SPRING UP! Tarot Spread

I suppose if I were a *cough* proper witch, I would have made a timely blog post for Ostara this year. But if anything, I'm more contrarian than proper, and besides, there are a zillion blog posts about Ostara by now. I was already vexed about trying to come up with something unique to say, but a combination of Mercury retrograde and crappy weather muddled my plans for an awesome Ostara full moon ritual outside in a woodsy yard. I ended up doing something simpler and less photogenic inside the house.
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One of the things that is pertinent to this time of year is that spring is coming. We are already seeing the first signs of it in most places. We have planted things literally in the soil, or metaphorically in our souls that have laid dormant during the winter and now it's time to nurture, grow and see how they bloom.

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love! - Sitting Bull

SPRING UP! A TAROT SPREAD FOR SPRING, OSTARA, CREATIVE, BUSINESS OR PERSONAL GROWTH!

In the spirit of spring, here is a new tarot spread. This one can be used for looking at personal progress, a creative project, job, relationship or starting a family, essentially anything you've started or that you want to start and grow. This would be a fabulous spread to do on a New Moon, perhaps in concert with a spell, when you have a project you'd like to come to fruition by the new moon.

I've created the spread in the shape of a plant, from seed, roots, sprout and stem, leaves and bud, about to bloom or bear fruit depending on how you'd like to picture it. The spread has nine cards to represent an endeavor nearing the conclusion. You're almost there. Here is what you have sown and will bloom shortly. I've come up with a few marginally clever names for this one and have sort of settled on, Spring Up, but if you have any better suggestions, lay them on me! Maybe there will be a wee reward in it for you. I guess that depends on the response.
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As always, comments and questions are appreciated.

Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed... Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.
- Henry David Thoreau

The diagram above differs slightly from the photos I took of the spread because I've tweaked the positions of the cards since I did my original reading. I switched the top two cards,  sun and blossom, because it just made more sense aesthetically and symbolically.

This deck is actually an oracle deck, The Oracle of Mystical Moments. Even though it wasn't designed with layouts in mind, it is fabulous to use for more than just a daily draw! I'll be doing a review of this deck sometime in April, 2019. The stones, which evoke the feel of brightly colored Ostara eggs, are Blue Apatite, which I am using for creativity and focus, and Flower Agate, which is the perfect stone for creative projects I want to bring from seed to bloom!

I’ll be writing more about Flower Agate soon on the Speaking Of Witch Blog.

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The Card Positions:

*keywords for my personal results under each photo.

Card 1.  Seed: Potential. Hope. What has been planted? 

Card 2.  Earth:  Fertile Soil.
What is the matrix that I've planted my seed in?

43. Secrets: Magic. Mystery. Hidden thoughts.

42. Change of Seasons: Transformation. Development. Life's ups and downs.

Cards 3 and 4. Roots:
​What is keeping me grounded and
giving me the space I need to grow?

3. Old roots: holding me in place. 
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4. New roots: spreading out, searching. 

41. Home In The Sky: Safe Haven. Wanderlust. Adventure.

25. Protective Nest: Nurture. Motherhood. Protector. Incubation.

5. Sprout to stem: Growth. What is growing, moving, happening? 

23. The Gift: Whimsy. Excitement. Curiosity. Gift.

6 and 7. Leaves: What tools do you have for health and growth
How are you using them?

6. Collecting Water. Nurturing. Feeling.

7. Pulling nutrients from Air. Ideas. Knowledge. 

4. Moondance: Hopes: Daring. Balance. Easiness. Adventure. Perspective.

50. The Observer: Patience. Awareness. Focus.

8. Fire: The Sun. Warmth. Fuel.
​What is feeding and energizing you? 

9. Bud:  about to bloom. What's coming to fruition?

32. Touch The Sky: Lost in thoughts. Isolation. Sanctuary.

9. Rose Garden: Sensitivity. Awareness of nature. Integrated whole. Strength.

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
​-Rainer Maria Rilke

My take:

What I got from this reading was a reminder of a number of important things:
*Making a list after a reading like this is a great way to remain mindful of the messages and even create affirmations!

1. Things continue to move forward even when it seems like I am stuck in one place.
2. I have more power, strength and control then I give myself credit for.
3. I am capable of transformation and growth.
4. Balance and focus are things I need to continue to work on.
5. Patience also is something I need to continue to work on.
6. I am both a creator who needs nurturing and a nurturer for others.
7. It is okay to continue to reach out and ask for that nurturing when I need it.
8. Nesting in a stable home AND dreams of future travel are equally important to me and are all part of my future big picture.
9. I am still The Empress Dammit!  Remember to OWN it!
   
   ​(The Empress Dammit is me, and also a project I've been working on for a decade or so. More on that later) ​

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I think it's time to get out my gardening gloves, pruning shears, spade and a big floppy hat. I have some inner gardening to do!

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
​- Margaret Atwood

On a side note:

My Arcane Bullshit deck just arrived. I am so thrilled I got to take part in this Kickstarter campaign. On one hand, the deck is huge, bizarre, absurd, brilliant and crass. On the other, it's simultaneously one of the most beautifully packaged, presented, yet crude and proudly lowbrow, deck projects I've ever seen.

Pictures and review forthcoming. I'm just gobsmacked. Bravo, Evan Doherty!

Note the raised texture on the box! Classy Shit!

I’ve also just received Yasmin Boland’s, Moonology Oracle Cards, beautifully illustrated by Nyx Rowan. I’m really looking forward to using them! They are on my list to review as soon as I’ve worked with them a bit.  Today, we are in the moon’s last quarter. This is a perfect time to evaluate things in our lives. What do we need to let go? How can we find a better balance?

I'll leave you with one last spring quote:

Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.”
​- Doug Larson