As some of you might have noticed, I haven’t posted a card this week, and I was irregular with posting it last week. I’m going to go ahead and declare a break from posting the daily card for the rest of this week and next week, which is spring break for our local schools (and my partner in crime).
During this break, I might also look at some new ideas for this space. I haven’t written an original blog post in quite a while, but I recently discovered some old brainstorming notes for the blog that have me thinking. It could be fun to explore some new topics, maybe even do some interviews in a podcast format. We shall see. I also have a couple writing projects I should finish, as you can see from my project board.
Yesterday, I picked the first daffodils from the yard. Their bright sunny heads are brightening up the altar right now, but they also inspired me to reach for this gorgeous deck. It might not be spring quite yet, but we are getting there!
Have a lovely day,
Thistle
Tulip – Perfection
You are a perfect expression of Universal love.
Meaning: Traditionally, the tulip signifies deep and true love, but it is not necessarily a romantic love. Depending on the culture, they might also represent charity or rebirth. The tulip, with its clean and simple form and variety of bright colors, is a wonderful bloom to represent all of us in our varied, yet similar, forms. We are all deserving of love and must love ourselves first.
History: Tulips might be associated with the Netherlands, but they originally came from Persia and Turkey and were cultivated there more than 1,000 years ago. They were brought to Europe in the 16th century.
Channeled Message: I am in a cavern of light. Beautiful music vibrates from the walls. The Deva looks at me, her eyes piercing my should, searching my heart. I feel a fierceness, a probing. Come, she beckons me. I see fields upon fields of tulips, standing and glistening under the morning sunlight. They take me in. I am inside their stems, inside their “blood” stream. I see the energy of the Earth moving through the. I see the water, the nutrients, the soil, crystal colors, and particles of light moving through them. I see the energy of the Earth under the bulbs; it slowly envelops the bulb and moves into it, moving upward, stretching, bursting forth.
The energy of the Earth and ancient energies creating the tulip – all flowers. This ancient energy moves through all Beings. It’s as if the Earth is breathing itself into the existence through the tulips. Each tulip is like a breath. It dies down a the breath energy returns to the Earth to begin anew. A cycle of regeneration. I am filled with light. I am filled with the light of the Universe. I am weeping, overwhelmed with the love I feel coming forth from the Earth, from Nature, from all existence. I call out, “Who is there?” “We are the One,” they reply. I feel waves of benevolence drifting toward me, beautiful life and light surrounds me.
Interesting how the card for the weekend suggested we focus on projects and creative pursuits, while today’s card on a Monday suggest rest and retreat. Sometimes the cards go opposite of what societal norms are for a reason – shaking up our patterns and routines.
Have a good week, everyone!
Thistle
The Restorers – Roseroot, St. John’s Wort & Valerian
Retreat, balance, or calm. On the other side, imbalance, anxiety, or disturbance
THE CARD: The Restorers are a trio of ancient and indigenous plants of the Druid sourcelands, which act to restore the balance between body and soul, healing the heart and mind with their calming and strengthening powers. The card shows a Druid healer in her bothy, sitting beside the fire. Through the open door, we see the Scottish Highlands. Roseroot and Valerian hand drying in bunches from the rafters, and freshly gathered St. John’s Wort lies on the table.
MEANING: Although adventure and excitement are necessary ingredients in life, we also need periods of peace and calm: oases in our busy lives. Drawing this card in a reading may mean that you should create such a time for yourself now. Retreats are an important part of spiritual practice, and in Druidry these can include visiting the old sacred sites and walking the old tracks. But wherever you are, you can take a retreat. Even if you are busy, see if you can withdraw from your schedule for three hours, during which time no one disturbs you and you treat yourself to whatever will help you find calm. Better still is a longer retreat – three days or more – in a setting close to Nature. By taking such a break, you give your body and soul a chance to catch up with each other add to find balance once more.
This card may also indicate that you or someone you know are out of balance and feel disturbed and anxious. Life is often puzzling, and relationships are so difficult that it is no wonder so many people suffer from anxiety and depression. Now may be the time to tackle this imbalance with a combination of counseling, herbal medicine, and lifestyle changes.
Alternatively, the card may indicate that a situation or project is unstable or completely unrealistic, and that a good dose of common sense is required to get it back on track. It may be time to hire a consultant or simply get someone to look at the problem objectively and give advice.
The Druid Plant Oracle by authors Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and artist Will Worthington
Don’t know about you all, but I am definitely feeling the fiery energy of ginger to work on things today (and hope it continues through the weekend)! Be careful not to burn yourself out in the process of working with creativity and inspiration.
Blessings!
Thistle
Eight of Fire – Ginger
Adapt swiftly to unexpected changes; you can handle the heat; act quickly the inspiration strikes
Something cooks on every burner in a busy kitchen. A sauté pan is alive with flames; vegetables fly into the air from another pan; a large pot bubbles over with broth. A tray of onions, limes, and ginger root is precariously perched on the edge of the stove. The walls are filled to the brim with spices, herbs, and culinary supplies.
Meaning: Inspiration comes from all directions. Can you handle so many things at once? Like the busy stove in this kitchen, everything begs for your attention. Change is happening quickly. Swift action is needed or you may become overwhelmed. Ginger warms the body and fires up energy. When creative possibilities spin all about you, fast, focused movement is key. This is not the time to pause and consider but instead to respond with urgency. Ginger is spicy medicine, but you can handle the heat.
Crafting with the Eight of Fire
• Build your resilience and adapt to unexpected changes: use spice ginger in cooking.
• Make ginger elixir; take it to keep the flames of inspiration burning.
• Speed up a desired outcome by crafting a magic ginger honey pot.
The HerbCrafter’s Tarot by author Latisha Guthrie and artist Joanna Powell Colbert
One thing I do wish this card description emphasized more is that relationships are two-way streets. Yes, we need to build our personal community to nurture ourselves. Just don’t forget to do that for the others in your tribe. That’s how it truly works.
Blessings!
Thistle
GATHERING YOUR TRIBE
MEANING: You are loved, and you are lovable. You deserve love. Support in all forms is flowing to you. You can relax; there is so much love around you. Communicate from your heart. Share your truth. You are safe. Diminish your time with those who do not empower you or believe in you.
NATIVE SPIRIT WISDOM: If this card chooses you, this means that sustenance in all forms is flowing into your life. “Your people” are those who resonate with you. (Your people can include animals, plants, minerals, trees, as well as people.) Be willing to ask for what you want in life. This is the time to put your needs before the needs of others. Your tribe is waiting to support and nurture you, as you nurture yourself. Sometimes your friends are more your family than blood relatives. Find your people and cherish them. Your vibe attracts your tribe.
THE JOURNEY: Spend time with friends and family members who see the best in you. (Don’t spend time with dream stompers.) Take classes. Share meals. Take time to find your people. You will live longer and happier.
Native Spirit Oracle by author Denise Linn and artist Charles McStravick
Let’s conserve resources today and bolster ourselves from past experiences that gave us joy and wisdom. These will carry us through a tough day.
Blessings,
Thistle
THE HOODED MAN
READING POINTS: The time of the Hooded Man is here. Whether he appears in the guise of an inner guide and mentor or simply as a state of mind, you will understand that now is a time to withdraw and rest. After a long journey through the Wildwood, many emotions and experiences need to be absorbed. This is the beginning of understanding – not just of yourself, but of the universe. The hermit-like Hooded Man appears differently for everyone. Whether through meditation or solitude in the mountains, through prayer or holidaying in a secluded place, his light will illuminate the way to the heart of the endless cycle of being.
DESCRIPTION: A lone hooded figure stand before an ancient oak. It is midwinter. Thick snow covers the ground and the branches of the tree. The Hooded Man is dressed in an evergreen holly and berry cloak. He holds a stout staff in one hand and a lantern to light the pathway in the other. In the great tree is a battered and moss-covered wooden doorway. Through the swollen timbers, a warm light spills into the evening gloom. The inside of the great tree appears inviting, a haven from the chilling air. Above the doorway is a wheel-like wreath of holly and evergreen foliage. On a cold stone rising from the frozen earth, a wren watches and waits.
MEANING: After the trials and tribulations of dealing with the primal forces that confront you on the wheel of the year, a space is needed for stillness and contemplation. For the spiritual warrior or seeker looking for esoteric knowledge, the complex matrix of symbolism and insight may confuse the intellect and shake the reality. The Hooded Man (also known as the Hermit or sometimes the Robin-in-the-Hood, the deeper archetype of the Outlaw of Sherwood Forest) offers a steadfast light in the midwinter world and a steady staff on which to lean and gather your mental resources. His shining lamp illuminates the darkest recesses of fear and incomprehension and guides the way to the doorway that leads into the heart of the great tree. He knows that knowledge is light and sometimes only earned with sacrifice and stoicism. Such things offer admittance to the great mystery of the woodland and show the seekers how they may find the wisdom to advance through the wilder reaches of the forest. Within its ancient heart lie locked countless secrets and the profoundest treasures of wisdom.
The Hooded Man survives even in the cold empty winter landscape because of his wisdom and his will. He is at one with the harshness of the climate because he draws upon the strength of the evergreen holly that that even winter cannot turn to dust and has stored spiritual nourishment to sustain him. He has absorbed the lessons and knowledge that his journey has afforded him; and to those who have followed his path and now are tired an in need of solace, he waits to pass on wisdom, comfort, and guidance.
On a small rock nearby is the wren, the sacred bird of kings, revered as an oracle and a keeper of secret wisdom. The wren is an ancient totem bird that flew highest of all creatures by riding on the back of the great eagle, thus earning itself the title of King of All Birds. It serves as a reminder that the smallest of the Earth’s creatures is capable of soaring to the greatest heights and seeing beyond the furthest horizon.
This time of rebirth is both inward and mystical, and yet outward and universal, beyond the narrow boundaries of human civilization and moral codes.
The Wildwood Tarot by authors Mark Ryan and John Matthews and artist Will Worthington
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again now: It’s easy to feel like we aren’t good enough in a world where we are constantly comparing ourselves to what others share on social media. What we show on these public forums is rarely the difficulties and the doubt – so stop comparing yourself to other people’s curated and cultivated images. Trust that you can get things done and that you are good enough.
Blessings!
Thistle
Squirrel Spirit: Believe in Yourself
Message: You have accumulated wisdom and experience and are surrounded by all you need. An abundance of resources is available to you through the generosity of Spirit and all your hard work. Squirrel Spirit shows up when you need reminding that the acorns you have gathered and stowed away have enormous potential to grow, so relax into knowing there is always enough and you have what it take to co-create the reality you want to experience. Through diligent preparation, you have gained wisdom and strength. How much potential you have! Believe in yourself, for Spirit believes in you and wants you to know you have enough and are enough. Doesn’t that truth make you feel safe and secure? It should, for you have everything you need right now.
Protection Message: The unpredictability of life can shake your confidence and your potential for handling the challenges that come your way. Does the thought of not having enough or being enough make you squirrely? Have you forgotten all your strengths, wisdom and resources? You have come so far on your wits and creativity, making use of all your potential and all that Spirit presents to help you through life’s trying times. It’s time to look back on your life and remember how your needs have always been met for the highest good, even in your most challenging times.
Life loves you, and so many treasures are hidden in plain sight, ready to be revealed when you most need them – so relax. Squirrel Spirit wants you to know you are poised and ready for whatever is coming next, so trust in yourself and trust that Spirit has your back!
Spirit Animal Oracle by author Colette Baron-Reid and artist Jenna DellaGrottaglia
Boredom is often linked to depression, though there are certainly types of boredom that do not fit this. And while it’s good and healthy to give yourself time to rest, it’s not good to become apathetic and listless. Some people won’t do anything if everything isn’t just “perfect” – the perfect weather, time of day, with plenty of spending money, etc. These are limiting beliefs to keep you trapped in an unhealthy pattern. Look at your situation right now (or perhaps that of someone close to you) and consider if you need to try a new activity or meet up with an old friend to shake yourself out of it.
Blessings,
Thistle
Four of Vessels – Boredom
Meaning: Lethargy or laziness, locking an individual in a cycle of wasted energy, while all around is the source of inspiration waiting there for the taking. The sickness of the soul.
Reading Points: The Universe responds favorably to a decisive, forward momentum, while boredom leaves a person in a state of inaction. There are many reasons for feeling disenchanted or trapped in life. The causes of the malaise and the feeling of being weathered by routine or beaten down by conflict are common, but in the end it is from ourselves that the first sparks of momentum must emanate.
Emotionally frozen or disconnected people become “black holes” of despair, into which all light and positive energy fall, and fail to return. However, the keys required to allow energy to flow and enlighten the individual again are almost always present, even though they may remain unseen. But if you ask a question of the Universe, the Universe will answer. It has no choice. Nature abhors a vacuum and it will throw so many opportunities into your path that your head will spin. All you have to do is recognize and acknowledge the proffered doorways, and step through them. Challenge should not be feared; opportunity should be grasped and utilized to its natural limit.
Description: A female figure sits at the mouth of a cave in a typical pose of boredom, staring at nothing. Beside the cave entrance are two vessels, from which spout a vine-like plant that curls up over the rock to form a tangled arch. Caught in the thicket are two more vessels from which streams of water issue.
The Wildwood Tarot by authors Mark Ryan and John Matthews and artists Will Worthington
This time of year often brings out complaints about how everyone is ready for spring – people don’t like this barebones season. But it is in this season that we should appreciate even more the bounty that nature and our efforts have brought us and sustains us through this darker season. Here in Kansas and many other agricultural areas, this is the time when winter wheat, planted back in the fall, is getting its needed exposure to cold temps it needs to sprout in early spring. It’s the time when the soil rests and regenerates. This time of year may not FEEL like a time of abundance, but it is.
Likewise, we too can be abundant and be nourished at this time.
Meaning: The time of the harvest is a time of abundance – of appreciation for all that Nature has given us. It is also a time for celebrating the results of your hard work, and choosing this card could indicate that it is time to stop working for a while, to take some time to appreciate your achievements and give thanks for the harvest of your life. It may be that you spend a great deal of energy sowing seeds and caring for your plants – working for the future and caring for your family – but it is vital that you also give yourself time to savor life in the moment and to enjoy the family as a community, a tribe, too.
This card may also suggest that you are entering a phase of abundance, bringing you riches in your relationships and in your spiritual, creative, and material lives. This is a card that symbolizes generosity: when your needs at a material and emotional level are satisfied, you are then free to focus on the gifts you can give to the world.
On the flip side, this card could indicate that you are having trouble settling in one place. You may long to go traveling, or to have a more flexible lifestyle. Or you could be experiencing quite the opposite feeling – you may have been moving often in recent times and now you feel that you need to settle and put down roots. Alternatively, perhaps you are torn between the nomad life, with all the excitement that movement and traveling can bring, and the settled, rooted life, which offers comfort and familiarity. It may help to remember that both the hunter-gatherer and the settled farmer live within us as ancestral archetypes, and that we can honor both at different times of our lives.
The Druid Plant Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and artist Will Worthington
Today in southeast Kansas, we have a lovely steady rain. We need it – our current conditions are hovering between “Severe” and “Extreme” drought conditions. Spent some time on the porch listening to the rain, enjoying what now feels like a rare treat.
The card today ties to water and what it brings for many (as long as it’s not a flood) – prosperity. Often, we grumble about what we don’t have or the opportunities we have missed. Today is the time to be grateful for what we have and to create our own opportunities, whether it’s for financial, creative, romantic, or friendly endeavors. Be open to a different way to pursue your goal, friends, and so forth. The rest will follow.
Blessings,
Thistle
Koi Fish Spirit – There is always enough
Message: The koi fish, who grows big within a small pond, reminds us that within each of us is the potential for prosperity. Regardless of temporary outer conditions, you can call in prosperity and magnetically attract the opportunities and abundance you need. The message of Koi Fish Spirit is to begin to generate wealth within, with deliberate intention, no matter how small your pond may seem—and appreciate abundance wherever you see it.
Outer conditions will come to reflect your inner prosperity, so begin to become the self who is comfortable with wealth in all forms. Even if, at the moment, it feels as if riches are not yours, they soon will be. Start to envision the plenty that Spirit wants you to experience, knowing that the moment you begin to commit to conscious and deliberate co-creating, Spirit will joyfully start bringing you what you need. You have so much to offer and so much of value to express to the world. In your little pond, there is much you can create and much you can attract. Do not underestimate what you have and who you are, for Koi Fish Spirit wants you to know that you are exquisite, loved, and deeply cherished. Trust that outer conditions are changing to reflect that truth.
Protection Message: Are you feeling a sense of scarcity, afraid you will not have enough and not be enough to meet the challenges you face? Whatever your outer conditions, they are temporary and reflecting what was set forth in the past. Koi Fish Spirit is your ally in changing those conditions by transforming your inner beliefs about scarcity and plenty. Perhaps you have suffered a loss or are afraid you soon will, or you have been scraping by and feeling there are simply no opportunities available for you to better your circumstances. Koi Fish asks you to find prosperity within you by connecting to Spirit through spiritual practices. Spirit wants to remind you that your natural state is one of abundance. Remember all that you have to offer so that you can generate your own opportunities, love relationships, and even more.
Even if you feel you have little to give right now, find it within you to give to someone else, even if it’s s just a few encouraging words, a smile, or a helping hand. Your action will remind you that you have more than it appears – more gifts, more strength, more wisdom, more abundance. As you give to others, your own sense of prosperity grows and your outer conditions begin to shift in an alchemical reaction. Prosperity and love are yours to receive, experience, and enjoy. Believe it.
Parting the Mists 