Fidget brain

Daily Draw: Green Witch Tarot, Seven of Pentacles

This card indicates that progress is being made on a long term project but there is still a fair bit to do. As a project nears completion there might be an impulse to rush or even to quit altogether. Cutting corners might undo to the labour already invested. Patience is needed to see the work through. Although there are limits. How much polish does a pentacle need?  I'm reminded of my reading in Whitby earlier this year in which the reader was insistent - 'finish what you've started so you can move onto something new'. 

Apparently the skullcap plant is for focus. Researching that led me to find this list of the top herbs for anxiety and depression organic facts  Which I can't take as they would probably interact with my current prescription...Oh my poor fidget brain. The focus fact was enough. 

Pink petals

Daily Draw: Green Witch Tarot, Six of Wands


Hmm what's going on here? A moral victory over a military one? Not all those faces look wholeheartedly happy for this guy (even his own smile looks a bit fixed) and we can't see the soldiers' expression at all. Are they there of their own volition or were they ordered to be. I wonder if the rider chose his fancy costume which contrasts so with the plain dress of the observers or if he was told to wear it. 

For now I am going to focus on the sparrow and the pink petals. Time to get out in the garden among the birds with my paints. 

Water dancer

Daily draw: Tarot of the Hidden Realm, Ace of Cups.

The water dancer. Connecting with the water and her family members brings her great joy. Like all the aces this card is a gift,  this one signifying time to refresh the soul and heal the heart. It holds out the promise of emotional renewal and a fresh start. Off to channel otter's playful and joyful energy...

History

Daily Draw: The Hierophant. 

There is history here both embodied in the person of the teacher and objectified in the amber around his neck - a substance filled with all the knowledge of the past. He teaches ancient knowledge in understandable bites and leads his students to weave that knowledge into their own experiences, histories, beliefs so they create their own wisdom. This history lesson got me thinking that higher education was not always what it is now, it was once different and it could be different again. I miss my old professors, every teacher needs a teacher.

Pause and breathe

Daily Draw: Tarot of the Hidden Realm, Two of Pentacles, Knight of Pentacles

I rejected the two at first assuming it was about juggling which I don't feel able to do at the moment. Then drew the Knight went back to the book and the text revealed the cards similar energies. This knight doesn't believe in taking action for the sake of taking action. He balances intense inner drive with great patience. It is easy to mistake his steadiness for indifference or laziness. Yet actually lack of drama does not mean a lack of dedication. When the time is right he can be relied upon to do exactly the right thing using the resources and energy to hand. 

Similarly the two advocates a slow, balanced approach. Breathe, slow down, pay attention. Where there are conflicting demands it is better (although undoubtedly hard) to choose to do one thing well rather than attempt too many things and fail at everything. Maintaining awareness and responding rather than reacting is the message of these cards. Perhaps if I had paused to breathe this morning I'd have noticed there is no juggling here.  

Plenty to go around

Daily Draw: Tarot of the Hidden Realm, Six of Pentacles

I was going to photograph this with an apple from the tree except there are none. The birds ate them. To be fair they have been very well behaved up to now. For years we have allowed the apples to grow large and fall without harvesting them. I can understand why this year the birds thought 'well what the hey' and gobbled them up. I don't mind. This card lets us know there is plenty to go around. If we have something to spare it is good to share. Whether giver or receiver or both (as is often the case) all involved get to feel good.  

Nurture through nature

Daily Draw: Tarot of the Hidden Realm, Ten of Cups

Spirals of steam carry the essences of lavender, rose and frankincense filling the air with peace and promise. She harvested these plants with her own hands and blended them with water from her sacred spring. She invites the healing properties of these plants into her life and as she sings they begin to release their magic. With skilful motions she moves her hands to summon blessings for her loved ones. 

As the guidebook says life is full of moments of love and connection - some fleeting, some enduring for a lifetime. Some are effervescent, others deep and still. Commingled in a life they create a wholesome existence. This is the promise of the ten of cups. If we no longer have an elder in our lives bestowing such familial blessings perhaps it is time to become more like the lady in this card - nurturing relationships in our lives and the lives of those around us. 

After a week of anxiety fuelled rumination doing myself and those around me no good at all I got a wake up call in the form of an oracle reading on insta. Healing was the message so today as a family/pack K, Roger, Barney and I went for a long woodland walk. It felt good. What can you do today to nurture yourself and those around you?