Month: September 2020

Appreciating Opportunities

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was put off because I ended up oversleeping.  I’m not even sure why I overslept but damn did I ever.   So… I bounced out of bed directly into work today so that I could make sure to get my orders done.  I’ll do a meditation before bed.  It’s not the same, but it’ll happen.

Hush Tarot - Ace of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of  the “seed” of new opportunities and new potential in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, and manifestations.

What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is the key that is held in the dove’s beak.  To me the key is a symbol of opportunity, which weighs out over possibilities in the imagery here today.  It also appears that the bird is smiling.  Yes, I know that birds can’t smile, but it really does appear to me that there is a smile on that bird’s face.

The message in today’s card is that sometimes you have to grab hold of the opportunities presented to you and run with them.  Held high above the tangle below, the key of opportunity in its beak, this card is reminding me that I have the key to my own future.

Sometimes?  It’s good to take a moment to just sit with that truth instead of planning or leaping forward.  Instead, just taking a moment to appreciate just how fortunate you are and the possibilities that are open to you is enough.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: What helps me achieve my goals?

Samiramay Tarot

Reading Summary: Standing up for what you believe in (Seven of Wands) is a learning experience (Page of Cups). This means that I come out of the other side of these conflicts a winner (Five of Swords) even when I appear to have lost.

The Two of Cups is an outlier in this reading, reminding me to be open to others input and involvement.  This reminder then ties into the other three indicating that when I allow myself to be more open to others I further benefit from the conflicts indicated in the previsions cards, and at times may develop new friendships out of those conflicts as well.

Take Away:  Learning from the battles that I choose to fight, no matter if I come out of the conflict on top of the bottom.  Trusting in others and welcoming others into my life that allow for supportive relationships to thrive.

DECK USED:  SAMIRAMAY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How will my courage be tested this autumn season?

Haindl TarotReading Summary: Feeling like I’m prepared and ready to go, and have all the tools to deal with my responsibilities (The Magician). Then a moment of crushing disappointment that lead to discontent (Five of Cups… “crushing” is due to the imagery in the  card). You’ll end up feeling blocked from making any positive progress (The Universe Rx) and have to start over (The Fool).

Take Away: I’m going to take this as a warning of something I need to work at avoiding.  The cards here indicate that my courage will be tested this Autumn by a situation where I “drop the ball” and seriously fuck up due to over confidence in my abilities to deal with things.  The results of which bring me to having to start over from the beginning.   I’d rather avoid that if possible, so I’m going to do my best to keep an eye out for the development of this situation so that I can side-step it if possible.

DECK USED:  HAINDL TAROT

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: What (more) do I have to offer that could benefit my direct surroundings, or the community/communities I am part of?

Joe Sparrow Tarot

Reading Summary: Offering at my expense (Seven of Swords) more leadership (Emperor) and perspectives (The Hanged Man).

Take Away:  The cards here indicate that I have the ability to offer more leadership and perspectives to others in my community, but in doing so, it will be at my own personal expense.  Although this reading indicates what I have to offer, there is a warning here reminding me not to over-extend myself.

DECK USED:  JOE SPARROW TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_5707Radiance

Clashing colors
attract the eye
in a cacophony
of hues
that don’t match
and yet
draw you in
all the same.

Is this what bees feel like?

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Willpower and Resourcefulness

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6221Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was a yoga nidra meditation with interval timer. It was a guided meditation, and based on moving one’s consciousness and awareness through the body slowly starting at the head and moving to the toes.  At each part of the body you stop and pause, acknowledge the sensations present and breathe into that area, then exhale and move on to the next. 

I’ve mentioned before that nidra meditations are my absolute favorite.  I love the amount of relaxation I can get from following the process from one part of the body to another in this manner.

The actual focus of the nidra in this particular guided meditation had to do with acknowledgement of sensation.  Sometimes, when we are looking for sensation, we forget about all the sensations we’re experiencing.  It’s easy, when say… focused on your arm.  To focus there and say “no, I don’t feel anything” because the muscle isn’t sore and there’s no pain or discomfort.  But that doesn’t mean that sensation it’s present.  There’s the sensation of cloth touching flesh, of air currents on skin, etc.  These are also just as much sensation as a tickle, pinch, or pain.  

The key being that when we let go of the expectation of what we should be looking for or are supposed to feel, it frees us up to experiencing what’s actually there in the moment.

Botan Tarot - The MagicianToday’s draw is the Magician, which is traditionally a representation of having all the “tools”, skills, abilities, and knowledge to do what needs doing.  The Magician is knowledgeable, resourceful, and capable, and it is these energies and qualities that are brought into play when this card makes an appearance.

What really stands out to me this card is that keen gaze.  You would think that it would be the tattoos that draw my eyes, and yet that is not where my gaze is drawn when I see this card today.  It’s all about the eyes. They feel clever and cunning and knowledgeable, grounded.  Prepared.  He is the Eagle Scout of the tattoo’d hotties, looking out at me as if to say “you know the answer”.

And that’s the message in today’s card.  I know the answer.  **I** am capable, knowledgeable, grounded, resourceful, and clever.  **I** am more than able to take on the world and bend it to my will, or adapt as needed when bending things my way is not an option.  Today’s card is a reminder that I am a strong and fully capable man more than able to handle what may come.

DECK USED:  BOTAN TAROT

#Zentember #LovelyHealing Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I accept life more fully?

Lonely Dreamer Tarot

Reading Summary: Worries and anxieties (Nine of Swords) are blocking your path and holding you back (Nine of Wands). Make the choice (Two of Swords) to overcome (Yellow in Two of Swords) pessimism instead of giving into it (Five of Cups).

Take Away: The cards here make it clear that the worries and anxieties that are blocking my path and stirring up my pessimistic side are something I have a choice about.  This is not an uncontrollable situation and I need to (as readings prior to this have also indicated over the past week) make sure I am making the conscious decision to lean into optimism and positive thought rather than sinking into the habitual pessimism that is my regular tendency.

DECK USED:  LONELY DREAMER TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1
 How can I create a greater feeling of contentment in my life?

Tarot LeavesReading Summary: Make sure you’re paying attention (Two of Swords) to your inner dialogue (Ace of Swords) and choose a nurturing approach (Empress) rather than a sharp one (Sword imagery in the Ace).

Although leaf shape between the Ace and Two of Swords is very similar and connects these two cards, it is the blues that blend through the three cards, purifying and darkening as they go from the Ace of Swords through the Empress that really catches my eye.

The purity of the blue in the Empress card indicates to me that it is the key player in this spread, ranked in importance above the muffled colors in the Two of Swords and the impure greenish tinge of the blue in the Ace of Swords. Just as that color dynamic speaks to me of a leaning toward the Empress, putting weight upon her importance in these cards, the impression is further reinforced by the purity of the green in the Empress which (like the blues) holds weight in the spread over the more muddled greens in the Ace of Swords.

The red ribbon in the Two of Swords is a splash of color that catches the eye and holds its own weight as it corresponds to the woman’s blindfold, indicating that this card is not about choice in this instance, but about being blinded and not paying attention.

Take Away: I am notoriously hard on myself and that is what the cards are calling me out on in this reading.  In order to create a greater feeling of contentment in my life, I need to be paying close attention to my inner dialog and course correcting any negativity and unpleasant pessimism into a more nurturing vein of encouragement.

DECK USED:  TAROT LEAVES

Lionharts #AstroTarotChallenge
Question: How/What am I currently contributing to my culture, social space, or direct environment?

The Painted Tarot

Reading Summary: I’m generous with my time (Seven of Pentacles), my ear, and my support (Queen of Cups) when others are feeling uncertain or lost (Moon).

Take Away: I contribute to my social space and direct environment by giving of myself.  This includes not just my time but also my support.  I make space for others who are feeling confused or uncertain, providing them with an ear to listen to what they need to get out and try to cast a healing light to help keep that darkness they are experiencing in check.

DECK USED:  THE PAINTED TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What makes me bulletproof?

Brady Tarot 2nd Edition

Ace of Arrows (Truth) – I demand truth, and I “speak” it in turn. It’s not worth it to waste my time on lies and half truths, and  I do not expect to be coddled or pandered to by others. Instead, I would rather know the whole truth up front so that if it is unpleasant I can deal with the fall out and quickly move on from that to other important matters.

High Priestess – My intuition and moral compass.  I am lead by them and I follow them without question, depending upon what they say as absolute truth. I trustingly move to the beat of their drum because I understand that they are whispering secrets in my ear and telling me things I need to know, providing guidance to my benefit, and providing information that would otherwise be beyond my ken.

Mother of Feathers – I like to help others when I can and I give good advice, and have absolutely no trouble admitting I’m wrong when it happens, especially if it is going to give me the opportunity to learn from my mistake. Sometimes I can have a “sharp tongue”, but there is a reason for this when it happens, as it creates a succinct punctuation to my words that catch one’s attention in the way a gentler approach can’t always do.

DECK USED:  BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

IMG_0128Don’t Fall Through

White fluff
and light
creates
an ocean of clouds
stretching out
to a blue horizon.
A sea of
cotton softness
inviting
sweet sleep.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

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?

Sasuraibito Tarot, Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle, Sacred Rebels Oracle

Earth – Ten of Swords and Golden Poppy (Dream) – It’s time to let go of what has distracted your focus and latch on to your dreams of the future. The sedative side of the Golden Poppy is expressed in the Ten of Swords in that there is a time when you change from one cycle to the next where there is a moment of pause. A moment to rest and re-calibrate. Take this week as an opportunity to do just that. The last quarter of each year is a blur of responsibilities you’ve been able to coast slowly on over most of the year so far. It’s time to shift gears.

Air – Ten of Cups and St John’s Wort (Stabilize) – Now is the time to find your balance emotionally and focus on the abundance of positive relationships you have in your life. See clearly and communicate your feelings and your gratitude for those in your life that enrich your experiences day-to-day. Taking time to do this now will help you feel more stable and secure in the future, as you are building a foundation of confidence and comfortable security that will help balance out harder times to come.

Water – Judgement Rx and Violet (Attract) – Work on being a little less judgey and a little less of an ass.  This may not currently be being expressed blatantly in an outward way that others can put their finger on, but you know it’s true. Even hidden, these habits cause a negative reaction in others.  Make sure that you’re not jumping to conclusions this week, and you’ll be far more likely to remain in everyone’s good graces.

Fire – Ace of Pentacles and Marshmallow (Adversity) – This is not the week to start any new projects or change the status quo on any of your investments. Doing so will be an uphill climb that will expend far too much of your energy for far too little result.  Instead, take the advice given in the Earth section of this reading and use this week as a time of rest and re-calibration.  You’ll have time to explore new projects later on.

Waning – Shock of the New – Over the course of this year I’ve done a lot of exploration on “the New”.   New emotions. New ways of doing things. New ways of thinking about myself, my work, and the world around me.  So much new that at times it’s been a bit overwhelming, but I’ve allowed the tides and eddies of flowing newness take and buffet me along.  With the fall now upon us, this card indicates it’s time to start winding down on all of “the New” this week.

Waxing – Softly, Softly, The Tender Touch – Don’t push. The theme of this week is rest and re-calibration.  That doesn’t mean turn on a dime and push full force into autumn preparations.  It means taking time to gently and carefully pack away what is going to be in the way over the next little while.  This is not a funeral, it’s a gentle and temporary storage.

Take Away – Lets repeat it again.  Rest and Re-Calibration.   This is the theme that has surfaced through this reading.  Although I’m aware of the approach of the holiday rush and have plenty to do to get prepared for it, it’s going to be important that I don’t push too hard this week.  Take this time to ease into the mindset needed.  Don’t bury… don’t release… don’t smother or otherwise discount any of the work you’ve done over the summer and spring.  It’s all valid, it’s all important.  Acknowledge it and gently place it in safe keeping.   Don’t make any big decisions this week, and put some conscious thought into not being a judgemental ass… externally or internally.

DECKS USED: SASURAIBITO TAROT, HEDGEWITCH BOTANICAL ORACLE, SACRED REBELS ORACLE

Taking Time For Gratitude

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_6190Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.   The guided part of the meditation was about support.  Specifically, about asking for support from those around you when you need it, and accepting help when it’s offered instead of turning it away out of pride or other misguided emotions.

This is something in myself that I’ve been doing a lot of work with this year.  I struggle with asking for help, and to be honest?  I feel like I’m supposed to be able to do everything my damned self.  So when I then ask for help it’s not so much a blow to my pride as a consternation of a job not well done.   Add on top of that the feeling of inconveniencing others with what I consider to be my responsibilities and… yeah.

But, in working on restructuring how I deal with my responsibilities, I have been trying to ask for help more, and accept it whenever it is offered instead of waving it off with gratitude.

Hush Tarot - Nine of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is a representation of independence combined with taking stock of what you have.  This is about self-sufficiency, as well as gratitude for the abundance you have in your life and what you have accomplished.

What stands out to me the strongest in this card is the woman herself and the feathers that she wears.  This is because the woman looks very similar to a character in a movie I watched recently.  I’ve tried all damned day to try and remember the name of the movie, but it just isn’t coming to me.  The thing is, though…. this woman?  Is the spitting image of that one.  I couldn’t get the comparison out of my head.

As today is self care Saturday, I feel that this card today isn’t about the imagery so much about the meaning of the card itself.  It’s about not allowing the pessimism and negative inner dialog to grab hold.  It’s an encouragement to count my blessings and focus upon  gratitude for the abundances in my life.

DECK USED:  HUSH TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What am I ignoring that needs rooted out and dealt with?

20th Century TarotReading Summary: The go-get’em push of passion and drive (Knight of Wands) clobbering emotional wealth (King of Cups).

Hope (The Star) overshadowing despair (Three of Swords) and allowing that hope to lean into the innocent enthusiasm of youth (The Fool).

The three cards at the end are (yet again) about moving carefully and taking care (Knight of Pentacles) as I choose my battles (Five of Cups).   The advice here being not to allow naivete and foolishness to overcome my  caution (the two cards atop The Fool).

Take Away: This deck has a really interesting way of speaking.

The answer to what needs rooted out and dealt with is my impulsivity and negativity.  The cards here (rightly) indicate that there are times when these two things feed off of each other and create disappointing or even heartbreaking situations that could otherwise have been avoided with a bit of caution and restraint.  Taking your time at something isn’t a bad thing, no matter how much it sometimes feels like it should be.

DECK USED:  20TH CENTURY TAROT