Month: July 2021

Morning Bonus Read – Boundaries

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“This week’s prompt is on the theme of boundaries. Let’s do some divination to better understand our boundaries, using Goldilocks reasoning.”

Johannes Brahms Composers Luxury Playing CardsIn what areas of life are my boundaries too hard (trying so hard to protect me that they end up injuring me or preventing growth)?

Myself – Three of Clubs – forcing people to stay at a distance so that I don’t get hurt. Expecting betrayal, and thus building my inner walls too hard and too deep so that nothing can get through to touch me.

Others – Six of Diamonds – Shutting people out so strenuously that they do not have the ability to get through to help me when I need help.

In what areas of life are my boundaries too soft (not being enforced, not clearly delineated where they need to be, etc)?

Myself – Jack of Spades – I don’t allow myself to move at slower pace when in the process of learning new skills or ideas. This means I take on too much instead of buckling down on one thing at a time.

Others – King of Spades – I take too much on myself instead of delegating more effectively. This allows people to take advantage and do less instead of standing up and doing their share.

In what areas of my life are my boundaries just right?

Myself – Jack of Hearts – Having slowed down on the pursuit of the things that interest me and that I want in life. It used to be I try to do everything and be everything, and get everything done all at once so that I could have all that I wanted in life as fast as possible. I’ve learned to better pace myself in those pursuits.

Others – King of Clubs – I allow myself to teach what I want to teach, and what is a passion to me, instead of just letting whatever others want to learn be the basis of what I am willing to share.

DECK USED:  JOHANNES BRAHMS COMPOSERS LUXURY PLAYING CARDS

Be True To You

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

The focus of today’s meditation was about the differences between sympathy and empathy, and how empathy can draw us closer to others, while sympathy holds others at a distance.

The Fox Tarot Pips Edition and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Judgment card, which is traditionally a representation of… well, judgement.

I’ve mentioned this before, but this used to be the card within the tarot that I struggled with the most. Then, a couple of years ago, I attended a card study where the Justice and Judgement cards were set in a comparative focus. In this study, these cards were presented as Justice being the immediate, present-day balance of cause and effect (which was how I viewed it anyway), and that in contrast, the Judgement card was about what you’ve done with your life as a whole. How is your life path going? Is it going in a way that you like? Are you happy with the person you’ve become and how you live your life and see the world?

This contrast actually turned my confusion around completely. By having set the Judgement card beside the Justice card, it made the differences clear to me, and helped me to clearly define my understanding of the Judgement card in a way I’d failed to be able to in the past.

Combined with the affirmation card for today, the message here is about staying true to yourself and the person you want to be, even when times are hard and you’re feeling discouraged.  Sometimes, it can be tempting to act out of character when you’re down on your luck and see an “easy way out” of the situation. It’s important (maybe especially during these times), to stay true to your values and principles and stay focused on the type of person you want to be.

DECK USED:  THE FOX TAROT PIPS EDITION AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 9th and 10th

Napo TarotWhat do I need to focus on protecting at this time?
Six of Cups and Three of Swords

My inner child. And those feelings of hopelessness and defeat once experienced in the past, that when experience now can bring that inner child back to the surface along with his pain.

What needs released in order to strengthen my independence?
The Lovers and Queen of Cups

The expectation that nurturing and love come from outside of yourself, rather than from within. The most valuable nurturing and love in your life should be that which you give yourself. Don’t expect others to supplement it. Including your mother.

DECK USED: NAPO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Question:  What do I need to focus on for self care this new moon?

The Fox Tarot Pips EditionReading Summary: Linger in the moment (Ten of Swords Rx) and set yourself to finding inspiration (Knight of Wands) in what you have now at your fingertips (Ten of Pentacles). Enjoy this time instead of allowing it to pass you by. If you make the choice to throw it away, you’ll only be stealing from yourself (Seven of Swords atop The Lovers).

Take Away: Starting today is my week off, and what is being said here is that I need to take this time to enjoy the present and not worry so much about the future or what needs to be done. Just enjoy each day as it comes, because if I don’t I’ll end up regretting it when my time off is over.

DECK USED: THE FOX TAROT PIPS EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I made myself take a nap even though I didn’t really want to.  I was just so tired, and I felt much better afterwards.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_2667The Inner Hermit

Social hour
is not for me
too many people
makes me skeeve
isolation is a friend
I’ve invited in
and when it’s time
to gather
I’m nowhere
to be seen
Don’t make me go
I’ll kick and fight
I’d rather eat alone
out of sight

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Empty Cup

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Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and was one of the guided meditations from the Calm app combined with an interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about clarity of sight. That is to say it was about seeing the world around us with new eyes through a perspective of curiosity and openness.

A lot of times we become jaded with our surroundings to the point that we don’t even really notice them anymore. This jaded view makes the world drab and boring. In today’s meditation, we are guided to see the world in this new light, thus sparking interest and curiosity in the world once more.

Auset Gypsy Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Hierophant, which is traditionally a representation of guidance and tradition.  In some cases it can often also represent any sort of spiritual guidance or spiritual leadership.

I often identify with the Hierophant through my spiritual mentorship and teaching of the tarot.  And today’s cards area a good reminder that feels geared especially in that regard.

The thing is, I always want to be there for those that I’ve mentored to help them learn and grow.  It’s important to me.  But there are times when I just can’t be… when my own needs have to come first.

This is something I struggle with a lot, and in fact I think that many struggle with. We want to give of ourselves… even when our cup is empty and there’s no energy left to spare.  Today’s cards are a reminder that we all need to rest now and then, and it’s okay to take a step back and tend to yourself and your needs, even when others are depending on you.

DECK USED:  AUSET GYPSY TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for July 7th and 8th

Dirt Gems Oracle and Auset Gypsy Tarot How can I celebrate my life more fully?
Peppermint, The Hermit atop Two of Swords

There is an echo of color and form in the peppermint card and the Two of Swords. He speaks of a need to dispel mental chatter and deliberation, whereas the Hermit on top shows the way to do this it’s through healthy alone time.

In order to celebrate my life more fully, there is a need to find peace within my inner dialogue and my constant need to make decisions that push me ever forward.

How can I allow others to celebrate me more fully and without resistance?
Ashwagandha atop Clary Sage, Two of Wands

Self development and growth takes time. You need to clear out your dark inner thoughts and feelings so that you can more easily see the motivations of others more clearly, with a perspective that is unpolluted by your past and your fears.

DECK USED: DIRT GEMS ORACLE AND AUSET GYPSY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to help my inner child feel more protected?

Auset Gypsy Tarot Reading Summary: Nurture yourself (Queen of Cups) no matter if it’s a good day or bad day (Wheel of Fortune), and allow others to do the same (Three of Cups).

Take Away: Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, a positive experience or negative one, a success or failure… it’s okay to be kind to yourself and to sooth yourself. It’s okay to let others be kind to you as well, and to accept that kindness instead of letting it roll off of you like rain on a slicker.

By allowing this kindness and nurturing energy in, and taking the time to nurture yourself, you are also allowing your inner child to be nurtured, which helps them in feeling safe and protected.

DECK USED: AUSET GYPSY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I meditated on an orders day.  I… hm…. I dunno what else, but I managed that at least.

New Moon in Cancer – July 2021

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Tomorrow is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us.  Today’s spread is brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot By the Moon series.

Radiant Scales Tarot - New Moon in Cancer Tarot Reading

1. How can I bring more balance to my home?

Page of Water atop The Devil – Don’t allow your emotional vulnerabilities to stir up your tendency to self medicate through addiction. Just because you’re not addicted to drugs doesn’t mean you don’t have addictions that can become unhealthy if left unchecked.

2. What old family beliefs need to be healed?

Ten of Air – When you fuck up, you fuck up. End of story. There is no try again, there is no second chance. This mentality perpetuated my “never enough” issues that you still struggle with to this day.

3. What old family patterns need examining?

The Emperor – Issues with authority due to the way that authority over you was abused throughout your formative years. Not all authority figures are your enemy or someone to butt heads with.

4. How can I be a more impactful community member?

Nine of Fire – You are already doing enough.

5. Message from the Ancestors.

King of Air – You’re a strong and resourceful, and with the right strategy you can do anything you put your mind to.

DECK USED:  RADIANT SCALES TAROT (TRIMMED BORDERLESS)

Morning Bonus Read – Feeling the Feels

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Cheimonette Tarot

Feels I’m Feeling

The Devil  – Temptation to self destruct.  Anti-depressants are a massive help to keeping me well balanced, but they don’t resolve everything.  This temptation comes and goes.  Sometimes it is stronger than others.  This isn’t about death, but rather about turning my entire life upside down, and razing the entire thing and everything I’ve worked for and built to the ground. This temptation is sneaky… slipping in to try and nudge and whisper, insidious and conniving as it works to tempt me astray.

The World – Potential for the new and different. I can see it glimmering in the distance, that promise of something new and better, of growth and transition.  I see it and sense it, I want to push for it and seize it… but I know that’s not how this works.  Growth takes time.

Feels I’m Ignoring
Ace of Disks atop The Moon, Five of Disks

Financial uncertainty and scarcity issues. This is a very strong theme in my life, and a driving force of my motivation a great deal of the time.  It’s a fear that I struggle with, and have struggled with ever since my emancipation from my parents at sixteen.   I am, at this time, doing my best to accept that I’ve done well for myself.  That I’m comfortable and safe, and that everything is stable.  There is no need for this fear and no need for it to rule my life.  I’m working at not allowing it to have such a loud and overpowering voice in my life.

Feels I Need To Embrace

Two of Staves – Pick a direction. Stagnancy sucks. I’ve felt like I’ve been stuck and waffling. I understand the need to pick a direction and I feel that I’ve begun that process.  It’s just taking far longer than I’m comfortable with.

Nine of Cups – Gratitude directed toward the self and toward having put myself in a place where I now have the time and space to even do “the feels” at all.

Feels I Should Feel More Often

Death – Embracing change instead of fighting against it.  It’s so hard not to struggle against change or fall into the feelings of fear and uncertainty that change can bring rise to.   Not all change is bad, though.  And even the change that feels bad?  Sometimes turns out all the better for having happened. Embracing change is hard, but I’m working on doing so more and more.

Seven of Cups – Feeling empowered by my wealth of options instead of overwhelmed by them. This is a perspective change that I’m not always able to shift into.  I can see it.  That wealth of opportunity… but I can’t sometimes get my emotions to follow along with that positive perspective I can see.  So, it’s like I can see it, but not quite touch it.

Feels I should Share With Others

Six of Swords – Discuss with them the desire you have to change direction.

Ten of Cups – Share this adventure with them and make them a part of the whole.

DECK USED:  CHEIMONETTE TAROT