Samhain Spirits Spread 2022

Samhain – [pronounced sah-win]

I enjoyed doing this spread for past Halloweens on Tarot Notes, so I’m giving it another go. To set the stage, I am quoting from The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer (Llewellyn Worldwide):

“Samhain. The beginning and end of the year in the old Celtic calendar, falling around the beginning of November in modern terms. Samhain is the oldest documented festival of Celtic Paganism. . . Samhain was traditionally associated with the spirits of the dead, who were believed to walk the world at that time. After the arrival of Christianity, the feast of Samhain became All Hallow’s Day. The evening before it, the modern Halloween, retained much of the same symbolism.”

The positional definitions for this spread are inspired by the hauntingly beautiful song “All Soul’s Night” with words and music by Loreena McKennitt. You can listen to the song _HERE_.  You can read the lyrics of the song _HERE_.

This year, I am using the Ghosts & Spirits Tarot by Lisa Hunt (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.) The layout is in the shape of a pentacle.

I stand in darkness at the entrance to the graveyard on All Hallow’s Eve, on Samhain, when spirits walk the world…

(1) This Spirit dances around and around: 

THREE OF WANDS (Fair Brow)

In the Italian fairy tale “Fair Brow,” a young man paid the debts of a dead man to assure a proper burial. The message in this story, as described by Lisa Hunt, is the importance of communication and cooperation with others, which could lead to new enterprises. It is this spirit of communication and cooperation with others that dances around and around me on this Samhain.

(2) This Spirit brings a hidden memory: 

THE HIGH PRIESTESS (Enchantress-Sibyl)

The Sibyl “interweaves the energies of past lives and future events.” She encourages me to listen to my inner voice and intuition, to access my inner wisdom through a hidden memory as I prepare to continue along my path.

(3) This Spirit carries a light in the distance: 

EIGHT OF CUPS (Der Schimmelreiter)

There is a sense here that I may be refusing to accept the inevitability of something, refusing to move on, lingering where there is no reason or purpose to doing so. This Spirit carries a light in the distance that I may turn and focus on that light and move towards it.

 

(4) This Spirit waits for me on the bridge: 

THE HERMIT (Dryads)

As described by Lisa Hunt, the dryads “are one with the trees and elements. They participate in the mysteries of the forest and feel connected to the organic matter that is swirling with magical energy.” This is the Spirit that waits for me on the bridge – a Spirit that beckons to me to enter the forest and spend some time in seclusion, where I can release the clutter and debris my mind has accumulated, so that I may acquire new clarity and vision.

(5) This Spirit passes by the bridge and me: 

SEVEN OF PENTACLES (Canterville Ghost)

In spite of his efforts to frighten away a family at Canterville Chase, the Canterville Ghost was unable to scare them away. The only famly member to take him seriously was 15-year-old Virginia.  It was Virginia who eventually helped the ghost find salvation and peace. This Spirit passes by the bridge and me, moving on at last to a better place. The traditional 7 of Pentacles card often refers to pausing to assess and evaluate everything we have accomplished, and perhaps to decide that we have done our best and accomplished all that we can. 

I do love that The Hermit and The High Priestess, two of my favorite Major Arcana cards, both make an appearance in this Samhain Spirits reading. The cards (and Spirits) have given me much to contemplate. 

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain to all!

Scorpio Season 2022: A Reading

It’s been awhile since I posted on the blog, hasn’t it? My interest was recently piqued by a spread I came across at Astrology Answers 

It has always seemed so appropriate to me that Halloween (October 31) falls under the sign Scorpio. In Tarot, the Death card is commonly linked with Scorpio. In modern astrology, Pluto rules Scorpio. Pluto represents transformation, death and rebirth – much like the Death card in Tarot. All of this seems to wrap itself up so nicely together.

This year, the Sun entered the sign Scorpio on October 23. This spread is deseigned to explore what that means to the Seeker (in this case, me).

The question being asked with this spread is: How can I use the energy of Scorpio to unlock my powerful alter-ego?

Three cards are drawn:

Card 1: What aspect of myself am I hiding from the rest of the world?

Card 2: How should I face this during Scorpio season?

Card 3: What awaits me once I decide to explore this alter-ego?

The layout looks like this:

I am using the Cirque du Tarot by Leeza Robertson, illustrated by Josh Tufts (Llewellyn). Let’s begin!

Card 1: What aspect of myself am I hiding from the rest of the world?

PAGE OF CUPS: I always think of the Page of Cups as a vulnerable, sensitive character, one who imagines and dreams and feels all the feels. This is an aspect of myself that I tend to try to hide from the rest of the world because time and experience have taught me to build barriers and layers to protect that aspect. Cups is the suit of Water, just as Scorpio is a Water sign, so it makes sense that I might be more aware of the Page of Cups aspect of myself during Scorpio season.

Card 2: How should I face this during Scorpio season?

THE CHARIOT (Key 7): In this deck, The Chariot card features the circus Ringmaster arriving on stage in a floating chariot pulled by a group of paid hands. This grand entrance emphasizes the fact that the Ringmaster is in charge, in control of the moment. I can face the Page of Cups effects by remembering that I am in charge of my own chariot (life, actions, etc.) rather than at the mercy of a zodiac sign or even certain aspects of my own personality.

Card 3: What awaits me once I decide to explore this alter-ego?

TWO OF SWORDS: What awaits me as I explore this alter-ego is balance, especially at a mental level (Swords being the suit of the mind and communication, including self-communication). The two swords can be seen to represent the rational mind and the intuitive mind, each of which has a purpose. 

When will my financial situation improve?

A sample reading using
The Goddess Tarot
by Kris Waldherr
(US Games Systems Inc.)

QUESTION
When will my financial situation improve?

ANSWER

Thank you for this opportunity to do a free three card reading for you through the Free Tarot Reading Network. You asked about your financial situation and when it will improve. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not a trained financial counselor. I always suggest that my clients get financial advice from someone who is trained in that field.

Before I continue with your reading, let me explain how I use the Tarot to answer questions concerning "when" something will happen. I do not believe the cards can give us the day or date or even a firm time frame in which something will take place. Instead, I ask the cards to help identify what needs to be done before the event in question (in your case, improved finances) can occur. For your 3 card reading I am using The Goddess Tarot. 

Below are the positional definitions I used, the cards I drew into those positions, and my interpretations.

Position 1. What you need to know: TEN SWORDS

It appears that the worst is over. You have an opportunity to turn a corner in the area of finances. The potential is high that your struggles will be reduced from this point forward.

Position 2. What you need to do: LOVE

There seems to be a need for you to harmonize your emotions and your mind rather than letting one dominate and control your decisions and actions where finances are concerned. I am willing to bet that emotions are the problem and need to be balanced by common sense and careful analysis. Once you have made progress in this area, financial matters are likely to improve. There is also a possibility that a new, important relationship with another person is on the horizon for you, and that the financial situation will be influenced by the development of this relationship.

Position 3. What you need to avoid: FOUR PENTACLES

Avoid spending more than you can afford to spend. Conserve and protect your resources. Be practical.

There seems to be a strong possibility that positive changes in your financial circumstances will occur when you have learned necessary lessons, increased your knowledge of financial issues, and put that knowledge into practice. You may already be well on the way to accomplishing this. 

Based on the birth information you provided, I see that when you were born the Sun (identity) and Mercury (the mind) were both in Gemini, an Air sign known for keen intellect. You seem to have the ability to work through these issues and gain better control.

It is my hope that the insight gained through this reading will help you make decisions and take action in line with your best interests. Always remember that your future lies in your hands. If you have time I would like to hear from you about your reading. Thank you for letting me read for you.

Tarot Card of the Year 2022

One interesting way to use Tarot cards is to calculate which Major Arcana card represents a particular year. As you might guess, this involves adding the individual numbers of the year to arrive at a total that matches the number of a Major Arcana card.

For background, here are my thoughts about the card for 2021:

2 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 5 = THE HIEROPHANT

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

I typically see this card as representing organized religion and/or established entities, methods, and traditions. On one hand, as an American, I might see this as encouraging because it suggests that the “traditional” operation of government is going to prevail, in spite of efforts to create a government in which the Executive Branch has more power than any other.

At the same time, I can see The Hierophant as an indication that organized religion -- particularly the “conservative Christian right” – will continue to increase pressure and build power in order to try to bring society at large in line with their beliefs.

Wow. I do see all of this in what actually happened in 2021.Now let’s move on to 2022.

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Card for 2022

 2 + 0 + 2 + 2 = 6 = THE LOVERS

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

As anyone who has studied the Tarot will tell you, when The Lovers card appears, it may or may not be about a romantic relationship. Historically, there are other meanings. Some Lovers cards depict a man who appears to be trying to decide between two women (one of whom is usually young and beautiful, while the other is a “wifely sort,” whatever that means). That representation suggests that a choice needs to be made.

The Lovers can be about a partnership of any kind, not just romantic. However, it does suggest a sense of “yin-yang”  -- aka masculine/feminine, positive/negative, etc.  In The Lovers, we can see apparently opposing energies coming together to create a stronger, more powerful “whole.”

What energies might “come together” in 2022? Will we see more attempts at cooperation and compromise between “far right” and “far left” factions in politics? Might we see a more literal interpretation in which men and women are able to reach a common ground in some area(s)?

Overall, I think this card indicates a positive, helpful energy. Writing about the occult meaning of numbers, Paul Foster Case gives the following keywords for Six: "balance, equilibration, symmetry, beauty; harmony of opposites, reciprocity; complementary activities, polarity, love." Let’s hope for that, shall we?

For commentary on The Lovers card from Tarot of the Cat People, click HERE.  

For commentary on The Lovers astrological associations from a variety of decks, click HERE. 

As for the number SIX, I presented a detailed discussion HERE.