I pulled from the Haindl Tarot---Father of Wands in the East--King of Wands. This card is represented by an illustration of Brahma. But today, I am resonating more strongly with the Elder of Fire from Joana Powell Colbert's Gaian Tarot.

She is a fitting image for the end of this Octave of All Souls--the eve of St. Martinmas Day--when bonfires are lit to celebrate the traditional end of harvest.

This woman is a healer, a curandero, behind her is an altar for Los Dios de Muertes----I love her bundle of burning sacred herbs----smudging away negativity, bringing in sweet smelling positivity.

Though she is an elder--her gaze is steady and strong--her arms are strong and muscular, she sits kneeling and cross-legged--physically strong and unhampered.

This is the crone, the elder I want to be.

Synchronistically, I learned today that my nephew Brett Denney has made the US Olympic Ski Team and will be competing in Vancouver in the Nordic Combined event. As part of the Olympic theme--Vancouver is incorporating indigenous, aboriginal peoples to carry the Olympic Torch and to be flame keepers.

The Elder of Fire speaks to my heart and soul--to carry the torch of love, light and hope--and of experience---to carry on sacred traditions, to remain strong and carry sweet smoke wherever I go.

Blessings!
 

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The four of fire is about holism and completion, it is about owning and reclaiming one's own power. The image from the GaianTarot shows a woman in the middle of a sacred circle lit with candles marking the four directions. Behind glows a full moon.

Earlier today I received an e-mail from Christine from Abbey of the Arts http://http:www.abbeyofthearts.com
She conducts a poetry party on her blog and today's invitation was to reflect on an image of a gate and the threshold on which we stand between this world and the worlds of our departed loved ones. As Los Dios de Los Muertes and All Soul's Day have recently passed it is an appropriate time for honoring our sacred ancestors. It was also just recently that the full moon passed. This card and the poetry invitation inspired me to think of my mother. I see her standing in this sacred circle inviting me into the dance of life, death, rebirth. Love never dies. The cycle continues......

My mother stands
inside the gate of memory
beckoning me forward
into the sacred circle that she has cast.

Tall candles mark the four directions
flickering like the fireflies
we gathered in jars
and lined like votives
across our coffee table
while we prayed the rosary
to the radio.

Hail mother, full of grace,
I remember thee,
though your madness and your illness
kept us distant during life,
your nurturing still sustains me.

Hail daughter, reclaiming grace,
I have never forgetten thee,
even throughout the madness
I always cherished thee.

Inside the sacred circle we dance
ring around the rosary
ashes to ashes
you shall rise up
I shall rise up
All the worlds shall rise up.

 

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I pulled the ace of pentacles in anticipation of a glorious 5 days off to celebrate my birthday. In the Herbal Tarot deck the card is associated with whole grains----and signifies wholeness, healing, new beginnings.

I spent the day at the pool--this evening going to a grandson's soccer game and then out to a coffehouse later with friends to celebate my Halloween birthday.

Tomorrow AM--David and I head out for a short road trip to warm mineral springs to soak in the springs--and then later that day we will be checking in to a beachside motel on Lido Key in Sarasota.
We're only staying one night but these little trips are always fun and rejuvenating.

Monday and Tuesday I plan to act like a tourist in my own hometown and go to the beach, and the art museum.

It's a way of saying yes to my 58th year on Spaceship Earth and I intend this year to be one of healing and wholeness. I could not have picked a better card to signify the start of a whole new year around the sun.

Blessings and a Blessed SamHain!
 

From the GaianTarot----the eight of fire comes streaking into the cards today. Eight brilliant meteors lighting up the night sky. The message comes to quit being so starry-eyed---but like the meteors hurtling to earth--act swiftly on inspiration and enthusiasm this week!

My Herbal Tarot eight of wands has intensity and swiftness penned along its bottom edge.

Act this week with intensity and swiftness toward your goals and dreams!

A resume goes out tomorrow morning for a new job!

Or maybe--just pay more attention to your surroundings and the night sky. I missed the Orionid meteor shower that peaked last week---but a few stragglers might be visible, still.

Next month brings the Leonids meteor shower.....and I won't miss these again---I've signed up for e-mails to alert me when meteor showers are occurring!

Be swift and intense this week.....Blessed Samhain!


 

the shortest distance between two points
is a fold in space
make a micro movement
walk at the pace of guidance
listen to birdsong
chart your heartbeat
take a baby step toward your dreams
allow new galaxies to appear


 

I pulled the 16th card of the Tarot a few days ago----and decided to ignore it. It's not a favorite image----and has always held negative connotations for me. This morning, I reshuffled my Herbal Tarot deck seeking another card--and of course--I drew The Tower again. I guess I need to wake up and smell the fire! A tower struck by ligtning----it is an image of fire, lightning, destruction. Even Joanna Colbert's Gaian Tarot pictures this card as lightning and fire. It can portend misfortune and trials. But like the yin-and-yang in everything there is a positive side to this card. It can also be seen as indicating transformation and sudden revelation. The Tarot of the Saints associates this card with St. Barbara---a chaste maiden---imprisoned in a tower by her father to punish her for her conversion to Christianity---he is struck by lightning--at the time he beheads his daughter.

In Santeria--St. Barbara becomes Chango---the orisha of fire and lightning-----but also of will. Scribbled notes on my Tower card---state---"actualize" and "break-up"----and is paired with a bulb of garlic. Chango/St. Barbara is about will and what allows us to move from dreams to plans to actuality.....it is change, will, power in motion. Sometimes progress requires shaking things up---"you need to break eggs to make an omelet"----perhaps one filled with garlic.

I am off work today and will go by the local botanica and buy a red St. Barbara /Chango candle----and seek to move my dreams, my plans, to actuality....and it is suggested to leave offerings of dry red wine, apples, and bananas, at the foot of a tree.

And I did have a "flash of lightning" this morning. I decided to splurge and pre-order the limited edition of Joanna Powell Colbert's forthcoming Gaian Tarot. David and I have been very frugal and cost-concious these past months----but I do have some extra funds---and this is such a delicious splurge----it's my birthday treat to myself! It feels luxurious to order something this beautiful and life-affirming-----especially to someone like me who typically splurges at dollar stores and thrift shops!

On a personal, local level----just as for me the "Elder of Earth" card will forever be associated with the Florida woman who spins Spanish moss---the Tower/Lightning card is associated with Florida's summer storms and lightning. Specifically, the lightning fires that spark the Everglades----burning away old vegetation, allowing for new growth. All part of Mother Gaia's natural cycles----an inherent Earth wisdom--greater than our own.

I also often see this card as representing the Tower of Babel---the Bible's cautionary tale of mankind's hubris and arrogance---and remembering to be humble before our Creator.

Blessings!