crystals and cards…

So I guess I have made some progress! In the past 10 or so months I’ve gone from my first moon water to having a window sill full of crystals and stones, a drawer full of candles, and even purchased my very first deck of oracle cards. Queen of the Moon Oracle to be exact. It is a beautiful set. I was inspired by a woman I follow over on TikTok. She is new to the practice as well.

The road traveled this year has been somewhat rocky. Stress, anxiety, a garden that I didn’t put my full effort into and still struggling with the whole “I don’t fit in” type of thinking…you know. Those kinds of things. But I know I am moving forward. One step at a time. There are so many things that I want to learn! I have a very bad habit – no, that’s not the right word – character trait? I don’t know. Whatever it is, it makes me get frustrated that I can’t just learn and absorb all of this information instantaneously. LOL Probably ADHD if I’m being honest.

Astrology, crystals, kitchen witchery, candle magick, oracle/tarot, goddesses and gods, – these are all of the things that I want to learn more about. My practice will most certainly be eclectic. And over time, I may be drawn in one direction more than another. The trick here is not to keep overwhelming myself. Because there is so much information out there, it is easy to do. I know I’m repeating myself from other posts, but it’s like another reminder to focus on one subject at a time.

Right now, I want to look at the three oracle cards that I pulled yesterday. Or should I say, the three cards that basically jumped out at me. And if you’re reading this and you use oracle and/or tarot cards and wonder why I’m looking at cards pulled yesterday, well, maybe my card pulling schedule is going to be different. I may use the cards weekly for now. Everyone’s life schedule is different. That’s all!

First up is Balance. This card is actually quite appropriate at this moment. It says that “Extremes of anything are rarely helpful or useful.” Expecting myself to learn it all fast is the extreme. Certainly not helpful or useful. I need to balance the various areas of my practice as I am learning more about them and becoming more comfortable and knowledgeable. We will probably never have ‘perfect’ balance in our lives. But it is important to recognize where the imbalance is (and I’m starting here) and use self-reflection as a tool to help get ourselves/myself more centered and feel less overwhelmed.

The next card is Pleasure. Essentially this card is telling me that I need to stop taking things so seriously, like being stressed out about learning everything at once, and focus on what makes me happy. The booklet that goes with the deck says what we all know. Life these days has gotten us to feel like we have to be ‘doing’ all the time. Like if we aren’t always keeping busy with something, we’re being lazy. No! We need to take breaks in life so that we can experience pleasure. Whether that is a quiet evening on the couch with a glass of wine, candles, and a good book or an afternoon at the museum or heck – you may want or need a good roll in the hay with someone and enjoy each other! LOL

Lastly, I got the card of Self-Reflection. (Funny how the Balance card mentioned this topic) “Be curious about your own nature. Choose to turn inwards to quietly contemplate who and what you are and want.” Talk about a perfect message! One of the things I tried to start during this year is shadow work. But there were so many things buzzing around my brain that it was just another thing that got thrown into the mix and forgotten. This pairs well with the Balance card for sure.

So for me, it will be important to try to set a sort of schedule. With the things going on in my life, it’s not always easy trying to fit something in every day. And some days may just not work at all. We all get exhausted sometimes and that is a hint that you/I may need to just take a day of rest…a mental health break of sorts.

Treat yourself.

k

Moon, Stars, and Candles

Disclaimer of sorts: This was written about a week ago and I never posted it. I was going to delete it, but I won’t. I want to be real with myself. If I’m stressed or confused, or just unsure, I need to just embrace it…So there we go.

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The last couple of weeks have me rather overloaded. My search for information overloaded my Facebook page with so many other pages that are somewhat related and the suggested pages just won’t stop. On those pages are ideas, suggestions, and information provided by dozens of people with varying interests and opinions. Too much! When I get overloaded like that, I just want to throw it all away. Give up.

But no. That is not what I need to do. I am on a lifelong journey to figure out where I belong. What path I am “supposed to” take. Turns out, that has been the problem all along. I can recollect moments in time through my life where I tried to fit in…to belong. Instead of trying to be part of a clique, I need to just be me. We all need to just be ourselves and stop trying to do things “the right way.” You know?

So here’s the thing. I like horoscopes. I think it is very interesting how the timing of our birth can determine many characteristics that we have. I enjoy looking at the sky. The constellations are intriguing as are the planets in our solar system. I mean, the entire solar system is fascinating! I’m on third round of moon water. Tarot cards are making a little more sense to me. But I don’t fully understand things like spells. Truth be told, that kinda freaks me out. The only ritual that I have embraced at the moment is journaling in the morning by candlelight, and at various times of the day or night.

Putting a label on myself doesn’t feel right. Witch? Wiccan? Pagan? Can I just be a moon, stars, and candle girlie? You know…I really like working in the kitchen. I love prepping food for the week. I love cooking. It is peaceful to me. Does that make me a kitchen witch? Instead of fitting into the boxes that others create, maybe I’ll just work outside that box and find what works spiritually for me.

There is a book that I just recently purchased. It is called “Sacred Seasons: Nature-Inspired Rituals, Wisdom, and Self-Care for Every Day of the Year by Kirsty Gallagher. I am really enjoying the book so far. The author describes things like the wheel of the year and there are journal prompts with each chapter, which in turn discuss each season. I’m sure I’ll post more about that as I get into the heart of the book. The fact that there are prompts for writing is something I know I will really enjoy. Writing more is definitely something I want to get back to.

This journey will never end. There will always be something to learn. And I am learning how to be me again. Whether it is enjoying the outdoors again, along with our garden, or letting my words flow across the pages of a journal, or learning about traditions that our ancestors in the old country or our indigenous ancestors practiced, I am going to soak it all in and do it my way.

Right now, I am enjoying the moon, the stars, and my candles.