Day: May 9, 2021

The First Step Is The Hardest

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_5932Today’s meditation was another untimed meditation, this time on the ground at the farm.  I needed some time to do some rooting with the earth, and if I can’t do it out in the forest right now without a supervisor, I could at least get a brief amount of time on the farm alone in one of the fields behind the barn.

The thing is?  Although I can visualize my connection to the earth and I can tap into the energy of that element at will (as described to the right in the image there), it can never compare to having an actual connection to bare earth.  Of lying down and connecting mind, body, and soul to the earth beneath you.  There is no comparison, and the mental connection, although a strong one, will always only be a shadow to the real thing.  I need that connection, raw and unblemished, unfiltered and without barriers.  Sometimes?  Nothing else will do.

Trinity Tarot and Flower Fortune OracleToday’s draw is the Strength card, which is traditionally a representation of inner strength, courage,  and compassionate coercion.

Although when people think of the word “strength” they often think of muscle and brute force, this cards is about a different kind of strength.  Instead it is about that inner core that keeps us going, the compassion that we feel for others, and the kindness we offer even as we use persuasion to turn people to our way of thinking or our will.

Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which states “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, what I see here is a message about determination and perseverance.

There are always journeys in life that we are hesitant to start on from time to time.  We hang back and hesitate, pause and procrastinate instead of taking the action needed to begin and get moving.  Sometimes this is because we are afraid, sometimes we just feel overwhelmed. It’s through tapping into our inner strength that we can find the “mettle” needed to step into that journey and get started. We all have that inner strength, it’s just sometimes we have to more consciously connect with it than others.

DECK USED:  TRINITY TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: How can I best nurture my personal growth?

Isidore Tarot Sea and Sand Spring Edition

Reading Summary: Lean in (Queen of Wands). Go after the growth you want with the understanding that it’s going to take a long time to get there (Seven of Coins atop Knight of Swords) and that you’re gonna have to leave some shit behind in order to find something new (Six of Swords).

Take Away: It’s all about knowing what works for me, and leaning into that using past experience as a guide. It’s about not giving up when things take longer than anticipated, and about making sure I’m making room in my life for the changes and growth that needs to happen.  Each of these represents a stage in my growth that I move through, and the aspect in that stage where I struggle upon the path of my personal growth.

Not procrastinating. Acceptance of the “long game”.  And “making room”.

DECK USED:  ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #1

Trinity Tarot and Floret OracleWhat positive quality do I have that others admire?
Keeper of Pentacles atop The Lovers, Scabiosa and Marigold

My ability to support, help, and guide people when they need it towards making the choices that are right for them. My personal experience doing the same, and my openness in sharing my own experiences, helps them in focusing on how the choices before them feel to them personally. This skill feels warm and nurturing, and helps them in sussing out the choices that are just right for their unique path.

What positive quality do I wish I had that I admire in others?
Seven of Wands and Sunflower

I would love to be able to project positivity even in the middle of conflict and adversity. I have seen people who stand strong in their moral compass and principals even while they smile warmly.  It’s a unique skill that keeps things from truly turning ugly.

What step(s) can I take now to work toward developing that quality in myself?
Champion of Cups atop Six of Cups, Hydrangea

Tap into love and caring and actively connecting into the emotions of joy and youthful optimism could help immensely in this, but you have to remember as well not to expect every conflict to come to a head.  Not everyone is out to fuck you over or hurt you, no matter what you were raised to believe and how cautious you were raised to be. Work at having a bit more faith in humanity.

What step(s) can I take to make the positive qualities I have shine brightly?
Ten of Wands and Lily

Allow those around you to help with your burdens.  You spend too much time in the cycle of overwhelm and recovery.  If you distribute the eight of your responsibilities more evenly and allow others to help more, this wouldn’t be the case and you would then have more time and energy for…. well, everything else in life.

DECK USED:  TRINITY TAROT AND FLORET ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I gave Gideon a tour of my balcony garden today and it was really nice.  I loved sharing all the plants and flowers with him.

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

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?

Spirit Speak Tarot, Untamed Truth Oracle, Small Spirits Oracle

Earth – Ace of Cups atop Eight of Pentacles, Passion – There’s nothing wrong with taking joy in the process of manifestation and you can be both responsible and sink into that pleasure and allow it a place in your heart.  Try connecting more to that pleasure as you work, and the peace and spark of passion that it can bring with each beautiful thing you create for the people that order from your shop.  It doesn’t have to feel so much like work.

Air – The Hermit and The Unknown – Don’t go out alone right now. Being alone now may be tempting, but you need to remember that at the moment that urge could be more about self destruction than it is about healthy solitude. Having someone along on your excursions for the time being isn’t a bad thing, even if it’s not what you really want. That solitude you crave isn’t exactly healthy at the moment, so let your escorts keep you safe… both from yourself as well as from the potential stalker that decided to let itself be known.

Water – Page of Wands and Imagination – Here, like in the Earth position, we have an encouragement to bring your emotions into the creative process.  You love learning new techniques and different creative pursuits.  Allow there to be an emotional element to your imaginative endeavors and creative process.  There’s much to explore and there’s no reason to leave your emotions out of the equation when they can add another colorful element to the cause.

Fire – Death and Fuck It – The Selaginella lepidophylla is what is depicted in the Death card’s imagery, and is a reminder that changes aren’t always bad. Sometimes they’re just a part of life and we need to set back and enjoy the ride, wait for the water that will regenerate and renew, fill up the space of what was once dry and thought dead.  The “Fuck It” card is also a reminder of this…. but rather instead of a reminder of the changes, it’s a reminder that you have to “set back and enjoy the ride”. Sometimes letting go is the only thing you can do.  So take a breath and a step back, and let shit ride for now… see where it goes from here without trying to control every step along the way.

Waning – Thorn Bug – Defensive adaptation towards greater protection may be needed, but you need to make sure that you don’t go overboard.  This theme is carried forward from the Air position above and speaks of a need for judiciousness and care for your safety without going overboard.  Do what is necessary to stay safe, but not to the point that you end up feeling as if you are in a cage.

Waxing – Gnat – Inspiration is thick in the air this week and it may feel a little overwhelming with it all coming at you at once.  Make sure that you are writing down ideas as they come, break them apart into pieces that are easier to pursue and process.  Do a little at a time.

Take Away – There are two themes to the upcoming week.  One is to not take for granted the danger that is present and make sure you are protecting yourself without going overboard at it.  The other is about your imagination and inspiration, and beginning the research and exploration process towards your ideas. Write everything down, and you’ll be able to explore at a slower pace and enjoy the process more.  That enjoyment is extremely important right now, so don’t discount the need for it or take it for granted.

DECKS USED:  SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT, UNTAMED TRUTH ORACLE, SMALL SPIRITS ORACLE