Last March, I planted some seeds that have grown in inspiring ways through the year:  I began offering e-mail readings in the e-newsletter I send out every 4 to 6 weeks.  They offer a way to walk through the year tying your tarot-wisdom seeking to the energy of the seasons.  I am very grounded and inspired by the place where I live, southern New England, so you will find that Northern Hemisphere bias here.

At first I hesitated to do e-mail readings because I work in a collaborative intuitive way, in which what the client sees in the images is the starting point and central wisdom source for what happens in a session.  But I developed a format that supported that way of working.  I include an image, prompts for going into that image, and an oracular question before offering any of my own interpretation. (You do have to resist peeking!)  A client has generously allowed me to share a general reading without any indentifying info as a sample: Sample Email Reading I use the Gaian Tarot because Joanna Powell Colbert graciously allows me to use her images.

There are 2 forms of readings that follow: 1.) a general reading where no particular prep is needed; and 2.)  specific inquiry readings where you need to identify a particular desire, worry, or harvest, for example.  To prep for these, make a list and work to name the item as specifically as possible, and then do the 3 card reading for each of items on the list.

Starting in March 2014, I am going to be creating spreads about each new moon so you can check back for missing months to be added.  Also, they will be featured in my e-newsletters where you can sign up to get an e-reading for only $22.

March: Plant Your Seeds Firmly Reading (Specific – a list of seeds)

Plant your spring seeds firmly in good soil with a special e-mail reading.

Identify the “seed,” that project or new energy you would like to bring forth in this coming growing season, and then pull cards for each seed of:

• How to best grow your seed in the coming season.
• An obstacle you might encounter in the coming season;
• How to work productively with any obstacle(s).
• A deeper (perhaps spiritual) lesson that nurturing this seed will bring you.

May: What is your springtime desire? Reading  (Specific – make a list of desires)

The stirrings of the spring energy invite us to tune into our desires, the wild stirrings and the long held dreams.  What desire of yours is rising to the surface?  This reading will help you to align this desire with helpful energies around you at this time, and, thus, increase your ability to make this desire real.

Here are the questions to explore for each desire

ENERGY:  What energy is available to help me move toward my desire?

ADVICE:  What is a best next step to embrace this energy?

OUTCOME:  What might take form in this growing season if I embrace this energy?

JUNE: What are your weeds of worry? Reading (Specific – make a list of your worries)

I’m not the most attentive gardener so along with the flowers, summer sun brings me plenty of weeds.  Lots of weeds get a bad rap so I think they do have lessons to teach us, but sometimes there are just too many!  Just like we sometimes – often! – worry too much!   This e-mail reading will help you meet and tame your weeds of worry.

Here are the questions to explore for each worry:

LESSON:  What helpful thing is this weed of worry asking me to pay attention to?

RELEASE:  What unhelpful aspect of this worry do I need to uproot?

STRATEGY:  How can I uproot this weed of worry?

AUGUST: First Harvest Reading  (Specific – make a list of your potential harvests)

On a 2012 Gaian Tarot Circle teaching class, Deb Strom lead us through a concise, yet rich exploration of three harvests that come as we move through the fall:

• the August harvest of grain, which is easiest (threshing of thin stalks).
• the September harvest of grapes, which requires more effort (you gotta really stomp those grapes).
• the November harvest of meat, which requires sacrifice (the culling of the herd).

The ideas about the August harvest inspired this monthly spread.

Here is a bit of process to prepare to support this spread’s effectiveness (just like preparing your tools to go out into the field).  First, brainstorm a list of what in your life might be ready for harvesting.  These could be projects started in the spring, new attitudes or habits you’ve been working on cultivating, or even relationships.  Anything that seems like it is ready to harvest and enjoy through the fall and winter.  An optional next step is to equate a specific Tarot card or a whole suit of cards with each of these harvest possibilities.

Then lay out your cards (or sign up to get one of my e-readings with these questions):

Card 1:  What am I ready to harvest for winter sustenance?

Card 2:  How can I most effectively carry out the harvest?

Card 3:  What will the harvest yield for me through the winter?

DECEMBER:  Waiting with the Dark Reading (General)

I’ve been working to heed the lessons of hibernation, incubation, and darkness offered to me by the season of long nights.  I realized that a lot of activity during this time of the year is directed toward waiting for the light, but I’ve been feeling this year like that is running too fast.  This year I have wanted to wait with the dark.

This reading might help you connect more to the healing and gifting side of these long nights:

• What is the dark offering me in this season of long nights?
• How can I be open to the gifts of the dark?
• What seed is being planted in me during this dark time?

JANUARY:  Help for our Resolutions Reading (Specific – make a list of resolutions)

A Tarot friend turned me on to MoonCircles, which is devoted to moon astrology and does a series of articles on each new and full moon to help us connect with the moon’s energy and lessons.  I like their 2014 January new moon’s Capricorn Call and Response in which we are reminded that mountain goat must be grounded and balanced before making the leap to new heights.  This is good wisdom for us to remember at the New Year’s when we often make resolutions.

This reading might provide that extra bit of support you need to move from dreamy resolution to solid habit:

BALANCE:  Where to focus my attention to create the steady balance I need to achieve this resolution?

LEAP:  How to make the leap toward my resolution?

STRUCTURE:  What new supportive structure will I create in my life if I do this dance of balance and leaping?

FEBRUARY:  Time of Awakening Reading (General)

The snow might still be on the ground here in the Northern Hemisphere, but the light beings to assert itself more and more as February advances. The groundhog famously emerges from hibernation this month.  Foxes and owls mate.  Bird song starts up in the early mornings. The earth is stirring

This reading grows from the energy of this month that tips us toward spring:

THE CALL:  What is calling to be awakened in your life?

RESPONSE:  How do I answer the call?

BIRTHING:  What will be born if I answer the call?