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It Takes All Kinds

A story by Calista Moon on .

Fifteen days later, my darlings, and I return with apologies and the Three of Pentacles! Let me atone for this by charging ahead instead of blathering on.

Upright, the Three of Pentacles comes to us as a sign to value diversity in projects. It’s time to collaborate and learn from others who have different experiences from ourselves. It reminds us too, that every project succeeds when we prepare properly. We are competent at what we do, and it is encouraging us to continue on this path. Organization of resources and time management are the foundation we’re looking for whether with a home renovation or an important task in our careers. Having a comprehensive plan and a realistic schedule will pay off. Do your research and build a structured plan to move forward.

The reversal, then, speaks to the butting of heads between team members. Someone is not being heard or valued properly and is causing an upheaval that might mean timelines need to be adjusted. If one member’s timeline doesn’t mesh with the rest of the group, make sure you’re hearing their concerns. You may even need to pause progress temporarily to assess the next steps with every teammate’s concerns and needs in mind. Make sure that the expectations are clear cut, especially around respect. This reversal could also mean that you are the one feeling undervalued and overlooked, or perhaps you’re trying to get the job done by yourself. You’re putting in the hard work, but your experience is consistently unappreciated or others are holding up your progress. It may be time to look into making a change in your professional life. However, if you insist on going this project alone, remember that if you find yourself drowning, you can still ask for help!

Being flexible is the key when it comes to this card, whether you’re starting a project or rerouting it. Don’t underestimate how much a good plan and an open mind can nurture success, my darlings! I’ll see you next week (I promise).

A Careful Balancing Act

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello hello, my darlings! It’s Tarot Tuesday again, and this week we’re moving right along with the energy of the Two of Pentacles. As we continue with the Minor Arcana, these posts will be significantly shorter than the Major Arcana, as they point to shorter timelines or specific events. As a long winded lady, I’m sure there’s much rejoicing on that point, so let’s march onward!

The Two of Pentacles speaks to organization, prioritization, and time management. When it arrives upright, it refers to the many plates that you have spinning in the air right now. You’re busy rushing from one priority to the next with little time available to rest. While it means that you’re doing well at maintaining the workload and can take on whatever life throws at you, it also reminds you that the line between balance and pile of broken plates is very thin. Remember, you don’t have to be driving yourself into the dirt to accomplish tasks. These could be domestic or professional, as the Pentacles speak to the material and tangible realms at home and in business. Your health, your career, and your home life responsibilities are coinciding, and while you’re doing well, be careful you don’t tread into the territory of burn out. Pay extra close attention to important deadlines or obligations where you may find it difficult to be flexible or patient. Adapt as you need to juggle around activities and accommodate the requests being made of you.

When the Two of Pentacles is reversed, it warns that you’re dipping your toes into the burn out side of your tight rope walk. You’re overcommitting your time and energy and winding up in a disorganized state. This is causing you to miss deadlines, drop the ball on bills, or pay too much attention to one aspect of your life at the expense of another. You’re losing your balance. Take some time to reassess your priorities and address each one at a time. Multitasking is not doing you any favors right now. Choose one thing to focus on at a time, and you’ll regain your footing and your energy.

I feel like a lot of us face these struggles regularly, especially being part of a society where we are encouraged to burn ourselves out, but taking steps to prioritize properly helps us maintain a healthy pace. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Take care of yourselves, and reassess when needed. I know you’ll find success, my darlings! You’re beyond capable. I’ll see you next week!

Let’s Get Physical with Pentacles

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello hello, my lovelies! It’s been a long four months since I finished the Major Arcana, and I’ve missed you so! This break was quite a bit longer than I anticipated, but I’m glad to be back to continue Tarot Tuesday! This means that we can start into the four suits of the Minor Arcana; Pentacles, Wands, Swords, and Cups.

Now, where the Major Arcana is set up as a long journey, the Minor Arcana are situated much like a deck of playing cards, and in fact each suit can be associated to a suit in a regular deck of cards. Pentacles, being representative of finances and the material world in tarot, is unsurprisingly associated with Diamonds. Wands shows up in reference to our creativity and passions, that which drives us, and is associated with Clubs. Swords speaks to our intellect and thought processes, and is associated with Spades. Cups represents emotions and deep wells of feeling, and is associated with Hearts. Each suit of the Minor Arcana has ten numerical cards, and four Court Cards. Generally, the numerical cards refer to an event or an circumstance while the Court Cards refer more to other people or aspects of ourselves that are influencing a situation.

There can be mirrored aspects between the Major and Minor Arcana, for example, the Aces in the Minor Arcana represent beginnings, while the Ten cards represent conclusions. This is similar to how the Fool, the first card in the Major Arcana, represents the beginning of a significant journey, and the World, the last card of the Major Arcana, represents culmination, conclusion, and accomplishment. Although the Minor Arcana are much smaller timelines than what the Major Arcana represent. In the same way, the Court Cards can represent a journey from apprenticeship and enthusiasm to mastery and confidence. We’ll get more in depth with this as we move card by card through each suit.

The first set in the Minor Arcana that we’ll be covering will be Pentacles, also known by the names stars and coins. On the whole, Pentacles represent the material world and are associated with the element of Earth. When they show up in a reading, they refer to your physical health, your domestic life, your finances, or your career, thus the usage of the word “coins”. They represent that which is tangible, tactile, fertile, and supportive. There are good and bad sides to all concepts, though. The good of Pentacles is represented through prosperity, manifestation, and physical security. The bad aspects include greed, over indulgence, and possessiveness.

As we did with the Major Arcana, we’ll start at the beginning. So the particular card we’re deep diving into today is the Ace of Pentacles. As I said before, Aces usually represent a beginning, and this Ace is no different. Being the suit of the tactile and tangible, the upright appearance of the Ace of Pentacles signifies a new financial or career based opportunity is being offered to you. It encourages you to take it, but keep in mind that your dedication and effort are going to be what allows this opportunity to blossom into something abundant and prosperous. It is up to you to manifest what you want through this opportunity, so be clear on your plan of attack. You are capable and deserving of the abundance you are seeking.

It stands to reason, then, that when the Ace of Pentacles arrives reversed in a reading, it represents a lost opportunity, or perhaps a tantalizing opportunity that is fated to fall through. This could be due to a lack of planning on your part, or may even mean that another party will dissolve or retract the opportunity unexpectedly. The core of this reversal is to be careful with your financial commitments and expenditures. Take your time when considering any offers that come your way, making sure to do your due diligence before moving ahead. Don’t take a leap of faith at this time.

Remember, the cards are here to help us get in tune with our subconscious and teach us to trust our intuition. If you feel that an opportunity is too sketchy, but the Ace of Pentacles shows itself upright, trust your gut. The key here is to know the difference between fear and a true, intuitive warning. Fear and anxiety exist as warning systems, but sometimes they go haywire when everything is okay. Do your research, calm your mind, get clear on your goals, and decide what serves you best when opportunities arrive for you. You know yourself and your needs better than anyone, my darlings. Trust yourselves, and I’ll see you next week!

The World is Your Oyster

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, hello, my darlings! What a journey we’ve been on together, making our way through the Major Arcana of the tarot. I’ll be taking a break from Tarot Tuesday while I sort out how to best attack the Minor Arcana; Pentacles, Wands, Swords, and Cups. Hopefully it won’t be too long of a break, and I intend to keep writing about our new moon and full moon movements in the interim. Now if you remember way back in January when I posted the first of these, we looked at The Fool, the beginning of a journey. Today we look at the twenty-first and final card of the Major Arcana; The World, completion and accomplishment.

Upright, The World is a sign that you are reveling in a sense of closure and fulfillment. Everything has come together despite the obstacles, and you are in the right place, doing the right thing, achieving what you set out to. You’ve worked HARD to get to this point. You’ve had trials and triumphs, and this card is asking you to bask in the joy and glow of having brought your goals to life! Celebrate your success and don’t rush into the next big project just yet. Enjoy it. Look at how far you’ve come, how much you’ve grown, and everything you’ve learned! If this doesn’t resonate, or you feel there are still loose ends to tie up, do so. Then you will be able to relax and beam over what you’ve created. If it still doesn’t ring true, try widening your scope. The World can very literally refer to travel or global understanding. Maybe now is the time to find a new appreciation for cultures from around the world.

When the World arrives reversed, it can represent your wanting to complete a big goal, but you’re taking short cuts to get there. If you don’t take all the necessary steps, the outcome will not go as planned. Or perhaps you’re right at the finish line of your journey, but for whatever reason you have lost focus and are dawdling instead of doing the work needed to bring this idea to the end of the road. Take some time to reconnect with why you started this project in the first place. Remember how much you wanted this thing to come into being, then get yourself to the finish line. Of course these delays could be external as well. You could be missing an integral part of the project or perhaps you’re looking for closure on a personal issue. Take the time to recognize if there are other parts holding you back that need to be let go of or creatively redesigned. Don’t be afraid to set a new goal if need be. As long as you stay committed to making the progress, you will get there.

If the Fool was about beginnings, The World is about endings. It’s not uncommon to see the two together in a reading, as every end is also a new beginning. Just remember to take some time to appreciate where you are, where you were, and how far you’ve come. Thank you for sticking with me through this first journey! I’ll see you all at some undefined point in the future, my darlings!

Indulge Under the Super Strawberry Moon

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, hello, my darlings! I’m cutting it close with this one, but hopefully it will still be helpful. Tomorrow, June 14th, we will see the Super Strawberry Full Moon! Last month we had the Super Flower Full Moon (among many other interesting lunar movements), so hopefully you remember that Super means that the moon is passing closer to the earth giving it a much larger place in the sky! It also denotes an increase in the effect that this celestial body has on the planet, and thereby, us.

June’s Full Moon, the Strawberry moon, brings us closer to our fulfillment in life. We’re reminded of all of the decadent and joyful moments that we sometimes race by on our way to the finish line. In Europe, this is referred to as the Rose Moon in some places, as all the roses are currently in bloom. In other parts it’s called the Honey Moon; fitting as June used to be the season for weddings. After the Beltane celebration, many young lovers would commit and be in the throes of “the honey moon phase”.

Now is the time to allow yourself space to slow down and drink in each moment. The Strawberry Moon represents optimism, wonder, magic, openness, and pleasure. It can also be associated with tenacity and grit. With Litha, or the Summer Solstice, a mere handful of days away, now is the time that we’re saying goodbye to Spring and hello to Summer! Halfway through the Gregorian calendar, we can reflect now on the goals we set way back during Imbolc. How have we kept to those goals? How have those goals changed, if at all? Have we achieved any of those goals? How have we approached the obstacles that hindered our progress? Have we let surprises crop up and slow our progress?

This is what I will be focusing on tomorrow. I plan to journal out my answers to these questions and hopefully cut away the thorns that have been ensnaring me. Full moons are about release, remember. Let go of that which holds us back from our Highest Good. I also want to find some ways that I can slow down and incorporate my favorite things into my daily life or practice. Last year I dried rose petals and handed them out to loved ones. This year I may go berry picking and even attempt to bake something rich and succulent with what I’m able to forage! Or I could simply spend more time in the sun. Whatever you choose to do, just remember to enjoy it and be present. One of my favorite quotes comes from Khalil Gibran. “Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair.” Spend time enjoying your favorite things about early summer. Make a bonfire, have s’mores, enjoy yourself however feels right to you.

I’m stressing the pleasure aspect of this moon, I know, but I feel like we’re all in need of some self-care, especially because this Full Moon is in Sagittarius. The third fire sign of the zodiac year is independent and focused. They have a healthy relationship with pleasure, knowing how to dote on themselves. Their untamable spirit burns like a beacon, setting others ablaze with joy and inspiration. They are also ruled by Jupiter, the planet of good luck, growth, prosperity, healing, and opportunity. If you’ll remember, Jupiter recently started a brand new journey through Aries four weeks ago during the Super Blood Flower Moon Eclipse. Still a mouthful!

This is the way I want to come at summer. What sets you on fire? What lights you up inside? Bring that into your day to day, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time. A friend recently recommended to me that I should read ten pages a day, as I had mentioned I struggled finding the time to read the many books I have added to my collection. “Ten pages?” I asked him, “What is ten pages going to accomplish?” He told me, “Even if you only read ten pages per day, you will have read 3,650 pages by the end of the year. That’s the equivalent of seven 500 page novels.” A little every day adds up, just like a savings account. So why not drop a few coins on your heart’s fire this summer? Perhaps you’ll blaze a new trail into a habit that brings you joy even in the winter months.

Now if you are wanting to take all these journaling prompts, like myself, and sit down in a sacred space to connect with the earth, your deities, ancestors, whatever, let’s talk about associations. As always, Full Moons are associated with Selenite, Clear Quartz, and Black Tourmaline. Sagittarius is associated with Lapis Lazuli, connecting us to our inner royalty, Blue Topaz, which helps the spirit relax as well as the body, and Turquoise, which can help instill an inner calm. Side note, it’s great for preventing panic attacks and helping to recover from depression and exhaustion.

Herb wise, Sagittarius is connected to Sage, which helps bring wisdom, good luck, and prosperity, and Saffron, or the Queen’s Spice, which connects us to our passionate and even seductive side. The Full Moon is associated with Mugwort, for inducing vivid dreams and awakening psychic gifts, as well as Star Anise to promote harmony. It’s also associated with Jasmine, which I usually leave out because Jasmine very specifically speaks to romance and manifesting prosperity in love, but the Honey Moon seems like a perfect time to sprinkle a little Jasmine in your cauldron and jzooj up the passion in the air. Sagittarius is also associated with independent animals such as the camel, able to sustain itself in the desert without a drink for days on end, and the wild horse, running free and exploring the open air. The Full Moon is associated with rabbits and moths. I also suggest drying some strawberry leaves and keeping them either on your altar or in your pocket as they draw good fortune and favorable circumstances!

Take some time to set up your space, and set an intention with any incense or candles you light. If you aren’t able to do that, perhaps just take a moment to focus on a stone, or even on a journal before delving into these prompts. My intention will be to practice being more consciously present. How can you let yourself play this summer? Being grateful for what you have while moving towards what you want helps me stay grounded. Letting myself break free of the anxiety of societal judgment feeds my spirit, personally. At Beltane, when I hung ribbons on my rose bush, I laid in the grass afterward just feeling the earth below me. I’m sure my neighbors thought I was nuts, but ignoring social standards allowed me to really connect. How can you find that connection daily? Do you believe you deserve to find that connection daily? Knowing how to dote on oneself and believing we deserve it are two separate tasks, in my opinion.

This look at our self-worth can be jarring or difficult. If you find yourself struggling to explore the joyous side of yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you trust for support. My coven knows that we are here for each other. If you don’t feel like you have someone, it may be worthwhile to find a counselor to help you navigate your feelings. You should know by now, I’m a big supporter of mental health!

When I’ve finished my journaling, I will meditate on what I’ve learned about myself, if anything, and chant this prayer I wrote several times:

Blooming Strawberry moon, shining bright above
Harbinger of luck and sweetness, prosperity and love
With your light to guide, my clarity grows
I trim the thorns, but leave the rose
I take delight in each leg of the journey
While present and grateful for all you bring to me
The path now smooth beneath my feet
Leads to the Truth of my heartbeat

When I feel my intention is good and solidified, I’ll finish with:

So mote it be. So mote it be. So mote it be. Blessed be.

Look for joy this summer, my darlings. Look for it in yourself, and in your surroundings. And let no one tell you that your happiness is disallowed. I’ll see you in a few days for my Litha/Summer Solstice post!

Impartial Judgement

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, hello, my darlings! I can’t believe we’ve been doing this for twenty weeks! Somehow this week we’ll be looking at our second to last card of the Major Arcana. Judgement sounds like an intimidating card, something we all strive to avoid. Judging and being judged is never fun, but this card speaks to an internal judgement, the judgement of ourselves.

Upright, Judgment can signify that you need to make a life-changing decision toward your Highest Good. The opportunity to level up on a cosmic level is at your doorstep. Now is the time to let go of your old self and embrace a higher level of conscious intuition and intellect. When you step into this new version of yourself, you’ll be able to put the past behind you and see the fully formed picture of your life story. Appreciate the struggles you’ve gone through and share them with others who may be facing similar trials. If you feel you are still facing one final obstacle before you can truly be free, try to find a group environment where you feel safe and can hear the stories of others. Their experiences may be what lead you to overcome your troubles and follow your inner calling.

Reversed, Judgement speaks to our inner critic and self-doubt. We hear the call, but we are ignoring it or are blinded by the struggles we have faced. You might be afraid of what you need to let go of to commit to the path before you, or your self-doubt may be saying you aren’t ready to take this step. Trust the universe, it’s sending you the signs that you ARE ready. Push past the fear and silence your inner critic. Try to view your anxieties as a separate entity. Hearing them out and thanking them for your input can do wonders for your mental health (even if you aren’t getting this card! Anxiety just wants to protect us, after all). Spending time in meditation this way can help you to recognize the different threads of your life that have been woven together so that you can reach this point. If you’re afraid that others will judge you for bringing some of these threads to light, remember that exposing them can help you identify how to change or avoid similar situations in the future. This will help you stay aligned with your Highest Good.

Fear rules over a large percentage of our lives. Every decision we make instinctually is based around the idea of survival. Judgement isn’t asking us to forgo common sense, but to trust that the Universe has our back when it places hindrances in front of us. We’re capable. We’ve overcome plenty of hurdles in our lives. We can make it through the next ones too. And that trust in ourselves, in the Universe, in the connectedness of all things, is what helps us move forward confidently and with intent. Fear can ride in the car, my darlings, but it cannot drive. Only you are allowed in the driver’s seat.

Brighter Than the Sun

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello, hello my darlings! I’m a little late this week, but we’re slowly, surely approaching the end of the Major Arcana! Once that’s done, I may take a small break to compile the minor arcana in a bite size way that is easily digestible. But today, we take on Earth’s star; The Sun! Bright, warm light and life giver of our solar system! That which we all revolve around and depend upon. In the tarot, it is much the same!

Upright, The Sun arrives to portend success, radiance, and abundance. It’s beautiful warm energy is what will get you through tough times, and if you have indeed been experiencing tough times, the Sun is here to say things are about to get a LOT better! The Sun begs us to connect to the Solar Plexus chakra, the energy center between the stomach and the diaphragm. This is our driving power, not egotistical or selfish, but the radiant energy that connects all things that resides within each of us. In connecting to your authentic power, you will find yourself more present in the world around you, and can give an increase in physical energy, vitality, and general positivity. Each of us holds this light within. You need only access it to benefit from its invigorating enthusiasm.

The reversal of such a positive card brings to light an imbalance in our masculine energies. Perhaps you are working too hard and are feeling burnt out. Take the Sun reversed as an invite to set aside work and play with abandon. Spend some time with your inner child indulging in activities that bring you a bright radiant joy. It can also mean that you’ve encountered delays that have soured your optimism. If you feel depressed or no longer enjoy what you’re doing, don’t worry. The clouds are only temporary, and your path will become clear soon. On the other end of this imbalance, it may say that you are playing too much and are out of touch with how much you can actually achieve. Are you over committing yourself even though you know you can’t deliver? If you aren’t sure, put out some feelers to your trusted circle and get some input to help ground you back in reality. Confidence, like all things, is healthy in moderation.

Whether it’s upright or reversed, remember that the Sun is always a positive card. It wants us to connect to our joy, and while joy and happiness cannot stay forever, it makes the moments where we bask in their presence that much more significant. At least in my opinion. So bask, my darlings! Let your spirit be light and your heart open and wild!

Slowing Down with May’s New Moon

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello my darlings! I want to touch on the New Moon that’s coming up on May 30th. This one is going to be in Gemini! Associated with Mercury, who is currently in retrograde, they rule over transportation, technology, communication, and contracts. If you’ve been having trouble expressing yourself lately or finding a lot of inconvenient mishaps making you late, we generally chalk that up to Mercury being in retrograde. That being said, I think that this New Moon may be a good time to cultivate some patience. Patience with ourselves, others, and general circumstances of any given situation.

Keep in mind that Mercury will be leaving retrograde right after this New Moon on June 2nd. Giving ourselves and others the grace to be fallible and human during this time will resolve a lot of misunderstandings before they even become an issue. If you’re entering into any legal agreements at this time, don’t be pressured to move quickly. Take your time to read the fine print and make sure you understand what you are agreeing to.

I know now that the weather is becoming more amenable to playing outdoors we all tend to overbook ourselves and we wind up not feeling rested or relaxed at all. My suggestion for this New Moon is to slow down. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been feeling a little disconnected lately, from my craft, from the earth, and from a lot of the things I enjoy. So here is how I intend to reconnect with patience and quiet on Monday.

Since I’m lucky enough to have Memorial Day off of work, I’ll be spending the majority of the day with friends, but once I’ve returned home, I want to gather some materials at my work space and cleanse it. Namely Bay Leaves, my cauldron, a lighter, a marker, a piece of paper, salt for cleansing, Lavender for calm, peace, and to represent Gemini, Chamomile for abundance and health, Calendula petals for joy and stability, Clover Honey for a lasting effect and sweetening stressful situations, and a chime candle. I’ll also be grabbing Rose Quartz (which I’ve been drawn to lately) for universal love, Clear Quartz for clarity and grounding, and Blue Lace Agate to calm stress and anxiety.

Once all my items are gathered, I will ground myself by setting out my stones, then making a list of frustrations I face regularly that are out of my control. As I write them, I will envision the frustration leaving me through the ink. I’ll fold the list up and set it aside, and bring forward the herbs, honey, and chime candle. First I’ll carve the word patience into the side of the candle with my thumbnail. That’s what we’re creating here, a sense of peace and living slow. Next I’ll put a thin layer of honey on the outside of the candle. A little goes a long way, so don’t feel like you need to slather it on. Then I’ll sprinkle the herbs over the candle. I usually work over a small plate to avoid large spills. This also helps if the herbs have trouble sticking, you can roll the candle on the plate to help adhere more onto it until you’re satisfied.

When you’re ready, light your chime candle. Allow it’s light and warmth to roll over you, before lighting your list of daily frustrations and letting it burn in your cauldron. Remember, guys, fire safety is incredibly important. Use common sense! As the candle and my frustrations burn, I am going to meditate on the path I want to walk and the patience required to do so. If I find a few revelations during the meditation I will journal them. If not I will probably do a tarot reading or scry in my mirror for clarity.

And there you have it! A quiet easy way to add a little peace to your life. Slow down and breathe. Tomorrow will come, today will leave, and the small things, while inconvenient, are only that; small. I love you, my darlings! I hope you enjoy the long weekend if you’re able, and don’t push yourselves too hard.