Month: June 2019

Slow Down

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on how all the little things in life are what make life worth living.  The intent in the guided meditation was to learn to better focus and be grateful for all of those little things, rather than taking them for granted.

Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands with a jumper card of the Three of Swords.

The Eight of wands is a representation of fast moving action, or a quick and energetic forward movement or action in the areas of one’s passions and enthusiasm, inspiration, and drive.

The Three of Swords was my jumper card.  It is a representation of heartbreak and emotional pain and all that it entails, including not just hurt and pain, but also sorrow and/or grief.

It took me most of the day to grasp the message in these cards.   I think the jumper card just took me by surprise and, on only about 3 hours of sleep, my brain just couldn’t function enough to grasp what they were saying.

As this draw is for a positive message to carry with me throughout my day and provide perspective, you can imagine that I spent a good amount of time dwelling on this.  Funny how, after taking a nap, it just comes clear… just like that.

These cards in conjunction with each other are telling me that sometimes when you leap ahead and go at something full boor, that  you end up in a mess of hurt as a result.   It is a reminder to slow down and take my time.  Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and sometimes that means that you take your time and pour over the little details rather than forging ahead all gung-ho.

I’m the Boss

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Today’s meditation was eighteen minutes and five seconds of a beginners Yoga Nidra, which I found very relaxing, but had to cut short because I was falling asleep.   I may try this one again at a later time when I’m not so tired, but I’m not sure about the guide’s voice, so maybe not.  We’ll see.

Today’s draw is the King of Wands, which is a representation of projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the areas of drive, passion, willpower, and the inner spark.  The card speaks of innate leadership abilities, entrepreneurship, honor, and inspirational vision.

This was a good card for today, as it was a reminder to me that I am the boss.  Sometimes, that can be a hard pill to swallow for me, but I -do- employ someone now, and I’m in fucking charge.

My helper likes to try and push the envelope sometimes when it comes to how many hours I’m willing to give her each week.   During the holiday season, that’s fine because there’s SO much work coming in, and I’m usually flush enough to afford it.   At this time of year, though… hell, I can barely pull off the hours I’m currently paying her, so she definitely isn’t getting any extra.

Its my business, and my finances, and I need to do what’s best for both.   Which means standing strong and staying true to my goals, my endeavors, my passions, and my truth…. and not allowing myself to cave under pressure.

Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot 2019 (Part 6)

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Okay! It’s time for another installment of Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot challenge.

  1. What cards relate to you personally. NOT just your astrology association or court cards.
    I skipped this question last time, because I struggled with it a bit. That is because I relate to all of the “pip” cards in the deck. That is the whole point of the tarot’s minor arcana, actually, and especially in the case of the pips. So, I guess if I had to choose just one that I relate to the most, it would be the Two of Pentacles. In relation to me personally, it is all about the juggling of responsibilities, wants, needs, goals, home, work, etc. It’s that constant, never ending effort towards balance.
  1. What Tarot deck do you wish you could get into or vibe with but just can’t and why? (this is not an opportunity to deck or deck creator bash it is more about how we all work with different decks and like different things.)
    Marseilles decks. Which is odd, because I read playing cards just fine, and I love historical style decks. I love the aesthetic of Marseilles style decks as well, and yet for some reason I have a really difficult time connecting with them.
  2. How do you pick your Tarot decks for readings?
    I find that certain decks are “workhorse” decks, and are good at just about everything. But, I have found that in most cases, some decks just ‘read’ better at one or two things. It comes down to the the feeling that each deck has a tone and a voice that is uniquely theirs. You wouldn’t want someone snarking comforting words at you… and you wouldn’t enjoy a soft comforting voice when what you really need is someone smacking you upside the head to light a fire under your ass. It’s like that.
  3. What is your ‘go-to’ Tarot book and why?
    You know… this used to be 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack, but ever since I’ve started using the Tarot of the Hidden Realm, I’ve begun using that guidebook (Journey Into the Hidden Realm by Barbara Moore) to add new, interesting perspectives on different decks.
  4. How do you feel about Tarot deck modification? Do you draw on your decks? Trim the borders or is it a no go for you and why?
    I think this is pretty obvious from other posts on this blog, but I’m all for it. I don’t alter all my decks, but sometimes it helps me in connecting to a deck. For me, the modifications I do are primarily edging decks to make them feel a bit more “finished”, and trimming decks if the borders are distracting (or detracting) from the artwork or message. There have been a few decks I’ve chosen to trim as well, simply because they were too damn big. Usually, though? There’s other compounding factors involved that bring me to that decision.
  5. Do you carry out predictive Tarot readings? Yes, no, why?
    Yes, and no. I do occasionally read predictively, with the caveat that nothing in the future is ever written in stone until it has come to pass. So anything predictive that I might see in the cards is more about trajectories and energy flow than actual set-in-stone.
  6. What question/s do you most often ask the Tarot? (for yourself and for others)
    My daily pull is a request for “a positive message to carry with me throughout the day and provide perspective”. That is the exact wording of the query. Another question I often ask is along the lines of “what do I need to focus on in the ______ ahead?” The time frame changes, as does whether it’s a time frame, an event, or an occasion. Back when I read for others, the most common questions had to do with love and relationships, as my observation is that most people seeking the advice of a reader on this topic are either lonely, or miserable.

And that’s all 31 questions! Tada! This post is Part 6, and the final installment for Ethony’s 31 Days of Tarot challenge. Here is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 for easy reference.

I’ll be starting another quiz very soon. They do a lot of them on YouTube, and although I don’t make videos, I do like the whole “quiz” and “getting to know you” aspect of participating here on my blog.

Light Luggage

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Today’s meditation was nine minutes and forty eight seconds, and focused on empathy. That is, the sharing of an experience and emotion with another person in order to make them feel heard, without trying to fix them or simply offering sympathy. (Sympathy = “poor you”; Empathy = “I feel you”)

It discussed how this process of empathy can help a person feel that you are there with them and supporting them, even when there is no ready solution available at the moment and all you’re doing is sitting with them, sharing space with them, and listening.

Today’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is a representation of creation, abundance, and looking forward towards your dreams and goals in the area of passion, drive, willpower, and the inner spark.

The appearance of the Three of Wands in today’s draw is a reinforcement of the readings I did yesterday for my self-care and the week ahead, as well as the reading I did for the Summer Solstice.

Both of these readings, and today’s card, we’re all about taking what I have learned through the return to my spirituality, and taking that with me in moving forward.

Returning to a more active spiritual practice has opened up a new facet of creativity for me, and brought a new aspect of positivity to my daily life that goes beyond just the daily card draw that I do each morning and share here on this blog.

The Three of Wands is an encouragement to take that renewed practice and positivity with me as I continue to move forward along life’s path.

Refilling the Cup

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty seconds, and focused on finding happiness. 

That is to say, in realizing that happiness is in the now.  Not the past and not the future.  The past is the past.  The future hasn’t happened yet, and whatever “dream” of it you may conjure up may never happen.  But NOW in the present?   There and only there can you look for and discover real, enjoyable happiness.

Today’s draw is the Four of Swords, which is a representation on the theme of rest, respite, stability, shelter, and ease in the areas of the mind and thought, reason and logic, communication, and action.

The Four of Swords is a card of restoration and recuperation, indicating it is time to rest and restore your inner reserves for the challenges ahead.

This is an excellent message for me today, as today is my Self Care Saturday.  I’ve been trying to instill one of these Self Care days into each week, as they saying that you “can’t pour from an empty cup” has really resonated with me.

Self_Care_750x750-220x220You cannot offer what you don’t have.   If your cup is empty, how can you offer it to another to drink?   If my inner stores are empty,  then I have less to offer to not just others, but my own goals and endeavors.

I’m sure that during my holiday season when things are out of control, this will not be something I’m able to keep up on.   But until then, and after that marathon of six weeks is over, I think having a self care day is a good idea, if only to remind me that my needs outside of my goals are important too.

 

Summer Solstice – Celebrating Abundance

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Today was (is) the Summer Solstice (aka Midsummer or Litha), which is a holiday for me. Many consider the Summer Solstice as the “first day of summer”. You hear it on the news all day long, it’s written on a copious number of calendars that way, etc. For me, this is completely inaccurate.

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. That means it is the absolute peak in the sun’s energy all year, and thus the peak of summer (as opposed to the beginning). After today, the days will again get shorter, the nights will become longer. This means that that bounty of energy will be waning. Thus…. Midsummer. Not the beginning of summer.

(Can you tell the whole “beginning of summer” thing is a pet peeve yet?)

The Summer Solstice is the pinnacle of growth and a time to celebrate the abundances in your life, whether they be intentions from the spring that have developed into fruition, the anticipated gifts of summer with ripe fruits and blooming flowers, or the unexpected blessings of surprise bounties.

Gratitude and celebration for these things is a key part of the Summer Solstice celebration, as is making a last bid for intentions you want to carry forward through the rest of the year. After today, as the days begin to wan into a shorter and shorter span, so too will the energies of the earth that nurture new life and buds as the time for harvesting comes in the wake of summer’s vigorous time of growth.

It is this spirit of gratitude and intention that I’ve carried with me as I moved through the day today.  I have so much to be grateful for… and you are at the top of the list, man.

I love you.