In Vedic tradition, soma is considered the bliss principle. It is called the nectar of immortality, a sweet, ethereal resin that descends from the heavens to blossom inspiration and possibility. The primary Vedic principle necessary for soma to exist is that of agni, its counterpart. If soma is water, agni is fire. The flame is necessary for transformation, light, and growth. It is the sun principle to soma’s moon principle, both requiring the other in order to generate possibility and manifestation. New harmonies and secret third things are generated from their dance.
In Vamadeva Shastri’s 2018 article, “Soma, the Bliss Principle in Vedic Knowledge,” Shastri writes, “to contact this soma principle, we must first love what we are doing and have a genuine interest in our practice and teaching. We must be guided by inspiration and aspiration, seeking both to grow in our own being and share what we learn respectfully with others.” There is a natural connectedness in finding ways to love what we are doing, which in turn unveils a love of who we are and the visions we’re stewarding.
This month, the energy is rife with the creation sequences of the soma-agni axis. The three tarot cards I pulled are the 7, 8, and 9 of Pentacles; chronological cards of the same suit pulled in a descending order. There’s a peek into manifestation magic here. April is a month for rapid, immense, and fulfilling growth.
In tarot, the pentacles represent the earth element, which we can acknowledge as the bridge point between soma (which descends from above) and the flame, or agni (which ascends from below). We are the earth, the operating line between these two vital creative energies. We get to choose how to engage with them in our relationships, our work, our craft, our daily habits. If we can find ways to enjoy what we are doing, or simply find ways to prioritize more of what we genuinely – genuinely! – enjoy, we can feel ourselves anchoring into the grounding, fruitful abundance of the 9 of Pentacles. From there our vision of love is seeded into our present experience. There is more laughter, more room to share, more capacity to receive. Honestly, I think this card is queer af, and that deserves to be mentioned. There is authentic expression and grounded bliss in simply existing and flourishing. Worldbuilders, this one is for you.
We have experienced a world with more joy and creativity with the 9 of Pentacles. We’ve seen it. From here we are beginning to understand what structures and practices are necessary in order to have space for this level of fulfillment and expression. And now, with the 8 of Pentacles, we get down to the nitty gritty work of singing those structures into being. We build the foundation, measuring with the visions of pleasure and prosperity freshly stamped on our hearts. And then we build the furniture, the kitchen table, the garden fence. This card is devotional. It speaks to longevity and the beauty of a process unfolding step by step, brick by brick, heartbeat by heartbeat. There is love imbued in each moment of creation, even the undesirable ones. There is a vision being stewarded, and that is a sacred and intentional act.
And now we find ourselves in the energy of the 7 of Pentacles, one that is filled with ongoing attunement to this new reality and faith in the ongoing unfolding of our vision. This card asks us to be patient, to have grace, to remember that sometimes good things take a while to emerge fully. There may be curveballs, or a loss of momentum. This is just how the energy moves sometimes. The only reason it’s hard for us to trust this is because a majority of us have been programmed with a productivity-rigged mindset. If we don’t see results immediately, if “progress” is slowed or not materializing just yet, our minds are prone to spirals along the lines of “I must have messed up, what was I thinking, this can’t be right, I have to abandon ship, I’m not capable of this great change.” And yet, you are. You’re already doing it. So savor the time it takes for your vision to continue emerging earthside. Relish the fears and challenges that well up in your inner world as road signs, saying , “you are doing it! You are making this big and beautiful change! You know you are doing it because you are being given the opportunity to release this old energy! The discomfort is a charm, a boon, a badge of honor for your courageous work!”
April has the capacity to help us passionately claim our desires with courage. We are able to engage directly with the energies of creation, to play with desire and time, and to explore a new process of manifestation, as listed below:
Step 1 (9 of Pentacles): Seek enjoyment in the ways that are meaningful to you. Find the places where, against all odds, it’s already sitting proudly within your heart. Witness how far you’ve come and how capable you are. Lean deeper into what is vital for you to experience more of this. Inspiration (soma) is your North Star.
Step 2 (8 of Pentacles): Get to work in continuing to create structures and practices that deepen and allow for more of this inspiration, creativity, and enjoyment. Clear the old. Nurture the new with curiosity and a steady hand. Plant more seeds of what you want. Devote your heart to the present tasks.
Step 3 (7 of Pentacles): Surrender to the process of this new garden you’ve planted. Tend to your seeds and sprouts. Trust it’s all unfolding as it should, that everything takes the time it takes. If you feel yourself spiraling because of your productivity conditioning, shift gears and find some merriment or softness. Curl up with someone or something you love. Grab a beverage and talk it out with your bestie. Find some live music. Be with the water or the trees. Process your experience out loud. It’s medicine.
In 2025, we are continuously being asked to dream bigger. To want more. To divest from the systems and structures that rely on our power to function, and to reinvest in ourselves, our visions, our hearts. This is community care. This is how portals open to true change and new beginnings.
You don’t need to be anywhere but where you are. Find yourself in the present moment and step boldly into the flame of possibility. Let the nectar of immortality drip down your chin, your chest, your thighs like honeyed moonlight, and remember your desire only requires your loving attention to emerge into being.
Have questions about your year, your dreams, your life? Write in to Beth Metal for a chance to have your question answered in the new Ask a Witch column. Beth will consult her oracles and draw from her own experience to offer spiritual advice for what ails, intrigues, or mystifies you. Write your questions in to askawitchmag@gmail.com or send some snail mail to Motif Magazine at 545 Pawtucket Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Beth is also available for private sessions and events through her website, www.nearbethexperience.com.
