Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

Ellen's Solstice Spread: Looking Ahead to the New Year

I love the week between Yule and New Year's when the business world is still fairly quiet.  Every year I mark the passage of "Time Out of Time" by doing a Life Review and setting goals for the New Year. (I've written more about this here.) This year, I'm taking the week off as a Creative Retreat.  I'm not even working on the Gaian Tarot.  Instead I'm playing with new mediums and techniques, with no expectations or deadlines.  Just having fun with texture and color and pattern and symbol.   Next week will be time enough to map out my projects and plans for the coming year.

How about you?  How are you spending this most auspicious time?

Since I'll be taking a break from blogging this week, I thought I'd leave you with one more gift.  I asked my friend Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, creatrix of the fabulous and mysterious Tarot of the Crone, if I could share a new spread with you that she recently created.  I haven't worked with it yet myself, but I'm looking forward to it.  If you use this spread to read for yourself or a friend, please let us know what kind of insights came up for you.

A Blessed New Year to you all!

2008 Winter Solstice Spread

by Ellen Lorenzi-Prince

I created this spread after thinking of the many hopes and fears surrounding the coming year. There are seven cards in this spread, to invoke both the movement of the Chariot and the sacred number of the ancients, the number of heaven as apprehended by those on earth.

1. Which of my fears are likely false?

2. Which of my fears are likely true?

3. Which of my hopes are likely false?

4. Which of my hopes are likely true?

5. Where shall I stand in stillness?

6. Where shall I find movement and growth?

7. How may I best embody Presence / Goodness / Goddess in the year to

come?

Reviewing the Year, blog post by blog post

I recently stumbled upon writing coach Joanna Young's blog, Confident Writing.  Actually I think I found her on Twitter first then checked out her blog.  She is running a group writing project called "Simply the Best" (found here) that intrigued me. The idea is to choose one post from your archives from 2008 that you think is your best post, then say why you chose it in less than 30 words.

Of course going back through a year's worth of posts is its own kind of Life Review.  In the Spring I was grappling with my imminent move off the island and was immersed in the teachings of Eckhart Tolle.  By Summer we had moved to the woods east of town; I was dealing with overwhelm and rediscovering the practice of Gratitude to keep me on an even keel.  Fall came, with its triple themes of global financial disaster mirrored in our personal lives, hope in the persona of our newly elected president, and my personal "win" of signing a publishing contract with Llewellyn for the Gaian Tarot deck and book.  Winter, of course, brought introspection along with the snow, and the necessary joys of community.

And of course all year long are the posts about each new Gaian Tarot card that I completed, its meaning and the feedback I received from you, dear readers.  It never fails to amaze me how much you teach me about the meanings of my own cards.  

It was hard to choose a "best" post, but I finally chose this one: "The Fabled Land of Now."

It's simply the best because of its emotional honesty, and the way that the liminal time between seasons underscored the discovery of a forgotten time in my mother's life.

Thank you, Joanna Young.

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Solstice Day!

And on Solstice Day, my true love sent to me . . .

A song & slideshow from our family to yours.

Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.

“In the Deep Midwinter” performed by Craig Olson

Music by Gustav Holst (1906)

Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872), revised by Craig Olson (2006)

Photography Credits:

Snow scenes by Catherine Kerr and Joanna Powell Colbert

Interior scenes by Paul Bingman, Chele Eva Armstrong and Joanna Powell Colbert

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 20

On the twentieth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . . 

"In Praise of Christmas," one of the most beautiful Yule carols ever written, with revised lyrics by Helen Farias.

My friend Helen, founder of the Beltane Papers back in the early 80's and creator of the original Lucia parties, had a knack for revising lyrics to beloved melodies.  I first heard this song from her before Loreena McKennitt recorded her own well-known version.  Here is a video of Loreena's version (hauntingly beautiful).  Here are the songsheet and traditional lyrics.  And if you'd like to learn the song to sing for your own revels, here are Helen's revised lyrics.  Blessed be.  (Photo of an island maple taken by me a few winters ago.)

"To Drive the Cold Winter Away" (or, "In Praise of Christmas")



Melody: 17th century English traditional

Lyrics by Helen Farias

When Christmas’s tide comes in like a bride,

With holly and ivy clad,

Her candles aglow, her mantle of snow,

Shall make our weary hearts glad.

Your door open wide to call her inside

To brighten the gloomy day.

Our wassail is blest, our carols are best

To drive the cold winter away.

This time of the year is spent in good cheer

And friends together do meet 

To sit by the fire, with magic conspire

To make their holidays sweet.

The Lady and Lord with circle and ward

Will bid the good spirits stay,

And at our behest they’ll banish the rest

To drive the cold winter away.

So these are the days we joyfully praise,

Despite the darkening year.

We trust that the Light that shines in the night

Dispels all sorrow and fear.

The stars in the sky that sparkle on high

And here comes the Good Dame, plum pudding aflame

To drive the cold winter away.

And "Church of the Old Mermaids" goes to . . .

xJane!

Congratulations!   I've sent you a private email asking for your mailing address.

Everyone else -- treat yourself, and buy a copy of COTOM for yourselves this Solstice!

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 19

On the nineteenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . . 

An oasis of peace and serenity on Solstice Day.

Another oldie-but-goodie from Waverly at the School of the Seasons.  Her ritual is a bit of a challenge if you live with children or housemates who won't get with the program. But for those of us who can manage it — what a wonderful way to honor the Shortest Day and nurture ourselves as well.

Long ago I read in Patricia Monaghan's wonderful Book of Goddesses and Heroines that the Roman goddess of the winter solstice, Angerona, was shown with a bandaged mouth and a finger to her lips enjoining silence. This cryptic description inspired me to create a ritual which I've been practicing ever since. I spend the day of the Winter Solstice (December 21 this year) in silence. I don't answer the phone, I don't use my computer, I don't listen to the radio or watch television. I don't go shopping or engage in any social activities where talking would be expected. I hide the clocks and avoid using anything that requires electricity. My usual activities for the day include sleeping in, reading and going for a long walk in the nearby park. When dusk falls, early of course since it's the shortest day of the year, I light candles instead of turning on the lights and usually go to bed early, after a candlelit bath. I've been celebrating solstice this way for many years and I love my oasis of peace and serenity in the midst of the chaotic holiday season.

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 18

On the eighteenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . . 

Snowfall, wild visitors, and a warm, warm house.

Yet Another Raffle! Giving away a copy of "Church of the Old Mermaids"!

I promised one more raffle before Solstice, and it's a good one!  Sister Kim Mermaid will send the lucky winner a copy of her wonderful novel Church of the Old Mermaids.  Just leave a comment at the end of this post between now and Friday morning December 19th at 10 AM PST.  By now you know the drill!  :-)

Myla Alvarez, novice, walks into the Sonoran desert near Tucson, Arizona and begins telling stories about the Old Mermaids who were washed ashore onto the New Desert when the Old Sea dried up. In this mystical new world, they lived, created, and walked in beauty. Myla finds sustenance and meaning in their lives and stories. When an old friend returns to the Old Mermaid Sanctuary, Myla questions everything about her life. What if Homeland Security discovers the refugees she harbors at the sanctuary? Will the Old Mermaids come to her aid? Church of the Old Mermaids is a tale of redemption, love, compassion, and mystery.

Be sure to visit Kim's Old Mermaids blog, where she's writing and posting new stories about the Old Mermaids all the time, like this one.  

And if you don't win the raffle, you just might have to buy a copy for yourself.  Wit and wonder, love and mystery.  What else could one want for Solstice?

Morning Visitor

Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 17

On the seventeenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . . 

"Firedance," a lively song to celebrate the Return of the Sun by Canadian group Jaiya.  (It's only a clip, not the whole song, sorry! But you can hear how lively it is.)

You can buy the CD or download it here.  

"Yule is come, now beat the drum,

and light the Solstice flame . . .

Tonight we raise a hymn of praise,

for the Sun returns again!"