The Pause
Stand
very still
and listen
to the soft
patter
of raindrops
caught
to drip slowly
from
nature’s
fingertips
as cold
nips at the tip
of my nose.
Month: November 2020
Morning Bonus Read – Difficulties
What is difficult right now?
Ace of Wands
Keeping my motivation up and running when there’s so much to do and so little time. It becomes frustrating to feel continuously like you’re falling behind only to have a moment of “Oh, I’m caught up” show up now and then for a moment long enough to get one deep breath before the race continues.
What can I learn from this struggle?
Judgement
Sometimes it makes me feel like I want to just set it all aside and walk away, and then I remember why I’m doing all this and it helps me stay the course. It’s about independence, and being able to live my life on my terms how I want to live.
What will help me move through it?
Knight of Wands atop Seven of Swords
Strategy and cunning carried forward on my desires for what I want to accomplish. This is about determination and willpower, and the clever cunning to find a way to do it no matter what. My skill at making sure I come out on top, even while being carried through the most violent of rapids, is what will help me move through this time of lack of motivation and struggle with my inspirational spark.
What do I have to look forward to?
Four of Cups
Soon enough you’ll have time to rest and recover and meditate and enjoy all that off time again that you were struggling to get used to in the summer. And… you’ll probably struggle with again when the opportunity returns.
DECK USED: THE LUNATIC TAROT
Realistic Boundary Setting
I’m still in the process of catching up… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 25th or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.
Today’s draw is the Nine of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of setting boundaries and resilience in the face of adversity.
The snake is what stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today. That and the staff that the young man holds. The staff is not really a use against a snake in most cases, and the ability to set boundaries with a staff planted in the earth… against a snake? Is impossible.
The message today is about realism. It’s about making sure that you set realistic boundaries and expectations for yourself so that you aren’t setting yourself up for failure. The limitations and boundaries you put in place for yourself and others need to be manageable for both parties involved, or they just won’t work.
DECK USED: TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE
LionHart’s As Above So Below Challenge Prompt
Saturn Question: What {personal} boundaries should I work on, honor, respect, or acknowledge right now?
What Boundaries Should I Work On – The Wheel – It can be difficult to keep calm and carry on when the world’s going nuts and chaos is knocking on the door. Setting boundaries that keep the chaos at bay so that it doesn’t mess with your mind and emotions is important, and is something I need to work on.
What Boundaries Should I Honor – Seven of Pentacles – Sustainable progress takes time. Sometimes I get too damned impatient and I try to push when I shouldn’t. It’s important to make sure I’m honoring the process, and the time things take to turn out just right. Not everything can be done in an hour or a day… or even a year.
What Boundaries Should I Respect – Nine of Swords – Allowing my inner narrative to turn dark and vicious does no one any good and especially not myself. I need to respect the boundaries I have put in place to help me keep that negative inner voice at bay.
What Boundaries Should I Acknowledge – Knight of Pentacles – What I want is important, and the needs that drive me forward are too. The fact that I am constantly so focused on security and stability is not a bad thing and instead of spending time making excuses for it, embrace that this is what you need. Moving slow doesn’t mean you’re not moving.
DECK USED: MULTI-STABBER TAROT
#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Can a person without hope live a full and happy life?
Reading Summary: Fighting for what you desire (Five of Wands) and taking rather than earning it (Seven of Swords) because you have the skills to do so (The Magician).
Take Away: Yes. By sinking into baser pleasures and embracing hedonism and pleasures of the moment over thoughts of the future. When someone truly lives in the moment and weighs one’s personal pleasures and desires over everything else in life, they can feel as if they are living a full and complete life even without hope… as there is no looking forward to the future and thus no need for hope. Only a wallowing in the present moment, one moment at a time.
DECK USED: MARIGOLD TAROT
Heal & Transform November Challenge Prompt
Question: What personal gifts does the Universe need me to share?
Reading Summary: Comfort the hurting (imagery in the Ten of Cups) while encouraging hope (imagery in the Ace of Cups) and independence (imagery in the Six of Swords).
There is color flow here between the forehead in the first card flowing green into the center card, and the angle of the arm in the center card connecting to the flow of the tree combined with color flow to blue in the third card. This connects these three cards into a chronological flow.
Take Away: It’s nice to hear when you’re on the right track. To know that when I connect with people and help them in finding a path that is uniquely theirs, that in doing so it’s more than just something that feels good to me but a calling. And that, too, feels right. Like… a stone placed in a stream to redirect the flow of water just so.
DECK USED: SWEENEY TAROT
Gideon’s Challenge
Radiant Whispers
Golden bursts
of bright leaves
radiant
in the gray light
of cloudy
afternoon skies
welcome visitors
to wander
as they
whisper
to each other
about
warmer days
gone by.
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Weekly Creativity Prompt – Seattle
Prompt: Pull up to three cards use them as the inspiration to describe an evening stroll (real or fictional) near you.
The Magician – In the air swirls the scent of sweet jasmine dying on the vine, a cool breeze swirling through the air carrying the soft lick moisture and a slight nip of chill. Dressed in warm sweater and jacket with thick socks and boots on my feet, I wander along a pale sidewalk dyed in speckled shades of autumn leaves once fallen and now washed away.
The Hierophant – A breeze causes a breath of sound that skims in a hissing whisper through nearly bare branches, the hint of brine in the air speaking of low tides and seagull feasts not seen, but promised all the same. The nose tells of more than just low tide and exposed barnacles, but Saturday dinners of pork fried rice and sizzling casseroles as wafting scents of grilled cheese tinge the air.
The Wheel of Fortune – Looking up as I move along the sidewalk, low clouds lit by city lights billow still and gray above, hovering low and close in the night sky, and a fat raindrop falls to splash on a flushed cheek. Another follows to pat down on a shoulder, then another on my nose. Dressed warmly, I am prepared… and yet I’ll still be soaked by the time I make it home.
DECK USED: FATE / GRAND ORDER TAROT
Positive Memories
I’ve managed to fall behind yet again… and I can’t remember whether I meditated on the 24th or not. So I’ll leave this empty this time around as I finish up these posts that got started… but never published on the blog.
Today’s draw is the Six of Cups, which traditionally is a representation of the emotions that circle around topics of nostalgia and looking back into the past and embracing the joy and innocence that often comes with childhood memories and remembering past relationships.
What really stands out to me in the imagery of this card today is how much gold there is in the picture. A golden glow seems to enshroud the entire scene, casting it alight in warm hues.
The message her is a reminder to keep your attention focused on the positive when you take a wander down memory lane. Don’t allow yourself to stray off the path into the dark woods, but rather stay in that golden glow of warmth and positivity.
DECK USED: TRADITIONAL MANGA TAROT
#DiscordTarotolicsNov2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Advice I need to hear at this time concerning my personal growth.
Reading Summary: You’re going to pay for it (Justice) if you don’t allow yourself some rest (Four of Coins) and keep striving for a positive perspective during this busy time (The Star). It won’t last forever (Eight of Cups).
Take Away: The holiday rush is a really difficult time for me on a number of different levels. The reminder here that it doesn’t last forever is a good one, but doesn’t excuse not getting enough rest or allowing yourself to fall into those darker negative inner dialogues that can often drag you down. Personal upkeep, but on a physical level and an emotional one are no less important now than any other time of year, just harder to fit in for a brief amount of time.
Twisting the Leaf 