Litha, or the Summer Solstice, is a time of celebration, marked by the longest day of the year. It’s a period where the sun is at its peak, symbolizing abundance and brightness.
As someone who deeply enjoys aligning my spiritual practices with the natural cycles of the earth, I find Litha to be a particularly powerful time for reflection and renewal. Tarot reading during Litha can provide insightful guidance, helping to focus on personal growth and energy alignment as we enjoy the height of summer’s warmth.
“The Sun’s Embrace” Spread
When I first started reading tarot, I quickly realized that using thematic spreads during specific times of the year could enhance the personal significance and relevance of the readings. For Litha, creating a spread that focuses on light, growth, and energy makes the experience not only tailored to the season but also incredibly impactful.
This approach allows you to see how the themes of Litha are unfolding in your life, providing a structured way to interpret the cards that feels both personal and seasonal.
One summer, inspired by the brilliant sunshine and the lush gardens around my home, I designed a tarot spread I call “The Sun’s Embrace.” This spread consists of seven cards, each chosen to help you connect with the vibrant energy of the sun and the flourishing nature of midsummer. It’s a layout that mirrors the radiance of the sun, with cards placed in a circular pattern, each position offering a unique insight into different aspects of your life during this bright season.
Detailed Breakdown of Each Card Position
1. Your Inner Light
This card is placed at the center of the spread, representing your core or the heart of your current situation. It’s fascinating how often this card reflects exactly what I need to hear, sometimes nudging me to acknowledge the parts of myself that shine brightly, other times urging me to bring hidden talents into the light.
2. Your Growth
The second card explores the areas in your life where you’re experiencing the most growth. It’s like checking in on your personal garden to see what’s blooming. I remember one year pulling out The Empress here, a reminder of the nurturing energy I was fostering in my relationships.
3. Your Shadows
Placed as the third card, this spot encourages confronting what is usually hidden – the shadows. Despite the brightness of the season, acknowledging the darker corners of our experiences is crucial for true growth. This card can often be a tough pill to swallow, but it’s always a necessary one.
4. Energy to Release
Card four dives into the energies to release. Just like pruning back overgrown branches in the garden to encourage new growth, these cards guide you on what to let go of to make way for new growth.
5. Energy to Embrace
Card number five deals with energies that you should embrace. Listen to what the cards are telling you to hold on to.
Cards four and five should be considered together, clearing out the old and making way for new energies.
6. The Fruit of Your Labors
The final two positions look towards the outcomes and wisdom to carry forward. Drawing these always fills me with anticipation; it’s like a sneak peek into the potential harvest of my efforts.
7. A Message from the Sun
And the final card, a message from the sun, serves as a guiding light, much like the advice from an old friend.
Utilizing the Litha Tarot Spread
Preparing for the Reading
Before laying out the cards, I always take a moment to ground myself. This might involve sitting quietly in a sunny spot, breathing deeply, or even holding a crystal that feels energetically aligned with the sun’s power, like citrine or sunstone.
Setting the right atmosphere is key; sometimes, I like to light a candle or two and maybe burn some incense that evokes the essence of summer, such as lavender or chamomile. This not only helps in tuning into the natural energies of the season but also makes the whole experience more intentional and profound.
Conducting the Reading
As you shuffle the cards, focus on your intentions for this Litha season. What are you hoping to grow? What might you need to let go of to allow more light into your life? When laying out the cards, I recommend starting from the center and working your way outward in the order the positions have been explained. This method helps maintain the focus on your inner self first, expanding outward to more external aspects of your life, mirroring the sun’s rays.
Tips for the Spread
Learning from Each Position
Each position in the “The Sun’s Embrace” spread offers a unique insight, and over the years, I’ve found that being open to the messages is key. For instance, one year, the ‘Energy to Release’ card was the Ten of Wands, which hit home about overcommitting myself – a real eye-opener!
Adapting the Spread
Remember, tarot is a flexible tool. You might find that certain positions in the spread need to be adjusted based on your personal circumstances or feelings at the time of the reading. Don’t hesitate to tweak the spread to better suit your needs. For example, you might want to add an extra card for ‘What am I grateful for?’ to enhance the positivity and gratitude that are so abundant at this time of the year.
Reflecting on the Reading
After completing the reading, take some time to reflect on the cards and what they signify. I like to journal about my readings, jotting down thoughts and feelings, and any actions I plan to take based on the guidance of the cards. This reflection can be incredibly grounding and clarifying, providing a written record to look back on and see how things have unfolded.
Tarot reading during Litha is a wonderful way to connect with the themes of light, growth, and personal power. Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or just starting out, embracing this special time of year with a thematic spread can enhance your practice and bring new insights that are both profound and uplifting.
I hope The Sun’s Embrace spread brings you clarity and joy as you celebrate the peak of summer’s glory.
