Full Moon in Virgo Tarot Reading

Hey there loves, 

If you have been with me before then this might appear a bit different to you. In a slightly unintentional move while attempting some editing, I ended up deleting all of the pages I've had on my blog; most of which had been deactivated but were still visible, in an effort to remove them, I ended up removing the page where the Monthly Tarot Card used to be.

Rather then attempting to recreate it and to redo the page with every new card, for the time being, I have decided to simply add the Full Moon Tarot Card each month as a regular post, this way those who wish to do so will be able to go back through previous postings and see previous card readings.

With all of that being said! If you are new with me, I have been pulling a monthly tarot card for the majority of my time blogging, and recently felt called to pull during the full moon of each month rather than at the beginning of the month.

When I pull a card, I pull for the general collective, for anyone who either follows my blog on a regular basis or maybe they just check in from time to time. I always smudge myself and my cards before a reading to ensure that not only am I focused but that I am in sacred space to allow the energy and flow of the messages are clear and concise from Spirit.

The deck that I will be using for these monthly card readings is the Oceanic Tarot by Jayne Wallace.

Card: The Vortex
Keywords: Illusions, Temptation

Before I jump into this, I want to openly acknowledge that I am roughly a week behind the full moon, as I stated about, I had this all ready to go and in a twist of fate or humor depending on how you choose to look at it, I lost everything I had written about this reading.

I became frustrated with it all and decided to wait until I had a clear head to really convey the message of this card. And if I'm being completely honest, I think it really worked out in the long run because I've been able to spend this time reflecting on how this card is as much a reminder for me as it is for everyone who is going to see this.

One thing I want to point out about this card is that in the traditional tarot, this card would be the Devil card. However, I feel like the message is so similar that it's almost too on the button, but I think that's how things are when they really hit home.

The Vortex shows to Merfolk caught in an underwater tempest with no real way of knowing if they are capable of making it out or not. I feel that this reflects life a lot of times, or rather, how we view life a lot of the time.

"If it's not one shit show, it's another." Translates to, "If it's not one storm, it's another."

It's tempting to maintain the illusion of continuously being stuck inside of a storm, going from one problem to the next, having to deal with this bullshit here and that bullshit there, when is it ever going to let up?

What this card is asking us to do is to really be honest with ourselves and to break free of the illusion of blame. So often we end up blaming other people for the situations that we find ourselves in, and we do this to the point where we end up refusing to take any form of responsibility. Thus feeding the Vortex, and keeping us in a place of perpetual unhappiness.

The Vortex is asking us to cut the crap and to really be open with ourselves when it comes to the extent of making our own hell. The only person keeping us trapped in that space is ourselves, and the only one who can free us, is ourselves.

When we look at the card we can see the two Merfolk not even close to each other, and yet they wouldn't be able to help each other escape if they can't even get themselves out first.

We encounter so many situations that test our patience, our resolve, our strength; no one said that life was easy. We only have control over ourselves, and how we chose to react to the obstacles that enter our path. That's not to say to never get angry or frustrated, that's just part of the human package, the trick is to not stay in that place.

If you allow yourself to stew and dwell in the negative spaces, that's all you'll be able to see because that is all you will attract to yourself. Leaving the Vortex can be difficult, but it's not impossible. Again, it all comes down to choice.

With the Spring Equinox just a couple of days away and the New Moon following the next week, this is a prime opportunity to really ask yourself, what kind of vortex have I created for myself, and am I ready to leave?

There is no shame in taking it one day at a time, we all learned how to walk one step at a time. Making the choice every single day is a big step in and of itself.

I genuinely feel that this card and this message came up now because so many of us are already on the path to making this kind of change. I also genuinely believe that when I pull these cards for the collective (meaning anyone who sees this posting) needs this message at exactly the time that they find this reading.

It feel like the world is being shaken awake, and this is part of our wake up call, as individuals who are on the path, or perhaps folks who are trying to find the path. This is for you, this is the Universe telling you that you deserve better and all you have to do is believe that it's true and start treating yourself like you deserve better.

Until next time loves,
be sure to take good care,

~Thealynn

©2013-2017 Thealynn Oceanna Rosewolf

Discovering Ostara

Hey there loves,

It's been quite some time since I have taken the time to write about a pagan focused topic, so much of my writing over the last year or so has been very self focused and with the Spring Equinox right around the corner, I wanted to set aside some time and talk about this holiday.

I touched very lightly on the topic a couple of years back when I wrote a very generalized post about the Wheel of the Year. Since I began this blog it has always been my intention to take the time to not only write about but to also celebrate every holiday in the Wheel, and let me tell you, it just hasn't happened.

Looking back through my archives it seems to be that Ostara and Beltane are the two holidays that I've yet to dedicate any real time to. I hope to change that this year, not just with taking time to honor them here but to honor them with ritual and to connect with the deity that the holidays are connected with.

You might recall that for Imbolc, this year, I celebrated in an unusual way, I moved into a new home. There were several things taking place at the same time, and I didn't feel that I could honor Brigid and really recognize Imbolc as I would have liked to. So rather then do nothing, I prayed to Brigid in the early hours of the morning, and invited her to simply be with me in spirit all throughout the day, I even remember carrying boxes to and fro whispering that Brigid was welcome every time I entered into a different room.

Now that I've had time to settle in and to really claim my new home, I want to make sure I take the time to do something extra or simply something fun to welcome the growing strength of the sun as our days become longer and our nights become shorter.

Before jumping into all of that however, let's take a look at the Spring Equinox, also know as Ostara.

Image from avaloncloaks.co.uk

There is one lovely tale about the Goddess walking the Earth, bringing Spring with her very steps. As she traveled she came across a wounded bird, to ease the bird's suffering the Goddess transformed it into a hare. As a way of giving thanks, the hare was still capable of laying eggs, and so every Spring the hare would present its eggs as a gift to the Goddess.

Hares or rabbits are symbols of fertility in many cultures around the world, and with Spring being a time of birth and renewal, and since eggs are so closely connected with the concept of birth (considering we all start out as eggs) it only makes sense that these symbols have traveled with us through the ages and why they are present in our celebrations today.

This day like a couple of other holidays such as Lughnasadh are named after a specific deity, but Ostara or Eostre seems to have very little to do with how this holiday is celebrated. This Germanic goddess of the Spring and dawn is so scarcely mentioned  in any written text that some scholars don't believe that she was a goddess at all. Some even saying that Eostre is really a face of the goddess Freya as she is a goddess of life, death and sexuality, among other attributes.

Don't let that discourage you though, being that this is the Vernal Equinox, and the celebration of life returning to Earth being one of the major themes, even arguably, the major theme to this holiday, there are many more goddesses to work with and invoke during this time. And because this is one of two days throughout the whole year that the day and night are of equal length, it makes perfect sense to honor the divine masculine along side the feminine.

As the Spring is a time of new birth, it's a common practice to work with the goddess in her Maiden aspect, such as Persphone, Aphrodite, Venus, Eos, Blodeuwedd, Gaia, Rati and Flora just to name a few. As for gods that you may choose to work with on this day, there are Dionynsus, Kamadeva, Aengus MacOg, Cernunnos, Pan, Mabon, Dagda, Min, Thor, and the Green Man.

These are all gods and goddess from different pantheons and traditions that have their own connections to birth, rejuvenation, creation, sex, and life. They all bring something to the celebration of life anew, and to coming back to life, and not just the World around us, but an awakening within ourselves as well.

I know that in the past I have shied away from celebrating the Wheel of the Year because I simply had no idea how to observe the holiday. Some times it comes down to not having a space for ritual or feeling that the lack of tools will make your contribution less then what it could be.

There are many ways of observing any holiday, here are a few ideas for you:

You can celebrate by simply lighting a candle and taking a moment to observe what is in need of balance in your life as the Equinox is a day of equal day and night.

Because it is the first day of Spring, you might want to take a walk outside (weather permitting) and see how life is returning to the Earth.

You can wear bright colors; yellow, purple, green, pink. Think of your favorite flower for inspiration if you're feeling stuck.

Now that Winter is over (depending on where you live you might still experience winter weather) start thinking about what goals you want to accomplish, create a 2017 bucket list if you will. Now that the Earth is waking up from her slumber, you might be feeling the itch to begin creating yourself.

If you are stuck inside, try opening up the blinds and letting in some natural light.

If you're looking to work in a little magic, perhaps you could give your alter a nice spruce. Change the alter cloth, use different colored candles, preform a dedication ceremony to help charge the your crafts or goals for the upcoming season.

You can work with crystals such as rose quartz, amazonite, amythest or citrine.

You can try your hand at making your own incense with herbs like meadowsweet, spearmint, clover, lemongrass or lavender.

If you're looking for guidance as we begin the next cycle of the year, perhaps try meditating. Give yourself as much time as you think you might need. Be sure to get into a comfortable position, if you need help concentrating feel free to put on some music, some times that can help us to get into the right frame of mind.

Try to imagine yourself in nature; you may be in a wooded area or perhaps you're in an open field. Just let your intuition take you where you are needed. Imagine that there is still snow on the ground, there is a slight wind in the air, the trees are still bare. Maybe you see a snow hare or birds flying overhead. You're dressed for the weather but you certainly wouldn't mind warming up. As you walk you come across a cabin, there is light emanating from inside and there is a sense of welcome as you come closer. 

You move your hand to knock, but before you can you can hear the door unlatch and you feel the call to let yourself in, so you do. Inside of this little cabin you can see and feel a roaring hearth, there is something wonderful cooking that compliments the smells of the herbs you see all around the cabin; some of the are hanging to dry, some might be in jars or on a work bench. There is a wonderful rug under your feet and you feel at ease in this place. 

You see a large table that has been set, with a generous helping of steaming food already waiting, as if someone was expecting you. Coming around the corner you see your guide, is it a god, is it a goddess, is it both?

Whomever is there to guide you welcomes you into this space with open arms, perhaps they even embrace you and they invite you to sit at the table with them. It is the day/night before the Equinox and they are preparing for the work ahead to bring Winter to a close. They are happy that you have come to celebrate with them, and they are even more filled with joy that you have invited them to guide you. This is your time to speak about your worries, ask your questions, and simply spend time with the Divine. 

As your visit comes to a close, perhaps you want to ask that they continue to visit with you, perhaps you wish to work with them through the Springtime, or even beyond that. As you prepare to leave, be sure to give thanks to them for the time spent with you and for the wisdom shared. As you depart, do they send anything with you? A word, a symbol, maybe an object, did they introduce you to an animal guide?


If you're looking for something that will connect you more with the Earth herself and you need a little rejuvenating, you can try a meditation like this one.

You can imagine yourself as a flower; sleeping soundly waiting for the snow to melt and as it does you can feel the warmth of the sun, giving you strength. Imagine what blooming would feel like, your roots seeping into the ground going deeper and deeper, perhaps you have leaves on your stalk or perhaps you're a bush with many branches. Perhaps you're a single bloom your petals growing stronger and more bold as your reach towards the sun. Opening slowly you soak in the nourishment from not just the sun and the clean air but from the soil beneath you. How do you feel as you grow taller and as you begin to bloom? Do you feel refreshed? Do you feel anxious? Are there other flowers around you? What about other plants or animals?

Doing a meditation like this can help you feel grounded, and to feel the transition from Winter to Spring.

Whenever you are finished meditating, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to come back into your body, wiggle your fingers and your toes, open your eyes slowly, take some deep breaths.

If you're curious about reading materials, I have read both Ostara by Edain McCoy and the Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials Ostara and enjoyed them both.

I personally feel that Ostara by Edain McCoy goes into considerably more detail and provides a good amount of information from rituals to crafts, to recipes and myths. It is also a considerably larger book.

Ostara from Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials is a decent take on the subject, is well written and is potentially better for those who don't need or want as much information.


Spring is a wonderful time of transformation, give yourself a chance to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Try a meet up, enroll in a class, allow yourself the chance to grow in areas where maybe you thought that you couldn't. You may just surprise yourself.

One finally note, just one week after the Vernal Equinox is the New Moon, yet another great time to set intentions for what you wish to create. This is such a powerful time of year, everything is wide open, you just have to decide what you're going to do with all of that energy.

And don't feel like there is a big rush to accomplish your to-do list. This is just the beginning, give yourself time and space to really develop what you want to bring to life, give yourself a chance to stretch your legs, your wings, your fins, whatever your creative side features. Allow yourself time to awaken just as nature takes time.

Image from rabyabegum.wordpress.com

Brightest Blessings to you and yours during this Vernal Equinox,

~Thealynn

©2013-2017 Thealynn Oceanna Rosewolf

Ostara's Easter and the Self Love of the Sacral

Hey loves,

It's been some time since I've felt compelled to write, even though I think about this blog almost every single day. Some times it takes something out of the everyday routine to prompt the urge, even the need to write.

As I'm sure most of you know by now, assuming you've been with me before - I've been on my path for a good while now, and if I'm being frank, half of my family is on what most folks would consider the other side of the fence.

As with most most holidays, my family wanted to spend Easter together, even if it was only a meal - which we had planned to do after they had attended a church service in the morning.

It was perhaps a week and a half prior to these plans when my mother called me. I knew from the moment she got on the phone that something was on her mind. Her tone was more than enough to tell me that whatever she was going to say was going to be difficult for her.

To my relief, it was not a family emergency, it was something considerably more simple.

She wanted me to go to church with them.

Now, my mother knows that I have a different belief system, one that she personally cannot condone or understand; mostly I think because she's already made up her mind about it.

Unlike me, I don't think she's ever doubted her faith or her beliefs, which I genuinely commend her for - so much of the pain and trails she's experienced, we experienced together.

The moment I heard her voice crack, I knew what she was going to ask me.

"I know that you have different beliefs, and we've never talked about them. But it really would me so much if you came to church."

"Oh Mom, it's okay."

"I don't want it to be like my parents where beliefs are pressured to the point where it causes problems, but-"

"Mom. I love you, and I respect you; and if it means that much to you, of course I'll go."

She pulled herself together after that, and I decided not to ask her the main question that was on my mind.

What exactly did she think that church was going to do for me? What about this Easter service was going to reach me in such a way that I could potentially, completely change my way of thinking?

In this particular instance, it only reaffirmed my stance, and strengthened my resolve.

In the midst of counting everything of pagan origin in an attempt to not fall asleep, something about the message for today got to me. As might be expected, the sermon was all about Jesus being resurrected and how it was good news for us all; because we'd finally be able to get into heaven.

While I will not go into every single piece that I disagreed with, there is one that I refuse to be silent about.

While his sermon was unorganized, poorly rehearsed, and over all lacking; this preacher had enough nerve to tell every person sitting in the audience, that they are broken.

This was by no means a small congregation - they were recording from a number of locations and streaming it live online. I don't want to make any grand assumptions about the tax free institution but I think it's fair to say he was quite ballsy in his accusation.

I don't know about anyone else, but the idea of telling a complete stranger that I've never even made eye contact with, that they are broke, unworthy, and really rather pointless without my perspective of what my higher power looks like, is nothing short of egotistical.

As I sat there in that auditorium, I was fuming. I no longer cared if my distaste and displeasure was obvious to anyone. In fact, I even hoped that he would look over and see how disgusted I felt. I hoped that from where I was in my seat, that he could feel the echos of what it really meant to be broken.

To feel that sense of helplessness, of emptiness; the feeling of complete and utter self loathing and failure that comes with being broken. I wanted more than anything for a single moment for him to experience the way the breath catches as one inches towards to edge of oblivion, and the terror of uncertainty even at the brink of making the unchangeable decision to finally release and let go, or to hang on with nothing but the bleeding chips that were once fingernails.

I physically craved for him to know this darkness. I felt my own ego crying out for him to choke on his words as he attempted to pick apart the idea of "different roads leading to the same end" and how by doing that it leaves each individual the ultimatum of deciding what 'good' really means.

At this point I'm sure I could go off on a tangent about balance between light and darkness, good and evil. I could string together pretty words about how the freedom to choose is in fact a blessing and a curse, and that there really is no such thing as 'not choosing' because when it comes to so much of life, there is always a choice.

If I'm being completely honest at this point, this has without a doubt been one of the most difficult articles for me to write. It's taken several attempts not just with trying to convey my ideas and feelings, but also several rounds of technical issues in which everything below the previous paragraph was lost.

More than once the time and effort felt wasted, in one instance I became enraged that for whatever reason there was nothing saved because I was so proud of the picture I had spun together reaching so far and deep within me to create and it was simply gone.

Easter was back in March, and even if this post was going to be a few weeks late, the subject matter was such that I felt it was justified with so much to process. As I am sitting here now reading back over everything, those emotions feel like an echo of someone who felt wronged by a stranger who will never know my name, never know my story; because to him they are all the same in the end.

And maybe for him that's true, and if so, then that's his prerogative. But in the end what it boiled down to me was that he has a very different idea of what love is, and means. From where I'm standing his love feels shallow and weak, and conditional.

I cannot speak for anyone else by myself, but I sincerely believe that love doesn't last without sincere dedication, hard work, struggle, and often times, pain.

They say that nothing worth having is easy/easily obtained. And I genuinely believe that.

While I might not feel like this everyday, at the core of my being, I am grateful for the trials I've experienced. I'm grateful for the people who made life difficult because it lead me to the people who helped me see the strength within myself to conquer those trials.

I'm grateful that I found a belief system that believes in me as I am, accepts me as I am, and doesn't ask me to change unless it's for my greater good. I'm grateful that I belief in such a way that encourages me to love and accept everyone around me for the who they are, even if I don't necessarily agree with them.

With all of that being said, I'm grateful for that preacher. Because not only did he reinforce that I'm on the right path for my personal growth and life, but he also helped me grow from a place of resentment to a place of gratitude.

One of the most beautiful things about self love is that once you find it, you stop concerning yourself with those who lack self love. And when you do interact with those people, they don't have the ability to feed that sense of self loathing because you've already fed it with love and understanding and compassion, which you can then share with those who are also looking for it.

When I originally began this journey through my chakras, I had the idea to go through them within a years time, spending approximately seven weeks on each chakra.

I however have spend the last three months working with this one chakra, and have only move on to the Solar Plexus chakra this past week.

My original intention was not so much to limit myself to working with each one for a set amount of time, but more to deepen my admittedly basic knowledge and to widen my tool set on how to work with each one.

I'm also coming to understand that when I move on to the next chakra, I take the essence of the previous chakras with me, I continue to work with them, it's more that my focus shifts to the next, not my entire self.

Some of the tools I used while focusing on my sacral charka were the Aloha Bay candles, both pillar and tealight, Sun's Eye Sacral Chakra oil, and the stones I used were Orange Calcite and Yellow Jasper.

I didn't do to much meditation on this chakra as much as self evaluation. I also had many discussions with those of like mind who are on similar paths, as I was not only curious for their input but I also rely on their council.

I am going to leave you with this amazing affirmation I found while simply scrolling through some photos, not only because I think it applies to everything I discussed here but because I was so sincerely moved by it's words. I feel it also ties into the next subject I'll be talking about here Through the Secret Door.

Until next time my loves,

Light, love, and blessings to you all,

Thealynn

©2013-2016 Thealynn Oceanna Rosewolf

Wheel of the Year

Hello lovies,

I'm laughing at myself a little bit as I write this to you because I feel as though I am a little late to my own party. When I first started this blog, before the unexpected year and a half hiatus, I had always planned on incorporating the Wheel of the Year and why I find it to be so important.

Well, by the time this post is available for you to see, we will have passed two cycles with some of you not knowing why the heck I am talking about these holidays and some of you might not have even heard of the Wheel of the Year!

I'm sure that had I not been caught up in the rush and dazzle of picking up this project again I would have made this post already. But! As fate would have it, I have until now been completely wrapped up in everything else that has been going on, so I shall apologize for the time it took to get this post to you, and digress...

Other then the previous posts about the previous two holidays, and potentially mentioning it in passing, I have not really addressed what the Wheel of the Year is, and why as a practicing pagan, I observe said holidays.

Believe it or not, this will probably end up being one of my shorter posts. [Instert dun dun dun noise.]

The Wheel of the Year is really, what it sounds like. It is a calender that consists of the eight major holidays celebrated/observed by most pagans. There are the four solar holidays that are more commonly known as the four seasons which traditionally tracks the birth, death, and rebirth of the Sun. Spring and Autumn mark the quarters and are known as Equinoxes leaving Summer and Winter to make the halfway points between the year, and they are known as Solstices.

You may some times hear these four holidays called Sabbats, as well as the 'cross quarter days' as there are four of them, and they make a cross shape. Yep. (I'm feeling silly as I write this, sue me. :P ) These holidays consist of Midwinter/Yule (Winter Solstice), Ostara (Spring Equinox), Midsummer/Litha (Summer Solstice) and Mabon (Autumn Equinox) .

There are some pagans that only observe those four main holidays as they mark the seasons, which works just fine. Being someone who likes celebrating I like the idea of having the eight holidays, and that's just how I learned it.

In between those four main holidays we have what are called Esbats and they mark the lunar holidays which consist of Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas/Lughnasadh, and Samhain.

So if you were to put them in order of the Gregorian calender that we still use today, the list of holidays would look like this.

Imbolc
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Beltane
Midsummer/Litha (Summer Solstice)
Lammas/Lughnasadh
Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
Samhain
Midwinter/Yule (Winter Solstice)

However, since many pagans (myself included) recognize Samhain as the Celtic New Year, most of us start our spiritual calender there. So instead, the list looks more like this.

Samhain
Midwinter/Yule (Winter Solstice)
Imbolc
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Beltane
Midsummer/Litha (Summer Solstice)
Lammas/Lughnasadh
Mabon (Autumn Equinox)

Or even,

Midwinter/Yule (Winter Solstice)
Imbolc
Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Beltane
Midsummer/Litha (Summer Solstice)
Lammas/Lughnasadh
Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
Samhain

Keeping track of the sun, the moon and the seasons themselves were essential to substantial living in ancient times. Even today, modern farmers use the moon as an indication of when to plant what crops.

Regardless of how you want to order them, it all comes back around again, which is why it is likened to a wheel, and thus it became known as the Wheel of the Year.

As the year progresses I will be making posts about the different holidays, hopefully with enough time for you lovely readers to get what you might want if you're interested in celebrating!

One thing I will share with you is that when I first started on this path, I had the WORST TIME trying to remember these holidays. If I was lucky and remembered it on the day of, I would burn a plain white tea light candle. It hasn't been until more recently that I have gotten better at planning ritual, or making yummy things to be devoured in honor of the holiday.

Most times I still only end up burning a candle and maybe saying a few words. Some times life is just too busy for us to do much more than that. But I figure that as long as I am setting aside just a few minutes, that's really all it takes.

I look forward to sharing more with you throughout this turning of the wheel.

Many blessings,

Thealynn

©2013-2015 Thealynn