Today’s Card: Mugwort opens our ability to see clearly

February 10, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

Today might be a good time to step back and gain some insight if your path seems confusing or littered with obstacles. We need to be able to understand our true motivations for our actions and choices – which is easier said than done!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Thistle

Mugwort

Prophecy, Clairvoyance, Protection (also Confusion, Indecisiveness, Negativity)

The card shows Mugwort growing on a riverbank. Its flowers have not yet fully opened as it is Midsummer’s Eve, the time when tradition dictates that its leaves should be gathered. A full moon can be seen between the summer clouds, and the moonlight on the surface of the water reminds us that Mugwort is reputed to aid in the ancient art of scrying, whereby the seer gazes onto the surface of water or into a crystal ball to divine the future.

Meaning: Using an oracle such as this can help you to see beyond the everyday. But in addition to reading the words on this page, you need to engage your intuitive abilities so that you can sense the card’s meaning in a way that is valuable in the context of your own life. Choosing this card in a reading may suggest that condition are propitious for the development of your intuitive powers. Mugwort is said to aid in the work of prophecy and clairvoyance, which means “clear-seeing.” Rather than developing any psychic power for its own sake, the Druid seeks to develop the ability to see and understand things clearly, and it may be that such a clarity is a quality that you need to seek in your present situation. You can only achieve the objectivity necessary for clear-seeing when you are untroubled – when you feel safe and secure emotionally. Mugwort is a powerful herb of protection and can help to create an atmosphere of safety that banishes all negative influences while also connecting you to your inner source of strength and healing.

On the flip side, there are times when it seems almost impossible to see things clearly. There is such turbulence in your inner or outer life that it is hard to come to any kind of objective decision about how you should react or behave. If you have chosen this card reversed, it may indicate that you are finding it hard to come to a decision or to see the way forward. It may be that you simply need to wait for the situation to change – for the turbulent waters to become still again, so that you can gaze onto the surface to know yourself again – to see your reflection clearly once more. And then, looking beyond yourself toward the moon reflected in the water, perhaps you will be able to discern your deeper purpose and the choices you should make. In the meantime, ask yourself how much time you spend in critical thought, and to what degree you blame other people or situations for your current difficulties. It may be that you need to find ways to dispel negative influences in your life, and the best place to begin is within your own heart and mind.

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

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Today’s Card: Let go of obsessive pursuits with Moth

February 7, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

It’s easy to get obsessive nowadays – whole online platforms are designed to make you obsessively check them. We can binge our favorite shows without a weekly wait between episodes. But sometimes, slowing down and doing some other things is good. Take a look at how you are spending your time. Do you need to let go of something that isn’t moving forward no matter what you do? Are you putting all your free time into escapism without creating, moving, or connecting? It’s time for a change.

Blessings,

Thistle

Moth Spirit – Surrender Now

Message: Moth Spirit asks what is guiding you right now? Are you in alignment with Spirit or pursuing something or someone with so much tenacity that it has become a compulsion or addiction? Are you so intoxicated by a potential relationship or opportunity that you can’t think straight?

Hard work and dedication are virtues, and love of course is a beautiful thing. However, when Moth appears, it is time to consider if you have gone over the edge in a relentless pursuit. Workaholism, overeating, perfectionism, or addiction to certainty or even to a person may be your current vice. The form of your addict does not matter so much as your awareness of the consequences of remaining persistent when moderation is needed. Let go of your excessive energy by channeling it in more than one direction. The fire burns not, and you do not want to be engulfed by your passion to the exclusion of all the other pursuits that matter to you.

Now is time for a surrender and for radical acceptance so that your drive does not cause you to flee or fight. Spirit wants you to release your need for certainty and control so that you can relax into a more balanced way of using your Moth Spirit energy. Banish the “shoulds” and “musts” so that you can enjoy what is as you allow for what might be.

Protection Message: Moth Spirit can be intense, and honesty about your own compulsive tendencies is needed right now. It is to easy to switch from one addiction to another, distracting yourself from the discomfort of uncertainty and the thoughts and emotions that arise when you aren’t single-mindedly pursuing a goal. Moth calls to you to practice moderation in all things and recognize when you think you are headed toward the light but are really heading into a fire that will cause burnout. Why are you so resistant to letting up? Could you be avoiding difficult emotions you need to feel and release? Now is a time to do a fearless inventory so that your addictive tendencies can be toned down and rechanneled into enthusiastic activity in moderation. Listen to Moth’s message that a change is needed to support your well being

Maybe, deep down, you know you have become too attached to something or someone. Let go of your need to control the outcome and allow yourself to remember the many ways you want to channel your energy – to relationships, to work, to giving to others, to self-care, and to all the other pursuits you value.

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

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Today’s Card: Balance opposite interests, skills for prosperity with Witch Hazel

February 6, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

This is the first time pulling this card, and what a fitting one for this time of year (well, for us in the Northern Hem). I’ve always wanted a witch hazel in my local landscape – they are beautiful and fascinating trees. While many days during the Imbolc season suggest recharging and giving yourself time, this pick encourages us to use our skills and pursue our varied interests today. Something may blossom from it even in this wintry season.

Blessings,

Thistle

Two of Earth – Witch Hazel

Full hands, rich life; balance on the edges of depth and lightness; find joy in the moment.

A blanket of fresh snow covers the ground on a winter day. The vibrant yellow flowers of a witch hazel tree illuminate the scene. The other plants on the land are brittle and leafless. Colored ribbons are tied to the tree’s branches. A family of healthy blue tits emerges from a woven birdhouse for a midday snack.

Meaning: A busy life is an abundant life. Your many skills are called to task at once. Witch hazel is valued for providing multiple functions: food and refuge for birds, flexible branches for baskets, and bark for medicine. Flowering in the winter, witch hazel blends the edges of winter and spring, grief and joy, depth and lightness. The ability to old the tension of opposite interests brings prosperity. Your stability may feel at risk, but as the flowers promise, relief is not far off. When the world shifts around you, find solid ground in the present moment. Like witch hazel blossoms that brighten a monochromatic winter landscape, adding levity to your tasks will lighten your load.

Crafting with Two of Earth:

• Decorate a leafless tree with strands of ribbon for each of your blessings.
• Place fresh flowers or an image of the blooming tree on your altar in difficult times.
• Cultivate joy. Hang birdhouses from winter trees and pause to sing with the birds while you work.

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

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Today’s Card: Take courageous action today

February 3, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

The world we live in is filled with things and people that cause anxiety and stress, but that’s not an excuse to shut down. Yes, take the time you need to calm and recenter yourself, but then move forward and find a way to be part of the world.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thistle

Warrior of the Heart

Meaning: You have the radiant spirit of a warrior of the light. Be impeccable in all of your actions. No matter what others believe, the Creator always knows the truth. This isn’t the time to be timid and pull back. Immense courage is filling you. Throw your shoulders back, step forward, and take a risk! Be willing to live life from your heart rather than you mind. Honor your truth. Speak up for yourself.

Native Spirit Wisdom: The greatest native warriors weren’t the ones who wounded the most people; they were those remarkable beings who had such personal power that enemies lay down their weapons rather than fight. There are times in life to step back and even times to walk away, but there are also times to stand up for yourself and those less advantaged. Don’t allow yourself to be limited by your belief system. Courage doesn’t mean that you aren’t afraid. Fearless means just that: Fear less. Acknowledge that you’re frightened, and take action anyway! Face your anxiety and go beyond the boundaries of limited perception of yourself. Through your example, people find and act on their truth. You’re a light bearer for others.

The Journey:  List everything that you are afraid of. Then next to that list, write every reason why it is important to overcome that fear. (In other words, what does that fear cost you?) Then make a list of the various ways that you can overcome that fear.

Native Spirit Oracle by author Denise Linn and artist Charles McStravick

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Today’s Card: Build, celebrate community with Bee

February 2, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

Interestingly, the Owl was another strong contender in the spread this morning, but its meaning leans toward the opposite (detachment, wisdom, and change). However, the Bee energy fairly buzzed on my hand, so I suspect the Owl might be for me personally while the Bee is the universal card today.

So, this card is telling us to look at how we fit into the community and to raise a glass to our communal bonds. Not many people are truly on their own in this world, thought it may feel that way sometimes. It is not a flaw to need others sometimes – or for others to need you.

Blessings,

Thistle

BEE (Beach) – Community, Celebration, Organization

The card shows a queen bee resting on a stone. In the background we see the House of Mead Circling at Tara as it may have looked at the height of its powers. In the sky, the noonday sun shines brightly and we see Ur, heather, growing by the rock that is carved with the Ur Ogham.

Meaning: Beach invites us to celebrate. You may have special reason for celebration, or you may simply need to celebrate the wonder of being alive. You may like to enjoy a glass or two of mead, which – if it has been made in Scotland – will carry the scent of heather, and will bring you closer to the spirit of the highlands. In the Druid tradition, there are occasions to celebrate every six weeks or so. As human beings we need to have times when we can come together to enjoy each other’s company. The bee tells us that we can live together in harmony, however, impossible as this may sometimes seem. By being at one with the natural world, by paying homage to the sun, by centering our lives around Spirit or the Goddess, we can work together in community.

The card may also indicate that you are feeling out of place – unsure of your role in the world. A beehive functions harmoniously because each bee knows its role and the work it must do – consequently it is highly productive and plays an important role in the local ecology. We talk of a productive work environment as a hive of activity. If you find you are lacking in motivation or are feeling isolated from the community that surrounds you, you may need some bee medicine. A modern English folk healer uses bee stings therapeutically to cure asthma and other ailments, and you may need to prod yourself into action before others do the prodding for you. If you find this applies to you, spend some time thinking about your role in life, and then make decisions in accordance with your sense of purpose and the resulting goals that this engenders. Remember that the bee knows the value of organization, of paying homage to the Goddess and the sun, and of working hard. Remember too that she call us to a celebration of life and an inner recognition of our membership of the community of all Nature.

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

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Today’s Card: – Salmon represents sacrifice, wisdom but brings joy

January 31, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

First of all, Blessed Imbolc Eve! This is one of my favorite holy days, as I love this time of recharging and I am a dedicant to Brigid. May you be cozy, safe, and guarding your energy now.

OK, today’s card features the Salmon, an important and honored creature in Celtic lore as it represents wisdom. While salmon were important for nourishing the body, symbolically they nourish our spirit and mind. What does the Queen of Vessels say to you today?

Blessings!

Thistle

QUEEN OF VESSELS – SALMON

READING POINTS: Deeply caring and kind, the Queen’s spirit draws upon the great honesty, generosity, and self-sacrifice that she sees in you. She brings joy to the darkest places and addresses the most difficult problems with grace and civility.

MEANING: Sacred in most shamanic systems for many reasons, the Salmon’s ability to swim upstream to its birthplace and spawn is one of its most remarkable feats. The journey leaves the Salmon exhausted and most die in the attempt; thus, they represent self-sacrifice and wisdom. Salmon were said to swim in pools overhung by hazel trees and to eat the nuts of wisdom that fell in autumn.

TRACKS & PATHWAYS: Virtue, kindness, simplicity and devotion, a caring individual, to cherish or pamper, joyfulness and recovery, and security

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

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Today’s Card: Butterfly Spirit leads us through dark times to our creative, beautiful self

January 27, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

Here is a lovely card, in image and meaning, to head into the weekend with.

Blessings!

Thistle

Butterfly Spirit – Transformation is Beautiful

Message: Joy and the beautiful lightness of being alive and creative in the world is the focus when Butterfly Spirit flutters before you. Transformation is inevitable as you grow into your most beautiful, empowered self. Indeed, you will go through some uncomfortable stages as you let go of the forms of your life that no longer fit the new you. Even relationships must go through shifts to match your new emerging self. If you focus on the beauty and not the challenges, stop taking yourself too seriously, and choose to to be playful, loving, and joyous, you will soon know the miracle your soul wants to experience through you. Today is a day for joy, so alight! Look around and see the beauty that is everywhere and in everyone, including you.

Protection Message: Transformation doesn’t have to be as traumatic or dramatic as things may seem to be right now. Remember, change is the only true constant; when you resist it, you create a tension within you as you refuse to accept the inevitable. In this moment, you might have forgotten the beauty and joy of life as it moves through its seasons, as nature dictates. You are being faced with a choice now. You can struggle with the current condition, refusing to surrender, and see through the lens of lack and loss, or you can surrender to the grace that is calling you to allow life to take its course, moving through the sadness and disappointment. Surrender will soften you, inviting you to bask in gratitude and see through the lens of curiosity; these are the key to tuning in to the infinite potential available to you now. Butterfly Spirit knows the beauty and delight you are on the brink of discovering. Let go and trust that it is there for you.

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

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Today’s Card: Make room for healing, wisdom with White Sage

January 26, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

In this deck, the Five cards are represented by threatened plant species as the cards highlight threat, conflict, and adversity. White Sage is frequently used and heralded for purification and cleansing; however, the plant is endangered and over harvested in the wild. There are many other plants and trees that can be used, including rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, garden sage, sweet grass, and cedar. Some of these are cultivated and grown in gardens while others can be found out in the wilds. Work with some of these others to see which ones feel right energetically to smudge and cleanse spaces.

OK, the Five of Air is telling us to challenge our beliefs and make room for growth and healing as we do. There is often more than one way to go about something, so consider a different method or ideology if your current one is keeping you held back or even hurting you.

Blessings,

Thistle

Five of Air – White Sage

Long-held beliefs may not be rooted in reality; refuse to go along with the crowd; believe the threatened, oppressed ones.

A healthy white sage plant grows in a pot on a well-worn concrete doorstep. The plant is small but strong; the home sold but well cared for. A basket holds sprigs of the freshly harvested sage. Several leaves are wrapped Ito bundles with red string; the loose leaves will be saved for medicine. Nothing will be wasted.

Meaning: A spiritual crisis challenges long-held beliefs. Though your conscience pulls at you, you are reluctant to let go of your opinions. Rise to the challenge; accept the truth. White sage has become a trendy spiritual tool. It is sacred to many of the indigenous people of North America whose traditions are widely misused. Development and erosion also threaten the survival of this species. White sage is teaching us to protect what is holy. It rids the air of toxins but is also a valued medicinal. Clear the path. Listen to others and make room for healing. Seek a solution that is beneficial to all.

Crafting with Five of Air:

• Familiarize yourself with the origins of your spiritual tools, where the botanicals are grown, and where the practices come from.
• Get to know plants local to you for burning in sacred rituals of your own making.
• Listen to the conservationists. Support United Plant Savers efforts to preserve this plant.

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

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Witch’s Brew: Thistle’s Sunshine & Roses Jelly

January 25, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

One of the best things about making jelly, jam, and other preserves is the ability to jar up some of the bright scents and flavors of summer to enjoy any time of year. That’s a nice boon when the weather heads toward late winter with gray, muddy days. Thanks to modern grocery stores and herb shops, this summery jelly can be made any time of year.

Sunshine & Roses Jelly is a recipe I created because I couldn’t find a recipe for what was in my head (a rare thing in this Internet age). There might be something like it now, but there certainly wasn’t 10 or 12 years ago. The love of these flavors combined came from a Middle Eastern-inspired cake flavored with lemon and rosewater that I made for Mother’s Day one year (my Mom was a big fan of lemon desserts). Then I read how it was popular during the Victorian era to make jellies from flowers and herbs. As creating new flavors of jelly and jam is something I enjoy (really, why make something you can buy in the store?), I decided to try using rose buds with lemon zest and juice for a jelly.

This unique jelly was the result. Some of my friends who are diehard fans of it, one even referring to it as “divine nectar.” Some people can’t stand it, but to each their own. I like using it for a jelly thumbprint cookie or fluffy biscuits – it’s a delicate and unexpected flavor.

There are a couple notes about making this. 1) Do not use florist roses, which are full of chemicals. If using roses you grow yourself, note that Damask roses are considered the best for flavoring – a lot of hybrid teas will look gorgeous but not work well for this. I usually buy dried rosebuds or petals from a local herb shop or from the Mountain Rose Herbs online store. 2) Do not let the infusion cool for much longer than what the recipe calls for. You think you can leave it to cool longer, but it can become bitter and not make a very nice jelly.

Like the idea of making jelly but never done it? It’s not that hard and only requires a few specials items in your kitchen. Check out these posts on PTM’s (rather neglected) sister blog, Hodgepodge Alley. Learn some of the basics of making jelly and jam and understand the difference between powder and liquid pectin.

Thistle’s Sunshine & Roses Jelly

2-1/2 cups water

1-3/4 cups dried rosebuds or rose petals*

Zest of two medium lemons

Juice of two medium lemons plus 2 more tablespoons of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of rose water

4 cups sugar

1 package of liquid pectin

½ teaspoon of margarine, optional (to reduce foam)

Wash and sterilize four 8-ounce jelly jars and lids. Get any other items you need, such as a canning funnel, ladle, and jar tongs. Have a deep stockpot or waterbath canner filled with water and getting hot as you work. 

Put the rosebuds, zest, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, then cover and lower heat to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes. Note: Do be careful not to let the infusion cool too long as it can become bitter.

Pour the infusion through a strainer or jelly bag and squeeze out as much of the moisture as you can into a large saucepan. Stir in the lemon juice, rose water, margarine, and sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pectin and return to a full boil, stirring constantly, for two minutes. 

Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Ladle the jelly into the jars, leaving a ¼-inch empty space at the top. Carefully wipe off any jelly from the jar rims and seal with the lids and metal rings hand tight. Place the jars in the water bath canner of boiling water, making sure water is at least an inch above the top of the jars. Process for 5 minutes; then remove to cool. 

*Be sure to use roses that are safe to consume. DO NOT use florist roses, which are full of chemicals. I typically buy them from a local herb store or online at Mountain Rose Herbs.

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Today’s Card: Balance wild solar energies with the Green Woman

January 24, 2023 by Thistle in Avalon

The Wildwood mythos is mysterious and, as its name suggests, wild. The Green Woman archetype balances some of the wildness by connecting us to the physically and spiritually nurturing aspects of this mythic land. It’s time to seek some of this wildness but temper it with the healing energies of this figure. For some, it might be time to initiated into the Wildwood.

Blessings,

Thistle

The Green Woman

READING POINTS: Appearing at a time of rich nurturing and protection, of learning and initiation, when loving and fertile relationships (both human and universal) abound, the Green Woman mediates the sacred sovereignty of the Earth’s soul and can show the path to understanding and communion with nature. But with this blessing comes responsibility. Remember that this glorious, magnanimous and generous spirit can live through you, radiated by the sacred breath of life and given to others who need guidance and healing. Learn from the abundant and joyous spirit of the Earth and be at one with the world and your true self.

DESCRIPTION: The Green Woman, disgorger of nature, crowned with ferns and wild roses, breaths the divine word of life. Her calm, serene expression is steady and full of graceful sovereignty. Around her neck is the golden Celtic gorget representing the sun throughout the year. The golden amber cup before her has within it the milk of love and nurturing and the sheela-na-gig on its side represents the life force of all women. The Green Woman symbolizes the forest at midsummer. Here, amid the luxuriant foliage, small animals and birds of the Wildwood live and build their homes, creating a whole ecosystem within the branches and a safe haven for the innocent and vulnerable beneath its roots.

MEANING: The Green Woman encompasses the female archetype of wildness and green energy. Her presence balances that of the wild man and represents the earthly manifestation of female solar energy and the rich bounty of the Great Mother. She also represents the goddess of the land, sometimes expressed as Sovereignty, who challenges all comers to brave her tests and to offer to those who succeed the gifts of inner kingship and love and a deepening bond to the riches of the Earth. From her pours the glorious light of the midsummer sun, blessing everything it touches with life and boundless energy.

This figure is complex and subtle but highly dynamic in her interaction with anyone who seeks to understand the nature of the Wildwood mythos. She mediates the sacred blessing of earthly fertility and the beasts that inhabit it and forms a deep bond with the seeker who wishes to attune to the rhythm of the Wheel of the Year.

In the Arthurian tradition, she validates the kingship of Arthur by bringing him the sacred sword and establishes him as a guardian of the Hallows of Britain, sometimes appearing as the Lady of the Lake, who fosters both Arthur himself as well as the young hero Lancelot. In other stories she manifests as the Flower Bride, sought after by more than one of Arthur’s great knights and offering the deep bonds of matrimony and joy to those with whom she shares her bounty. At its heart, her sacred role is the initiator of the human individual into the realm of the Wildwood.

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

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