimler. It's actually a book on Celtic Reconstructionism and I'm finding it interesting even though I'm not sure I'm quite ready to go down the CR path. I also purchased Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch by Lora O'Brien. It's been a while since I read it and I can't wait to dive back into it. If you haven't read her stuff, I seriously suggest that you check it out -- especially if you're looking to walk an Irish/Celtic path.

I was so excited when I found out that she's working on a new book about Irish Magic. It isn't due out until 2017. I don't want to have to wait that long but I know she's crafting a spectacular product and that it will be worth the time I'm waiting.

I also ordered Doreen Valiente -- Witch. It's a biography of one of the most important figures in the birth of Wicca. I enjoy a lot of her poetry and think it will be a fascinating read.

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Last, but certainly not least, is my new Crystal Oracle deck. I already own the Crystal Guidance Oracle Deck and it has certainly served me well. I didn't really need the new deck but I've been wanting it for quite a few years and finally bit the bullet and forked over the cash. The only thing I dislike about the deck is that it doesn't come with an ametrine card, but that's only because ametrine is my favorite crystal to work with.

I placed both decks of cards out on my altar and put some of the corresponding crystals on the cards to help the crystal energy start to merge with the card. Truth be told, I have no idea if it actually does anything or helps to give the cards more accuracy, but it sure looks neat. It also gives my collection a chance to get out of their organizers and enjoy some fresh air.

I snapped a photo so that I could share.

What have you been up to lately? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment and let me know. Slán.

Etsy Haul - Offering Bowls + Pentacle Tile

I know a lot of people are upset with Etsy over some of their recent decisions to feature some religious products/items and not others. I think those opinions are valid, but Etsy is still a great way to support like-minded folks in the community, or even those that are accepting of other faiths.

I stumbled upon De Baun Fine Ceramics on accident and browsed on a whim. I was in awe at the craftsmanship I saw and the reasonable prices that went along with each item. I received my items today and I couldn't wait to show them off.

I was actually searching for offering bowls but, while I saw many great options, none of them seemed quite personal enough. I was happy to see that the seller accepted commissions for projects. I sent Diane De Baun a message and asked if she would be willing to do a custom order of two offering bowls, one for Lugh and one for Danu. She accepted my challenge.

We spent weeks going back and forth discussing my choices. She answered my questions and shared her knowledge of her craft, advising me on details such as size, design, and glaze and paint colors. These are the finished products:

 


In addition, I found a Pentacle Tile that was already for sale and knew it would be perfect.

 


My initial idea was for Danu's offering bowl to have a silver rim in contrast to the copper rim of Lugh's offering bowl. Diane painted it in copper on accident because I confused her with my many messages about color choices. She offered to correct it with silver paint, but I requested a photo to see how it looked. I actually like the copper much better than I thought I would and, since all three pieces have the copper, it ties them together.

Please visit Diane's shop and consider purchasing a couple of items, whether for yourself or as a gift. You won't be disappointed.

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(*I was not encouraged by Diane to create this post. I purchased the items at full price and this post is to share my experience with a great online business.)