Gratitude as a Conscious Practice

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#DailyCalm with the Calm appToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app.

The theme of today’s meditation was about consistency, especially in reference to one’s meditation practice.   And clearly, as is obvious by my posts, this is an issue for me.

I do try, though, and I find it tinged with a taste of irony that this is the topic of the first session as I try to get back into the swing of things.

@the_mystic_star May Tarot Challenge Prompt
I am using this challenge’s prompts as affirmation prompts for my daily card. Not exactly the intended process for the challenge, but I want to give credit for where I’m getting these affirmation prompts from.

Moonlight Tarot - King of CupsAffirmation Prompt for May 11th: Grateful

King of Cups – For me, the King of Cups often refers back to Gideon. He is the emotional floodgates that help me in managing and understanding my emotions. He is my anchor in a turbulent sea, assisting me in making sense out of the chaos.

Today’s card is a reminder of these things, and that gratitude isn’t just something you feel for another, but an actual practice. It’s something you need to consciously visit and acknowledge, and even express to others now and then.

Gideon… My gratitude for you and your love, for your guidance and your help and support and for all that you do for me is something I can never express well enough to make clear to you.  It’s depth is too deep, it’s breadth too wide.  Thank you for being mine, and for having me as yours.  Thank you for being my rock and my anchor when I’m struggling to make sense of things. I may not always seem like I need it, and in fact may seem to even run away from it at times when I fall back on old habits, but I am so grateful for your presence and influence in my life.  I love you.

DECK USED:  MOONLIGHT TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for May 10th and 11th:

Journey Oracle; Moonlight Tarot's Four of Cups and The High PriestessWhat are you ignoring that needs to be dealt with?

The High Priestess and Desire – For a while now you have been able to feel your small side creeping back up from deep within, but you have been ignoring your needs in this area due to your desire to stay in top space.

How can you best begin dealing with what’s being ignored?

Four of Cups and Prepare – Get back on a regular meditation schedule instead of continuing to skip it. That structure is important, especially so when you’re in that smaller mindset. Your meditation practice helps you create a solid foundation for embracing the small within you and letting go of control without it harming you in the process.

In other words, regular meditation makes you more resilient to subdrop.

DECK USED: MOONLIGHT TAROT AND JOURNEY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

As you can see, I meditated today for the first time in quite a long time. I also added the “happy baby” pose back into my physio practice today for the first time since my surgery.

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Knight of Swords

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Prompt: “Pull the Queen of Cups card from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?“

Japaridze Tarot - Knight of SwordsJaparidze Tarot – The benefits of listening. In a conversation, a debate, or an argument… do you speak? Or do you listen? When the other person is speaking, are you listening? Or are you chomping at the bit to open your mouth and have your side heard? How much restraint does it take to hold back? How hard is it to not hear “Charlie Brown adults” wah-wahing away and instead hear the words said and -think- about them before opening your own mouth? In this card, that is what I see. I see someone fighting to choke back their words, all the while rolling their eyes. Not listening. Just waiting for their time to speak. Is this something that you do? How can you do better, and what will it change if you try to step back and listen instead of jumping forward with “guns blazing”?

Knight of Swords - Lucid Mind Tarot, The Caticorn Deck, The Lighted Window Tarot

Lucid Minds Tarot – This is one of those rare Knight of Swords cards where the Knight’s sword is pointed down.  It speaks of taking time to think before you act rather than charging ahead.  Whether acting is a physical manifestation, or about what is about to come out of your mouth that may influence others or the world around you, this card is a reminder that we need to think first.  Not just about what we want or need to say or do, but about how we say it, as well as how those words (or strategic actions) may affect others.

The Caticorn – A classic knight, this card is filled with action and the knight is poised for battle. His face shows keen intellect and that posture of preparedness indicates that he is ready to act without hesitation. Movement in the background reflects an “Eight of Wands” type of theme, speaking of a need for speed, while the cat’s expression and body language makes it clear that if you’re going to act, make sure you do so with purpose.

The Lighted Window Tarot – In this card, although the sword is up and at the ready, there is no indication of speed nor impulsivity.  The knight’s hair floats around in the air above their head, speaking to me of inscrutable thoughts that are clouded and messy.  Perhaps this is why the Knight is not moving.  The clenched fist of his left hand indicates he wants to, but they hold off to make sure that they are clear-headed first.  I would see this card saying that sense of holding off for clarity is a good idea for the querent as well.

DECK USED: JAPARIDZE TAROT, LUCID MINDS TAROT, THE CATICORN DECK, THE LIGHTED WINDOW TAROT

The Slack Tide

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@the_mystic_star May Tarot Challenge Prompt
I am using this challenge’s prompts as affirmation prompts for my daily card. Not exactly the intended process for the challenge, but I want to give credit for where I’m getting these affirmation prompts from.

Vintage Japanese Print Advertisement Tarot - Ten of SwordsAffirmation Prompt for May 7th: Hopeful

Ten of Swords – Remember that every ending offers the opportunity for a new beginning.

The advertisement used to illustrate this card is selling cigarettes.  That’s what it looks like to me, at any rate.  In today’s society, we see the tide turning where cigarettes are concerned. Debates on whether it’s safe or not have faded out into an acknowledgement of its health risks, and eventually laws to minimize those risks. It’s been a long, hard road with painful lessons along the way.

And yet, people still smoke, and they still die of COPD and lung cancer brought on by smoking. Maybe we’re not quite taking things in a new direction yet, but you can see the shift.  That’s what I see in this card.  It’s a reminder that even if the ending seems like it might be taking forever?  We have the opportunity to create something better in its wake.

(Note: The advertisement used in this card is actually selling MSG aka. monosodium glutamate.)

DECK USED:  VINTAGE JAPANESE PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for May 7th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Vintage Japanese Print Advertisement Tarot - Five of Swords, King of Wands, King of Pentacles, Three of PentaclesReading Summary: Set aside your need to be right in conflict (Five of Swords Rx atop King of Wands Rx) and focus instead on those that help you in building (Three of Pentacles) a solid foundation in your endeavors (King of Pentacles).

Take Away: Not everyone is going to be supportive in the things you want to do and the goals you want to achieve.

Focus your energy on including those in your life that are supportive in those things that are important to you, and leave behind those that aren’t.

You don’t need them, and you don’t need the roadblocks and obstacles that they present either.

DECK USED: VINTAGE JAPANESE PRINT ADVERTISEMENTS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I’m not entirely sure what my self-kindness was for the day.

🌑 New Moon in Taurus – May 2024

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Tonight is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of Ethony.

New Moon in Taurus Tarot Reading with the Muse Tarot by Ethony

What is blocking my prosperity?

Page of Wands Rx – This has to do with not just actual prosperity in the monetary sense, but also with the feeling of prosperity. Even the poorest can feel wealthy in their own way… but at the moment you are being blocked from finding that feeling. That blockage comes from a current lack of enthusiasm and inspiration to try new things.

Where am I playing too small?

Three of Pentacles atop Nine of Swords – It’s okay to share your worries and concerns with those you trust. There’s no need to hold back. They won’t use these things against you.  Instead, by sharing those worries and concerns with them, they can help you in finding solutions.

What past financial situations do I need to forgive myself for?

The Fool – Frivolous spending is a part of nearly everyone’s early years. It’s one of those life lessons we all have to learn, and you are no different.

What untapped well of wealth have I been ignoring?

Queen of Cups – Allowing others to support and nurture you on an emotional level can lift you up and make even situations of extreme scarcity seem less dire. Stop trying to keep your need for that support and nurturing to yourself and instead seek it out from those you trust.

Where can I be more fiscally responsible?

Eight of Wands Rx – Continue to slow down on your spending. There are other places yet that you can pull back.

New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

The High Priestess – The knowledge and guidance you need right now is already within you. Lean into seeking advice through your intuition rather than through your logical mind.

DECK USED: THE MUSE TAROT

Raindrops and Pennies

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

@the_mystic_star May Tarot Challenge Prompt
I am using this challenge’s prompts as affirmation prompts for my daily card. Not exactly the intended process for the challenge, but I want to give credit for where I’m getting these affirmation prompts from.

Mirasol and Cassie of the Year Tarot - Nine of Water, Nine of CupsAffirmation Prompt for May 6th: Fulfilled

Nine of Cups – Sometimes fulfillment comes in, simply finding the things that make you happy and taking the time to enjoy them.

Why hold back on these things? Stop punishing yourself by withholding them, and instead enjoy them to their fullest.

And don’t forget that the little things are just as important as the big ones.  Maybe even more important, because they build up over time like raindrops and pennies.

DECK USED:  MIRASOL AND CASSIE OF THE YEAR TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMay2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for May 6th: How could you benefit from adding more fun into your life?

Mirasol and Cassie of the Year Tarot - Five of Cups, The Moon, Four of Swords, Knight of CupsReading Summary: By actively engaging in the things that bring you joy (Knight of Cups), you give yourself a new way to renew and recover (Four of Swords) from times of dissatisfaction (Five of Cups) and uncertainty (The Moon).

Take Away: This ties into the card of the day that I did for today as well.  It’s about enjoying those things you find pleasure in or that spark a sense of joy in you.  It doesn’t have to be big things, even little things will do.

By doing so, you foster a sense of confidence within yourself, and help make the bad stuff seem just a little bit less important, and a little bit less chaotic and catastrophic as well.

DECK USED: MIRASOL AND CASSIE OF THE YEAR TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I’m not entirely sure what my self-kindness was for the day.