Weekly Reading: In the watery parts of the self

What a watery reading! Not only do we have two Hearts cards, but we also got the witch's rune Waves, another water-related symbol.

This week, we can expect to be deeply influenced by the Hearts realm, with the blessing of its King and Queen. Our endeavour and priorities will be guided by how much they move our inner waters, and our 'state of heart' will colour our reality. Due to the presence of both K♥ and Q♥, there is a tendency towards emotional balance, but there might be a lack of practicality.

The Waves add an interesting layer. According to Susan Sheppard’s book, A Witch's Runes:

"At the present time you may feel more reclusive than usual, less willing to make a decision or a commitment. Instead, you may feel the need to withdraw into your own private world so you can reassess your losses and gather strength to once again face the world outside the womb." (p. 81)

So this week will open a door to an emotional exploration. We will become more aware of what stirs (or not) the watery parts of ourselves. We might feel a little shapeless, unsure and vulnerable, so it’s not the moment to make great decisions or commitments. Instead, it's a time to let ourselves float a bit in the healing waters of the soul, and rediscover what truly moves us beyond practical obligations and goals. 

PCO: A calling or an ambition?

The past six months have been of great spiritual change for me. I have abandoned some beliefs that have sustained me for more than 20 years, and have turned to a new path. Now, a door has opened that will allow me to step more firmly into this new life… and I find myself hesitating at the threshold. Half of me wants to go, while the other half is afraid that I will lose myself, or cease to be who I am, in the process.

I asked the cards for some clarity regarding what is happening to me and drew two cards.

The first card is the 6♠, the Ruins, and it speaks of a past that is still lingering. First I thought this referred to my new path, which is grounded in a much older (and stricter) tradition than that which I have followed for many years. But then, it struck me that, despite having shed many of my past beliefs and practices, it is foolish of me to think that I have overcome the past entirely. For more than 20 years, my spirituality has shaped who I am, how I conduct my life, my choices and actions… obviously, a lot of it still lingers within me.

In this case, stepping into a new life will mean stepping into a new self. And that is very scary!

The second card is the 3♦, which in the Doors of Somlipith deck is called Severed Head. It uses the images of Tendra, the 10♦ in the vintage PCO deck. It also carries a slightly more negative tone to it, speaking of ambition and asking "what am I willing to sacrifice in order to achieve my goal?".

Again the card seems to have a double meaning. First, I need to sort within myself: do I feel that I am being called to 'deepen' my relation to this new path, or am I seeking to 'achieve' something? With the combination of Spades and Diamonds, the obligation aspect seems to be particularly strong. And second, I need to answer the 3♦'s challenge: am I willing to let go of the past? Can I sacrifice what I think is certain about myself in order to be made anew?

The combination of suits, once more, suggest a certain fixedness and hardness. I am still fixed (♠) in my ego (♦), and unable to die to my old self. I am willing to 'do the right things', but I'm not a as ready to be transformed, yet. The softening influence of the two missing suits – Hearts and Clubs – is much needed here!

New Moon Reading: Waiting for the Sun

It's March, so it's time for another New Moon spread! This time I decided to use a standard playing card deck, in order to focus on the colour and number aspects, which is always an interesting exercise.

First of all, this spread only has low numbers, which usually predicts a moment of lower intensity or less inner engagement. But it does not mean complete immobility! Since there is a small ladder of numbers (2, 3, 4, 6), from bottom to top, we can assume that momentum is being built, even if it occurs subtly. Most numbers are even, which also reinforce this idea of a certain stability and more subtle unfolding. The only odd card, 3♣ is exactly at what I consider the tipping point of this reading, in the very middle of the lunar cycle.

The first two cards represent the first half of the cycle, and together they make a rather peaceful landscape. The 6♥ is a place of comfort, healing and quiet creativity, and in the company of the slow 4♣, there is a tendency to temporise a bit until the right moment to ‘emerge’ from the comfort zone comes. So this lunar cycle begins with a ‘cocoon’ vibe, so to speak.

Then, right on the Full Moon time, there is a shift. The easy-going combination of Hearts and Clubs gives way to the more zesty meeting of Diamonds and Clubs! A spark electrifies the peaceful landscape, stirring it up… An opportunity to materialise plans and ideas comes up (3♣), along with a shock between different energies (2♦), that set us in motion to finally leave that comfort zone.

I like how the colours are arranged, with the two red cards on the outside, and the two black cards on the inside. Again, we have the impression of an introspective core waiting to be stimulated by a more expressive energy. This reminds me of last month's reading, in which endings gave rise to a new seed of possibility… It's as if, now, the seed is waiting for the Sun to awaken it, which should begin to happen in the second half of the lunar cycle.