Oracle Card: Cybele

I haven't drawn a card in months and last night I felt the urge to do so. As it often happens, a card fell out during shuffling; when this occurs, the card in question has a special meaning or message for the person asking the question. When I am working with oracle cards, my question is just this: "What message do you have for me?"

Cybele

Mistress of Animals

This card says: "Acknowledge your animal nature"

Cybele (aka Kybele) is the Mistress of Animals, a Great Mother Goddess and Earth Mother or Mountain Mother of Rome; she was born of Stone. Her associations include: hawks, lions, mountains, protection, primitive Earth, the wild untamed nature, fertile soil, caverns, unrestrained sexuality, independence and strength, cleansing and rebirth, and the Grecian goddesses Rhea and Demeter.

She is often depicted as wearing a turret or mountain-like crown, sitting on a thrown with either a lion in her lap or a lion at each side, or driving a lion drawn chariot.

By drawing this card, I am being told to embrace or acknowledge my "animal" nature OR wild nature, or maybe to seek the mountains and nature. I am seeing a connection here... I have definitely been pulled to the forest lately, and interestingly enough... the first trailhead I sought not only was on a mountain, but it included a gorgeous view of the mountains West of it, AND some of the ground I walked on was literally stone... huge slabs of stone, like an ancient stone floor, as well as surrounded by outcroppings of large rocks. This is the area that had so much trash; the area I want to return to and clean up this weekend, if the weather holds. 

I will try to take photos of the "stone floor" when I go back. I definitely had the impression of "primitive" as well as "cool, this looks like an ancient floor or something!" when I was walking on that area. It kinda had the ruin-like-feel to it, and I wondered if it was a natural floor or if it was deliberately laid... although the stones are huge, so perhaps it is natural after all.

So the question is, is this a message to embrace/acknowledge MY wild nature, or to embrace/acknowledge THE wild nature? I'm leaning towards THE wild nature. Perhaps the Mountain Mother is requesting my presence and she approves of my desire to return and cleanse that area of the disrespectful trash... she is encouraging me to do so... or calling me to do so because I have become more and more determined to go back and clean up; I'm actually really looking forward to it, and as I sit here writing this...  I am getting the impression of an offering. Perhaps I will take her some flowers when I go back.

(sources: Goddess Inspiration Oracle by Kris Waldherr, www.wikipedia.org, www.pantheon.org)

An Autumn Rose!... and Tonight's Card

An Autumn Colored Rose! I just thought it was so pretty; a coworker gave it to me this morning.

Look at the colors... it so fits in with this season of golds, and reds.This photo doesn't do it justice; the colors were so bright, they almost reminded me of candy corn, but then again, I do have the munchies right now!  LOL Seriously though, I have never seen a rose this color before; it's beautiful!

Now on with the card!...

Tonight's card is Erzulie, the Voodoo Goddess of Luxury; she is the spirit of love, beauty, finery, dancing, flowers, wealth, and perfume. Erzulie is very feminine and fond of finery, and beauty; she is always beautifully clothed and perfumed. 

Also known as the Goddess of Love, Erzulie has three husbands and wears a ring for each and she was known for her flirtatious, girly manner. Her traditional symbol is the heart, but she is also associated with the Moon and bodies of water, as well as home and emotions. Her different aspects range from flirtatious Maiden to fierce warrior Mother, and Crone... a Triple Goddess; she is loved as well as feared for her unpredictability. 

Her Card Says:

"Use luxury to soften your heart"

By drawing this card, I am basically being told that through seeking beauty and/or luxury, I will feel better; I should take time to enjoy the beauty around me, or treat myself to something special, perhaps something feminine to make me feel beautiful, and by doing so my spirit will be lifted, and my heart will be lighter.

I actually took some time tonight and did some house cleaning; although my back is currently killing me, I am in a better mood. Maybe this card can also represent something as simple as tidying my surroundings; they say that a clean and tidy environment helps depression... and we all know it affects the energy of a room... now if I could just tackle my bedroom! 

The problem though, is lack of space; this is a small 2 bedroom house with no storage space. I wish I had a usable storage shed in my backyard! The one I have has a rotten floor no door, and leaks, so I really can't use it for storage... dang it. So I still have stuff in boxes piled in my bedroom from the move in April; needless to say, my bedroom is a mess, and being as this is my sanctuary and I spend most my time here... this mess could be my problem; it's effecting the energy flow of the room as well as my mood. Although... for last few days I have been feeling somewhat better.