Banshee

Heed my warning, dear child, for what I hold is far from unsung lullabies. Swallow a nail and you can expect bleeding from within.

bad omens, wrath

A banshee is a fairy woman from Irish folklore who heralds the death of a family member by wailing, shrieking, or keening. Some believe banshees are the spirits of young women who have been brutally murdered. These spirits become banshees so that they can warn other women when faced with a similar threat.

It is more common to hear that a banshee is a woman who is intensely grieving the passing of a loved one and that she has become eternally lost in sadness. Nevertheless, a banshee’s cry is a bad omen and one should take caution when she appears.

In a reading a banshee’s cry also means death but this death is not physical; it is a symbolic one. You are facing an ending. However, this will not be easy and you will still mourn the loss.

This ending is long overdue and the powers that be can no longer wait for you to let go. The choice to end your situation may no longer be your choice. You’ve rejected change but you can’t avoid it. You’re holding on to something that no longer benefits you; perhaps a job that you hate, a relationship that drains you, a place where you do not feel safe. Know that it is time to let go.

It is important to remember that every ending also brings a new beginning. Moving on makes space for new energy to come into our lives. Don’t get caught in the mourning process for longer than is necessary. It can be easy to mourn the loss but this prevents you from seeing the doors that open up for you.

Reversed: Banshee brings the message of wrath when seen in reverse. The powers have brought you this card as a warning. Wrath is a dangerous energy for those who have it. You may think your anger is hurting whoever it’s directed towards but anger only poisons the spirit of the one who is feeling it. Holding a grudge is the equivalent of a banshee, someone so lost in heartache they only speak of more tragedy. You can choose to hold on to anger and be reborn into something sinister or you can let your anger go and be reborn, knowing the powers of pure and unconditional love.