The perfect way to for me spend part of the day on the Solstice was to go out to the lake. I packed up a sandwich, my swimsuit and towel, snacks, the DruidCraft, book and my journal and headed to the State Park. At 8:30 am, I was the only person at the beach. Aside from the workers cleaning the restrooms and changing trash bags, my only companions were a mama duck and her 10 ducklings.
I found Bodhran's Summer Solstice Spread in the spreads forum on AT(linked at the top right of my blog). It looked like the perfect spread for this occasion.
Placing The Sun in the center of the spread(who had already visited me this morning), I drew the cards.
1. During the Summer Solstice, more light is available to us. What in my life has been in shadow, that I need to shine a bright light on so I can see it clearly for what it is.
Seven of Pentacles-Another repeater from my Sunrise Fire reading this morning, in the mind position. For it to show up here is an indication to me to pay close attention to it. Here, obviously, the keywords in general apply: Magic, Spirituality, Research. These have lain neglected for too long.
2. The word Solstice comes for the latin "sol"(meaning sun) and "sistere"(meaning to cause to stand still). What in my life am I trying to force into happening when instead I need to be still and patient?
The Prince of Wands- He and his horse are charging ahead, in full gear, off to face his challenges. Yet his eyes are closed....(the court cards are a weak point for me, so this all comes from the book). The Prince of Wands is full of enthusiasm and energy. He loves to initiate projects and to have ideas, but he has truoble completing them - his eagerness is greater than his commitmenmt to seeing things through. For your personal development, it would be wise to work on cultivating reliability, attention to detail, commitment, and the ability to deliver on your promises-to yourself and to others."
~I need to stop planning "projects" and concentrate on fulfilling my promises(already made) to my "self". ~
*Added during my edits-however, considering the rest of my reading there is one project that needs starting and completing as it will be an integral part of my life.
3. The Solstice is often called the midsummer because it is roughly in the middle of the growing season. What in my life is fertile and productive now? What are my opportunities for growth?
Seven of Cups - A youth is gazing into a pool that reflects 6 cups, nothing more than visions. One full cup is by his side. This card talks about "dreams, ideas, visions we can conjur up within our soul. It is vital that we appreciate the difference between the world of imagination and the physical world."
In this position it's saying that I need to be careful to strike the delicate balance between my dreams and visions of what I want my life to become, and the practicality of achieving these goals in reality.
4. After Summer Solstice, the days gradually become shorter,and the Sun's strenth wanes as winter approaches. What is waning in my life? What do I need to release?
The Lady(Empress). Seeing this shocked me. I was baffled. What could possibly be good about allowing the Lady's energies wane? Reading the book description didn't help. As I sat and stared at the card, nothing came to me. Giving up, I went for a swim, and while I was floating around, the picture in my mind, I noticed the abundance again, so many things in her arms. An aspect I hadn't thought of-at least not in terms of something that needs releasing.
I've spent quite a bit over the last couple months on tarot decks, books, and craft supplies. Now a reduced schedule and car problems have left me very short on cash. My spending is done for awhile. This led me down a whole train of thought about the 'things' in my life that I've accumulated that have 'a' value, but not 'true' value on a higher level for me. A desire for developing a simpler lifestyle with less 'stuff' has haunted the back of my mind lately. Paring down some of the excess is the new project I mentioned, finding ways to live a simpler life.
The Solstice was a life-changing day for me. Spending time with the messages from these readings has been eye opening.
~Thanks For Stopping By~
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
My Solstice Readings, finally
It all started in the pre-dawn hours Monday morning. I'm an early bird anyway, and it being the longest day of the year, I decided to build a campfire and wait for the first signs of light. Kind of my own little fire festival to welcome Summer.
I brought out my DruidCraft and the lovely pouch that Mi-Shell designed for it and smudged them in my Solstice fire's smoke. Then sat down to do a simple Mind, Body, Spirit reading. It follows:
Mind-7 of Pentacles, shows a robed figure harvesting mistletoe with a curved sickle knife(a boline?). This card, for me, is an example of performing the sacred, the essential. Harvesting. And in the context of the mind-study, learning, a period of spiritual study.
Body-Queen of Pentacles, a queen with a very earthy essense, she's comfortable in who she is, expresses herself creatively(here, she's drumming). I get a sense of "pleasure in the simple" from her. *Acceptance of my physical self, yet a willingness to work to make healthy changes* While this isn't particularly demonstrated in the card, I feel that if we sat down to talk, that would be her advice to me.
Spirit- The Sun. Possibilities, potential, a sense of optimism(and the perfect card for a Solstice reading). A young child on horseback, he glows with this. In the position of Spirit, it indicates a period of connection to divinity, of growth. And at this time, for me, guidance on the direction of my spiritual path. A time for study and exploration to help define what my personal spirituality is evolving into.
While normally a 3 card draw, this reading became 4. As I moved the deck aside, the bottom card dropped and flipped face up, so, of course it-the 5 of Cups- was added, becoming the Self/shadow card. This card shows a lone robed figure facing the water, watching a fish jump(salmon), being chased by an otter(I know this because of the book). Behind him/her 2 full cups sit on a flat rock, 3 are spilled on the ground. For me, the cups on the ground are actions past, the 2 full cups possibilities yet to come. I see the figure in the card as myself, on a quest that can only be journeyed alone.
This reading blew me away, discussing study, experience, potential, acceptance of self. All things I've felt quite adrift in lately.
It is now the moment of the Solstice(7:28 am) and time to give thanks and spread out the ashes of my fire. For less than a heartbeat, time stands still, all sound ceases....it is now Summer.....
~Thanks For Stopping By~
I brought out my DruidCraft and the lovely pouch that Mi-Shell designed for it and smudged them in my Solstice fire's smoke. Then sat down to do a simple Mind, Body, Spirit reading. It follows:
Mind-7 of Pentacles, shows a robed figure harvesting mistletoe with a curved sickle knife(a boline?). This card, for me, is an example of performing the sacred, the essential. Harvesting. And in the context of the mind-study, learning, a period of spiritual study.
Body-Queen of Pentacles, a queen with a very earthy essense, she's comfortable in who she is, expresses herself creatively(here, she's drumming). I get a sense of "pleasure in the simple" from her. *Acceptance of my physical self, yet a willingness to work to make healthy changes* While this isn't particularly demonstrated in the card, I feel that if we sat down to talk, that would be her advice to me.
Spirit- The Sun. Possibilities, potential, a sense of optimism(and the perfect card for a Solstice reading). A young child on horseback, he glows with this. In the position of Spirit, it indicates a period of connection to divinity, of growth. And at this time, for me, guidance on the direction of my spiritual path. A time for study and exploration to help define what my personal spirituality is evolving into.
While normally a 3 card draw, this reading became 4. As I moved the deck aside, the bottom card dropped and flipped face up, so, of course it-the 5 of Cups- was added, becoming the Self/shadow card. This card shows a lone robed figure facing the water, watching a fish jump(salmon), being chased by an otter(I know this because of the book). Behind him/her 2 full cups sit on a flat rock, 3 are spilled on the ground. For me, the cups on the ground are actions past, the 2 full cups possibilities yet to come. I see the figure in the card as myself, on a quest that can only be journeyed alone.
This reading blew me away, discussing study, experience, potential, acceptance of self. All things I've felt quite adrift in lately.
It is now the moment of the Solstice(7:28 am) and time to give thanks and spread out the ashes of my fire. For less than a heartbeat, time stands still, all sound ceases....it is now Summer.....
~Thanks For Stopping By~
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Poker anyone?
I haven't been here in a month. That seems to be a bad habit of mine. One that's been added to the "To Do" list, well breaking it...anyways...
June 12th, New Moon, time for a look at where I am and what the coming month holds for me.
Eowyn's New Moon Spread
..3..
..2..
..1..
..0..
1. What lays on your dark depths. What is unseen. What we stumble against in the dark nights. 8 of Cups. A mermaid swimming toward the depths, holding one cup while 7 others float in a swirl around her. This "is" what I stumble against in the dark. Going to those depths. Out of fear, lack of concentration, distractions, whatever you want to call it, I never manage to get to those depths where I'll find wholeness, answers. It seems to be a month that will have me looking deeper-Im sure it's past time for me to be doing this kind of personal work.
2. What will begin to show, to arise. 8 of Swords. With the shadows(skulls) of others underfoot, the swan entrapped inside the circle of swords is frustrated, using energy better spent in finding solutions(which that cute little hummingbird has, by the way). I have found myself beating my wings in useless wastes of energies of late, while ignoring/avoiding my solutions.
3. What will illuminate the dark path. The key in the night. 8 of Pentacles. Whoa, THREE 8's, hence the title. I see a spider's web with 8 bright orbs caught in the webbing. The spider sits in the center. She's got what she needs to survive/ feed. So do I. Spiders represent knowledge, and I believe her message to me is to use the resources I have, to be prepared to do the work that is required. Her web is large and intricate, that took some diligent work to create. Strand by strand, that's how to go about things.
0. Yourself. The shadow card from the base of the deck. The Hermit. Why am I not surprised to see this card here? I am the Hermit, alone on the mountaintop. However the scene is well lit, the moon shines behind me and my lantern glows brightly. Perhaps the Hermit's accumulated wisdom will be a guiding force in my life at this time. As she's gazing to the left(associated with the past), I think that I may find some of my answers by solving/healing things from the past. (Well, duh)
Some thoughts on putting this all together.
Cups = emotional issues.
Swords = inspiration, seeking knowledge.
Pentacles = manifestation, actions, physical world.
And then there's all those 8's.
8 = strength. This indicates that I'll need my strengths in place. Things aren't going to come all that easy, but in order to move forward, "must" be dealt with, methodically and thoroughly.
The Hermit = Well, who else can carry out all this work? It is a very solitary pursuit.
I've just kind of let things slide, lately. Felt adrift, no focus. I can procrastinate and dream with the best of them. I'm usually energized and inspired at this time of year, "usually", but not so this year. This reading is a wake-up call that the slacking is over that it's time for some serious work to begin, get myself re-organized, take care of the small details that I've let go. The clutter(details) has built up around me and now must be cleared in order to focus on my personal work ahead.
When I began working with the DruidCraft for my PDR, I got some very seriously personal readings and wasn't inclined to share them here, so I switched decks intending to do some more general readings. The Shadowscapes has proved to be the same way. So, I'm not going to fight it, I'm going to start sharing more of the readings, and insights here.
*and yes, I did notice that the 8 of Swords was in the last reading that I recorded here*
~Thanks For Stopping By~
Leigh
June 12th, New Moon, time for a look at where I am and what the coming month holds for me.
Eowyn's New Moon Spread
..3..
..2..
..1..
..0..
1. What lays on your dark depths. What is unseen. What we stumble against in the dark nights. 8 of Cups. A mermaid swimming toward the depths, holding one cup while 7 others float in a swirl around her. This "is" what I stumble against in the dark. Going to those depths. Out of fear, lack of concentration, distractions, whatever you want to call it, I never manage to get to those depths where I'll find wholeness, answers. It seems to be a month that will have me looking deeper-Im sure it's past time for me to be doing this kind of personal work.
2. What will begin to show, to arise. 8 of Swords. With the shadows(skulls) of others underfoot, the swan entrapped inside the circle of swords is frustrated, using energy better spent in finding solutions(which that cute little hummingbird has, by the way). I have found myself beating my wings in useless wastes of energies of late, while ignoring/avoiding my solutions.
3. What will illuminate the dark path. The key in the night. 8 of Pentacles. Whoa, THREE 8's, hence the title. I see a spider's web with 8 bright orbs caught in the webbing. The spider sits in the center. She's got what she needs to survive/ feed. So do I. Spiders represent knowledge, and I believe her message to me is to use the resources I have, to be prepared to do the work that is required. Her web is large and intricate, that took some diligent work to create. Strand by strand, that's how to go about things.
0. Yourself. The shadow card from the base of the deck. The Hermit. Why am I not surprised to see this card here? I am the Hermit, alone on the mountaintop. However the scene is well lit, the moon shines behind me and my lantern glows brightly. Perhaps the Hermit's accumulated wisdom will be a guiding force in my life at this time. As she's gazing to the left(associated with the past), I think that I may find some of my answers by solving/healing things from the past. (Well, duh)
Some thoughts on putting this all together.
Cups = emotional issues.
Swords = inspiration, seeking knowledge.
Pentacles = manifestation, actions, physical world.
And then there's all those 8's.
8 = strength. This indicates that I'll need my strengths in place. Things aren't going to come all that easy, but in order to move forward, "must" be dealt with, methodically and thoroughly.
The Hermit = Well, who else can carry out all this work? It is a very solitary pursuit.
I've just kind of let things slide, lately. Felt adrift, no focus. I can procrastinate and dream with the best of them. I'm usually energized and inspired at this time of year, "usually", but not so this year. This reading is a wake-up call that the slacking is over that it's time for some serious work to begin, get myself re-organized, take care of the small details that I've let go. The clutter(details) has built up around me and now must be cleared in order to focus on my personal work ahead.
When I began working with the DruidCraft for my PDR, I got some very seriously personal readings and wasn't inclined to share them here, so I switched decks intending to do some more general readings. The Shadowscapes has proved to be the same way. So, I'm not going to fight it, I'm going to start sharing more of the readings, and insights here.
*and yes, I did notice that the 8 of Swords was in the last reading that I recorded here*
~Thanks For Stopping By~
Leigh
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