Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck.

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Cards: Movement, Ten of Cups

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

It's a double pull!  These two came out together this afternoon, and just looking at them brought a smile to my face.

The ten of cups speaks of completion, emotional fulfillment,  abundance, and just overall warm and fuzzy things.  Movement (the goddess Rihannon) speaks of smooth transitions, the joyful movement from one phase to the next, and strength.

I've been feeling creatively stymied lately, so pulling these cards today has lightened my heart; this, too, shall pass, and it looks like I'm on the edge of something beautiful and full of possibilities.  Still, as much as I've hated feeling stuck, movement can be a bit scary to face.  Change isn't always easy, but it is necessary.  And I'm thankful to know it's in my future.

What does the idea of movement from one phase to the next mean to you?  Is this something that generally excites or frightens you?

Namaste! 

'Twas the Night Before Solstice

'Twas the night before Solstice
and all through the town
the people were smiling,
there wasn't a frown.

The branches were laid
'cross the mantle with care
to honor the revels which
would soon occur there.

The children were shrieking
with fiendish deligh
buzzing with sugar
to stay up all night.

One cat at her food dish
and one on my lap,
all cozy and snug
for a long winter's nap.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
but the twinkle of stars--
the night was so clear!

And the stars filled my vision
with so much good cheer
that I flung open my arms
to bring in the New Year.

The darkness is fading
and daylight grows near
and the world has a message
we all need to hear--

Oh, children, and teachers, and mothers, and lovers,
oh, fathers, and daughters, and sisters, and brothers
with love in your hearts and light in your eyes
you can transform all the tears and the sighs!

Go into this year
with a spring in your step
and remember, each of you,
this dream we have kept--

For peace to reach over
the whole lovely earth
and for all souls to know
the feeling of mirth.

This is my wish on this magical night--
may your Solstice be merry
and your Christmas quite bright!

~Jen McConnel, 2012

News!

Signing the contract!

I've been waiting and waiting to share some really good news with you, and I've finally received the okay:

I am now a Red Wheel/Weiser author!

*Wow.  I got tingles just typing that!*

To make a long story short, fortuosity has linked me up with an amazing editor at an amazing house, and The Busy Girl’s Book of Simple Spells: Goddess Magic for Wealth, Health, Happiness, and Love will be out sometime late in 2013/early 2014!

I am completely over the moon, and I can't wait to share this book with y'all!  I'll keep you posted as the release draws near, but for now, I just wanted to shout to the universe a big, fuzzy thank you.

What an amazing Solstice gift.  

What are you thankful for today? 

 

Love, Light, and Responsibility

When I was eighteen, and very new to the Pagan path, I had fantasies of living in a temple and serving as a priestess of old.  I had my first chat with Goddess, and begged her to open my eyes to all things.  I thought I'd be getting esoteric knowledge.

She sighed, and smiled sadly.  "Once seen, things cannot be unseen." 

I didn't listen, just assured her that I could handle it.

She's been gentle with me, but in the intervening decade, I've started to see more and more, and now I know what she was talking about.

It wasn't esoteric, magical wisdom that she granted me (although there's been a share of that, too).  My eyes slowly began to see the hurt, the madness, and the fear in the world.

Sometimes, it feels like my heart is breaking.  Sometimes, it feels hopeless.

This is why, after my first youthful daydreams, I've shied away from the title of Priestess.  I have not been ready to take responsibility for the people of the world, and I have not wanted to bear the burden of suffering that comes with service to the divine.

But the suffering is here, and the only way to combat it is to fill the world with love and light.

I try to do that, but sometimes, the darkness feels too strong.  After global and local tragedies especially, I feel almost hopeless.

Almost.

But I refuse to let darkness win.  I will spread love and light one small piece at a time.  Even if it just means smiling at the man on the corner and meeting his gaze.

I'm not quite ready for the responsibility of Priestess, but I might be getting closer.

Do one beautiful thing today.

Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck.

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Card:Balance

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

I'm really thankful that I've started doing the card a week on this blog: each week has been uncannily accurate so far, and this card is no exception. Balance is something I struggle with continuously: I'm a writer, a teacher, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and a crazy cat lady.  Bringing my many selves into balance is a challenge, and I've come to accept that there is no such thing as perfect balance in my life.  Balance indicates stillness to me, and while I may get all my balls up in the air with precision every now and then, I'm rarely still.

But maybe the cards are telling me I should be, at least, just for this week.

What does balance (the card or the word) mean to you?

Namaste!

Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck.

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Card:Queen of Cups

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

This is a card of nurturing and emotion, which I could really use right now (I'm a college teacher, and it's exam week).  The Queen of Cups also symbolizes the culmination of romance and love, not to mention representing enhanced aspects of all things water; creativity, emotion, poetry, and personal contemplation.  I'm feeling a little ragged today, despite the beautiful weather, so this was a welcome card to start the week.

What does the Queen of Cups mean to you?

Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck.

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Card:Nine of Swords

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

I have to admit, I was less than thrilled with the card I pulled this week.  The nine of swords is a card of insomnia and worries, and I've always been prone to both.  Thankfully, though, this card is close to the culmination ten, so I hope that whatever worries are keeping me awake at night (and believe me, it's a long list) are coming to a close.

What can I learn from this card?  Well, I already knew I hadn't been sleeping very well lately, but I tend to ignore my insomnia and pretend that I don't have any worries...at least until nightfall.  This card is reminding me to give credit to my concerns, but not to let them take over my life or disturb my sleep.  So, with that in mind, I'm going to try to be kinder to myself and give myself permission to slow down.  It's okay to be worried, but this too shall pass.

What does the nine of swords mean to you?

Blessed be!

Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck.

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Card:Six of Swords

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

This card symbolizes travel or transition, and I started laughing when I saw it.  Like so many people in America, I am gearing up to travel over the coming holiday.  It's nice to know my trip should be smooth, since this is a card of positive travel and transition.


This card also indicates a chance for me to detach from my workload, which is something I'm really looking forward to.  It's so hard to just leave work behind sometimes, and the holiday season gives us each an opportunity to slow down and focus on family, blessings, and of course, beloved carols.

What does the Six of Swords mean to you?  Safe travels, everyone! 

Goddess Tarot: Card of the Week

My tarot deck of choice is still the first deck I ever bought: Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot.  I love these familiar cards, but there's always more to learn, even after over a decade spent working with this beautiful deck. 

I've decided to post a card of the week, drawing randomly from my deck each Monday and letting the message of the card marinate as I move about my busy life.

Today's card is:

Card: Ten of Pentacles

Deck: The Goddess Tarot

Artist: Kris Waldherr

Like all the pentacles, this is a card of prosperity and abundance.  It indicates the culmination or end of a creative project, and is a positive, joyful card of successful expansion.  This is a card that represents fulfilled desires, realized plans, and completed projects.

I laughed when I drew this card.  I just finished a draft of my next big creative project; literally, I wrapped it up moments before pulling this card.  I'm still enjoying the sense of fulfillment that comes from working on a long-term project that is one step closer to being realized.  This week, I'm going to try to stay focused on the positive message of the Ten of Pentacles and remind myself: I can do it!  The end is in sight.

What does the ten of pentacles mean to you?

Namaste and blessed be!

Review: SAVAGE BREAST by Tim Ward

Savage Breast: One Man's Search for the Goddess by Tim Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am frequently distrustful of men who write about women's spirituality (what's your motive, dude?), so when my book club decided to read Tim Ward's exploration of the goddess for our April meeting, I was hesitant.

Boy, was I wrong.

I don't remember the last time I gobbled up a spiritual memoir. (Oh, wait, yes I do: Phyllis Currott's "Book of Shadows", over two years ago).

With a wonderful narrative voice, Ward blends myth and history with his own personal quest, pursuing the vestiges of goddess culture from the Minoans to the Anatolian plains. Each chapter focuses on a certain goddess and her culture, and Ward's work is richly informed by archaeology and Jungian principals. Ward is brutally honest in his writing, including pieces of his own fragile soul in the telling. What emerges is an excellent work, part research and part memoir, examining the widespread yet vastly different goddess of ancient times. Through his fiance and other women in his life, Ward also learns to see the ancient archetypes play out in the modern world.

If you loved "When God was a Woman", or if you have any interest in goddess spirituality, this is a must-read.

View all my reviews

Inspired by Brigid

I spent the last week in a small pine cabin somewhere in rural Pennsylvania.  I was attending a writing workshop with an emphasis on storytelling through verse, so it's no wonder I started thinking about Brigid.

One of the first goddesses I ever discovered, Brigid has long held a powerful place in my heart.  I'm a poet, a dreamer, a fire-keeper, and this Celtic goddess-turned-saint really speaks to me.

Brigid (some people pronounce her name "Bride", and there are infinite spellings) is a triple goddess: she embodies maiden, mother, and crone aspects, and she's the patron of poets and smiths.  She's also associated with newborn lambs, and her feast day of Imbolc/Candlemass honors the first glimpse of spring.

Even though the mountains of Pennsylvania were caught in the depths of a beautiful fall while I was there, Brigid was on my mind.  The group of passionate poets (nineteen talented women) gathered around a roaring fire each night to sip wine and swap stories, and each morning, the scent of wet pine and woodsmoke filled the air.

The inspiration I found there is still working its way through me, and I am so thankful to have had this one beautiful week to set my worries and my reality aside and immerse myself in poetry.  There is no better way to honor Brigid then by honoring your own creative flame.

What creativity waits in you?  How do you honor Brigid?

Blessed be! 

Review: MOON MYSTERIES by Nao Sims and Nikiah Seeds

Moon Mysteries by Nao Sims
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nao Sims and Nikiah Seeds have crafted a quietly empowering book. Filled with art, poetry, and prose, Moon Mysteries seeks to empower women by exploring the menstrual cycle from a place of love and joy. I wish I had read this in my feminist hey-day in college, but I still enjoyed the book and the suggestions Sims and Seeds put forward for self-care.

There are even some recipes, rich with iron and other nutrients: I really want to try the recipe for Dark Chocolate Beet Cake.

If you are a woman, this is a book you should read, whatever your comfort level with your body and your cycle. It is empowering and lovely. As I said, I wish I had read this when I was younger.

View all my reviews

Thresholds: Walking with Hecate

This season is always one of transition, but sometimes, periods of transition give way to standing around in liminal space.  The image of the threshold is very powerful: you cross one every time you leave your bedroom, your house, every time you pass from one place to another.  We wander over infinite thresholds in our lives, most of the time without even noticing that a change has taken place.

But sometimes, we slow down, whether by choice or by circumstance, and instead of striding confidently across the threshold, we find ourselves hovering.  One foot in the past, one foot in the future, or, more commonly, each foot in a distinctly different place.  Straddling a threshold can be scary, not just for the lack of movement, but also for the feeling of division.

Hecate knows all about this conflict.  She can bridge the lands of the living and the dead, the mortals and the immortals, but she doesn't really seem to fit in anywhere she goes.  She's powerful, make no mistake about that, but this dark triple goddess doesn't have a place to call her own.

Except thresholds.

Hecate claims liminal space with pride, lingering between worlds with ease.  When your life feels divided or you feel like you've stopped moving forward, consider talking to Hecate.  As a goddess without ties or boundaries, Hecate is arguably one of the more powerful mythic figures that we know.  She moves effortlessly between eras and cultures, shifting from Ancient Greece to medieval Europe with ease.  She's even making her way into modern pop culture and literature: this is one goddess who doesn't know her place, and that's a beautiful part of her strength: she refuses to be limited.

What can we learn from Hecate?

There's power in lingering on the threshold.  Hecate demonstrates this.  But sometimes, it's hard to linger.  Consider your time in transition as a time to learn, to absorb, to observe.  Hecate's power stems not only from her fluidity, but from the fact that she sees everything: when Demeter lost her daughter, Hecate was the one who pieced the clues together.  If you find yourself hovering over a threshold, savor that time.  You have entered Hecate's realm, and there is much to learn from her.

Do you ever feel trapped between worlds or choices?  How have you dealt with feelings of liminal and limitless space?

Blessed be!

Happy Mabon: let's talk about the Underworld

I know, I know, not the most cheery topic for a bright Friday morning.

But today is Mabon, the fall equinox, and it is on this day when sunlight and darkness are in perfect balance.

It is also on this day that Persephone begins her annual descent to the realm of her husband, Hades.

Fall is my favorite season, and while I'd much rather twirl about in the sun, soaking up energy for the coming winter, I've had the idea of the Underworld descent on my mind lately.    What can modern women learn from these stories?

Persephone travels to the Underworld every year, cycling from her role as daughter to her role as wife and queen.  Her descent tugs at the seasonal tides, and her return signifies the beginning of spring.

Then there's Psyche.  She had to journey to the Underworld and back again before she could win her lover and be reborn as a goddess.  Her journey was about the help she received along the way, but even with celestial advice, she almost didn't make it.  Luckily for her, Eros stepped in at the last minute to keep his love alive.

Stepping away from the Greco-Roman myths, consider the tale of Inanna.   When she travels to the Underworld to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, and pay her respects to the dead,  Inanna surrenders the tools of her queenship as well as the protection of her clothes.  Naked before her fierce sister, Inanna is captured, condemned, and hung on a meat hook.  When her faithful minister comes after her, Inanna is allowed to return to the light if another soul is left in her place.  She returns home to find that her lover, Dumuzi, isn't acting the way he should.  He doesn't seem concerned about her death: in fact, he's lounging about on her throne, enjoying the remnants of her power.  Inanna knows right away who she'll be willing to sacrifice to her sister.

Traveling to the Underworld can be seen as an initiation into power: all three of the goddesses discussed here become stronger after their ordeals in the land of the dead.  They leave behind a part of themselves and emerge in their full strength.

How can we learn from these stories?  Today, as the earth is balanced between light and dark, it is a good time to think about that which we are ready to leave behind.  Like Inanna, we must shed our protective layers in order to become what we are meant to be.

As we step into the dark season, focus on the strength you will learn this season.  What can you leave behind?

Blessed be.