Pagans in Recovery YEG

09/16/2025

Happy Tarot Tuesday, may you find strength, and if strength is what you need, you may meditate on this card.

3) Major Arkana and the Zodiac: VIII Strength – July23rd – Aug 22nd
July – KEY VIII Strength is Ruled by Leo.
What do you see on your Strength card? Leo the Lion is often depicted on the Strength card in Rider-Waite-Smith influenced decks.
What do these symbols mean to you? Do you see additional symbols? Look up the meaning of the symbols that you see even if you feel confident that you know what they are.
Upright Meaning
As you move into your recovery journey, the appearance of The Strength card offers you a powerful message of inner resilience and fortitude. In the Tarot the Strength card is represented by appearance of figure gently taming a lion. symbolizing harmonious coexistence of our Inner Strength and primal instincts.
The inner Strength: At its core, the Strength card is a reminder that you possess an immense wellspring of inner strength, far more potent than you initially might realize. This strength resides deep within your being, waiting to be tapped into during moments of challenge and uncertainty.

Resilience in Recovery: In the context of addiction recovery, this card serves as a beacon of hope. It encourages you to recognize the incredible resilience that brought you to this point in your journey. Acknowledge the strength it took to admit your struggle with addiction and seek help. Embrace the courage that fuels your determination to overcome this obstacle.

Facing Challenges and Temptations: Addiction recovery is not without its challenges and temptations. There are moments when you're tempted to return to old habits or when the path to sobriety feels rocky. The Strength card assures you that you have the inner fortitude to
lese challenges head-on. Just as the figure in the card calmly tames the lion, you can approach your challenges with grace and resilience.

Mind over Matter – Strength also highlights the importance of mastering your impulses and instincts. It’s a reminder that true strength often involves not only physical power, but also emotional and mental mastery. In your journey to Recovery, you will learn to manage cravings, navigate triggers, and make conscious healthy choices.

This card can be a source of daily inspiration and affirmation. During moments of doubt or difficulty, remind yourself of the inner strength that resides within. Visualise yourself calmly and confidently facing any obstacles that arise, much like the figure in the strength card.

Dennis McClung - Addiction Recovery Reflections 2024
Fortitude is the Virtue that helps us curb our fears and moderate our daring so as to face our dangers in a reasonable way. It is the balance between fear and temerity. You could be handling your emotions, befriending your instincts, and facing whatever could devour you. You develop self confidence by discovering “power within” – rather than exerting The Chariot’s “power over.” No matter how wild and frightening, you may need to accept and respect the instincts of your own inner nature, which will give you courage, confidence, magnificence, patience and perseverance. Perhaps you are wrestling with a problem that requires such perseverance. You may need the great-heartedness of the lion. You could be experiencing strong desires or embracing lust. If your basic survival mechanism has been actvated, use intellect and will to direct your urges. On the other hand; rage and anger can sometimes give you strength to make healing changes.

This card is also about forging connections and establishing bonds. In the role of “good listener,” you can encourage and sustain others. You might ease pain, or quiet rage using love and gentle understanding. By combining passionate commitment with gentle guidance and loving direction, you can cope with any crisis calmly and confidently, and thus sooth the savage beast. Like an enchantress you can tame raw energy and transform it into what is necessary to succeed. …
Greer, Mary – The complete book of Tarot Reversals
UPRIGHT KEYWORDS AND PHRASES: Inner strength and courage. Resolve. Passions subdued, Intestinal fortitude. Tenacity. Quiet determination, Force, Might, The ability to overcome obstacles. Perseverance, Endurance. Authority, command, conviction. Moral energy, Spiritual power greater than material power, Sweet reason over roaring irrationality, exemplified in the saying “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” Zeal, fervor “mind over matter”
REVERSED MEANING:
Dennis McClung - Addiction Recovery Reflections 2024
With Strength Rx you could be fearful of your passions, urges, or instincts, or on the other hand, could be overly daring or bold. Perhaps you are struggling with a divided self, the inner discord of intellect versus instincts, culture vs crudity. When your heart is not in something, you may be unable to endure the struggle. You might feel overwhelmed by forces outside of your control.

Greer, Mary – The complete book of Tarot Reversals
REVERSED KEYWORDS (excessive): Succumbing to temptation. Disharmony, abuse of power, tyranny, despotism, dictatorial, attempt to use force to gain ones ends, forceful, unrestrained, domineering, over statement or going overboard, chauvinistic, weakness, helplessness, imperfection
REVERSED KEYWORDS (insufficiant): Lacking self-control, Lack of backbone, weakened resolve, loss of self belief, inability to see something through, though not necessarily through a personal failing, martyrdom.
COMBINATIONS:
Five of Wands > Strength: Rising to the challenge, your resolute and dogged determination will see you through any petty obstacles that may arise. Can also show rising above nd sailing past competitive forces to win the day.
Seven of Wands > Strength: Holding steady and digging in, you feel strongly about something and are prepared to see it through with great resolve.
Strength > Ten of Wands: Despite best efforts, this may feel as though it proves too much to continue: an uphill struggle that could get the better of you. Whereas in the opposite order…
Ten of Wands > Strength: … can mean feeling under pressure but battling on and dealing with everything in a calm, collected way to get where you need to be. May feel like an endurance test, but you can handle it.
Strength > Eight of Cups: Although you start off with good intentions, they could wear thin after a while and lead to abandoning the matter. Sometimes strength is also knowing when to execute an exit strategy.
Three of Swords > Strength: Diplomacy and the art of gentle persuasion can cool harsh words and alleviate stormy upsets.
Seven of Swords > Strength: A long term strategy; take an extremely careful approach armed with diplomacy and a charm offensive.
Eight of Swords > Strength > Nine of Swords: Enduring a difficult situation, but resolve is weakened; possibly a lack of self-belief (trapped card).
Strength > Seven of Pengtacles: This may take a while, but long term efforts will be rewarded and bear fruit.
Strength > The Chariot > Ace of Swords: Inner and outer resolve will be needed to overcome challenges or setbacks, but you will be successful in your aims. This powerful trio is like throewing every ounce of energy you have at something and shows an enormous amount of determination to bring about a triumphant conclusion.
The Tower > Strength: You are made of sterner stuff; having inner courage and tenacity through the eye of the storm, you have the ability to pick yourself up and dust yourself off to take things in your stride. Others may view you as unfazed or unruffled and in control after a disruptive situation. Weathering the storm and enduring whatever life throws at you.
Ellershaw, Josephine – Easy Tarot Combinations

09/15/2025

Worry often leads to relapse, make an effort to be a little better than you were the previous day. Happiness is a choice, sometimes a tough choice.

09/15/2025

This time of year is great for a campfire, or to sit down and read a book. Students are now settling down to school. Let's meditate on the Kenaz/Kano Rune over the next two weeks. Maybe it is time for you to become a mentor or a sponsor, maybe it is time to seek a sponsor. Let us illuminate each other and pass the torch.

09/09/2025

The Ten of Pentacles deals with permanence and satisfaction. The card shows that everything you have put your efforts into for a long time will pay off in the future. It suggests that everything will work out well in the end - for you have always kept the long term picture in view, choosing to take no shortcuts. Your legacy is sure to stand for quite a long time to come. This is a relief, for the path to get here has been filled with setbacks and challenges, making this point of the journey even sweeter. In the card, the aged man is able to sit back and relax while watching the lives of his children and grandchildren. The satisfaction he derives from his achievement is interwoven in his children’s happiness. The meaning of the Ten of Pentacles also relates to the happiness that you experience because you have planted many seeds of happiness and shared in the lives of others, particularly family members and relatives. It points to the importance of these people in your lives.
TRADITIONAL KEYWORDS AND PHRASES: Home and Family, Material Security, Property, Wealth and Prosperity. House, home, habitation. Family, race, tribe, ancestry. Wills, deeds, pensions, insurance payout. Legacy. Archives, records.
The “10 of Pentacles” indicates a potential for abundance and long-term fulfillment. Remember that a fulfilling and abundant recovery is well within your reach. 10 of Pentacles A potential for positive abundance and long-term fulfillment. Remind yourself that life can be fulfilling again.

Reversed: The Ten of Pentacles Rx may suggest a tendency to avoid family issues or rejecting traditions. You may feel like an unwelcome ‘Black sheep’, especially if family members are clinging to outdated morals or values. Your true self may not necessarily fit the mold that family members wanted you to conform to. It may be a good time to assess your well being and ability to remain self sufficient. You may need to ponder any emotional trauma that is family related.
The Ten of Pentacles Rx may also warn against gambling, as a major loss is likely. Long term gambling may lead to loss of home savings, family and respect. You could feel that the Parcae/Norns/Fates are against you, or the higher powers are toying with you.
REVERSED KEYWORDS AND PHRASES: Problems within the family, instability and insecurity regarding material matters property or inheritance disputes, material losses that impact the home. Hazard, fate, fortune, destiny. Gambling, games, toying with others. Disputed or worthless inheritance. Uncertainty, insecurity.
COMBINATIONS:
Knight of Wands > Ten of Pentacles: The overlap reinforces a home move and property matters.

Tarot Tuesday:
Virgo rules the 8,9 and 10 of Pentacles. What do you see when you look at the Ten of Pentacle card?
And how can it help guide you through the steps of your Journey?
A potential for positive abundance, and long term fulfillment. Remind yourself that life can be fulfilling again.
Have you made great strides, but still have room for improvement before tackling the next step?

09/08/2025

I just want to remind those who are thinking about quitting, that the moon is about to start waning.

Every year, Celeste Longacre publishes ‘the best days’ of each month to accomplish tasks based on the moon’s astrological sign and the current moon phase. The first listing is ‘To Quit Smoking’ this shares timing with ‘Begin Diet to Lose Weight’ and ‘To Wean’. All three are about changes in habits through reduction to improve health and life. I have made the educated guess that this also applies to ceasing other bad habits.
The best days to Quit Smoking, Start a diet, wean, or reduce other habits in July are the 16th and the 24th. Both are during the Waning moon.

09/02/2025

Happy Tarot Tuesday. I have updated the Hermit this week. As students return to school, I like to ponder how the Hermit's Lantern illuminates inner wisdom while he is comfortably alone with his thoughts. We cannot help those who are not ready to want to change, but we can light the beacon for those who are. Some of you on an advanced step might want to look inside and re-evaluate your moral inventory.
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Happy Tarot Tuesday.
How can The Hermit card 'Enlighten' your path to recovery?
The prominent Major Arkana of Virgo (August 23 - Sept 22) is the Hermit.
Depiction (RWS): A lone figure is atop of a snow-covered mountain peak looking down on the people and country below. He carries an uplifted lantern in his right hand. In his left hand he carries a staff or wand. There is a bright shining star inside the lantern.
SYMBOLISM: Every person must find his own way, and his own truth. The search for self, for identity, for self esteem is often a lonely one.
We are all alone in the sanctuary of our own mind. Others can not give us our sense of value, nor can they take it away if we have it. While the fool is a young man looking upwards into the morning light. The Hermit gazes into the darkness of night. This card reminds me of the saying: "All of the darkness of the world cn not hide the light of the littlest candle."
MEANING: "Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you." The star-lit lantern is a projection of inner illumination, meditation, contemplation. The Hermit symbolizes all of the holy men of history, from Christ to Buddha, enlightened, lonely, sad sages...sad at the insight into human folly, but not bitter. Wise in the ways of man. Can represent a guide, a guru, a counselor, wisdom, insight, enlightenment, understanding. "Help along the way," but the responsibility for your life is ultimately yours.
REVERSED: Isolation, alienation, lack of communication with others, loneliness, abandonment, emotional and spiritual deprivation, persistence in bad habits. The person tries to stay young disgracefully rather than to grow up gracefully.
- Lois Leo Martel
February 2024 - The Hermit
in addiction February recovery 2024, the journey is Tarot card guiding your path is "The Hermit." This card with its symbolism of solitude and introspection, suggests that this month presents a unique opportunity for deep self-discovery and inner healing.
Embracing Solitude and Self-Reflection: "The Hermit
Tarot card portrays an old sage holding a lantern, walking alone in the darkness. This imagery signifies the need to retreat from the noise and distractions of the outside world in the context of addiction recovery, this solitude represents a chance to step away from external influence old triggers, and the chaos of daily life. It's a time to create a sacred space for self-reflection.
The Gift of Inner Wisdom: During this month, you are encouraged to look inward for answers and insights. Your inner wisdom, often drowned out by the external clamor holds the key to understanding the root causes of addiction and the path to recovery. Seek moments of stillness and silence, perhaps through meditation or journaling, to connect with your inner self
Learning from Trusted Sources: While "The Hermit advocates introspection, it also suggests that it's perfectly acceptable to seek guidance from trusted sources. This may include therapists, counselors, support groups or mentors who can shed light on your journey The wisdom gained from these sources can complement your own self-reflection..
Illuminate the Path Forward:
Just as the lantern in the card illuminates the Hermit's way. consider how you can shine a light on your own path to recovery. What insights and revelations come to you when you allow yourself the space and time for introspection? What hidden truths about your addiction and your true self might you discover?
The Hermit's Gift for Recovery: "The Hermit" card teaches us that within solitude lies the power to heal, grow, and find our way. By embracing introspection and self-reflection this month, you can gain a deeper understanding of your addiction, uncover strengths you may have underestimated, and find the inner resolve to continue your journey towards recovery.
Remember that recovery is not just about abstaining from substances; it's a holistic process of sell-discovery and transformation. "The Hermit" invites you to embark on this inner journey guiding you toward a brighter, addiction-free future.

08/29/2025

Raido (Rye-though)
Icelandic Rune Poem:
“Joy of the horsemen and speedy journey and toil of the steed.”
This is the rune of the road, the wheel and the energy it takes to travel. This was historically
used as the rune placed on horse shoes, on the sails or oars of a ship and on carts of all sorts.
This rune was used by the Gods on their chariots for all sorts of travel. This may have enabled
the Aesir to travel across the skies or between the worlds.
We can place this rune on a chain dangling from the rear view mirror of a car, on the bumper of
a truck, or drawn on the bottom of the soles of a shoe.
This rune can be used when our path is too difficult for us to walk alone. So too can we use it in
our road to recovery, Raido is our travel companion.
We can also invoke this rune when making a difficult journey. A path to making amends. When
your finding the path you know is the right one, its time to start calling on Raido.
9 times you can chant this rune to make the difficult journey easier:
[Deep breath in]
RYE - THOUGH [as you breathe out]
Each time you repeat, picture one of the challenging parts of the trip being lessened. One mile
closer, one hill overcome, smoother road ahead, etc
- Danika Boe

08/26/2025

Happy Tarot Tuesday, Let us revisit the Knight of Pentacles (New info in the comments)

Happy Tarot Tuesday.
The Court card associated with this time of year is the Knight of Pentacles. What images do you see on your card? What wisdom can you glean to help you on the path to sobriety?
Knight of Pentacles symbolizes:
- Sovereignty,
- Developing a holistic way of dealing with the earth forces of life.
- Ripening,
- Completion,
- The many steps to be taken to complete your goal.
Work steadily to achieve sovereignty. The armor can be both positive or negative, on the plus side, it shows that you are prepared and secure, but on the other side of the coin, you may remain a prisoner of your own convictions inflexibly insisting on something or some vision.

08/19/2025

08/15/2025

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08/14/2025

Happy Thorshelag!
Here is one heathen alternative to the Serenity Prayer, This one calls out to the Norns who lay out what are the most likely outcomes in our fate,