Compost. Art by Nisse Lovendahl, from The Herbal and Spiced Culinary Tarot. Compost is one of the

Compost. Art by Nisse Lovendahl, from The Herbal and Spiced Culinary Tarot.

Compost is one of the most eloquent analogies for death possible. Once organic matter exists beyond its purpose on this plane, you add it to your compost heap so that it can contribute to something new. There is an inevitability in items ending up in your waste bin, but it doesn’t have to be the end. A new cycle can begin, with the seedlings benefitting from all that has transpired in the past.

Compost indicates that you are nearing the end of a period of time in your life, and that maybe it’s time to shut the door on an aspect of your being that is no longer serving you. This development may be a sudden and unexpected change, but the growth that awaits you will far surpass your current expectations. At this pivotal moment of your existence, consider how you can alchemize the lessons of your past to reinvent yourself—spread some compost on your seedlings and watch the garden of your life cultivate.

Food: Learning how to work with your constraints is an important part of being a good cook. Remove excess clutter, whether it be ingredients you no longer use or equipment that is taking up too much space. Learning to do more with less will help you to let go of things you have clutched onto beyond their usefulness.

Herb: Linden is famously described by herbalist Katja Smith as “a hug in a mug.” You’ve likely made it to this point in your journey through soldiering on and toughening yourself to the world. Perhaps by allowing yourself to soften, you can let any grief pass through you and for a new version of yourself to rise from the remains.