YouTube video by The Veiled Cottage Witch

This is a beautiful card that brings great joy and strength to some of us. But for others? Well, it can be painful. Recent ancestors can sometimes muddy the waters of what could be a beneficial journey for our spirits. I've said this before: I have struggled with this on my father’s side of the family as he, his mother, and a few siblings were not what I would qualify as good people.

Joy takes many forms, and sometimes people forget that Samhain need not be a solemn occasion. We can honor the Beloved Dead and still enjoy the pleasures of this life in many different forms: laughter, games, food, a day off, and more. Also, be cognizant of the joys you have - appreciate them. It often seems when we start there, the joys multiple.

Apples are associated with divination games at Samhain. But with this card, we are reminded that the apple has been connected symbolically in other ways: In the story of Adam and Eve (even if that’s not the correct fruit), the poison apple of fairy tales, and more. This card is pretty straightforward: It is time to consider your risks and rewards, whether you need to take more chances or perhaps be less reckless.

We often hide our true selves from the world. Whether because we fear being ostracized for being "too much" (or maybe too little), from fear of a society that doesn't accept certain things, trauma, shyness – the list of possibilities goes on and on. Current events don't help; even witches and Pagans (in the U.S. anyway) who have been out for decades are suddenly wondering if we will need to hide again.

So often, what makes someone "lucky" is that they had they head up and were seeing potential opportunities. If we never look around, reach out to others, or just grovel about our lives, we will never be as lucky as those who look for it. So, open your eyes. Something might just be around the corner. Blessings, Thistle BLACK CAT – Fortune meets opportunity…

When things are dark, either literally or figuratively, trying to ignore or push through it is rarely helpful. Allow yourself to rest, to plan, to gestate ideas. The dark hours around midnight can be restful and fruitful in a different way than "waking" hours. Magic is afoot as well as a different mindset. Blessings, Thistle MIDNIGHT – The most magical hour of all…

Good Thursday! We are enjoying cooler mornings, and hopefully soon that will also mean cooler days (we are still low 80s here). This always makes me think of home and preparing it to be cozy. And while yes, this card can refer to the physical state of your home, it also refers to the energy of it and its occupants. If there's an issue eating at you within your close relationships, it's time to address it.

My Mom had some of those often used Mom expressions. “It takes all kinds to make the world go round.” “We all put our pants the same way – one leg at a time.” While my Mom was not perfect about acceptance and equality, these phrases stuck with me when considering people who were different from myself. Well, the Lady de Los Muertos is here with a similar – but stronger – message.

We often tell ourselves we aren't good at something more because people have told us that or to protect ourselves from the pain of failure. Sure, failure isn't fun - but it's instrumental in growth and learning. Today, get past these things and start thinking big. Blessings, Thsitle SKULL OF STARS – Infinite possibilities Why think so smallwhen galaxies spin within?

Don't forget to add intuition to your judgements and decisions today. It can be easy to think we have to be purely logical, but anyone who's watched Star Trek knows that pure logic isn't really very human. Trust your gut - sometimes we are subconsciously picking up something we need to know. Blessings and have a lovely weekend, Thistle SCRYING – Intuition…

A transformation of sorts was what happened when ancient cultures mummified their dead, helping them into the afterlife as well as preserving their bodies. That's the way change is - some things will always remain the same, but nothing ever stays completely the same. Mummification rituals helped people (I suspect the living as well as the dead) when life was transforming from one thing to another.

People often freak out when they see a Death card, but they need not. Just as it is in the Tarot, this Death card speaks to something ending. That doesn't mean it's a bad thing, but it could be a much-needed change: a new job, the end of a relationship that's run its course, moving, etc. What changes do you need?

Alright, we are finally to the Halloween Oracle! I do love the Woodland Wardens oracle and plan to write a review soon. (Though why is it that October is always crazy busy?) Anyway, on to the today's card. While it's easy to assume this card means we need to amp up activity to protect ourselves, it can actually mean we are protected by his warm grin already.

Today's card is a reminder that we don't stay mired in the dark forever. Dawn comes, day after day, to bring us another chance to create the life we desire. Mistakes are part of the process, so don't let them tether you to the dark. Blessings, Thistle DAWN – The light after the darkness After the darkest timesThe sun will always rise…

Oof, I definitely did not intend to miss three days of daily cards, but sometimes we need to get things done when we can. Yesterday, I had my drive and day at Kansas City for a CT scan and cancer specialist visit (though the latter was canceled while I was in route), and I leave too early to get the card done beforehand.

OK, let's give this restart another try! My apologies for the last couple weeks. We visited family in Georgia, and I did not get a card pulled before we left. Then last week was a treatment week with ...