In like a lion…
I’ve always been taken with old adages about the “character” of different months. “April showers bring may flowers,” for example, or “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Each year it seems to me that as soon as there are buds on the fruit trees there though be sunshine, flowers, and warm green grass. But instead the cold rain, sleet, mud and wind continue full force. I am reminded that Pisces is a mutable water sign. The energy of change, transition, and shape shifting are inherent in the energy of the season. Spring battles to be born, and the mud that slows us down and sucks us in is also fertile ground for growth and renewal. Amidst this energy, we prepare for Daylight Saving Time to begin and Mercury enters Aries, beginning a brand new cycle in orbit.
Weekly Collective Reading 3/3 - 3/2/24
Embrace: The Moon + Water
As we drift through Pisces season, our emotions are the water through which we float. We receive the gifts of our intuition and imagination, and are able to see more deeply into our daydreams and fantasies. What do we truly desire? The answer may lie within. At the same time, however, it may be difficult to distinguish fantasy from reality, leading to anxiety about the future or worry about the past. Instead of trying to control the path of your emotional journey, allow yourself to be carried by the current of your inner world and see what insight lies downstream.
Release: Temperance (rev) + Demons
This is an interesting card combination, and in the tumultuous transitional period of early spring I interpret it as not trying to keep all of your demons at bay at one time. It can be tempting to try and change our habits or lifestyle as a whole, orienting everything toward the same goal of health, ease, power, peace, success or whatever resonates with us on our life path. But it is often too overwhelming to try and change everything at once. There is always room for improvement. Perfection is in itself a demon that needs to be released. Be patient with yourself and remember that by working on just one thing at a time — with baby steps, at your own pace — you are still taking direct action toward the life of your dreams.
Advice from Spirit: The Lovers (rev) + Mountains
Peering through the dreamy veil of Pisces we may also have moments in clarity. What seems to be the most important rises to the surface. We gaze through crystal clear waters, and see the truth of our circumstance, particularly in terms of relationships or partnerships, or in the area of self-love, compassion, and esteem. If you have a realization about how you want to shop up in the world, take time to examine it more closely. How can you integrate small changes that allow you to experiment with new ways of being? And how might these changes help you show up more fully and authentically for yourself and others?
Decks: Wild Life Tarot and the Dream Symbols Oracle.
Mercury enters Aries
On Saturday 3/9, Mercury begins a new cycle of transit through the 12 sigs of the zodiac. Mercury in Aries is infused with energy, enthusiasm, and innovative ideas. There is an urge of impulsivity in the air. Some projects may benefit from quick and direct decision making. Use this spread to harness some of early energy of the astrological new year.
Spring Forward Spread
Next Sunday marks the day when Daylight Savings Time begins in the United States, and we set our clocks forward one hour. Personally, I dislike this whole tradition and think it only serves to remind us how arbitrary our overall designation of time seems to be. Nonetheless, we can take the opportunity to make the best of it. Use this spread to prep for next week, diving deeper into how you might take advantage of this routine-altering event.
From The Studio
I’ve kind of gone back to the drawing board on the “Graphic Tarot” minor arcana. I have changed the texture of the background, and I think there needs to be a greater representation of the overall original card iconography. Here are a couple I do like, but I’m not sure overall where to go next. Probably going to put this on pause again.
I’ve returned to doing the analog collage for a deck made from 1970s era Look and Life magazines. I’m about 2/3 of the way done with the collages, and then I’ll scan them and figure out what words or phrases I want on each card.
I’m also still working on the guidebook for the Secret Garden Oracle, and the proof copy of the Spirit Garden Tarot should be here soon.