Two wild Zebras appear before you. The mother grazes to nourish herself, and her foal follows her, waiting to nurse. The patterns formed by the Zebra’s stripes are unique like fingerprints, reminding you to honor the singular set of qualities that only you have to offer. The sharp contrasts of light and dark symbolize the possibility that opposing characteristics can coexist in one being. You do not have to choose one extreme or the other; you can hold both, and it is plain for anyone to see how beautiful you are as you achieve this equilibrium. And still you can be wild and refuse to be tamed. Draw upon this quality to sustain you now as you glory in the blaze of your apparent contradictions.
Zebra photograph, California Coast Highway near San Simeon, USA.
Choose a card to meditate on or for daily inspiration.
Ask the card a question like, “What should I focus on today?”
Touch, shuffle, and connect with the cards. Hold them to your heart or speak to them if you feel inclined.
Lay the cards face down in a fan shape. Pick one or more cards that attract you.
Look at the selected cards and notice how the images make you feel. Consider the photographic image, mixed media art, number, title, and colors.
Reflect on what these elements mean to you. Allow your intuition to guide you.
Fear flashes through your body, and in this moment you are quite alone. You may long for the presence of a being that cares for you. Your heart is calling for healing and abundance, but at this time you must simply travel the path of transformation. The Hare leaps into your life full of ingenuity and vitality. Hare people are sensitive, artistic, and expert at avoiding threats. This card calls upon you to review what is most important to you and act quickly to protect it. Pay close attention, remain aware of your spiritual reserves: which will help you most in this moment? What you require will appear as it is needed. Your mind may question this as fear arises, but your heart knows the truth, and your quick feet will carry you in the direction of new life.
Hare photograph, Wallpack Center, New Jersey, USA.
You plunge deep into the ocean where you encounter a Whale. With it, you move with grace. Here you have the ability to navigate the depths of your emotional being. This is a power animal full of igniting wisdom, spiritual awareness, and enduring love. It taps into ancestral DNA and helps you to hear the whisper of truth within you. With Whale energy your life unfolds in ways that can address your deepest emotional needs and allows you to communicate your authentic emotional experience. The world above the water remains to be explored with different senses, once you return to the surface. Grab ahold of the Whale’s tail with certainty and allow her to move you deep into your own profound intuition.
Humpback Whale Fluke photograph, Monterey Bay, California, USA.
Soon you will be joining with others to create something that will require a collaborative effort. Each person will bring their skills to the table. There may be some overlap, but each voice and vision offers a unique contribution. You are connected with these individuals like the mycelial network of the Mushroom, embedded in the soil of this earth. Your leadership may be called on to build community; you will be guided by the unseen world in this process. Like the Mushrooms, this community may fluctuate in size but will have the potential to remain in one spot for years. Pay attention to the visions and insights that you receive from the sacred fungi; there is an unseen aspect of this process that may be challenging to discern. Detours might happen along the way, but in the end you are bringing something significant, valuable, and life-changing into being.
Psilocybe subaeruginosa photograph by Bob Ericos, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia Mushroom Observer.
The 3 cards can symbolize the past, present, and future; the beginning, middle, and end of a sacred journey; or any specific three-part process of your choosing.
Shuffle the cards. Place them face down. Spread them out.
Choose 3 cards.
Arrange the cards side by side to view the entire reading.
Take time to feel the energy and guidance of each card before referring to the booklet. When you look up a card, be open to receiving new perspectives and interpretations.
This process provides a comprehensive view, helping you gain insight into different facets of your situation.
You are experiencing the calm within a storm. The howling winds swirl and hiss eagerly, and yet you remain centered. You are anticipating the fruits of your labors, remaining serene as you wait for what comes next. Like the Caracara perched on top of a cactus, you have a perfect view of all that surrounds you. Stay awake and vigilant: an opportunity is about to present itself. You may have a healthy urge to reach out to others now, but be careful not to overdo it and get too pushy. Remaining tranquil, rest assured that what you seek is seeking you. Wait and watch for it to enter your field of vision. You will know when it arrives, and then you will claim it.
Crested Caracara photograph, La Paz, Baja California Sur.
A friendly Calf stops mid-frolic to stare at you with piercing eyes that look directly into your soul. It is here to deliver the patient and holy Medicine of its Ancestors. You can look up at the night sky and tap into this same power in the Milky Way. The force of the moon is also with you, providing feminine nurturing energy. The Calf’s appearance also brings you equanimity. You may be experiencing a strong desire to get moving, but you needn’t push; now is not the time to rush into anything. Take all the time and preparation you need; know your strength, choose a direction, and take the first step. This Medicine is a source of sustenance for you, and it can induce a calm, meditative, and peaceful state if you let it. You will be carried where you need to go. Relax and enjoy the tranquil, tender ride.
Calf photograph, California, USA.
Two wild Zebras appear before you. The mother grazes to nourish herself, and her foal follows her, waiting to nurse. The patterns formed by the Zebra’s stripes are unique like fingerprints, reminding you to honor the singular set of qualities that only you have to offer. The sharp contrasts of light and dark symbolize the possibility that opposing characteristics can coexist in one being. You do not have to choose one extreme or the other; you can hold both, and it is plain for anyone to see how beautiful you are as you achieve this equilibrium. And still you can be wild and refuse to be tamed. Draw upon this quality to sustain you now as you glory in the blaze of your apparent contradictions.
Zebra photograph, California Coast Highway near San Simeon, USA.
Out of nowhere, a Bobcat appears in your path. Silent and cunning, eyes fixed on her prey, she draws you into the moment with the intensity of her focus. For Bobcat the hunt is on, but despite patiently waiting to pounce on and capture a meal, her efforts are thwarted when the ground squirrel disappears into its underground tunnel. Wasting no time, she retreats into the bushes, already redirecting her attention. Bobcat shows up for you in times of transition or strategizing. Allow yourself time to reflect and regain your stamina, and then face the change with eyes wide open. If your efforts are blocked, waste no time letting go; stop chasing what no longer serves you. You will have the patience and the clarity to adjust to your changing circumstances and to proceed with grace.
Bobcat photograph, Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, California, USA.
Each person takes turns holding and shuffling the cards. Feel free to ask the cards a question or set an intention for the reading.
Choose the cards together. Fan them out in front of you.
Discuss how each card makes each of you feel. Look for messages about how you might bring more closeness and better communication into your bond.
Take enough time to feel the energy and guidance of the card(s) as a couple. When you do look up a card, stay open to receiving alternative perspectives and interpretations.
This process can help you gain insights and improve your connection.
You plunge deep into the ocean where you encounter a Whale. With it, you move with grace. Here you have the ability to navigate the depths of your emotional being. This is a power animal full of igniting wisdom, spiritual awareness, and enduring love. It taps into ancestral DNA and helps you to hear the whisper of truth within you. With Whale energy your life unfolds in ways that can address your deepest emotional needs and allows you to communicate your authentic emotional experience. The world above the water remains to be explored with different senses, once you return to the surface. Grab ahold of the Whale’s tail with certainty and allow her to move you deep into your own profound intuition.
Humpback Whale Fluke photograph, Monterey Bay, California, USA.
Faded words appear as if written long ago on the walls of a cave. A dancing figure and animal spirits from this bygone lifetime are now calling your name, inviting you to tap into their perceptions. They want you to see and feel the power that you once held when you cultivated wisdom without the distractions of modern life. You might feel the top of your head tingle as you open now to receive this information through your Crown Chakra. This is a message to connect with your ancestral roots. Water Lily, with its feminine spirit of love and beginning, serves as a symbol of rebirth, enlightenment, and the cycle of Life. Use it to establish a strong connection to the spirits who can guide you to your divine purpose.
Water Lily photograph, University of California Berkeley Botanical Garden, USA.
Out of nowhere, a memory flickers across your consciousness. It is strange to you and yet familiar. A song playing in a café or an article in the news reminds you of a forgotten chapter from a past life. The leftover aura of past trauma and other crucial passages resonates throughout your present experience and catches the echoes of distant lives. Otter Medicine can swim into your consciousness when you are between worlds like this, to help you move between stages: when you are at the border of water and land, neither completely wet nor completely dry, or when you are in transition, your dreams full of people and animals from another lifetime. Otter conveys a sense of fluidity and the ability to play, encouraging your flexibility. Whether during birth, death, marriage, a sacred transition, or a crossing over to past lives, Otter’s positive energy and ease navigating transition can carry you.
Otter photograph, Monterey Bay, California, USA.
Soon you will be joining with others to create something that will require a collaborative effort. Each person will bring their skills to the table. There may be some overlap, but each voice and vision offers a unique contribution. You are connected with these individuals like the mycelial network of the Mushroom, embedded in the soil of this earth. Your leadership may be called on to build community; you will be guided by the unseen world in this process. Like the Mushrooms, this community may fluctuate in size but will have the potential to remain in one spot for years. Pay attention to the visions and insights that you receive from the sacred fungi; there is an unseen aspect of this process that may be challenging to discern. Detours might happen along the way, but in the end you are bringing something significant, valuable, and life-changing into being.
Psilocybe subaeruginosa photograph by Bob Ericos, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia Mushroom Observer.
You are experiencing the calm within a storm. The howling winds swirl and hiss eagerly, and yet you remain centered. You are anticipating the fruits of your labors, remaining serene as you wait for what comes next. Like the Caracara perched on top of a cactus, you have a perfect view of all that surrounds you. Stay awake and vigilant: an opportunity is about to present itself. You may have a healthy urge to reach out to others now, but be careful not to overdo it and get too pushy. Remaining tranquil, rest assured that what you seek is seeking you. Wait and watch for it to enter your field of vision. You will know when it arrives, and then you will claim it.
Crested Caracara photograph, La Paz, Baja California Sur.
Set up an altar space in the middle of your group circle. Shuffle and spread the cards on this altar.
Pass out slips of paper in a basket, each numbered according to the number of people present. Have each person pick a slip of paper with a number.
Go around the circle in numerical order and have each person intuitively choose a card.
Each person shares the card they received with the group, along with any impressions they have from the card.
Read the message from the booklet or embark on a drumming or medicine journey together.
Take time for each person in the group to share their thoughts about each card.
After the journey, stay open to hearing the messages from the booklet about the cards drawn.
This ritual fosters connection and collective insight, enhancing the group's shared experience.