Symbols for July

Instructions for the meditation are included in bold & italic, so you can journal or pull cards for further reflection.

How is it July already?! Time is flying by and the pleasant weather is helping. Usually by this point in the summer we've all baked to a crisp, the plants are looking a little rough, and we all have a pretty good tan from days spent soaking in the rivers. This year feels so different than normal. I'm not complaining about the lack of brutal heat, though.

We are starting with the first symbol of July, The Sun. After weeks of rain I'm missing the rays of our star. I never thought I'd feel that way. Let this meditation serve as some valuable time to soak up vitamin D and re-center yourself as we head into the thick of summer. Think of this as a Plant Meditation, and you're the plant. Mort Garrison's Plantasia might be a perfect soundtrack for this.

Choose a bright, sunny place to begin. Sitting inside looking out a window is perfect for this one. If you're outside shade is great, the point is to be near sunlight, but to also be comfortable and not to end up with a sunburn.

For this meditation we are going to reflect on our growth. Sit quietly and let the thoughts float through like a leaf on in the breeze. Don't grab onto these thoughts, or let yourself get frustrated for having thoughts. Let them pass with no attachment. When you've reached a place of mental stillness, take a walk down this mental path: Think about how far you've come in the last year. Think about how far you've come in the last 5 years. Think about the roots you've put down, and all the space you have for further growth. Allow the warmth of the sunlight wash over you. Be proud of how far you've come and all you've survived. Once you feel finished with reflecting, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

When you feel finished, continue reading.

Our second June symbol is the Moonflower. This night-owl of a flower is growing in our garden at the shop, and our big vine should soon be blossoming each night. The most interesting thing about the Moonflower to me is that we have two different plants that we both call by the same name, one being a harmless but enormous vine, and the other being a poisonous member of the nightshade family. They're not hard to tell apart if you know anything about them. To the uninitiated, they look like one and the same. I feel like this is a metaphor for witches. Some of us are very chill, some of us will fuck you up, and if you don't know anything about witchcraft you won't be able to tell the difference from a distance. Moonflowers on the vine don't blossom until the late summer, unfurling in their own time. We have both kinds in our garden, see if you can spot them on your next visit!

How do I resemble a fearsome creature to the uninitiated eye?

What are my unique attributes that will blossom in their own time?

What sweet aroma do I share with the world when I'm open and free?

On the topic of growth, I'm seeing shed skin as a phenomenal symbol for this moment. When a reptile sheds its skin, it leaves behind an empty container that is too small to contain the self that it embodies at this moment. We've all been through events in the past 6 years that have completely changed us and the world. I can admit that I'm a little different than I was before a pandemic changed the world as we knew it. The person I was never had to contain all this. I've grown and left behind that version of myself. I think y'all probably have had to do the same.

How have I grown into a new version of myself?

What ways am I working to grow into the next version of me?

What things am I almost ready to shed from myself?

I've been thinking about Deer a lot this week since I went to the McNay museum and saw the giant deer sculpture on the lawn. They are a sacred symbol to many of the Mexica and Southwest tribes. I learned about the nature of the Deer spirit when I was a young lady attending sweat lodges here in San Antonio 20 years ago. The Deer is a gentle healer, a master of stillness and speed, caregiver of the earth, and of us. The spirit of the deer is self sacrificing, believed to give its life so people could survive. I think my favorite of all the deer spirits is the Blue Deer of Huichol legend. I have an affinity for and a kinship with tricksters, especially when they're great singers.

What sacred things have become ordinary in my life?

Who can I be grateful to for sacrificing themselves to see me survive?

How can I open myself to be lead to the medicine I need at this time?

The last symbol on this list is Cataclysm. This is a well understood symbol in the Tarot as The Tower. It is a situation that has gone on too long, reaches a fever pitch, and demands those responsible be thrown to the wolves. These horrific tragedies in our state are getting to be bigger, more frequent, and more deadly. There were folks who knew about the flooding in Kerr County and decided not to do anything about it for insane political reasons. I hope and pray daily that as people we find the strength to push all of these cronies out of their jobs when they fail us this badly, this consistently. I love Texas so much and we all deserve a lot better than this.

What part can I play in toppling those responsible for this inaction?

What role do I have to play in assisting my greater community in times of need?

Things seem bleak, but there is a lovely breeze outside this morning. Things seem impossible until I am spending time with all of y'all. Things feel like they're too heavy until we all carry it together. Hang in there! If it feels too heavy reach out and let someone else help lift our burdens.

If you're pulling cards, pull one last card to give your spirit guides the chance to communicate a message for you to meditate on until next month