A New Year

Wow! It's been three weeks since I last posted, which I think is a record. But I can explain...

Holidays.

December was a whirlwind month and toward the end I spent two full weeks (laptop free) in the north country enjoying the snow and cold breeze before heading back down into the warmth of the tropics. My son and I suffered a bout of strep throat at the start of our trip, and when I woke up on the day we departed for home, I once again felt a funny tickle in my throat (not likely to be strep again, though, and for that I'm grateful!).

We've been living in Florida for nearly five years, and I have adjusted to the unique climate. I enjoy that the winters are like a perfect northern autumn, and I appreciate not having to drive in ice and snow. I don't mind the intense heat of the summer months (though I'm not keen on the increase in insects that it brings!). I love the moody skies of the rainy season, especially in contrast to the deep dryness of the fall and winter months, where precipitation is so scarce we often have wildfire warnings.

However on this trip north I remembered just how "right" it feels to be in the snow.

One day we packed ourselves up and drove out to the country side for a romp in the woods (one of my favorite things to do, but something I rarely do in Florida due to the creatures that lurk in the shadows [insert scary music here]).

It was spectacular. It was a rare sunny day, with sparkling blue skies. The air temperature was rather balmy for January, at about 38 degrees.

The trees feel different in the north - good, like home. We do have oaks and maples and even pines in the deep south, but the quality of energy is not quite the same.

There were towering birch trees, which have always been a favorite of mine. As a child I would sometimes peel birch bark to make small baskets.

And the water, albeit freezing, felt so good in the hand. I laid down on my stomach on the damp, muddy riverbank and brought some of the cold water to my face.

Though I brought a deck with me on my trip, I ended up using my mother's Mythic Tarot quite a bit. The 8 of Wands has been following me around for the past few weeks, speaking of travel and movement, and communication.

I purchased a new playing card deck from a favorite local (to Michigan) brewery - Founders - and sure enough, my daily draw on the day we were set to fly back south was none other than the 8 of Clubs!

My husband surprised me with several beautiful and deeply thoughtful gifts. Here is a silver Norse arm ring.

This is a gold ring that he had etched with a portion from one of my favorite Havamal stanzas (57): "Fire is from fire quickened."

This is a Norse vessel pendant that almost appears to double as a mjölnir, complete with Thor's face up top (or, it could just be a person). It is a replica of a brooch found in a grave site in Bornholm, Denmark.

And this is the gold bracelet that was given to me as a baby. He opened it and finished the ends with gold caps and rubies so that I can wear it again (now that my wrists are quite a bit larger!!).

Altogether it has been a beautiful season, and I am filled with gratitude.

May your 2017 bring you all peace, joy, and abundance!

Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future

For the month of December I am participating in a loosely heathen-centric Instagram challenge hosted by @MagnoliaMoonHolistic called #mmyulechallenge. For days 15-17 the prompts are very Charles Dickens: Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. As when drawn together this creates a nice spread, I've chosen to combine the days thus, and pull cards from the Dreams of Gaia Tarot:

Ghost of Christmas Past: 9 of Fire
Ghost of Christmas Present: 10 of Air
Ghost of Christmas Future: Major XIX

I love the mirroring of this line. The two end cards are fiery and bright, and the figures look outward, while the middle card has cooler colors (fitting for Air), and the woman is turned away, looking through a portal into the universe. Numerologically, the 9 and 10 make 19, reflecting and amplifying the energy of the Major Arcana card.

The 9 of Fire brings forth an energy of intensity and pressure. This image underscores the idiom "grace under fire." This man has absorbed and transformed the sense of chaos surrounding him, and has produced from it a white rose of peace and potential which floats between his hands.

The woman in the 10 of Air is processing the depths of a new personal paradigm. She is looking into the universe, into herself; she is willing to release, to be released, and thus to be reborn.

Major XIX in the Dreams of Gaia is called "Emotions" and in a similar vein to the more traditional Sun, it connects to the expression of joy and happiness; the invitation for those powerful experiences to be called forth, honored, recognized; to allow them to move, to breathe, through you.

In the past year I've certainly seen some radical and positive changes in my life. The 9 of Fire pressure that propelled me forward; that taught me about my will and fortitude; that pushed me to keep striving, and to keep my faith; ultimately fostered a particular experience of abundance and personal power that I'm sure has fed into the reconceptualization of the 10 of Air. The other day I was on a walk with my husband and I was telling him about how different I feel, how much I've grown in the last twelve months. I'm the same, and I'm different; I'm a better, stronger, more refined expression of myself. I see through new eyes. I see new possibilities. The hint of sadness that seemed to lurk for so long beneath the surface of my waking mind has evaporated. I feel the warmth of that joy unfolding, and I'm truly and deeply grateful.

Finding Oski at the Thrift Shop

It always seems that certain items find us when we will most benefit from their significance, rather than the reverse being true ("A watched pot never boils"?). I remember once when my husband, Jorge, was going through a rough patch and was questioning his path in life. He stopped by the Salvation Army and the first thing he saw was a Ganesha statue. Ganesha is of course a Hindu deity, but in Santería (at least in our rama) he corresponds to Orula, orisha of wisdom and divination. The synchronicity of that moment had a powerful impact on Jorge, and that statue sits to this day on a high spot on a bookcase alongside our soperitas de Orula. It was the first and last time we've ever seen such a figurine in any local thrift shop.

I had a similar experience yesterday.

Jorge was heading off to the market nearby to pick up a few things, and I decided to ride along with him and our youngest child. As we pulled in to the parking lot, Gabriel became very vocal about wanting to go to Good Will (he loves examining the toy area!). I hadn't planned to do that, but while Jorge went to the market, I took Gabriel to the thrift shop. He walked over to the books and started to pull some out and comment on their positive qualities (very sweet, as he knows that the book section of any store is one of my favorite places). Then we ambled over to the "stuff section" - you know, the shelves of knick-knacks that can be a lot of fun to sort through. The first thing I saw was a model of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, which my oldest daughter loves and has been talking about lately - so that was obviously coming home. And the second thing I saw was a statue of what was clearly, to me, Oski, Gift-Giver.

Now I'm aware that this is surely meant to be a Santa/Father Christmas figure, what with the beard, evergreen tree, and wrapped gift (and I suppose that we could spend some time discussing the various ways in which Odin has influenced the mythology surrounding Santa), but I didn't see Santa - I saw, felt, Oski there, wrapped in white robes, and hooded like Grímnir. I added him to the lighthouse in my arms, and took him on home.

Odin Allfather has many, many names that highlight the various aspects of his being and character. One of those names is Oski, and oftentimes this aspect is depicted as a Father Chistmas-type man, as the essence of Oski is that of gift-giver, wish-fulfiller, desire-satisfier. He asks us to request what we need, to diligently work to invite those things into our lives, and to be willing to open ourselves to the various manifestations of help and support that show up.

Oski on Odin's altar space

What could be inside the box that Oski is holding? There is much mystery there. Whether or not we know or are able to explicitly identify what Oski brings us is less important than the core teaching that connects to our ability to recognize, embrace, and be grateful for the positive developments, people, and opportunities that present themselves to us along our paths. This is a theme that has been in the forefront of my mind and heart quite a lot lately, and so I see Oski's figurine as symbolic (and perfectly timely) affirmation underscoring this experience - that is a beautiful thing!

Creeping Out of My Cave

Since slightly before Yule/Christmas I've been on something like a sabbatical, really embracing the Hermit energy. I have a lot brewing that I will post about as time moves on, but I will give a recap of the past few weeks of my life:

Haindl Tarot - Strength

-I received the Haindl Tarot deck as a birthday gift. This is a deck I've been wanting for a long time, so I was very pleased to have it, and I've been working a lot with it in these past few weeks. I love the connection to the runes, as this is another system I work with. (It also features I-Ching, though I'm not so familiar with that!) I also like the fact that this deck follows the Thoth system. The Court cards are lovely, and pull from various cultures from around the world. I think Strength is quite possibly my favorite Major in the deck, depicting a woman intertwined with a snake on the edge of a river.

Winter sun in northern Michigan (O. Destrades)

-I spent a lot of time wandering the northern woods of Michigan, in and around the family cottage there. Sledding was serious fun, as was simply watching the lake effect snow fall over the hills as I sipped on hot coffee. While there I drew a card from Haindl deck on the question, "How would you describe the importance of being at this house to the people that come here?" I pulled the 2 of Swords - Peace. The image shows snow covered pine trees. I couldn't imagine a more apt card! The card itself mirrored my surroundings, and peace is precisely why we go there. With the steam from my hot beverage swirling around my nose, and large flakes catching in my eyelashes, I was allowed to feel removed from the steady pulse of my "regular life." No internet, no mail, no work, nowhere I needed to be. For a snapshot in time I was totally enveloped in peace.

Haindl Tarot

-My mother gifted me a beautiful, quartz pendulum handmade by the daughter of her Reiki instructor. It's been probably over 20 years since I've worked with a pendulum. It's gorgeous, and exploring this particular method of divination again after so long has been both intriguing and satisfying.

Game of Hope Lenormand - Star Edition

-On a very special Yule I found myself in Miami with my husband, kids, padrino and ilé. In the late evening I ended up doing Lenormand readings for several women, a totally impromptu session. I didn't know most of them, and the readings were very interesting. One woman told me, "You're the best reader I've ever been to, and that's saying something because I've been to a LOT. To be that good you have to really have a gift." I'm not saying that here to brag - I was really blown away and humbled and honored by what she said to me, and it was a wonderful, affirming gift to receive that left me warmed over.

-I met with several friends over the Christmas/New Year's weeks that I have not seen or spent much time with in years. It was wonderful. And our conversations helped me to gain some very helpful perspective on various elements in my life (namely my teaching work and my kids' education) that has been effective in allowing me to move into 2015 with increased clarity and purpose.

I'm grateful for having had the time for profound reflection over the past few weeks, and the opportunity I've had to recalibrate my inner compass. I'll say more, eventually. But now it's time for chocolate panettone and some ginger tea.....!

Yule Blog Hop: The Joy of Gifting

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Happy Yule 2014, and welcome to the Tarot Blog Hop! Please use the links at the top and bottom of this post to access the other wonderful blogs in this circle.

Arwen Lynch, our joyful wrangler for the Yule hop, asked us all to focus our posts around a spread that she created about gift giving, and freed us up to use whatever type of oracle we pleased. Normally I use Tarot for our hops, but I felt moved to go a different route this season, and have used the new Game of Hope 2.0 Lenormand deck instead (to learn more about the deck, click here).

I wanted to keep it as simple as possible, so I drew three cards for each question. Here we go!

1. What gift would you give the world if you could?

Rider - Letter - Clover

Fortune telling! Perfect, on to number 2! Well okay... just kidding (sorta)! These cards tell me a lot of things:

I see this line as a message that we should all start sending more letters, increase our communications with fellow humans, visit each other once in a while. After all, unexpected correspondence is a joy! Just a few days ago my long-time friend Danica sent me a lovely, hand-created Christmas card with pictures of her family. I thought, "When is that last time I sat down to create holiday cards?" Too long. Then this morning she wrote me a lovely, touching note. We don't speak nearly as often as we should. I think in this era of email and Facebook and nomadic lifestyles it's easy for us to become silos. We have to remember how to reconnect with the people that really matter to us.

I see this as a message about helping others. Do you have extra material goods? Reach out and share with others, send support. I recall a time when my cousin was struggling financially. I didn't have a lot either, but I went online and bought a book by an author she loved and had it sent to her as a surprise. I think at times we tell ourselves that we simply don't have enough to truly help someone else, so we don't. But we don't have to limit our giving in those ways. Find a cause you can get behind and make a donation. If we all focused on the small ways we can help each other perhaps we would go far in helping improve human relationships and our greater sense of community.

Finally, bloggers, keep using those writing skills to spread positivity throughout the blogosphere!


2. What gift would you want from the world?

Heart - Fish - Sun

Well isn't this an easy one to interpret! Love, money, success and joy - boy my cards sure do know me! Ha!... Honestly these cards each embody an energy that is important to me, but let me actually string them together:

Fulfillment of a desire for financial success. Deep love and joy. A heart that flows with happiness. Yes, there is nothing more precious in this world than to love and be loved, to experience profound joy.

3. What gift have you gotten that has brought you joy?

Sun - Rider - Ring

The first thought I had upon seeing this line was the gift of being able to share goods news in my marriage. My husband and I entirely support each other and cheer each other on. If I experience success I can express that with Jorge and I know that he'll feel that joy along with me. That is a precious gift.

This line also reminds me of the moment when we moved to Florida. Within a month of deciding to look for work in the south, and sending out resumes, I had a couple of interviews, and we packed up our cars and our kids and started the move. Everything was hanging on the final word that I would be hired, but it wasn't until we were at a rest stop in Georgia that I finally got the news that I had successfully leapt through all of the hiring hoops, and I was "in." That was immensely relieving and rewarding.

Finally, the only jewelry I regularly wear on my hands are two golden rings, one on each ring finger. One is my wedding ring, representative of a grand gift - my marriage - and the other was a gift I received for mother's day - another immensely joyful gift being my children. My rings are constant reminders of these two shining elements in my life.

4. What gift have you given that has brought you joy?

Bouquet - Fish - Anchor

I saw this line and read: the gift of financial stability. After relying primarily on my husband for financial (and emotional!) support for the years that I was working on my Master's degree, I was able to reciprocate. Once I secured a good and regular job, he was able to leave his old career behind in order to work on developing his passion: photography. Watching him explore and develop his talent, watching how engaged and passionate he was about his art - that brought me great joy and satisfaction.

5. What is one last thing you would like to share about this season?

Cross - Stork - Clover

This too shall pass. Our burdens are temporary. Life is change, and even our hard times won't last forever. We will have relief, and fortune, perhaps in ways we would never expect, and when we're least expecting it. It's amazing to see, in retrospect, how our challenges can lead to wonderful opportunities. Never lose hope and faith!

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I thought it was pretty amazing how the Clover, Rider, Sun, and Fish all appeared twice throughout this series of mini-readings - very fitting for the topic of joy and giving! 

I wish you all a beautiful holiday, a splendid Yule, a marvelous Christmas, a Joyous Kwanzaa and very Happy Hannukah! 

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Yule Blog Hop 2013 - Bringing Light into Darkness

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Welcome to the Yule Blog Hop 2013! To access more fabulous posts, please use the links above, which will immediately take you to Joanna Ash's Sun Goddess Tarot blog, and Chloe McCracken's Inner Whispers blog! Our wrangler, Joanna Ash from Sun Goddess Tarot, chose the theme of "Bringing Light into Darkness" for this hop, and it feels very appropriate for many reasons.

As readers, we are always engaged in the act of bringing light into darkness. We help illuminate and provide insights into a variety of challenges that people experience, and often seek rays of hope even when a reading may look rather bleak. There is a reason for the term "light worker," after all! Whether we are connecting to the spirits of passed loved ones, pondering a Tarot or Lenormand spread, manipulating a client's energy, or drawing runes, our goal is to provide clarity and guidance to someone in need (and sometimes that "someone" is us!).

On the evening before Thanksgiving this year, I sat down on the couch to compose a new spread. The Hobbit was on the television, and as I was considering how to approach the spread, it suddenly occurred to me to create one based on the Lord of the Rings!  I started to think of characters and traits (whether subtle or obvious), and when I was finished I realized that I'd made something I really wanted to share on this blog hop:

Light of Earendil Spread: Bringing Light to Darkness

Card 1: Gollum (What shadow am I currently encountering?)*

Card 2: Frodo (What hidden/unrecognized strength may help me work with this shadow?)

Card 3: Light of Earendil (What illuminates the darkness for me?)

Card 4: Gandalf (How can I master my power?)

Card 5: Elrond (What counsel will help me confront my current obstacles?)

Card 6: Mirror of Galadriel (What may the immediate future hold?)

I decided to apply this spread to current work-related challenges I've been experiencing, where a personal dispute between two people has expanded to include/impact the entire department:

Light of Earendil Spread
Using Wildwood Tarot (Sterling Ethos 2011)

1: Gollum - 9 of Bows reversed (Respect)

The shadow overtaking my workplace brings feelings of confusion and victimization.  In turn this leads to defensiveness which then leads to scheming and more confusion.  There is a quality of chaotic energy here, a lack of self-respect and mutual respect, of feeling attacked. Things are pretty out of control and there is a serious need for intensive, open communication and renewal of camaraderie that has been lost.

2: Frodo - 5 of Vessels (Ecstasy)

My unrecognized strength is my optimism, and my ability to seek healing through focusing on what's still good in the department. The 5 of Vessels is about harnessing the energy of love in order to move past pain and disappointment.  Instead of focusing on what's been lost, it's about using that energy and moving it forward.  This card shows stars in the sky that remind me of the Light of Earendil, which comes from a star.  It's the power of universal energy, a light in the darkness, hope, and emits a feeling that "this too shall pass".

3: Light of Earendil - The Green Woman

My own illumination is provided by the Green Woman. In part I feel this represents my connection to the earth; she encourages me not to get carried away by emotions, but to be gentle and look for creative solutions. The Green Woman has very nurturing energy, so perhaps it will benefit me to tap into my own mother energy in this situation. But more importantly, the Green Woman reminds me of the energy of the department chair, a wise woman with wonderful talents and a warm personality who is starting to steer the ship slowly back on course. When things have looked most bleak, I've placed my hope in her and haven't been disappointed. It's interesting to note that this was the only Major card in the spread, and I value the extra weight that it carries, particularly in this position. 

4: Gandalf - 10 of Vessels

I can master my role in this situation by recognizing the bounty of love in my life, which prevents me from buying into external emotional excesses and imbalances in my environment. By calling on the abundance of positive energy, I can help both myself and others move past hostile feelings and perhaps find peace. 

5: Elrond - King of Vessels

My wise counsel for this situation is to take on the characteristics of the King of Vessels.  He is the master of emotions and healing energies, and exudes patience, calmness and diplomacy.  His energy encourages the understanding of all parties involved.  This king is caring and supportive, and interested in finding common ground, but at the same time has clear boundaries in place.  So perhaps I will find a way to lead (subtly) by example: with balanced emotions, without reacting or overreacting to anything that arises.  That seems reasonable.

6: Mirror of Galadriel - 2 of Arrows (Injustice)

The 2 of Arrows suggests the potential for continued feelings of injustice in my department, the sense of the scales not being balanced. There are difficult decisions/choices to be considered and made, and it may be challenging to decide what approach or direction to take. There is a sense with this card of things feeling a bit stuck - despite an awareness of the challenges, there may yet be complications and confusion when it comes to making a clear decision. I seem to get this card quite a bit when it comes to work readings!  And it isn't terribly uplifting but it does sound likely given the state of things at present. "Should I stay or should I go, one day is fine the next is black…..if I go there will be trouble…if I stay it will be double!" (yes, this is the Clash). ;)

Summary: All elements are present here, with a predominance of water, which makes sense because relationships and emotions seem to be the core of the dilemma. I like the balance of feminine energy in the Light of Earandil/Green Woman and masculine energy/King of Vessels - water and earth, both passive energies. The summary card is 8, which corresponds to the Stag (justice, decisions, balance, clarity, objective understandings), whose energies are certainly relevant here. The raw water energy/power in the 10 Vessels pours downward, bolstering the King below, who is master of water. 5 doubled is 10, so there is a numeric connection between my hidden strength (5 Vessels), how I can master my power (10 Vessels), and the advice (King Vessels).

Despite an uncertain future, I love how this reading flows, how it highlights the major challenges, the light in the darkness, and how I can be my best self when it comes to working with those challenges - after all, that's what Tarot's all about, right?

Happy Yule to all, and may you continue to share your light with the world!

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*I chose Gollum instead of Sauron to represent the "shadow" because Sauron seems just too big, bad and evil to represent everyday challenges we face. Gollum is very ordinary in many ways, and yet became intensely corrupted, and a slave to his own weaknesses. He does a lot of wicked things, but we can at least acknowledge his "humanity."