Tarot and Nutrition Guidance for September

What comes to mind when you think of September? Refreshing, crisp air, pumpkins, and hayrides? A dread of the coldness ahead? The scheduling madness of a new school year? Or do you view it like New Year’s—a time to resent, renew, and recharge after the lazy (or hectic), hazy days of summer?

Whatever your reaction, the shift of seasons undoubtedly has an impact on you one way or another. I love September for a variety of reasons, but there is one that perhaps tops my list:

Harvest!

This magical time of year allows late summer tomatoes, summer squash, and green beans to coexist with winter squash and nascent pumpkins. I just met a farmer at my local market who initially described this as a “clash,” which I quickly corrected.

“It’s an intersection! A collaboration.”

He asked if he could use that.

The Seven of Pentacles is notably associated with the harvest, as the individual in the card examines the fruits of labor. But there’s deeper meaning to this examination which is perhaps less than all positive, as it presents us with challenges to consider.

I immediately think of a different card when I think of the enchanted harvest of September. Unlike Seven of Pentacles, it’s almost all good and can inform us of some things to do nutritionally, at least when it comes to herbs. All Tarot cards have herbal correspondences. In fact, this card is also my go-to when I think of an avatar for wellness in general.
Meet The Empress.

Without writing an entire thesis on The Empress (which one could), just look at the illustration. The Empress is always depicted as a mature female. This isn’t gender bias; when we speak of “male” and “female” in Tarot, we are talking about emotional energies. Illustrators often choose a relatable figure, though there are many now that use gender fluid images.

The “female” sits on a throne in many decks or stands in a field of flowers and other vegetative bounty. She is the Universal Mother incarnate, ruling compassionately over the abundance of nature. As such, she is related to nurturing and healing, mothering, and stewardship of Mother Earth.

As the Universal Mother, The Empress gives us the power to create and shape our own reality. In order to have the strength to do this, she calls upon us to honor our physical form with impeccable care, lavish attention and love—“because you’re worth it,” as they say in TV ads.

The Empress has a number of herbal allies for your consideration during the autumn season:

Milky Oat (Avena sativa): has been shown to improve cognition and response to stress¹

Burdock (Arctium lappa): Burdock is a liver powerhouse and has shown effectiveness in addressing hepatotoxicity induced by heavy metal exposure and acetaminophen use. Additional benefits include antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, anti-rheumatic, and anti-Alzheimer activity.²

Damiana (Turnera diffusa): has been widely studied for its antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and aphrodisiac activities³

Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis): also known as “female ginseng” for its ability to ameliorate premenstrual symptoms such as breast swelling and tenderness, mood swings, bloating and headache, and cramps, as well as for its similar effects on the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes⁴

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): Motherwort may have anxiolytic activity when combined with certain amino acids.⁵ Motherwort has been used traditionally in women’s health for reproductive health and as a natural sedative.

Rose (Rosa spp.): Rose petals contain several bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.⁶ It is often used as a natural skincare ingredient. Spiritually, rose may help one connect to divine love by increasing your vibrational frequency.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary is a DNA methylation adaptogen with potent anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Spiritually, it may help one achieve a feeling of sovereignty. A bonus is that its oil may help hair grow as effectively as 2% minoxidil!⁷

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Yarrow can play a significant role as a strong antioxidant and positively affects gastrointestinal inflammation while also protecting the liver. Yarrow can raise or decrease concentrations of certain medications, so be certain to contact a professional before using.⁸

Other than rosemary, rose (used in Middle Eastern desserts), and burdock root, which can be used in culinary preparations, please consult with an herbalist or nutritionist with herbal knowledge before adding capsules, teas, or tinctures randomly to your program. These are presented so you can have a productive conversation with that professional.

Healthwise in general, those of us who operate within a scarcity complex may experience issues such as restriction of movement due to pain because we feel “stuck.” We may also have a parenting issue where we never feel there is enough of anything, be it love, food, money, etc. Body and eating issues are often born from this place of chronic frustration and hopelessness.

Because The Empress is associated with abundance, she invites us to flip those scripts and step fully into our powerful bodies, knowing that there can be enough and there’s always hope.

Self-care reigns during September as we fortify ourselves for the winter months ahead. Play with the culinary herbal allies of The Empress and talk to a professional about incorporating medicinal preparations of the others if any of the benefits speak to you.

In health,

~Ally