Month: December 2021

Grounding Through Self Nurturing

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Today’s meditation was skipped today because we had to get going on the road super early in order to get Z to her appointment on time.

 Revival Art Tarot - Queen of CoinsToday’s draw is the Queen of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with nurturing and supportive, well grounded energy based in finding things to help one find their center and stability in their lives.

Today’s card is a reminder that I need to find my center and re-establish my foundation.  I need time in nature to clear my head of yesterday’s stress and mess, and to bond with the earth and her nurturing energies.

I spent a good deal of the day doing just that, as I went hiking in the woods with my camera in tow.  I took pictures of the beauty of nature, capturing images of my love for all that surrounded me while moving through the snow covered forest. I then came back to the house and broughtt in firewood, then fill up the back of the truck with more so it will be easy to get into the house later.  After that, I helped feed the birds, squirrels, and deer that visit the property here daily, then took some pictures of the tree that fell on the woodshed the day before yesterday.

DECK USED:  REVIVAL ART TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheDecemberTarot The Path Ahead Tarot Challenge Prompt

Revival Art TarotIf today is a crossroad, what path leads to the left? – Nine of Pentacles – Worrying over the past. Left is the past, and this path is about worrying over the past, and thus in turn, allowing the past to rule your present through those worries and fears.

Obstacles – The Hanged Man – Perspectives allow for clarity. You need to find a way to look at these experiences through a different lens. Until you can find a new perspective that will “stick” and stay with you, you will continue to struggle with these issues from the past.

Where does it lead? – Eight of Cups – Leaving behind those things that disappoint. If you take the “obstacle” in the way of living a life focused on past hurts and use it wisely, you can find yourself better able to leave the past in the past where it belongs instead of carrying it with you to overly influence your present and future.

What path lies to the right? – King of Swords – Strategizing for future successes. Right is the future and what is to come.  Here the King of Swords speaks of future planning and ambition. It is the workaholic that pushes others too hard and themselves even harder.

Obstacles – Six of Coins – Needing to provide for others and being generous. These themes stand in the way of the single minded focus and ambition that the King of Swords symbolizes.

Where does it lead? – Ace of Coins – Money money money. Yes, ambition and stratigizing can lead to significant new income.  But, what are you sacrificing onto the sword’s edge in order to focus so intently on the raking in of money.

What lies straight ahead? – Two of Coins – Seeking balance. Now in the present there is an opportunity to balance out the imbalance of the past few months and get back on track with finding a healthy balance between work and rest, between shadow work and pleasure seeking, between what is healthy and what isn’t. In the present lies potential and opportunity to set off on the path that will help you in developing that healthier balance if you are willing to reach out and go for it.

Obstacles – The Devil – Your addictions and temptations are a distraction. Sinking too deeply into the in order to block out the things you don’t want to deal with will only impede you on finding a healthy path forward and create stagnancy where there doesn’t need to be any.

Where does it lead? – The Sun – Happiness, joy, and a more well rounded sort of success than money alone can offer.

DECK USED: RIVIVAL ART TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

As mentioned previously in this post, I went for a hike in the woods today and spend some time taking pictures as well as bonding with nature.

(Late) Winter Solstice Lenormand Reading

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Spread for Winter Solstice - Yuletide Lenormand

Darkness – Sorrow & Brokeness

Whip and Ring – These cards cast a spotlight upon the unhealthy influences of your addictions and self-destructive tendencies.  In the darkest of times it is these things that harken home the feelings of “sorrow and brokeness” in your life.

Promise – Rebirth of the Sun

Clouds and Kitten – Lack of confidence and feelings of uncertainty can warp our feelings of security in those we trust. Allow the light of the sun to shine upon these clouds of uncertainty and burn away their influence so that you can see those that are true and loyal to you with a clear and unfiltered gaze instead of one clouded by fear.

Integration of Dark and Light

Evergreen and Candy Cane – Through shadow work you can find the healing magic needed to take control of your past and move past it, but it won’t be quick or easy to accomplish. Bring the darkness out into the light.

Gift of the Dark

Humbug, Slegh, Cross – Do everything you can to mitigate issues on your trip home. The travel will be a struggle with all the snow and ice on the roads right now, and the snow that is predicted still to fall. You don’t want to end up stranded or dealing with the expense of a costly auto repair.

DECK USED: YULETIDE LENORMAND

Derailment Ahead

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Little PrinceToday’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s willpower, drive, passions, and inner spark.

There is a message here in the train and the tracks, and what I found this message to be relevant for today is as a reminder to not allow distractions to derail me from where I want to go.

The distractions today had to do with going to lunch, and some of the things that were said there.  It has to do with the fact that those things said sort of derailed my self confidence and left me feeling disheartened, adrift, and exhausted.  Clearly I didn’t hear the message clearly until it had already happened. I have some ideas on what I can do to help myself re-center tomorrow, though.M

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Question: What last minute preparations for the new year need my focus?

Le Tarot de GulliverReyne de Deniers and Le Bateleur – Make smart choices with your money.  There’s a lot of potential in your hands right now, with the holiday rush freshly at an end.  Make sure that as you move forward you are spending from a solid foundation with an eye on what you want to accommplish, instead of through your emotions.

Nine of Coins atop Valet d’Épées – Success comes via discernment.  Learning to look at things differently and change your viewpoint is difficult, but promises a far more stable resulting success than winging it. Make sure that you are thinking things through.

DECK USED: LE TAROT DE GULLIVER

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

Tarot of the Little PrinceWhere You’re Stuck – Temperance – Instilling temperance into your life and habits has stalled out over the last six weeks or so. Although you have been feeling more engaged with the world around you during this time, you can’t sustain this type of energy expenditure on the long term.

Why You’re Stuck – Eight of Swords – You’re unwilling to look at the negative repercussions and accept a new balance needs to be found. Making excuses doesn’t change the fact that this time of year is a detriment to your health and well being. These effects cannot be ignored forever and must be dealt with.

Resolve It – Six of Wands atop Three of Pentacles – Appreciate all that you have accomplished and how well Z, L, and you have done over this time.  Appreciate and admire, but don’t carry it forward with you.  Leave it as a memory to build your confidence for what lies ahead.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE LITTLE PRINCE

Daily Self Kindness

Reaching out to Gideon while in the casino to find a bit of peace in the mess of what was lunch.

Appreciating Emotional Support

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Today’s meditation was just under ten minutes long and was not guided.  Instead it was simply a few minutes of peace and quiet, complete with breathing exercises and piriformis stretching.

The Pacific Northwest Tarot - King of CupsToday’s draw is the King of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often translates into themes that have to do with those with an intensive amount of emotional intelligence and the ability to use that to support and motivate others in the way that those others need.

In my life, Gideon is the King of Cups. He naturally draws others, and people naturally and easily open up to him. He is supportive and always seems to know what is needed to provide the emotional bolstering needed to help people find their way forward out of their struggles. This is not the nurturing comfort of the Queen of Cups, but a supportive strength of the hand that pulls you off the edge of the cliff or hauls you out of a snow drift.

Combined with the correllation of Gideon and the King of Cups, the connection is furthered by the turtle, which is Gideon’s favorite animal (well, that and the wolf).

The message in today’s card is all about Gideon from start to finish. It’s about appreciating him and his support. It’s about acknowledging my need for him in my life and in each day that passes. It’s about remembering that his help and support are there for me whenever I need it.  It is a reminder that we shouldn’t take these supportive people in our lives for granted, but take time to appreciate them every single day.

DECK USED:  THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsDec2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #2
Question: How can I best continue with reigning in my addictive tendencies?

Witches Wisdom Tarot - Goddess of Fire, Queen of Wands, Nine of Pentacles, Nine of Earth, 10 Offering, Wheel of FortuneReading Summary: There is a color corellation between the wolves in the Nine of Earth and the Goddess of Fire’s cauldron that speaks to me of the need for hard work in order to yield positive results.

The largest corellations though, are between the Goddess of Earth and the Offering.  In these cards, the background is a scene that appears to be very much the same, except in the Goddess of Earth it is night and in the Offering it is day. There is also a connection between the position of the figure in the Offering and the Crone in the Goddess of Earth.  These connections speak to me of the work mentioned in theprevious connections being something that needs constant tending and attention, as well as a little extra help from beyond (the standing figure in the Offering and connection to the beyond in both of these cards through ethereal figures and swirling smoke).

Take Away: The message here is that the goal of getting the upper hand and better balance for these addictions is possible, but it will take dedication and diligence to accomplish, as well as reaching into “the beyond” to pay respects and garner extra guidance.

DECK USED: WITCHES WISDOM TAROT

OwlandBonesTarot’s #DecemberBones2021 Tarot Challenge Prompt

The Pacific Northwest Tarot - The Emperor, Ace of Wands, Nine of Wands, Nine of Cups, and Knight of CupsWhere You’ve Been – The Emperor atop Nine of Wands – In control and building my “empire” by shoring up extra funds and other accomplishments as a protection against failure and unforseen circumstances.  That is what the holiday rush is all about.  The influx of new customers that can be turned into repeat customers, the added income that will help float the business through the slower months that are to come later next year, the added exposure, etc.  All of it pumps new life into the business and allows a “cushion” to form between any unforsee circumstances and negative repercusions they may have the potential to cause.

Where You’re Going – Knight of Cups – It’s time to switch gears and reconnect with the more creative side of things instead of the “large and in charge” business side of things. Seek out what brings you joy and don’t worry so much about the “chores” and harsher sides.  As things slow down it is now also time to reconnect with your emotions and emotional growth. You had to disconnect for a bit, but that’s no longer necessary and it’s tine to re-engage.

How To Keep Momentum – Ace of Wands atop Nine of Cups Rx – Don’t worry so much about where you’re going and long term happiness.  Instead, focus on the little joys that will make each day a little more fun.  You’ll have time to deal with the bigger picture later on.

DECK USED: THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent a great deal of the day outside taking pictures in the snow. AND I took a nap.  All in all?  It was a great and relaxing day.  I had a lot of fun and it was very relaxing.

Gideon’s Challenge

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The Losing Battle

Artistry lost
as once
commonplace intricacies
are discarded
and disregarded
pushed out
for the sleek
and streamlined
that costs
much less
because it is worth
nothing

This is how
society
abandons beauty
and breathtaking skills
are lost to time
instead of immortalized

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?

Winter Waite Tarot 2018 Edition, The Merry Christmas Oracle, Seasons of the Witch Yule Oracle

Earth – The Fool and Angel – Ground yourself this week in the knowledge and advice that your spirit guides have to offer. With the holiday rush at an end, now is the time to approach your relationship with these guides with fresh energy and a sense of newness.

Air – Nine of Swords atop Page of Pentacles, Sugar Plums – Don’t worry so much about where things are going next. Now is a time to take a breath, take comfort in a job well done, and look forward with hope. Don’t allow worries and anxieties to slide in and pollute the waters with negativity.

Water – Ten of Pentacles and Orange – Focus this week on how the time spent with people who truly love and care about you has helped to nourish and nurture you. Take tie to appreciate how this differes from other years past at this time of year, and recognize that good company makes for healthier emotional foundations.

Fire – Death Rx and Party – Take a break and have some fun. You don’t always have to be pushing forward and striving for better.  You’ve earned this time off and need to focus on savoring it and enjoying it to its fullest.

Waning – Family – In a few days, you will be headed back home, and Z will be headed back home as well. Savour the sense of family and closeness while you can, for by the end of the week it will be just you and L on your own once more.

Waxing – Ringing the Bells – Cleanse yourself of the bad habits and unhelathy behaviors you’ve been entertaining through the holiday rush. It’s time to let go of the neglect and the shortcuts, the mistreatment and ignoring of your own needs. Release it all, cleanse it from your life, and wash it away to clear the air for something healthier.

Take Away – This week is all about savoring the support and closeness of those that care deepest for you and you for them, and appreciating their presence in your life and how much they care. On top of this, there is encouragement to make sure that you are rooting your feet and finding balance in the wake of the rush instead of neglecting the need to return to a healthy dose of self-care.

DECKS USED: WINTER WAITE TAROT 2018 EDITION, THE MERRY CHRISTMAS ORACLE, SEASONS OF THE WITCH YULE ORACLE