Month: June 2021

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Devil

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Prompt: “Pull the card from your deck that matches [The Devil from Tarot of the Hidden Realm]. Compare the imagery between the card provided and the card from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?”

Tarot of the Hidden Realm - The DevilTarot of the Hidden Realm – Here we see temptation personified in the countenance of Faunus, Cerrunos, and Pan.  The horned one tempts lovers to dance in the forest, and lose themselves in each other as they swirl and sway among the trees.

The lovers must be willing to step into this space, to join the dance… but the temptation is so great will it feel like a choice if they concede? After all, how can you resist such a seductive invitation?

Steven Universe Tarot, Occult Ornithology Tarot, Sortilegios Tarot

Steven Universe Tarot – Here we see the puppet straining against the chains as the puppetmaster lingers in the background, in full control of the situation much as the rider of the Chariot controls his horses. The depiction here is what happens at the end of the Devil card’s journey.  You’ve given into temptation, you’ve yielded to the seduction that teased you into succumbing. At first you felt you were in control, but no more.  Not now.  Now you find yourself truly trapped with only your own choices to have brought you to this place.

Occult Ornithology Tarot – In this card the magpie collects and collects until their nest is gilded with gilt and glitter.  They celebrate their good fortune, and hoard their treasures, always craving just one more no matter how many bits and baubles they gather up.  The stage of the Devil depicted in this card is the obsession that builds before the trap snaps shut.  The magpie does not feel himself chained by his obsession quite yet… but it is only a matter of time.

Sortilegios Tarot – For this deck’s imagery, we see a depiction of a six-winged seraphim in the process of consuming a human figure. What I see here is a depiction of scrupulosity.  This is when one’s religion becomes an obsession, to the point that their minds become closed.  It is often accompanied by “religious snobbery” and can be an addiction like any other thing someone becomes hyper focused on and obsessed with.  Here, we see a figure that has dove in head first and although sharp teeth of the seraphim now pierce the flesh and make them bleed, they are too far in now to pull out.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM, STEVEN UNIVERSE TAROT, OCCULT ORNITHOLOGY TAROT, SORTILEGIOS TAROT

Struggle Isn’t Failure

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Today’s meditation was skipped because I kept putting it off and putting it off and… I ended up running out of time.

Veleda Woods Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of hard work and progressing on one’s skills and abilities to build in an expertise.  This mastering of a skill can be through repetitive action or apprenticeship, and can lead to perfectionism when the energy of this card goes too far.

Sometimes, when we are on a path to working on a skill or ability, it can feel like it’s taking forever or that we’re not getting anywhere.  I know that I personally feel that way quite often.  I think it’s because so often so many things come easily to me.  Writing, photography, most of the creative endeavors I’m interested in exploring, etc.  So that when something comes up that I want to master that is a bit more challenging comes about, it feels like I’m standing still not because I’m not making progress… but because the speed of my progress is significantly decreased from what I’m used to.

Today’s cards are a reminder that even when we’re struggling with learning a new skill, it doesn’t mean we can’t learn it or won’t succeed.  it just means it might take a little longer than we’d like.  Be gentle with yourself and don’t put yourself down during these times.  Instead, focus on encouragement and celebrate every small accomplishment… and eventually, you’ll get there.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT AND FLOWER FORTUNE CARDS

CoffeexTarot’s Self Love For The Summer Prompt
Question: What is a positive influence in my life right now?

Veleda OracleLove atop Adventure, Courage – Roleplay with Gideon. The writing we do, the characters and worlds we build… all of it.  It’s an adventure that we play out together.  An expression of our love as we build stories and lives out of our imaginations, flesh them out through time and words and creativity, and bond through them with each adventure we experience together with each other.

Courage, Foundation atop Awakening – Restructuring how I treat myself and how I balance my life from the ground up. This is something I’ve been working on for some time now and it’s definitely a positive influence on my life.  I’m much healthier and happier now than I have been in the past with my old methods of doing things.  There’s still a long way to go in the journey though.

DECK USED:  VELEDA ORACLE

#DiscordTarotolicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About nature…
Question: Why does time in nature (or the lack thereof) have such a profound affect on my well-being?

Veleda Woods TarotReading Summary: You take energy from the trees and the green and the growing things (Seven of Swords), which lifts your spirits (Nine of Cups) and helps you feel satiated and at peace (Ten of Cups).

Take Away: These times in the forest helps you stay balanced by providing you with clean and sustainable energy that feels pure and good, filling you with positivity and positive influence.

Like a bath refreshes the skin or a long drink of water refreshes the body, the time spent in nature refreshes your energy and your soul, giving you a much needed uplift in not just your energy but also your mood.

DECK USED:  VELEDA WOODS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made sure to get through my post office haul today so that I wouldn’t have to do more of it tomorrow and through the weekend.  With time off this week, I wanted to get a few things out of the way and it felt good to be able to do that.

Gideon’s Challenge

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The Flush

A vibrant singe
by summer’s kiss
turns yellow
to tangerine
to rich shades
of orange
like love swells
a flush of warmth
upon the skin
turning flesh from
chilled tones
to warm
and pinkened

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Choices Without Bias

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Today’s meditation was skipped, as it’s an orders day.

Metamyth Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of not just love, romance, and marriage as it is often interpreted by many, but also about choices and making positive choices that are good for you.

Today I want to start with the affirmation card, though, as the topic dealt with on the card is actually something that a lot of people struggle with when first learning to read the tarot or other types of divination, especially when reading for self.

It can be hard to be objective and unbiased, especially when it pertains to something that is important to you or that you have a strong opinion on.

The Lovers card combined with this affirmation card is a reminder that sometimes the only way you can find a healthy option for yourself is by separating yourself from the situation and looking at it from the outside. Sometimes only with an unbiased vantage point can you find clarity.

DECK USED:  METAMYTH TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What good habits do I have?

Fauna Inspiration CardsHeron (Self-Reliance) – Independence and inner strength allows me to not just live the live that I want to live how I want to live it, but gives the opportunity for me to touch other’s lives and teach them to do the same.

Squirrel (Necessity) – I am very good at preparing “for the hard times” and making sure that I have what I need when I need it. And when I don’t have what I need, I’m resourceful enough to find a way.

Pelican (Optimism) – I always say that I’m a pessimistic person, and that I’m always fighting to put more optimism into my life to counteract that.  But, there are certain circumstances where my optimism does continue to shine. Creativity. Security building, etc. In these areas, confidence and optimism blend and thrive.

DECK USED:  FAUNA INSPIRATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: About abandonment…
Question: Where in my life am I feeling abandoned?

MetaMyth TarotReading Summary: In my ability (Strength) to move in to something new (Ace of Pentacles) and let go of the burdensome habits of the past (Ten of Wands).

Take Away: I am feeling abandoned by my own strength. Not in all ways, of course. But at this moment I’m struggling a bit on moving forward on this healthier path I’ve chosen.

I feel like I should be able to let go more easily and move forward into this new path that I’m working to tread without the struggle that I am going through right now.

I want to be able to transition more easily, to let go of my  unhealthy habits more easily, and yet I struggle with the letting go side of things.

DECK USED:  METAMYTH TAROT

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Question: New Moon and Solar Eclipse – What’s hidden? What’s come to front? Why?

Family TarotHidden – The Emperor – Having all the control. You’ve always had a very dominant streak when it comes to being with others, but yet in the thirteen years with Gideon, this dominant streak has become less and less demanding of air time.

Come To Front – The Lovers – Communion with Gideon. Letting go and allowing him to suggest choices that are healthy for you. Allowing his guidance to help you and his strength to support you. As you sink more into that softer, more vulnerable side of your nature that he brings to the surface, and begin to not just settle and become comfortable there, a balance is being created.

Why? – The Sun atop Knight of Coins – Because right now this is what you want and what is making you happy. You’re comfortable with expressing what you need and what you really enjoy. Your connection with Gideon allows you to have what you need when you need it and enjoy it to the fullest. Right now you need to be in a small place and not in charge, and he’s able to give that to you with the loving support you need.

DECK USED:  FAMILY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Even though it’s an orders day, I allowed myself to take a nap.  I feel much better for having done it too.

Morning Bonus Read – Clarity

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Bonds Across Time: An Inuyasha Tarot - Clarity Tarot Reading

[NOTATION: I adjusted the last two questions of this spread for my own needs.]

1. Biggest Distraction

Ace of Arrows – Too much started and not finished. Too many new ideas dancing around in your head wanting your  attention, and not enough time to start… let alone finish them all. Writing them down helps, but it’s not resolving that distraction entirely.

2. Where To Focus Instead

Queen of Cups – Your emotional growth and the needs you have for emotional nurturing. There is also an element here in the imagery of the mug that is referencing the need to pick one thing at a time to go after instead of multiple things at once.

3. Past Experience to Let Go

Wheel of Fortune – The unknown coming up and biting you on the ass by surprise.  The unexpected happens and is a part of life.  You can’t let the uncertainty of that knowledge and those experiences hold you back.

4. Useful Past Experience

Five of Cups – Same as above (the figure in this card is looking over at the Wheel of Fortune). You need to look at these past experiences and take value in them, instead of ignoring them and the issues they have wrought for you.

5. What to Cultivate

Six of Arrows – That new healthier path you have been working towards. In order for this new path to work, you have to let go of the old habits that have made you feel so secure for so long. Leaving them behind isn’t easy, but until you do, you won’t be able to move forward.

6. Next Step

Page of Jewels – Little steps. Accept the time it will take to learn and progress at building these new habits and skills. Take the time needed to decide and accept that what needs to be left behind is truly okay to let go of, and what you want to bring with you is worth carrying forward.  There’s no rush.

7. Advice From My Guides

Seven of Swords – Don’t be impulsive.

DECK USED:  BONDS ACROSS TIME: AN INUYASHA TAROT

Gideon’s Challenge

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Your Love’s Kiss

Your love skims
over my senses
like the soft lick
of air
sliding over water
kicking up
little waves
like tingling kisses
beneath the skin
gentle
or intense
perfection is found
in each touch
and every word

Photo © ZenStatePhotography