A Mid-May Check-In
Mid-May has a particular kind of magic to it. The initial rush of spring has softened into something steadier, and the countryside feels like it’s exhaling into bloom. Hawthorn is frothing along the hedgerows, lilac is heavy with scent, and even if life feels busy, nature is quietly modelling a different rhythm: growth that happens in its own time.
This is the heart of Bealtaine season, when the land is alive with possibility. And this month’s New Moon in Taurus offers a gentle alignment as we reach the midpoint of the month. Taurus energy is earthy and deliberate. It reminds us that real change is rarely dramatic but built slowly, through small choices that create stability and security.
So consider this Rooted Renewal your mid-month touchstone. It’s not a call for reinvention or to start sprinting. Instead, it’s an invite to return to what’s nourishing and sustainable.
Hawthorn: the hero with the courage to grow slowly
In Irish and Celtic folklore, hawthorn is a tree of thresholds. It stands at the edge of fields and roadsides, marking boundaries and inviting respect. Its blossom is beautiful, but it’s also protective. Hawthorn teaches a kind of wisdom that can be easy to forget in modern life: we don’t have to force our way into growth. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is slow down enough to hear ourselves again.
If you’ve been pushing, overthinking, or trying to make everything happen at once, let hawthorn be your reminder that steady is a strategy. The bloom arrives because the roots have been quietly doing their work all along.
Tarot guidance for your rooted renewal
For this month’s check-in, I shuffled and drew with the theme of steady renewal. The Nine of Wands, Seven of Cups, and Ace of Pentacles came forward. Together, they offer a grounded, compassionate message.
9 of Wands: You’ve come a long way
The 9 of Wands speaks to resilience. It’s the card of the tired warrior, still standing, still trying, still showing up. If this card could speak, it would say: Of course you feel a bit guarded. Look at what you’ve been carrying!
In a well-being context, this is an invitation to honour your stamina without glorifying struggle. You don’t need to earn rest. Neither do you need to push through every feeling. You’re allowed to soften.
Mid-May reflection: Where are you still bracing for impact, even though the storm has passed?
7 of Cups: Too many options can be a kind of overwhelm
The 7 of Cups brings the fog of too many possibilities. This can show up as daydreaming, distraction, scrolling, over-planning, or constantly changing your mind. It is not a ‘bad’ card by any means. It simply points to a nervous system that’s trying to find certainty by exploring every door at once.
This is where Taurus energy helps. Taurus doesn’t need ten options. It needs one good choice, made slowly, and then nurtured with care.
Mid-May reflection: What are you entertaining that is draining your energy rather than feeding it?
Ace of Pentacles: Choose the seed that becomes security
The Ace of Pentacles is the gift of the earth. It’s the seed, the opportunity, the practical beginning that can grow into something real. But it asks for commitment and action.
In the context of Bealtaine, this is perfect. The land is fertile, but you still have to plant something, and once it’s nestled in the soil, it requires tending.
Mid-May reflection: What is one small, grounded step you could take this month that your future self will thank you for?
If these three tarot cards are a story, it might go like this: With the 9 of Wands, you’ve been strong for a long time. Now, with the 7 of Cups, you’re ready to stop scattering your energy and hiding in distraction. Your next step is supported by the Ace of Pentacles asking you to choose one grounded beginning that will benefit your future.
Rooted Renewal Check-In
If you’d like to try some simple practices for a Rooted Renewal check-In, you can do these in 20 minutes, or stretch them into a slow afternoon. The point is not perfection but to come back to yourself.
Practice 1: The Grounded Reset (10 minutes)
This is for the 9 of Wands part of you, the part that has been holding it together.
- Feet to floor. Stand or sit with both feet on the ground. Feel the contact points. Let your shoulders drop.
- Three slow breaths. Inhale through the nose for a count of four, exhale for a count of six. Do that three times.
- Name what is true. Quietly say (or write):
- What I am feeling is…
- What I need today is…
- What can wait is…
- One sensory anchor. Light a candle, hold a warm mug, step outside, or bring your attention to a scent (lilac if you have it, or any comforting fragrance). Let your body register: I am here. I am safe enough in this moment.
If you want to weave in hawthorn, you might place a small found blossom (or simply a picture of hawthorn) nearby as a symbol of protection and steady growth.
Practice 2: The Calm Money check-in (5 to 10 minutes)
This is for the 7 of Cups energy, when your mind is spinning through possibilities and worries.
Money is deeply emotional for many of us, and a Taurus-aligned approach offers stability and self-trust.
Try this gentle three-step check-in:
- One fact: Look at your bank balance or your most recent transactions. No judgement, just information. Give gratitude that you could afford them.
- One choice: Choose one small supportive action you can take today. Examples:
- cancel a subscription you don’t use
- move €5 or €10 into savings
- set a reminder for a bill
- plan one low-cost nourishing treat for the week
- One intention: Write a single sentence that feels steady, not forced. For example:
- I am building security one small choice at a time.
- I can be both supported and responsible.
- I choose calm, clear stewardship of my resources.
This is how the Ace of Pentacles works; tiny actions that become a foundation.
Practice 3: A Calm Home = A Calm Nervous System (5 to 10 minutes)
Your environment speaks to your body. When your space is chaotic, your nervous system often stays on alert. When your space is tended, it’s easier to unclench.
Choose one small area to reset. Keep it simple:
- clear one surface (kitchen counter, bedside table, desk)
- open a window for fresh air
- wipe it down slowly, with presence
- add one beautiful thing (a flower, a stone, a candle, a bowl for your keys)
As you do it, ask yourself: What would make this space feel more supportive of the person I’m becoming? This is hawthorn medicine too: boundaries, thresholds, and protection. A clear surface can be a quiet way of saying, I deserve ease.
Bealtaine is a lovely invitation to participate in life, to notice the blossom and feel the warmth returning. So allow yourself to be a living creature again, not just a list of tasks. Over the next few days, go outside if you can – even for a few minutes. Look for hawthorn or lilac, or any sign of the season doing what it does best. Know that you are allowed to bloom at the pace that keeps you centred. Place your hand on your heart and say: “Slow is safe. Steady is sacred.” You might also like to quietly set an intention: “This month, I am rooting into . . .”
Wishing you the softness & warmth of May. I’ll be back in June with another seasonal reflection.
Until then, bloom gently!
Main Photo by Julie Embleton, Deck: The Earth Woman Tarot by Tarn Ellis
About the Author: Julie Embleton
