At the start of the year, amidst the chaos, I didn’t get to delve into my Oracle reading. However, I am drawn back to this reflective practice as things have settled. The men’s circle, a nurturing community that values personal growth and introspection, has been a significant source of inspiration for me, prompting me to share my journey again.
How is your year going? What moments of joy have you had? What challenges are you facing?
As we reach the year’s midpoint, I find it beneficial to pause and reflect on my journey. This article serves as a tool for revisiting and comparing my initial expectations to reality. It’s akin to a programming test, where you set specific parameters and then analyse the actual performance. This process of self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth and empowerment.
For this reflection, I will revisit the Oracle reading I conducted at the beginning of the year. As a divination tool, Oracle cards offer unique insights and guidance into various aspects of life. Each card carries a distinct message, and the collective spread provides a broader perspective. This reading, less specific than Tarot cards, offers a general energy that might be present. I often engage in this practice around Samhuinn, finding comfort and guidance in its wisdom.
I employed Arianrhod’s layout with the Druid Animal Oracle deck, which features animal symbols and associated meanings. This layout assigns a direction to each part of the year, beginning with the self at the centre.
Here is the mapping, including the cards I pulled out:
- Centre: Self (Hind)
- North West: Samhuinn (Reversed wren)
- North: Winter Solstice (Wolf)
- North East: Imbolc (Reversed Seal)
- East: Spring Equinox (Reversed Hawk)
- South East: Beltane (Eagle)
- South: Summer Solstice (Fox)
- South West: Lughnasadh (Sow)
- West: Autumn Equinox (Reversed Boar)
Centre: Self (Hind)
This is an invitation to explore the spiritual dimensions of life, gentleness, and intuition and look beyond to the Otherworld. I expect to spend much time exploring these dimensions as I study more with Shamanic Earth in year 2. I feel connected to deer because I have had an intense, powerful experience with them. I won’t go into the experience here, but if you want more details, just ask.
North West: Samhuinn (Reversed wren)
A wren’s nest is also known as a “Druid’s house”. Drawn reversed, she invites me to check whether humility and gentleness render me invisible to others. They are also a sign of luck and a messenger from the Otherworld, indicating that a change or opportunity would bring new happiness into my life. Various events that month showed me the way.
North: Winter Solstice (Wolf)
The Wolf invites me to cross barriers and take risks to learn and grow. This was especially important around the solstice and the period just after. We travelled to South Africa again, this time to Kruger National Park. This decision came after consulting with my guides, who told me the reward for this would come months later.
North East: Imbolc (Reversed Seal)
This card represents a choice we had to make between Imbolc and the Spring Equinox. Our beautiful cat Mo (little Selkie sleeper) was being pulled into the spirit world. I had to make the final decision, which was one of my difficult challenges.
East: Spring Equinox (Reversed Hawk)
Hawk tells me I am paying too much attention to detail and not focusing on the bigger picture. It could also suggest a struggle with clarity or direction. This pairs nicely with the invitation of the Eagle card next. Around this time, there was so much going on and with so many details that I lost the broader context. I enjoyed the details immensely, but without understanding the broader context, I denied my heart and didn’t consider others’ feelings.
South East: Beltane (Eagle)
Eagle tells me to look at the broader context and things with Intelligence as a creature of the air and courage. I achieved a lot around this time. Interestingly, the eagle is opposite another bird in the reading—the reversed wren. It invites reflection on the wren’s message through the broader context. It also immediately follows the reversed Hawk, which is about the wider context. Around that time, I started reflecting on the opportunities Wren had brought into my life.
South: Summer Solstice (Fox)
Foxes have been a constant where I live now, whether playing with their cubs in the garden or lazing in the sun next to our fire pit. They are a constant reminder of the natural world. The message from the Fox is to ensure that you are “strong in council” and to temper everything that happens with wisdom. My goal is to remain true to myself and my relationships.
South West: Lughnasadh (Sow)
Lughnasadh is harvest time, and the sow card drawn at this time might mean I am called to be more generous. I should give freely, knowing that I am sustained. I should allow myself to feast on life and its sensual delights. Part of my goal this year has been bringing this into being.
West: Autumn Equinox (Reversed Boar)
A boar card drawn reversed might indicate a loss of the sense of direction. It cautions me to keep away from hasty defences or becoming closed off. Sometimes, this can be a sense of madness. My Shamanic Course will start around this time, where the madness might lie in discovering the world isn’t all as it seems. There will be a period of rebirth as I try to assimilate that.
After consulting with a nifty AI prompt that I put together, I analysed the themes represented here. The 3 reversed cards (Wren, Seal, Hawk and Boar) indicate an overarching theme of introspection and reevaluation. A focus on humility, emotional depth, clarity and defensiveness suggests a journey of aligning internal states with external actions.
The bird cards (Wren, Hawk, and Eagle) embody seeing and understanding beyond ordinary perception. Drawn reversed, they suggest I should be aware of things that obscure my understanding.
Each animal card in my reading carries a unique lesson. From the leadership and community of the Wolf to the adaptability and cleverness of the Fox, the abundance of the Sow, and the tension between the aggression and vulnerability of the Boar, these lessons have enlightened me and can do the same for you.
As Fire cards are absent from my reading, it’s a clear sign that I must rebalance my inner world. This realisation can motivate us all to strive for inner harmony.