September Collective Tarot

J o i n  me in the  l i m i n a l  spaces.

We enter September, and thus pass the threshold. We are moving into the liminal spaces. We find ourselves yet again in a sweet spot of the in-between, as the summer heat slowly fades away, and we start to feel goosebumps with the subtle crisp of the morning air. We are in that space where we feel excitement and preparation - a time when our inner self is calling upon us to finish up whatever busy tasks we have left so that we may start returning to the underworld, tending our roots, and walking with the dark months. 

The concept of the threshold and the in-between has been on my mind a lot for I have been deepening my studies and answering the call to work with Brighid. While I feel closest to her in the spring, I find curiosity in knowing her in all her forms - in knowing the other two parts of the Triple Goddess, in addition to the Maiden. As we step more deeply into this time of harvest, we are experiencing her in the Mother form - caring for and nurturing that which we have so tenderly sown. And so quickly this time passes, before we again meet her as the Crone - wise, grounded, and in sacred communion with Death. 

We have enjoyed the initial celebrations of abundance - the first energetic harvests have passed. Now instead we step into a new form of tending - identifying what it is we truly want to continue to hold and carry, identify what it is we want to tuck away and preserve. And while we move into this period, and start to prepare for what lies ahead, we still dance in the remaining heat of the late summer - we still smile as the sun kisses our face. And while we look ahead, may we also find presence in knowing the sun will soon be with us much less and feel gratitude for the warmth that remains. 

What magic and mystery are you finding in the liminal spaces? 

The  S e v e n  of  S w o r d s  |  Wood  B e t o n y

In the words of beautiful Jonna Jinton, the month of August feels like an exhale. Following July, which is often so very busy for most of us, August feels like a collective breathing out, and September feels like a re-grounding. In Nature, we find ourselves noticing fruits transitioning to seeds. The plant teachers are showing us that when we must be in a continuous cycle of expending and renewal - now that the fruit has passed, it is again time to focus on attention inward, deeply nourishing our foundation and our roots, so that we may renew again stronger than the time before. May we welcome the dark months that are soon to come with open arms, and remind ourselves that deep rest is vitality. 

What message might our collective ToVA community need for the month that lies ahead?

Affirmation: "With a peaceful heart, I gather information and truth for my plans and goals." 

Seven of Swords: Five swords flying through the air indicate thought that are ungrounded, elusive, and changeable. Only some of the information is at hand, thus two swords are in the ground. No person is visible, which indicates that confrontations are being avoided or that there are hidden intentions. There can be a sense that things are too changeable and confusing to bother about. It may be a good time to do some research or to collect knowledge and ideas from others with regards to the scene at hand. Lay your cards on the table and be honest with yourself and with others. Be willing to reveal your true intentions or to find out and listen to what others' true intentions are. Situations like this can wear on the nerves  until it is clear as to what is going on.

Wood Betony: This plant has been said to have the virtue of protecting against evil spirits. Employ Betony in this fashion to ease the mental anguish and "fearful visions" one might have when dealing with a situation of this kind. 

S h a y l e ' s  Thoughts: 

Think of your energy as that of a pantry, or a root cellar. The late summer finds us in a time of preservation - storing away our harvest from the careful and diligent tending of our gardens so that we may find nourishment throughout the summer. Along the way our minds and bodies have also been tending, and collecting. What energy is truly yours, and what energy have you perhaps absorbed or are finding attached to you? Is this energy that you truly need to carry? Is it something worthy of being preserved as we move closer to the winter?

​What needs to be stored away so that you may find nourishment from it? 

The crunchy leaves will be below our feet before we know it. Until then, happy dancing, sweet ones. 

Blessed be,

S h a y l e 

​Tarot Deck: The Herbal Tarot by Michael Tierra and Candis Cantin