The Next Bend
A shadowed path
through
towering trees
and dappled sunlight
is promised ahead
but it’s
in the shadows
where cool air sits
and soothes
inviting a pause
and a moment’s rest
before curiosity tugs
us onward
Celebrating Everyday Miracles
Today’s meditation was skipped due to orders day. I’ll be back on the horse again tomorrow.
Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of accomplishments and abundance, and sharing that abundance with those around you.
What stands out to me really strongly in today’s card is that her knees are red. This echos back to one of my photo writings I did a few days ago where I mused about how closely people really look at nature. Surely I am not the only one that goes beyond a glance, that slides down to knees on the forest floor for a closer look at a pattern of bark on a fallen log, or lies down in the moss to watch how things respond as shade shifts and sunlight bathes the spot I’m watching for a moment.
Hilda, in this card, looks like she’s gotten down and close with nature. It’s in the redness of her knees and the openness with which she shares with the skunk that’s paused to visit with her. Combined with the affirmation card for today, we’re reminded that it’s important to explore our world with a sense of wonder. To look beyond our self centered perspective and see what lies beyond. Look for the miracle in a blade of grass, the beauty in a flower petal. Seek the wondrous and let it fill your life with a sense of abundance.
DECK USED: HILDA TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS
The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for July 21st thru 24th
“What is to Come” for me?
Seven of Cups – A bountiful opportunity to consciously choose your own path. A crossroads with many different routes to choose from stretching out before you like spokes from a wheel.
What should I expect from “What is to Come”?
The Star – Remember that you can only choose one path. Moderation is going to be key in making the right choice for you, as will making sure that you are consulting your guides and your intuition during the decision making process.
What should I know about “What is to Come”?
Seven of Swords – Anyway you go about it, you’re going to lose opportunities that you wish you could keep. Remember that you can only carry so much. Again, you can only choose one path.
What guidance will support me in “What is to Come”?
Strength – You are stronger than you realize. You can make the choice to use your inner strength in a healthy way, instead of allowing your inner strength to be used in your habitual tendency to take on too much.
Advice from your ancestors and guides.
Queen of Pentacles – Grounding will help immensely. Make sure that you’re getting enough time in nature, and that that time is not wasted, but is quality time used to nurture, restore, and ground yourself.
DECK USED: TAROT AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 21st and 22nd
How can I find more freedom to do what I love?
Rock Water and Queen of Swords Rx
Stop worrying so much about others, and focus more on yourself. It’s okay to be selfish when you’re already giving far too much of yourself to others. It might not feel like it’s okay, or that you’re giving as much as you are… but it -is- okay.
How have I taken my freedom for granted?
Scleranthus and Three of Cups
There has been far too much hesitancy in letting go and allowing others to take on their share of the work. There has been far too much “holding yourself apart” instead of drawing those you care about in closer to celebrate with you the joys in life.
In both cases this is about fear of releasing control.
DECK USED: HEALING FLOWER COLOR CARDS AND HILDA TAROT
I worked hard today to make sure that I got done at a decent time so that I could get some sleep tonight.
Gideon’s Challenge
Centaurea Cyanus
Petals like
delicate tissue paper
vibrant
in calming tones
as stems stretch tall
and flower heads sway
in every little breeze
as beautiful buttons
face to the sky
and kiss the senses
with a
sweet moment
of serenity
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Full Moon in Aquarius – July 2021
Tomorrow is the full 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 brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.
1. What possibilities are being offered to me right now?
Six of Cups -The potential to choose your own path, especially in your emotional growth and how it relates to the rest of your life. This lies in the opportunity to let things go that do not belong as a part of the present. In spilling these issues from the Cups of your present and leaving them on the floor of the past, you allow yourself to open up to more freedoms, choices, and potential for growth.
2. What area of my life is craving freedom and experimentation? (check the suit of this card for big clues)
Eight of Cups – Emotionally, you are ready to move on from the shit that isn’t working. Let’s not stand still. Begin shedding those things that are not working for you and leaving them behind. Related: I think it’s time to take the stuff I’ve been trying to get rid of on eBay for the past year to charity. They’ve been listed long enough and remain unsold. I’m tired of having it all sitting around, waiting to leave.
3. Where can I be more open minded?
Roots – Be open to grounding in different ways and keep your mind open to the sharing of others (including your mother). Nurture yourself and others by digging deeper. Deeper into what is being said. Deeper into the thought process, the assumptions, and the perspectives that are shared with you. Dig deeper into these things and open to what you make uncover within those depths.
4. What old habits/beliefs need to be released under this full moon?
Five of Pentacles – It’s time to acknowledge that your feelings of scarcity are an echo from the past and have nothing to do with your present reality. This reflects back to the first question in this reading, and reaffirms the message that it’s time to leave the past in the past, acknowledge that’s where it belongs, and that these feelings have no relevance in the present.
5. Where do I need to go with the flow?
Queen of Swords – Don’t be so stuck on how things should be that you forget to look at how they could be. Allow others to broaden your horizons.
DECK USED: TAROT OF TREES 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Judicious Boundaries
Today’s meditation was a little over fifteen minutes long and was not a guided meditation. Instead I simply took some time to work on breathing exercise on my own, concentrating on my breath and on slowly relaxing one body part at a time from head to toe.
Today’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of being battered and exhausted yet still upholding one’s boundaries. It’s about courage and resilience, even in times when you aren’t at your 100%, and protecting those things that are important to you by “standing the line”. Sometimes this can also translate into having one’s beliefs and faith being tested, for it is when we are beaten down and tired that we are most often tempted to let go of those things we would otherwise stand firm on.
When I first saw this affirmation card? I read it to say “then they have served their purpose” (as opposed to “when”), and I think that this misread was actually important, especially in relation to the tarot card pulled today.
The thing is? A lot of times we build up walls where our emotions are concerned. Walls to keep them out. Walls to dull their strength. Walls to bury them under. These walls are not healthy. Three different walls, with three different purposes, but none of them are healthy. It’s only when we allow our emotions to run their course that we can get a healthy result. That is what emotions are for… to help us learn, to help us grow. If we aren’t allowing the emotions to come, to stay so that we can learn from then, then leave when that learning has taken place? Then we aren’t allowing them to serve their purpose, and hurting ourselves in the process.
DECK USED: THE PRI8M TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS
Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 21st thru 23rd
What am I asked to overcome to embrace / support my best self?
Sage / Salvia officinalis (Purify) and Six of Water – You have had a childhood history filled with a myriad of experiences in pain and betrayal served up by those that you should have been able to trust implicitly. You can begin to overcome the remnants of these experiences through acknowledgement of where these remnants come from. By remembering that they are a part of the past, you can then purify their negative influences from your present and your future.
How can I best keep focus on the things that are good for me?
Chicory / Cichorium intybus (Sustain) and Seven of Air – Stay the course, no matter who or what tries to steal it away.
This is about making sure that I keep my focus on the changes I’m trying to make in my life. The healthier balance of work and rest, the lean into optimism and positivity instead of rejection of these things, the efforts to find a path that allows me to share my work rather than hoard all the work and responsibility for myself.
How, or where, is my spiritual practice strengthening me?
Sage / Sambucus nigra (Ritual) and The Sun – Joy is created through your spiritual practices and rituals. Not only are the things in your day to day spiritual practice supporting your successes and efforts to focus on the positive, but the larger rituals are also helping in fostering those efforts.
DECK USED: HEDGEWITCH BOTANICAL ORACLE AND RADIANT SCALES TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Do acts of kindness always have a motive?
Reading Summary: It doesn’t always “pay off” as expected (The Void), but every act of kindness serves either a purpose towards balance (Three of Pentacles), or as a strategic personal motivation (Knight of Swords).
Take Away: So all acts of kindness have a purpose, which means they inherent have a motive. That doesn’t mean that all acts of kindness are strategically motivated, though. Sometimes that motive is more about trying to find balance either within ourselves or the world around us, and of course, other times it’s more selfish. And sometimes, no matter the motive or purpose, acts of kindness get lost in translation.
DECK USED: THE PRI8M TAROT
I spent about two hours out on the balcony with my plants today, just tending to them, watering them, making sure they’re getting the right nutrition, etc. I also replaced the pansies and lobelia that didn’t make it through the 110+ F heat wave we had. They just couldn’t handle it, so I’ve replaced them with a few plants I picked up from the nursery.
Gideon’s Challenge
Miraculous Details
How closely do you look
at nature’s splendor
is it just a glance
or a long glimpse
or do you lie down
among it all
and look closer still
with moss in your hair
and sweet scents
of earth
tickling your nose
How close will you get
to see the miracle
in the details…
Or will you let the wonder pass you by?
