Stumbling Blocks
Disappointment
carries weight
even when
long prepared
knowledge
of it coming
is given
Don’t shrug it off
for frustration
follows
if you let
that weight
slide away
too soon
Month: January 2022
Mercury Retrograde Self-Reflection Reading
Mercury is in Retrograde from January 14th thru February 3rd. As the planet of communication, when Mercury goes into retrograde, it can often affect people by shifting their perspectives and abilities when it comes to one’s communication with others, including family and friends, work, social media, and more. Admittedly, I don’t often experience these affects personally, but I liked the spread. 😉
What perspectives need to be reviewed?
Mermaid’s Love – Take some time to reflect on your relationship with Gideon and just how well you fit together like puzzle pieces. One’s strengths support the other’s weaknesses and vice-versa. In this relationship, you are equals for each brings something to the table that is unique and that the other needs. Combined, you become more complete than either of you are when apart.
Ways I can work through any mental blockages.
Eva – Don’t allow yourself to hide away that which needs to be seen and known. Secrets, especially those kept from yourself, are poisonous and can not just set you back but incapacitate you entirely, depending on what they’re about. Pay attention and be aware of what you are hiding from. Awareness is the first step to finding resolution and a better path forward.
How can I bring in more conscious thought practices?
Moondance – Work on that optimism that helps you see life through a more magical lens. Only when you’re able to see the beauty around you are you at your best, and only then will you be more easily and with more confidence be able to balance the hard parts with the easier ones.
Ways I can be more clear and concise with communication.
Queen Bee – Be strong. Be supportive. You don’t have to choose one or the other. Gentle your sharp tongue to provide a more nurturing energy that can lift people up, even as you remain strong on your boundaries and expectations.
What thinking patterns or ideas do I need to release?
Touch the Sky – Unhealthy alone time is awfully tempting, even during times when things are going well. It’s that lingering in bed, those stolen moments retreating into the games on your phone, the temptation to nap when you don’t need one and linger in the limbo of waking instead of returning to face the day head on. None of these are good for you, and you need to work at making healthier choices no matter how tempting those unhealthy ones are in the moment.
Main lesson from this Mercury Retrograde.
Like a Bird – How to balance your motivation in a more healthy way. You are capable of succeeding even when you’re not pushing yourself like some kind of slave driver. It doesn’t mean you’re stalling out, and a slower pace doesn’t mitigate success or create stagnancy as long as you stay motivate to keep moving forward… no matter the pace you take to get there.
DECK USED: ORACLE OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS
No Bracing Needed
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Quattro di Denari (Four of Pentacles), which is traditionally a representation of
La danzatrice di Jam Jeer dances among her coins, because it is among the coins she feel safe and secure. Supported. Just as these coins stand on their edges, she stands on pointe, balanced and stable even while she revels in movement filled with flouncing fabrics and flowing feathers.
This card tells a story of stability and balance that is not created through stagnancy or stillness, but rather through the confidence to feel safe, secure, and stable even while in movement.
The message for today is a reminder that you don’t have to stop, still, and brace in order to find stability. It can be with you every day as you go about your life, and that is the healthy type of stability that we all should be seeking. Not the kind that lies in stagnant stillness.
DECK USED: THARBON I TAROCCHI
GroundedInMagic’s #Lovers2022TarotChallenge Challenge Prompt
Question: How do I let perfectionism get in the way of love?
Reading Summary: Don’t be so hard on yourself (Queen of Coins) when you reflect on your efforts towards emotional growth (Ace of Cups). Even when you’re not paying attention, even when you’re resting (Four of Swords) or completely turning a blind eye the other way (Eight of Swords)… even then, you’re still on the right path in this area. You don’t have to keep your eye on the ball every moment in this area of your life.
Take Away: Even though I know that this emotional development journey that I’m on is going to take time, for some reason I have a habit of pushing myself to go faster and do more, even when there is no deadline and no “end goal” in sight.
Today’s cards are about self love, and about being kind to myself and not forcing myself to measure and judge every tiny step and moment of progress. There is no standard of progress here, and there is no race to win or deadline to meet. Let it come at its own time. Sometimes the best things develop through fermentation when out of sight (… like good kimchi!)
DECK USED: LE TAROT DE GULLIVER
#DiscordTarotholicsJan2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: Is it true that pleasure is the root of all true evil?
Reading Summary: Lush and swollen to the point of near-vulgarity, the trees in the forest of the Nine of Pentacles speak of excess and hedonism.
In the Ace of Cups, a cornucopia overflows, in a bounty of emotions and a demonstration of a different sort of wealth, one based in emotion instead of earthly delights.
Here in the Seven of Swords, we see a forger working at his anvil, creating swords in his workshop and looking not just content, but enraptured with his work while he prepares weapons meant to reap more from the world for those that wield them.
Take Away: Clearly, the opinion of these cards is a resounding yes. I’m not sure I agree, but in this case, it is in the bounty and pleasure of what we can gain that inspires the evil that will be wrought.
DECK USED: THARBON I TAROCCHI
I put everything back up above the fireplace. I couldn’t stand it being so bare. I just couldn’t. I know that soon I’ll just have to pull it all back down again, but it was really bothering me.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Thief Arrives
Snow flies
as curious eyes
come to see
what is new
with you
a little hop
makes snow drop
as the brave thief
watches on
don’t turn your back
don’t look away
or you might find
your treasures
gone astray
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Weekly Creativity Prompt – Falling Apart
Prompt: Draw (at least) three cards. Use them to tell us about a (real or fictional) winter night in the city.
Walking in this old, worn neighborhood at night takes a certain amount of projected authority (The Emperor) to keep from being accosted… and a certain amount of disregard for one’s safety (The Lovers Rx) because it might just happen anyway.
What was once a lush and thriving beauty is now a crumbling shell of what once was (imagery for The World) as corruption took over to eat away at its core as crimes are committed and remain unsolved either through disinterest… or willful ignorance (Justice).
Sadly, there is no coming back from what it has become. In this neighborhood, there is no recovery to be had, for it goes beyond the cracked sidewalks and grime… the poison has gone root deep. Too much blood, and violence, and too many deaths. (The Tower)
And yet even in this place I see beauty (The Magician), for it is in the strength of those that live here (Strength) if for no other reason than they can’t afford to live anywhere else. I see it in their eyes as I pass them on the street while they avoid the darker shadows and hurry home, their heads down but the inner spark that lives within them shining with a hope that they can lift themselves and their children up to rise to something better (The Star).
DECK USED: THE GRAND ELIXIR TAROT
It’s Not as Bad as It Looks
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and hardships in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home life, or manifestation abilities.
Today, I get to have a peek at just how much money I need to build the shelves in my living room. I’ve been looking at a variety of different options, but regardless of the options, the price range looks like it’s going to be somewhere between $550 – $700 which… is painful.
Funny thing? I often fall back on Amazon for less expensive options, but they were pretty damned expensive in this case. Tomorrow, I’ll take some measurements in order to get a better idea of the exact length of wall I’m working with and then I’ll be able to narrow things down further.
The thing is? All this pricing has made me feel pretty damn poor yeah? I know it’s not the case, but so many times scarcity is in the mind and not reality… and this is one of those times. I need to remember it’s not as bad as it feels in the moment.
DECK USED: YIN-YANG CAT TAROT
GroundedInMagic’s #Lovers2022TarotChallenge Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 17th and 18th
What (from me) do others misunderstand as anger or self-righteousness when it is actually love?
Three of Cups – Your abstinence from drinking and drugs.
This one came full circle by the end of the day with a question posted on Discord asking about doing tarot readings while under the influence.
The thing is (and this is entirely my opinion), when you are reading for other people, those people are often extremely open to suggestion during their reading. I feel that when you hold that responsibility in your hands, you should be responsible with it. That means being clear headed and mindful of the influence that you have over this other person, and careful to ensure you don’t damage them or their trust during those moments. Partaking of drugs and alcohol makes one… less responsible. Not more.
That said? If someone wants to partake and read for themselves? I don’t see anything wrong with that as you’re not risking hurting anyone but yourself. Not that self harm is okay, but its an entirely different level than carelessly hurting others that put their trust and well-being in your care when having a reading done.
Anyway… yep. I see how this opinion can come off as self-righteous (or even as anger) to someone who doesn’t share my same viewpoints.
Nine of Pentacles – Using your own trials and successes as a way to try and encourage others. Although sometimes it can be inspiring? Other times it just comes off as “why the fuck are you being a whiner?”
This is, of course, not how it’s meant. But, that’s the whole point of this prompt. It’s about the things we say and do to express love (and in this case that love is in the form of encouragement) that can come off as something more negative.
What do I do that I believe is showing love to others, but is actually doing more harm and the good?
King of Wands – Providing opportunities for others, instead of letting them suss them out for themselves. You feel that you are helping, but it often boils down to the difference between teaching a man to fish or giving them the fish. Better to teach so that the man will never go hungry, than to hand it over and they learn nothing other than to depend on you.
Queen of Swords – Staying silent (usually to keep from hurting their feelings) instead of speaking up giving your opinion. Sometimes, even when you don’t mean to be, your words cut through the clutter and chaos, and can come off as sharp or harsh. And sometimes? That’s what they need in order to cut through all the bullshit and see things clearly.
DECK USED: YIN-YANG CAT TAROT
I ate my yogurt? OH! I also downloaded a task manager to see if it might help me in keeping up on the day-to-day self-care type of stuff. I don’t have it set up yet, but I figured I would give it a try.
Twisting the Leaf 