The Tulip’s Fall
As the first colors
of the season
begin to fade
new brighter shades
come to take
their place
yet echos of what was
linger here
and there
like delicate memories
everlasting
and fair
Month: May 2021
Weekly Creativity Prompt – Scavenger Hunt
Prompt: Draw three cards. Find something around your home (or where you’re currently staying) that you feel represents each of the cards. Then draw, paint, photograph, artistically display, collage, or otherwise depict these items in some way. Then share and explain about the connection that you see between the item and the card you’ve paired it with.
Seven of Cups – Each stone has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, it’s own unique vibrations and abilities. And with each spellcraft and ritual, cartomancy reading and energetic influences I want to project or draw in, I stand before this table and the myriad of stones available to me and seek out the one best suited for the need and situation at hand
Knowledge plays a big part in this process, but so too does intuition as I find myself more often than not hovering my hand over the stones and letting my hand be drawn where it needs to go. The facts about that stone come after and the logic fills in the gaps, explaining why that stone is best, or finding the reason my hand was drawn in that direction..
The Magician – The tools of my path are many, and some are more useful, and more important, than others. It isn’t enough to have the tools needed, but you also need to be able to use them with skill and efficiency.
My granite mortar and pestle plays a huge and multi-faceted role in my path. It’s practical uses stretch the gamut from kitchen witchery to herbcrafts, from incense making to cauldron. Like many tools it does double, triple, quadruple duty and more and is arguably the most useful tool in my practice.
King of Cups – The man knows not just what I like, but goes out of his way to make sure that the reminders of him are just right. He is kind and strong, supportive and loving, demanding and willing to listen. He guides… he demands a lot… and yet everything he does is emotion directed. Emotion driven.
Gideon is my King of Cups, and the picture of the Hanged Man that hangs here on my wall was a gift from him. It is a reminder that he doesn’t just pick out something he thinks I’ll like, or even that he knows I will like. He picks it out because he has delved deep and understands –why– I will like it. He seeks to understand my soul, as evidenced by this picture that my eyes land on every day.
DECK USED: YOUNG WITCH TAROT
Openness and Grace
Today’s meditation was skipped because I got distracted by fresh baked chocolate chip cookies hot from the oven. I’m not entirely sure why they were being made in the morning, but… well… cookies are cookies and who doesn’t love still-warm cookies?
Today’s draw is the Queen of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.
Here in this card we see the Goddess of Water, her posture open and the swan there in the shift of shape, an echo behind her so close to the surface as lilies and cherry blossoms surround her and float float in the water.
The imagery depicts grace and openness. Combined with the Flower Fortune card for today, which states that “If you have something good in your life, don’t let it go!” what I see here isn’t about things at all, but about people.
Sometimes things happen in life that cause us to forget to be grateful for the people in our lives we should appreciate. We become irritated with them, or bored with them, or just so over exposed to them that you need some space. The key is to make sure that even in these moments we remember just how good they are for us… and just how valuable they are to us. Closing ourselves off and pushing them away isn’t a solution. Next thing you know, they could be gone for good.
A better option is staying open and accepting that sometimes? Even those we love the most are going to irritate us. Let them know how much you care for them, be open with them and let them know how grateful you are for them… and let them know you need a little breathing room. By opening up, you keep these people in your life instead of pushing them away (possibly permanently) with your need for a bit of space.
DECK USED: SHAPESHIFTER TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS
The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for May 16th through 19th
What change is coming?
Eight of Swords atop Eight of Cups
A change in perspective and opening of eyes pertaining to something that has been frustrating you. Although unpleasant and at times uncomfortable, it will allow you to move on from a feeling of being stuck.
How will this change affect me?
The Lovers atop Four of Swords Rx
There will be a sense of restlessness and discomfort related to your self care needs that will need to be overcome through making sure you make healthy choices for myself. Gideon’s watchful eye is there to help in keeping those self care practices going, even when you struggle.
As you move through this change you need to make sure room in your life stays open for self care. Don’t fill up that space with other tasks and responsibilities.
What new challenges will I face?
Six of Cups Rx
This upcoming change will bring up some unpleasant memories and might require working through. You may find that doing some light shadow work pertaining to your childhood and upbringing will help.
What will I possibly become as a result of all of this?
King of Wands and Three of Pentacles
Stronger in your business and purpose, and better able to delegate tasks and responsibilities so that the work load is more evenly distributed. That work towards a healthy balance is a long and multi-legged journey, but this holds the potential of being a step in the right direction toward that goal.
DECK USED: SPIRIT SPEAK TAROT
#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can you improve upon your self-care at this time?
Reading Summary: Expressive openness while welcoming others to share with you in turn (Goddess of Water). Supportive strength (God of Earth) as you find direction for yourself and help others do the same for themselves as well (Two of Wands).
Take Away: To improve upon your self care, you need to remember that in order to connect with others, give support, and provide for them the guidance to help them find their own unique path, you also need to be open to them emotionally and creatively.
Being approachable is important. Not just for that connection with others, but for yourself. You may not be the most suave when it comes to social matters, but you still need a certain amount of social interaction, as well as the opportunity to help others with their personal journey and self actualization, to be healthy and happy.
DECK USED: SHAPESHIFTER TAROT
We had a hard rain here earlier today and I spent some time out on my balcony enjoying the cold drops on my skin and soaking my hair and through my clothes, just enjoying the sounds and scents and feeling of it for a bit.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Chase
A little squirrel
and a flying leap
fluffy tail trailing
out behind as
the prize
he tries to keep
goes flying overhead
soon enough
the air will shift
and something new
will come
Lie with me
tell me what you see
in the kingdom
of the sun
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Morning Bonus Read – Connecting With Your Guides
What I’m not aware of.
Book – Well geez. No fucking shit. The book is an indication of secrets and hidden information. This card in relation to this specific question is essentially telling me that there’s a whole hell of a lot that I’m unaware of and to mind my own damned business.
Things you’re here to teach me.
Bear, Man, Tower – To stand strong and protect my territorial interests to to the best of my ability. There’s a whole lot of masculine energy in these cards, combined with a watchfulness that stretches from beyond responsibility to a mentality of territorial responsibility. The lessons here surround learning how to better look after and protect those things I hold dear from others, standing strong against those things or people that might threaten what I consider as mine.
How I can align with my true purpose.
Fish – Go with the flow. This is not a salmon and you don’t have to fight so hard. Trust that abundance is yours and that the actions you take will allow that abundance to continue to flow through your life, even in times where you might float along instead of swimming at full speed.
Signs I should look out for to indicate their presence.
Lily, Ring, Sun – They are always there and feel a responsibility to be there, obligated to help guide me towards success and positive outcomes. Although late to the party, they aren’t going anywhere.
A message from the Divine.
Coffin, Moon – Get a handle on your negative inner dialogue and it’s negative eroding influence on your emotions before they get the upper hand and end up having a handle on you.
DECK USED: MALPERTUIS LENORMAND
Put Your Oxygen Mask On First
Today’s meditation was just under thirteen minutes long and was a guided meditation with the Calm app combined with an interval timer for my piriformis stretching. I’ve done a lot of skipping in meditation lately, and my stretches are definitely telling me that this is a bad idea. I’ve been having a bit more trouble with my lower back as well over the past week. It’s time to get back into things, either that or I’m going to have to increase my chiropractor visits. I’d rather not sink the money into that option.
The focus of today’s meditation was about how sometimes the first step in any journey can be the hardest. The thing is, though, the first step doesn’t have to be a big one. None of the steps on that journey need to be big ones. As long as you’re at least shuffling along a few inches at a time? You’re still making progress. It might not feel like it, but it’s still progress.
Today’s draw is the Ten of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of stability and security obtained through hard work and shared with others. These themes often center around financial success, good health, stability and security at home, and other material themes being shared with those closest to you such as family and friends.
In this manner, the well dressed bird in the imagery of today’s card shares his wealth and good fortune with the other birds in his care, building them a luxurious house and making sure that they are comfortable and well cared for.
Combined with the Flower Fortunes card for today, which states that “Before trying to please others, firstly think of what makes you happy”, there is a message here today not just about tending to one’s own happiness, but also your own needs and self care.
No matter how much you want to care for others, it is absolutely imperative that you care for yourself first. You cannot expect your body, your finances, or your stamina to old out if you are not giving it what it needs. That includes down time, good food, happiness, and all the other things that you need to care for yourself. Just as you need to make money before you can share the wealth, you have to make sure you have found your happiness before you can make others happy. Doing it the other way around doesn’t make sense and is extremely unhealthy.
DECK USED: ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS
Raven Willow Tarot’s Emotional Exploration Prompt
Questions for May 17th & 18th
What role does pride play in my life?
Eight of Swords (Monkshood) – If it is not held in check by a heavy dose of self-awareness and objectivity, pride can blind you to the truth.
Five of Cups (Taique) – It can drag us down when we take pride in things that aren’t meant for us. We then miss those things that are.
Seven of Wands (Living Rock) – Pride lights fire beneath our convictions, principles, and values, giving us the strength to stand fast against opposition that tries to rise up against what we feel is right.
How can I better enhance the positive aspects of pride?
The Emperor (San Pedro) – When you feel that pride is cutting you off from seeing the whole picture, take ownership of that feeling and the fact that the blockage is coming from within you instead of from an external source. Explore and seek to understand what’s going on rather than letting it pass by unnoticed.
Nine of Pentacles (Sassafras) – When feeling a sense of entitlement and discontent, pause to take a look around at what you really have, how far you’ve come, how much you’ve truly accomplished, and how good you really have it.
Four of Pentacles (Lions Mane) – In times when you stand up for what you believe in, make sure that you have steady footing and that you are not cutting down others in the process of lifting yourself up.
DECK USED: THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN TAROT
#DiscordTarotolicsMay2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: In what area are you not practicing enough self-care?
Reading Summary: You’re not giving yourself enough benefit of the doubt (Strength) where finding balance in your life is concerned (Two of Coins). Moderation is not a punishment, but a path to better things (Temperance), so lift yourself up with optimism and hope, and start looking at this effort in a more positive light (The Star).
Take Away: The message here is about moderation and optimism. Here is where the lack resides and where I need to work on fostering something more hopeful, positive, and lighthearted.
My naturally pessimistic tendencies have started to come out a bit more strongly of late, and they need to be brought back in hand (along with that negative inner narrative in my head). It’s important to remember to celebrate your accomplishments along the way, even the tiny ones. Each step forward is progress, no matter how small that step might be.
DECK USED: ISIDORE TAROT SEA AND SAND SPRING EDITION
I had myself a nice epsom salt and apple cider soak in the tub today, and even managed to not fall asleep in the process!
Twisting the Leaf 