Autumn’s Breath
Seasons shift
with a vibrant sigh
as yellow and orange
bleed bright
into verdant green
as droplets fall
to bathe the world
in the cleansing
wash of rain
and in a breath
autumn
greets the senses
in a celebration
of scents
Today is the full 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 about the ebb and flow, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.
1. What emotional wounds need to be cleansed by the healing waters of the Pisces Full Moon?
Five of Air – Your sense of defeat. It can be hard to keep going when you feel beaten down and are just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Take a breath and let these feelings ease, and release that tight grip you have on the anticipation of more to come.
2. What do I need to surrender to the ebb and flow of the Universal ocean?
Four of Earth – Let go of the expectation of yourself that everything you do has to be perfect. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough.
3. What emotions is the Full Moon magnifying that need to be explored?
Page of Fire – You need to look more deeply into why you feel the need to push so hard. What is it that has you so determined to drown yourself in work before the holiday rush has even begun?
4. How can I allow my intuition to flow with more ease?
Hierophant Rx – Be less rigid with yourself and others about how things are “supposed to be”. Individuality, as you know, holds a massive amount of value. Everyone’s path is different, including your own, so don’t be so exacting with yourself. Adaptability and flexibility are extremely important.
5. What messages is the Universe sending to me as I sleep?
Knight of Water – This card is an echo of a message provided in my Self Care Saturday reading for this week. Watch closely for those looking to manipulate you through emotional means. Pay attention to the tugging of heartstrings that feel like marionette strings on your will and decisions.
6. Message from the Ancestors.
Five of Earth – You’re not going to get where you want to go this week. Don’t get discouraged, just adapt and keep going.
Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was the second installment of the Foundations III series on the Balance app.
Today’s meditation focused on one of my favorite types of meditation; the body scan or yoga nidra method.
Today’s draw is the Justice card, which is traditionally a representation of the cause-and-effect aspects of balance, and can also represent the law and judicial system.
I don’t know about anyone else, but sometimes I have a somewhat cavalier few of social norms and… even laws. It isn’t that I don’t know what the expectations are, it’s that I disagree with them. This has never resulted in legal jeopardy, but it can cause social tensions from time to time.
The thing is? Even though I don’t always agree with how things are expected to be by society, I have my own ethics, my own sense of right and wrong, and a very highly tuned moral compass.
At these times, I often worry that my views will cause adverse reactions and repercussions. And, admittedly, sometimes they do. Today’s cards are a reminder to look at your own moral compass, your own ethics, and your own sense of right and wrong. How are they working for you? Are there tweaks that need to be made or are you happy with how things are going?
Mr Lionharts’ #TheSeptemberTarot Rise and Fall Prompt
Questions for September 19th thru 21st
Where or in what way shouldn’t I be too hard on myself?
Woodsman and Ten of Wands
You can’t help everyone, as you can only take on so much. Don’t be hard on yourself because you have to pick and choose what you decide to tackle and what you decide to leave behind. We all have to do it, and you already give more of yourself than you realize.
Something that could benefit from a little more focus.
Test and Nine of Cups
Keep yourself focused on “the good stuff”. This includes working on keeping a positive outlook, as well as taking time to really appreciate all that you have.
A personal strength that can help/support me right now.
Dark Forest and Knight of Cups
The deep forest and liminal spaces there are waiting for you. Get your ass outside and draw upon the energy, balance, and grounding you need from those sources that you connect to so well.
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread 1
Question: How can I best navigate the transition from my current mindset and energies into those of the holiday rush to come?
Reading Summary: Daylight connects the Strength and Eight of Pentacles together, speaking of what is already revealed through previous experiences.
Your experience in having done this transition many times in the past (Eight of Pentacles) has provided you with the knowledge, strength, and innate know-how to make it through it again this year (Strength).
Dark borders surrounding the imagery connect the Strength card to The Fool, speaking of the secret ingredient yet to be added.
To transition in a healthier manner (Strength), you need to instill a mindset of adventure into the process (The Fool).
Take Away: I’ve received this answer before for similar questions based around enjoying the holiday rush more. The key is to work at making the holiday rush feel like an adventure instead of a trial and a chore. It’s only if I am able to instill a bit of fun and adventure into the process that I’ll be able to find joy in the chaos of the busy season to come.
Well, impromptu nap aside, I also managed to have both my smoothie and my tea, as well as all my vitamins today. First time in a while.
The Return
Wet grass
and soaked shoes
sloppy puddles
and muddy fields
the rain is back
once again
so very missed
by earth and man
that the world seems
to sigh in relief
as I lie in the chill
on the sopping ground
and smile gratitude
to the weeping sky
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?
Earth – Queen of Air and The North Wood Fae – Your time off didn’t really give you that rested feeling that you were seeking. Make sure to take some extra time this week to rest and pamper your body. Picking your meditation practice back up would also be advised, as it will help calm the anxious running on of your brain.
Air – Three of Fire and Forest Sister – There is a lull of calm that comes after chaos, which is an opportunity for progress if you seize upon it. Keep an eye out for these opportunities in the week ahead.
Water – Queen (The Empress) and The Mandragora Mother – Give yourself what you ache for and long for this week. Get out in nature and seek out those liminal spaces, frolic among the trees and hanging moss, and find the peace that your connection with both provides.
Fire – Knight of Water and She of the Mossy Brae – Take caution with those that try to spark your interest this week. Remember that flattery is often a tool used to manipulate.
Waning – Loyalty – Make sure that you are looking at your relationships with others using a critical eye. Blind trust is not a good idea this week.
Waxing – Manifest – Now is the time to plot and plan, dream and conspire. What do you want? Start thinking about what you want in the days and weeks ahead, where you want things to go, and how to get there.
Take Away – There is a warning here about taking things (and people) at face value, and a risk that you could come up against those seeking to emotionally manipulate you. Instilling a bit of skepticism into how you view the world and others that approach would be a good idea for the week ahead.
There is also an encouragement to keep an eye out for small opportunities in the calm after chaos. Nothing big, but those nickel and dime opportunities that add up to obtaining bigger goals in the end.
Taking care of myself, my body, and my needs will also be an important theme this week, which includes getting out in nature.
Today’s meditation was… yes, you guessed it. Skipped again. No reason or excuses. I slept in late and I just didn’t do it when I finally got my ass up.
Today’s draw is the Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love, unions, and making the choices that are right, good, and healthy for you.
Here in this card we see some funky people being their groovy selves, and this fits well with the Thera-Pets card for today, which is all about individuality and uniqueness.
These cards call us to reflect upon our decision making choices. When we are making decisions about our lives, are we making the choices that are right for us? Or are we making harmful decisions simply because of the influences of others.
Whether these influences are peer pressure, familial expectations, or some other push for you to choose a course that’s not right for you personally, today’s cards are an encouragement to identify these influences and ask yourself if there isn’t a better, healthier way.
BekahMurphysMagic’s #IntuitiveHealingTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for September 17th thru 20th
How can I connect with my Higher Self to enhance my intuition?
10 de Baton atop 8 de Baton – Don’t. Doing so at this point will be overwhelming for you. You need to allow your intuition to grow and develop at its own pace instead of pushing it forward.
How can I connect with my Shadow Self to enhance my intuition?
Ace de Baton – This card is saying “hey dumbass! You saw that previous warning, right?” While also indicating that if you really want to ignore the previous card’s advice, in order to connect more strongly with your intuition through shadow work, it’s going to take a great deal of commitment to the cause.
This is fire and determination that you will have to take from somewhere else, as it would be a new separate endeavor from your current goals.
What inner child wound do I need to heal to enhance my intuition?
2 de Baton atop 7 d’Epee – Don’t fool yourself into thinking this is a good plan right now. The soil is not fertile.
The cards are very much against this avenue of self-development at this time, no matter which direction you might try to come at it from.
What challenges do I face in healing?
La Papessa atop Roi d’Epee – It is through your intuition that you are guided in your healing journey. Don’t allow yourself to think that strategy and logic are leading the way.
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 18th
You – Chakra Mandala and Nine of Pentacles – At this time you are working at giving yourself a healthy balance between all of the different aspects of life. Leaning heavily into a gratitude mindset, you are working to appreciate the present more instead of constantly pushing towards the future.
Your Annoyance – Anahatha Mandala and Nine of Cups – Being emotionally open and vulnerable is exhausting.
What To Do About It – Deer and Three of Cups – Keep going. Lean on those in your trusted circle, but keep going. It won’t be exhausting forever, and in time you will recover both your energy and your sense of exhilaration.
I’ve finally accepted that I’m probably fighting off a cold or something. I’ve been really tired lately, more so than normal, and I think that it’s caused by this immune response. I’ve decided to accept that I need the rest instead of keeping on being hard on myself about it.
Twisting the Leaf 