For a year now, I have pulled a Celtic Tarot or Oracle card and suggested its message be a focal poet for meditation or reflection as we entered the new month. The deck I chose this month is not specifically Celtic but is similar to a deck that was part of my visit to Ireland on a tour of thin places back in the 1980s. As many of you know, that trip inspired my first novel Celtic Spirit these many years later.

December's card is from “Angel Whisper”, a deck of affirmation messages. The card reads: 

Today I affirm I connect with my spiritual self, and all else falls into places.

I was especially moved to read this because it was that trip to sacred sites in Ireland so long ago that reignited my spiritual self. While I had grown up with a deep faith, I had become a more or less secular humanist. It was walking the land of Ireland that stirred my Celtic Spirit and put me on a new path into Celtic spirituality.

This miniature deck of cards traveled with me for a number of years after that trip. It was particularly helpful to me during a period when I flew back and forth to Florida to visit my ailing mother and over to Boston to visit a dear friend who also was very ill.  I say this to demonstrate the value of affirmations to help and support us during difficult times or times of great change.

A friend makes wonderful string bags for me to use with my deck collection. Unfortunately, that means I tossed away the box that would have named the author of these cards. Online I found a deck that I believe to be a revision of the one I am using. The title is “Angel Whispers” (rather than whisper) and the card backs are quite similar. The author is Debbie Malone and I believe she should be credited with the design of “my wee deck”.

Do enjoy and this tiny card with the big message as we begin this holiday season.

May we each take time to connect with Source, by whatever name we choose.

May we allow Spirit to enter our consciousness.

May the energies of Light and Love be with us as we celebrate the joys of the season.