The lovely moon

There will be a beautiful sliver of the moon in the sky tonight in North America, and Venus and Mars are coming out to play with her. Make sure to take a moment to stop and see this lovely meeting in the sky.

Daily Tarot: The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man
The Wild Unknown tarot deck

The Hanged Man is a sign that you need a new perspective... things are happening that are beyond your control. You have to let go of your ego and see things as they are, which may not be as you think they should be.

The Hanged Man will only be comfortable when he realizes he's right where he should be... and the same is true for you. Whatever it is that you're holding onto, hold it loosely. Relax and let what's coming come...

Daily Tarot: 6 of Swords

It's all a matter of perspective with the 6 of swords. The world looks dark down at the bottom of the heap. Darkness, rain, gloom, sadness abound... except... edging into the picture... a rainbow! If you can see past the darkness and gloom, there is hope, light, peace to be found.

Six of Swords stands for recovery from difficult times. There is hope at last. Things will get better. Surround yourself with joyful friends who will help to lift your spirits.

Daily Tarot: Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands is a bright and joyous card! New growth is all around. You can feel it bursting with inspiration, magic, creativity and possibility. Your ideas and outlook will expand, while creativity seems endless!

It's thrilling to embark on a new adventure, but use good judgement. Don't rush yourself. Take your time and make every step count.

Daily Tarot: Five of Swords

Five of Swords
The Wild Unkown Tarot

Today's card, Five of Swords, is a hard card. It's a warning. If you don't take care, you're going to fall into a destructive pattern. Maybe it's not the first time that you've been faced with the decision, the argument, the thought process that you're facing now. If that's true, you should know that you'd better steer clear. Don't make the same trouble for yourself over again. You've been here before. Remember the lessons you learned the last time and avoid the pain and discord this time around.

In this deck, the card shows a worm cut in half over the swords. Maybe you've already gone too far. Maybe the wheels of self-destruction are already in motion and even if you stopped yourself now, the damage has already been done. The good news is that a worm cut in half doesn't die. It becomes two worms, each one whole, each one able to thrive. So while there's pain, there is also hope.

There's always hope.

What does Five of Swords mean for you today?

Daily Tarot: Two of Wands

Two of Wands
Deck: The Wild Unknown

The Two of Wands represents a journey. The wands tip together to give the impression of a path heading off into the distant horizon. The way is straight and clear. Determination and direction point you in the way that you should go. The only thing standing in your path is your own mind. Take a moment to identify the negative thoughts that hold you back, and then send them on their way so that you can get back to the business of living, of realizing your own goals and dreams. This is a card of hope and fulfillment. The way is clear. You have only to follow it.

Reading a new deck

Last week I entered The Wild Unknown's photo contest on Instagram where I received an honorable mention for my photo of my cats, Jack and Gilly with the spread from my current tarot deck.

Jack and Gilly helping read the cards. #tarot #wildunknown #catsofinstagram #kitty #kittyJack #magic #seekingeverydaymagic

A photo posted by fairbetty (@fairbetty) on Jan 6, 2015 at 6:08pm PST

This week, The Wild Unknown sent me one of her decks and a guide book, which is the best present I could EVER hope for. I'm so blessed and excited to have this deck now, and to begin learning with it, too!

First reading with my new #tarot deck! Thanks, @the_wild_unknown. A brilliant gift. #magic #seekingeverydaymagic #everydaymagic #love #bebrave #thefuturelooksbright

A photo posted by fairbetty (@fairbetty) on Jan 13, 2015 at 4:08pm PST

An omen in my path

Stopped briefly on our run this morning to mourn this fallen spirit. #mortality #beauty #deathfindsusall #nature #life

A photo posted by fairbetty (@fairbetty) on Jan 10, 2015 at 10:21am PST

As I was running yesterday, I came upon this fallen bird on the side of the road. I stopped to mourn his passing and then ran home. Later that day I felt the urge to sketch the image I had taken.

#art #artinnature #natureinart #artsy #create #creative

A photo posted by fairbetty (@fairbetty) on Jan 10, 2015 at 4:53pm PST

I feel like the meaning is death... a release of spirit or energy to be able to change and grow. This form is used up. It's time for something new... I'ts a transformation, a reincarnation... It's scary and painful because the old form was familiar, and what is new is unfamiliar, unknown... but it's exciting, the release to become... more.

Eight of Pentacles: The year to come

Eight of Pentacles
From Witches Tarot by Ellen Dugan

The Eight of Pentacles represents my year to come. I had pain and heartbreak in the year past (three of swords), and now it is time to move on (eight of cups)... Eight of Pentacles represents a need for diligence and focused study. For me, the year to come will be spent ignoring distractions, listening to mentors, studying my craft, becoming more proficient at the things that I want to be an expert in.

This means I will probably have to spend a lot of time alone, but the rewards will be worth it if I stick to my goals.

What about you? What are your goals for the new year? Where do you see yourself headed?

Daily tarot: Eight of Cups

This is the second card from the reading I did for myself on New Years Eve.

Eight of cups is symbolic of moving on. The woman in the picture has her back to us, she's walking forward, toward the sea, toward adventure, toward the unknown, away from where she was. She has made her choice and is at peace with it. The dolphin is a messenger, greeting her at the beginning of her journey, possibly bringing her the confirmation she needs that it is time to go. The night sky is clear. The stars twinkle in the night sky to guide her on her way.

In the position of Present, after my Past was represented by pain and grief, this card is significant. It's time to move on. I already knew that, but here is a symbol to help propel me forward. Leaving the pain and grief of the past year behind, I'm journeying on toward the future with peace in my heart and a favorable wind in my sails.

Come back tomorrow to see the card that represents my year to come.

A Tarot Reading for the New Year

From the Witches Tarot deck by
Ellen Dugan

I drew three cards for my New Years reading. They were so right for me! I'll share them with you over the next few days.

The year past: Three of Swords

This card emanates pain clearly. The sky is dark and cloudy. The flowers, blue ageratum (meaning delay), fall from the sky. The three figure, fairies, look on in sadness. Three swords pierce the heart in the center. Of course there is pain. In this position, this card represents the pain of the past year. It also says clearly that it's time to move on from the pain that was into the healing that will be.

What are you leaving behind with the year so newly passed? What will you seek in the year that has just begun? It's time for transformation.

The new year comes closer

Now is the time for dreaming, the time for planning the year ahead. You have control of your destiny. Where will your dreams take you in 2015?

Thought for the day

A Christmas blessing

Tarot Card of the Day: Five of Wands

From the Witches Tarot deck by Ellen Dugan

In this card, I see a lot of posturing and argument. There are dragons flying about everywhere, and the knights riding them are brandishing their wands like swords. But there are flowers on the ends of the wands... the weapons are more for show than for deadly force. Someone has to stop these dragon-riders from arguing and get them to work together.

The Five of Wands is a card full of strife. There has been a lot of bickering and annoyance, and it's holding you back. You can't hide from it anymore. Five of Wands says it's time to deal with the frustrations, remove the blocks and the anxiety that are in your path, and release your magic into the world.

This is a great card to draw just after the Winter Solstice. The anxiety and frustrations you experience in the dark will be banished by the return of the light, but only if you're willing to make the effort.

How does this card speak to you?

Winter Solstice

In honor of the Winter Solstice, which is today, last night my friends and I lit a spiral of candles and sent out our hopes for the new year. I love this tradition.

This year's spiral

Lighting up the dark

Last year's spiral

What are you seeking?

I saw this lovely post on my Instagram feed this morning and knew I needed to share it here on Seeking Everyday Magic. What a sweet confirmation that what we will find what we are seeking truly.

What is it that you are seeking? Me, I'm looking for magic in my everyday. And funnily enough, when I look for it, I find magic everywhere.

As the Solstice approaches, I'll be taking a moment to ask myself what I want in the new year. What am I bringing into the light with me this year?

What about you?

Winter Solstice: Return of the light

It's been getting darker for weeks now. Every day a little bit more light is seeped from the sky. That coupled with the cloudy, rainy days we've been having can make the world feel like a dark and lonely place. But, good news! The light is returning!

The solstice, which happens on December 21st this year, is a time of introspection, a time to turn inward and hear what your heart has to tell you, what the universe wants to impart to you in the quiet and the dark time. It's also a time to celebrate the end of the dark days and the return of the light.

It occurred to me the other day that the Christmas lights I have hung on my tree and inside my house serve a dual purpose. They celebrate the season of Christmas, certainly. But maybe more importantly, they're a beacon of hope, hung at the darkest time of the year, a reminder of the return of the light.

A good ritual to banish the darkness at this time of year is to hang lights in the window or light a spiral of tea light candles and as you do, send out a prayer or a wish for the year to come.

If you're looking for a little hope during this dark time, leave me a comment and let me know. I'll light a candle for you. And remember, the days will be getting longer soon.

Tarot Card of the Day: The Tower

From Ellan Dugan's Witches Tarot Deck

I drew this card this morning and laughed at the way the universe always seems to know exactly what I need, even when I don't know enough to ask for it. What a way to start off the Seeking Everyday Magic blog!

Change is coming and there's no way to avoid it. Everything that you have built up until now, your ego, your expectations, the spiritual and emotional blocks in your path, is going to be torn down in one lightning quick moment of insight. Change is inevitable, but it's not to be feared. The fire inside the tower cleanses as much as it destroys. So even though you're feeling the fear and adrenaline of an unavoidable upheaval and the pain that can sometimes come with it, breathe, center, because something new and powerful is about to be released into the world.

What are we doing here?

Welcome to Seeking Everyday Magic. This is a space for like-minded souls to come and ask questions and to spend time pondering magic and meaning in everyday life. I'm so glad you're here. I hope you find what you seek.

When I woke up this morning I felt a niggling desire to create space for wonder and magic in my day-to-day routine. I spend a lot of time shutting down any possibility for magic in order to protect myself from disappointment. This blog and the meditations I post here are my answer to that, an opening back up to magic and the mystery of the universe.

Moving forward, I'll be posting about many different facets of magic, tools and theories, inspirations and introspections, wisdoms and wonders. Let's find the place where truth and magic meet.