I have finally settled in and feel back in balance with my regular schedule after an adventurous vacation in Mexico. One of the highlights of my holiday in Mexico was a visit to the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza. The astounding ruins reminded me of a tarot reading I did where both the Death Card and the Sun Card sat harmoniously together. The two cards may feel like opposites, but like Chichen Itza, they hold compatible energies that illuminate transformation, rebirth, and a sacred reverence for the passage of time - lessons that deeply resonate with the approaching Winter Solstice.
The Platform of the Skulls reminded me of the Death Card. It is believed this platform was a place that displayed the decapitated heads of sacrificed victims and captives from war. Here there are carvings of skulls in the walls, but also of warriors, sacrifice, and blossoming fruit trees. The Tempolo de Kukulacan, or El Castillo, is the centerpiece of Chichen Itza and dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulacan. El Castillo feels like a living site to me, and seeing that the structure meticulously chronicles their calendar through reminds me of the Sun Card. At the base of El Castillo's stairs are serpent sculptures, and at each spring and autumn equinox the sun casts shadows along these stairs, creating the illusion of a serpent slithering down the pyramid. And, what we are looking at is layer three: there are two structures underneath it, the first being a complete mystery to archaeologists. Even more intriguing are the archeo-acoustics of El Castillo: if you clap at its base an eerie high pitched chirp reverberates through the area. This chirping is said to be in honor of the Resplendent Quetzal, a bird revered by the Mayans.
In the simplest sense the Death card indicates transition, transformation, and the endings of cycles. The Sun indicates hope, abundance, good health, good fortune, and rebirth. For me, the Death and Sun cards show the passage of time and the wondrous cyclical nature of existence, both on a very personal level and on a grander scale. Great civilizations rise and fall, and as they do we breathe in deeply and expressively sing the songs of their history and mythology. While roaming Chichen Itza I was reminded of the the Mayan calendar's conclusion of a "Grand Cycle" in 2012, and how the death of one cycle also heralds the birth of a new one. Change can be difficult for some to handle, and it can be easy to react instinctively to change with resistance or fear. But change can lead to opportunities for personal growth, gained wisdom, and new perspectives. Passage and transition is always happening, and even when we feel blocked or stuck, time is still moving forwards. Nothing is stationary, progress can be refreshing and beneficial. If you find the Death and Sun Cards appearing in your tarot readings, consider what in your life is coming to a close and how this might actually be and opportunity for personal growth. Endings of jobs, relationships, and chapters are natural. George Harrison sings “All Things Must Pass” and also “Here Comes the Sun.” So, perhaps consider that when an old cycles concludes a new one awaits you with brighter, more powerful, and more fulfilling opportunities. Acknowledge the stress and challenges of evolution, but celebrate the rewards of it as well.
Tarot Reflections: The Magician in Mercury Retrograde
The Magician represents raw creative energy. His talent is taking spiritual and mental concepts and manifesting them into a physical reality. I have always been partial to the Magician card, I think in part because of its bright colors and garden landscape, but also because he is about to begin a ritual. He holds a wand towards the sky and also points his finger to the ground, his pose embodying the magical phrase “As above, so below.” He has everything he needs to succeed. The tools lay in front of him to perform to initiate magic and create the results he desires.
The Magician appears to remind you that this can be a time of action. You may have brilliant ideas, creative breakthroughs, or even hear or sense spiritual messages. It’s time to do something with all of this organic magic inside of you waiting to come out.
He is ruled by the planet Mercury, planet of communication, speech, travel, intellect, adaptability, and perception. I enjoy reflecting on the Magician during Mercury Retrograde, which is occurring right now, and for me has been a challenging time. For anyone else struggling with the intensity of this Mercury Retrograde, let the Magician help redirect you back to your magical altar: the tools of success and manifestation are in front of you.
Here are a few suggestions for Magician activities, if he is resonating with you today. I have tried to be mindful of this suggestive list to keep it sensitive to the current energies of Mercury Retrograde:
Say the following powerful words out loud: “I forgive myself.” Double up this power and say: “I forgive you.”
The Magician is sometimes connected to trickster energy, originally being depicted as a street gambler. Be mindful of the words and intentions of others. Look to see if the words match the actions. Keep your distance from those with nothing nice to say of others. Only add to conversations that enhance success as opposed to lessening others.
Sing, chant, pray, or use incantations to ask for clarity, direction, guidance, success, and support through transitions.
Think about a major project that you want to manifest and share with the world. Build out a timeline, outline, and/or brain map to begin plotting out the path to this project’s creation and ultimate completion.
Write a letter, whether you intend to share it or not. Consider writing the letter to someone you wish to reconnect with, or even yourself. Just be mindful during Mercury Retrograde to resist the temptation to contact an Ex!
Wear or diffuse a blend of sandalwood and lavender oil to conjure hopeful, and soothing thoughts.
Read ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Meet with a therapist or life coach to discuss dreams and develop realistic plans to make those dreams a reality. Or, seek out a teacher who can help you deepen your knowledge and strengthen your natural skill sets.
Practice a grounding activity. This can be an activity that brings your attention to your body and it’s interaction with the earth below it. This can be as simple as sitting in the Child’s Pose, or planting your feet firmly on the ground and visualizing roots growing from the soles of your feet deep into the earth.
Pull three cards for the Magician. Card 1 represents a project you need to focus on right now. Card 2 represents a creative talent you need to explore. Card 3 represents a magical talent or spiritual practice you need to study.
Strange suggestion, but I always share clairaudient hits, and today when I look at the Magician card I hear Gandalf reading the magical inscription on the doors to Moria: “Speak, friend, and enter.”
Tarot Reflections: The Death Card
The Death Card has been appearing in many readings I have given over the past week, and rightly so. We are all feeling a shifting, transformative, and Otherworldly energy. It is apparent in the air, in the moods we are feeling, and in the nature of the world right now. I believe the reason we are feeling it so strongly and deeply right now is threefold: we are experiencing the New Moon in Scorpio, Samhain is approaching, and the Veil that separates our world from the Otherworld is thin. Today I would like to talk about the transformative energy of the New Moon in Scorpio and the Death Card. I will circle back later in the week to discuss Samhain and the Veil in greater detail.
The New Moon in Scorpio is an intense time where you may be working through some challenging emotions. Perhaps those bad habits, difficult relationships, or burdensome emotions that you left on the backburner all summer are now at the forefront of your attention. You may feel annoyed, angry, or depressed. Now is the time to examine those feelings and remove those difficult patterns and habits from your life. If you are having negative feelings try and identify what triggers them. You cannot turn away from whatever is causing suffering in your life now: these things need to be examined, understood, honored, and released. These lessons are similar in the Death Card, which happens to be ruled by Scorpio.
In the Smith-Waite deck, the Death Card depicts a skeleton in a black suit of armor. He rides a pale horse, a reference to Death in the Book of Revelations. Various figures respond to him in fear or discomfort, with the exception of a child who innocently offers him flowers. Tarot reader and author Madame Pamita observes that Death doesn’t carry a scythe, but instead carries a flag with a rose on it. This suggests that the Death card does not deal out scary or violent changes. He does however, impact everyone around him, showing that change is an inevitable and indiscriminate reality. As George Harrison sings: “All things must pass.”
In the background of the card the sun is rising through two pillars, show the dawn of opportunity. Perhaps the pillars represent a portal point, or a gate to the Otherworld, like the space where the sun peaks through sacred monoliths to mark the passage of seasons. The Death Card appears when we lean into change. Change is certain, loss is painful, and the removal of things that have become familiar to us can be brutal – especially if you are anything like me and stubborn to change. But, there is one thing you can keep in mind while experiencing transition: you can control of your reaction to change. So, I urge you to pass through those pillars, move towards that monolithic portal, and accept that the hard work must be done. You will ultimately be gifted wisdom through the evolution of mind, spirit, and magic.
Every time I write about a tarot card, I like to look at its imagery and discover something in it that I may have not noticed before. This time I have noticed the small sailboat on the river in behind Death. Some have said this is the river Styx from Greek mythology, the river that travels to the Underworld of Hades. Rivers have been places of power in many ancient cultures and myths. The sailboat in the Death conjures images of water flowing towards endings, inspiring me to contemplate Pharaohs’ final voyages along the Nile River towards the Valley of the Kings, Gilgamesh and Enkidu journeying along rivers to the Netherworld, hidden rivers in Central American caverns that Mayans revered as paths to the Underworld, and even King Arthur’s final mortal voyage across water to Avalon.
Imagine being a passenger on this sailboat: perhaps you once stood on that field facing Death (change), accepted that change was inevitable and unavoidable. In accepting change you are released of suffering, blockages, and stagnancy. You watch the banks of the shores passing you by, reflecting on the power of the river and how it not only created fertile land, but would be the passage to another world. The river marks the passage of time, and we all have got to sail it. How much easier would this journey be if you were not resistant to change?
If you are looking to deepen your understanding of the Death Card, or feel you need clarification on what the changes that you are going through personally, try to pull three cards: Card one indicates what is ready to end in your life or something that would be best removed from your life. Card two indicates how you can allow yourself to let go of that thing from Card One. Card three reveals the opportunities or beginnings that will appear as a result of the removal or ending.
I recommend wearing a blend of vanilla and cedarwood oils to help ground you, protect you, and surround you with love while moving through these transitions. A piece of tiger’s eye can give you courage, black obsidian or tourmaline can help protect you, or Mookie jasper can help you with accepting change. Today I will be harvesting the final herbs of my garden to create smoke wands, basil rinses, and herbal bundles – in doing this I help to facilitate transitions in my garden space. I also feel naturally inclined today to clean and organize the house, decorate it with pumpkins and apples, and take stock of what I’d like to fill in the cabinets for the winter. It is a lovely afternoon where I am to prepare the home for coziness, comfort, healing and security. Wherever you are I hope that this week you are able to do the same.
Finally, I would love to hear from you and have a few questions to ponder with the Death card:
What changes are happening in your life right now?
How does transition feel to you?
Do you feel a greater shift happening in our world?
How does the Veil feel to you, and how do you sense it is thinning?
A Tarot Reading on Abundance and Gratitude
For modern day witches and pagans the Autumn Equinox is a special time. It is a time of transition, inching ever closer to Samhain and the darker time of year that magical people revel in. The air itself changes: we go from heavy and humid weather to cool and crisp weather. Nature around us transforms into a palette of vibrant reds and golds. The very world shifts into an Otherworldly landscape. Mabon/the Autumn Equinox is also known as the Second Harvest, following Lughnassadh in August. At this time our gardens are full of vegetables and fruits ripe and ready to be harvested. It is from this that at Mabon/the Autumn Equinox we celebrate abundance and give thanks for where we have plenty. With this idea of plenty, I wanted this week’s reading to focus on abundance and gratitude. Take a moment to pick one of the cards that you are most drawn to and read the interpretations below.
If you picked the card on the left you picked The Sun. With the Sun Card you can celebrate emotional success. Your life is spiritually abundant and you feel light, brilliant, and divine. Right now your relationship with divinity comes to the forefront: it is a time where you feel liberated from worry and anxiety as a result of your dedication to magic and creativity. If these interpretations feel like something you want to experience more of in your life, you picked this card to remind you that now is a time to take care of your emotional wellness. Reflect on where you have strengthened emotionally and grown spiritually. Consider the times in your life that you’ve felt the most happy. Contemplate what the most satisfying activities are in your life. Hold onto these sensations and memories, as they will allow for you to identify moments of pure happiness. Some associate the baby on this card as the Sun King, so in considering the Sun King’s association with rebirth, spend time in the coming week discovering where you would like to transform and be reborn. Speak with divinity through meditation, prayer, chanting, spell, or ritual to help you make this so.
If you picked the center card you picked the Ten of Pentacles. With the Ten of Pentacles you can celebrate domestic success. You have abundance with your homestead and health. Right now your relationship with those in your home and tribe come to the forefront: it is a time to embrace the coziness and luxury of your home life. If these interpretations feel like something you want to experience more of in your life, you picked this card to remind you that now is an excellent time to create sacred space. Reflect on what you have already done to stabilize your homestead and grow your financial security. Looking forward, what can you do to ensure your private space provides comfort, inspiration, and support? This card also reminds me of the rune Othala, which represents estate, inheritance, and ancestors. How does your ancestry influence and inspire you? And finally, the Ten of Pentacles may be an indicator that now is a wonderful time to break dull routines and try out leisurely, pleasurable, and exciting new activities.
If you picked the card on the right you picked the Nine of Cups. With the Nine of Cups you can celebrate public success. You have an abundance of social success and a calendar full of opportunities. Right now your relationship with your community comes to the forefront: the world loves you and supports you in your endeavors. If these interpretations feel like something you want to experience more of in your life, you picked this card to remind you that now is a time to share your joy with the world. Reflect on the worldly gains you have recently relished in and social encounters that made you feel hopeful. Your story is inspiring, so moving forward, ask yourself who you can help to succeed. The Nine of Cups is also traditionally seen as the “Wish Card,” as it is believed that when you receive this card you can make a wish and it will come true. Finally, this card can indicate a time to be mindful of your own personal reserves: that is, take time to care for yourself by slowing down and allowing for pauses in your wild (but rewarding) schedule.
Reflecting on Generosity in Tarot
For Tarot Tuesday I wanted to discuss generosity and the benefit of offering services to others. I always look to align with those who strive to build and develop personal, creative, and professional relationships. You have probably observed that people who are enthusiastic and supportive of their peers' successes manifest abundant, vibrant, and creative lives for themselves. Being generous does not mean that you will lose what is rightfully yours, but instead you will gain what what is soulfully rewarding. Try this today: see how you feel if you set your mindset to generosity and support. Watch the people around you in awe as they blossom and mature. You may find that your day is much lighter. Through kindness, generosity, and support, you may find that you may build a valuable network of relationships that can lead authentic connections. Read about a card that you are most drawn to, or feel free to read about each to you explore different expressions of generosity. These interpretations examine cards that show generosity between people, so my hope is that these interpretations help you see how you can be a loving support system for those around you.
Six of Swords: Remain present for others through transition. If you picked the Six of Swords (the card on the left) your service to others is to be available to those going through times of transition. This card shows a man ferrying two people to a better place. Sometimes one of the kindest acts we can do is to remain present for someone when they are moving from one situation to another. Change can be a tricky thing - it means leaving behind familiarity and moving into unknown territories. Think of a time you went through massive changes - who was there for you? What would have helped make that transition smoother? Keep this in mind because you have the opportunity to assist someone in a challenging and tricky situation. One brilliant observation by author and tarot expert Rachel Pollack is that the Six of Swords is extremely silent. In considering the silent nature of the Six of Swords, your generosity can be to remain quiet and simply be an active listener. Sometimes just saying "I hear you" to someone can be the most effective method form of generosity there is. Additional suggestions to express generosity through the Six of Swords: participate in a Reiki share, smudge your home or a friend's home, offer to listen to someone vent, participate in or lead a group meditation, help someone move or travel, or share a meaningful crystal with someone. The crystal with this card is Dumortierite Quartz, which is used to connect with Spirit Guides, ease grief, restore mental powers, and develop patience.
Six of Pentacles: Share resources. If you picked the Six of Pentacles (the center card) your service to others is to be share resources. The Six of Pentacles shows a person sharing money to people in need. You will find that you profit the most by sharing resources and supporting other businesses. The most progressive thing you can do to mobilize your own prosperity is to support your community’s prosperity. Connect two people who can help each other out, collaborate if you have a solution to someone's nagging issue, and help to develop other people's prosperity. You will find that by helping others manifest their dreams your own may come into fruition as well. Think of a project or time in your life when you needed help - who did you ask for help and why? Keep this resourceful person in mind and consider who it is you can be resourceful or charitable to. Additional suggestions to express generosity through the Six of Pentacles: practice "pay it forward" by paying for the person behind you in line, gift a book to someone, plug a close friend’s business, donate to a charity that is important to you, refer someone to a job, write someone a recommendation, or share food with someone. The crystal with this card is Unakite Jasper, which is used to enhance kindness, uncover opportunities, reduce anxiety, and boost confidence and love.
Six of Cups: Create loving space. If you picked the Six of Cups (the card on the right) your service to others is to create a comforting and loving space. This card shows one child giving flowers to another child. In many ways the Six of Cups shows an innocent exchange where these two children can simply be who they are. In that sense it may also be mindful to meditate on the idea of “safe space,” and what it means to be open and caring to people from all different walks of life. Think of a time you felt the most comfortable or experienced hospitality - who were you with and where were you? Keep this in mind as you offer comfort to others through your actions and words. You may feel inspired and creative when those around you are in the position to share their loving authenticity. Additional suggestions generous expressions through the Six of Cups: organize an event or party that welcomes marginalized communities, compliment someone, reach out to someone you are missing, volunteer to work with people in need, treat your significant other out on a date, babysit, or petsit. The crystal with this card is botswana agate, which is used to deepen universal love, conjure creativity, stabilize wellness, and promote spiritual comfort.
Are there other cards you think that reflect the theme of generosity? If so, which cards? Leave a comment and let me know!
For Tarot Tuesday we examine the Star Card - a favorite for many!
Tarot Reflections: The Star Card
The Star card indicates a time of healing and inspiration. It is a relieving card to see, especially since it follows the Tower card in the Major Arcana. This placement is essential: after suffering through the challenges of the Tower card, the Star allows you to pause to heal, regroup, and find inner peace. The Star offers you an environment to do the healing work, but also urges you stay determined to personally evolve. If you receive the Star card you are not simply here for an easy experience, but a profound experience filled with complex emotions and events to deepen your understanding of the range of human feelings and the power of hope. The Star gives you the magic to help others who may need support as they move through their own suffering. Let healing and guidance move gently and passively by simply being present to listen.
The Star asks you to examine what divinity is: what are you experiencing on this planet, in this era of shifting and transition? Do you feel out of place with the times and overwhelmed by the pain inflicted in our world? The Star offers us the hope that there is more beyond these five senses. In terms of the tarot, the High Priestess card shows us the perspective of “in front of the veil,” where we wish to cross into the magical Otherworld. The Star is said to show us the perspective from “behind the veil.” With the Star Card you have finally stepped into the Otherworld dimension where magic is prevalent. It is here where you feel you can reconnect with spirituality, feel soaked in the healing rays of the stars above, and let the healing pools of water wash over you and the land. There is realization with the Star card that when we are our authentic selves we blossom with joy and inspiration. Be open to receiving transmissions from the Divine Creator, who wishes to extend to you the magic you need to manifest inspiration and prosperity in your life so you may heal, ascend, and share those universal treasures with others.
I love to suggest that the seven stars surrounding the main Star above the figure in the Star are the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation of Taurus. This brings in a whole other element to the interpretation of the Star, and that is a connection to higher realms of consciousness and perhaps even ultra-terrestrials. Perhaps this isn’t too far-fetched, as some have debated that the scene in the Star may be on another planet altogether. We live in an unusual time – we can drink from the deep well of ancient knowledge and we can also look upwards into the heavens and meditate on what else is out there.
Other readers suggest that the Star is a symbol of Polaris – the North Star that guides us. If that is the case, then consider the Star as a suggestion to use your heart as a compass. Let your heart guide you back to your true self and the path you feel your soul has brought you to this place to experience.
Star Card Activities to Initiate:
Use your own way to speak with Divinity – whether in prayer, meditation, chant, or otherwise.
Close your eyes and envision you as your best self. What does it look like? How does it feel?
Write a letter to yourself or someone you love encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Read a New Age or Metaphysical Book.
Study tarot or another form of divination.
Speak with the goddesses Nyx or Nut.
Practice a cleansing or purifying ritual.
Drink water with monatomic gold.
Make a wish or cast a spell to grant wishes.
Take a risk – it’s an auspicious time to make dreams come true.
Go outside and stargaze. See if you can spot the Pleiades star cluster (visible in the fall and winter in the Northern Hemisphere).
Crystals in the Star card picture include crystal quartz for enhancing energies, green calcite for healing, and a variety of blue crystals. My favorite, and one connected to the Star card, is the Aqua Aura Quartz. Another blue crystal in the picture, and also connected to the Star card is Celestite.
I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you my personal connections to The Star at the moment. This past year was one of the most challenging I faced. I was misdiagnosed with two significant medical conditions. Although I am blessed to indeed not suffer from the conditions, I did have to endure dozens of doctor visits, thousands of dollars in medical bills, physical trauma from medication that my body rejected, and mental trauma that took the form of health anxiety (ie hypochondria). On top of health issues my loving and magical friend and familiar Phoebe passed away after battling Cushings Disease for the past year. Months later I still find myself deep in grief over this loss. At the same time all of these things were happening my day job required monumental levels of attention and endurance. By the time I got home I simply had no energy left to give. This was the Tower Card time for me: a painful period where it was hard to see past the grief and suffering.
I am so thankful that I am feeling better these days. I truly believe it has been the support, comfort, and cheerleading that my friends have been showering me with that have helped me through the toughest points. After a lot of rest and personal reflection I am feeling inspired again to turn my attention to metaphysics, magic, and creativity, with the hopes it may inspire and heal those who encounter it.