Here we are at the Waxing Gibbous phase of the Moon, where we have a good sense of what we’re working with and are ready to really do something with it — The Numinous calls this the “Pivot Point” in the Moon’s cycle, where we assess what seems not to be working and compare it with what’s actually true in our situation.

For this spread I chose to draw from the Art of Life Tarot, the Wild Kuan Yin Oracle, and the Impressionist Tarot — all decks that vibe well with Aries/Taurus energy, of acting on our personal wills towards creating a stable (even comfortable!) material reality.

I laid out a crystal grid of selenite and desert rose for energy clearing and Higher Self connection, amethyst cluster to dispel any anxiety, brecchiated jasper for grounding in a heart-centred way, moss agate to remind us to engage in self-care, iolite for clear expression of our needs at this time, amegreen for head/heart connection, hematite to help us release negative patterns and addictions, black onyx for protection of personal energy, and black agate for emotional calming and further grounding.

Oracle cards: 8 of Swords | “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Christopher Columbus + 12. Sacred Sherpa Guides You Beyond

It probably feels like you’ve been meeting stop sign after stop light after locked gate — and you’re starting to wonder how much control you really have over all this. So much!! We’re at the point where we’re being forced out of our comfort zones, and darn if that’s not the most uncomfortable thing possible! But seriously, there is so much waiting for you once you take this Leap of Faith — in fact, your “spiritual team” is cheering you on so loudly that you are definitely hearing it now, through the voices of support that you are hearing, through little signs that are all around you, even in the faces of new people coming in to your life to help deliver you to a better place. Allow the shift, embrace the change, knowing that you are preparing yourself for something unimaginably new and exciting.

Card 1: The problem: Queen of Swords

Yes, a lot has been going on — you’ve allowed yourself to “go numb” from the pain, becoming quite emotionally detached, and this was absolutely necessary to get through your recent toils. But again, we’re talking about leaving our comfort zone, so allow yourself to “feel” what’s happening — the discomfort is necessary to encourage you to get a move on! Keep thinking towards involving everybody, because this is not a journey you can make alone. Keep strategizing, keep working with the information you have, keep nurturing your mental patterns, and let what’s been lost stand as an example of what you obviously didn’t need anyway. Those things we’ve been hanging on to for dear life even though we know they’re no longer of benefit? Well, the Universe is stepping in to clear them out for us! Trust, trust that what’s falling away only would have held you back in the long run.

Card 2: Our expectation: 4 of Pentacles

You’ve been pedaling so hard trying to “do better” that you figured you’d have it all together by now! And yet, no matter how hard you work it still feels like you’re just making ends meet, whether that be materially or on a much deeper, internal level. The process you are working through is a long one, and it will still be a while before you see concrete results — the challenge now is to keep thinking towards what you want, never wavering on your resolutions to scrimp and save, be that money or simply the energy you put out on a day-to-day basis. And really, take a few steps back and be proud of the progress you have made, even if it seems minor! Think back to this time last year and marvel at the small miracles that have transpired to bring to the point where you even have these considerations to make.

Card 3: The reality: Ace of Pentacles reversed

Heehee — it’s also true that staying grounded is a massive challenge right now, with the holidays looming, the weather getting worse, and money feeling tight. This “trapped” feeling runs across the board, and everyone is feeling crushed beneath the weight of responsibility at this time, to our jobs, to our families, to the World on the grand scale! We are challenged to continue looking around for doors and passageways that can deliver us from this feeling of stagnation and rigamarole, to accept where we’re at now and let that be the ground floor to the staircase that we’ll take back up once we have a better sense of where we really want to be. Sometimes we forget that it’s okay to dream REALLY big — it is! You should!

Card 4: Guidance: XV – The Devil

You know what has you stuck, because it’s the same story it’s been all along. The past weeks have been an incredible “dance with the devil,” where all of our egos see the progress we’re trying to make, in turn grabbing on to our old ways and trying to keep them for dear life! No, this is a time to be the master of your Self, to look your setbacks in the eye and tell them “not today.” The fire burning inside you is there for a reason, and you can use it to burn yourself down or to light the hearth that will allow you to stay on task. When you feel that familiar pull towards backsliding, letting out that rage or reaching for that vice, try to think for a moment whether that’s the best thing to do. Maybe it is, and by all means give yourself permission! But stay in your power as much as possible, and know that at the end of the day, the person you’re most accountable to is You.

As we enter December, “the Shadow” looms high and large — we’re entering dark territory and must work on how we handle the more negative aspects of our selves. You’ve been working on this already, taking action towards releasing what you don’t like, nurturing what you do, and this is fantastic! Even though it’s cold, though, you must keep pushing — no time for a rest, break down those final barriers! The help you need is close at hand and may even present itself to you unprovoked — take it when it comes. The Universe is conspiring *with* you to get your life in order, and the biggest challenge is allowing what you actually need and shutting the door on what you’ve known for a long time that you don’t. The light at the end of the tunnel is increased balance in your emotions and relationships, your work life, all of it, through continuing to work hard at your end goal, especially when the going gets tough and it seems more impossible than ever. It’s not! Find ways to keep yourself moving through the stiffness and cold, keep creating, keep striving, and take good care of yourself — soak up the sun when it’s there <3<3

If you’re interested in a reading with me, head over to my Etsy shop! Feel free to use the coupon code THANKS15 for 15% off your reading at checkout.

Art of Life Tarot. Charlene Livingstone. Stamford, CT: U. S. Games Systems, Inc., 2012.

Impressionist Tarot. Corrine Kenner. Artwork by Arturo Picca. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2015.

Wild Kuan Yin Oracle. Alana Fairchild. Artwork by Wang Yiguang. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2015.