Month: May 2021

Let Your Guard Down

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Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was a guided meditation through the Calm app with an interval timer included for my piriformis stetching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about find what feels right for you.  Sometimes, it can be hard when bombarded by different options and ideas to figure out what’s the right one for you.

Sometimes you can’t even figure it out when you try them out for yourself and can’t -feel- it deep inside.  Sometimes?  That means you just have to go with whichever one feels best in the moment… other times?  It means that the right thing or right idea just hasn’t come along yet.

Men + Monsters Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Seven of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of standing up for yourself and your principles, standing strong for those things you believe in, and hold to your values even during times of opposition.

It’s easy, when we’re on our own and there’s no opposition to the contrary, to be strong in our values and principles. And sometimes when we meet new people, we make assumptions about how they will view us and what we value.  Sometimes we put up walls prematurely to protect ourselves from those predicted or perceived judgements.

The combination of the Seven of Wands with the Flower Fortune card for today which says “A stranger is a friend you have not met yet” creates a reminder about these moments in our lives when we come upon new people that enter our sphere, and how we handle their arrival.

The message in today’s cards is to not prematurely erect walls and barriers between yourself and others on what you think they will think (or feel) about you or your beliefs, values, and principles. Not everybody’s out to get you or tear you down. When meeting new people, stay open and see what happens.  You may find yourself pleasantly surprised now and then if you give people a chance.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 23rd & 24th

Tarot of the Wishmaster MinikinsWhat role does excitement play in my life?
Queen of Pentacles, The Moon, Five of Wands atop Death

When something catches your attention and sparks your excitement, it keeps you moving forward and encourages you to keep going (even if sometimes slowly) when you’re having doubts and your inner conflict tries to put you into a stall pattern.

How can I better enhance excitement in my life?
Three of Wands atop The Emperor, The Hierophant, Page of Cups

Own your passions and the direction you want to take them in with more certainty. You will continue to learn as you go, and inspire others to do the same, if you stay open both emotionally and creatively to new things.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE WISHMASTER MANIKINS

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: Do Spread #3

Men + Monsters Tarot What is the core stressor in my life at this time that is under my control to change?

Knight of Swords atop Three of Cups – Impulsiveness of others in my social circle. L seems to think that she’s in no danger from the stalker issue because the letter that showed up on our doors was addressed to me. I don’t feel like I have a lot of control over this issue, but I suppose that’s why it’s being brought up in this reading, yeah?

What has allowed this stress in my life to take root and grow?

Ten of Coins – Overconfidence of in our health and safety. Although she’s okay still with not going out alone due to the Asian hate crimes going on right now.  She always has Z or one of her other friends, or even J with her when she goes out.  And yet she doesn’t take the stalker issue seriously in relation to herself even though I’ve told her Gideon’s theory that they could have addressed it to me to throw us off.  After all, it was -her- that trucker waved to.  Not that it’s the trucker, but it could be.  It could be anyone.

What can I do right now to ease my stress and anxiety related to this issue?

Five of Wands – Hash it out.  Control over this issue has to do with actually butting heads with her on it again and again, reminding her again and again, talking with her, fighting with her, and making sure she stays alert even if it’s through the constant reminders and pokes and prods given to her on a daily basis.  In this way you can make sure that the danger stays in the forefront of her awareness, regardless of whether she wants to take it seriously or not.

DECK USED:  MEN + MONSTERS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I had a lot of stuff to do today that was really hard to let myself do since I’ve got so much I need to get done.  But I did do it, and I feel better for it so I’m glad I did, even if I slept an hour longer than intended.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_1414Fuzzy Baby

Sleepy soft
and lazy sweet
with a dreamy gaze
an invitation to sleep
come and cuddle
downy soft fur
just don’t tickle
or sharp teeth
come out
“come to bed”
Miss Luna says
it’s soft and warm
and I’ll knead
your head and
knot your hair

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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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?

Isabel Snail: A Tarot Life, Cosma Visions Oracle, Alcheringa Oneiromancy

Earth – The World and Counsel – There is a lot of possibilities before you right now as you hover on the cusp of transition, but you need to spend some time consulting with experts in order to plot your course from here wisely.

Air – The Tower and Hope – It’s time to put some real focus into tearing down that negative inner voice of yours and replace it with something more hopeful and positive.  You’ve had a bit of a setback in this area lately, and it’s time to root out what’s festering and get it cleared up.

Water – Nine of Pentacles and Abstract – Keep in mind this week that feeling secure and accomplished in your emotional growth is going to require thinking “outside the box” (or garden gate in this case) and changing your perspective. The shifting waters of emotion aren’t as unstable as you feel they are, you’re just not used to standing in the current.

Fire – Two of Cups, Animal Spirit atop Excitement – When you live an unconventional life, you get excited about unconventional things… just as the drowning man isn’t interested in the plump ripe peach, but rather the branch it’s hanging from.  You’re a bit of an odd duck.  You know it.  Make sure you own it this week and don’t make excuses.

Also, your guides are reaching out this week and want you to work with them. Grab hold.

Waning – The Bridge – Inattentive awareness of the world around you. It’s time to “wake up” and make sure that you are seeing things as they really are.

Waxing – The Peacemaker atop The Weaver – Be thoughtful in what you hope to achieve and in what you see around you, and make sure that you are steering things toward balance and fairness as you move forward.

Take Away – An unfiltered awareness of the world around you as well as your own motivations is necessary this week, as is an unbiased perspective and a focus on keeping things balanced.

Have a chat with your accountant about business strategies, get your eyes checked, meet with your financial advisor, take Miss Luna to the vet.. consult your professionals this week to keep things prepared and on course.

Force that inner negative back into submission. It’s dragging you down and you don’t need it. And remember that your guides are there, willing and eager to help. Don’t ignore them.

DECKS USED:  ISABEL SNAIL A TAROT LIFE, COSMA VISIONS ORACLE, ALCHERINGA ONEIROMANCY

Parting’s Sweet Sorrow Is A Lesson

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I dozed off.  I was so damned tired and when I settled in to meditate, as soon as I closed my eyes, that was it.  I was out like a light.

Cosmic Cycles Tarot and Flower Fortune CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is a representation of moving on, abandonment, looking for something new, escapism, and withdrawing from a situation especially due to disappointment or frustration.

Here in the imagery of today’s card we see a clear demonstration that when you move on to something new, you have to leave something else behind in the process.  And that sometimes? That’s not always a good thing for everyone involved.

The Flower Fortune card for today tells us that “There are no mistakes, there is only experience,” and that is especially true when there is a parting of ways.  We learn from the things that don’t work out.  We grow from the experiences, even if those experiences end in a parting that isn’t exactly amicable.

This echoes how I feel about negative experiences as a whole (and that includes the Ten of Swords). Bad experiences help us grow.  It’s unpleasant, and it hurts… but it is the fertilizer to our growth and becoming better human beings.  We make choices… sometimes those choices don’t work out.  And we then learn not just from the fact they didn’t work out, but also from the fallout that happens as a result.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

LionHart’s Reap & Sow Tarot Challenge Prompt
Question: Think of something you want {to manifest} right now or in the nearby future and draw a card.
Want: I want my damned mortgage paid off.

Good Karma TarotFour of Cups – Stop daydreaming about it and actually do something. If this is a goal you truly want to accomplish, you need to start paying closer attention to what’s going on instead of having your head in the clouds.

There are options available to you and things you can do right now just set you back on this path. Yes, there were setbacks, and still are. (Especially considering that you’re not working as many hours as you were in pre-pandemic times… not that you couldn’t but because you’re working on not sacrificing your health and well-being for your goals).

But, it’s time to be proactive, and with what your Self Care Saturday reading had to say today, maybe it’s time to sit down with your financial advisor and have a talk about structuring a new plan.

DECK USED:  GOOD KARMA TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you improve upon the person you are now?

Cosmic Cycles TarotThe Fool –  Be on time and watch your step.  This is about making sure you are aware of what you’re doing, where you’re going, and making sure you’re paying attention to cautionary warnings and other dangers along the way. To improve upon the person you are, make sure to stay aware of what’s going on around you and how you fit into the rhythm of the world.

The High Priestess – Connect more strongly with your inner knowledge and your guides. Have faith when there’s no logical reason to do so, be open to guidance from signs and unusual sources, and allow your inner knowledge to rise up and speak.  More than that… listen and act on that knowledge instead of disregarding it for logic.

The Emperor – Allow the strong and benevolent leader that you are to shine. Sometimes it feels like your dominant nature overwhelmed or “outshone” by Gideon’s, but the truth is that you are simply a different type of dominant. A different type of strength.  A different type of leader. Instead of measuring yourself against those that are more blatant in their approach, allow your own strength to shine in its own unique way and don’t worry about the rest.

DECK USED:  COSMIC CYCLES TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I worked on getting some of my orders done today from my week off in the hope of getting enough done that I’m not feeling so much pressure on Monday.

Gideon’s Challenge

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Sweet Summer

Swaying blossoms
dance in the breeze
as quiet chimes
play off key
in the distance
as the scent
of fragrant lilacs
kiss the senses
to blend with
sweet summer
scents
of cut grass
and sun warmed
asphalt

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Shadow Dossier

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Use the mini-deity dossier to communicate with your shadow self for some shadow work.”

Golden Deer Casino Playing Cards - Cartomancy

Spirit – Jack of Clubs – Been through a lot but eager to try, your shadow self isn’t ready to give up yet and is excited to be getting some attention after being ignored for so long.

Personality – Queen of Clubs – Supportive of your endeavors, helpful in sparking inspiration, and desires to be involved in the process. They may not know the way but they’re happy to be your cheerleader and will be with you along the way.

Abilities – King of Diamonds – Again we see a supportive energy here with a heavily grounded foundation.  They encourage you in creating that stability you crave and are, in fact, the inspiration for that craving.

Traits – Three of Spades – All that grounding takes a tole and so does the fact that they’ve been pushed aside for so long.  Because of this, there’s a lot of negativity there that bleeds out when you’re feeling down, tainting the water and polluting the optimism you are trying so hard to foster in your life.

Omens and Signs to Look For – Seven of Diamonds – Progress takes time, but there are moments along the way when if you pause and really look, you can see their touch in your growth. Their fingerprints smudged upon the glass.

Manifestation – Five of Diamonds – In the past, your shadow self has had to fight to manifest in your life.  This process was always a struggle and took a lot of energy to accomplish, leaving you feeling drained as a result because you were resisting and forcing them back down and away.

Appearance – Ace of Spades –  They are looking for a new and better way to communicate with you.  With the old habits of shoving them away left behind, it’s time to find a better way to connect and thus a different way for them to make an appearance in your life going forward.

What They Want From You – Nine of Spades – They want you to help them with their worries and fears, anxieties and troubles.  Your shadow self holds on to a lot of these things and it needs help to release them, confront them, or process them in a healthy way so that they will no longer be a problem.

Things to Know – Six of Diamonds – They want to get better and be better, even if they don’t act like it sometimes.  It can be hard to move on to better things when sometimes it means leaving shit behind in the process that you’ve been clinging to for so long.   It’s the same for them as it is for you.

Things to Avoid – Nine of Hearts – Don’t get so cocky in feeling things are good that you forget about them.  It’s okay, of course, to fee good.  Just don’t leave them behind and alone in the process.

DECK USED:  GOLDEN DEER CASINO PLAYING CARDS