Transitioning from June to July

This is a spread that I do at the end of each month to close out the month.

Brady Tarot and Nature's Wisdom Oracle

Individuality High Priestess and Dragonfly – You are currently in a place of spiritual growth and transformation.  As you explore your emotions, you are transforming more than that small aspect of your life.  Like ripples in a pond, these changes spread outward into other areas.  Those ripples hold within them threads that tug and transform what lies beneath the surface of the water as well, allowing for permanent growth through a shifting within the subconscious and spiritual realms.

Dependence Hermit, Hanged Man Rx, Orchid – You are currently in the process of finding healthier ways of using your alone time. Let go of the tendency to retreat into the self and close yourself off. Stop using your obsessions to self-soothe as it is not healthy.

Creativity Nine of Horns, Justice, Lotus – You are currently seeking a balance of emotional fulfillment and awakening.  You’re struggling a bit with finding that balance because of impatience, and you need to make sure that you are keeping in mind that this is a process that takes time and will not be forced but rather progress naturally, much like the process of reindeer shedding antlers.

Limitation Father of Roots and Jack in the Pulpit – Don’t get so wrapped up in what you have done that you forget to assess where you are and what’s coming.  In this time of change it’s important to stay open to possibilities instead of staid and stagnant in your assessments and focus.

Change Magician and Luna Moth – Keep in mind that you already possess all of the tools and skills needed to continue along this path of growth you’re currently on.  Don’t allow darkness to creep in and create doubts or  unnecessary strife. Focus on the light and stay positive.

Sympathy Ace of Feathers, Two of Roots, Hummingbird – These times in which you have allowed yourself to forsake your inspiration and creative spark, taking it for granted and leaving it behind to pour your energy into the drive of your responsibilities and obligations, have hurt you even if you haven’t taken the time to acknowledge it. These wounds linger and are a negative influence on your current growth and goals.

Luck The World and Nautilus – You’ve gone through transitions in development before and know that these times of growth and change are a process that takes time. Organization and structure always makes you feel a bit more in control, and it would help in this instance as well if you let it.

Power Eight of Feathers, Chariot, Pumpkin – Pay attention that you don’t get too comfortable and confidence in the pause of stability you currently find yourself in. Things can change in a heartbeat, and you need make sure you are prepared so that you can control the situation when it strikes.

Responsibility The Tower and Iguana – Keep yourself open to communicating with those around you, even when things feel like a struggle.  Don’t close up, as the opportunity these events provides to you is about increasing your bond with others through communicating with them about what is going on when things feel chaotic, and allowing them in to help.

Message from Spirit World – Hurdles require a sense of optimism and confidence in your abilities.  Make sure your connection with others is strong.  Sometimes shit hits the fan fast, and it’s important to foster these connections and qualities in yourself so that you are prepared.

Message from Mind’s World –  You are slowly learning that closing yourself off blinds you to what’s going on around you and within you as well.  Staying open and aware, and grateful for what you have will better allow you to move through these transitions with grace and further your growth along the way.

Message from Known World – Stop limiting yourself by training all of your focus and attention on the physical world and the responsibilities that lie within it.  There’s more going on than what lies on the surface and in order to move through the growth and transitions in your life right now, you need to open yourself up more and give yourself a foundation of order and organization that will allow you to open up more fully while still feeling secure.

DECKS USED: THE BRADY TAROT, NATURE’S WISDOM ORACLE

Don’t Discount Your Emotions

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and ended in a nap.  I meant to eat, and then lie down for ten minutes for my meditation before hopping online.  Instead I ate, laid down for ten minutes to meditate… and dozed off. Which sucked, but I’m glad that I at least got my meditation in.    Today’s meditation entailed Miss Luna snugging up against the side of my head and purring for me, and I spent my meditation focusing on the rhythmic rumble of her purrs.

Herbal Tarot - Two of Swords - PassionflowerToday’s draw is the Two of Swords, which is traditionally interpreted as a struggle in making a difficult decision or coming to an impasse where you have to pause and carefully consider your options.

What stands out to me the strongest in today’s card is the water in the background. This speaks to me of the decisions being made having an emotional component.  Perhaps the emotions are making the logical choice not the right choice and that is causing a conflict and struggle in making a decision.

The passiflora did not stand out to me at all in this card today, so I am not including it in the interpretation.

The message in today’s card is to make sure you don’t discount your emotions when making important decisions.  This is something I have a habit of doing pretty much all the time, and as a part of my emotional growth, this is something I’m trying to change.  The reminder is needed, because sometimes I forget.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question
: Where am I being invited to challenge myself?

Tattoo Tarot Ink & Intuition

Reading Summary: Being kind to myself both physically (The Empress) and mentally (Knave of Swords), and slowing the fuck down (Nine of Wands with Knave of Wands).

Take Away:  I get this reminder a lot and it is fitting that it would appear here when asked what I’m invited to challenge myself concerning.  Being nice to myself is not an easy task for me, and takes a lot of conscious effort… so does slowing down and pacing myself.  They are both worthy of the effort put in, but they are definitely not simple or easy for me to do.

DECK USED:  TATTOO TAROT INK & INTUITION

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: Write something free form inspired by the cards.

Japaridze TarotShe played from the heart
Opening up to all
Laying bare her treasure
Sharing her emotions
to all that would listen
and in each note
the immersive experience
took the spectators deeper
taught them more
opened their own hearts
and their own souls
were left bare as well. 

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question
: Where or in what way did I grow this month?

The Crystal TarotReading Summary: Being more aware of the help around me that is out there for me if I reach for it (Five of Pentacles) rather than giving in to the temptation to continue following the ingrained habit (The Devil) of keeping my head down and plowing ahead (Eight of Wands).

Take Away: The cards here indicate that I’m doing better at not just being aware that there is help available to me when I need it, but actually asking for it and allowing that help rather than pushing it away and plowing onward alone under the weight.

DECK USED:  THE CRYSTAL TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: Where do I want to be in 10, 15, and 20 years from now?

Fanuna's Tarot

Ten Years – Happy and looking back on the past with fondness.

Fifteen Years – Full of energy and oomph and passionate enough about my inspirational pursuits to fight for them.

Twenty Years – Still driven by passionate nature, and finding new and interesting things that kindle my inner spark to go after.

DECK USED:  FANUNA’S TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

IMG_6336Love is

Delicate
yet resilient,
Surprising
and yet comforting.
It lifts the spirit
and calms the soul
It scatters joy
through each day
and every moment.

Thank you for your love.  I am so proud and so grateful for every single moment we have together and all the love and care you pour into my life without reserve or condition.  You are such a remarkable man… and that you’re mine makes me the luckiest man in the world.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Staying Centered

I’m playing a bit of catch up today.  I know that I meditated on the 29th, but I’m not sure for how long or the method I used since I’m now finishing up on writing this post on July 1st.  I did meditate tho… so there’s that.

Herbal Tarot - Medicine Wheel of Fortune - Slippery ElmToday’s draw is the Medicine Wheel (Wheel of Fortune) which is traditionally a representation of the unpredictability of life and the ups and downs we go through as we move through our lives.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but the Medicine Wheel reference on this card makes me a bit uncomfortable.  This deck is very diverse… but it doesn’t tip into appropriation (IMO) anywhere but in this card and the use of the native wording on the card and references in the book.   I don’t see the imagery on this card as a medicine wheel at all, but rather as a sort of faerie ring in stone around a mighty elm tree.  I see incognito Fae encircling something respected and sacred.

Spiritually speaking, Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm) is a representation of nourishing encouragement, strength, and the soothing of the spirit.  It is often used in workings that involve assisting in the acceptance of change, and centering the inner self while moving through transitions with ease.  Medically, it is an antiemetic with high nutrient content, meaning that even when someone is extremely sick and nausea, they can usually tolerate the herb if given in tea form or added as a powder to foods such as oatmeal or soup.

What I see here as the message in today’s card is a reminder to stay close to the center of the wheel.   In other words?  Stay centered.   Roller coasters and amusement park rides are all well and good for a few seconds, but when you incorporate that energy into your life it becomes a chaotic mess.   Stay centered and focused, and it’ll all work out just fine.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question
: Who in my life could benefit from some extra affection at this time?

Dream Raven Tarot

Reading Summary: All of them (Ten of Cups). Don’t overtax yourself or beat yourself up about this (Seven of Wands), you love them all and do what you can for them and they know this (King of Wands). You aren’t slacking, they’re just greedy (Six of Cups). Stay balanced, because you just can’t please everybody all the time (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Everyone in my life could benefit from me giving them some extra affection, but this is because they love me and… because they love me they are greedy for that affection.  It doesn’t mean I’m neglecting them, nor does it mean I’m doing anything wrong by keeping things in balance and doing what works (and is healthy) for me.

DECK USED:  DREAM RAVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question
: How can I carry more joy forward into the future?

Grimalkin Tarot Reading Summary: Develop new ways to incorporate your current passions and your creative spark into more of your life (Page of Wands), and work at keeping your inner critic in check (ignoring the red bird in favor of the dove in the Queen of Swords). You’re strong enough to make these changes (Strength).

Take Away:  Incorporating more joy into my life involves making sure that my inner critic’s voice is not allowed to carry as much weight as I would usually give it, but also requires following the spark of inspiration and creative interest when it flares up rather than ignoring it or pushing it aside.  Instead, make room for these things that kindle that inner spark.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question
: What am I asked to take with me moving forward?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Stop worrying so much (Nine of Swords) and make your transition with grace (The World). This change you are slowly moving through (Death) is not as scary or complicated as you’re making it out to be (The Moon Rx).

Take Away:   Confidence and grace, while leaving behind my fear.  Making changes like those I’ve been working towards are not easy and take time.  Sometimes it seems like a constant uphill battle or feels like I’m going to fail. Sometimes anxiety over what the new results will look like rise up to make me squirm.  The encouragement in these cards is a reminder to stay centered and focused, and not allow these things to distract me.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How will I know I am on track?

Trippin' Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: Gideon will help with that (King of Cups). Just stay calm and take your time (Temperance), and make good choices (The Lovers).

Take Away:  Well, you are not always the King of Cups in every reading where this card shows up.  But you are in this one.  Knowing that I stay on track is a group effort.  I need the outside input from those that know me the most and best.  As long as I listen to that input and stay true to my path and that slow progress, making the choices that feel right to my inner compass along the way, then I’ll continue to be on track and be able to feel (through my inner compass) that I have not deviated.

DECK USED:  TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT

The Fight for Justice vs Self Care

A reading topic posted on one of the Discord servers that I’m a member of.  I was curious what the cards would say for this topic, so I decided to go ahead and give it a go.

The question is… The world is full of those we need to stand up for, and/or things that we need to continue to fight for ourselves. Spend some time with your divination tools meditating on how to balance fighting for justice with internal peace and self-care this week.

Tarot of the Animal LordsMyselfKnave of Chalices – You are currently going through a time of transition where you are in the process of learning about your emotions, how to live with and balance (instead of suppress and ignore) your emotions, and while doing so, experiencing a depth within your emotions that you’ve never experienced before.

The Fight for JusticeFive of Pentacles – If you want to continue upon your path of growth, this isn’t a good choice right now. Even if you are able to take the steps to allow others to support you on this path, you will need to close down that emotional growth to protect yourself, as keeping yourself open and vulnerable during conflict is a very bad idea.

Personal Peace & Self CareFour of Wands – This path is not just the easier path, but the healthier path for you at this time. It offers stability and progress, as well as support from others that is both easily given by them, and easily accepted by you.

Balancing the TwoThe Fool – Take the easy road. This is not usually the best choice for you, or the healthiest choice. But in this instance, it is. Allow the fighters to fight their fight, and take the time you need to grow and develop so that you can become a better and more capable iteration of yourself.

Clarifying Card (because surely my cards aren’t telling me to mind my own business) – Two of Pentacles Rx – Yep… That’s exactly what they’re saying. Mind your own business, or upset the apple cart… your choice.

DECKS USED:  TAROT OF THE ANIMAL LORDS

Gideon’s Challenge

IMG_6676Identity

Someone
the other day
called me
a Dryad
and
I was honored.
I had
no objection
and no argument
to give.

Funny how sometimes people pay attention and you don’t even realize it’s happening until they come out with an observation out of the blue that signals they’ve learned some intricate and core part of who you are without even realizing until that moment that they have.

My connection to the earth is so strong, so essential and so very much a part of who I am that I do not often realize that it is so visible to others.  It might be silly, but it felt sort of good to have that part of myself recognized and so casually… so easily… accepted.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography