Dear reader of signs,
Welcome to the Wednesday, the 21th of June’s observation from my daily ‘Reading the Signs’ June challenge, an exercise of paying attention with a focus in mind as the day unfolds.
The summer and winter solstice always feel significant. Those biannual pivot points allow for pause and reflection, and the opportunity to ponder the augurs for the next period. Six months is just enough time to reassess. I wrote a review for my main Substack on Tuesday, so I’m been contemplating 2023 so far and what I’ll focus on until the next solstice.
On the solstice I reached for the Tarot of the Witch's Garden by Sasha Graham & Nataša Ilinčić, and I decided to pull three cards: I got the Nine of Cups, the Ace of Pentacles and the King of Cups.
I’m not a witchy person — although I have several witchy friends — but what attracted me to this deck was the quality of the artwork, and a definite connection to the classic tarot as established by the Smith-Waite deck. I spotted Ilinčić’s work via Instagram, and instantly pre-ordered the deck. Several of my Tarot decks originated as fundraisers, so you invest in them long before they are delivered. Sometimes years elapse between your payment and the arrival of the deck. But when it finally comes through the door… I love that sense of receiving a kind gift from a past self!
When this deck arrived I was immediately struck at the in-depth symbolism in the cards, and the indicators that it was highly considered. I spent a lot of time studying the cards in a way I don’t often do with a Tarot deck, and as a result this one has been shuffled into the elite cadre of decks I consult on a regular basis.
This trio have an interesting symmetry, with the cups on either side of the Ace of Pentacles, indicating that the material success comes from emotional stability and progress achieved in that department. The Nine of Cups is a joyful card that depicts abundance and celebration. It’s the second time I drew that card this week (I do a weekly draw every Monday using a different deck, and this card came up). The King of Cups is the master of his domain. He’s both part of the ocean and controls it, so he’s the mature, intuitive person. The Ace of Pentacles paves the way towards material success, and the road ahead leads to security — I love the spider handing off the pentacle, which I see as a lucky sign. The first thing I did when I woke up with the sunrise on the Solstice was to open the door to greet the sun and listen to the birds sing their welcomes. Then I spotted a shining dew-dotted cobweb slung in the corner of my door frame.
Yesterday was long but full of different moods: a Zoom call, preparation to teach an online class on Thursday, a gym session, and a trip to the local art cinema to see the latest 4K restoration of The Wicker Man (1973). I was somewhat sleep deprived so I moved through these moments slower than usual but savouring the gorgeous weather.
I wore a long dress of vibrant florals and gold accents to the film screening, to celebrate its themes and the day itself.
It’s important to mark the good moments, they serve as helpful anchors when life is less calm.