Oct
30
2012

Tarot Blog Hop for Samhain

9 comments

For Seekers – Seasonal Observances

Welcome to the Tarot Blog Hop where we explore themes of the season and connect them to Tarot wisdom.  This hop we were invited to share personal stories of the shadows in our lives.

Perhaps you are joining me from Jordan Hoggard‘s blog.  If not, be sure to back up and read his expansive and creative musings.

The fall season begins in bounty and ends at the threshold of winter.  Fields are emptied, leaves fall from trees, the dark descends.  With electricity and modern appliances, we can today fend off the full impact of the seasonal transition, which is really one of moving from life to death.   (Hurricane Sandy is, of course, testing our ability to fend off the power of nature that flows with both creation and destruction.  I am sending my good energy to all those still impacted by the storm and feeling gratitude for its relative light touch here in Western Massachusetts.)

I actually have been living with the Tarot’s Death card for the whole of this fall season.  Each December I do a Wheel of the Year reading for the coming 12 months (you can find this reading in the Goodies section). This summer I learned lessons from The World and stepped more into living and embodying my true purpose. I enjoyed this time and suspiciously eyed Death coming up in the fall.  I strive to be always open to the change that the spiral of life presents to me, but, oh, it is hard to leave the dance floor when The World is your partner!

And the ease of the summer did seem to slip away.  I became frustrated, tried to push harder, criticised myself, and under stress made some choices that created more stress.  Sitting with the Death card in the mornings, I was ready to let this go, but uncertain how to do so.  I was pushing myself to find an answer.

In the midst of this, I had the opportunity to have a sea shell reading from Michele Hanson, creator of the Ocean Oracle.  I was strongly attracted to the deeply spiraling shell of the Tropidophora Land Snail (you can see it here). When Michele told me that it means believing that you have to struggle to achieve anything, I had an Aha moment.  The sea shells surface your deep beliefs and values so you can examine them and decide how you want to keep interacting with them.

Weaving together the Tarot work and the sea shell work, I found myself wanting to transform the belief that things can only come through struggle.  Hard work I can embrace, but the struggle I was experiencing seemed something old and rotting to be released.

I’d come to this knowing through the messages of the shells who living in water, below the surface of the ocean’s tides, speaking the language of the unconscious and the earth’s deep knowing.  For my next piece of work, I needed a method that engaged my unconscious and creative self.

I turned to the Death meditation from my Journey into the Tarot, which focuses on releasing what is no longer needed and finding out what can emerge in the newly freed up space within.  After releasing the struggle, I found myself opening up to flow as the energy to propel me forward.  The seed that Death gave me in our final imaginal conversation glowed an indigo blue and planted the possibility of moving with deeper vision and insight as I flow into the next phase of my journey.

Now I must steer my boat.  Take it into the waters of the everyday.  My next practical step is a little planning session to look at the flow that is open for me from now to the end of the year.  Yes, I believe you can plan and cultivate flow at the same time.  I’ll be bringing my colored markers to make it playful, and play is a wonderful partner for flow.

I hope these threshold days of seasons flowing into each other offer you equally rich gifts and that you find the helpers that you need to help you with the challenges.

Be sure to continue the Hop by visiting Cosmic Faery Tarot

If you get stuck doing the hop, there is a master list on Amethyst Mahoney’s site.  She was our facilitator and theme-setter for this hop.

[Note:  The World card is The Shining Woman from Rachel Pollack’s Shining Tribe.  Death card is from Joanna Powell Colbert’s Gaian Tarot.]

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October 30, 2012, 7:41 pm Jordan Hoggard

” Yes, I believe you can plan and cultivate flow at the same time. I’ll be bringing my colored markers to make it playful, and play is a wonderful partner for flow. ” Amen, Carolyn!

“A ship in harbor’s safe, but that’s not what ships are for” . . . All hail the colored markers full of life to color your ship’s journey out amongst the World and weather. May the weather always wash through to pen rainbows anew. Great blog!

November 1, 2012, 11:03 am Carolyn

Thanks, Jordan! And I am going to use a deep blue marker! I’m heading off to do this as soon as I tend these wonderful comments on my blog.

October 30, 2012, 10:43 pm Arwen

I ordered the Seashell oracle based on your recommendation a week or so ago on GTC. Thank you for a lovely post in this hop. I love your work, woman.

November 1, 2012, 11:04 am Carolyn

Aw, thanks, Arwen! I am just starting to work with the Sea Shell Oracle. It speaks a different language than the Tarot that comes from deeper below the surface. I can see them working well together with the Tarot providing the support for deciding how to work with the information received. I’ll let you know how it goes.

October 31, 2012, 8:29 am Alison Cross

I love the Gaian, but am not familiar with the Seashell Oracle. I’ll need to go and explore this deck!

Ali x

November 1, 2012, 11:06 am Carolyn

I think the Gaian and the Sea Shell Oracle might work well together. I am thinking that I should bring both to a retreat by the sea and learn how to weave their wisdom together! Thanks for hoping by!

November 21, 2012, 4:59 am Chloe

What a beautiful post, Carolyn! I love the sound of the Seashell Oracle, deep, unconscious wisdom. And the reminder to find flow and playfulness are just what I needed today. Many blessings, Chloë

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