Tag: tarot

Imbolc Reading — Bridget’s Cauldron Spread

Happy Imbolc in the Northern Hemisphere, and Lammas in the Southern!

Since I am in the Northern Hemisphere, I am using a spread to guide me in navigating the period from Imbolc to the Spring Equinox.

This is one of my spreads, that I call Brigid’s Cauldron. The bottom 3 cards represent the cauldron and the top 4 the energetic advice. For this reading, I used The Robin Wood Tarot, one of my favorite decks. You can learn more about it and buy it here.

These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork. You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the energy as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.

Meanings of the positions:
1 – the Foundation
2 & 3 – Surrounding Energy
4 – Physical action
5 – Intellectual action
6 – Identity action
7 – Creative action

Let’s dig in, shall we? Remember, this is a reading rooted in Imbolc, the stirrings of new beginnings, and connected to Brigid, who is a goddess of healing, poetry, and the alchemical force of fire to create positive change.

1. The Foundation – The Sun
In spite of all the chaos in the world around us, by connecting to our deep foundational energy, we have the capacity for success, joy, and freedom. There are factions trying to pull us away and make us forget who we are and why we are here, but we are stronger.

 

 

2 & 3. Surrounding Energy – The 6 of Swords and the 5 of Swords
This very much ties into the energy of the world around us, as mentioned above. The 6 represents a journey over water. That can be mental or physical. It often means escape from a nasty situation. Many of us are in a nasty situation right now, and we need to navigate our way through it and out of it to a safe refuge. Even though it’s a card from the sword suit, meaning intellect, there’s water, to it’s connected to emotions, dreams, and creative action through creative thinking. The 5 of Swords is about conflict. There’s conflict all around us. There are arguments (swords, again). Look at the figure in the foreground. This figure is victorious, and taunting the other figures, farther back in the card. Are we the figure in the foreground? If we are, and we win these conflicts, perhaps we shouldn’t be smug and cruel in those victories.

4. Physical Action – King of Swords
We have a card of intellect in the position of action. He’s standing there, with his body and sword in a defensive position. There are crows in the background, indicating magical knowledge. He’s wearing a battle helmet. This King has drawn a boundary, using his intellect, and will hold it, through force of will. In the next six weeks, we have to draw boundaries and hold them. Tying into both the warrior and poetic energies of Brigid, choose your words wisely and stand by them.

5. Intellectual Action – The World
While the world is, overall, a positive card, it’s also about the ending of a cycle. We had the World come up frequently as Pluto moved into Aquarius late last year, and also again in mid-January, as things got increasingly chaotic. There’s promise and hope for a better future, but only if we take definitive action, and make a solid plan. It’s a reminder that no one is coming to save us, and the world is what we make it.

 

6. Identity Action – The Empress
What does “identity action” mean? To me, it means walking my talk. I bring who I am out into the world without apology. My skin color allows me greater freedom to do so than many, and I need to use it to protect and create positive change. Being a woman means I’m back to fighting the battles we thought we’d won in the 1970’s. Connecting to the Empress energy allows me to walk my talk in ways that are strong without being cruel, that create safety for my family (both blood family and found family). I need to both trust my instincts and nurture those around me. It’s being a different type of warrior than, say, a knight card would indicate.

7. Creative Action – King of Cups
This card in this position makes a lot of sense, as cups are associated with emotion, dreams, and creativity. This king is quiet, in control of his emotions, knows how to use creativity to win over those around him, and knows how to be quiet and controlled in his use of power. He’s not pulled into the emotional chaos created by others.

 

This reading contains three Major Arcana cards (Sun, World, Empress) suggesting large energies. It has two kings, about controlled energy. And it has 2 Minor Arcana cards as the energy surrounding us that can be managed, controlled, and navigated through the 4 positions of actions that connect back to the Sun energy as the foundation. It offers a rational map of opportunity for the next six weeks, will likely contain a good deal of chaos.

What did you get from the reading? Is your intuition telling you something else? All experiences are valid and matter. I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

September 23, 2024: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

Monday, September 23, 2024
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Uranus Retrograde
One day past the Autumn Equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere; the Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere
Partly Cloudy and cool

I hope you had a lovely Equinox!

The Eleusinian Mysteries are happening at this time, too. Over the years, I have created a series of simple honoring over these nine days.

But today, we’re here for tarot.

Once again, I’m using the GREEN WITCH TAROT again by Ann Moura, with artwork by Kiri Østergard Leonard, available from Llewellyn.

This is a spread of mine, that I’ve developed over the past few months. It’s read from left to right, 5 cards. Any card that needs more interpretation can be built into further, above and below, with either more tarot cards, another tarot deck, or an oracle deck.

These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork. You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the week as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.

Left to right, the positions are as follows:
1. The Collective Energy of the Week
2. The Week’s Challenge
3. The Week’s Opportunity
4. The Week’s Stretch
5. The Week’s Comfort

My black cat Tessa helped with this week’s reading (there’s a photo of her on IG). This week’s cards:

The Collective Energy of the Week – Ace of Chalices
What great energy to have for the week! This week is about fresh starts and opportunities for creativity, emotions, inspirations, abundance, and relationships. Someone is offering you something from the heart. Treat it with gratitude and gentleness.

 

 

The Week’s Challenge – The High Priest
This is an interesting twist. Last week, this card showed up as an opportunity to work the system. This week, the same card is in the challenge position. The system you need to work within may present an obstacle to the chalice offered. In addition to structure, it’s a card of scholarly pursuits. You may need to study and research something, rather taking the challenge as an attack, or behaving impulsively from excitement from the fresh inspiration.

The Week’s Opportunity – The Holly King
Some other decks call this “the Hermit” and this representation is one of my favorites. This is the Holly King’s time, from summer solstice to winter solstice (here in the Northern Hemisphere). It’s a time of introspection and forging new paths. The Holly King will help light the way, but you still have to walk the path. This ties in with both of the previous cards. The High Priest and the Holly King advise moving slowly in this new inspiration, rather than plunging in the way a knight card or the Fool card would do. Take time and savor what the ace of chalices offers, before acting on it.

The Week’s Stretch – The Standing Stones
This card is often called “Justice” in other decks. The art in this card has the stone within a stone circle and the daisies, representing truth and harmony. The carving on the stone depicts the scales and the words “Harm None” over a carving of a labyrinth. This is about balance, equilibrium, harmony, and natural law. Since it’s in the “stretch” position, it suggests that it may be difficult to balance the emotional energies of the ace of chalices with the more restrictive energy of the High Priest, and take the time the Holly King advises. But stretching yourself into equilibrium will allow you to enjoy the ace of chalices.

The Week’s Comfort – Four of Pentacles
The four of pentacles is often interpreted as a card of hoarding – either the need to hoard one’s resources, or a warning not to do so. But take a look at the art in this card. The figure hangs the four pentacles over the hearth – a symbol of comfort and home. There’s a face peering in at the door. Is this someone who needs something or who is there to offer something? While the card suggests reserve, it does not suggest cruelty. Four is a number of stability (and can sometimes suggest staleness). However, the artwork does not suggest anything stale. The greenery is lush. Take comfort in being careful, rather than extravagant. Also, since this card bookends the first card, it suggests that the person peering in is connected to the first card, the ace of chalices, and supports the three central cards in taking one’s time before acting.

Note that the two outmost cards are minor arcana, while the three central cards are major arcana, and those central cards all advise taking one’s time, being thoughtful, and maintaining equilibrium. Whatever is on offer needs a bit of investigation, so that it can be embraced and acted on out of informed decisions, rather than on impulse.

Is your interpretation different? Or does this resonate? I’d love to hear your responses in the comments!