Month: November 2020

Foundations for Joy

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

unnamedToday’s meditation was just over ten minutes long and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

The topic of the guided meditation today was consideration for self.  That is to say, it spoke on caring for yourself and making sure that you give yourself kindness and patience.

The guide spoke about how when you speak to your friends and loved ones, you use compassion and patience as a part of the dialogue, and reminded the listener that this is the same way we should be speaking to ourselves.  With that same compassion and patience.  One should not treat themselves as less than one treats others, after all.  There’s no reason for it.

Traditional Manga Tarot - Four of PentaclesToday’s draw is is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally interpreted as a solidly grounded message of stability and security.  This can often also lead to interpretations of too much stability or too much security as seen in one that is miserly or greedy.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the look on the man’s face.  He just doesn’t look all that happy.  In fact, he looks downright miserable. You would think that as hard as he’s holding onto that coin in his arms, that it would make him happy, and yet… it doesn’t.

The message  here is not to get so wrapped up in monetary pursuits and the need for stability that you lose sight of what brings you joy. Security and stability allow for there to be room in your life for joy and happiness, but they are not joy and happiness in and of themselves.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Grab a spread of your choice that you’ve been curious about… and give it a go!

Scorpio Sea Tarot - Breath of Fresh Air SpreadWhat To Let Go Of – Four of Cups – Apathy and withdrawal.  These things are not your friends right now, no matter how safe they might feel in the moment.  You need those around you, and you need the connections. You need to allow your emotions space to flow even as you work… don’t shut yourself away and cut everyone else off. Remember that it’s not about “either/or” but rather about finding balance with both.

New Energy In Your Life – The Lovers -The new and better choices you have been making for yourself over the past year are trying to take root.  The soil is not as fertile during this time of the year, and it’s important to give this growth a chance by continuing to focus on making healthy choices for yourself.  Don’t ignore your needs just because things are busy and you’re caught up in the rush.

What Is To Come – Ten of Cups – Soon you will be able to delve back into the exploration of your emotions once more.  You’ll be given the opportunity for growth in this area once again, and those that love and care about you will be there to help you and support you as you return to expanding upon your emotional growth and emotional intelligence once more.

The Way Forward – King of Coins – Take ownership of your actions and responsibilities not just to the business but also to yourself and your well-being. As much energy as you put into the business, this doesn’t make it your most important responsibility no matter how much you focus on it.  Your most important responsibility is to your health and well-being.

DECK USED:  SCORPIO SEA TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Memory Lane

The beaded curtain
rustles as strands brush
like whispering
branches
at the edge
of the long field
and as
incense swirls
through the senses
memories
of autumn hikes
through
tall damp grasses
rise in the mind.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Weekly Contemplation

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week, let’s take a minute to breathe and talk with our divination tools about this holiday time.”

Favole Playing Cards by Victoria FrancesWhat am I grieving the loss of this week?
Four of Diamonds

That stability that I am so constantly craving more of.  With the holiday rush now fully upon me, there’s very little stability to be had as the world whirls around me in a chaotic cacophony of demands for my attention, all of which can’t be ignored.

What am I doing to protect my world and make it better this week?
Queen of Clubs atop Eight of Clubs

I am using my enthusiasm for that stability and security I crave to ride the energy of that chaos through the storm. This is something I have done year after year and am experienced at, and with every year that passes it’s more busy… and more fruitful.  I need to give myself over to the wild ride.

How can I partake in community and giving and accepting support from my loved ones this week?
Ten of Spades atop Queen of Hearts

(Just sayin’, but that Queen of Hearts looks like a young Z.  I mean.. wow.)
Okay, that aside.  Although the holiday rush requires physical support from my loved ones, it’s their emotional support that is really important right now even beyond the physical efforts they’re making to help me out with the business.  Gideon, Z, and L are my lifelines and I need to remember to share with them how I’m feeling rather than closing it up inside where it will fester and crush me into the dirt.

What do I have to be thankful for this week?
King of Diamonds

The holiday rush creates one big huge gigantic boon and the King of Diamonds clearly expresses exactly what that is.  The money is rolling in and that is… so fucking great.

DECK USED: BICYCLE FAVOLE PLAYING CARDS BY VICTORIA FRANCES

Listen More Closely

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_7933Today’s meditation was right at about ten minutes long today, and was a guided meditation with interval timer for my piriformis stretches.

The topic of today’s guided meditation was growth, and the discomfort that we go through as we grow.  It was about how that discomfort is natural and, although uncomfortable, is a good thing.  It’s through these growing pains that we develop into someone better, and become more than we currently are.

If, instead of accepting these growing pains and discomfort as a part of life, we instead turn around and hide from those uncomfortable feelings then we also hide from the experiences that provide us with growth and betterment.

Tarot of the Little Prince - Five of WandsToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s drive, inspiration, willpower, and determination.  This often translates into either struggles that cause you to be held back and you fight against that barrier, or impassioned conflict concerning what one believes in.

What stands out to me in this card’s image today is the fact that the snake is actually fighting using a wand.  I mean… that’s remarkable right?  Okay so when I saw this today, I thought…. “Hm, watch out for unexpected trouble.”

Although to be honest?  I really didn’t expect “unexpected trouble” to come in the guise of a crazy ass 220 pound white guy with a rage issue screaming at me to go back to my “homeland” and take the “China flu back there with you” as he handed me my ass in a parking lot.

Thank you for the warning…. I’m sorry I didn’t listen more closely this morning.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Think of a problem that needs solving and pull cards in relation to… Where To Begin / What Half Way Looks Like / How to End Things / Long Term Ramifications
Problem: Keeping up with the holiday rush

Bosch TarotWhere To Begin – Strength – Remember that you’ve got this. You are capable and strong, you have the inner stamina and strength to make it through, no matter how bad it gets.  You run this gauntlet every year, and you always make it through just fine, if feeling a little ragged by the end.

What Half Way Looks Like – The Lovers – Half way there is a good time to remember that you need to include self care.  It can be really hard to fit in those things that help you feeling refreshed when in the middle of keeping the chaos in line. But you need it.  So don’t skimp on it.

How to End Things – King of Pentacles – Flush from the holiday rush, you will have your finances in a better place than they’ve been in some time.  Make sure you invest that money wisely, save it wisely, and put it towards that stability and security you constantly crave.

Long Term Ramifications – Six of Swords – Somewhere better than where you’re at now.  Positive advancement towards improvement and being “in a better place” financially.  That is what you run this gamut for each year, after all.

DECK USED:  BOSCH TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Battered

The fallen
lies
on uneven
ground
and exhales
as wet drops
splatter
over his face
and the cold
of the ground
beneath him
eases
new aches.

Blood tastes different in the rain.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Patience, Not Pushing

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

I’ve managed to fall behind yet again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 26th or not.  I don’t think that I did, but I did manage to soak in the tub for a bit. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.

Traditional Manga Tarot - JusticeToday’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally about checks and balances.  It’s the fact that there will always be a repercussion or consequence to any action taken. Sometimes the consequences involve the law, sometimes it’s about karmic backlash from previous incarnations.  Sometimes, it’s just the nature of of cause and effect.

What stands out to me in this card’s imagery today is how calm and self contained she is.  Her posture perfect, her elbows in against her sides, ankles crossed and knees pressed. She sits silent and still, but she is not blindfolded like lady justice but rather watches quietly from that place of stillness.

The message here is about patience and being watchful.  Sometimes the smartest option is to step back and wait, watch… and listen. Sometimes the only way to get what you want is through patience instead pushing.

DECK USED:  TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT

LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Saturn Question: What {personal} limitations am I asked to accept and be more understanding of?

The Sabbath Tarot

Reading Summary: Things can’t be rainbow and sunshine (The Sun) all the time.  There are going to be times when you feel like you’re floundering and feeling hopeless (Five of Coins).  Just remember that it is through embracing yourself and fostering hope that you are able to pull yourself out of the depths (The High Priest).

Take Away:  The cards here are reminding me that it’s okay to feel down sometimes when things are going awry.  It’s okay to have bad emotions.  Don’t forget in your effort to find a more positive inner narrative and optimistic outlook that you don’t have to force it all the time.

It’s healthy to feel discouraged now and then as long as you rise above the temptation to tear into yourself about it.

DECK USED:  THE SABBATH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my family relations.

Witches Wisdom TarotReading Summary: In the dead of winter (Ten of Air) broils the brightest fire (Ace of Fire). Be ready to guide the way when the time comes (Guardian)

Take Away: It looks like L or Z (or possibly both) may be coming up with a brilliant idea sometime in the next month or two and is going to need some support to make it come to life.

The message here is to make sure that I am supporting the inspiration and passion of that idea rather than dousing it or leaving her to her own devices.  By supporting the idea and helping it in getting off the ground, I in turn am able to help protect it (and her/them) from failure.

DECK USED:  WITCHES WISDOM TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What does it mean to speak my truth?

Scorpio Sea Tarot

Reading Summary:  Growth forward into the future (Two of Wands) from passionate pursuits (Queen of Wands) into a seat of experience and knowledge (Queen of Swords).

Take Away:  In speaking my truth, it means that I am able to take my experiences and carry them forward to help others with their own.  By having had my own experiences and learned from them, I can then take that experience forward and share my knowledge with others. In doing this, in sharing this with others, I am then able to speak my truth and allow it to help others in finding theirs.

DECK USED:  SCORPIO SEA TAROT