Month: July 2021

Embracing Joy

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Today’s meditation was a little over twelve minutes long and was the sixth installment of the introductory meditation sessions in the Balance app.  It was basically another breath counting exercise, but a bit longer paced and more self directed.  It was nice, and again, strangely went by faster than it felt.

Cheimonette Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Ten of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of emotional fulfillment, harmonious relationships, and finding abundance on an emotional level that spills over to incorporate those around you.

Here in the Cheimonette tarot, the imagery for me has more to do with the color than the actual drawing. The calming blues and purples  that blend up into a joyful shade of yellow.  The colors are deep and resonant, and yet not aggressive or abrasive. In the center of these beautiful colors you have balding, elderly figures in a bare embrace, speaking of closeness and comfort as well as the security that allows them to be vulnerable with each other.

The Walt Whitman quote in the affirmation card today goes well with the theme of the Ten of Cups, as it is all about finding what makes you happy and gives you peace… and sinking into it.  So often, we reject the things that could make us happy either through lack of believing that we don’t deserve it, or because we feel it’s “not the right time”.   Today’s cards say that now is the right time, and you do deserve to be happy.  Don’t push it away… embrace it.

DECK USED:  THE CHEIMONETTE TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Grab a spread that you have been curious about… and give it a go!

Cheimonette Tarot

What’s the most magical thing about me?

The World – My ability to adapt through one life lesson to the next. To survive and keep going with the inner knowledge that there’s something more ahead to see and do, even if it’s not quite in reach right this moment.

How can I express more of my wild nature?

Temperance – Connect more strongly the spiritual self to the world around you. Take more time to both explore, and to nurture yourself and others. Your wild nature is not the tornado or the tsunami, but lies in the gentle currents and eddies of tide pools and meandering glacier streams.

Where/how have I been suppressing my magic?

Two of Cups – You’ve been stepping back recently on connecting with others on a deeper level, as well as on those things that you share in common. It’s okay to sometimes need a break, but it does suppress a piece of your magic when you are unable to share freely with like-minded others.

How can I release any feelings of shame or unworthiness?

The Empress – I focusing on being kind to yourself and others. By getting out in nature and allowing it to give you the healing energy that you need. Dry earth is not your forte, but I can still help to balance you out.

How can I BE exactly who I am and shine my wild & magical self to the world?

The King of Disks – Stay grounded, and focus on manifesting what you want to happen and come in to being. You are skilled at molding the world around you into what you want it to be. Don’t forget that.

A message from my guides.

The Priest – We are here to help you and guide you along your path. It’s OK to lean on us now and then. We are not as intimidating as you sometimes make us out to be in yore head.

This is the second time in the past week that a message from my guys has been the Hierophant card.

DECK USED: THE CHEIMONETTE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Today I accidentally surprised someone trying to break into the building and got my head slammed into a wall.  When I woke up, the paramedics were there and although I didn’t want to, I let them take me to the hospital to get checked out instead of coming back upstairs like I wanted to.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_3495The Green Hopper

Spider mites
have come to roost
among green leaves
and tender shoots
to suck the life
from all the green
and kill off just about
everything
and a hero comes
to save the day
a friend to camp out
for a short stay
to eat his fill
and feast away

It’s so dry and the spider mites have set up camp in my roses and a few other spots on the balcony.  I’m spraying for them, but I just can’t seem to keep up with it. I might have to change from a soap spray to an actual insecticide.  This grasshopper showed up on my balcony about two weeks ago and is still hanging out, looking healthy and well fed.  At least someone’s enjoying the spider mite infestation.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Procrastination

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:

Bosch Puzzle Playing CardsWhat have you been putting off/procrastinating?

Jack of Clubs and Three of Diamonds – This was something that the cards have recently brought up.  It has to do with finding enthusiasm and joy in my work instead of looking at it as a chore.

If I want to keep my business running smoothly and moving forward, I need to make sure that I’m connecting with the enthusiasm and joy that running that business can bring.

How is that procrastination impacting you?

Queen of Hearts – It’s allowing me to concentrate on sorting out my emotions.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as growth in my emotional development and learning how to identify and deal with my emotions is something I’m currently working on.   But, it’s important that I don’t get so wrapped up in this process that I close my eyes to the needs of my business and keeping it running smoothly.

How is that procrastination impacting others?

Ace of Hearts – When the business isn’t as profitable as it can be, it impacts more than just myself but also those around me.  We all need the business to work and thrive.

What good things lie in your future related to this activity?

Nine of Hearts – This card is a reminder that things will pick back up.  Both through the eventual re-invigoration of my enthusiasm, and also because now is the slow season and it won’t last forever.  I’m allowed to focus on my emotions for now… the money aspect will come later.

DECK USED:  BOSCH PUZZLE PLAYING CARDS

Listening Is More Than Hearing

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Today’s meditation was done in the wake of pulling next month’s decks and putting the majority (other than the ones I need for tomorrow) of this month’s away.

Panda Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of conflict, disagreements with others, and conflict through the clashing of wills.

The thing about the Five of Wands is that yes, it’s about conflict.  But it’s not the same kind of conflict you find in the Five of Swords.  In the Wands, we deal with the things that make us tick.  Our principles, our values, our enthusiasm, our drive.  In the Wands, the conflict card includes these aspects.  You’re not fighting just to fight, but because you are fighting -for- something.

Sometimes when many people feel strongly on a topic, they clash.  That is the kind of conflict that this card is about.

The affirmation card for today tells us that a lot of these battles of will, principles, and values can be solved if we will only pause to listen.  Not just -hear- what others are saying, but actually listen to what they have to say and think about it instead of trying to talk over them to get our own point across.

DECK USED:  PANDA TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 29th thru 31st

Ancient Animal Wisdom Oracle and Chinese TarotWhat should I appreciate more?

Three of Wands and Lion – My journey, and the autonomy I have within it. The strength it has given me that I now own through the trials I’ve experienced, and can now utilize as I move forward.

What am I free to begin at this time?

Two of Cups, Sausage Fruit Tree atop Civet – Cracks up. Okay. So these cards essentially say that I’m “ripe for spectacular sex with a mysterious stranger”. Maybe Gideon and I need to make new characters? I’m really enjoying the ones we have right now tho. Good thing that “free to begin” something doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. Maybe I can channel that “ripeness” into something else, hm?

What thought do I need to keep with me moving forward?

Nine of Cups and Monkey – Don’t let your feelings of satiation dampen your curiosity for life and the world around you. Just cuz you’re happy and comfortable doesn’t mean there’s not plenty more to explore, discover, and enjoy.

DECKS USED: ANCIENT ANIMAL WISDOM ORACLE AND CHINESE TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Question: What can I do in the present in support of my definition of a happy home?

Panda TarotReading Summary: Let go of past experiences (Ten of Swords) and own the present (Four of Pentacles). Ensure prolonged security (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away:  In order to support my definition of a happy home, it’s important to not get so wrapped up in my past experiences and processing things concerning them that I lose focus on my goals.

A lot of my security plans and goals are on a sort of autopilot.  Automatic payments and the like. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t check in on them now and then to make sure things are going as planned and everything is in order. 

DECK USED: PANDA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

After I pulled next month’s decks, I took an ibuprofen and allowed myself to lie down for a bit and take a break.

Transitioning from July to August

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Homebound Tarot and David Wilson's Animal Oracle

Here and Now, I Am – Death and Strategy – In the middle of change and strategizing the way forward. I am in a place where I am prepared to not just adapt, but find a way to flourish.  Logical thinking is necessary.  You can’t just “feel your way forward” in this.  (Details on this change are further explored in the “Relevant Shadows” portion of this reading.)

Leaving Behind – The Fool atop The Lovers, Modest – Hesitation caused by naive concerns about our relationship. Finally letting go of the fear of returning to that place we were in years ago that I struggled with so much.

Focus Forward – The Tower and Ornery – Change. You are stubbornly going to push this change that is shown in the “Here and Now, I Am” position. You know it’s the right thing for you, and anyone that tries to get in your way is going to find themselves confronted with unpleasant backlash.

Negative Influences – Seven of Swords and Unbidden – Pay attention to those that come into your life uninvited and ask shit of you, or try to steal away your time, energy, or resources.

Positive Influences – The Hierophant and Thaw – Work on opening up more to your guides. They are here to help you, teach you, and guide you upon your path.

Relevant Shadows – The Devil atop Two of Cups, Power –  The themes that you explored this month concerning your inner adolescent, and how those scarcity feelings from that area of your life influence your present. This area needs more exploring, for you have the power to deal with it at this time. It is through spending time with this issue and working through it that the changes touched upon in “Here and Now, I Am” will manifest.

Lift From The Past  – The Emperor, Fragile atop Predator – Don’t forget how safe and protected Gideon makes you feel. He is there to support you whenever you are feeling vulnerable and protect you from not just others that might target you, but from your own inner self destructive influences that lurk beneath those times when you are at your most vulnerable.

Future Event to Prevent or Overcome – Six of Cups and Legend – Your mother. Her expectations. Her manipulation through the connection to your childhood.  The visit to see her has been postponed, but it’s coming.  Be ready.

Approaching Opportunity – The Moon Rx and Searching – It’s time to start seeking out those things that make you feel stable and confident. As you build on the change that dominates the lion’s share of this reading, you need to start instilling more of these confidence building things into your life. Look to the “Relevant Shadows” and “Lift From The Past” sections of this reading to find these things. Your opportunity here lies in making peace with your inner adolescent and seeking out Gideon to help you in sorting through this theme.

Message from Spirit World –  Childhood stories are something you need to value as a learning experience.  Don’t lock them up inside and throw away the key.  Seek the lessons they have to teach you in order to defeat the fears and uncertainties that these experiences still spawn.

Message from Mind’s World – When you don’t get enough Gideon goodness in your life, it influences you negatively, allowing your mind to dip too deeply into the harsher side of things and your negative inner dialogue to become stronger.

Message from Known World –  Activities that you enjoy together are fare better for you than time spent alone on your own.  When you’re feeling vulnerable, allow yourself to step under Gideon’s wing.  Don’t retreat into yourself where you are putting yourself more at risk from either outside factors or your own inner demons.

Take Away – Apparently I am in a place to deal with this particular shadow from my inner adolescent, and I need Gideon’s help to sort through my feelings and how to deal with the situation.  When this topic first came up in the monthly challenge, I was surprised at how strongly it resonated.  The reading here indicates that I need to make sure I don’t just “set it aside” now that I’ve touched on it, but actually explore it deeper.

DECKS USED:  HOMEBOUND TAROT AND DAVID WILSON’S ANIMAL ORACLE