As November deepens and the landscape grows quiet, we find ourselves in that sacred pause between autumn's release and winter's rest. The earth beneath our feet has completed another growing season. The harvest is gathered. The fields lie fallow, rich with the composted remains of what came before.

This is the season of embodied gratitude—not the performative kind that rushes through a list of blessings, but the deep, rooted appreciation that comes from truly feeling what sustains us. In tarot, this energy lives in the suit of Pentacles: earthy, tangible, grounded in the physical world.

November's Taurus energy (even beyond the full moon) reminds us that gratitude isn't just a mental exercise—it's a felt experience in the body. It's the warmth of a favorite blanket, the nourishment of a good meal, the solid ground beneath our feet. This ritual invites you to drop into that embodied knowing and honor what truly supports you.

Why Earth Energy Matters Now

We live in a culture that glorifies constant motion, endless productivity, and perpetual growth. But the earth teaches a different wisdom. After the harvest comes the rest. After the expansion comes the consolidation. After the doing comes the being.

The Taurus archetype—steady, sensual, and deeply connected to the material world—offers us permission to slow down and appreciate what is rather than constantly reaching for what's next. This isn't complacency; it's wisdom. You can't build anything lasting without a solid foundation.

In tarot, the Pentacles suit embodies this earth wisdom:

• The stability of the Four of Pentacles
• The generosity of the Six of Pentacles
• The patience of the Seven of Pentacles
• The abundance of the Nine and Ten of Pentacles

These cards remind us that true wealth isn't just financial—it's the richness of a life well-lived, relationships that nourish us, work that feels meaningful, and a body that carries us through our days.

Herbal Allies for Grounding

Before we dive into the tarot spread, let's talk about the plants that support this work. Herbs have been used for centuries to help us anchor into our bodies and connect with earth energy.

Rosemary brings clarity and remembrance. It helps us recall what we're truly grateful for, especially when stress clouds our perspective. Place fresh rosemary on your altar or burn dried rosemary as incense during your ritual.

Mugwort deepens intuition and helps us access wisdom beyond the thinking mind. If you're feeling disconnected from your body or your knowing, mugwort can help you find your way back.

Lavender soothes the nervous system and creates space for genuine appreciation to arise. When we're anxious or overwhelmed, gratitude becomes another item on our to-do list rather than a felt experience. Lavender helps us soften.

Cedar is profoundly grounding. Indigenous peoples have used cedar for purification and protection for thousands of years. Its earthy scent anchors us in the present moment and connects us to ancient wisdom.

Chamomile brings gentle comfort and reminds us that we are held, even when life feels uncertain. It's the herbal equivalent of a warm hug.

Choose one or more of these allies to work with during your ritual. You might create a simple tea, burn loose herbs on charcoal, or simply place the fresh or dried plant material on your altar where you can see and smell it.

Creating Sacred Space

Earth rituals don't require elaborate setups. In fact, simplicity often serves us better. Here's what you need:

• Your tarot deck
• A candle (brown, green, or gold work beautifully)
• Your chosen herbal ally
• A few stones or crystals (clear quartz, smoky quartz, moss agate, or even stones from your yard)
• A small dish of salt or soil
• Optional: A piece of bread, fruit, or chocolate to share with the earth

Find a comfortable spot where you won't be disturbed. If possible, sit on the floor or ground rather than a chair—let your body make contact with what supports it.

Arrange your items in a way that feels natural. There's no "right" configuration. Trust your instincts.

Light your candle and take three deep breaths, feeling your sit bones or feet making contact with the ground. Notice the support beneath you. You are held.

If you're working with herbs, take a moment to smell them, touch them, and thank them for their medicine.

The Gratitude + Grounding Spread

This five-card spread creates a map of your current relationship with stability, abundance, and gratitude. Draw the cards slowly, pausing between each one to really feel into the question.

Card 1: Root - "What currently grounds me?" Place this card at the bottom of your spread. This represents your foundation right now—what actually keeps you stable, even if you don't always recognize it.

Card 2: Nourishment - "What sustains me?" Place this card slightly above and to the left. This shows you where you're receiving nourishment—physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational.

Card 3: Gratitude - "What blessing am I overlooking?" Place this card above and to the right, level with Card 2. Often, we take our greatest gifts for granted. This card illuminates what deserves your appreciation.

Card 4: Integration - "How can I embody this gratitude?" Place this card in the center, above Cards 2 and 3. Gratitude becomes powerful when it moves from thought into action, from knowing into being. This card shows you how.

Card 5: Harvest - "What abundance is mine to claim?" Place this card at the top. This represents the gift that's ready for you to receive—the blessing that's already here, waiting for your recognition.

Reading Your Spread

As you turn over each card, resist the urge to immediately consult the guidebook. First, simply notice:

• What's your gut reaction to this card?
• What colors, symbols, or figures draw your attention?
• Does the card feel like a confirmation or a surprise?
• What emotions arise as you look at it?

Then consider the card's traditional meanings, but filter them through the lens of the question. A card that typically signals challenge might, in the context of "what grounds me," reveal that difficulty has actually made you stronger.

Pay special attention to any Pentacles cards that appear—they're speaking directly to the themes of this ritual. But don't discount the other suits. Sometimes water (Cups) nourishes us, fire (Wands) sustains our passion, or air (Swords) grounds us in truth.

Earth Element Ritual Actions

After you've read your spread, take these actions to seal the ritual and honor the earth element:

Touch the earth. If you're inside, touch your stones or the dish of soil. If you're outside, place your hands on the ground. Speak your gratitude aloud: "Thank you for holding me. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for sustaining me."

Make an offering. Take your bread, fruit, or chocolate outside and leave it for the earth and its creatures. As you place it down, say: "As I have received, I give back."

Create a gratitude anchor. Choose one stone from your altar to carry with you for the rest of November. Each time you touch it, let it remind you of what the cards revealed. This is your physical anchor to the ritual's wisdom.

Journal your insights. Write down what each card revealed, but more importantly, write how it made you feel. Gratitude lives in the body, not just the mind.

Living the Practice

This ritual isn't meant to be a one-time event. The real magic happens when you carry these insights into your daily life.

For the next week, practice embodied gratitude:

• Before meals, take three breaths and thank the earth that grew your food
• When you walk, feel your feet on the ground and acknowledge its support
• At night, place your hand on your heart and thank your body for carrying you through the day
• When you receive abundance (of any kind), pause and feel it rather than immediately moving to the next thing

Return to your spread whenever you need grounding. The cards will continue to reveal new layers of meaning as November unfolds.

The Gift of Enough

Perhaps the deepest teaching of earth energy is the concept of "enough." In a culture addicted to more, the earth reminds us that there are seasons for growth and seasons for rest, times for expansion and times for consolidation.

Right now, in November's quieting, we're invited to recognize that we have enough, we are enough, we've done enough. This doesn't mean we stop growing or striving—it means we pause to appreciate the ground we're standing on before taking the next step.

The Taurus archetype whispers: "You are worthy simply because you exist. Your value isn't determined by your productivity. You belong to the earth, and the earth claims you as her own."

Let this ritual remind you of that belonging. Let it ground you in gratitude not as a spiritual bypassing of difficulty, but as a genuine recognition of what holds you, sustains you, and blesses you—even in the midst of challenge.

What supports you right now? What nourishment are you receiving? Draw your cards and let the earth speak.