Hekate Spread

This spread was inspired by The Hymn to Veiled Wisdom and conducted using the Tarot of Oneness by Robin Voisey. Each position is aligned with an aspect of Divine Wisdom and guided by a devotional question. The reading explores themes of health, guilt, creativity, fear, community, and divine trust.

1. Ζηρυνθία (Zirinthía) - Guide me through veils untold...
Question: What am I not seeing clearly about my health and burnout?

The Tower. I see myself falling from a great height, struck by lightning that flings me from the tower’s pinnacle. This is the card of unexpected disaster, often triggered by emotionalism and unclear thinking.

My current physical and emotional state may be unsustainable. The collapse I fear is not just external (job, health), but internal: outdated beliefs about success, productivity, and what “being well” means. The universe is removing what no longer serves me. Burnout may be the consequence of structures built from self-sacrifice or over-responsibility. Their fall is painful, but necessary.

Guidance: Embrace the fall. This is sacred demolition, not failure. Let yourself grieve and let go.

2. Βριμοῖ (Vrímo) - Shake perception’s core...
Question: What truth must I face about guilt and work?

Three of Swords. I see my reflection in shattered glass. My figure is a dark silhouette. My heart is black but glows red with pain. Is the image real or illusory?

I am deeply wounded, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Much of that pain comes from trying to "manage" rather than feel. I've been suppressing the extent of my hurt. The guilt I carry for resting, or disappointing others (especially my boss), is cutting deeper than the situation itself. The illusion is that I owe my well-being to others.

Guidance: Let yourself break. Cry. Name the pain. Stop gaslighting your own exhaustion.

3. Φωσφόρος (Phōsphoros) - Kindle fires of art’s creation...
Question: What is the role of the Eilat Tarot project in my life?

Synchronicity. A golden statue stands on a globe, reaching toward the sun. A radiant bird fills the sky, its light reflected in the sea. A single feather has fallen at the statue’s feet.

This project is not nonsense. It’s sacred play, mystical, intuitive, and not meant to be rationalized. I should trust its unfolding without demanding validation. The fallen feather is a divine sign: “You don’t need proof. You only need presence.” The golden statue may represent me, already standing on wholeness, still reaching toward meaning.

Guidance: Ask for signs. Stop overthinking. Your creativity is a prayer.

4. σωτηρία (Sotería) - Wisdom you bestow...
Question: What do I need to release to be emotionally free?

Seven of Swords. A predator waits above me on a tree branch. The world is dark and silent. I am afraid."

I may be hiding from myself. There’s fear-driven isolation here, born from trauma, perfectionism, or shame. I anticipate betrayal, so I prepare for it constantly. I don’t have to figure it all out alone. My inner predator is a defense mechanism, but it may be keeping love and support away.

Guidance: Release the need to protect yourself from everyone. Begin small, but practice vulnerability.

5. Ορίζοντα (Urízoda) - Knower of the unknown...
Question: Where will I find the loving community I long for?

Embodiment of Cups. (King) A crown and ship-shaped medal hang from a ribbon. A curtain parts. A fish leaps before the crown. Am I meant to wear these symbols?

Emotional maturity and self-acceptance are my path to community. It’s not about finding loving people, but about becoming someone who feels worthy of belonging. Community mirrors my emotional tone. The more I live in truth, the more authentic relationships will flow toward me. The leaping fish suggests a sign will come soon, perhaps through water, dreams, or feeling.

Guidance: Lead with heart, not armor.

6. πολύτιμος μου (Polýtimos mou) - Precious One, embrace me...
Question: How can I trust the divine and feel held?

Nine of Pentacles. A bird is about to alight on a birdhouse hanging in the trees. Does a home await me too?

This indicates a future of safety, serenity, and sovereignty. The birdhouse speaks of homecoming, both spiritual and literal. I am not as far from peace as I feel. Even now, something within me is already at rest. I only need to return to it.

Guidance: Trust the spiritual foundations you've built. You are already in communion, even if it feels quiet.

This spread appears to reveal a familiar arc of soul-work, unfolding in six movements:

1. Destruction of false structures (The Tower)
2. Acknowledgment of the wound (Three of Swords)
3. Opening to mystery and meaning (Synchronicity)
4. Letting go of control and fear (Seven of Swords)
5. Emotional rebirth into connection (Embodiment of Cups)
6. Return to grounded, graceful being (Nine of Pentacles)

This reading offers insight and initiation, a movement from collapse to wholeness, guided by the voices of different aspects of Divine Wisdom.

What the Seven of Swords Really Means

Most people see a sneaky thief. I see a smart tactician.

In Pamela Colman Smith’s image, the Seven of Swords shows a performer dancing across a stage while holding the blades of five swords  with the backdrop of an armed camp, On the stage's backdrop, two more swords stand upright in the ground in front of a row of colorful tents; a group of soldiers is gathered around a smoking campfire. The man's self-satisfied smile is striking. For many readers, this card screams deception: theft, betrayal, lies, cowardice. It’s often seen as the card of someone cheating to get ahead.

But what look again. What more does it mean?

This man could be disarming a dangerous enemy that threatens a community. He’s taking the weapons that might be used against them and leaving quietly before anyone notices. There’s no bloodshed, no confrontation, just good strategy. His mission is risky. He holds the blades with his bare hands and risks hurting himself. He isn't unethical; he hasn't left them defenseless. The two swords he has left behind are a message: We were here. We are a dangerous adversary. Think twice before tangling with us.

Key Words (Light Side):

• Disarming the enemy
• Stealth
• Clever plan
• Reclaiming what was stolen
• Strategy
• Hidden motives

Key Words (Shadow Side):

• Betrayal of self
• Self-deception
• Isolation
• Avoiding confrontation
• Impulsiveness
• Overconfidence

What the card really means:
This is the card of unconventional strategy and victory. Direct conflict isn't always the best way to achieve goals, in peace or in wartime. The Seven of Swords doesn’t ask us to deceive anyone; it challenges us to think clearly and outmaneuver what threatens us.

When this card appears, consider alternate ways to respond to danger. Let the enemy worry what might be next if they mess with you.

I don't believe there is a single "real" meaning for any card, but I enjoy finding new interpretations. Do you have a unique take on any of the cards? Please share your insights below! I love hearing from my readers.

"Live in and honor both Death and Life"

Carolyn Cushing just sent out her equinox newsletter for Art of Change. The article is very good.

It also contained several suggestions for tarot readings to explore the transformations we might experience during this time. This set of questions particularly interested me:

What obstacles might I encounter in moving toward Life? Seven of Wands

How do I move through them? Seven of Swords

Who/what supports me as I climb? The World

I'm the only one standing in my way.

(Images from the Robin Wood Tarot.)

Contemplative Tarot - Nine of Air, Seven of Air, and Four of Fire

Each week, Carolyn Cushing offers a set of cards for tarot contemplation and weekly practice. I was also inspired by Jason Ash’s use of the Gaian Tarot to deepen his prayer life.

Here, I begin my own contemplative tarot series—an invitation to pause, reflect, and enter into a quiet dialogue with the cards. This weekly practice is both spiritual and intuitive, blending tarot meditation with poetic prayer.

Below are three cards for reflection. May they inspire you to turn inward and consider your path. Feel free to share your insights or personal reflections in the comments—I would love to hear from you.

Force and Source of Life,

May I embrace the darkness
    and hold it as gently as I would a newborn child.

As I contemplate my journey,
    may I bravely envision a wondrous future.

May I forever dwell in awareness,
    rejoicing in the abundant blessings around me.

I’d love to hear your reflections—please leave a comment below.
I read every one!