Month: July 2021

Worst Case Scenario Thinking

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Today’s meditation was skipped.  It just didn’t end up happening.  I do plan to get back on track though tomorrow.  I don’t want to fall back into skipping over and over again.

Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of worries, stress, negative inner dialogue, and nightmares as well as the unpleasant results of these issues such anxiety and insomnia.

What I see here in the combination between the Nine of Swords and the affirmation card today is a reminder that “what ifs” and worse case scenario thinking is not healthy. Yes, it can prepare you for things to come and the unexpected. But that doesn’t make it healthy.

The message in today’s cards is to remember to instill a bit more optimism in your thinking. You don’t have to discount the bad that may come, but rather you need to make sure that you also accept that it (whatever “it” may be) has just as much potential to turn out good instead.

DECK USED:  TAROT DE MARSEILLE JEAN DODAL AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Do Spread #3

Saros TarotWhat have I forgotten that needs to be brought with me upon my path?

Two of Staves – Although you haven’t abandoned your path, you have spent some time in standstill and need to reconnect to the plan and ensure that your coordinates don’t need adjusting.

How can I begin to incorporate that back into my life?

Strength – Everything you need is a part of who you already are. Look inward to your strengths. Connect with your inner moral compass, and what you know is right for you.

Where am I on my path at this time?

The Emperor – You may be large and in charge of your own life, but you also aren’t moving. This pause is necessary to rally your people around you, and learn to appreciate their support and just how much they contribute to your life and your journey.

What should I prepare to harvest at the end of the month?

Five of Cups – There comes a spill… a tumble from grace, just try to salvage what you can instead of wallowing in the negative aspects of the experience.

How do I begin those preparations?

Three of Swords Rx – Work on seeing the up side in bad situations. Optimism is going to be important, and just like intuition or and physical muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it will become and easier it will become to lean on when needed.

DECK USED: SAROS TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Topic:  Something I am asked to heed or consider this week.

Tarot de Marseille Jean DodalReading Summary: Optimism (Five of Cups… the meaning of the card in this reading is an echo of the previous reading I did for myself above) doesn’t equal blind trust. It means you look at both sides of the coin instead of one in order to achieve a healthier perspective (The positioning of the Fool and the Five of Cups straddling the Lovers card creates healthy choices as the ultimate outcome of balancing two perspectives).

Take Away:  As a pessimist, I look at pessimism as a method of preparation.  If you’re already expecting the worst, then you can only be pleasantly surprised if things go better than expected… instead of disappointed or butthurt if things go bad.

This has always been my mindset.  But, something I’ve struggled with is that pessimism isn’t healthy unless you have a balance.  That’s why the saying goes “prepare for the worst, hope for the best”.  Without hope? Pessimism is a toxin.  Poisonous and corrosive to the spirit.

DECK USED: TAROT DE MARSEILLE JEAN DODAL

Daily Self Kindness

I managed to get over 100 orders done and packaged today, with the help of Z and L.  Which, in turn, should take a lot of stress and pressure off order day tomorrow as I play catch up from having time off.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_7634New Perspective

Lean in
and look closer
to see another world
hidden
in plain sight
Shakespeare
had it right
in Hamlet’s
greatest truth…
There are more things
in heaven and earth
than are dreamt of
in your philosophy

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?

Joie de Vivre Tarot, Healing Flower Color Cards, Wildlife Wisdom Oracle

Earth – Knight of Coins, Cerato atop Elm – Sometimes self doubts can slow you down and keep your progress moving slower than you would like. These self doubts make it harder to connect with your intuition, and it can make it feel like you’re moving along blindly instead of with purpose. This week may feel like you’re standing still, but rest assured you’re still moving. Focus on what you want for yourself and from yourself, instead of on progress.

Air – The Moon and Crab Apple – Make sure you’re doing your meditation, as it can help you in releasing the self-doubt and fears that may plague you this week and cause you to feel stagnant. The meditations are important. Even if sometimes you feel like you don’t get any benefit from it, do them anyway.

Water – The World atop Four of Wands, Clematis – Remember that just because you’re not getting as much progress in your home business as she would like at the moment, you’re still moving along the path that’s right for you. Your journey isn’t over, so don’t let slow progress stir your emotions into feeling like they need to retreat and sulk. As mentioned above, keep your eye on what you want for yourself, and from yourself, on this journey. It’s okay if sometimes things don’t go just exactly the way you want them to.

Fire – Ace of Coins, Cerato atop Wild Oat – This week you’re being given the opportunity to not bury yourself into your work, but rather keep an eye on where you’re headed along your journey and if you’re on the right path. You need to make sure that you’re listening to your instincts and intuition, as well as that gut feeling of your moral compass. Let them lead you this week, because sometimes blind trust in these things is the only way forward.

Waning – Marjoram (Happiness) – This week isn’t a time of new beginnings, but rather and assessing where you are in orienting yourself.

Waxing – Fig (Vitality) – Look at what you have, look at where you’re going. Not just with the limited view of your impatience, but with a broader perspective.

Take Away – The indication in these cards is that this week isn’t about progress or about new beginnings, it’s about assessing where I’m at, and what I want for myself and the world around me, as well as where I want to go from here. There are things that need to be changed, and new perspectives to be seen and understood concerning where I’m at. It’s time to set my impatience aside for the week and pay attention instead.

DECKS USED:  JOIE DE VIVRE TAROT, HEALING FLOWER COLOR CARDS, GREEN WITCH ORACLE

Present Focus

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Today’s meditation was attempted but I ended up napping instead.  I mean I started meditating, and fell asleep. So, I’ll have re-try the third installment from the Balance app tomorrow.

Memento Mori Tarot and Less Anxiety Affirmation CardsToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of movement and swift action. This often translates into a “get your ass moving” theme in a reading, especially when combined with other action based cards.

Here in today’s draw, what we see is in the opposite, though. The affirmation card in today’s pull is a reminder to not push, nor strive and struggle, but instead be mindful of the pleasures of the present, which fits extremely well with the fact that the wands (baseball bats) in this imagery are not just planted in the ground, but also covered in nails.

The message here is that too much focus on the future and not enough on the present is not healthy. Make sure you are enjoying the journey, as the end should not be your focus, but rather what you experiences, learn, and enjoy along the way.

DECK USED:  MEMENTO MORI TAROT AND LESS ANXIETY AFFIRMATION CARDS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for July 15th thru 17th

Golden Age of Romance Comics TarotWhen am I most creative?
Knight of Pentacles and Five of Pentacles

When you see something you want and are ready to go after that, even in the face of adversity or other hurdles that might try and get in your way. Interest and inspiration spark my creativity and bring it rising up to the surface.

What action can I take today to be more creative?
The Empress and The Hermit

Get your ass out in nature more. Yes, it’s miserably hot and dry, and even during mild summers, the summer feels like a slow crawl through hell. But, you need that time alone in nature to not just center and ground yourself, but also nurture and invigorate your creative juices.

What do I feel when I work on something creative?
Eight of Pentacles and Seven of Cups

You can feel your experience and expertise growing as you expand and grow, and that growth in turn opens up new venues you are then eager to explore. It’s a cycle of accomplishment, curiosity, exploration, that eventually leads again to discovery and then accomplishment, before then beginning again.

DECK USED: GOLDEN AGE OF ROMANCE COMICS TAROT

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Question:  What can I do to make the world better for all of us?

Memento Mori TarotReading Summary: Keep creating (Ace of Coins). You provide people with an abundance of satisfaction and joy (Nine of Cups) far more often than you disappoint (Wheel of Fortune).

Take Away: My jewelry business has a purpose that goes far beyond making money.  I take a great deal of pleasure in the fact that the pieces I create and send out into the world are sent out to people who will not just enjoy them, but love them.  Won’t just love them, but will feel beautiful wearing them.

I love that I can make something that can uplift others.  I love that each and every one of the pieces I make is made with the intention to do just that. The potential to do just that.

DECK USED: MEMENTO MORI TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I premade dinner at 2:30am so that I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking today.  Because I was worried that the drop would make it difficult to function today.  Although the drop didn’t hit like I expected it to, I think it was a good plan.

Gideon’s Challenge

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Dianthus Barbatus

Little white eyes
tilt up toward
the summer sky
as sweet flowers
cluster and push
to nudge
each other aside
for a moment
in the spotlight
until fingers pluck
and flowers float
in an iced tea glass
for love and hope

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – The KWL Approach

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“A learning-themed divination spread, based on the “KWL” charts.”

Scooby Doo Playing Cards1. Topic: What is a topic I should be focusing my learning efforts on?

Nine of Clubs and Queen of Hearts – Better boundaries for a healthier emotional balance. You can’t always let everyone’s demands for your time and attention tap you out.  Don’t forget that you need time for yourself too, no matter how much of yourself you feel the desire to give to others.

2a. K (Know): What do I already know about this topic?

Jack of Diamonds – You know that you’re already on the right path and that it’s going to take some time. That, as long as you stay focused on what you want to build and where you want to take it, that it will come over time.

2b. K (Know): Where does my prior knowledge and experience help me in understanding this topic?

Three of Clubs – They give you direction and motivation to keep going. You know what a detriment not having healthy boundaries can be for you.  You know that without them, you become overwhelmed and the world begins to feel like it’s falling apart.  And you know that without those boundaries, you are far more likely to become vulnerable to the wrong people, which can cause damage that goes far deeper than just burnout (ie: the “pissant” incident). All of this knowledge provides motivation and direction, and helps to keep you on track where your boundaries are concerned.

3a. W (Wonder): What things have I already been wondering about related to this topic?

Jack of Spades – How to strategize my way forward at a faster pace.  Obviously I know that this is a bad idea and it’s my past and my negative habits that inspire this topic of curiosity.  But, there’s no denying that it’s there.

3b. W (Wonder): What things have I already been wanting to do related to this topic?

Six of Clubs – How to more easily pave the path to getting there. This isn’t about speed so much as it’s about stumbling blocks and wanting to move forward without a lot of struggle and stress. “Harmonizing the journey” so to speak, so that it can go more smoothly.  This is something I’ve been wanting to do.

4a. L (Learn): What am I already learning about this topic?

Three of Hearts – There are people in my life eager and happy to help lift me up and support me. I don’t have to do it alone. And, in fact, probably shouldn’t do it alone even if I might want to or feel that urge.

4b. L (Learn): What will I be learning about this topic soon?

Three of Spades – Setbacks happen.

DECK USED:  SCOOBY DOO! PLAYING CARDS