A u g u s t Collective Tarot Reading

O o o o f. What a month.

Hello again beautiful souls! 

Did anyone feel like the last month was just... a LOT? If so, know that I am right there with you. 

I'll be honest. I am a summer baby - and matter of factly this was my birthday month. And when I was younger, I LOVED the summertime. It always felt like a freeing, magical, and vibrant time of the year. However, the last few years have not felt that way. They have felt overwhelming, and busier than ever. And in a way that is nothing short of exhausting.

Sometimes the energy of summer can feel hard to embrace, as it almost feels like the energy is at an unbelievable peak that feels out of reach. And know that if you feel that way, it is okay, and you are not alone.

And yet, may we also be nimble and flexible, and take with us a mantra as we round out these months of summer. How may we explore the powerful energies of this time and identify ways in which to interact with them that better serve us? For example, perhaps we express gratitude that this time of year, we awaken to warm sunshine through the window and the beautiful songs of birds versus the dark and cold of early winter mornings? How does this raise our vibration? 

How do we infuse the energy of the solar peak we are experiencing and allow it to guide how we show up in our communities? 

The  F i v e  of  P e n t a c l e s | M u g w o r t

We begin the month of August with the blessed day of Lughnasadh (or also known as Lammas). This is a special event marking the first of the 3 harvest festivals as we move into the autumn months. In August, we express gratitude for the abundance in which we are about to receive, and the nourishment from the fields and gardens. We recognize during these sacred days that we live in relationship with our earth, and that without the reciprocal relationship of tending to the crops, we do not receive the blessings of abundant nourishment. As we seek guidance from the tarot, the herbs, from our guides, and from our ancestors, may we also reflect on ways in which we can further live in reciprocal relationship with the earth, and within our communities. 

What message does our collective ToVA community need to receive for the month of August? 

Affirmation: "I see the richness in my spirit and acknowledge my inner values." 

Five of Pentacles: A woman on crutches sits alone in the cold while people in the village are warm and comfortable in their homes. Either she has consciously chosen to simplify her life or she has had to accept a drastic change in circumstances due to external conditions. Even if these changes are due to external influences she must look inward to see what it is that is changing internally. Most times an unexpected event contains tremendous lessons. The universe wants us to evolve and become more conscious of our inner stillness within the eternal changes. When we get too stuck in our thoughts and in life, we may unconsciously wish for a change and so the universe provides it. Try not to get stuck in self-pity and 

regret, for these can be ruthless traps from which it is hard to break free. Have faith that all things that occur are for further enlightenment. Don't torment yourself about your relationships, money, home life, status, or friends that have left your circle. Look for the light at the end of the tunnel and affirm an inner faith as a new day unfolds. 

Mugwort: Mugwort is a powerful ally for cleansing and achieving clarity. Mugwort is incredibly sacred in this way, helping us connect to the deeper parts of ourselves. We have all of the tools to move through inevitable change at our disposal, but Mugwort can help to open and awaken us to our own empowerment. Mugwort also is incredibly grounding and has an affinity for the moon in all of its phases, reminding us that beautiful things come from consistent change, even when we feel darkness around us. 


S h a y l e ' s  Thoughts: 

It is interesting we receive this card after a month that felt chaotic for many of us. This card also feels particularly resonate for where I am sensing our collective society is at this point in a very fascinating time. 

The Suit of Pentacles has an affinity for the tangible, but moreover, asks us to evaluate our reactions to, and relationship with, our external environment. Often we tend to have a very confrontational relationship with our outer world, particularly when it comes to things that make us uncomfortable or feel outside of our control. Instead of pushing back, what if we see the external influences as a lesson or as a guide instead of that which is trying to hold us back? Perhaps we are pushing too much for something that does not truly serve our highest good and it might be a time to instead turn inward, and really evaluate what it is that is calling to our soul.

It is also interesting that we receive this card in August, being that this is the initiation of inevitable change, albeit change we are familiar with. While August still very much is a summer month, it is a month in which harvest begins, and we start preparing for the autumn and winter months that lie ahead. While we are still enjoying the final weeks of warmth and sunshine, the upcoming autumn season starts becoming prominent in our collective consciousness. Perhaps this card calls upon us to examine how we can approach the change that awaits us with grace, allowing ourselves plenty of space in which to prepare versus facing it abruptly as it arrives. 

May we be okay with starting over if need be, as all things that are beautiful and successful have a strong foundation. If we find that our foundation is missing, perhaps we need to again become students and build that for ourselves. 

And may we find roots that allow us to ground, knowing that our external influences may ebb and flow around us, but yet remain confident in knowing who we are, and that we are here for a reason, and that cannot be taken from us. 

Happy August sweet loves. Take a deep breath, and know that we will get though any challenge. Sending you love. 

Blessed be, 

​S h a y l e 
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