A four-part mythic journey through Moon, Justice, Hermit, and Empress

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
—Joseph Campbell

Phase I: Descent into the Deep (The Moon)

Theme: Surrendering to the Unseen
Archetype: The Dreamer, the Intuitive, the Shadow-Walker

You begin submerged. The world above is unclear. But the water sings truths the mind forgets.

Prompt Set:

1. What am I sensing, dreaming, or intuiting lately that I haven’t yet named?
2. What illusions or inherited stories feel like they are beginning to dissolve?
3. What does my inner wildness want me to listen to right now?
4. If I stop trying to “figure it out” and instead feel my way forward, what do I notice?

Ritual Suggestion:
Light a candle beside a bowl of water. Gaze into the water and write down any symbols, images, or feelings that surface. Let the Moon speak in metaphor.

Phase II: The Mirror and the Blade (Justice)

Theme: Alignment with Inner Truth
Archetype: The Keeper of Integrity, the Sacred Judge

You rise from the depths to face your reflection. Not to judge yourself—but to remember your vow to truth.

Prompt Set:

1. Where in my life do I feel out of alignment—however subtly?
2. What internal contracts or promises have I made that need reviewing?
3. What does “truth” mean to me—not as a concept, but as a lived experience?
4. What am I ready to forgive in myself so I can move forward in balance?

Ritual Suggestion:
Write a letter from your future self—the one who has fully integrated her truth. What does she remind you of? What has she let go of?

Phase III: Lighting the Path (The Hermit)

Theme: Becoming the Way-Shower
Archetype: The Lantern Bearer, the Inner Guide

You climb the hill alone—not to escape, but to see clearly. And in your seeing, you become a beacon.

Prompt Set:

1. When have I followed my own path, even when others didn’t understand?
2. What wisdom have I gathered that others might need to hear?
3. How might I hold light for others without extinguishing my own flame?
4. What does it mean for me to be both a seeker and a guide?

Ritual Suggestion:
Imagine the lantern you carry. What powers it? Who sees it? Draw or describe it in your journal.

Phase IV: Birthing the New (The Empress)

Theme: Creation, Nurturing, Emergence
Archetype: The Mother of Life, the Earth Dreamer

You return from the heights, not empty-handed, but full—with something ready to be born.

Prompt Set:

1. What creative impulse is growing inside me right now?
2. What does my soul want to bring into form this season?
3. How can I nurture my ideas without rushing them?
4. What cycles am I honoring—and what rhythms am I being asked to trust?

Ritual Suggestion:
Place your hands on your belly (literal or metaphorical) and speak aloud: “I am a vessel of becoming. I trust what is growing within me.” Then write down the name of what you are ready to birth.

Final Reflection: The Cycle Continues

End the sequence by reflecting on how these four archetypes live in you simultaneously. You are the dreamer, the truth-teller, the guide, and the creator—all at once, always in motion.

Closing Prompt:
What is the deeper story these four cards are helping me write about my life right now?

The Spread as a Whole: A Myth in Four Movements

1. The Descent – Moon: you enter the mystery, surrendering logic for inner knowing.
2. The Reckoning – Justice: you weigh old scripts, reclaim your truth.
3. The Lightwork – Hermit: you become the seeker who becomes the guide.
4. The Creation – Empress: you birth a new reality, seeded in soul.

This is a soul-cycle spread—mythic, archetypal, and utterly feminine in its rhythm. It isn’t about chasing answers. It’s about aligning with inner truths, becoming the light, and allowing what’s within you to grow into the world.

If there is a subtle message woven into the cards, it could be this:

“Sink into the mystery. Trust your truth. Light the way. And when it’s time—create.”