Tag: Deep dive

It Lives In You

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello again, my darlings! Can you believe we’ve had 2 months of Tarot Tuesdays now? I have to say, writing all these posts has really brought me closer to my own witchcraft practice. It is deeply fulfilling to be sharing my knowledge with you and has certainly helped me flesh out my own grimoire! So let’s keep going, shall we? Today we’re going to talk about Strength in all its forms.

Upright, the 8th card of the Major Arcana speaks about physical, emotional, and psychological endurance and how this is rooted in our belief of our own capabilities. Your strength gives you the confidence to overcome growing fears, doubts, or challenges. You are fueled by your inner strength, personal power, and determination now. Your strong will allows you to control a situation quietly and without excessive outward force. Instead you guide gently knowing you will persevere. If you have been feeling burnt out, stressed, or drained, now is not the time to lash out at obstacles that appear in your path. Take your gut reactions, and channel the raw emotion into a constructive response. Note your instincts, but bring them into balance with your goals. The strength is in you to do so. Reach deep for your resolve.

It stands to reason, then, that its reversal shows us being vulnerable to self-doubt and lacking self-confidence. If you’ve been pushing hard to achieve a goal or dedicating yourself to others, you may feel sluggish. Strength reversed invites us to take stock and restore energy levels through withdrawal and others for a short time. You must take care of yourself if you wish to take care of others. If you neglect your own needs, you may find yourself prone to explosive behavior. Perhaps you’ve already lashed out at others and have acted without thinking. Beware your animalistic instincts. They can drive you to do or say something you will come to regret.

Strength is much like bravery. Even when you feel weak or scared, the ability to push ahead is where your real strength lies. The Strength card isn’t about forceful brawn. It’s about endurance and confidence, whether you’re lacking, or full to the brim. Use these qualities constructively and avoid reactive behavior where your primal, raw emotions are involved. While those feelings are valid, they won’t help further you toward your goal. Stay focused and in control of your faculties as best you can, my darlings! Let me know some calming techniques that work for you when you feel the animal aggression rising, and I’ll see you all next week!

It’s About Drive, It’s About Power!

A story by Calista Moon on .

Hello again, my darlings! Welcome back to Tarot Tuesday, where I break down each individual tarot card for our own edification! Today we’ll be looking at the 7th card in the Major Arcana, The Chariot. I know I can be long winded in these deep dives, but this card is straight to the point, so this will be a quick read today. Traditionally a vehicle for war, the Chariot maintains the feel of ambition and drive toward a goal. Action is key to remember with the chariot. You don’t want to fiddle around. The course is plotted, and you can either go forward or turn back, but staying in one place is going to result in failure. 

Upright, The Chariot is a sign of encouragement toward your goal. Stick to your path, regardless of the challenges that arise, and there will be challenges. Remaining confident, assertive, and focused on what is essential to you will lead you to success. Don’t flounder and don’t cut corners or you will not reach the finish line. Use your willpower to lay down boundaries and hold the line as you advance. Display strength and courage now. You have the ability to reach this goal, but you are responsible for your level of determination and perseverance. Build the habits and disciplines necessary to help you succeed.

When The Chariot arrives reversed, it’s time to retreat. You’ve been hell bent toward your goal, but take a moment or five to re-evaluate the path and see if you need to change direction. If you find that you’ve deviated from that which matters most about reaching this goal, realign yourself with your values before changing tact. That deviation may be why you’re facing more obstacles than necessary. Look at what you can and cannot control, and focus on that which IS in your power to change to improve the situation. If you find that you’ve become consumed with detailing every moment of every day, try loosening your grip and letting the days pan out on their own. Remember, that accepting help is not weakness, even if it doesn’t align with exactly how you wanted to proceed. Do not burn yourself out unnecessarily on a solo path. 

Whether you’re meant to plunge ahead through whatever stands in your path, or rein in the horses, the Chariot wants us to look at our dedication, values, and self-discipline. These must all be aligned to find success in our endeavors, whatever they may be. There will be days that motivation is nowhere to be seen, but on those days, we strengthen our resolve and lean on the disciplines we have created to continue forward. Inner strength and willpower are our greatest tools, my darlings. Exercise them regularly and they will remain healthy and ready for battle!

The Lovers; More Than Romance

A story by Calista Moon on .

Happy Tuesday, my darlings! We’ve talked about balancing masculine energy, we’ve talked about balancing feminine energy, and now we talk about where they meet and balance against one another. The Lovers card is the 6th in the Major Arcana and represents harmony, balance, relationships alignment, and oddly enough, love. Who would have guessed! While it generally refers to romantic relationships, the Lovers can also speak to any close relationship where love, respect, and compassion flow.

In a relationship reading, the upright Lovers show that you have a beautiful soul tie connection with a loved one. It’s a sign that if you communicate openly and honestly with those you care about, you can create a healthy vibrant relationship that is built on trust. In a personal reading, it represents figuring out what you stand for and living authentically. Staying true to yourself is paramount in establishing what is, and is not essential to you. Clearly set your values and beliefs about who you want to be in this lifetime and how you want to connect with others, as well as on what level you wish to connect. Choice is the core of this card. You may be facing a moral dilemma, and choosing love will not lead you astray. Love for yourself, others, or the universe at large. Choosing love, choosing to unite forces, even outwardly opposing forces, can create something whole. Accepting the duality of a situation or of differing peoples will let you build a relationship or foundation from which love can flow.

When this reversal appears in a personal reading, it speaks to self-love and respect. Do you accept yourself and the value you have in the world? Are you envious of qualities that others possess? If you can see these desirable qualities in others, remember that you already have them within you. You could also be facing a tough choice with significant consequences, or perhaps you’re punishing yourself for something you’ve done or that you consider yourself responsible for. Look inwardly and align yourself with your Highest Good, no matter how difficult the path may be. Forgive what has come to pass, and focus on specifying your personal beliefs and values now. Aligning yourself with detailed goals will help guide you in making decisions you’re proud of next time. If the Lovers are reversed in a relationship reading, it signifies imbalance in the relationship, whether romantic or not. Communication may feel strained, or perhaps one of you is more emotionally invested than the other. You may know that you love this person unconditionally and that this moment will pass, but be mindful that if the imbalance persists for too long, this can lead to disappointment and insecurity later on. Take the time to address miscommunications or the imbalance of emotional efforts if you wish to maintain a healthy open foundation.

Remember that communication is the core of any strong relationship. Whether you are communicating your ideals to yourself so you stay clear on your path, or making yourself vulnerable with another person by communicating honestly to maintain a healthy relationship, honest communication is always going to lead to resolution. Sometimes we don’t want to talk about the relationship, or look at how far we’ve strayed from our path. It’s hard. It’s scary. It’s tiring. But it is so worth it to know that you have given the top efforts toward yourself and those you care most about. So take a deep breath, sort your thoughts out, and stay authentic to yourself, my darlings! The hard work is the most rewarding!

The Hierophant’s Sagely Advice

A story by Calista Moon on .

Happy Tuesday, my divine darlings! Today we continue our journey through masculine energy with the Hierophant, or The High Priest. Sixth in the Major Arcana, he is the counterpart to the High Priestess. Where she is divine feminine, the Hierophant is our divine masculine. He is a sage, filled with spiritual wisdom and a well of knowledge in tradition and institution. This echoes the systematic structure that The Emperor thrives on and uses to resolve issues that land at his feet. The Hierophant is more intellectually inclined and represents a set of spiritual values and beliefs that are often correlated to formal religious structures. He is often associated with the zodiac sign Taurus.

 
(Now this isn’t exactly relevant, but I feel compelled to share that I found issue with this association when I first started my journey. Taurus? Stubborn, loving Taurus is associated with the search for knowledge? That didn’t seem right. I struggled with it, wondering why it wasn’t associated with more intellectually based signs or planets. But eventually I realized that Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, the planet of love and beauty. Taurus, known for being practical, determined, artistic, and resistant to change in combination with the love and beauty of Venus makes sense when you apply it to tradition and religious beliefs. The core of most organized religion is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Do what ye will and harm none.” These are inherently loving rules. Be kind. Be understanding. Be patient and compassionate. With Venus’ love as the foundation of most spiritual institutions, given time to form tradition and formalize religious practice, these systems become rigid, stubborn, and resistant to change, much like the earth sign Taurus.)


Now back to the task at hand. Upright, The Hierophant encourages you to learn the fundamental principles of your preferred field of study from a trusted source. If you are returning to school, the Hierophant is here to confirm that you are on the right path. If you have already mastered an area of study, he may be asking you to consider becoming a teacher or mentor. Regardless, he says you are following convention and staying within the bounds of a tried and true system. He may also be reaching out if you have been lacking ritual or tradition. He could be calling you to honor familial traditions or sacred rituals that have long laid neglected. He may even be a sign that you are ready to create a regular practice such as daily prayer or meditation. If you have these practices set up in your life, but are feeling disconnected, he can represent membership of an institution. You may find comfort being surrounded by those who have well established beliefs and values with whom you can identify and that will prompt further learning.


Adversely, the reversed Hierophant reminds you that you are your own teacher. All wisdom comes from within. Now is the time to divert from blindly following others and to go against tradition. They may question your choices, but if you are feeling restricted and have lost the sense of freedom that learning brings, now is the time to make your own rules. Challenge the status quo and find whether the beliefs of the many align with your values. Flexibility is necessary in education. As we learn our opinions and perspectives change. When change is stifled, so too is the pursuit of knowledge. Strike out on your own and seek the knowledge that’s being kept from you so that you might draw your own conclusions.


Much like the Emperor, the Hierophant walks a fine line. His is between blind obedience in organized systems and the disobedience of leaving the “approved” realm of knowledge to align with your own values and interests. The needs of the Hierophant can change from day to day. One day we may need community and support, the next we could need the solitary introspection of lessons with which others in the community don’t agree. The wisdom of the Hierophant is that you cannot write off community and institutions. Stay open to all courses of education. Bring in all the knowledge and counsel you can, but at the end of the day, make up your own mind. Don’t lose your curiosity, my darlings. Never stop learning, and know that if and when your outlook changes, it’s not because you were wrong before. It’s because you learned!

New Year’s Fool

A story by Calista Moon on .

Happy new year, my darlings! New resolutions, new opportunities, new energy! What better way to celebrate this sense of freshness than by starting a tarot deep dive here on WDFWSB? Welcome to Tarot Tuesday! I plan to take you through the entire tarot deck one card at a time, giving explanations of the energy behind each card, what they can mean in a reading either upright or reversed, and maybe even help you connect to your Higher Self. So let us take that first step with the Fool.


The Fool is the first of the Major Arcana and the embodiment of the enthusiasm behind a new project or journey. I love to meditate on this card at the beginning of the year. His enthusiasm doesn’t always endure, hardships come with every path, but remembering his innocence and allowing ourselves the same childlike awe of our potential helps me get in touch with my inner playfulness and imagination.
Upright, the Fool is our harbinger of new beginnings. Doors are being opened to you, and they bring the opportunity of new experiences. If you’ve been looking for a sign to follow your heart, now is the time. Trust that the Universe is taking you to a place of personal growth and adventure. While there is a sense of naivety about the Fool, he is not ignorant or dim witted. He merrily marches into whatever awaits, taking the chance to embrace the unknown. Open your mind and be spontaneous!


Reversed, the Fool still has this same foolhardy (ha!) sense, but it is more of a chosen ignorance than an enthusiastic endeavor. He represents a lack of direction and taking too many big risks. He makes choices recklessly, willfully blind to consequences. Consider how you can maintain a free spirit without hurting yourself or anyone else. Or it could be far at the other end of the spectrum, where you’re holding yourself back from embarking on your journey. Are you so worried about taking any action that you’ve come to a standstill? If so, remember that you don’t have to control everything. Remember the Universe is ushering you into this new chapter, guiding you to take this step, even if you don’t know exactly where it will lead.


We never know where each day will take us, but like the Fool, we can take each step with a smile and trust that we are exactly where we need to be, heading where we need to go. Moving with intention is key. We are the masters of our fates, my darlings, even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Happy New Year and welcome to the chapter of 2022!