Time Management

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #JanJourney26 Embark to Renewal Challenge
The Arrival Prompt for January 14th : Expansion
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Ramses Tarot - Three of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of teamwork, collaboration, working together, and themes to do with bringing in help and/or outside expertise in order to get something done.

Not only is the saying correct that “it’s better together”, but you also get more done. Sometimes you struggle with watching others do things that you are used to doing on your own, primarily because they do them slower than you do.

The thing is though, that even if they’re doing them slower… because they are doing them instead of you, that frees you up to do other things instead. That means you get more done.

The message in today’s cards is that it doesn’t matter if they can’t do things as quickly as you can. They’re still taking things off your hands, which gives you more time in the long run. This allows for not just a better job done overall, but the ability to reach further and do more in the same amount of time.

DECK USED:  RAMSES TAROT

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 1 | Entry 10 – Self-Care and Personal Development
Affirmation : “I am my own best friend and personal cheerleader.”
Prompt : if you have an inner critic inside your head, it can block you from accomplishing your goals. Use one of the positive keywords of the card you draw to help reframe what your critic is saying and release any blocks to your success.

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Dark Sphynx Tarot - The Sun CardWhat feelings came up when I pulled this card?

“Is that a fuckin’ grasshopper?”

I was expecting it to throw me a primarily “negative” card that I would need to translate into a positive. So The Sun card, which is usually quite positive in its interpretation, took me by surprise.

What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?

The Sun card is often about success and joyful moments. This lands in the exact polar opposite of my negative inner voice, which often makes it clear that no matter how hard I work or how much I do, I don’t deserve these things.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

The grasshopper, obviously. It spoke to me about just how annoying positivity can sometimes be. Crickets and grasshoppers make this chirping noise that outside can be relaxing, but when ends up inside or excessive, can become extremely annoying. (This is a Gideon problem, and something that happens to him yearly during late summer and early autumn.)

The champagne glass also caught my attention, drawing it as well to how dapper the figure is dressed. This clearly indicates to me not just success, but celebration of those successes.

My prompt response and reflections.

It’s important to recognize, appreciate, and even celebrate your successes. In doing so you combat that negative inner voice that keeps telling you that you’re not enough, and never doing enough.

By discounting your successes to instead simply move onto the next thing, and then the next, you end up reinforcing that negative inner voice and what it has to say.

Other elements included in this reading:
Laboradite D6 and D12 Gemstone Dice

DECK USED: DARK SPHYNX TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2026 Challenge
Philosophical Prompt for January 14th : Would life lose meaning if we could live forever?

Philosophical Tarot Reading with the Ramses TarotReading Summary: Not as long as we could achieve a balance (Justice) by focusing on our connections with others (Two of Cups) and a version of personal happiness and satisfaction that includes them and our awareness of them (Ten of Cups).

Take Away: These cards say that as long as we have things -in- our life that give our life meaning (and make sure that we are acknowledging them), then the length of life would have no impact on whether life has meaning for us or not.

In my personal opinion, I have a feeling that even if you fill your life with things that matter, there’s always going to be times of boredom and disenchantment. I don’t think that this has to do with longevity, though, but rather with human nature as a whole.  We experience these in our short lives, and we would experience them in an immortal life as well.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: RAMSES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took J with me on my trip north, and I’m very, very glad that I did.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Unspoken Gift

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Golden Sunset Over WaterThe Unspoken Gift

Hope is a gift
you give to me
without
even realizing
you do it
because
you show me
every day
that there are
people
who are kind
to those
different
than themselves

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Different Scenarios

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Prompt : “The purpose of this activity is to practice interpreting small spreads by combining card meanings, symbols and intuition. We will all interpret the same cards based on a few different (imaginary) situations. A 3 card spread will be posted together with 2 more specific scenarios. It’s your choice which scenario you’d prefer to use, or if you’d rather do a general reading of these cards as for an imaginary querent.”

Enchanted Forest Felines Tarot - Ace of Pentacles, Three of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Scenario 1 – Ennis has made it to midlife, with a steady job, partner, house, and family. Only, now things are boringly steady and they’re not sure if they should pursue a new job, or go back to school. Their partner is supportive of either, so now they’re coming to you for another perspective.

With your partner front and center there to help and support you in your endeavors, something new to spice up life is a good idea.  Take time to think ahead instead of just about which options seem exciting right now in the moment. Consider consulting advisors that know more about the options you’re considering than you do.  In seeking out guidance from others that know more than you, you’ll be better able to identify which opportunity is best suited for you moving forward.

Scenario 2 – Jo has had a string of short and ultimately unfulfilling relationships over the last few years, and is coming to you for guidance on how to find something more fulfilling, and maybe more lasting.

Instead of focusing on those people that make you feel excited and give you those wild tingles of excitement, in order to find something more fulfilling you need something more stable.

Lots of times, this comes off as something “boring”, but the excitement needs to come from the experiences you have with this other person, rather than from the person themselves. Seek those that can bring more to the table than just that fiery spark of chemistry, and you’ll be more likely to find a more long lasting match as a result.

Scenario 3 –A general reading (feel free to add your own flair or a backstory).

A new opportunity rests on the horizon, but it’s not something that you can take on by yourself. To start off on a good foot and encourage success in this new endeavor, make sure that you bring those with you in your life that are eager to join you in the journey, and take care to get some advice along the way from those that have tread this path before you.

DECK USED: ENCHANTED FOREST FELINES TAROT

Ease Up On the Vice Grip

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Woodland Fairy Tale Tarot - The ChariotThe @GlitterbyInk #JanJourney26 Embark to Renewal Challenge
The Arrival Prompt for January 13th : Patience
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of control, willpower, determination, and the strength of purpose to “take the reins” and steer yourself in the path you wish to follow.

Like the story of Puss’n Boots, sometimes getting things to move in the direction that you want them to move in isn’t about force. It’s about cunning, persistence, and the patience to allow things to fall into place in their own time once you’ve set things in motion.

The message in today’s “Patience” prompt and The Chariot card is a reminder that you don’t have to have a tight and controlling grip on the reins throughout the entire process of making it to your goals. That controlling grip can often hinder more than it helps.

Instead, try strategizing first, then put things into motion before stepping back to apply some patience to the process. Sometimes things will then fall into place on their own after that, or only need a little light nudging along the way instead of a vice grip.

DECK USED:  WOODLAND FAIRY TALE TAROT

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 3 | Entry 3 – Family and Friends
Affirmation : “I learned from my past relationships with family.”
Prompt : Family dynamics can often present challenges for you to live through and learn from. What is the most challenging aspect of your current family relationship? Pull a card to understand how you can release this difficulty.

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Arcanamon Tarot - The LoversWhat feelings came up when I pulled this card?

A moment of relief that I wasn’t going to be advised to “suck it up”.

This is an unreasonable and unfounded fear, as my cards would never respond in a manner that would be  cruel or hurtful by telling me to do this at the sacrifice of self-care.

And yet, somewhere deep inside, the expectation was there all the same.

What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?

The most challenging aspect of my current family dynamics has to do with elder care, and running myself ragged with the responsibilities of elder care. The meaning of The Lovers card often reminds us that we need to give ourselves the care we need, and make choices to move towards those things that resonate greatest within us.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

I’ve been feeling a need for a bit of extra TLC over the last few days, and the snuggle of the two figures in the card imagery really hit home to me in this area. The imagery of the snuggling also brings to mind that I’ve been actively trying to seek out that with Gideon over the last few days instead of ignoring this need within me, as I usually have had tendency to do the past.

My prompt response and reflections.

Diffusing the difficulty in the elder care you are currently responsible for isn’t about walking away. It’s about making sure that you are getting your own needs met along the way, instead of sacrificing or ignoring them in order to prioritize the needs of the elder in question.

Don’t forget that your needs are just as important, if not more important, than theirs.

Other elements included in this reading:
Golden Resin D25 Die and Banded Agate D6 Die

DECK USED: ARCANAMON TAROT FIRST EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2026 Challenge
Prompts for January 12th and 13th

Tarot Reading with the Woodland Fairy Tale Tarot and A Witch's Ally OracleWhat does your inner child crave that you’ve been ignoring?

The Sun and Turtle – Time in old growth forests finding balance and grounding in order to help dispel persistently lingering darkness.

What concession can you make to provide for this inner child craving?

Two of Swords and Chicken – Although the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor adventures at this time, there are choices that you can make and things you can do that will allow you to get in touch with happiness, laughter, and fun.

Other elements included in this reading:
Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Resilience, Growth, and Renewal
 Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: WOODLAND FAIRY TALE TAROT AND A WITCH’S ALLY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I took an extra ibuprofen in my daily dose rather than waiting it out until it was time to take it again.  I also drank a 16 oz glass of water along with it to ensure I was protecting my kidneys.

Gideon’s Challenge – Singled Out

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Autumn MushroomSingled Out

Knees
on wet ground
and fear
pushes
to the surface
to release spores
that seem
to only inflame
aggression
more
and silence
only makes
things worse

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Caring for Self

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

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The @GlitterbyInk #JanJourney26 Embark to Renewal Challenge
The Journey Prompt for January 12th : Stride
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Happy Monsters Tarot - The Lovers CardToday’s draw is The Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love and relationships, long term contracts, harmonious unions, and making choices that are geared toward what is best for you.

You aren’t really “hitting your stride” if you’re ignoring your needs.

The phrase “hitting your stride” refers to achieving a pace which you can sustain for the long-term in a healthy manner.

Therefore, if you are ignoring your needs in order to “hit your stride”, then you’re not really hitting that stride at all because you’re neglecting yourself in the process.

The message in today’s “Stride” prompt and The Lovers card, is that self-care needs to be a priority in life. This isn’t in reference to the “special stuff” that you do just to make yourself feel pampered, but rather refers to giving yourself those things that you need to be healthy and happy. It means prioritizing things like food, sleep, cleanliness, and moments of pause, rest, and reflection, instead of neglecting them in order to prioritize other things that in the grand scheme of things are less important.

DECK USED:  HAPPY MONSTER TAROT

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 2 | Entry 14 – Love and Relationships
Affirmation : “I am comfortable breaking out of comfort zones in relationship relationships.”
Prompt : Whether you’re in one or longing to be in one, relationships take work. What is something that you can be open to experiencing in love that you haven’t considered before? Based on the card you draw, how can you keep the spark going or maintain a relationship you value?

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Atomic Bomb Tarot - The Tower CardWhat feelings came up when I pulled this card?

That moment of confusion that indicates this is a “use your brain” card, instead of intuition alone as the basis for interpretation.

A slight frown of rejection, as crash and burning my relationship is not up for discussion.

What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?

Honestly? The first thing that came to mind was the crash and burn aspect. And, although this doesn’t really apply well to my romantic relationship, it does apply to my relationship with my mother.

With her, moments of crash and burn create a dynamic that is acceptable to both of us. Without those moments, we are unable to tolerate each other’s sets of values and life view.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

I noticed the dead bee on the ground first, then noted that the tower depicted in this card is a hive. This, to me, speaks of a destruction of family rather than just structure.

I then noticed the tree of life within the lightning bolt, which says to me that within the destruction there is a cycle and possible healing.

Coming in at the tail end of visual cues, I then noticed the crown laying beside the bee on the ground. This brought me to thoughts of my mother, and the toppling of my mother off of her “queen bee” position in my life.

My prompt response and reflections.

There is a reason you cut off communication with your mother. In doing so you are making a point that you have not been able to make in the past through more minor moments of discord and destruction.

These “rebellious” moments did create a “tower” effect with your mother, but never really made any true change or spurred the healing needed.

By having cut off your mother for all this time, though, you have given her a true taste of what it is to lose a child. This card is bringing the dynamic with her back into focus for you, asking you if it’s not time to reconnect and see if from the destruction you can build a better relationship moving forward. You know, before she passes on and it becomes too late.

Other elements included in this reading:
Petrified Wood D6 and D20 Dice Set

DECK USED: ATOMIC BOMB TAROT

A Simple Two Card Spread by @pipcardstarot

Tarot Reading with the Happy Monsters Tarot - The Lovers Card and Six of Pentacles

What matters now.

Six of Pentacles – Be generous. Not just with others, but also with yourself. Generosity doesn’t always have to present through monetary means or resource based gifts. Sometimes it’s about your time, or your attention, or an ear to listen. The key is to remember is that as generous as you are to others, you need to make sure that you are being just as kind and generous with yourself.

What doesn’t.

The Lovers (on its side) – If whatever you’re pursuing is keeping you from taking care of your own needs, then it’s not worth it and doesn’t matter. Figure out how to include your needs in the equation, or cut out those things that are blocking you from giving yourself what you need.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: HAPPY MONSTER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I threw away my first attempt at hamburger patties tonight instead of forcing myself to eat them even though they were burnt to pucks.