Anger As a Conduit

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌾    •    ◈    •    •    •

Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

The Slow Tarot - Two of Cups and a card from The Nourished Heart Oracle

Today’s draw is the Two of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of connection and unification, mutual attraction, and emotional connections.

The Two of Cups has then been combined with the Anger card from The Nourished Heart Oracle, which says, “Anger is fuel. Recovery is rebellion.”

Sometimes it can be difficult to weed out those that have your best interests at heart from those that don’t. Observation during unguarded moments is a good way to do this; and nothing leaves someone as unguarded as anger.

In these moments we get a true glimpse of what’s going on inside a person as their true selves peek out from behind the mask they generally show the world. (The same thing happens when people get drunk, in fact. Both anger and alcohol have a tendency to lower inhibitions and allow us to get a peek at those hidden parts of others.)

The message in today’s Two of Cups and affirmation suggests when seeking true connections that we choose those who will be angry for you and angry with you, and not those who choose to be angry at you. These cards tell us that these are the individuals that will stick by your side through thick and thin, and lend you the support you need when you need it.

Connecting through anger may be an unorthodox approach to making friends, but it can give us a glimpse at those who truly -are- out friends, and those who use their friendship as merely window dressing.

DECKS USED:  THE SLOW TAROT AND THE NOURISHED HEART ORACLE

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 6th : an obituary of the moon’s orbit

Writing Exercise with the Inuit Art Playing Cards

When fears come true and the bickering is over
(Nine of Spades atop Five of Clubs)

When he finds somewhere else to be
(Jack of Hearts)

We will look back on the times he watched over our dreams
(King of Clubs)

And express mourning of the light lost that was once he
(Three of Spades atop Ace of Spades)

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences

DECK USED: INUIT ART PLAYING CARDS

@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Prompts for September 5th and 6th

Tarot Reading with The Slow Tarot and Protection Spells Deck

Discipline – Where do I need a little more discipline to achieve a goal?

Queen of Swords atop Ace of Wands Rx; Aphrodite

It’s in the things you are already well versed in that you need to train your focus upon right now. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the new and shiny.

Whether this is in matters of the heart or preparing for battle, don your armor with care so that your softness can shine through. It’s okay to care.

Insight – What inner message deserves my attention today?

Page of Wands and Boundary of Protection

Take on new challenges with calm and enthusiasm. Life is an adventure. Be bold and steadfast, gentle and wild of heart.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Honey Calcite for Optimism and Motivational Boost
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE SLOW TAROT AND PROTECTION SPELLS DECK
Daily Self Kindness

I considered discontinuing this daily self-kindness part of my posts, but decided that I might be getting benefit from it that I’m not readily or easily noticing. Thus, I’ve decided to continue for the time being.

Gideon’s Challenge – Quietude

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Fraser River Waterfront at Sunset

Quietude

A stop
on the way
to home
a pause
to listen
to the quiet
whisper
of setting sun
and soft lap
of water
kissing concrete
and fiberglass
while sitting
on a wall
that waits
for high tide

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Boundaries for Stability

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌾    •    ◈    •    •    •

Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Guardian of the Night Tarot Pocket Edition - King of Wands and the Walnut card from Listening to Flowers Cards

Today’s draw is the King of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s passions, drive, determination, principles, values, and willpower. The King of Wands often indicates themes that have to do with leadership figures or authority figures with the ability to rally others to their causes and draw them in to their own values, principles, and passions.

The King of Wands has then been combined with the Walnut card from the Listening to Flowers deck, which says, “My boundaries are resilient as I encounter external forces. I am protected as I cross over thresholds of change. I trust my sense of awareness to guide me.”

I have a tendency to internally freak out during change. A lot of people can’t notice it from the outside, but on the inside, I am quite literally going “oh fuck! Oh fuck! Oh, fuck!” This is because I struggle with moments of uncertainty, specifically because they feel unstable, and instability is my least favorite of all experiences.

But what if stability or instability during change doesn’t have anything to do with what’s going on around us, but rather, what’s going on within us?

The message in today’s King of Wands and affirmation card ask us to consider… Is it possible to use our boundaries to help us in staying calm and collected during times of change? In using our boundaries in this way, can we then traverse through times of change more smoothly and come out the other side better prepared for what lies ahead?

DECKS USED:  GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT TAROT INDIE POCKET EDITION AND LISTENING TO FLOWERS DECK

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 5th : my body is an open palm

Creative Writing Exercise with the Pacific Northwest Playing Cards

Physical pain is often a punishment. A slap across the face to bring me back to the present when I forget that I am not as young as I used to be. (Five of Diamonds and Three of Hearts)

This is especially true in times when I am being influenced by my need to create harmony with others by striving to do more and be more, when I am already juggling far too much and struggling to keep everything in balance. (Six of Clubs atop Two of Diamonds)

At these times, my body speaks up to remind me of all that I have done in the past to earn the scars I now wear covering my flesh like the lines of an open palm that then slaps me back down to size in a painful reminder of reality. (Nine of Diamonds and Queen of Spades)

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cone for Resilience and Adaptability
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Strength, Growth, and Renewal
Labradorite for a Focus on Mental and Emotional Healing
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: PACIFIC NORTHWEST PLAYING CARDS

@jourie.co‘s An Imaginative Life Journal Prompts
Prompt for September 5th : Which story about yourself no longer fits?

Tarot Reading with the Guardian of the Night Tarot Pocket Edition

Reading Summary: Happiness (Ten of Cups) is no longer something to be skeptical about or feared (Nine of Swords). Neither is it an end goal you are seeking to obtain (The World).

Take Away: In younger years, you held a lot of skepticism about happiness and finding a happy and contented life for yourself and others. You saw happiness as something that had to be worked towards and earned.

Over time you have learned that happiness is something that you find in the present moment, though, and not an end goal to be achieved. It’s something you build in the day to day, for yourself first, and through yourself for others as well.

Other elements included in this reading:
Holly Leaf for assistance in Gentling Negative Emotions
Garnierite for help in Releasing Anger, Anxiety, and Guilt
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GUARDIAN OF THE NIGHT TAROT INDIE POCKET EDITION
Daily Self Kindness

I spent some time organizing unshelved playing card decks today so that I’m ready for next month and have a line up of decks in mind for this one.

Gideon’s Challenge – Sleepy

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Settled Seagull

Sleepy

a seat
in the sunlight
with a cool
pacific breeze
and the day
becomes
a moment
of stillness
within movement
as I linger
to smell
the briny air
and imagine
sleeping
peacefully and
undisturbed

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Presence as a Gift

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌾    •    ◈    •    •    •

Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

The Traveler's Tarot - Ten of Pentacles and a card from the Mindfulness Cards

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work, and reaching a point in that abundance and stability where it is comfortably shared with those around us.

The Ten of Pentacles has then been combined with the Feel the Ground card from the Mindfulness Cards, which says, “Just like the breath, our connection to the Earth is always available to us. I simply pay attention to the feeling of our feet, we can literally ground ourselves at any time. Practice this in different circumstances and in different places so that when you’re facing difficult moments in the future, you have an always-accessible tool to bring yourself back to the present moment.”

Sometimes the security and stability that we offer others has nothing to do with money or wealth. Sometimes it’s in how our presence makes them feel safer, comforted, or more grounded.

This is why the simple act of spending time with others is often overlooked as one of the most valuable gifts you can give to those around you. When you sit at someone’s bedside when they’re sick or come and listen to them when they need an ear, you are providing for them something more valuable than money ever could.

The message in today’s Ten of Pentacles and grounding card is a reminder that these types of contributions to others are just as valuable as, if not more valuable than, gifts or money ever could be. This is because in these moments, you are giving of yourself rather than just offering something of use but without heart.

DECKS USED:  THE TRAVELER’S TAROT AND MINDFULNESS CARDS

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 4th : sipping on the eye of a storm

Creative Writing Exercise with the Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio Playing Cards Hupo Standard Edition

Six of Spades

I stand and watch in silence
as hammer moves to displace
the guts of old brass hinges
from their hidden space
And as the door comes free
he thinks that he has won,
as no protests are spoken aloud
while I mentally prepare to be gone.

Queen of Spades atop Queen of Hearts

In these moments of daydreams,
I find solace and support,
aware that sharp tongues pause
merely to sharpen edges
then come back for more blood.

Other elements included in this reading:
Bird Figurine for Encouraging Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: STRANGE TALES FROM A CHINESE STUDIO PLAYING CARDS HUPO STANDARD EDITION

@jourie.co‘s An Imaginative Life Journal Prompts
Prompt for September 4th : What part of your life looks fine out does not feel right?

Tarot Reading with The Traveler's Tarot and Contact Oracle

Reading Summary: You have chosen to shut away your past, instead of communicating with others about it and sharing your experiences (Past Life Regression). This makes you appear strong and stable (King of Coins), while on the inside there’s a lot of emotional churning going on that nobody knows about (Ace of Cups with Past Life Regression).

Take Away: You tend to willingly share a lot about yourself and your present, as well as your hopes and dreams for the future, but you very rarely share much of anything about your past.

This is understandable, as there are a lot of emotional traumas and vulnerabilities that still need to be worked through in that area; things that you don’t give others much of a clue about so that you can look far more stable and invincible than you really are.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE TRAVELER’S TAROT AND CONTACT ORACLE
Daily Self Kindness

I confirmed the housekeeper’s next visit instead of giving in to the urge to cancel it to avoid the social interaction involved.

Gideon’s Challenge – Anticipation

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Storm Clouds

Anticipation

autumn
creeps closer
with churning
gray skies
interspersed
between blue
and the splat
of spitting
rain clouds
not yet
committed
to giving
dry earth
it’s due

Photo © ZenStatePhotography