full moon spread (a bit late)

OK I know its late, but, well, its been a crazy week. Lots of work, emotional stuff and just not having time! So I hope the Gods can forgive me doing a full moon reading a bit late

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***2***
***1***
***0***

1.- What can be seen with clarity, so bright that can even blind you.
2.- What gets completed. What closes a cycle.
3.- What begins to fade away, to darken, to abandon you... or what needs to be.
0.- Yourself. Shadow card, from the base of the deck.



1.- What can be seen with clarity, so bright that can even blind you. 3 of Swords SISo, a card about heartache. However, this card has someone preparing to stab themselves in the chest. I think this is suggesting, I make my own heartache, make things hurt me and then keep poking the scar. What can I say? I have a catholic history LOL.
And I know this, so Im trying to change my mindset, offer myself some love and take down some of the blocks from self inflicted ICK. It didnt occur to me till yesterday that sometimes I block the good stuff from me. And when I started to let it go, let the ick fade away because I was surrounded by such love, light and healing.. well. Puts it all into perspective. Just gotta keep that perspective

2.- What gets completed. What closes a cycle.6 of Cups SI
I think this is linked.. its about not constantly giving of myself, and learning to accept gracefully the gifts that I am offered. Because that is what will make me strong and healed.
Not receive to panic that Im not worthy, not good enough or that I am should give in return. Recieving the blessings given to me with love.

3.- What begins to fade away, to darken, to abandon you... or what needs to be. 8 of swords SI
I think this can be read in two ways. The Figure isnt obviously bound like the usual RWS figure, so they could be creating their worries and pain into defences, barriers, better the pain you know than another...
OR it could be that feeling of being protected, and yet in that finding strength.
I guess it could depend on the swords. I could be transforming my perspective (swordy stuff) from painful barriers to hide behind and crucify myself with, or I could use a barrier to stop the negativity getting to me, so I'm strong behind my defences.

Or maybe its just hiding behind something, and I need to just STOP doing that. Why hide when you have nothing to hide from? Just be bold and filled with love?

0.- Yourself. Shadow card, from the base of the deck. Lovers SI
Oooh I think this is what the Lovers is hinting to. The Heart and YinYang are the WHOLE of the card, that Love, positivity, balance, Divine and romantic love are what should be my main concern and nothing else. The rest will just fit in, without my worrying about it. Let love guide your way and it will appear in your life.

VERY fluffy, but I need some positivity :)

ETA I ended up deciding that to make sure I got some universal love flowing and set myself up a wee crystal grid flowing with Reiki to myself for some love and healing. And it worked.

So did watching Dr Who with people I love and love me :D

Full Moon... hooooooooowl

So I used Eowyn's new moon spread, so I want to use her new Full moon spread

***3***
***2***
***1***
***0***

1.- What can be seen with clarity, so bright that can even blind you. - Fir Club Moss
I can see lots of things very clearly at the moment. Eyes wide open... and in that there is a sense of awe and wonder. And ya know, thats something I have been missing recently.
I had an amazing experience last night connecting to the Horned One, lord of animals... and it was just, spine chilling. Just amazing that after 10 years or so of spiritual 'stuff' that I do, you get things that take you completely by surprise and with wonder.
And I think the Fir Club Moss is fab. Im a tiny plant in the big whole of the universe, but its connection, its energy, its nwyfre and magic is as strong and as life changing as the ancient yews and the standing stones.
Hengwah as one Mr The Bard would say :)

But also, a small thing can start a huge change. And I hope this is true for somone i care about, and I hope i get to help them through that change.

2.- What gets completed. What closes a cycle. Cuckoo Pint Rx
A period of disharmony and toxicity... well I hope this is very true! We need some harmony and balance!
But, this is something that individuals have to seek out for themselves, to realise and integrate what they do and have done and own it.
And I've been part of that myself... I really hope to catch up with a dear old friend this week that I havent seen in a long time, who I wasnt exactly pleasant to the last time we actually spoke to one another. Although hes forgiven me (or he'd say nothing to forgive) I guess I wont have harmony in me until I see him myself and get a hug :) It will mean a lot to me.

3.- What begins to fade away, to darken, to abandon you... or what needs to be. Primrose Rx.
Theres a really amazing line in the book for primrose 'to what degree is your quest in life to find completion through another human being, or through yourself?'
How so very very true.
But also, to what degree can you try to actively avoid harmony with another being by pretending to be 'questing'? Ive had a few readings recently talking about a love interest coming into my life - and Im like 'really? Are you sure? Im way to busy to bother about boys' but maybe the universe has other plans? I really dont know how to feel about that.
Hmmmph.

0.- Yourself. Shadow card, from the base of the deck. Woad
Ah good old woad, how many times does it come up for me at the mo? Me and my Huntress energy, questing, hunting, a bit 'do or die' in some aspects. Well, it keeps the Gods on their toes hehehe.
But whatever, I am free... the sky is my limit. I have the freedom to do what I want, and ok I have things that im duty bound to, things like uni/work etc, but they are part of my freedom. I freely chose that path and I freely love to run on it. And my others.
Ya know, I cant complain because Im free to make the most of what I have, and most of the time I do try to do that.
This Page of Swords chappy though, this Primrose man... hmmmmm
but lets not throw out the idea coz thats when we judge that which isnt even seen yet.

But I hope hes hot ;)

All is groovy

Had some fabulous next day! Got a letter in the post and its made me very excited about what lies ahead for me. Its one of those mystical magical things that will diffuse throughout all your life and bring you all sorts of groovy stuff !

And theres project X and even project Y possibly happening on the horizon :D

BUT tonight is a time to really appreciate the full moon in all its glory. After finishing my shift yesterday, having a shower, having something to eat and just settling back to reality, I couldnt do what I had planned. But I did have a good look at the moon as mars chased it around the place. Reminds me of those Beltaine ritual plays of the God chasing and trying to capture the Goddess, only it was when the Goddess wanted to be captured that they met. hehe.. Mars really did try to have the moon :P

So.. tonights plan is to get down and magical and cleanse my bag and cloth that Sulis made me! Hopefully I'll get time to do some sort of reading with it.

I do have a confession though - my Deviant Moon came today and I am in total love. Its so 'bonkers' and twisted and I really love it, especially with its one of a kind wrappers :D I feel TORN.

I guess this is why we have a primary reading deck and not just a one deck wonder! But this is good, it means I get time to re-evaluate the experiment and see where I want to go with the DPO and this blog.

And coz I cant write here without having a quick shuffle, my thoughts at the moment point to Fern.
Im really drawn to the edge of the waterfall, there is that placid pool amongst the ferns on the top of the hill/mountain, and suddenly the water falls down the hillside. Its like that long trek on the rollarcoaster, straining to reach the top. Theres a moment of peace, of utter stillness as your cart is balanced on the apex, and then woooooosh your down and up and looping the loop! Like the eerie calm before the storm because its charged with energy for what is to come.
Thats how I feel, happy yet charged for all the stuff thats about to happen or even not happen. But I know that what happens is meant to be and what falls at the wayside will be deadwood.

Moons and Druids part deux

Image of the cresent moon taken from this astronomy site

Did you see the moon last night? That very thin slither of the cresent? That shiney silver blade high in the sky? It was just stunning! I had to go out and do a bit of ritual and celebrate the Bent One, with a Silver Birch and and milk based beverages. It was very illuminating and a very nourishing and empowering experience :D I feel I've connected to that wildness of Heather (see previous post about why Im waffling about Heather), of community, and there was a message for me as well! Those bees are interesting critters huh!

So, Im back to having a loopy lunar moment, and dug out all my 'druid something' cards - the Druid Animal Oracle (DAO) my DPO and the Druidcraft Tarot (DCT) looking for moons in all their glory.

Now, I do have a confession to make. I really never got on with the DAO. Sure its pretty and sure it's nice, but I just saw pretty pictures. I never felt the animal energy spring from the deck, when I know others prefer the DAO to work with than ANY tarot deck out there (yes its SLIGHTLY sacreligious, but I like them and so I forgive them lol). But doing this has made me connect to something in those animal cards so maybe I'll play with them more with the DPO.

So... waxing moons (apologises to those in the southern hemisphere but I gotta call it like I see it here from the UK).
DPO - Mistletoe
DAO - Hare
DCT - Moon (i know its got the whole moon, but the only shiney bit is the first cresent), High Priestess, Prince of Cups

Full Moon
DPO - Mugwort, Ivy, The Banes
DAO - Owl, Crane
DCT - Queen of Cups

Waning Moon
DPO - None.
DAO - Blackbird
DCT - Seven of Swords, Star, Ace of Cups, Hermit

Dark Moon
OK this is a bit speculative because obvious these are just night scenes without a moon, which I think would be good dark moony cards
DPO - None
DAO - Bear
DCT - Ace of Pentacles, Death and possibly the Queen of Pentacles.

Now what does that mean? I dont know LOL. But its really interesting. Why is there no waning moon or dark moon in the DPO? And So many Cresents in the DCT and only one true full moon in the whole deck?

And one random thing Ive noticed is how similiar Yarrow and the Adder cards are so similiar! And ya know - I never liked those elemental dragon cards.

So, loopy lunar stuff continues. But that Bee in the Heather card really got me wondering about bees so thats why I picked up my DAO again.

Its tempting to get bogged down in the thinkery of it all. Why do I seem to go lunar loopy, what does it mean etc But I remember the reading I did previously here and I just need to be brave and go with it and see where the journey takes me.

Inspiration firing, Brilliant!

But I did have a look in Herbcraft (Franklin and Lavender) and saw a list of herbs to the phases of the moon - which I think would be interesting to note here,although again, knowledge that as yet is not yet fully digested.
Waxing herbs white rose, camphor, lily, cinquefoil, mugwort, aloe, ox-eye daisy and poppy
Full moon herbs cinquefoil, red rose, mugwort, dandelion, frankincense, marshmellow and poppy
Waning herbs garlic, myrrh
Dark moon herbs garlic, parsley, willow and forget-me-not

Now I dont completely agree with that list, but its an interesting place to start from eh?!

Moons and Calendars (Happy New Year!)

So new years eve is not only new years eve, but it falls on a new moon... that is also a blue moon (second full moon in a calender month) and it is a partial lunar eclipse.

OMG! or really? I mean. Its a full moon yes, but its only a blue moon according to the calendar that we use, which is just a fluke really, and its a lunar eclipse that isnt visible to the UK.

However, I have been a bit moon-crazy (or loopy-lunar!) for a while. I had this random thought in the night a few weeks back about moons and druids.

What would a phase of the moon mean to an ancient druid? What does a phase on the moon mean to a present-day druid, that isnt just a diffusion of knowledge spread from Wicca to Druidry in recent times. I mean, why do we see the Moon as Female? Is that something druids have picked up from the Wiccans and just not questioned it? Many cultures at male moon deities - and would the druids really have associated Gender to the luminaries?! I mean stars dont have gender assigned to them.

So the only bit I could link between ancient druids and moons were as a method of counting time, in a calendar. However, I dont like the Graves Celtic Moon calendar idea (which he later admitted was complete forgery!).

So perhaps part of my DPO project is to pick a card for the lunar month as a guide? Or just to be aware of the plant happenings as we move throughout the solar year?

But would that start at a full moon? Or would it be at the new moon, the point of void, the death/rebirth moment. Hmmph stuff to ponder indeed!

To go through these thoughts I've drawn 3 cards, Comfrey from the top of the pack, Woad from the middle of the pack and Ivy at the bottom of the pack
Well, two very day time cards and the Ivy with the full moon lol. Maybe thats suggesting how the moon and sun are linked, that there is no real seperation, as the the moon is only the light of the sun reflecting from a rock floating around the earth? lol

Comfrey is about union, it is BoneWort and knits together skin and bone, spirit and body.Woad is about being brave and defending what is yours to defend - ie my idea that the druids didnt do moons lol, well at least not in the way that modern druid types do - and the moon/gender thing really doesnt feel appropriate to me at the moment. So I'm not going to be going ga-ga over how She is beautiful, no She, just the Moon. The Ivy though is reflecting that whatever we THINK the druids might or might not have done, we cant escape that deep pull we have as human beings, as beings of water, of just primal instinct that the moon is sacred.

Perhaps the idea here is for me to link sun and moon together? Working with the solar and lunar festivals? My friends Sue and Jake spoke to me of their awareness of how the solar festival is boosted by the power of the moon. For example, May day might be on 1st, but the hawthorn, the big indicator for the celebration of Beltane to most folks, may not be in bloom till May 15th which happened to be around the time of that full moon. So, it could be something to be aware of and see how it unfolds.

I do feel though that once again the DPO is asking me to not just think and analyse the cards, my spirituality etc but just to have the stillness to feel and experience why I am lunar loopy, by being with the Moon at its times and seeing what unfolds within me (theres that Ivy ya see).I think its also asking me to just sit and FEEL what is flowing. To not THINK about what might have happened, but what I feel is right to happen and seek to be receptive to the ideas that come to me at the moon.

Ivy again in so many days... ooooh.

SO... that is why I havent done a big New Year Full Moon/Blue Moon reading. Too much in my head and what feels right for me now is that years and months, the 'calendar' is based on moon cycles. You cant have blue moons when you have a calender based on months of the moon cycles! Plus I already had a reading done on my birthday for my year ahead and it seems daft to do it twice. Birthday years seems to click better with me than the calendar turning a number type of year.

But I do keep having this connection to the Moon. I'll have to ponder and see where it is taking me :)