Month: February 2021

Ignoring the Good Stuff

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IMG_9322Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation from the Calm app. There was no interval timer because I did not do my piriformis stretches today.

The focus of today’s meditation was on using your own actions to make the world a better place.  It spoke on something that I believe really strongly in, which is that it isn’t through massive acts of generosity or goodness that makes the biggest difference in the world, but rather it is those that consistently practice small acts of kindness and positivity.

Sometimes?  A smile is enough to lift what feels like the weight of the world off a stranger’s shoulders, allowing that smile to spread from you to them… and from them to others.  Sometimes allowing someone to step in front of you in line at the store is enough to lighten a stranger’s heart enough that they then in small ways lighten the hearts of others throughout the day. By being a good person, you encourage others to do the same, and they then encourage others as well.

Paulina Tarot - Five of CupsToday’s draw is the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the Five of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of disillusionment, apathy, pessimism, and regret.   It is about feelings that go beyond the detachment of the Four of Cups and slip into true feelings of disappointment of one form or another.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the little beetle creature offering the figure it’s sphere. The tilt of the head and down-slope of what appears to be ears makes the impression of imploring the figure to please take what is offered and the hope it will please them.

And yet the figure turns away from even this heartfelt offer, focusing instead upon what has been spilled upon the floor to the point that nothing else can break through to lift their spirits.

Like the COTD from the other day, this is a reminder not to focus on the little stuff and let it ruin the big picture.  It can if you let it. Something as small as a sliver or a hangnail can decimate a spectacularly beautiful day… if you let it.  So don’t let it.

DECK USED:  PAULINA TAROT

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question:  What can I do today that will help my future self?

Mesquite Tarot

 Reading Summary: Take things on from the long term perspective (The Hanged One) of being able to look back upon yourself and your life later on (Judgement) with pride and a sense of accomplishment (Leader of Cups).

Take Away:  The fact that this reading ends in the Leader of Cups here indicates that what is being said here is a need to focus on what makes me happy and not just what I can accomplish or be good at or succeed at.  It’s a reminder that success comes in many different forms, and I need to make sure whatever form I chase, it’s one that provides emotional satisfaction.

DECK USED:  MESQUITE TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question:  Where does your self-worth come from?

Paulina TarotReading Summary: Going through the gamut of changes (Death), uncertainties (The Moon), and choices (Seven of Cups) in life has built up my self-worth over time.

Take Away: It’s about experience and learning what you can handle, survive, move on from, and make work.  Sometimes life has felt like it’s going to break me. Tear me down and toss me into the trash.  And yet, I rise from these challenges due to the choices I have made.  Changes happen, fear happens, but it’s where you go from there that really matters. 

DECK USED:  PAULINA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I am still feeling really good about my decision to change going to the post office to today instead of Friday. Although I did run into a few problems while I was out that way, it was not as harrowing as I felt it might have been and now that I’m back home again, I feel this huge sense of relief and comfort that it’s done.

Gideon’s Challenge

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My Sanctuary

When your
head dips
and whiskers graze
it’s the bark
of the tree
my hand rests on
as I catch my breath
and your touch
upon first kiss
is the feather light
brush of moss
upon which I make
my bed

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Borrower – Part 1

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Prompt: Draw (at least) three cards. Use them to tell us a story about working in a magical library.

Fournier's Tarot Cats by Ana JuanHe took this job because he wants to be smart.  All the books and magic and amazing records.   It had to make him smart.  Of course it would make him smart!  It’s all he ever wanted in life, to be smart. (Ace of Swords)

Not that the wage was particularly good, but they’d said when he was hired that there was potential to move up in the ranks and make more later.  But then later came and went, or at least id did in his opinion. And here he is, still stuck in a starter wage, working in the library and not feeling any smarter. (Ace of Pentacles)

This is why he started to sneak out the books.  Not that he meant to.  He meant to just take the one home, and read it, and then bring it back!  But it was really confusing and so then he had to borrow an easier one to help him with the harder one.  And then the next thing he knew there were three books in his home.  And then four!  They’re breeding like rabbits! Except they aren’t breeding at all, he just can’t seem to stop taking them home… and he always forgets to bring them back. (Seven of Swords)

(To Be Continued)

DECK USED:  FOURNIER’S TAROT CATS BY ANA JUAN

It’s In Your Head

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Today’s meditation was skipped again.  I know that I should be doing my meditation because I’m having a bit of an issue with my anxiety, and yet the anxiety seems to make it so that it’s nearly impossible for me to even consider doing the meditation.   I need to buckle down and just do it.

Nano Starseeds Tarot - Nine of SwordsToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of themes that have to do with nightmares, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

What stands out to me in this card’s imagery today is that I have absolutely NO idea what the pop culture references are in this card.  I know the figure and the dog are dressed up as something, but I’m completely lost on the reference.

It’s in that cluelessness that the message lies, because like with most anxiety and stress, my current issues with anxiety reside in the unknown.  Something is coming, I know it’s coming.  I can feel that it’s coming…. but I don’t know what.  I have clues and ideas what it may be, but no specifics.

The reminder in the Nine of Swords is that anxiety is a part of the mind. It’s not some weird physical ailment inflicted upon you out of nowhere, but rather is a physical manifestation of what is going on in your brain, whether it’s in the conscious mind or the subconscious one.   I need to do what I can to calm my mind, and my nerves and anxiety will then follow.   In other words… the message in today’s card is to get off my ass and start doing my daily meditation again.

DECK USED:  NANO STARSEEDS TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I continue to learn from my life’s struggles?

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th Edition

Reading Summary:  It’s important to evaluate what it is you value most (Nine of Coins) instead of trying to defend everything you do and don’t value as a whole (Nine of Wands), because you can’t take it all with you (Six of Swords).

Take Away:  One of the purposes of my struggles in life is to learn that you “can’t take it all with you” and so you need to choose those things that are most important to you to defend and protect.  Without this sense of discernment, it’s too easy to become overwhelmed crack under the weight of too much responsibility.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question:  How can I better handle and/or respond to criticism?

Nano Starseeds TarotHow can I better handle criticism?

Six of Wands and Ten of Swords – Remember that although we all want to feel as if we are appreciated and have our accomplishments lauded, criticism (both the constructive kind and not) can help us to find a better way of doing things than what we’re already doing.  It hurts… it can hurt a lot.  But, it also gives us an opportunity to learn and try again… and do better the next time around.

How can I better respond to criticism?

Strength Rx and Nine of Coins – Let it go and instead focus upon the good stuff in life.  Sometimes criticism hurts, even the constructive kind, and it’s important to be able to let that go and take value where you can get it then apply that to your own life to make your own “coins” shine even brighter.  At other times, useless criticism can be the most venomous of all, and you can use those good things involved to help you let go of the pain and focus on what really matters.

DECK USED:  NANO STARSEEDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made the decision to change my trip to the post office from Friday to tomorrow to help confront that oncoming “bad news” I feel is coming and get it over with (or maybe… just maybe… manage to avoid it all together).

Morning Bonus Read – The Soul’s Spread

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The Soul's Spread - Rusted Lenormand

1. What I should Silence of my Past?

Cross – The pain and emotional burdens of what has been placed upon me by others.  I bear many negative emotions and an intense amount of negative inner narrative that was birthed out of my past.  It’s time to begin more actively working on silencing those inner narratives and emotions spawned within my formative years.

2. What I should Silence of my Environment?

Lily – Again we are lead to themes of family legacy and those that can influence us from our past.  In my current environment the only person that currently fits this particular card is my mother and my aunt.  Both are quite toxic and the advice of the lily in this position is that I need to take what they say (to me and about me) with calm wisdom and a grain of salt.

3. What Fear I should Silence?

Broom – Being beaten down and “swept under the rug”. The Broom is also the Whip and speaks of self flagellation and punishment (among other things).  The fear here is about my inner voice that speaks of me being nothing ending up being true and a self fulfilling prophecy where it goes from a whisper in my mind to something others actually think and feel.  It is an irrational fear.

4. What Fear I should Listen To?

Letter –  Bad news is coming. My intuition has been screaming at me all week.  In fact, I’ve even changed some of my normal schedule to adjust to avoid a few things that I was then hoping might ease those feeling. It’s coming, and I need to be prepared for it.  

5. What in my Environment I should Listen To?

Anchor – As this bad news mentioned above approaches (and eventually arrives) I need to make sure I am focusing upon my environment and keeping things balanced and stable through the disruption. Don’t allow everything to fall apart due to panic or uncertainty, but instead ground yourself and stay that way.

6. What I should Listen To from my Past?

Ship – Keep in mind how I have handled difficulties in the past in my travels up north to the post office. The issues coming feel like they are coming from that direction and the advice here is to pull on my experience with past encounters and experiences to help me through any issues I run across this time around.

7. My Soul’s Song (Inner Drive)?

Bouquet – Remember what lies beyond this week.  Vacation is coming.  Time off is coming.  This is good news and well needed, and will give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy yourself for a bit.  Allow thoughts of this to lighten your heart and give you something to look forward to on the other side of this week’s stresses and turmoil.

DECK USED:  RUSTED LENORMAND

Gideon’s Challenge

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The Balm

Clouds
like whispers
stretch light
across the sky
as chill air
sweeps through
peaked hilltops
and sitting
at the lookout
crisp air is pulled in
to aching lungs
to soothe
and relax
long carried
tensions and stress

Photo © ZenStatePhotography