Greetings Friends, I invite you to slow down, brew up your favorite beverage, turn your phone on silent and let the outside world fade away. This is your time, to do your work. Its Virgo Season and the distractions can wait. Virgo is often associated with The Hermit in the tarot as they both embody the wisdom of solitude. In fact, Virgo’s symbol, The Virgin, was originally understood as one who is whole within themselves. This clues us into the nature of the season, one in which we discern what is useful and necessary for our earthly creations versus what is no longer of service. The Hermit learns these lessons by pulling back from societal narratives and listening to the teacher within. Often depicted as an old man on a mountain top, Elizabeth Haidle interprets The Hermit in the form of a child in her tender, whimsical deck Tarot for All Ages. This depiction refreshes our sense of what it is to be wise, reminding us that, like our inner child, our inner light has always been with us. If you look closely, Haidle’s mountain is both a summit and a refuge, with a set of stairs tucked inside. This illustrates how the Hermit’s solitude is not lonely, but full of intricacies and details we only notice when given the space. In readings, the Hermit suggests a need for time alone and a reassurance of the fertility that lies within. Virgo is an Earth sign, one that rules the digestive system, the gut, the place in us that sorts through everything we take in, discerning what is nourishing and what can be released. Virgo is the energy that creates the space for life to be honored and upheld, for the Hermit to experience the luminous nature of their inner truth. S0 enjoy your earthiness this month without being too hard on yourself or others. The Hermit returns to the light within so they can then share it with the world. With love and inner light, Lisa

Hello Friends, Welcome to the first installment of The Shortest Prayer, Astrology and Tarot newsletter! Thank you to all who have encouraged this offering and this work. My intention with this newsletter is to enrich our relationship with these tools and keep you up to date on how we can work together, one on one, or in community. This space will also serve as a container to celebrate and honor the changing seasons and rhythms that unite our lives. And with that in mind, Happy Leo Season! As a Leo, this time of year is dear to me. Thus it feels fitting that we start with the tarot card most associated with it, Strength. Not to be confused with brute force or aggressive physicality, the Strength card symbolizes the wisdom that comes from leading with the heart. The image above is from Kim Krans' modern classic, The Wild Unknown Tarot. This deck is wonderful for those who want to move away from a human-centric tarot practice and see themselves through the imagery of our plant and animal kin. What I love about Krans' interpretation of Strength is the kindness and beauty it conveys. The lion comes out of the darkness with a rose in their mouth and an infinity symbol at their third eye. This card appears when we are called to overcome adversity by maintaining an open heart.  For many, this is one of the most difficult cards to embody, and likewise, the most transformational. In most modern decks, Strength appears as the eighth card of the Major Arcana. In numerology, eight is the number of transformation, the infinity symbol turned on its head. In The Wild Unknown Tarot, it appears as number eleven, a more traditional placement, as well as the midway point of the Major Arcana, the threshold to the deeper mysteries. Wherever you find your Strength, the meaning remains the same, true courage comes from opening emotionally, not closing down. In fact, the word courage comes from the French “coeur”, which means heart. In readings, I’ve seen this card appear when someone is starting to date again after a long hiatus and has fear about putting themselves out there. It has also appeared as a call to practice emotional mastery and the soft will of compassion in the face of systemic oppression and leaving an unhealthy job. In every circumstance, Strength reminds us of the unbreakable power of our own inner beauty. When you see this card, take the rose it offers you, unfold your heart, and let yourself be transformed. With Love and Strength, Lisa