Month: January 2021

Do What Makes You Feel Good

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Today’s meditation hasn’t happened yet.  I got up early this morning to get on the road, because I had a special hike I wanted to do.  It takes two hours to hike to the lake and nearly 45 minutes to drive to the trail head.  So if I don’t start out early at this time of the year, I won’t make it back to my car before dark. And at this time of year? It’s definitely too damned cold to be hiking after dark, even if I’m familiar with the route.   So… I will do today’s meditation before bed tonight.

Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot - The StarToday’s draw is the Star card, which is traditionally a representation of hope, optimism, positivity, successful beginnings, and spirituality.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card is the eagle that emerges from the figure’s chest, and burst of light from the solar plexus.

What I see in this card is an encouragement to do what makes you feel good.  Do what is going to light up your inner spark and give you wings.

For me, this is seeking out fresh air and wet earth, trees clinging with moss and lichen, and bodies of water chilled by mountain temps.

I went hiking.  And it was fucking glorious.

DECK USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Are all emotions irrational?

Hieronymus Bosch TarotReading Summary:  The center vessel cards here are an indication of the two sides of one’s emotions.  One is irrational and always ready to follow one’s desires irregardless of the risk involved, and on the other wside we have the slow pace and reason of emotions brought about through consideration and depth.  Shallow… and deep.

The cards on the outer edges indicate what is needed to find balance in these emotions, and are linked to the cards through color connection. The birds align with depth, speaking of the nature of those emotions to drag you down if you are not careful with their unique seduction.   The Kings of the East on the other hand represent stability and forethought, which is something the impulsive and shallow emotions lack.

Take Away: No.  Not all emotions are irrational.  Sometimes they are… and sometimes those irrational emotions can be harmful without stability to help temper them.  Sometimes our emotions are brought about through thought and depth, but here too we run the risk of them being dangerous if we are allowed to sink too deeply. 

DECK USED:  HIERONYMUS BOSCH TAROT

Purefield.Healing’s Taking My Power Back Challenge Prompt
Question: What triggers me to give my power away?

Tarot de Marseille Anima Antiqua

Nine of Coins atop Eight of Cups – When I am in need of a break so that I can have some time to appreciate what I have.  If I’m not given that rest, it can create frustration and that frustration can then cause my power and control to begin to fray and slip through my fingers.

La Papesse atop Two of Coins – When I need time away from juggling to get in touch with my inner voices and intuition.  As above, this speaks of needing a break and not getting it.  In this case it’s not so much about being overburdened as it is about needing to step off the hamster wheel for a bit and take a cleansing breath.

Le Chariot Rx – When the world is moving too fast and I feel like I’ve lost control. Another form of overwhelm where I just can’t seem to catch those threads of fraying control and there is so much going on that I let them go rather than holding on.

Take Away:  What triggers me to let go of my power is being overwhelmed or worn down to the point that I need a break.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE ANIMA ANTIQUA

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_2726Your Energy

Tendrils
of golden light
curl gentle
and tenacious
around wrists
to tangle fingers
as warmth soaks
beneath skin
even
through distance
to find sticky grip
upon my heart
and soul

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Near and Dear – The Aces

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Prompt: First, pull the Aces out of a deck of your choice. Then consider… Do you have someone in your life that fits with the theme of one of the cards? Do you have people in your life that would fit with each of them? Share the connection you see between each Ace card and the person in your life it represents. 

Insight Tarot

Ace of Pentacles – The bakery could run on its own these days, and he could spend his time in an office while others do the work.  And yet, every morning he gets up at 3AM, and is in the bakery by 4 in the morning to start the first batches of bread for the day.  This is his quiet time, where he can bake loaves of bread, buttery croissants, and sweet scones… And feel content in the fact that he’s feeding the world, and that every bit of food he brings into existence is going to feed someone, whether it’s the customers that come in to buy his breads and confections or the needy that receive what’s left at the end of each day.

Ace of Swords – If you’re stuck in a rut? This is the woman to talk to.  She’s full of ideas and happy to share with anyone that needs a little bit of encouragement.  Sit down with her and let her fill your head with the possibilities of what you could do. Brainstorm about where you’re going, and talk long into the night as you bounce ideas off each other.  She will inspire you, and give you a peek into the possibilities at your fingertips, helping you to find your way to unstuck so that you can follow those potential ideas into a new path.

Ace of Cups – He smiles without provocation, his laugh is infectious, and he cries at the drop of a hat. With his heart on his sleeve, every touching commercial causes his heart to pitterpat and his eyes to shine with tears, a happy ending will do the same, and an audio book as well.  Music creates souring emotions that he rides like a surfer rides waves, immersed in the emotions of the music as they carry him away.  He feels with every shred of his being, and loves with all his heart.  He feels pain deeply… but then, he feels everything deeply.

Ace of Wands – Her house is filled with Rubbermaid tubs, cardboard boxes, and shoe-boxes, knitting bags, totes, and skeins of yarn, scraps of fabric and wicker baskets filled with this and that.  Paints and paintbrushes, candle molds, boxes of wax, and little baubles.  Beads and pearls and epoxy mixes and everything in between.  She knows how to do everything, learning skill after skill, starting project after project… and yet none of them are ever finished before her attention is caught by the next new thing to learn, discover, and explore.

DECK USED:  INSIGHT TAROT

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

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Today’s meditation was subverted for a nap.  Apparently I needed the sleep more than I realized, as I was going to be doing a guided meditation and as soon as I settled in place… I dozed right off to sleep.   I will try to meditate again before bed.

Heaven & Earth Tarot - Nine of SwordsToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of anxiety, insomnia, and struggling with one’s inner voice and worries.

I’ve always loved this card in a wide variety of decks.  It’s one that I relate to greatly.   What stands out the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the astronomical symbols on the blanket covering the woman in the image.  Or rather, it’s the style of artwork that allows for some of those symbols to be so crisp and precise, and others to be blurred or indistinct.

I understand that this was an artistic choice, and one that was probably not intended to convey a message.  And yet, to me… it does.  It speaks of allowing yourself not to worry so much about the little things.   It’s about that phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff” because perhaps these details are so small that many wouldn’t even notice them… and perhaps so unimportant that some wouldn’t pay attention.  And yet to the artist?  These detail are very important and a conscious choice was made not to make them so minutely detailed that they took up the focus of the image as a whole.

There’s always lots and lots of things to worry about in life, but we need to make sure we don’t get so focused on the small stuff that we forget to look at the big picture and allow ourselves to get a good night’s sleep at night.  Let go of some of the small stuff and all those micromanaging inclinations… take a breath and relax.

DECK USED:  HEAVEN & EARTH TAROT

LionHart’s Elements Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: What am I asked to do about elements within myself that don’t support my plans?

Mundane Magick Tarot

 Reading Summary: Go on your merry way (The Fool) after the things that light your fire (Pupil of Lighters), and don’t allow your responsibility to others (Forecaster of Coins) to overwhelmed you (Ten of Lighters).

Take Away:  This isn’t about ignoring those elements within myself that hold me back, but rather allowing my enthusiasm to overpower them and weigh that enthusiasm as having far more weight than the responsibilities that try to drag me down.   In other words… beware the burnout that can happen when you let those that depend on you become a burden instead of an asset.

DECK USED:  MUNDANE MAGICK TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicJan2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What do I need to focus on for self-care during this new moon?

Future Vision Gem TarotReading Summary: Down moods and depression happens (Three of Swords). Use your strengths to rise above (Strength) and remember it’s only temporary (Wheel of Fortune).

Take Away: The whisper of my negative inner narrative has been flirting at the edges of my subconscious for about a week now.  The cards are a warning of the whispers that are trying to slip in and mess with my head.  They are a reminder than I am strong and I have tools at my disposal to help curb the coming depression into something more manageable.  They are also a reminder that these struggles are not permanent. They are temporary, and they will pass.

Depression often feels like it will never end, that you will never feel better and that this is feeling of depression is your existence for always.  Keeping in mind that it is temporary is an important part of making it through these times and to the other side.

DECK USED:  FUTURE VISION GEM TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_2390A Good Frolic

Lets hold hands
and wander
where the air
licks cold and wet
and pine needles
crunch underfoot
Lets get lost
together
where clouds
dip down
to kiss the earth
and weave
between
tree trunks
and branches

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Monthly Key Spread

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Lenormand Oracle by Alexander Daniloff - Monthly Key Spread

Key to Your Heart: What will guide you to make decisions that are aligned with your heart and your truths this month?

Ring – One of the heavy hitters in your life that guides you to make good decisions and always follow your inner compass is the responsibilities you carry and the commitments you have decided to take on.  Many times when you feel the need to let go and just stop, to curl up and step away, it’s these commitments and responsibilities that keep you on your path and moving forward.  The Ring card in this position indicates that this month is going to be one of those times.

Anchor: What will ground you in the face of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and existential dread in general?

Mice –  It is that anxiety and worry that helps keep me grounded in the first place.  The pressure of that nagging fear helps me to remember to ground and reach out for the support of others when I need it. The Mice card in this position is a reminder to not take for granted the crap ass shit that sometimes happens, because it’s only through trial and struggle that we grow and learn how to become better and stronger in the face of our fears in the future.

Star Wand: What accelerates your magic, creativity, and manifestation powers?

Crossroads – Having options open to me to pursue and the autonomy to be able to go in the directions that your interests and intuition leads to accelerated growth of your powers of creativity, manifestation, and magic.  It’s when you are backed into a corner or forced into a single path without the ability to make your own choices that you become stifled and your growth stagnates.

Blessings from the Stars: The Universe has got your back – how will you be supported this month?

Scythe – The universe is giving you the opportunity this month to practice your new, healthier methods of dealing with stress and discord.  Take this opportunity to cut out of your life those methods that are unhealthy and no longer working for you. Divorce yourself from these unhealthy methods, and instead pave the road forward with these newer methods you’ve been working on.

One Trick Up Your Sleeve: A life saving idea or inspiration for any unexpected challenge or difficult moments?

Dog – Lean on those you trust this month when you come upon unexpected challenges or difficult moments. Those in your life that you love, those that you trust and that are there for you through thick and thin, will be there for you now as well.   They are the added reinforcement you need when things are feeling out of whack and you’re struggling… so don’t forget that they’re there for you.  All you have to do is reach out for them.

Emergence Pt 1: What is emerging within you / within your reality right now?

Fox – That cunning creature within that makes sure everything gets done and cared for, and my responsibilities are being covered is rising up and strengthening as the month goes on. Sometimes the shit that you have to do to keep things running isn’t always fun or easy, but with a cunning mind and clever hands, you’ll make it through just fine.

Emergence Pt 2: What are you expanding towards?

Anchor – You have the opportunity to further your stability through how you react and manage the trials and struggles this month. Stability is yours if you want it, but as the cards above in this spread have indicated, you’ll have to earn it through growth spurred on by what you learn through dealing with this month’s struggles and strife.

DECK USED:  LENORMAND ORACLE BY ALEXANDER DANILOFF