Tarot Card of the Day: June 22, 2009

I drew the Hierophant this morning which is a reminder to listen to advice and my spiritual guides.

Summer Solstice

What is the solstice? From Wikipedia:

“A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction.

The term solstice can also be used in a wider sense, as the date (day) when this occurs. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In some cultures they are considered to start or separate the seasons while in others they fall in the middle. The English expressions "midwinter" (winter solstice) and "midsummer" (summer solstice) may derive from a tradition according to which there were only two seasons: winter and summer.”

In many mystic traditions, the Summer Solstice is a celebration of the maturation of the Forest God reborn during the Winter Solstice aka Yule. He is at his strongest having mated with the Goddess during Spring to form his successor that she will rebirth the following Yule.

It is also a time of transition as the days begin to wane after the solstice with the days growing shorter once again.

The solstices are part of the cycle of the seasons and the ever renewing circle of life.

Midsummer is a time of magic, fairies and unicorns in some cultures. Like Samhain (Halloween), it is said the veils between the worlds are thin, though this time the fairy realm instead of the land of the dead.

Often celebrated with feasts and flowers, honor the heat of the day with fresh fruits and vegetables and bright colors such as yellow, which further honors the God.

Tarot Card of the Day: 6 of Chalices

The 6 of cups reminds us to remember where we have been. To look back on the past so we can learn from it. It also gives a sense of nostalgia and can indicate getting back to where we were before. Perhaps by visiting with family, honoring our ancestors, or just reviewing the past.

In the Egyptian Tarot Deck, the 6 cups are over the headdress of Ra, the creator/sun God who was the first God to rise from Nu, the nothingness or cosmic ocean. A visual of getting back to the beginning. (I really need to reconnect my scanner one of these days and scan my cards!)

About the masthead

I had someone ask me about the image in my masthead. It’s actually a shot of a Wiccan Full Moon Ritual that was held in SecondLife at Covensted. They are an awesome group with education programs, sabbats and rituals held in the 3d world or SecondLife.

I am a resident going by the name Inara Blackburn, so if you are in SecondLife, say hi!