Sharing Is Caring

Today’s meditation was thwarted twice… er, well, three times.  The first time, it was interrupted by a phone call from Ms B giving us all an update.  The second time, I might’ve kinda dozed off a bit.  Okay so I accidentally napped.  The third time?  It was Ms B calling again.

Tarot Morandi and Thera-Pets Emotional Support Animal CardsToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s intellect, reason, education, aspirations, and communication. This often translates into the theme of someone who is strong and intelligent, has a good deal of advice and help to offer, and is able to listen before opening their mouths, so that the advice they give is informed by what has been said.

When combined with the Thera-Pets card for today, the message here is that it’s in our uniqueness we find the things that we are best at, and the things that we are able to offer others advice and guidance on.

If everyone was the same, we would all have the same strengths and the same weaknesses, the same experiences and the same blind spots.  There would be no opportunity to share with each other the things that make us each unique, and teach each other things that the other may not know or understand.  Instead, because we are all different and unique, we have things to offer each other, help to give… and that is not just unique, but very special.

DECK USED:  TAROT MORANDI AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Do Spread #2
Question: Why am I not so ready and eager to hop back into my creative endeavors?

Tarot MorandiReading Summary: The Ace of Coins and The Empress both face in the direction of the past, speaking of enjoying the newness of taking better care of myself and enjoying the grounded feeling it provides.

The Queen of Swords faces in the direction of the future, speaking of a harsh taskmaster and a return to going back into my head.

Two against one, I’m pulled towards that grounding and self-care right now Instead of responsibilities and practicality.

Take Away:  Essentially I crave being nicer to myself and I’m struggling with “buckling down” to work when what I really am craving is a bit more personal time and quiet.

DECK USED:  TAROT MORANDI

Daily Self Kindness

I am currently playing catch-up on posts… and I can’t remember what I might’ve done on this day to be kind to myself.

Gideon’s Challenge

Meadow Giggles

Bright yellow
greetings
spot the green
with open invitations
to lie down
among the blades
and listen
to the whispers
of gossiping flowers
before winds of change
lift delicate
eager tufts
to float away

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Linescape Tarot, Animal Kin Oracle, Metaphoric Therapy Cards

EarthTen of Wands and Parrotfish (Authenticity) – Listen to what you truly need. Knowing yourself and touching in on your true self will help you avoid overburdening yourself with too much  as part of the reason this sometimes happens is you take on not just the stuff that resonates with you, but try to take on even more beyond that as well.

AirMagician and Goat (Grounded) – You have all that you need to keep yourself from falling to the wayside or letting your negative inner dialogue take over.  You have what you need to pursue your ideas and aspirations unhindered this week…. IF you remember to stay grounded and on track. Do what needs done to make sure you don’t lose your footing.

WaterHanged Man atop King of Wands, Owl (Intuition) – Before you try and reign things in, make sure you’re allowing for a different perspective than your immediate reaction.  That reaction is not intuition, but rather a defense mechanism that is getting in the way of your growth.

FireThe World and Wombat (Exploration) – If you want to dive into new ideas, this week is the time time to do a little research and prepare to take that leap. Things are opening up and you have some room to explore and branch out, or start anew in some areas if that’s what you’re into doing.  Start gathering information so you’ll be prepared.

WaningThe Forest Path atop Flickering Candle – The time for letting the wind cast you as it may is at an end this week.  Whims and recreation, fun times and opportunity to do whatever you wish with your time is coming to a close as you buckle back down and get back to work.

WaxingFamily Quiet Time atop Comfort – Although getting back to work is all well and good, after all responsibility is a big part of this week’s theme, so too will be the connection that you have with those nearest and dearest to you.  Make sure to make some time and space to foster those relationships.

Take Away – Don’t allow clutter in your life, your mind, or your responsibilities to the point that you lose track of yourself or the truth of who you are and what you want. Getting back to work is not something that you’re enthusiastic about but you  just need to find a balance between work and self care that will actually work for you.  Instead of falling back into the same pattern as the last time, look for a new method that will fit better.

DECKS USED:  LINESCAPE TAROT, ANIMAL KIN ORACLE, METAPHORIC THERAPY CARDS

Finding The Groove

IMG_0302Today’s meditation was just over twenty minutes long (cuz I might’ve maybe napped in the middle for a few minutes.  I’m petty sure).   It was a self guided meditation based upon the quote posted to the right.  I didn’t make the graphic, but rather I ran across it on IG and used it as a prompt for my meditation.

Sometimes I forget to take that extra bit of time to savor the moment, and sometimes my meditation needs a bit of a focus.  This reminder of something that I often forget to do in my day to day life was the perfect prompt to give me something to focus on.   I don’t think dozing off was a “failure” in this meditation, but rather an indication of just how relaxed I was able to become during the process.

Cent Proverbes Tarot and Thera-Pets Emotional Support CardsToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This receptive energy often translates into themes concerning emotional growth, learning creative pursuits, and allowing imagination and curiosity to take the lead.

What stands out to me in the imagery on this particular Page of Cups card today is that the man stands alone.  Content… and alone.

I’ve been having a hard time getting back into the swing of things as I begin to pick up on my work after taking the week off.  With many orders waiting to be created and prepared for shipment, I’ve been trying to space out the work so that I am not overwhelmed the closer shipment day comes.

Today’s Page of Cups and his solitary nature combined with the Thera-Pets card for today indicated that i would “find my groove” in my creative endeavors today, but it might take a bit and be a bit of a struggle.  That it -could- be done though, if I’m tenacious about it.

I found that the secret to tapping into my creativity today and getting the work done that I needed to do was about tactile sensations.  It was about the fun of playing with little charms and admiring their tiny details, feeling the delicate weight of each one between my fingertips, and really sinking into the tactile experience of the creative process.  I did find that creative connection, but I had to look for it… and not allow distractions to detract from my sinking into that groove once I’d found it.

DECK USED:  CENT PROVERBES TAROT AND THERA-PETS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL CARDS

The #httSelfImprovementTarotChallenge Prompt
Question
: How can I feel more secure?

Dreaming Cat Tarot

Reading Summary: Take charge (King of Wands) at home (Four of Wands), and use reason and logic (Ace of Wands) to help in sorting out misunderstandings (Five of Wands).

Take Away:  In other words, sit everyone down and let’s talk it out. Conflict happens in close quarters.  Sometimes there’s just no way to avoid it, you know?  It happens between me and the girls, between the girls themselves, and between me and them individually at times.  It’s just a lot sometimes, and we all have strong personalities and strong opinions that usually align… but not always.

During those times when we disagree, it can really upset that sense of security that I foster in the home, and the advice here is that during those times I need to take charge of the situation and facilitate communication instead of just staying out of it and risking whatever the disagreement is having a destabilizing influence.

DECK USED:  DREAMING CAT TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsApr2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this new moon?

Cent Proverbes TarotReading Summary: If you depend on the good opinion of others for your self-esteem (Sun moving into the Six of Wands), you will continually be disappointed (Three of Swords atop The Sun) and end up even more miserable and stressed (Nine of Swords) out as a result (Justice Rx atop Nine of Swords).

Take Away:  For self care moving forward from the new moon, I needed a reminder to look to myself for my self esteme and self-worth… not to others.  This can be a slippery slope for most people, and I’m no exception.  Sometimes it feels really good to get praise from others, or to be looked upon favorably by others.  It just does.

The key, though, is to not let those good experiences transform into approval seeking behavior.  When that happens, you start to then lose control of your own self esteem and self worth.  You begin depending on others to provide that for you.  And that’s not healthy.

DECK USED:  CENT PROVERBES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made chocolate chip cookies.  But… not the long and entailed recipe of chocolate chip cookies.  I mean that’s the BEST kind, true.  But rather, I made them from frozen dough because I just wanted cookies without the work.

Gideon’s Challenge

Eager

Pops of pink
and tender greens
roiling skies
and sunshine beams
spring has come
to warm the air
as softened earth
stirs with life
no longer willing
to wait
patient and still
but instead eager
to spill forth
exuberant abundance

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Life Tests

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
Standardized testing season starts this week in our local schools. This week, do a reading about the tests in your life.

Adorable White Rabbits Playing CardsWhat tests are you facing right now?
Six of Spades

Finding  a healthy harmony between my ambition and my need for self care. My efforts to move on from the slave driver mentality of how I’ve treated myself in the past includes many opportunities to backslide into bad habits.  Keep moving forward.

What steps in your past have prepared you for these tests?
Nine of Hearts

I have been learning over the past few years how to be more grateful… more conscious, aware, and mindfully grateful of those things and people that make my life pleasurable and happy.

What steps can you take in the present to help you navigate your present tests?
King of Spades

Own my shit.  Be self aware and pragmatic instead of caving to the unreasonable inner pressures of my history and my habits. Own my ambitions, but come at them from a grounded and responsible way.

What tests await you in the near future?
Jack of Hearts

A continuation of my emotional growth is what lies in my near future.  This is not surprising, but rather planned for.  I want to continue the growth of my emotional intelligence, and learning about my emotions and how best identify and handle them in a healthy way.   I know this is a long journey, perhaps a lifelong one, but I am anticipating (and hopeful for) another “growth spurt like the one I worked through last spring/summer.

What steps can you take in the present to help prepare yourself for these future tests?
Queen of Spades

Deal with your “mommy issues”. [This was recently brought up in a previous reading and is an echo of that previous reading’s advice.]

DECK USED: ADORABLE WHITE RABBIT PLAYING CARDS