Month: October 2019

Be the Boss…. and The Better Man

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Today’s meditation was just over nine minutes long and ended up in me dozing off into a much needed nap.   I know I made it almost to the end, because I remember her talking as I dozed off, and she really only talks at the end in most of the meditations.   But, for the life of me, I couldn’t tell you what the meditation was actually about.   It was obviously quite relaxing, though, as I dropped off to sleep without any difficulty at all.

Dark Mansion Tarot Today’s draw is the Major Arcana’s Empress card, and although this card is not usually read this way, what came to mind when I saw this card this morning was “Be the better man.”   That is to say, taking the high road and moving beyond the behavior of others.

Sometimes, this can be hard, yes?  Although, I have to admit, becoming non-verbal has definitely made it a bit easier.  The fact is that without a voice, it is harder to react, and often feels that it is just not worth my time.  When you have a voice, on the other hand, it’s much easier to “pop off” when provoked.

Traditionally, the Empress is a representation of fertility, nature, and abundance.  She is the “mother nature” card, and represents a regal but nurturing energy that spans the scope of the human experience, rather than referencing any one aspect of it.

Deck Used: Dark Mansion Tarot

Bonus Reading

Another #TarotForGrowthOctober prompt.

Question: What message does my inner self have for me at this time?

Santa Muerte Tarot Reading Summary: Be the boss (The Emperor), tap into your strengths (Strength card), and do your work (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away: I think that the cards are pretty self explanatory in this reading.  They definitely jump out at me and are very clear in their message.  With the holiday rush less than a month away now, I’m down to crunch time when it comes to getting ready.   There’s a lot of work involved in the preparation for that time, and the cards are saying that I need to make sure I work hard at being prepared, because the more of the work I can get accomplished now in preparation, the smoother that rush will be once it arrives.

Deck Used: Santa Muerte Tarot

Courage and Encouragement

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Today’s meditation was just over twelve minutes long, and focused on how you react to stress.  It was an introductory guided meditation that I’ve started which will run over the next seven days.   The focus of this series of meditations is “Managing Stress”.

Halloween Tarot Today’s draw is the Ace of Bats with the Ten of Ghosts as a jumper.

The Ace of Bats (Swords) is traditionally a card of new inspiration and seeds of beginning in the area of intellect, ideas, thoughts, and communication.  This includes themes concerning breakthroughs, mental clarity, and potential.

The Ten of Ghosts (Cups) is traditionally a card dealing with endings and completion, a cycle reaching its end to begin again, renewals, and regeneration in the area of the emotions, relationships, and intuition.  This card is often known as the “happy family card” and commonly includes themes that have to do with blissful situations, harmony, and alignment with others.

When I saw today’s cards, there was a bit of an easing in my chest, but it wasn’t until I sat down and thought about what  I saw in them that I understand what this is about.   It’s about finding completion… and about that new idea that I’ve been working on lately.  The one that the cards encouraged me to keep silent on and that I have slowly been working on over the past month or two.

I’m very happy with the progress I made over the past couple of days, and what I am finding in these cards is reassurance that I’m on the right path.

Deck Used: Halloween Tarot

Bonus Reading

Another #TarotForGrowthOctober prompt.

Question: What is the root of my courage?

Reading Summary: The past experiences I have gone through (Six of Cups) have been a struggle that may at times steal my tranquility and require adaptation (Seven of Swords with Temperance), but in the end, these experiences are what allow me to grow and become stronger (Queen of Cups).

Take Away: Between the ex… and the ex’s friend.  The aspiring kidnapper of a stalker.  The car crashes and medical issues.   With each of these experiences, something within me breaks.  I am wounded by them.  Not just physically, but emotionally as well.    These experiences steal something from me, a little piece of me removed as if sliced away and spirited into the ether. 

And yet, it’s true what they say.  What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  I am stronger for all these things.  I am stronger for surviving and choosing not just to survive, but to thrive.  These experience have created deep roots and a solid foundation on which to sit upon my throne.   Is there still more to learn?   Always.   But I am not fumbling in the dark as I may have been without each experience I have come through along the way.

And there you have it.  The root of my courage comes from the experiences I have lived through, and grown from.

Deck Used: Luis Royo’s Labyrinth Tarot

The Mystery Continues

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and I really feel like they’re beating a dead horse lately.  Just saying, but today’s focus was once again upon the journey instead of the destination and how that relates to meditation.

I know it’s a message that lots of people (myself included) need to hear now and then, but it seems like they’re in a little bit of a rut at the moment, because it feels as if all of the meditations recently have been on different ways of phrasing the exact same topic.

Maybe I need to take a break from the guided meditations and try another method for a bit.

Dark Mansion Tarot Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which seems to be showing up quite a bit lately.  The Eight of Cups is about walking away, and about taking a new path.  I can’t help but think that this is a continuation on yesterday’s bonus reading, and you hit the nail on the head concerning what was missing from that reading btw.

I don’t know.  The answer to your question about yesterday’s bonus reading is that I don’t know.  But I’m again being prompted to make the choice of releasing myself from something that I’m not just intellectually invested on, but emotionally invested in as well.  The reading yesterday then spoke of returning to it with a new perspective and fresh ideas.

I’m still in the dark, although I think that the cards are definitely -trying- to help me realize what idea I’m hitting a brick wall on.  And the ‘out of sorts’ I’ve been feeling lately indicates that I am indeed hitting a brick wall.   I just need to figure out… on what.

Deck Used: Dark Mansion Tarot

Bonus Reading

Another #TarotForGrowthOctober prompt.

Question: In what way am I stronger than I realize?

Tarot of the Sweet Twilight Reading Summary: Making positive (The Sun) choices concerning my passions interests (Two of Wands), and mastering the skills necessary to bring those pursuits into reality (Eight of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Sometimes I lose touch with the joy that I feel in the creation of something new.  Something that is uniquely mine. My creation, my passion, my idea… something brought from nothing into reality.  I forget about the joy and the spark sometimes.   The reading today is a reminder of that joy.  My obvious strength is that ability to create, that skill at manifestation…. the hidden talent is in the joy I bring to the process.  It’s sometimes hidden even from me.  And I think it’s time to get back in touch with it again.

Deck Used: Tarot of the Sweet Twilight

Self Care Saturday (on Sunday)

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As I’ve mentioned before, these readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and are not meant as a predictive reading.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

SCS

Earth – Five of Cups and Snake – The fear and temptation to feel that failure is afoot. This is not surprising to come up at this time of year, as it is the “lull” before the busy season and I am always super worried right before the busy season comes into being. Focusing on self care in this environment means doing my best to enjoy the free time I have while I have it, and doing my best not to “predict” what hasn’t yet come to pass. Don’t let my worries run away with me.

Air – The Magician and Dragon – On the intellectual side of the project I’m planning on working on this week, I have all the tools and knowledge I need to get it done. Now is a fortuitous time to do the work, so get going and do the work while the timing is good.

Water – Six of Cups and Moon – Sometimes taking trips down memory lane is a bad idea. I’ve received this message in some other readings over the past week or two. This is a reminder to stay in the present and let the dead and dying lie in my wake. Don’t stir the waters right now, as I may not like what surfaces if I do.

Fire – The Lovers, Ribbon, and Spider – Plan carefully and lean heavily toward receptive “feminine” energies with my choices this week in relation to my passions and interests.

Moving Away From – Ghost – Stop brewing over regrets and past mistakes. It’s time to look forward rather than over your shoulder. Find the new path instead of ruminating on the one left behind.

Heading Toward – Owl – Thought before action. Make sure you are strategizing instead of just acting on instinct or what seems most appealing in the moment.

Moral of the Story – I have been sort of hesitating and holding back on finishing a project that I started earlier in the fall. I haven’t really understood why I’ve been holding back on it, but I know that part of it had to do with worries about my worth and abilities. This week’s spread indicates that the time is now upon me and I have everything I need to get the project done. I just need to remember to focus on a plan of action with solid strategy behind it and stick to it… and lean to the left.

Decks Used: Deviant Moon Tarot, Mildred Payne’s Pocket Oracle, Halloween Oracle

 

Loosen Up

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and I had a very difficult time focusing.  I can’t even really remember what she was talking about in this one, because my mind kept flitting off in different directions and needing to be pulled back in again.   I did stay through the entire ten minutes, though, and repeatedly brought my attention back to the now and my breath each time I caught my mind wandering off in one direction or another.

Halloween Tarot Today’s draw is the Six of Ghosts (Cups) which is a representation of harmony, vitality, and nostalgia in the area of the emotions, intuition, and relationships.

When I saw this card today, my intuition did not see nostalgia, which seems to be the most common interpretation of this card.   Instead, what I see is fun and harmony.

Today’s card is a reminder that things don’t have to be so serious all the time. It’s okay to lighten up and have some fun now and then.

This is something that I often forget.  I get so wrapped up in my goals and responsibilities, that I forget to step back and have a laugh and a lark.

Deck Used: Halloween Tarot

Bonus Reading

Another #TarotForGrowthOctober prompt.  I’ve surprisingly managed to keep this challenge going for twelve days now.

Question: Where may I need to release some control?

Deviant Moon Tarot Reading Summary: When you reach a dead end on an idea (Ten of Swords), sometimes you have to start fresh with a new perspective (The Fool), and work at making better choices the second time around (Two of Wands).

Take Away: When I run across an idea that I’ve reached a dead end on, the releasing of control referenced in the question for the reading has to do with letting go of the tight grip I have on that idea, regrouping with a new perspective, and then trying again from a place of discovery.    This is a process that is very difficult for me.  I hate letting go of ideas I get invested in, but like the an untenable position of the fellow in the box of knives on the first card, sometimes its the only way to progress.

Deck Used: Deviant Moon Tarot (Borderless Edition)

 

Gender, Identity, and Paganism

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This week’s question from the Pagan Perspective YouTube channel is about gender, as well as how gender factors into your pagan practice and beliefs.

lgbtq

Topic for the Week of 10/7: 

Part 1 from Jack Place: “Your thoughts on transgender people and the difference between bio sex and mental sex.”

Honestly?  I don’t really care.  I’m Pansexual and see people, not gender.  My only issue is when it comes to pronouns.  I really hate the whole pronoun thing, because there is so much room for confusion, mistake, and accidental offense.

Part 2 from MintyDandyDannie: “Supposing that there is a third gender as many believe and feel, how would you react? Would it still fit in with your current beliefs? Or would it create a need for movement? How do you feel about the concept of a third gender that is not related to male or female in any way?”

For this part of this week’s question, I think need to start out by explaining why the second part of the question is phrased as it is, and why it would even matter.

In many pagan practices (such as Wicca, for example), there is worship of the God and Goddess.  This includes mythos that follows the wheel of the year where the goddess and god are intertwined from conception to birth to growth, to adulthood and conception again, rinse and repeat.  In these religions, adding in a third gender could, I suppose, upset the balance.

Obviously, as I’ve mentioned this before, this is not my path.  My path deals with nature, the elements, and the energies of creation, evolution, and balance. There is no deity.

Yes, there is a yin and yang to the balance of all things, but although it is often “classified” as masculine and feminine, it has nothing to do with gender.  Those terms are used for in discussion of these energies more due to “stereotypical stereotypes” than accuracy. (And, isn’t that one hell of a term?)  All people and all things have both the “masculine” and “feminine” energy within them.  The terms are archaic, and yet it is because they are archaic that they are universally understood when used… and thus continue to be used.

In my tarot practice (both in reading and teaching), as well as my practice as a whole, I have moved to using the terms “projective” and “receptive” (or yin/yang depending on the situation and usage).  I think this better expresses my perceptions without confusing things with the mention of gender.   If there was a third gender?  That gender would also have projective and receptive energies within them, just as everyone and everything else does.  Therefore, it would really have no effect at all on  my beliefs or practice.