My work days fall into a regular rhythm. I spend my mornings writing and community organizing and my afternoons on clients. As ever, the folks that come see me for readings and pastoral counseling sessions often help me identify the larger patterns unfolding in the Pagan community. Right now, there’s one burning question almost everyone I sit with has: Now what?
We know it’s bad. We know it’s going to be bad for the foreseeable future. We all want to help our communities, loved ones, and the most vulnerable among us to survive. But as in most areas of modern life, the abundance of choices can leave a person stymied for where to turn. Which of the hundreds of good, needful causes is where we should put our energy? What can we give when we ourselves have few resources? How do we bolster our own lives and families in order to hold fast against this onslaught?
It was with those thoughts in my mind that I turned to my cards to see if I could build a reading that would help me, and anyone I cast the reading for, get oriented.
I think we should all admire my restraint in not calling this the “Unfucking a Dumpster Fire” spread. I’m going with “Now What?” since not everyone shares my deep love of profanity. This reading is designed to be performed regularly – the answers will change as different obstacles and needs arise. I would recommend this one as a monthly or quarterly divination.
To perform this spread, use a sortilege-based divination system like Tarot, Oracle Cards, Runes, or Ogham. Hold your divinatory tool in your hand and contemplate your emotions, thoughts, and concerns about our current socio-political disaster. Then, when you are ready, lay the following positions out:
- Where you are right now. Your current headspace and focus.
- Something to let go of immediately that’s just getting in the way.
- Where to draw strength
- Where to take action in your personal life to better support you
- What to do to help others
- What to defend
- How to defend it
- A message to help you navigate
I will go through the reading using my own answers to demonstrate how this reading can play out.
- Where I am right now. My current headspace and focus: The Queen of Swords. Unsurprisingly, I’m focused on logic, problem-solving, and discernment. I am trying to clearly see the best path forward for my community, and to martial resources to support that path.
- Something to let go of immediately that’s just getting in the way: 10 of Cups. This is a great card in general, but in this position, it shows that I’m loath to relinquish the comfort of my personal life. It’s a legitimate point – I am a creature of habits, routines, and predictability. I’m going to have to let go of that comfort zone in order to do the most good here.
- Where to draw strength: The Ace of Coins. The new material opportunities that arise. This can take the form of unexpected work coming my way, but can also be the joy of new people coming into community as well as new ideas, activities, and projects. I love new projects (just ask the boards I serve on) and find that creation is where I’m most energized. So, this is on brand for my personal headspace.
- Where to take action in my personal life to better support me: Two of Coins. Carefully balance multiple priorities without burning out. There’s a lot of work on the table, so focused time management and discernment around best uses of energy is important.
- What to do to help others: The Empress. Basically, be Community Mom. Offer spaces and times for nurturing, compassion, and support. Focus on connecting people with beauty, nature, and pleasure. Create and support ceremonies and events that are in alignment with those qualities.
- What to defend: The Hermit. Time spent focused inwardly in pursuit of wisdom. We will all need to take breaks in this marathon, to recover some bandwidth so we can respond rather than react. By creating these spaces for myself as well as others, we can create a better long term outcome.
- How to defend it: The Knight of Coins: Literally doing the work. Making the time, providing the opportunities, making myself get onto my freaking yoga mat the way I always say I will, following through on community offerings. Stick to the plan, stay consistent.
- A message to help me navigate: King of Wands. Part of my job right now is to lead my community and to hold the fire of hope, illumination, and connection at the center of my Pagan world. Focus on intent, vision, the long-term dream, and keep the beacon lit so the others can find us.
So, give it a go. Let me know how it comes out for you. And, if you’d prefer someone else do the reading for you, drop me a line. I offer distance readings and would be happy to help.
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