Parting the Mists

Beltaine blessings, everyone! (And Samhain blessings to those in the Southern Hemisphere.) Here, it’s already a sunny day and things are rich and green with peony buds soon to open. The maiden’s bush is heavy with white blooms, and the birds and bugs are out in full force. Though this year’s celebrations might be quite different than what we are accustomed to, we can still find beauty, joy, and the Earth’s fertility even if we are alone.

The whimsy of the Victorian Flower Oracle seemed appropriate today, but even then two cards were equally strong and show two sides to the day: fun-loving Honeysuckle and thorny Wild Rose.

Honeysuckle – Games

Keywords: Games and sports, having fun, setting small challenges for yourself, a spirit of competition, a break from work, having a laugh, playing psychological games

Meaning: The image shows Honeysuckle in a summery dress and a flamboyant hat. She is on a staircase.  Close behind her is a beautifully drawn goat who holds one of the pink tendrils I ts mouth. There is no sense of despondency or meanness in this card but, rather, a sense of uncomplicated fun. This card stands for all sorts of games, in both the actual and the metaphorical sense. We probably play games with other people, not with goats, but whoever our fellow players are it is important to remember that games are fun. Or are supposed to be. Don’t let a competitive streak make a game a thing of anxiety and one-upmanship. For most of us, games (should be pleasant opportunity to get tother with family or friends.

Wild Rose – A Thorny Question

Keywords: Difficult decisions, something troublesome that needs to be sorted out, making a tricky choice, bothersome issues, rather worrying enquiries, awkward questions being asked

Meaning: Wild Rose is a lady who looks less than comfortable. She has a wild rose in her hair and others at her breast, but thorny stems wrap around her in a rather nasty embrace. Two rosehips dangle from her wrists as if she has been handcuffed. She is also wearing a rather tight rosehip necklace.

This card tells you that a difficult decision may need to be made. The pro and cons of each possible course of action may be whirling round our heads morning, noon, and night. Someone may be pressuring you to make up your mind right now. This feels stressful, but an over-hasty decision must be avoided. It sounds simplistic, but writing it down can help. Write out the pro and cons and likely outcomes, then leave it for a day or two. Over these couple days, your path may becomes clearer. Thorny questions should not be answered in a rush.

Victorian Flower Oracle by author Sheila Hamilton and artists JJ Grandville, Karen Mahony, and Alex Ukolov