Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Phone Call

Pull at least three cards and use them to… write about a (real or fictional) call that was a wrong number.

La Corte dei Tarocchi

The Phone Call

There came a time many years ago where a boy filled with youth and potential (Il Sole) lay within a bed, his body broken into pieces (La Torre di Babele).

Lying within the bed after one of the many surgeries needed to put the boy’s body back together, he almost ignored the call when the phone beside his bed rang.  Almost. Instead, exhausted and disheartened, he answered.

On the other side of the line came a man’s voice.  A voice he had never heard before.  The man was confused and struggling, driving in the rain and lost in an unfamiliar city.  He was on his way to a blind date, and couldn’t figure out which way to go (Gli Innamorati). He had meant to call his date and get directions, but had clearly dialed the wrong number.

The man, oblivious to the boy’s own plight,  was all worked up and expressed that he was greatly tempted to just turn around and go back home (Il Diavolo), writing his date off as a flop and accepting (although mournfully) that perhaps he was meant to be alone forever (L’eremita).

The boy in his recovery bed felt bad for the man and his struggle.  He felt that no one that longed so deeply to find a connection with another should allow their fear to keep them from finding that connection, and he said as much to the man.

He told the man that he should go through with the date, because after all… what if (La Ruota della Fortuna) this woman is the person that the man has been waiting for his entire life? (Il Guidizio)

In talking with the boy, this premise gave the man hope (Le Stelle), and he decided to try and go through with the date after all.

The boy in his bed did a search of the man’s destination on his tablet, and pulled up a map with directions (Il Bagatto) to the place that the man was supposed to go.  As the man drove, the boy talked the man through the steps to get to his destination (La Luna and Il Carro).

Once at his destination, the call ended with the boy wishing the man good luck, and the boy then went back to his rest and healing.  The call was soon  forgotten in the fog of medications, surgeries, and physiotherapy in the days and months that passed.

Then one day, a few months later, the boy’s phone rang again with an unfamiliar number. Again it was the same man!  This time calling calm and happy (La Temperanza) and wanting to thank the boy.

He told the boy that on the night of the first call, the man had been dead set on going home.  But, the boy’s encouragement had given him hope and, in going through with the date, he had indeed met the person he’s been waiting his entire life to find.  The man had called to thank the boy, for the man’s life had completely transformed because of this date (La Morte), and he told the boy that he and the woman from the blind date were going to be married (Il Papa).  This news gave the boy pleasure and hope, and he worked even harder to recover so that he could dance at their wedding.

DECK USED: LA CORTE DEI TAROCCHI

 

Be Nice

Today’s meditation was a little over thirty minutes long, and was not a guided meditation.  Instead, I spent those fifteen minutes lying outside in the rain in the rainforest, moss and decaying vegetation under my back and water soaking through my clothes.

Feeling at home and comfortable there, I did an advanced grounding, visualizing roots reaching from where my body touched the earth and down through the moss into the soil, digging deep.

Pulling energy from the earth, I condensed that energy into my body until I was full to bursting, then allowed it to burst outward like a balloon bursting expels its air, slamming off and away from me the residual energies that had remained clinging to me after the party last night, essentially using the earth’s energy to blowtorch my own clean.

I did this process three times, then spent some time simply grounding and centering before returning home to shower and warm up and get the rest of my day started.

Three of Swords - Hush TarotToday’s draw is the Three of Swords, which is traditionally an indication of trials, struggles, and hardship in the areas of the mind, intellect, and communication.  This often communicates as despair, heartache, disappointment, and other experiences along that line.

What I see in the imagery of today’s card are the autumn leaves and the birds that, in this card, look far more predatory than sweet.  Combined with the flush of new blooms and the hornet with its nest in the lower left corner, what I see here speaks of caution.

After the party last night, I felt drained and struggling.  Today’s card is a reminder to take care of myself, and to be aware that you might be a bit sensitive today and make a bit of an allowance for that while being self aware and watching for signs of that bleeding out in ugly ways.

The positive here is the encouragement towards self awareness and self care.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#TarotForGrowthMarch Challenge Prompt
Question
: How can I navigate through challenges that may give root to overwhelm and burnout as spring approaches? (Built off yesterday’s cards.)

Fenestra Tarot

Reading Summary:  As previous reads have indicated, I need to focus on my work and my strengths (Eight of Pentacles), while taking care to practice patience with myself (Temperance) and making room for self care and growth away from the struggles and fog of the winter months (Three of Swords).

Take Away:  Diligence towards my work and business is important, but I need to make sure to keep myself from being a slave driver and ignoring the healing process that is currently ongoing.  That process is going to take time and I need to allow it to happen without pushing and prodding at myself like I am used to doing.

DECK USED:  FENESTRA TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Where am I at mentally at this time?

Darisa Tarot

Reading Summary:  I am focusing on looking for a way forward (Two of Wands) and searching for a new helper is at the top of my mind (Three of Ground).  I’m also very much focused on you today (Two of Water and Lovers).

Take Away:  Aside from the earth, one of the best and easiest ways for me to find center is to spend time with you.  I’ve needed that centering influence all day today, and so it’s not surprising that you would come up concerning where I am mentally at the moment.   The first two cards are an indication of needing to get something done that I’ve been putting off, which I will make sure gets done today.

DECK USED:  DARISA TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question
: When am I intuitively confident?

Luna Sol Tarot

Reading Summary: First very clear thought was a commentary…”Look at that sword, buddy. Don’t you think it’s a little bit too much for you?”

When I take my time considering my options rather than jumping ahead without enough preparation. One of my greatest intuitive strengths is in looking ahead.

Take Away:  My intuition works better in predictive pursuits rather than in dealing with in the moment choices and ideas that need contemplation or exploration.

DECK USED:  LUNA SOL TAROT

 

It’s All About Patience

IMG_2872Today’s meditation was was about the temporary nature of unpleasant situations.  It talked about an Icelandic concept called “Gluggavedur” or “Window Weather”.   That is to say, weather that looks beautiful from within the safe confines of your home, but is just the opposite when you step outside in it.

Applying this concept to life, the guided meditation spoke on how during times of difficulty and struggle, it’s good to emotionally step back from the problem and observe as if you are from the sidelines.  When we are not panicked and under control of volatile reactions and emotions, we can sometimes learn more from unpleasant situations than when we are fully immersed in them.

This “window weather” view also allows for the realization that nothing lasts forever.  The storm on the other side of the glass will pass, and the sun will again come out eventually.  Sometimes? You just have to stay calm and wait the bad things out.

Five of Pentacles - Circle of Life TarotToday’s draw is the Five of pentacles which is often an indication of tests, trials, and challenges in the area of one’s finances, resources, and the physical world, which including home and health issues.

What I see in the imagery of this card ties into the theme of today’s meditation.  I see the tapestry being made and its long length. The weaver and their sour expression.   They sit and they work, and they don’t seem particularly happy about it.  But you see that the weaver is not tangled up within the tapestry.  Instead they sit on the outskirts and watch that long coil spool out beside them.

Sooner or later the tapestry will be done, and the weaver will be able to put down their work and rise to move forward, not tangled within the tapestry itself, but having rode out the length of it and finished it off calmly.

As of the news I received just about 20 minutes ago (from when I wrote this post, of course)?  This message is a good one for me today.  It turns out I have to escort my sister to a work function tonight.   I don’t particularly want to go, but  her date bailed on her and she’s being honored and doesn’t want to go alone.   It’s not what I want to do with my evening.  It’s not what I need to do with my evening.

But,  I’ll do it for her.  And I’ll practice temperance and tolerance for all the celebrating drunk people because she deserves to be recognized, and to have someone there that makes her happy and comfortable to have at her side.

DECK USED:  CIRCLE OF LIFE TAROT

#TarotForGrowthMarch Challenge Prompt
Question
: What challenges might this shift present for me? (Built off yesterday’s cards.)

New Choice Tarot de Marseille

Reading Summary:  Burden (Ten of Wands) can be battled by staying attentive to what is going on within and around me (King of Wands) and keeping an open mindset of growth and learning (Page of Pentacles).

Take Away:  The message here is to take care not to close myself off.  Stay open and aware, and don’t allow myself to take on so much that I end up struggling with feelings of overwhelm and burnout.

DECK USED:  NEW CHOICE TAROT DE MARSEILLE

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: What can I do to encourage that arrival? (Built off yesterday’s cards.)

Green Witch Tarot

Reading Summary: Have patience (Four of Athames). Play along (The Greenman). And try to stay flexibly balanced (Two of Pentacles).

Take Away:  In order to allow good things to grow into being and blossom in the spring, I need to make sure that I “stay in my lane”.   Take time to rest and don’t push myself too hard, allow time for fun and let the energy of the impending spring carry me along like a leaf in the wind.  Just focus on keeping my boat afloat, and let the rest (including that persistently demanding ambition of mine) take care of itself for a while.

DECK USED:  GREEN WITCH TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question
: How can I better listen to my inner voice?

Tarot of the Golden Wheel

Reading Summary: Allow hope and positivity to flourish and set aside despair.

This read is based off imagery alone, and how the darkness on the left side of the Wheel of Fortune card contrasts with the brightness on the right side, which then flows smoothly (and nearly seamlessly) into the image on the Ten of cups.  The outsider card on the right (Three of Swords) speaks of what “does not fit” into this picture.

Take Away:  The key here in this reading is the word “allow”, which is not about controlling or demanding, it’s not about pushing and striving.  It’s about letting things happen and turning your efforts to other areas… in this case that area is in setting aside that fear and struggle from the past few months in order to clear room for better things to take root and grow.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE GOLDEN WHEEL

Seedlings and Sparks

Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and a guided meditation on gratitude, and expressing that gratitude through not just appreciation but the direction of positive energy toward those things you are grateful for.

That includes directing positive energy and thought toward yourself.  Toward others.  As well as to the world at large.  Each of these aspects of life have things about them to be grateful for, and today’s meditation included the process of first grounding and centering, and then directing that energy to each of those three aspects of life.

Ace of Wands - Hush TarotToday’s draw is the Ace of Wands which is traditionally a representation of potential and new opportunities in the area of one’s ambitions, drive, and passionate interests.

What I see in today’s card is the needle in the bird’s beak, and the tendril of hair threaded through it.  Sometimes new projects and passions take a bit of effort and sacrifice.  The girl offers her hair to the bird so that the bird can build its nest.  The needle sparkles and shins in the sunlight, sparking interest as a worker climbs the girl’s cheek representing work to be done.

This Ace of Wands speaks to me of those tenuous first moments of inspiration, when things are not yet in motion, but there’s that moment of breath… a beat of the heart, where you can -feel- how right it is… how good it will be.   It’s an encouragement to go after those little sparks of interest an allow them to carry you away… the work will be worth it.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#TarotForGrowthMarch Challenge Prompt
Question
: Energy surrounding the impending shift into spring.

Whispering Spirits Tarot

Reading Summary: Take back what’s yours (Seven of Wands) and plow right through (The Chariot) times of uncertainty (The Moon).

Take Away:  The cards indicate something that I also read in my Self-Care Saturday spread this week.  That is, that there is a surfacing coming and a re-claiming of self that will carry forward beyond this week and into the spring, pulling me out of the fog of uncertainty that I’ve been struggling with if I’m willing to be proactive in “riding the wave” to shore.

DECK USED:  WHISPERING SPIRITS TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: What good thing is ready to come into bloom in my life with the arrival of spring?

Les Métamorphoses du Jour Tarot

Reading Summary:  If I can give myself the nurturing care that I’m currently in need of (The Empress), and the room necessary to allow for emotional growth to take root (Ace of Cups), I will find that with the spring I will find a new sense of stability and camaraderie among those that I share interests and passions with (Four of Wands).

Take Away:  The spring is going to allow me to pull ahead of this fog I’ve been feeling over the past few months, but only if I allow it to happen. It will be important to not allow my grip to be too tight and controlling, either on on my emotions or by using cruelty to self to prod myself forward.

DECK USED:  LES METAMORPHOSES DU JOUR TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question
: What does intuition mean for me?

Enchanted Tarot Mini Deck

Reading Summary: The addictive (Devil) path forward (Two of Wands) to future interests (Princess of Wands over the Ten of Wands).

Take Away:  My interests always have an element of burden to them, as I have a habit of overwhelming myself with the activities and things that I love.   Intuition represents to me a path to those interests, a path I enjoy bounding down again and again, until said interests become the burden that they always had the potential to be.

To be clear… intuition is the path.  It is not the interests it leads me to but the path that takes me there.  What I do with those interests that turns them into a burden lies upon the “shoulders” of habit and the mind.

DECK USED:  ENCHANTED TAROT MINI DECK

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

These Saturday 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 is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

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

Self Care Saturday

EarthPage of Pentacles and Celestite – New opportunities are strong within the areas of finances and resources, but keep in mind that when stepping forward to explore that you need to listen to keep a calm head and listen to your inner voice.

AirFour of Wands and Agate – The cards hint at a return to self that has been missing for some time. Coming back to yourself after a time of struggle can be a wonderful thing, but it’s tender and fragile. Stabilization will be needed to keep things on an even keel.

Water – Knight of Swords and Sunstone – These cards in the position of emotion are referencing the top space that is currently at the forefront emotionally. They speak of that aggressive, go-getter energy combined with the sunstone’s restorative qualities. Together they indicate that this week is an emotionally safe time for taking this journey.

FireEmpress and Howlite – Be patient with yourself. The slow progress towards that creative spark can be frustrating, but don’t let that frustration get the better of you. Instead, take a calm and nurturing approach, and accept that recovery takes time and baby steps. This isn’t a race.

WaningOrphaned – The week ahead is going to show notable progress on stepping out of that sense of self-loss and uncertainty that I’ve been experiencing over the past couple of months. It will be an encouraging step forward out of that fog and into the light.

WaxingTruth Be Told – As the week progresses, communication will become easier and clinging bits of denial that are a part of the fog you’ve been traveling through will begin to melt away. This will allow you to see both yourself and the world around you with more clarity than you’ve managed in quite some time.

Take Away – There is a promise in these cards that speaks of emerging… surfacing from the cloying grip of the fog, if only by one step… it will be a noticeable step. A breath of fresh air and sunlight breaking through the clouds with a reminder to take things slow and allow for it all to unfurl at its own pace rather than getting impatient and frustrated.

DECKS USED: THE GUARDIANS TAROT, FREQUENZY CRYSTAL CARDS, WISDOM OF THE ORACLE CARDS