You are not alone. You are responsible for the role that you play.

October 10, 2018 Nicole Lock

Blessed New Moon in Libra. She has justice on my mind. The weight of the collective is heavy, while the fire of revolution and rage burn brightly within. On a day that historically celebrates white supremacy, the genocide of many nations of people, … — Blessed New Moon in Libra. She has justice on my mind. The weight of the collective is heavy, while the fire of revolution and rage burn brightly within. On a day that historically celebrates white supremacy, the genocide of many nations of people, and the rise of a country so steeped in hate and superiority it turned against the earth herself - we are all reminded that this shit needs to stop. And it needs to stop now.
Voting is important, yes. But so too we must decolonize our minds, our government, our way of life… We must hear and elevate the voices white supremacy attempts to drown out. Read, watch, and listen to find the ways in which you can act, change, and take a stand. We must fight against capitalism and greed. We must protect our sacred Mother Earth and all of her creatures. And we must accept the fact that we don’t have all the answers, that change is uncomfortable, that privilege needs to be surrendered, and that we are responsible for what takes place in this world.
You are responsible to the role that you play, have played, and are meant to play.
The good news is that you are not alone. We are all a team. Even those who fight against us, who howl in the face of change, who use whatever means necessary to keep their privilege and power… They are too of this earth and a part of this revolution. Whether they like it or not.
May they push us further. May they force us to face the truth.
This is a time the turning of the wheel of fortune. Those who’ve held power for far too long will come crashing down. Those who’ve had their lives, liberty, and justice held far from then will be granted their due. Get your hands on the crank, give all of your strength, and we will turn the tides together.
Today is Indigenous People’s day. Donate to, read from, and support Native Americans today and every day.
#fuckcolumbus #libranewmoon #justice

Wise Enough. Determined Enough. Love Enough.

September 11, 2017 Nicole Lock

You don't have to destroy yourself to be worthy of this planet. You don’t have to deny your truth for someone else’s. You are welcome here as you are. Your desires are valid. Your dreams are worth pursuing. Put down the distractions, the excuses, the tired old routines of holding yourself back, and really focus on giving yourself what you truly want. Devote your extra time to your desires. Do not give in to temptations of pale distractions and instant gratifications. You are wise enough to know that they are not what you’re truly hungering for.

Determine which direction is calling you and use that determination to keep focused, to fuel your self-discipline, and to remind you to actually enjoy the process of working for what you desire. You are too hungry, too starved, too smart, and too full of passion to not put your nose in the books, your pen to paper, your boots to the dirt, your heart to feeling, your spirit to the wind…

Perfection is not the goal here. Perfection is the enemy. Your purpose is expression, sharing, changing, learning, exploring, experimenting, healing, being. The goal is simply to explore your own truth and watch in turn as it resonates with the truth in others. What greater purpose in life is there than to answer the call of your soul? Give yourself and your gifts the time and attention they deserve. Seek your truth above all else and trust that it holds the keys to the work you are meant to do in this life.

Be cautious too. Practice presence and stay grounded because it is really easy to talk yourself out of what it is you truly wish to do with this precious life. It is easy to be sucked into the shameful poison of this culture of dominance, destruction, and greed. Don’t give in. Don’t take the easy route, for its ease is truly an illusion at best.

Your truth is worth pursuing. Your heart is worth expressing. Your voice is worth hearing.

Give yourself room, time, and love enough to flourish.

Blessed be.

August 28, 2017 Nicole Lock

It’s virgo season and the suit of disks has been present in every daily reading I’ve drawn for myself since its beginning. I’ve received the Page of Pentacles 4 or 5 times in the last week. The effects of Virgo are strongly present in my current rea… — It’s virgo season and the suit of disks has been present in every daily reading I’ve drawn for myself since its beginning. I’ve received the Page of Pentacles 4 or 5 times in the last week. The effects of Virgo are strongly present in my current reality. I begin my new job tomorrow. I’ve been feeling the call to commit further to my work with the tarot, the witch community, and my writing. I hear the subtle and sweet calls of mother earth. I’m noticing the details, finding meaning in the pattern of the stars, seeing messages in the glowing embers of a crackling fire, the sweeping of birds, the rustle of leaves, the buzzing of insects.
Mama earth is calling my inner harvest queen to the forefront, reminding me of the magic and creations I am to manifest, calling for commitment and dedication, inspiring me through the natural wonder and blessings that surround me. She is pointing to the injustice in our world and the hard work ahead and asking me to get to it. She stokes the flames of the rage inside me so that I may have fuel for the effort required.
The seeds I’ve been planting are ready to be harvested, to be brought into reality, and the reaping must begin. May I stay grounded, in deep connection with mother earth, and grateful. May I move out of my mind and into my roots. May I trust in myself, the magic of our planet, and the ways of the universe. May I dedicate my mind to playing my part in the healing and revolutions required in this moment.
I wish you all a happy Monday.
Blessed be.

Done is Better than Perfect

July 31, 2017 Nicole Lock

If you are seeking a life of self-actualization and authenticity, ditch the idea of perfection. Perfection will kill your creativity, personal expression, and progress dead. It will trap you in a box that will never fit, never feel right, never get … — If you are seeking a life of self-actualization and authenticity, ditch the idea of perfection. Perfection will kill your creativity, personal expression, and progress dead. It will trap you in a box that will never fit, never feel right, never get you to where you want to be. Perfection simply does not exist for us humans. We are oh so much more complicated than that. We are meant to spiral through all of our contradictions, our light and our dark, our triumphs and our failures, our mistakes and our good work. This is the whole point of life! It is how we learn, how we grow, how we evolve, how we love, how we become.
Accidents can lead to great things. Fuck ups can bring out the best in us. So let the idea of perfection go, please, for yourself, for us, for the earth, for the divine, and for the collective unconscious.
I’m not sure who said it, but this quote really helps me when I get stuck: “done is better than perfect.”
Nothing we do will ever be perfect. Okay? Now that we have accepted this truth, and let go of such a boring and redundant standard, it is time to do the work of balancing our self-discipline and spontaneity: our wild side and our responsible side. Self-expression will stagnate without room to flow and dance. And it simply won’t exist without our commitment to put our pens to paper, our hands to the keyboard, our fingers to the clay, our minds to the research, etc. We have to find our way between the two.
Think about some of the creative moments/projects/processes in which you were both focused and in the flow. What conditions made that possible? Was it following your interest? Setting time aside with no distractions? Waking up early? After a walk? With a strict schedule? With an intentional schedule? With no schedule at all?
We are all unique in how we work. Experiment with and seek out what will aid and balance you in your discipline and creative freedom. Take your power back from ideas of perfection. Take your power back from distractibility and/or rigidity. Empower and allow yourself to find your flow, your rhythm, your craft.
Do all of this so that you can let your voice have its say. And so that we get the pleasure of hearing it.
Blessed be.

Dance Yourself Clean

July 26, 2017 Nicole Lock

I have a habit of rejecting gifts because of my issues around worthiness. The gifts of the tarot, the universe, gifts of praise or inspiration: often fall wasted at my feet to be consumed by fears, doubts, and hesitations. Today, the Motherpeace Tarot and the universe doubled their efforts by placing the Ace of Swords and the 10 of Wands side by side.

The instructions are clear: focus, take aim, and create a sacred, affirming dance to transform the energy wasted in fear and doubt into inspiration and willpower. Point this salvaged and renewed energy towards a specific idea and creative manifestation. This dance will be both mental and spiritual. It will be physical and emotional. It will require meditation, focus, and serious mental effort. It will also require passion, fun, and release. This is purging and birth. This is cleansing and creating. This is the dance of fire and air working together to burn and clear what stands in the way of rebirth.

How can even my doubtful mind dismiss such clear instructions?

On a broader level, this is the dance we must use to combat the bullshit being spewed and enacted by the government and the asshole in chief. All of the hatred, injustice, cruelty, greed, and destruction they are trying to feed us will be transformed by the passion and focus we meet it with, by our refusal to take it in, and by our using our outrage at these injustices to fuel our resistance and creation of a better world. This is our chance to face and burn away the true burdens on our country: greed, hate, and ignorance. Do not forget how much our passion and efforts have stopped this administration and the GOP from doing it’s bidding.

Let this be the death-rattle of patriarchal, capitalist hatred and destruction in our culture and ‘democracy.’ Let this administration be the last of its kind. Let us all wake up to the true forces working against us and focus our will and efforts in transforming this world into one of peace and progress. It is what we all deserve. And it is up to us to create it.

Blessed be. 🙏

Open, Listen, Affirm.

July 17, 2017 Nicole Lock

Clear that broken glass, turn from that mountain of stagnancy, there is nothing left to be done here. Your journey begins as you walk away from that which no longer serves, that which no longer holds life, promise, or opportunity. The disappointment… — Clear that broken glass, turn from that mountain of stagnancy, there is nothing left to be done here. Your journey begins as you walk away from that which no longer serves, that which no longer holds life, promise, or opportunity. The disappointment and hurt is inevitable. It is a law of our nature and we must make peace with it. Besides, the pain of leaving is made dull by the promise of what is to come. Open your heart, your third eye, and your crown wide to the messages and gifts coming your way. Listen within. Listen without.
Bring yourself to a place of calm, a place of acceptance, a place of peace. Once in this place you will be able to hear, able to see, able to believe, to hope, to wish. Allow the visions that flow into your third eye, through your crown, and from your heart to wash over you. While you move through the coming days, keep a keen eye out for the signs asking for your attention. Keep your channels open.
This eclipse season and waning summer will be one of magical transformation, of messages that ring loud and true, of following your heart and spiritual guidance, and as @chaninicholas said in her weekly horoscopes, one of affirming yourself. Let's meet this turn of the wheel with open hearts, perceiving minds, excited bodies, and healing spirits. Change is inevitable and though it is uncomfortable, it is the only way through, the only way to a better future.
May we all find the strength to walk away from what hurts, traps, or starves us of our creativity and vitality. May we find what it is we truly wish for and allow ourselves to reach for it, commit to it, and finally, to have it.
Blessed be. 🙏💗
PS: The art from Kim Krans of @the_wild_unknown just pulls you in doesn't it? Makes you want to know more. Gives you just enough to excite your intuition and creativity, while leaving room for your own interpretations. 🙌💗😘 Both her tarot and Animal Spirit decks were calling me this morning and what a call they made...

Dispassion as Emotional Defense

June 7, 2017 Nicole Lock

It has taken me a while to see the value in the father of cup’s emotional maturity and detachment. Whenever I read advice that suggests taking our emotions out of the situation, I bristle. I have been told I’m too passionate far too often in my life… — It has taken me a while to see the value in the father of cup’s emotional maturity and detachment. Whenever I read advice that suggests taking our emotions out of the situation, I bristle. I have been told I’m too passionate far too often in my life. I’ve been told I’m too sensitive, too emotional, too wishy washy… you know, the typical Piscean hate.
I’ve spent a lot of my spiritual and psychological journey learning to own my passion, love my feelings, nurture my sensitive nature, and revel in my dreaminess. And as I come to know what it feels like to love and defend who I am, I can see the father of cups and his message with greater clarity. I am beginning to see the value in emotional detachment in defending yourself, protecting yourself, and getting through some shitty situations where your emotions will not be valued.
I’ve come to realize that my emotions are precious. My sensitive and empathic nature is a gift. My dreaminess knows reality and keeps me grounded.
For all my co-sensitives out there, you know that these traits are prayed upon, sometimes by the one’s we trust the most. And this is where the emotional maturity and detachment of the father of cups can help us. If we can learn to deal with those who do not deserve our passion or our emotional natures in a dispassionate matter, we are better able to defend our being and wholeness. Those who will not respect and value our emotions do not deserve them. Essentially, we can use detachment to keep the vampires out. Once safe, we can let it all out, of course.
Detachment also allows us to see emotional vampires with a compassion. When they are not able to suck us dry, we can see that they are in need, that they are wounded. But we don’t have to go and join them there in that wounded, dark space. We can offer our hands to help them up, to help them through, but we can no longer sacrifice ourselves to their needs. Our gifts are to be respected, defended, and believed in. We must draw that line of defense.
Blessed be.

Not Your Mess

May 9, 2017 Nicole Lock

Sometimes the people we love project their own shit onto us and it can make us feel inadequate, confused, or just plain hurt. Sometimes the people closest to us don't understand what we are going through or what we are trying to create. This can leave us feeling unsupported, isolated, and disappointed. Sometimes the people in our life don't take the time to see or understand us. This can make us feel ignored, ostracized, and insecure. For some of us, it happens more often than not. But also more often than not, this has nothing to do with us and much more to do with the other person.

It takes emotional strength and wisdom to not take it personally. The King of Cups is able to detach himself just enough to gain perspective. Through this perspective, he is able to recognize what is other people's bullshit or misguided misunderstandings. He is able to leave those projections and slights lying dead where they land and focus instead on his own truth.

Many of us are undergoing some serious transformation right now. We are doing internal work and creating something that doesn't fit nicely into conventional standards. And while we know that what we are doing is worth it and that it will produce something more beautiful than any of us could have imagined, it is hard not to feel the cold slap of isolation that going against the grain creates.

Trust in you. Trust in your process. Trust that you are loved and being guided through this work. Know that isolation has been the company of many great inventors, artists, rebels, mystics, and wise leaders of our past. Don't let other people's shit bring you down. Look at it for what it is, not your mess. You should offer love and understanding when you can, of course, but your boundaries must be maintained. Your work is too important to be sacrificed.

Blessed be.

Make Time for Joy & Healing

May 5, 2017 Nicole Lock

In times like these, it is ever more important to devote time and attention to our mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health. You deserve joy. You deserve love, healing, and connection. You deserve to laugh and create. You deserve time without worry or burden. And yes, it requires some blindfolding: time away from the stress, anxiety, and anguish that this administration and the state of the planet is causing all of us. Of course, we all need to keep informed, but we don’t need to be online or engaged 24/7. If we don’t make time to take care of ourselves, we won’t be able to take on this corrupt and deadly administration.

Our happiness, our family time, the things we love, our healing, our friends, our inner-child all need to be nurtured and given the presence they deserve. Our joy is a critical part of our health and so is our connection and solidarity with each other. And if we don’t take care of our health and support one another, and the GOP have their way, no one else will. Make time to check in with yourself. Make time to check in with others. Don’t be afraid to make your health and the health of your family and friends a priority, because it has to be. Especially in times like these. Especially with such an uncertain future.

Healing is an act of love. Love is an act of healing. Let yourself love and be loved. Let yourself laugh and seek joy. Let yourself keep faith and hope in the good of this world. Stay connected with your loved ones. Hold each other close. And know, you aren’t alone.

I know this doesn't replace fair and affordable healthcare for all. And I am not suggesting that any of us bow out of this fight. But we all deserve to take some time for our own health and for our joy. I hope that this is something we can all access in the very least.

Blessed be.

Work it.

May 3, 2017 Nicole Lock

Today we are given a friendly reminder from the universe to get to work. If you have a vision, if you yearn for more, if you know what you want but aren't actively working towards it, it's time to outline your priorities and start building a foundation for your idea/vision. You have the power to make this life what you wish it to be (to a reasonable extent of course), and you will if you allow yourself to step into your own authority, believe in yourself, and know that you deserve it. You have the stamina and the time too, if you prioritize and cut away what does not serve you and what you seek. Where there’s a will, there is a way.

It's not even like you have to make yourself miserable or anything. Find joy in steadily working toward your goals. Along the way, you must make time to relax and celebrate your hard work too. And damn, how pleasurable will it be to watch your work progress, to see what you've been dreaming up and creating in your mind start to manifest? Really fucking fulfilling and pleasurable, would be my guess. It’s truly a win-win situation. It requires some discipline and planning for sure, but nothing worth having comes easily (again, to a reasonable extent).

Now let's get to work! 🙃

Courage to Explore the Light & the Dark

May 3, 2017 Nicole Lock

What if when our minds turn to fear, anxiety, and worry instead of being overwhelmed and stagnated by it, we try to follow the fear into its depths? What if we follow our line of thinking down into the murky waters of our psyches and find its root? What if that root turns out to be a creative treasure? What if you find a golden nugget of healing and wisdom that has been lost to the unexplored dark? What if you are able to de-root the trauma causing your fear and replace it with something kinder, wiser, and more encouraging?

Losgunna is all about this diving into the muck. There is hidden potential trapped in old wounds and trauma. There are ideas and talents that were never granted their due opportunity waiting to be unearthed. Nothing is lost forever, simply buried or obscured. There are so many hidden gems within and all that is required to find them is our commitment to and courage in exploring our dark.

This is true of exploring our light as well, which fear and worry so often keep us from doing! She encourages us to embrace and be open to the opportunities that we are granted, instead of getting trapped behind our apprehensions and despair. She wants us to explore the beauty of where we are and open our eyes to all that we have been too lost in fear or anxiety to see. Vulnerability is a powerful force. And its opposite is to disconnect, which only grants a false sense of security, boxed in by artificial walls of protection. The opposite of vulnerability is imprisonment by fear.

And we don’t have time for that. We have adventurous and courageous hearts to guide us. We have magic and intuition as our powerful allies and tools. AND we only have ourselves to gain.

Blessed be.

Go Within

April 25, 2017 Nicole Lock

Take some time to shut the world out. To go within. Go to a place where your wishes swim unencumbered by any outside pressure. Be with them. Swim with them. Let your imagination take control and follow its flow. And when you get to a place of inner-contentment, stop and listen. Listen closely. There's a message waiting from your inner teacher in the depths of your true desires.

The upcoming new moon in Taurus has us feeling grounded and calm in our introspection. It is the perfect time to turn inwards to explore, heal, listen, learn, dream, find clarity. All you need is you.

🙏

Blessed be. 💗

Don't Waste Your Magic with Worry

April 24, 2017 Nicole Lock

Gawtcha is the Tower card of the Faerie’s Oracle. He represents those moments and events that strip us of our rigid safety blankets (which are often closer to prisons than safe zones) and teach us to let go of the old as we are forced into something new. Whether this event is something that happens to us or is of our own choosing, something is being dismantled in order to make room for growth. He causes both the happy and devastating surprises that set our life in a new direction. He sets the shocks in motion that call us out for not listening to and trusting our intuition or ignoring the voice of our higher selves. He is the seemingly disastrous blows to our lives that really just blow us onto the right path.

When unexpected shocks or surprises shake us up, whether bad or good, we have a choice in our reaction. We can look at the ways in which we can create magic and abundance from the situation by undergoing necessary transformations or we can get lost in worry, fear, and anxiety. We can twist and toil through shame, being far too critical of ourselves, self-doubt, and anxious ‘what ifs’ or we can take stock of what we are left with and get moving. Whether you are reacting in the moment of this life-changing occurrence or are riding the shockwaves or even reliving the trauma from the distance of the future - you have the choice of staying lost in the treacherous web of negative thinking or creating something from your experience.

Truly, the best part of being human is our creative powers. I know it takes some serious work, many trials and tribulations, therapy and personal reflections, but we must learn to stop wasting our creative and magical potential on something as poisonous as worry or shame. We must heed the lesson of the King of Pentacles (who also represents Taurus) and stand strong in our ability to create abundance through our resourcefulness. We must call in the parts of ourselves that are determined and even a little stubborn so that we can do the work we have been called to do, despite any obstacles in our way. Remember that we can make magic out of even the harshest conditions, much like our brilliant creator — mother earth.

Blessed be.

Trust Enough that it Becomes Belief

April 21, 2017 Nicole Lock

I’m keeping it pink this week! Since our pink moon, I’ve been feeling this color and all of the beautiful loving energy it represents. And my neighborhood is just exploding with it! Why not take advantage?

Any WHO,

Happy Friday, friends. The cards have an inspiring message for our weekend…

This draw is asking you to trust in yourself. Trust in the path you walk. Trust in the future you seek. Trust in your vision. Trust the accomplishments you’ve made thus far. Trust in the direction you wish to head. Trust that every failure, hardship, and obstacle are meant to help you grow, guide your path, and grant you wisdom. Trust that you are part of the divine and the divine is part of you. Trust that there is a plan and trust in your role within it.

Trust enough that it becomes belief. Allow this belief in yourself to propel your ideas forward, without second-guessing your steps - just do, say, be, live, share, create it. When you meet opposition or grief, tackle it head on with the perseverance and reverence of the buffalo, of the bull (it is Taurus season after all). Don’t let failure or setbacks take away from the honor of your many accomplishments. When things get rough, look back at all you’ve been through and achieved thus far and let it fuel the fire you need to get you through yet another bump in the road.

People will see. Your efforts will be acknowledged. But first, YOU have to see it, be it, trust it, and believe it.

Blessed be.

We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends

April 19, 2017 Nicole Lock

We all get by with a little help from our friends. You may have noticed that I drew the 3 of cups two days in a row, a very friendly card. I’ve been in, and only occasionally out of, a sort of closed off introvert mode for the last year and a h… — We all get by with a little help from our friends.
You may have noticed that I drew the 3 of cups two days in a row, a very friendly card. I’ve been in, and only occasionally out of, a sort of closed off introvert mode for the last year and a half. For those who know me, you know that is not my norm. I’ve always been an extrovert. In hindsight, I needed that time. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to being a full on extrovert ever again. But lately, I am being drawn back out and into the world of people and friendship, but not in the same way as before.
This draw reflects and teaches the wisdom of being able to enjoy, connect, support, and cooperate with others while also remaining balanced in yourself, with your own needs, and purpose. Keeping this balance is tough, as our needs (and the needs of our loved ones) are ever-changing and there isn’t really a set schedule or we can keep or consistent methodology we can apply. Fortunately though, there are some lessons we can keep in mind to help us navigate our complex social landscapes.
Motherpeace’s interpretation of the emperor shows him as a rigid, authoritative, defensive, afraid to open up to any other possibility for it may threaten the fixed ideology he has built his world within. I’m not going to lie, while I was doing my shadow work and deep healing, I felt very defensive and it is part of what kept me at arms length from most people. But it was also, the rigid thinking of others that made them hard to bear.
The Shaman of Disks is at ease alone and with people. She doesn’t falter either way. Because she is well aware and committed to her dharma (her life’s work and purpose), this knowledge offers her the stability, balance, and leverage to stand strong within her own boundaries, while still offering support, love, and companionship. She knows what is most important to her and the influence of others isn’t going to shake her core, unless of course it is a lesson she needs.
Her lesson is much the positive alternative interpretations of the emperor, who is able to stand in his own authority and set boundaries that he and others follow. Truly, the key to balance comes down to having a solid sense of self and an understanding of your own value. And that is something I think I had to go into the dark to find: something I am still finding. Yes, my lack of boundaries were being taken advantage of in the past. But more than that, when I came up against opposition from the people I loved, it would strike me right in the gut. If they didn’t agree with me how could I be right? How could my knowledge and beliefs be worthy if they did not share them or value them? And as I stepped into my magic and spirituality this issue blew up. As many of my co-healers know all too well, there are some people that will never understand.
I was looking to others to validate myself and my beliefs. And that is what resulted in the skewed balance that had me run into my own dark cave for a while. For you it may be that you give too much of yourself with little love in return. It may be that you fear opening up to others. Whatever it is, we have to understand that healthy friendships and social interactions require balance and it starts within.
Blessed be.

Open Up Your Heart and Let Yourself Rush In.

April 18, 2017 Nicole Lock

My dears, the time has come to do the reaping, to get rid of what keeps us stuck, of what no longer serves us — once and for all. At least as much of it as we can. I know it’s a form of protection, a form of coping, to stay planted, even in soil tha… — My dears, the time has come to do the reaping, to get rid of what keeps us stuck, of what no longer serves us — once and for all. At least as much of it as we can. I know it’s a form of protection, a form of coping, to stay planted, even in soil that is no longer nurturing you. I do it too. Yet, our souls’ yearn for the dirt that will allow us to grow, that will nurture our creativity, and allow us to bloom. To get there we will either have to pick up our roots and move or clean and fertilize the ground we stand in. And if not now, when? How long will you allow old baggage to rot at your feet?
Instead, come out of your shell and into your tribe. Let the love and connection of kindreds inspire, heal, and support you. Get back into the groove that your soul most wishes to dance to, the groove that drives you to your higher purpose. That means takings some risks, practicing vulnerability, and opening up to yourself and others. But what else is life in this body for? Really, this life is meant to be enjoyed and shared. It is meant for answering your higher purpose, not to be cogs in a capitalistic, toxic machine.
It means finding your own way. Your own mode of transportation. Your own flight pattern. Your own cycle. And then, believing it enough to let it drive you in the right direction.
You can do it. All you need is within you. You may just have to do the work of finding it through the toxic waste left by a culture that disenfranchises us from who we are and what we actually need to live a happy life.
Wishing you all success, love, and companionship.
Blessed be. <3

It's a New Day and Time for a New Way: LOVE

April 17, 2017 Nicole Lock

Phew. I don’t know about you all, but that Venus retrograde was a tough experience for me. Retrogrades encourage us to step back and go over things again. Venus, of course, is the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, art, aesthetics — not anything that… — Phew. I don’t know about you all, but that Venus retrograde was a tough experience for me. Retrogrades encourage us to step back and go over things again. Venus, of course, is the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, art, aesthetics — not anything that can be taken lightly. This retrograde brought up many issues of self-doubt, even in the most precious and comfortable of my relationships and especially in my relationship with myself. It had me spiraling with issues of self-worth I thought I’d overcome. I found myself not enjoying my body, my appearance, my writing, or art. All the while I’m wondering where in the hell all of this came from. In hindsight, it was clearly timed with Venus’s retrograde. And while I learned a whole hell of a lot from this review of my life and relationships, I am ready to move on and let go of the baggage that has been holding me back.
And wow. How well does this morning's draw reflect exactly that! I am feeling incredibly optimistic this morning and have since Saturday, when I also drew the 6 of swords (with the 5 of cups!). I’m moving up and on, letting go of the past hurts that no longer serve me, but bringing along the wisdom they taught me.
The 6 of Swords represents Mercury in Aquarius and the 3 of Cups represents Mercury in Cancer. This bolds well for communicating — aka writing, speaking, sharing, arting. We are being encouraged to bring what we have learned from the struggles of our past into the wisdom, love, and movements we make in the present and in our plans for the future. It is time to take our love and passions seriously, to stop laughing off or escaping from what it is our hearts are being called to do. AND we must open our hearts to our community and allow it to be a space of inspiration, support, and love. As Jessa Crispin says in the Creative Tarot, “a creative spirit needs companionship.”
For real, friends, we really do.
Blessed be.

The Blessings of Natural Magic

April 11, 2017 Nicole Lock

“Natural magic is simple. We are full of it —and the more we are true to our own nature, the more we have access to our own magic. When we are caught up believing in limitations imposed by ourselves or our culture, we inhibit the flow of energy…” - Jessica Macbeth from the Faeries’ Oracle guidebook.

Mama Nature is calling us out of the drudgery, out of the pressure of days, out of the shoulds and shouldn’ts, out into her world of astonishing life and into ourselves. It is easy to lose ourselves in the increasingly corrupt, limiting western ideas of who we are supposed to be. Mother earth offers us the healing remedy and reminder we need. She’s always there too, you simply need to open your senses. Get outside and appreciate the nature around you, let it bring you excitement and inspiration. Notice the small things. Breathe in the fiery and exciting energy of spring. Dance and sing with the birds, giggle with the flowers, flow with the waters, burn with the sun, cleanse with the rain, scream with the wind. Whatever is happening outside where you are, live and be with it.

The two of swords represents the moon in Libra and how fitting that is as our full moon energy carries into today. I’ve been spending a great deal of time with Libra this last week and she has taught me much about balance and the difficulties that come with trying to achieve it. One of those difficulties is getting lost in indecision which Libra is the queen of. She wants to make the right decision so much that she simply can’t decide.

The Page of Wands is pretty much the opposite, for she doesn’t care about getting it right at all, she simply follows her excitement and enthusiasm. She allows her play and creativity to simply flow, without fear of judgment or self-doubt. It is her own connection to the natural magic both inside herself and out in the world that allows her this freedom. May we all connect back to our flow and magic within. May we be free from limitations and indecision. May we trust and honor our own true natures and the path’s we tread as we follow.

Blessed be.

Out from the Shadows and into Creativity

April 11, 2017 Nicole Lock

Full Moon morning blessings to you all. Are you ready for tonight’s full moon? She’s a powerful one and in my moon sign, so I’m sure I’ll be feeling it something fierce. If you are wanting extra lunar guidance and are a card slingin’ radical, check … — Full Moon morning blessings to you all. Are you ready for tonight’s full moon? She’s a powerful one and in my moon sign, so I’m sure I’ll be feeling it something fierce. If you are wanting extra lunar guidance and are a card slingin’ radical, check out my astrological interpretation and full moon spread I made for the specific aspects and alignments happening tonight/tomorrow!
Today’s draw is a beautiful reminder and has me inspired to spend this full moon contemplating and reaching for the rewards that come with connecting to your creative soul and sharing your art with the world. We are being asked to take our art seriously, to give it our time and effort, to stand by it proudly, and work toward the rewards of abundance that come after doing the hard work.
And the Wheel is here to remind us that though there are a plethora of excuses for not getting down with our creativity, the fact remains that we mold our life through every decision we make about how we spend our time. There is a lot that could be standing in your way: whether it is simply the pressure of days, your insecurities, your obligations, your energy levels, your mental health, your busy schedule… And then there’s everything that happens outside of ourselves that we have no control over. Yet, if we don’t make our creative expressions a priority and make time for them, then our art won’t manifest.
And how heartbreaking that is for you and for the world. Do us all a favor and do some reorganizing or disciplining or whatever it is you need to do to take your creative soul seriously. Whatever else is this life for, really? Love and art is all.
Blessed be.

Come Together, Or Else...

April 7, 2017 Nicole Lock

Is anyone else terrified? Are we becoming numb to this constant threat to our future and wellbeing? I mean damn, sometimes it feels like I’ve been waiting for the inevitable end of the world since I was born. Yet, I’ve always held the hope and the b… — Is anyone else terrified? Are we becoming numb to this constant threat to our future and wellbeing? I mean damn, sometimes it feels like I’ve been waiting for the inevitable end of the world since I was born. Yet, I’ve always held the hope and the belief that if we come together (because the number of good people in this world outnumber the bad, by far), that we can take the wheel back from those in power. If we each play our roles and hold one another up in the design and demand for a viable, equitable future — there is hope.
Like the Wheel of Fortune reminds us, we can’t control everything that happens in this life, but we can always control how we react and the actions we take. The best way for us to react to the growing corruption and violence in this world? By coming together, by each of us bringing our skills to the table, and moving forward in resistance against the careless destruction of this planet and the inhumane treatment of her people.
I love the Wooden Tarot’s depiction of the 3 of bones. Three separate, rigid bones come together and create something that can flex: a joint, which gives us the ability to propel forward. I can think of no better analogy for what needs to happen right now. We are all so very different, which is part of our beauty, yet when we come together we can be so much more, each a valuable part of something bigger than ourselves. Let us all offer something to the table, let us stand together for what we can all agree is necessary for our future: a viable, equitable planet - both ecologically and democratically.
I am praying that we are not about to enter into another war. I am praying for the people of Syria, whose lives are obviously of no consequence to these power hungry leaders, as they play out their power struggles across Syria like their own personal chess board. I pray for all of the Middle East, which is in so many ways the main battlefield in what I am now thinking of as ‘oil versus the human race.’ And of course, I pray for us all, for this planet and her suffering creatures and ecosystems.
Let us come together and save ourselves before it is too late.
Blessed be.