Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me behold
~ William Shakespeare

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see’st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consum’d with that which it was nourish’d by.
This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

Truth be Told, It’s Inevitable
~ Kara Knickerbocker

We will drift apart
to find sleep
in different rooms
with a fan humming
against your ear,
a waning sun
still holding me.

Welcome to November, and a new feature! Each month, I’ll be doing a Monthly Overview. This draw is designed as an overview/preview of the month—what to be aware of as you move into and through the month.

With two Major Arcana cards, expect significant shifts on multiple levels in November.

The Giants’ Tarot, Raven Kaldera

Active Influence: The Nornir/Wheel of Fortune. Much of what is happening is beyond your control, or even your influence. That doesn’t mean you get to sit by and wait for things to happen; it means that this is the time for you to do your part and prepare for the changes to come. The Universe is moving and changing; you need to put your house in order (literally and figuratively) and get ready for the new circumstances. You are not without power in these situations; while you can’t control what is happening, you can choose how you deal with what comes your way. This is not the time to crumple—this is the time to make decisions and take action.

Hidden Influence: Hela/Death. Just in case you missed it, you’re not in control—in this case, what is ending may not be your choice, and the manner of the conclusion may not be to your liking. But it is happening, and you need to truly detach from it, release, relinquish. Those situations and relationships are not serving your highest good, and you need to clear space for people and places that are healthier and more supportive. It’s important to mourn the loss, but don’t get so caught up in mourning what is lost that you miss the new opportunities coming your way.

Rune: Yr/Focus. With so much going on, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and distracted. Do what you need to do to maintain focus on what’s truly important: meditate, pray, exercise, create, be with loved ones, sing, laugh, dance, eat delicious food—all of the things which bring joy to your life and peace to your heart. There is a great deal to be done, but you do not have to work every minute. Realistically, you can’t work every minute; you need rest and re-creation in order to do your best work. Do the appointed thing at the appointed time, and make sure that time includes time for joy and love.

Significant changes are coming, and it’s up to you how to deal with them. Take care of yourself and those around you; whatever comes, it’s easier to deal with as a family, tribe, or community.