Tag: Divine

Full “Blessing” Moon

Full “Blessing” Moon

Today is the full moon for July. It has many names, like “Buck” moon because antlers start to grow in July, “Thunder” moon because of the many thunderstorms, “Hay” moon because hay is harvested in July.  My favorite name for July’s full moon is the “Blessing” moon.

The July moon is called the “Blessing” moon because we encounter so many blessings during this month.  A hike in the backcountry of Colorado, where I live is awash with wildflowers. The streams and creeks nearby are full, providing life to downstream communities. Wild herbs are ready to be gathered. The blessings we receive during July are incredible!

I’ve done a reading for you of what to look out for in the next few weeks.  Remember that the Mercury Retrograde continues until August 1st.

I used the Wisdom of Avalon deck and pulled card number 45 – LOVE! This is such an appropriate card.  It’s a real reminder that love is at the center of it all.

“This marker reminds you to show kindness and compassion to all whom you meet on your path – be it a beggar on a street corner, a coworker, a family member, an animal, or a plant whose leaves need pruning.”

wisdom of avalon - 45 - Love - resized

So in the coming weeks, remember to actively feel love for everyone you meet.  Bestow your blessings on each of them. You don’t have to say anything out loud, but feel it in your heart.

  • When you eat, be grateful for the food that brings you sustenance. Think about the long process which brought that food to your plate and be grateful for the farmers, the wind, the rain, the sun, the truck drivers, and the grocery store.
  • As you are driving, feel love and gratitude for the other people in other cars driving near you. Give the road you are driving on a blessing. Think about the plants, trees, and wildlife that were killed or relocated to create this road and be grateful to them.
  • When you wake up in the morning, be grateful for your bed and your roof.
  • As you check social media, be grateful that technology has allowed you to reconnect with old friends and keep a stronger connection with current friends and family.
  • Actively feel love for your spouse, child, parent, or friend who has been causing you grief recently.

Feeling love and gratitude in some of the situations above can sometimes be challenging.  Ground yourself and connect to the Divine above, and that should make it easier.

I love you. I bless you.

Be grateful for the blessings that are already in your life. Recognize each of those blessings. Feel the love which comes with each blessing.

Full Moon Blessings to you all!

Holiday Driving

Keeping yourself safe during road trips is so important. Here is how I protect myself.

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and many of you will be driving to visit family and friends.  Do you ever worry about staying safe on the highway?  I know I used to.

Drive along any interstate, and you’re bound to see road kill on the shoulder.  When I see any dead animal, I feel sad, of course, and say a quick prayer for their journey.  But I also think about what an animal like a deer or antelope could do to my car and the impact it might have on my passengers.

Many years ago, I started a ritual to protect myself on road trips.  It’s easy to do, and simply requires a bit of visualization.  If you read my blog from last week, you’ll know I talked about creating an energy bubble to protect yourself as you go about your day.  This ritual expands on that one.

What you’ll want to do is to visualize a protective bubble around your vehicle that travels with you.  My bubble extends quite a ways in front of my car, and on both sides, especially onto the shoulder of the highway.  If there is a field or woods on the side of the highway, I extend my bubble there as well.

Ask your spirit guides and guardian angels to maintain that bubble for the duration of your trip.  (Although I do visualize it again if I’m driving another day.)

Another thing I do is to ask one of my spirit guides to fly ahead of me to keep anything dangerous out of my way.  One of my animal guides routinely volunteers to do this.  She is fierce in her protection of me.  I can see her claws out in front of her making sure that I stay safe.

Remember, once you arrive at your destination, to also keep a protective bubble around you at family gatherings.  They are sometimes challenging!  But, this is a time for giving Thanks and Gratitude. Feel yourself filled with love for each family member, regardless of your past history.

Blessings!

Attend To The Shadow – Oracle Reading for November 

(Note: I wrote this post last October, but somehow never pushed the “Publish” button.  I’m publishing it now …. in May. It still seems applicable, and I would love your comments.)

I purchased a new deck of cards at the Witches’ Ball last weekend. They have been giving me some great readings and insight into my personal life.

I thought it would be good to do another reading for the general population using this deck. It’s the Magic of Flowers oracle deck by Tess Whitehurst, wonderfully illustrated by Anne Wertheim.

My question for the month is “What is the most important thing we can do to heal our nation?”

I pulled the Dahlia card. Dahlia wants us to attend to the shadow.

I find this interesting even before I start reading the description. I feel that there is so much darkness in our world right now.

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There are so many differing and divisive opinions.  It seems to me that people on both sides think they’re 100% correct without looking at the merits of those who disagree with them.

And this card is saying that we need to attend to the shadow, to look at the darkness. This card is saying that we will find our answers when we look where no one else is looking.

Blessings to you all!

 

New Moon

Here’s a helpful ritual for the New Moon to set intentions for the upcoming month.

The New Moon is today at 1:12pm Mountain Time.  I’m planning a private ritual to set my intentions for the upcoming month.  Do you take advantage of the moon’s energy when you’re working on an important project?  It’s a very powerful ally to have in your tool belt!

First:

The first thing I do is to think about what I want to accomplish in the next month.  I generally do this a day or so beforehand.  Sometimes I have a big project and know exactly what needs focus.  Other months I have to think about what I really want.  Once I’ve decided, I write my intention out on a slip of paper.  I will also write my goal in my journal along with a full description of exactly how achieving this goal will impact my life.

Another thing I like to do the day before is to try to locate the New Moon in the sky.  I like this website to help me figure out what time the moon rises and sets, and it’s approximate location.

Next:

The next thing I do is to create an altar for this New Moon.  I look to see which sign it will be in and which planets govern that sign.  In this case the New Moon is in Libra which is governed by Venus.  I’ll add some jade, amazonite, and rose quartz to my altar to honor Venus.  My altar also includes a carving of my spirit animal, and a gift from a friend who has passed.  Then I’ll include some incense.

Last:

Once I have my altar set up, I can begin my ritual.  At the time of the New Moon, or as close as I can get depending on my schedule for the day, I’ll head outside to see if I can see the moon.  The New Moon is hard to see; it’s just a tiny thumbnail!  And, especially on a sunny day because it tends to blend in with the background of the blue sky. Don’t freak out if you can’t find it.  Know that its energy is all around you.  Also, if I can’t be outside for any reason, I just do my ritual inside.

Next, I’ll ground and connect to the Divine.   (I have a quick description of my grounding process on my blog about Full Moon energy.)   I’ll think about my intention for the month.  Then, I’ll call in my spirit guides, guardian angels, and archangels.  I tell them what my intentions are.  I ask for their blessing and assistance in accomplishing my goals.  I ask them to watch over me and help me make good choices during the month.  Finally, I’ll thank them for their guidance.

Since my altar is generally inside, once I’m done with the ritual, I’ll go to my altar, light some incense and place the slip of paper beneath one of the crystals.  Daily, during the next two weeks, I’ll think of my intentions and ask my guides and angels for their assistance.

This can be a powerful ritual!  Please let me know your results in the comments below.

Blessings!

Moon Energy

Hit hard by the full moon energy? Here are some tips to move past that and be more prepared for the next full moon!

Did the September Full Moon hit you like a ton of bricks as it did me? I’ve been recovering for the past two weeks from that Full Moon in late September. The energy was just so strong and emotional. It’s been a hard two weeks for me. And the moon does not usually hit me that hard.  I was really surprised at my reaction to it.

What do you do when something happens that is pretty nebulous and you can’t really figure out what’s going on? When you’re emotional without a reason?

How can you minimize the negative impact of unfocussed energy?

One thing I do is mini-groundings that help me feel more connected to the earth.  It takes me just a minute or so.  The problem for me is being AWARE that I need to ground and center.  Sometimes when you’re caught up in the emotion, you aren’t aware of what you need.  My Fitbit watch has an alarm every hour to remind me to get up from my desk and move.  I’ve been using that buzz on my wrist to remind myself to stay grounded too.

Do you know how to ground yourself?

Here’s how I do it.  I visualize a cord or trunk coming from my root chakra down into the earth.  I feel it branching out and going deeper and deeper until it reaches the center of the earth.  I feel the stability of being so connected and then I send that energy back up through my body. When I’m done with that, I visualize energy from the divine coming through my crown chakra. For me, it’s like a bolt of white light coming down through my head and into my body.  Once I feel those energies locked together within my body, I know I am grounded and centered in the energy of the earth and Divine.

What else can you do to pull yourself out of the muddle of self pity?

Another thing that I do is to create an energetic bubble around me.  I fill that bubble with love and pink energy.  That helps me cope a little bit better!  I also make sure that when I make breakfast in the morning I infuse that loving energy into my coffee and morning granola.

How can you best take advantage of the Full Moon energy?

Being aware of the moon cycles is the most important thing you can do.  Set your intentions with the New Moon, and see it through with the Full Moon.

Be aware and take advantage of all the Divine is gifting to you!

What are some ways that you manage energy?  Let us know in the comments below.

Blessings!

Oracle Reading for Today

Today I’m doing an Oracle reading using one of my newest decks, the Crystal Reading Cards.  Every time I’ve done a reading using this deck, it has been powerful and insightful.  I’m doing a three card reading.  My question today is:

What can we collectively do for the people of Puerto Rico? 

Reading for Puerto Rico

The first card, explaining the situation is Orpiment, which indicates success.  My first reaction was “Success?!  How can anything about the devastation on Puerto Rico, and the other Caribbean Islands indicate success?”  As I read through the description and meaning of the card and the crystal, I realized that it is talking about what the end result will be.  Sometimes we do need to go through devastation to get to the other side.  Although, even as I type this I’m thinking that this sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo nonsense for this particular situation.  I’m moving on to the next card which talks about what we can do moving forward, before I get too angry with the Oracle.

The second card, with the recommended action, is Chrysotile, which deals with animals in general, and our spirit animal tokens as well.  I have been thinking about all of the animals on these Caribbean Islands.  From household pets, to farm animals, to the wild creatures that inhabit the area – they have all been impacted by Hurricane Maria and Irma.  This card wants us to think about how can we help them.   Today is a good day to look for organizations which work to reunite pets with their guardians.  Other organizations might work to restore natural habitats so that the wild creatures can help restore the natural balance between the sand and the sea.  We can also help humanitarian and sanitation organizations as they search for and remove animals which have perished.  Properly disposing of these creatures is so important for the people of Puerto Rico and other Islands to get back their safe drinking water and to walk from one place to another without worrying about unsafe and unsanitary conditions.  Another thing we can all do is to light a candle to remember each of those creatures that perished.  The disposal of their remains will not be pretty, but we can remember their magnificence as they lived.

The last card, with the Potential Result, is Malachite, which indicates healing.  The verbiage for all of these cards are for the individual reading them, not for groups of people.  But this card in particular has a message for all of us:

“They have heard your prayers for help and are shining their love and healing medicine upon you.  They urge you to be patient and gentle with yourself and accept you are deserving of this love.  You may have been feeling unwell, had an injury, or a more serious sickness.  This card indicates relief is coming and healing is a hand.”

My interpretation of this is that there is so much to be done to bring Puerto Rico back to a habitable place.  Just too much for one person to do alone.  These cards are telling me to concentrate on the animals there.  If any of us can help financially, look for organizations which help family pets, which help refurbish the natural environment, or which help restore sanitary conditions on the Island.  If you can’t help financially, think about the animals there and send your healing thoughts.  In the end, things will be better than before for the creatures of Puerto Rico!

 

Labyrinth

Thoughts on how a labyrinth relates to everyday life

This past weekend I had the chance to walk a real labyrinth for the very first time.  I’ve seen them before, of course, but they have always been way too small to walk on anything but your tiptoes, let alone to get a true experience. I attended the Festival of the Muses: A Goddess Gathering this weekend.  It was held at Joyful Journey in Moffat, Colorado.  In addition to the spa experience (hot springs, sauna, massage, etc.), they also had a very large, and well thought out labyrinth.

I walked it twice, both times in the morning.  Because there were plenty of other women/goddesses at the Festival, I never had the chance to walk it alone.  But even walking it in quiet meditation with other people was a magical experience.

When I returned home, I wondered about labyrinths in general.  How did they come to be?  Were they used by pagans thousands of years ago? Every one that I’ve seen recently, with the exception of the Joyful Journey labyrinth, was built into a church floor, generally no bigger than 6′ in diameter.  Were they used by the ancient Christians?  What was the history?!

History:

Turns out the first known use of a labyrinth was a story from Greek mythology.  It was built for King Minos of Crete to hold a Minotaur.  In reading the story, it sounded to me as though it was more of a maze to keep the Minotaur in, than a labyrinth with an easy exit.  (A Minotaur is a mythological monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man.  Here’s the story in Wikipedia.)

As I’ve read more, I’ve learned that there is a distinct difference between a labyrinth and a maze.  A maze has multiple paths with choices to make when a path splits.  To make it more confusing, there are many dead ends.  A labyrinth has a single path in, and the same path is taken to get out.

Labyrinths were incorporated in Christian churches as early as 1000 AD, but I haven’t been able to find out what purpose they served.

More recently, labyrinths are built in public spaces and on church grounds as a way for individuals to walk a path of mindfulness and contemplation.  That was certainly what I experienced.

My Labyrinth Experience:

So many thoughts bubbled up as I walked.  My intention was to walk the entire thing thinking of what I was grateful for.  But so many other revelations were made for me that I started thinking of those things as well.  And, of course, each revelation was just another thing I was grateful for!

I realized that walking the labyrinth was a lot like a big project.  You start working towards the project and you get turned around.  You continue working towards it and you can see the end; you can see what the end result will be.  So many twists and turns and you feel like you’re going backwards, but all the while you are still working towards your goal; in this case, the center of the labyrinth.

Once you reach the center, you feel so grateful.  You realize all you have to be grateful for.  And, when you finish a major project, you also feel so grateful! Regardless of the project, you know how much you have accomplished and how much you have given to the world by completing it.  In the same way, you recognize that by walking to the center of the labyrinth, you have given so much to the world. You have spent undivided time in gratitude, and in connecting to the Divine, or just walking silently and meditatively.  Just by doing THAT, you are giving back to the Universe, giving back to the Divine, giving back to Mother Earth.

This labyrinth had a beautiful marble angel at the center.  She has received many gifts – crystals, flowers, and other precious objects – from previous visitors.  What a beautiful sight to stand there and take in all the positive energy from others who have walked that path.  As I stood in the center, I turned to each of the Directions and thanked each of those spirits as well.

As I made my way out of the labyrinth, I noticed things I hadn’t noticed on the way in.  It’s all about the ebb and flow of life; the ebb and flow of your breath.  It seems as though my heart had opened just a little more, so that I could be that much more observant of my surroundings.

A rock that looked like a rock walking towards the center, looked like a heart on the way out.labyrinth heart rock

Introduction

I’ve learned so much from Oracle cards, and am thrilled to be able to pass some of that knowledge and helpful techniques on to others.

For the past five years I have been diving deep into my inner workings, and have been guided to my “best” self through the help of the Oracle cards.

I’m very excited to be providing my first workshop this weekend at The Festival of the Muses!  I’ve learned so much from Oracle cards, and am thrilled to be able to pass some of that knowledge and helpful techniques on to others.

Oracle Cards can tell you so much.  I have many different decks and each one speaks to me in a different way.  I am always searching for different decks that speak to me.  I will have a future post that will tell you some of the ways that I select a new deck, and how I determine if it is right for me.

Other future posts will include

  • How to ask questions in a way that provides a robust answer.
  • How to consecrate a new deck.
  • Some of the card layouts that I use.
  • …and many other topics

Keep on the lookout for new posts, and please ask me any questions you have.

Blessings!