My Birthday Tarot Spread

I stumbled across "A happy birthday tarot spread" on Little Red Tarot after a Google search.

I ended up using my newest tarot deck, The Lumina Tarot, by Inner Hue. What a fantastic deck full of powerful energy and imagery. This deck is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I've only owned it for about a week. Talk about forming a connection with a deck, huh?

I found this spread to be really perfect for my needs. I haven't done much to celebrate my birthday in past years because of my battles with depression and anxiety. I wanted to do something different this year and I decided this spread would be a great way to get started. There are 7 drawn cards and I'll briefly tell you what the spots mean and the cards I pulled.

In fact, I'll just put all my notes from the reading below so that you can skim them or pour over them at your discretion. The guidebook lists a lot for each card and so I just picked out what felt relevant to this specific spread.

1- What to leave behind in the past year. You won’t be needing this anymore.

King of Cups

Represents balance between head and heart. emotional and creative inspiration w/ logic and strategy. DEPENDING TOO MUCH ON EXTERNAL VALIDATION. 

2- A lesson you learned last year to carry w/ you into the next. Hold onto it as you grow.

Maiden of Cups

Represents the creative, free, full of life, intuitive inner child. Exploring your creative and intuitive processes.

(read these 2 cards together. What is their joint message?)

Intuition and emotional creativity. I’m being told to not depend on too much external validation and instead be more carefree and get in touch with my inner child, where the focus is on play and doing rather than the motivation behind it.

3- The next thing you will learn. An important lesson.

The Chariot

It is a time of summoning all your energy and intent towards not only your physical journey but your spiritual one. Challenges and obstacles will be a source of opportunity and growth. It is time to focus on what you want out of life.

4- The theme of the year ahead? What is the next year all about?

Six of Wands

RIDING OUT THE STORM TO SUCCESS. Let yourself and all you’ve worked for shine. Appreciate your own worth and value and allow others to do so also. 

(read these 2 cards together. What is their joint message?)

These two cards are telling me that I have the power to create and shape my life in the shape that I want it to be. They are empowering me to move forward with my vision and embrace my whole potential in the process.

5- Today = Something to celebrate (ART)

Maiden of Pentacles

6- Today = Something to do (bleed/sword fight/embrace death/respect death BE REBORN FOR THE NEXT YEAR/START FRESH)

10 of Swords

7- A birthday message from your ancestors. Listen carefully to their message.

The Hierophant 

You are ready to expand your personal knowledge and undertake what you are coming to believe is a more true and authentic path for your soul. A beautiful time to explore things through workshops.

Spirituality Level: Zero

How do I want to put this? Well, it's best to just confess my sins and get it over with. Rip off the band-aid, so to speak. Since my last post, my spirituality level has been next to nothing.

My altar was nice in the corner of my bedroom, the zafu I purchased to sit on not too far away. It's been collecting dust. My journal is still sitting on the bookshelf next to the half-read biography on Doreen Valiente. To its right is a book on Irish Mythology. In essence, I've been disconnected from all things spiritual for 3 months. This is not okay.

We all know that lulls like this happen, but that doesn't mean they are acceptable. Not honoring the altar and the items placed upon it may not be a direct smack to the Gods, but it's still pretty bad. I wish I could say it was just laziness, but I think it had more roots in ambivalence and questioning how I was going to fit everything into the day.

In an ideal situation, I'd have meditation time in the mornings and evenings. That's in addition to working full time, cooking for myself, going to art therapy appointments because those things are freaking useful, and visiting with friends and family. My life doesn't look like that now and I think I'm in a battle between wanting things to be that way even if they aren't necessary, and wanting to ball up in the fetal position and hide under a rock.

How sweet life is, eh?

I know that I could mull all of this over for three more months, journal about it intermittently, and tell myself I'm doing everything I can while pretending that I'm doing just that. Or, I could make a plan and stick to it. Part of the reason I'm sharing it is due to accountability.

These are my 3 spiritual rules for the time being:

1) Make weekly offerings to Lugh and Danu. Use this time to commune with them.
2) An oracle reading at least once a week, though daily is preferred.
3) Respecting myself enough to recognize that I'm a work in progress.

They sound so simple, right? I think that I can do these 3 things, and I'm sure I'll be back to post on my progress.

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.)

Why Tarot?

Anni's latest prompt for the group had me twiddling my thumbs for a bit at first.

My first instinct was to respond with all of the benefits that knowing what is to come can provide, but that wouldn't be an accurate response. I don't believe tarot cards can predict the future but I do believe they give us insight into a variety of outcomes based on our choices if we put them in the right context. Some of you may be rolling your eyes at me since there is a very thin line between telling the future and providing insight in outcomes. I can't blame you one bit.

Part of what draws me to the tarot is the mystery, specifically how they work. I don't have all the answers but I enjoy reading all of the theories. What I can affirm to is the fact that whenever I use either of my tarot decks, the cards just seem to get me and what I'm going through. Whether that is because of my mindset and my view being present in how I interpret the cards or because they are actually connected to a higher source, well, I can't quite say. As of right now I am okay with that fact.

The only other method of divination I've been drawn to are runes, and those have an impersonal feel that I can't get over when I use them. But the tarot is somehow different. When I shuffle the cards and place them upright before me, it's like I'm writing a story and connecting the dots. Exploring the cards and their meaning, I think, is the fun of the entire process. Using the tarot feels right to me at this time, and that is a reason that I can acknowledge even without understanding why that is.

I could provide you with the simple answers, such as the artwork makes me feel a certain way, or I feel magical when I use them, but those answers would be inaccurate. For me, in this moment, the answer to "why tarot?" is simply that I connect with them more than any other system.

Perhaps I will understand more as we continue on this journey.

Discovering Tarot

My first solid memory of tarot is seeing the cards in the James Bond movie, "Live and Let Die." I thought they were interesting but I was probably only 12 or so when I saw the movie on television, so my mind was likely filled with video games and school vacations. I probably thought of them as nothing more than a game because I wouldn't have known any better.

Years later, while thumbing through an Azuregreen catalog, I saw an ad for the Shapeshifter Tarot deck. The main image called to me and from that point on it was added to every wish list I had, but it never seemed to materialize in my hands. I went through a rough patch in 2013 and found my local Unitarian Universalist church and an Earth-based spirituality group. I emailed the group facilitator and was invited to an upcoming meeting where people were encouraged to bring their main tarot deck.

My mind flashed back to the Shapeshifter Tarot deck and I knew it was my time. I ordered the cards and companion book on Amazon and I still remember how excited I was as each day passed because I was one day closer to receiving them. I was in awe of their imagery and connected with them immediately. It wasn't anything more than having the feeling that I was meant to have them and that was enough. 

I took them to the meet up and we learned about creating tarot spreads. The facilitators were kind and fun, but I was lost since I was still so new to them. I eventually packed them away as other aspects of life took precedence. I broke them out on occasion for random 3 card readings for myself, but the companion book was always in one hand as I tried to decipher their meaning.

It is now 2 years later, and though I recently purchased The Gilded Tarot deck, I am especially excited to explore the cards that my journey started with.

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This blog post was prompted by a question asked of the members of the Tarot Together Facebook group. Click the group name to be taken to the page and join us!