Archive for February, 2022

Today’s Card: Mandrake is here to help ease suffering, warn of obsession

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Have no fear – though the Mandrake’s folklore includes a scream that can kill if it is pulled up, this card is fairly benevolent. Mandrake enhances magical workings, as well as eases all kinds of pain. Perhaps today you will be the one to help another or instead maybe be the recipient of this gift. Keep your eyes open for this opportunity.

Blessings and have a good start to your week,

Thistle

Mandrake – Wealth, fertility, anesthesia

Meaning: The ability to assuage pain is mandrake’s greatest gift to humanity. Easing pain in others – whether it be physical, mental, or emotional – is a skill that should be treasured. If you have chosen this card, it may indicate that you were called upon to alleviate suffering in someway. This may be as simple as offering reassuring words to distressed friend  or it might involve a vocational choice; perhaps you are considering whether to follow a course of training or work that focuses on alleviating pain in others.

Alternatively, the card may suggest that you are entering a phase of great luck and even wealth. Mandrake has been associated with prosperity and good fortune for centuries, and those who planted seeds of happiness for others in the past can expect to experience joy in their own lives too.

Since mandrake is connected with love and fertility, the card may also mean that love is entering your life or that you are beginning a fertile phase in your physical or spiritual life.

On the flipside, mandrake was considered a magical amplifier, which could act as a magnet to attract love, power, and wealth. Like the Devil (or Cernunnos) card in the tarot, the forces it represents can be beneficial or detrimental depending upon intention and maturity. If you have chosen this card it could also indicate that you need to be aware of the dangers of obsession – of becoming overly occupied with a notion or desire that may have a value, but which risks being all-consuming. 

Although mandrake was used medicinally in the ancient world, it was also the first plant to be used in chemical warfare. Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, faked a retreat from an African enemy, leaving behind wine steeped in mandrake as a poison. Something that is life enhancing in small measures can become toxic in higher doses.

The Druid Animal Oracle by authors Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm and artist Will Worthington

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Today’s card: Heal your heart with Echinacea

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

This card focuses on grief and heartbreak, but remember that this is not limited to losing a love or having a loved one die. Dreams that wither, friendships that do not last, and many more things can cause these same symptoms. Whatever is hurting your heart, take some time to acknowledge it so you can more forward stronger.

Blessings.

Three of Air – Echinacea

Speak the truth about your heartbreak; be the medicine that heals the pierced heart; healing from grief takes time.

Three echinacea flowers pierce the sky on a cloudy summer day. An abandoned barn with a rusted roof stands in the background. The sun and rain battle for position: bursts of light are followed by short showers. Tattered petals of pink flowers fall as the plant bends toward the ground to offer its seeds. New buds emerge from beneath the thick green layer of leaves.

Meaning: Heartache leads to self-knowledge. You may be confronted with an agonizing reality. Wild echinacea, a potent medicinal that once blanketed the prairies of North America, is now endangered. We may never again experience wild abundant fields of this electrifying pink flower. See things as they truly are and accept the loss. Healing lies in your ability to learn from the devastation. Echinacea remedies increase resistance to infection and build a strong body. Embracing painful truths leads to resilience. Seek out strong allies who will help you through the grieving process. Find comfort in your sorrow. Echinacea is a slow-growing plant; sit with your grief as long as it takes.

Crafting with Three of Air:

• Find expression for your heartbreak. Write your story.

• Buy only cultivated echinacea. When you heal the earth, you heal us all.

• Embark on a meditative journey to the prairies where echinacea once flourished and harvest medicine for your grief there.

Herbcrafter’s Tarot by author Latisha Guthrie and artist Joanna Powell Colbert

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Today’s Card: Find a place of safety with Four of Stones

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »

A little shocked to pull this card today, given the news in the world. I hope we all can lend our energy to ending unnecessary violence and protecting those in need of it, even if it is halfway across the world. Blessings.

Four of Stones – Protection

Meaning: The newly risen sun brings hope and renewed vitality to the vulnerable. Shelter and protection for the weak or the spiritually wounded is the responsibility of us all.

Reading Points: Many trials and tribulations surface during our lifetime, and being able to endure such times is the sign of a strong heart and healthy spirit. Finding a personal place of emotional safety may require patience and a stoical dedication to the quest, but for those who have weathered adversity and known loss, the light of life and love will always burn brightly within them. By building on a foundation of ethical beliefs, boundaries and skills, we can be assured that when the test comes we are secure in our self-knowledge and confidence. The human ability to recognize and feel compassion for those who need help is just as important. However the storm may tear at our own inner place of protection, we must keep the faith that the sun will rise again for all those in peril and offer fresh opportunities and spiritual rewards. Such is the law of karma, that each act of selfless protection and mercy for those in need revitalized the spiritual warrior with a sense of peace and divinity rarely found in common practice.

The Wildwood Tarot by authors Mark Ryan and John Matthews, art by Will Worthington

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Today’s Card: Draw strength from the Woodward

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Do you need some extra strength today? Perhaps you are needing to draw the line with someone or a situation. The Woodward is here today to lend his quiet strength.

Blessings!

THE WOODWARD 

Reading Points: Through adversity of the process of rebalancing in life, we find courage within ourselves that flows from an unknown source. Sometimes that courage has to do with facing unavoidable truth or dealing with a person or problem that no amount of physical confrontation or emotional bravery will resolve. The Woodward’s strength, drawn from nature’s inherent power to renew and overcome, is needed if we are to foresee what is to come and wait upon the turning of the seasons. Sometimes, when faced with a challenging situation, we must find our own inner backstop, the point from which we will not retreat or from which we can move forward with quiet confidence. The Wildwood ethos has much to teach humanity about calm, resolute strength. 

Description: A human hunter wearing a mountain lion mask holds a bloodied spear in one hand and the cup of giving, intoxication, and compassion in the other. From the crossbar of the spears haft hangs an ivory statuette of the oldest anthropomorphic figure found in Europe, a lion-headed human thought to be 30 thousand years old. A lynx sits at the figure’s side and an eagle swoops over his right shoulder. In the background, Silbury Hill symbolizes the harvest aligned to the sunrise at Lammas. The summer sun rises behind the Woodward, its rays painting the world gold. 

The Wildwood Tarot by authors Mark Ryan and John Matthews and artist Will Worthington

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Today’s Card: Go with the flow

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »

This is a beautiful card, and so it should be to help us realize that sometimes letting go is the best option. With some things, the more tightly we try to control things, the more they unravel. Trust in the Universe right now.

Blessings!

Flowing River

Meaning: Everything is falling into place because you aren’t resisting the drift of the great river of life. It’s time to let go. You’re entering a period of gracious ease and flow. All is unfolding perfectly and with good timing. When you’re in a state of flow, you aren’t pushing the river to go faster and you aren’t swimming against it. Let go of the shore and enjoy the ride.

Native Spirit Message: Rivers have personalities and carry energy, just as animals and plants do. From the Maoris to the Australian Aborigines and to other native cultures throughout the world, it’s believed that it’s important to listen to the language of the river. If you aren’t feeling the smooth currents of life, it might mean that you’re trying to control situations or that you’re being self-critical or judgmental. The way to move into flow is through gratitude and appreciation, and by allowing others to support and help you. 

Heed the Native American saying: “It’s best to ride the horse the direction that it’s going.” This means that when the card Flowing River chooses you, you’re being told to let go and go with the flow. If there is something or someone you need to forgive, this is the time. This is also the time to forgive yourself and just let go.

The Journey: As you shower and the water flows over your body, imagine that everything is flowing in your life. Spend time next to a river or stream and watch the flowering waters; use it as a metaphor to let go and enter the flow.

Native Spirit Oracle by author Denise Linn and artist Charles McStravick

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Today’s Card: Safe to accept admirer’s attentions, but be kind if you don’t

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Well, I’m back finally. The surgery did not go as planned, but I’ll probably talk about that more later. For today, the whimsy of the Victorian Flower Oracle drew my attention, and I realized I’d never shown you all the lovely design on the back of each card.

OK, so now on to today’s card. Do keep in mind that an admirer is not just a romantic one. If you’re an artist, it could be a potential patron. If you’re tackling something new, it could simply be a supporter. Open your mind to what this means and don’t crush people unnecessarily.

Cornflower & Poppy – An Admirer

Keywords & Phrases: A gallant suitor, a fan, someone who believes in you, a paramour, a patron or supporter, recognition of your talents

Meaning: In this picture, Cornflower and Poppy are elegant ladies, probably friends, in a cornfield. Cornflower wears a blue hat, naturally, while Poppy wear a red one. Two insects are at their feet, serenading them with fine music. It is a warm day at the height of summer, and all is well. The Cornflower is looking questioningly at her companion, as if to gauge a reaction to the insects. They are not the terrifying poisonous kind you might encounter in the tropics but, nonetheless, they are insects. Cornflower and Poppy, being elegant themselves, may have wished for more sophisticated admirers. Such is life. But these insects seem genuine; they do not contain a sting. What this image seems to say is that if you wish to take your admirer’s attention further, it is probably safe to do so. If you don’t it would probably be best to side-step your admirer carefully – s/he is quite a sensitive soul who could be easily crushed.

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

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Today’s Card: Loyalty and love is key this week

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Alright, today will be the last card posted for a week or so. Tomorrow, I go in for surgery, and I won’t be home for four to six days after and will probably take a couple days to get settled in at home.

As such, what a great card to hold us over for a week (including Valentine’s Day)! Being loyal doesn’t mean being stagnant – it means honoring the ideals and people you love as you grow and change. Dogs put up with a lot of change and crap from their humans, but the love and partnership we provide is why they do that.

On the flip side, keep in mind that blind loyalty isn’t good either. People do change, and it’s good to recognize that.

Have a great week and weekend – blessings!

Dog Spirit – Be Loyal To What You Love

Message: Dog Spirit appears to remind you that although change is a part of life and all of us are meant to evolve, our love and commitments remain strong. You are loved now and can trust that this higher love is true. Spirit loves you, and love has arrived in many forms now, manifesting in the people you surround yourself with, expressed uniquely through them. Dog also says be true to that which you love, for now is a time of good fortune. Be steady as you recognize that people and things are always transforming. Your heart is loving and true, and Dog Spirit wants you to know that your steadfast commitment to experience and expressing love will attract and manifest more love. You deserve all of it. Have faith in Spirit’s plan for you.

Protection Message: Loyalty to people and situations can turn into attachment that results in stagnation, enmeshment, and loss of integrity. Do you fear what will happen if you let a relationship evolve? Are you afraid that asking for a situation to change will make others see you as disloyal? Trust that when Dog Spirit appears, you are meant to accept the turning of the wheel of life and the changing of fortunes. If you feel you are being betrayed or are growing apart from someone, let Dog reconnect you with your commitment to love in all its forms. Perhaps a relationship is meant to evolve; perhaps you are meant to evolve too, so that you can experience the growth for which your soul yearns. Your greatest loyalty is to love, so be open to all its many guises, including self-love. You deserve the best, and that is what Spirit wants for you.

Spirit Animal Oracle by author Colette Baron-Reid and artist Jena DellaGrottaglia

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Today’s Card: Tap into enthusiasm for today’s endeavors

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Hija of Fire – California Poppy

Create with the enthusiasm of a beginner; boisterous play, then sweet sleep; light up the landscape with golden joy.

Magical objects lie on a bright yellow table: a stuffed tiger, a glitter wand, a small cauldron, and a mortar and pestle. Pictures of poppy plants are scattered about like oracle cards. Real flowers frame the edge of the table. A child wraps her dirt-stained fingers adorned with flashy jewels around an amber gazing ball.

Meaning: The Hija of Fire jumps at the chance to be creative. She cannot wait to begin a new project. She approaches everything with the playfulness of a child. Knowing the strong elixir of California poppy creates magic, she takes small but confident steps toward independence. She may have watched an elder many times, but now she makes medicine for herself. Just as California poppy flowers light up dry, wild desert meadows with their brilliant color, she stays open to the light, sways with the wind, and radiates delight.

Crafting with the Hija of Fire

• Craft fairy dolls from poppy flowers to inspire enthusiasm.

• Spend times gathering California poppy in a wild meadow and craft a relaxing elixir.

• Do a little guerrilla gardening with California poppy seeds; sprinkle joy everywhere you go.

Herbcrafter’s Tarot by author Latisha Guthrie and artist Joanna Powell Colbert

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Today’s Card: Have faith in what you’ve started

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Running a tad behind again – guess that’s what happens when you have no schedule to stay tuned with and sleep in. As we head into the weekend, trust that what you’ve started will come to fruition. It can be hard to be patient and have faith in things turning out OK, but hang in there. Your dreams and goals are not illusions, but sometimes they need a little water and sunshine to sprout.

Blessing!

Great Mystery

Meaning: Have faith and know that you’re divinely guided, even when you have doubts. Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be. Believe! You’ve planted your seeds; now allow the Creator to do the rest. Even if you can’t see into the future, have faith that the path will be illuminated and go forward. If you have any recurring challenges, turn them over to the Creator.

Native Spirit Wisdom: Many native cultures refer to the Creator as the Great Mystery. It’s the idea that Great Spirit is so vast and profound that, in many ways, it’s unknowable. Faith is the foundation of the ability to manifest. Everything was created because someone believed that it was possible – and patience is absolutely crucial in the application of this principle. Trust. Change can happen in a heartbeat, but some things require time. You’ve planted the seeds; now give them time to grow. Please be patient, and know that it will happen. Whatever receives your care and attention will flourish.

The Journey: If you just planted some seeds in your garden today, you wouldn’t go out tomorrow and yell at them because there wasn’t any fruit yet. So don’t dig up your seeds of faith! Remember this mantra: It’s happening! Repeat this phrase periodically, especially if you have doubts – and keep going.

Native Spirit Oracle by author Denise Linn and artist Charles McStravick

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Today’s Card: Wombat says learn to be comfy in your own skin

Posted in daily card reading, tagged , on February 3, 2022| 2 Comments »

This card made me laugh – in my area we are experiencing more snow than we’ve had in years, with school canceled for two days as a result. On top of that, my boyfriend and I both are positive for Covid this week, so we really have no choice but to be at home! On the plus side, we have a cozy home with lots of books, games and doodads that make it easier.

But this card speaks more to being comfortable in our skins than in our environment. Sometimes we create a mask, or as I like to say a “uniform,” when we don’t feel like we belong or are struggling emotionally. Today is a good day to work toward accepting ourselves even without that mask.

Blessings!

Wombat Spirit – Be at Home

Message: Burrowing deep into the ground, remaining safe, sound, and well-fed with family, is a special trait of the wombat. Home sweet home is always available if you recognize that well-being is the truth of life. Wombat Spirit reminds you that to be truly at home in the world, you need to find comfort within your own skin. You do this by accepting all your experience without judgment, through a deep honesty and love of life. When you feel the freedom to be yourself, you begin to truly feel at home in your life, wit your family and tribe. Right now you’re in a beautiful place where you can hang up the coat of your identity and settle in to a true sense of home and well-being, understanding that all is well. Everything you do from this place rings true in harmony with Spirit.

Protection Message: Could it be that you’re not feeling comfortable in your own skin, thinking that the only way you can be with others is to hide under the protection of a mask or identity you created to protect yourself from getting hurt? This mask or persona is supposed to make you look strong, but it really just robs you of your integrity.

Wombat Spirit arrive to nudge you to drop the false masks because it is not other who will hurt you now. It is you who are hurting yourself when you aren’t being authentic. It’s OK, though; you can course-correct if you are willing to be yourself no matter what comes. Even if others are not in agreement with your authenticity, you are safe with Spirit.

Spirit Animal Oracle by author Colette Baron-Reid and artist Jena DellaGrottaglia

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