There’s a rhythm to this Advent journey — each day revealing a new facet of the path you’re walking. Some days move you outward, toward wonder and possibility; others draw you inward, inviting steadiness, clarity, and truth.
Today’s message meets you right in that inner terrain. If the previous days have encouraged trust in the unfolding, Day 6 offers something essential for the adventure ahead: the courage to protect your peace.
Card of the Day: Milk Thistle — Peaceful Warrior
from The Herbal Astrology Oracle by Adriana Ayales
Milk Thistle arrives with a clear, grounded reminder: your peace is worth defending.
Themes from the card include:
Peaceful Warrior, Shield, Truth Keeper, Shelter, Sanctuary, Justice.
And its shadow expressions:
Aggression, Impulsiveness, Harshness, Competition, Overdoing, Gossip, Self-Sabotage.
Ruled by Mars and the Moon, this plant embodies a rare blend of fierce protection and soft nourishment — the lunar “milk” and the Martian “thistle.” It holds both gentleness and grit.
A badger appears on the card as a guide, symbolizing protector energy in Native American tradition — medicine that acts quickly, instinctively, and without apology. Badger medicine belongs to those willing to defend what is sacred, including their own well-being.
And this is where today’s message lands:
Boundaries are part of your path.
You’re being asked to choose yourself first — not in a reactive way, but in the way a peaceful warrior does: with clarity, groundedness, and truth. Many sensitive souls were conditioned to stay open at all times, to make themselves easy, agreeable, accessible. But Milk Thistle is here saying:
Your peace matters more than other people’s expectations.
Choosing yourself might feel new. It might feel uncomfortable. And it may surprise those who’ve grown accustomed to your openness. But this card affirms that your boundaries are not only valid — they’re part of your becoming. They are how you stay aligned on this unfolding path.
A little cosmic note:
Today is Saturn’s day — Saturday — the planet of structure, integrity, and the sacred “no.” Let Saturn and Milk Thistle work together to help you reinforce what supports you and release what drains you.
The invitation:
Stand in your lane. Hold your center. Tend your sanctuary.
Call on Milk Thistle and Badger whenever you need courage, protection, or a reminder that your inner ground is yours to guard.
☕ If you’d like to support this Advent series, you can buy me a coffee here:
💛 A Soft Invitation: Rooted Word Circle Returns December 10
As this Advent journey unfolds, many readers have shared how grounding it feels to have a daily moment of reflection. If you’re craving a deeper way to listen inward — to your own truth, your own light — I’d love to welcome you into Rooted Word Circle.
This is my monthly guided writing ritual: a soft 30-minute gathering to settle your body, open your inner voice, and write in community. No pressure, no performance — just a quiet space to hear yourself again.
This month’s theme is Return to Your Light, arriving just in time for these long winter nights.
🕯️ Rooted Word Circle: Return to Your Light
Wednesday, December 10
12:00 p.m. Noon ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Live on Zoom — $10 — 30 minutes
We’ll ground together, follow a gentle reflective prompt, write in silence, and close by weaving a community poem from everyone’s words. It’s intimate. It’s nourishing. And your voice truly belongs in this space.
🌿 If you’d like to explore The Herbal Astrology Oracle deck…
Here’s the link to the deck used today (thank you so much for supporting my work in this way):
Herbal Astrology Oracle (Affiliate Link)
Wandering onward,
Sam
Wandering Willow 🌿
Reconnecting Through Nature
