Jumping to Conclusions

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Today’s meditation was Today’s meditation was a ten minute Daily Calm session from the @Calm app.

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

EIght of Wands in the Taste Buddies Tarot and a card from the Mindfulness Cards

Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands (Sticks), which is traditionally a representation of action, speed, alacrity, fast paced events or change, or having a target goal in your sights that you are charging towards.

The Eight of Sticks has then been combined with the See the Screen card from the Mindfulness Cards, which says, “When we’re watching TV, at a movie, or using our devices, we tend to focus on what’s on the screen rather than the screen itself. Next time you’re watching something on the screen, try including the screen itself as a part of what you see. Notice what it feels like to include the screen in your viewing experience. The simple practice is a powerful metaphor for how our minds can get sucked into the content of our thoughts rather than taking a bigger view and looking at the nature of our awareness itself.”

It can often be difficult to look beyond our own sphere of experience and influence. We see what our brain tells us to see, and our brain is influenced by our history, our experiences, our opinions, and our beliefs. This, in turn, changes our perspective from that of the person beside us, even when we’re looking at the exact same thing.

This is a big part of the reason that police officers cannot depend upon a single witness to an event. Especially if there is more than one witness available to interview.

The messaging today’s Eight of Sticks and affirmation card is a reminder not to jump to conclusions. When we rush to assumptions and conclusions, we are missing a portion of the picture… and sometimes that portion is extremely important to how we end up seeing the whole. These cards encourage us to slow down and look at things more closely and from more than just the initial angle of perspective we first see.

DECKS USED:  TASTE BUDDIES TAROT AND MINDFULNESS CARDS

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 25th : the price of a sign from the universe

Creative Writing Activity with the Portfolio52 Nazo Nazo Playing Cards Onsen Deck

the pendulum swings from side to side
momentum and gravity creating cause and effect
(Eight of Spades)

an exchange played out by the universe and her rules
in her never ending pursuit of balance
(Two of Diamonds)

and when we ask for a boon or favor
she’s happy to bestow upon us what we need
(Ace of Clubs)

but don’t be surprised when she wants in return
more than you want to give
(Seven of Spades)

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Gray Agate for Instilling Gentleness, Calm, and Stability
Green Aventurine for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: PORTFOLIO 52 ONSEN PLAYING CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2026 Challenge
Prompt for September 25th : What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s full moon?

Tarot Reading with the Taste Buddies Tarot

Reading Summary: Focus on the strength needed (Strength) to step away (The Hermit) when temptations are trying to get the better of you (Devilish Eggs).

Take Away: There is a lot of temptation in your life right now, mostly surrounding your finances and self restraint, that you need to make sure you are paying attention to and not falling under it’s spell.

Make sure you are pausing to look within and drumming up inner strength to resist these temptations as they arise rather than giving into them. You won’t be sorry in holding back at this time, and a little self reflection can go a long way in helping you find the strength to do so.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Moss Agate for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TASTE BUDDIES TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I went in for a therapeutic massage today instead of bearing through with the pain in my back.

🌕 Full Moon in Aries – September 2026

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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 courtesy of @teaandrosemary

Full Moon in Aries Oracle Reading with The Birds of San Juan Island Oracle

What part of my life is asking for more courage?

Dunlin / Abundance – “More is not automatically better. Sometimes what gathers begins to take over… Celebrate what nurtures and supports you, but pay attention to excess.”

You flirted with the idea of doing a cull on your collection earlier this year, and even took a few steps in that direction. It’s time to revisit the idea. Not just concerning your collection, but concerning the clutter in your home as well. There are places that need clearing out, and others that need sorting. You’ve been avoiding these activities out of your discomfort in “letting go”.

What needs to be gathered or finished before winter?

Virginia Rail / Secrets – “… not all information needs to be exposed immediately. Some things are best kept hidden until the time is right.”

Take care with the secrets you hold. Secrets can be a form of protection, but pay attention to what it is that’s being protected. Discard those secrets that are tainted by dishonesty, and hold close those that are rooted in care, timing, and privacy.

What do I want to carry with me into the darker months?

Belted Kingfisher / Proportion – “… right-size your response. Sometimes the wise response is smaller. Sometimes it needs to be much, much bigger.”

Moving into the darker months, you would like to find greater ease in responding from a place of self confidence and authenticity, rather than feeling as if you are being pushed around by your emotions and/or smothered by your need to people please.

Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Red-Breasted Sapsucker / Ephemeral – “… some opportunities are brief by nature.”

Be wary of the fear of missing out. Connect with that well of intuition and authenticity within yourself to determine what opportunities are right for you, and which ones you should let pass you by.

Other elements included in this reading:
Crow Medallion for Clarity and Connection
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Norway Maple Key for Fostering Strength and Resilience
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Green Aventurine for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Rainforest Rhyolite for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE BIRDS OF SAN JUAN ISLAND ORACLE

Gideon’s Challenge – Wrung Out

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A Whisper of Sunset

Wrung Out

when back spasms
so close to quitting
and legs wobble
with weakness
of pressure on nerves
that shouldn’t
be pressed
the time comes
to make the choice
to sit down
or fall down
for the body
won’t break
but it will reach
a point
where it will simply
quit

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Setting the Tone

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute Daily Trip session in the @Calm app.

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

The Gothic Literature Tarot's Three of Wands and a card from the Listening to Flowers Cards

Today’s draw is the Three of Wands (Torches), which is traditionally a representation of the first active step in a journey, progress towards a goal, and the seizing of opportunities.

The card has then been combined with The Vervain card from the Listening to Flowers Cards, which says, “ I relax and allow life to unfold peacefully. I transform tension into calm. I soften my views and trust in a higher power.”

Look at the adventures to come as just that… adventures! New journeys hold a wealth of unknowns, but if that’s what you focus on, then the journey becomes a fear-filled voyage instead of a high seas adventure.

Instead, focus on the potential before you, just within your reach. Pursue this potential with eagerness and alacrity. In doing so, you leave little to no room for doubts and naysaying to slip on and draw fear and uncertainty to the surface.

The message in today’s Three of Torches and Vervain card is a reminder that it’s in how you approach the unknown that transforms it into either something to fear or something to celebrate. Choose wisely the attitude you approach the new unknowns in your life, for it’s your approach that decides the flavor of the journey ahead.

DECKS USED:  GOTHIC LITERATURE TAROT AND LISTENING TO FLOWERS CARDS

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 24th : my throat is a graveyard

Creative Writing Activity with The Keys of Solomon Playing Cards

so many words left unspoken
(Eight of Spades)
silenced to keep the peace
or avoid inconveniencing others
(Nine of Clubs atop Ace of Spades)
that they become like pebbles or polyps
stuck to the inside of the throat
(Five of Diamonds)
slowly cutting off air
and choking the life out
one word at a time
(Seven of Spades)
until the words decay into halitosis
closing my mouth for good
(Ten of Spades)
until one day it is merely
dust and bones left behind
(Ten of Clubs)
coating my throat
with the ghost of who I once was
(Five of Hearts atop King of Spades)

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE KEYS OF SOLOMON PLAYING CARDS

@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Prompts for September 24th and 25th

Tarot Reading with The Gothic Literature Tarot

Openness – Where am I being invited to be more open-hearted?

Eight of Torches and Eight of Ravens

Instead of rushing around focused on your own little world and the perspectives it provides, it’s time to slow down and look outside yourself.

Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Work on putting on the back burner that need to push yourself, for it’s getting in the way of allowing you to see and feel more of what’s going on.

Sun opposite Neptune – How might I be idealizing a situation or a person?

Five of Chalices atop The Sun

Remember that you can’t possibly know the trials, tribulations, and struggles others are going through. Their innermost thoughts and feelings may not match the mask that they show the world.

Look deeper instead of taking the people around you at face value.

Other elements included in this reading:
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
Rainforest Rhyolite for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GOTHIC LITERATURE TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I bought chocolate muffins on the way home today as a treat.

Gideon’s Challenge – Relief

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Autumn Leaves Turning

Relief

leaves whisper
in excitement
as autumn slips
through the fingers
of summer’s grip
like sand
and color pops
from branches
until leaves
are released
to flutter away
finally free

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Reset

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute Daily Calm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌾    •    ◈    •    •    •

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

Threadbound Dreams Tarot's Justice Card and a card from the Self-Care Anxiety Relief Cards

Today’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of balance, cause and effect, repercussions and consequences, give and take, and can often indicate the law or legal system.

The card has then been combined with the Mountain Grounding Exercise card from the Self Care and Anxiety Relief Cards, which says, “Visualize yourself standing at the base of a grand mountain. In your mind begin to climb the mountain. With each step, let go of a worry or distraction, feeling lighter and more focused. Imagine the mountain air clearing your thoughts as the view becomes more expansive and breathtaking. At the summit, pause in the stillness. Let the profound tranquility fill every part of you, bringing you peace and grounding.”

If you don’t give yourself time to clear out your thoughts and find your footing, you begin to experience the repercussions of pushing yourself too hard and not giving your body, mind, and spirit what it needs.

One of those things that everyone needs from time to time is a bit of tranquility and solitude, where you allow your worries, concerns, overactive thoughts, and other anxiety to take a backseat. When you let them go, even for just a little while, it gives your nervous system a break from their influences. As a result, you can come back to these issues refreshed and no longer so harried or weighed down.

The message in today’s Justice card and grounding exercise as a reminder that we all need a break from our stress now and then, especially in times when we think we don’t have time to give ourselves that break. When we do, we come back refreshed and ready to tackle things head on once again.

DECKS USED:  THREADBOUND DREAMS TAROT AND SELF-CARE & ANXIETY RELIEF CARDS

September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 23rd : until I monsoon

Creative Writing Activity with the Unity Playing Cards

my dearest love
please push and pick
and pull at teeth
to your hearts content
(King of Hearts and Jack of Hearts)

for as much as I fight
resisting with sharp words
and backlash
(Five of Clubs)

I need you to root out
the secrets hidden within
until tears fall
(Nine of Spades and Three of Spades)

and the broken pieces
I hide away
allow you to help
put me back together again
(Seven of Diamonds and Ace of Hearts)

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: UNITY PLAYING CARDS

@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Transparency Prompt for September 23rd : What conversation needs to be approached with honesty?

Tarot Reading with the Threadbound Dreams Tarot

Reading Summary: New opportunities (Ace of Pentacles) for increased stability (Four of Pentacles) require thinking of more than just today’s results but also tomorrow’s repercussions (Judgement).

Take Away: This is an echo of something that was mentioned in my Self-Care Saturday reading for this week. That is to say that someone is going to be coming forward with opportunity that could influence the finances and stability in my life.

These cards are a reminder that it’s important to look past the surface and the enthusiastic presentation, to consider if this is really a good fit and worth pursuing… or if it’s just a case of getting caught up in the hype. Don’t be taken in by the bullshit.

Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Oregon White Oak Leaf for Strength, Stability, and Longevity
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THREADBOUND DREAMS TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I ordered myself a replacement pair of Shokz Open Run Pro to keep in the car. I forget mine too often at home and they’re extremely helpful in my daily activities.