Green Wheel Oracle - Moon Card Discussion

[RavenOfSummer]

I could have sworn we had a thread on this deck by Danielle Barlow, but I couldn't find one! So decided to create a new thread for this discussion.

 

I know several of us have this deck and it is especially popular among those seeking to work with seasonal and lunar energies in their practice. I have the deck though actually haven't worked with it much (I know @Raggydoll has so would love to hear her perspective on this!). But I came across this post by the creator Danielle Barlow about the 13 moon cards in the deck. I'm just going to copy and paste the whole post here because I think it is fascinating, both for those looking to form a relationship with this deck and from the perspective of developing a very personal lunar practice through years of working. The below is from Danielle:

 

"Several people have asked me for the corresponding dates for the Thirteen Moons this year, so I thought I would pin it to the top of the page.
*apologies for such a long post!*

It is a little confusing this year, because my year turns on the Winter Solstice, so the first moon of the year is the one that falls first after midwinter. This year the full moon fell the day after, which means we actually moved into the month of the new moon nearly two weeks before midwinter.
So, the first full moon of this cycle, the Quiet Moon, fell on 22nd December 2018.
Rising Moon : January 21st 2019
Travellers Moon : February 19th
Birthing Moon : March 21st
Potent Moon : April 19th
Water Moon : May 18th
Spiral Moon : June 17th
Weavers Moon : July 16th
Harvest Moon : August 15th
Hearth Moon : September 14th
* Singing Moon : October 13th*
Blood Moon : November 12th
Cold Moon : December 12th

I also thought I'd address a couple of other questions that I get asked regularly. The most common is 'What tradition do these come from?', to which my answer is - my own tradition. I don't follow any particular school of teaching, although I have had some brilliant teachers over the years. Instead, these are the names of the moons that I have been working with over many years. Some are names that I learned in childhood, from the old farmers and country folk (mostly the winter months) and others are ones that fell into place over time, taking their names from the work I was involved in at the time. Some, such as the Singing Moon, were given to me in quite profound moments of communion with the Spirits of Place.
And that brings me to the next point. 'I have heard many different names for the moons. Are yours the right ones to use?'. My answer to this is that the names of the moons are like accents and dialects. There are so many variations from place to place, and they are deeply connected to people's relationship with the land and the world around. People of one county may use one set of names, and those in the adjoining county may use a slightly different set. Other cultures will use completely different names. These are right for me, living here, on this land. They may be right for you, and of course you can use them (and for working with The Green Wheel Oracle, it helps) but there are no rules! They are after all, just words, a very human concept. What matters far more is your connection to the land and the cycles around you. Use the words you want to use, but if they don't feel right, don't be afraid to open up a conversation with the Land, and Spirit. Listen to what the hills and the rivers have to say. Spirit sees no 'ownership' of language or objects or practises in my experience. 💚💚"

[Raggydoll]

Thank you so much for sharing, that was very valuable information. I think her deck has beautiful illustrations and I really appreciate that the motives (animals, plants etc) are from UK, since I’m from Scandinavia. Often these oracle decks contain flora and fauna that are very foreign to me so it gets harder to connect to them on a deeper level. I will say, however, that despite there only being one hours time difference between UK and Sweden, the climate and the seasons are still quite a bit different. And I believe this is why I have struggled to work with these moon cards. I have tried featuring them on a shelf and switching them out each month, but there were so many months where the text and the picture did not resonate with what I was experiencing. Where I live we have winter for a really long time (and the town I grew up in had snow falling only two weeks ago!). That’s also why the Celtic wheel of the year doesn’t resonate with me for the most part. So I think that everyone will have to try for themselves to see how well these moon descriptions fit. It really isn’t universal. If you live in a tempered climate then chances are you’ll really struggle to work with them in a calendar way (as an oracle, maybe. Though I don’t tend to use the whole deck as an oracle - only the animal cards). 

 

I really wish the guidebook had more information because this is not a deck I connect with on an intuitive level. I like to work with specific cards from it but I generally never use the deck as a whole. I would love to hear about other people’s experiences. I have no idea if I’m the only one who feels this way. That may well be true. But I will say that I have not given up on this deck. It feels special and I’m drawn to it, so I keep taking it out even if it’s just to  look through the images or select a card to use in a ritual.

[RavenOfSummer]

I understand your feelings, @Raggydoll. I feel the same way about wanting more from the guidebook. I think this deck is very personal to the creator which is wonderful, but it also makes it perhaps more difficult as a user without having more background on what those personal connections are for her. I think that's part of why I've struggled to work with it as well even though I love the idea of the deck and find it beautiful. And I even say that as someone who does work with the Celtic Wheel of the Year. In particular I have wanted to connect more with the moon cards in the deck, and perhaps having this additional background from her will help me with that. In general I'm with you, Raggydoll- it's a deck I haven't given up on and feel I still want to try to connect with more, but I see it more as a collection of ritual/altar cards and wanting to choose certain cards to work with, as opposed to an oracle. I think there's still a chance I might let my copy go at some point, although I'm not there yet.

Edited May 13, 2019 by RavenOfSummer

[ilweran]

I've just ordered this deck after having my eye on it for a while, so interesting to read your opinions on it. I guess I'll see what I make of it soon!

[RavenOfSummer]

7 minutes ago, ilweran said:

I've just ordered this deck after having my eye on it for a while, so interesting to read your opinions on it. I guess I'll see what I make of it soon!

I hope you love it, @ilweran! As I said I'm still hopeful for building a greater connection with mine. It may just be that I need to put more time into working with it. Though like I said I do wish there was more to the guidebook. Please let us know how like it once you get yours!

[Flaxen]

I must admit that I use mine more for my altar than as an actual oracle. 

Thanks for sharing the creator’s thoughts on the moon cards. It was interesting to read her perspective as the guidebook is not very detailed. The art is beautiful though.

 

I’m in the U.K. too but even so the seasonal elements of the Wheel of the Year can vary depending on where you are. Here in the south of England, the signs of Beltane are always a bit earlier than the traditional May 1st date and the first frost of winter is later. Like you, @Raggydoll, I adapt a bit to what’s happening in nature around me. 

[ilweran]

My deck arrived today, it is rather lovely! First impressions from looking through the cards (apart from the moon cards) was that a lot of it looked familiar from the Greenwood, Celtic Shaman's Pack and Anieth Nature Tarot. Not read the book yet, so I don't know if the artists intent matches up with my current associations, if they're completely different it will be interesting!

 

The moon cards will need a closer look.

[RavenOfSummer]

On 5/14/2019 at 1:54 AM, Flaxen said:

I must admit that I use mine more for my altar than as an actual oracle. 

Thanks for sharing the creator’s thoughts on the moon cards. It was interesting to read her perspective as the guidebook is not very detailed. The art is beautiful though.

 

I’m in the U.K. too but even so the seasonal elements of the Wheel of the Year can vary depending on where you are. Here in the south of England, the signs of Beltane are always a bit earlier than the traditional May 1st date and the first frost of winter is later. Like you, @Raggydoll, I adapt a bit to what’s happening in nature around me. 

This seems to be a theme with a lot of us using them primarily as altar cards! And agreed, the cycles of the year do vary so much even over short distances. I think that's one of the things I admire so much about the creator of this deck, the way she had built such a close, personal relationship with the land around her. That relationship really is her practice. The depth of her connection is something I would love to emulate for sure.

[RavenOfSummer]

19 minutes ago, ilweran said:

My deck arrived today, it is rather lovely! First impressions from looking through the cards (apart from the moon cards) was that a lot of it looked familiar from the Greenwood, Celtic Shaman's Pack and Anieth Nature Tarot. Not read the book yet, so I don't know if the artists intent matches up with my current associations, if they're completely different it will be interesting!

 

The moon cards will need a closer look.

So glad it arrived, ilweran! Exciting! I sadly don't have the Greenwood or Celtic Shaman's Pack, but I do have and love the Anieth Nature Tarot, and from what I know of all of those decks I agree this one would work very well with any of them, and takes a similar approach. I do think the moon cards are probably the most unique aspect of the deck, and after reading what she wrote about them posted above I feel I have a greater understanding of their uniqueness. Please continue to keep us posted on your thoughts as you begin working with it!

[ilweran]

Finally did a first quick reading with it!

 

I shouldn't have put it in the same box as the Greenwood, I think they're ganging up on me. I need to focus on my Greenwood study (that now sort of includes the Anieth Nature Tarot and the Green Wheel Oracle along with the Celtic Shaman's Pack...)

 

I have an urge to identify all the plants in the deck, a quick flick through the book gave the impression that they're not mentioned much if at all.

[Raggydoll]

14 hours ago, ilweran said:

Finally did a first quick reading with it!

 

I shouldn't have put it in the same box as the Greenwood, I think they're ganging up on me. I need to focus on my Greenwood study (that now sort of includes the Anieth Nature Tarot and the Green Wheel Oracle along with the Celtic Shaman's Pack...)

 

I have an urge to identify all the plants in the deck, a quick flick through the book gave the impression that they're not mentioned much if at all.

The book does not go into symbolism or details, just basic keywords. I really wish it was more in depth. 

[ilweran]

Having used this deck a few times now, with the Moon cards I'm focusing on the Ogham connections as a way in to understanding them, and, as the artist suggests, find my own understanding.

[RavenOfSummer]

On 5/24/2019 at 4:23 AM, ilweran said:

Having used this deck a few times now, with the Moon cards I'm focusing on the Ogham connections as a way in to understanding them, and, as the artist suggests, find my own understanding.

@ilweran, sorry for the late response to your post! This is something I will have to look into, as I haven't done much in the way of learning Ogham although I have a couple of Ogham based decks that I got hoping to learn (Nigel Jackson's Celtic Oracle and Mickie Mueller's Voice of the Trees). Thanks for sharing your approach!

 

Edited June 16, 2019 by RavenOfSummer

[RavenOfSummer]

I just shared this over in this month's Lunar Group Reading thread, but wanted to share here to further our discussion...I just saw a post from Danielle about the coming full moon, which she calls the Spiral Moon. I really connected with her description: 

 

"The Spiral Moon is waxing to full overnight.
This is the card of sensual love. It speaks of intoxicating passion and deep tenderness, and also of the pain and rawness of grief. It contains the call to deepen connections to yourself or others through a process of peeling back the layers and spiralling to the heart of things.
Time to dance the labyrinth! 💚"

 

 

[ilweran]

1 hour ago, RavenOfSummer said:

@ilweran, sorry for the late response to your post! This is something I will have to look into, as I haven't done much in the way of learning Ogham although I have a couple of Ogham based decks that I got hoping to learn (Nigel Jackson's Celtic Oracle and Mickie Mueller's Voice of the Trees). Thanks for sharing your approach!

 

@RavenOfSummer I have Nigel Jackson's Celtic Oracle (I love his art! Also have his Rune Cards), along with a couple* of other Ogham oracles (The Colin Murray one, the Greenman Tree Oracle, Caitlin Matthews Ogham sticks, and I think the one with art by Peter Pracownik). Never really did much with them, but this seems an opportunity, especially as the Anieth Nature Tarot also uses them.

 

*Reading this back I realise I may need to explain I mean 'couple' in the Welsh way - a few rather than two.

Edited June 16, 2019 by ilweran

[RavenOfSummer]

10 minutes ago, ilweran said:

@RavenOfSummer I have Nigel Jackson's Celtic Oracle (I love his art! Also have his Rune Cards), along with a couple of other Ogham oracles (The Colin Murray one, the Greenman Tree Oracle, Caitlin Matthews Ogham sticks, and I think the one with art by Peter Pracownik). Never really did much with them, but this seems an opportunity, especially as the Anieth Nature Tarot also uses them.

Yes!! It's something I definitely want to spend more time on. And agreed, love Nigel Jackson's art 😊

[ilweran]

It's been a while. I'm still using the deck, I bought a diary last year and I've been making notes about each moon card each time there's a full moon (obviously the dates aren't syncing now, but that's ok). When I get a moment, and I don't get many these days, I'll choose an animal card to look at and write my thoughts on it, have a mooch about online to see if anything interesting crops up. I don't think it's a deck to rush.

[RavenOfSummer]

56 minutes ago, ilweran said:

It's been a while. I'm still using the deck, I bought a diary last year and I've been making notes about each moon card each time there's a full moon (obviously the dates aren't syncing now, but that's ok). When I get a moment, and I don't get many these days, I'll choose an animal card to look at and write my thoughts on it, have a mooch about online to see if anything interesting crops up. I don't think it's a deck to rush.

I'm so glad you revived this thread, @ilweran! I love that you've been writing your observations each full moon. I've been doing something kind of similar in that I now have a dedicated journal, separate from my regular everyday journal, that I write in only for each new moon, full moon, and Wheel of the Year festival.

 

I've recently been working with the moon cards from this deck as altar cards for the lunar cycles. Your post reminded me to go find Danielle Barlow's (the creator's) dates for this year's moons that she always shares. Copied and pasted from her Facebook page:

 

My year turns on the Winter Solstice, so the first moon of the year is the one that falls first after midwinter. This year the first full moon fell on the 10th January. The following dates are for the FULL MOONS. There is no Singing Moon this year, but the Blood Moon falls on All Hallows Eve, which is particularly potent 🙂

 

Quiet Moon : January 10th 2020
Rising Moon : February 9th 2020
Travellers Moon : March 9th 2020
Birthing Moon : April 8th 2020
Potent Moon : May 7th 2020
Water Moon : June 5th 2020
Spiral Moon : July 5th 2020
Weavers Moon : August 3rd 2020
Harvest Moon : September 2nd 2020
Hearth Moon : October 1st 2020
* Singing Moon : not this year*
Blood Moon : October 31st 2020
Cold Moon : November 30th 2020

 

 

She also talks in the post, as she has before, about how this is her own particular tradition drawn from different sources including her own inspiration from speaking with the land, and she encourages everyone to listen to the land around them in developing their own traditions and practices. Interesting that for her this year's Harvest Moon is the one on September 2nd; in most traditions the Harvest Moon is whatever full moon falls closest to the Autumn Equinox, so according to those traditions the Harvest Moon would be October 1st this year (the Equinox falling on September 22nd this year).

 

I hadn't realized we had a Samhain Full Moon coming this year! Wow!!!

[ilweran]

13 minutes ago, RavenOfSummer said:

 

I hadn't realized we had a Samhain Full Moon coming this year! Wow!!!

That is good to know!

 

I did contact her to ask if all the plants shown are significant and she said they were and that she left that out of the booklet as you're supposed to build your associations through using the deck. Some of the cards fit in nicely with the Greenwood Tarot (perhaps not completely surprising as I believe she has used the WildWood) so that gives me a bit of a head start on those cards! On the one hand I like that she leaves so much open to your knowledge and interpretations,  on the other hand I get bogged down trying to figure out what a little symbol means or something.

 

Must admit I don't get it out for quick readings!