I like to refer to the times between Yuletide and Imbolc as my quiet time. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are behind me and winter is upon me. Especially where I live in far western New York State.
This quiet time gives me pause to reflect on what has happened to me in the previous year. And reflect and prioritize what I’m planning on doing for this coming year. I don’t like to call it my New Years resolutions, because it isn’t.
My quiet time, when all is still outside, and cold, is all about meditating. I make no plans to go anywhere unless I have to. That mostly boils down to any doctor’s appointments, necessary grocery shopping, or where I have to take my sister.
Meditating is a very important part of my daily practice, along with a daily tarot and or oracle card pull. I usually will meditate after the draws while my sister takes her afternoon nap. Nice and quiet then. Gives me plenty of time afterwards to reflect on what my Goddess has given me. You can read more about that here.
Something else by using meditation as part of my daily practice is to make me slow down. I set aside and take the time out of my life to relax my brain. Stop thinking so much about what I have to do, or want to do. It helps me focus and prioritize what’s most important for me. Yes, I take time for me.
Time to think about what I’m really grateful and thankful for. Not for what I want, but for the things that are important to me. I do have what I need. Food, shelter and clothing. And a good relationship with my semi-handicapped sister who I live with. You can read about it here.
In this quiet time of the year, I’m learning what it means to prioritize what I want to do. This is where tarot comes into it. Last year during this time I made it a priority to add a daily tarot and or oracle draw into my practice. As much as possible I have done that. I also made my intention to journal about it. Every day, or at least try to. I rarely skip a day. And journaling was something that I did erratically.
This year on the Dark Moon, with Wyrd Sanctuary, I did a six card tarot New Year’s Insight Spread. In the center I drew a Dark Goddess Oracle card. Ereshkigal. A Sumerian Goddess basically of coercion. From the accompanying book: “Never jump to each demand. Threats begone, now take a stand. Confide in someone you trust. Make a list of your priorities and put yourself first”.
Last year I was jumping around from project to project. Not finishing what I started. My intention to write this blog article today came from the Crow Tarot. My daily draw was the Knight of Swords. “Indicates a project that I am excited about. Use the Knight’s strength to complete the project, but don’t cut corners.”
In late December a little over a year ago I started a search about my matriarchal ancestors who lived in the same village I live in now. I was excited, but I didn’t follow through with my project. Again, it wasn’t a high enough priority. You can read about the start of that project here.
Last year I would work on it off and on. Sometimes not for months on end. I hadn’t made it a priority. When I did work on it I would go only so far and stop. Start again, stop again. Oh yes, I had drawn the Knight of Swords before. Even journaled about it. And promptly ignored it.
Until from my brother mentioned a couple months ago, how are you coming on the ancestry search? I told him the matriarchal side was almost finished. He said I needed to include the patriarchal side as well. Well, he is the patriarch of our family now. So point well taken.
I re-started my ancestry work this year in earnest. By paying attention and writing down my priorities. In my journal. Thankfully I have my quiet times to accomplish, finally, what I started over a year ago. I set a deadline to finish this and wrote my intention down in my journal. And I know that Hekate will hold me accountable this time. So Mote It Be! Hail Hekate!
Until next time…in the future…
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