Month: March 2022

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

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?

The Likely Tarot, The Heroine's Journey Oracle, Wildera Lenormand

Theme – Three of Swords – Keep your disappointment in check this week. Everything may not go perfectly, but everything that happens this week, including the disappointments, are happening for good reason. Like beets and eggplant, they’re good for you in the end, even if it doesn’t feel like it when you’re choking them down.

Earth – Knight of Swords and One of Flowers – New goals will take focus and strategy. You are on the right track, just make sure you don’t lose track of your goals and your process to get there. Write down what you want and how you are going to get there and use this to return your focus to your target again and again.

Air – The Hierophant atop The Lovers, Four of Flowers – Make sure you are open and forthright with your doctor during this upcoming appointment.  Make a list of everything you want to say so that you don’t miss anything, and while you’re there be sure to push about having tests done and possibly seeing a specialist.

Advocate for yourself in this area and don’t allow it to be brushed aside or the issue to be downplayed. Your pain and discomfort are a sign of needing the attention of a professional.  They are worth the man’s time even if he might not think so.

Water – Two of Wands and The Vixen – Strategy and prioritization are both going to be extremely important in how you plot your course as you come out of hiding. Here, too, writing things down could help you immensely. Having a concrete plan can give you a sense of security that you feel like you are lacking at the moment.

Fire – Ace of Swords and The Guide – Be wise about what you take on right now. There is a great deal on your plate and you don’t want to get weighed down as it will then restrict your creative thinking.

Waning – Ring and Anchor – Stop worrying about the damned mortgage.  Everything is fine. Yes, you’ll be needing to negotiate new terms next year, but next year isn’t now. Hopefully interest rates will have gone down by then.  It’ll all work out, but now isn’t the time to worry about it.  Set it aside until it’s the right time to deal with it.

Waxing – Moon and Birds – Make sure you’re getting enough time with Gideon this week.  Yes, you have gone back to work, but he is able to lift you up and keep you balanced, and that is something that you need right now.  Some time chatting with Gid and spent in his company is just what you need to help keep things on an even keel this week.

Take Away – The cards this week indicate that you need to be proactive.  Not just with your doctor, but with your life in general and those things you already have on your plate.  There’s a lot of different things going on for you right now, and you need to consider making a list and then sorting out the path forward with each of those things.  In doing this, you will feel more grounded and organized, and more empowered as well.

DECKS USED: THE LIKELY TAROT, THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY ORACLE, THE WILDERA LENORMAND

Talent For All

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_9171Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the guided #dailycalm sessions from the Calm app.  The focus of today’s meditation was about self-kindness, and about knowing what we want for ourselves.

It spoke of treating ourselves as we would treat others, and thus showing that we see ourselves as worthy of love and kindness as we do those around us.  Thus, in turn, others learn to treat you well… and treat themselves well also.

Spirit Keepers Tarot Revelation EditionToday’s draw is the Magus (Magician), which is traditionally a representation of resourcefulness, skill, and acting on one’s inspiration. The Magician is the one that has all the tools, all the skills, and all that is needed at their fingertips in order to manifest what they desire.

In this card, there is also an element of performance involved in the imagery, as the figure in the image wears a theater mask upon their face.  I do not see this mask as one that hides the figure, but rather a mask that says “look at me… look what I can do”.

The message in today’s card is to own your skills and abilities.  It is a reminder that we are all unique, and it is our responsibility as individuals to explore and discover in order to find the skills and abilities that are unique to us alone.  No one is useless or without natural skills and abilities, but it is only through exploration of the world around us that we are able to discover what those are and how to use them to our best advantage.

DECK USED:  SPIRIT KEEPERS TAROT REVELATION EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsMar2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for March 26th and 28th

Spirit Keepers Tarot Revelation EditionHow am I doing spiritually at this time?

Two of Scepters and Five of Scepters – There are challenges ahead, and at this time you are in the planning stages.

As recovery is your focus elsewhere in you life right now, it has meant needing to put spiritual matters as a lower priority, but as you recover from these issues elsewhere in your life, your spiritual practices and plans are coming back into focus. Just be prepared for some hurdles when you do start moving forward again.

How can I improve on where I am spiritually in the week ahead?

The Tower and Two of Swords – As you recover and rebuild from the chaos, take a moment to still and pause. Find your balance and your center, and get in touch with the decisions that need to be made. Look at them with a calm, cool head instead of a mind still influenced by the inner cacophony of the past and the chaos it wrought.

DECK USED: SPIRIT KEEPERS TAROT REVELATION EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I started working on orders today for Tuesday’s shipping date.  I’m hoping that the work I got done today will help me in staying on top of things and not becoming overwhelmed as Tuesday gets closer.

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_9121aSaturday Spellcraft

Whispered secrets
and scented smoke
as herbs make quiet
crunching sounds
in harmony
with the scrape
of pestle
within stone bowl
while energy rises
and swirls around
gathering strength
with every sound
of chiming bell
as it grows and grows
and then is released
as intentions flow

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Offer… Motives MIA

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

50 Extraordinary Dragons OracleToday’s draw is an oracle card, which does not hold a traditional meaning as tarot would. The card drawn is the Poison Dart Dragons card, which says “Dangerous beauty! A pretty or charming surface may hide something toxic.”

This is about the offer that my mother made recently, and how uncomfortable I have been feeling about it. Generous or not, it just… doesn’t feel right. It’s presented as kindness and concern for her son, and this is something I have always craved from her.

But the fact is, I need to remember who she really is and that this offer is not going to be without a huge amount of strings attached.  Today’s card is a reminder of this, and to make sure that I follow my intuition and instincts in this matter.

DECK USED:  50 EXTRAORDINARY DRAGONS ORACLE

Mr Lionharts’ #TheMarchTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Questions for March 25th thru 27th

Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck - RaccoonMarch Animal Guide – Raccoon – Teamwork and finding healthy balance between independence and community, goal-oriented, ingenuity, industriousness, cleanliness, curiosity, adaptability, and equality.

In the Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck, the Raccoon is represented by the element of earth, and its qualities include creativity with a focus on talent, tenacity, and skillfulness with one’s preferred creative tools. There is also a concern that when one feels the need to wear one’s public “masks” that it can stunt the creativity one possesses and cause issues with self-image and obtaining success in their endeavors.

50 Extraordinary Dragons OracleWhat was your experience of this journey with me?

Salt Water Wyvern and Hulk Drake – It was difficult for you to keep your focused on the theme of the Raccoon Spirit, but it was possible to guide you into seeing things from a different perspective even with these hurdles in the way.

What is your impression of me now?

Young Forest Guardian – You are full of hidden potential, and far more cuddly than anticipated. It takes you a bit of effort to open up and explore when you’ve been struggling with depression as you have, and yet you still find ways to communicate your creativity and stay open to the world around you.

Has it changed in any way?

Porcupine Puffer Drake – At first, you seemed unwilling to connect and wanted to hold everything and everyone at a distance. Depression is a really difficult thing to struggle with and it’s understandable that, in the midst of that, you would not come off as particularly approachable.

What would you pass on to me before we part ways {for now}?

Two-Headed Ink Gremlin and Atlantic Wolffish Hydra – Remember as you move forward with the projects and endeavors you’ve set yourself to this spring and summer that to get organized, chaos comes before order. You have to make a mess in order to truly organize anything properly. Have a bit of fun with the mess of it all and don’t be afraid of the chaos, for what comes after is worth it.

DECK USED: 50 EXTRAORDINARY DRAGONS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I pulled half of April’s decks today.  I wasn’t going to do it until Wednesday, but I decided to break it up into smaller bite sized pieces instead.

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_9602Husks of Winter

Dry whispers
swirl in the air
as spring’s first breath
brushes over
the husks of flora
dormant
and looking dead
but just at rest
and waiting
to awaken
and be renewed
until once more
lush and green

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

50 Quick Questions About Me – 2022 Edition

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

I haven’t done one of these in a while, so I thought… why not?  I like these types of quizzes and questions, so here we go with a new 50 Quick Questions About Me.

The Toothy Hermit

The Questions

1) What website do you visit most often?

WordPress, because that’s where my blog is lo…. oh. Well. Etsy, because that’s where I run my business from so I’m on there all the time… many, many times per day. Recreationally speaking? The site where I do storytelling and creative writing with my partner (not really what the site’s built for, but it’s what we use it for). Or it might possibly be Instagram if you include app usage.

2) What is your favorite quote?

Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where teacher and pupil are located in the same individual. – Arthur Koestler

3) What song is stuck in your head right now?

In the past 24 hours I have had 100 Ways by Jackson Wang and then Rebellious by 灵超 stuck in my head.

4) Would you rather be transported permanently 500 years into the future or 500 years into the past?

If I get to maintain my current knowledge? The Past. Wait…. no. Was bathing popular in the 1500s. No. No it wasn’t. Future. Ew, no. I don’t like that either. I’m not sure I wanna know where humanity’s headed. I’ll stay where I’m at, I think.

5) What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Shopping for and/or making gifts for loved ones.

6) What improved your life quality so much, you wish you did it sooner?

Forgiving my father.

7) Are you more of an early bird or a night owl?

Night Owl

8) What card or board games do you like to play?

Board Games: Scrabble, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Connect Four…. hell, almost any of the classics. I’m even down for Candyland.

Card Games: Gin Rummy, Dixit, Solitaire, Tarochhi, Hwa-tu, Jeu de Tarot, Unruly, Hanafuda, Cards Against Humanity, Flourish, Sleep Tight, Ecologies, Ouisii, any of the Magical Myrioramas games… there are others but those are what I can think of off the top of my head.

9) What invention doesn’t get a lot of love, but has greatly improved the world?

Flex Tubing

10) What would a world populated by clones of you be like?

Boring and yet somehow still treacherous.

11) If the internet suddenly stopped existing, what would you do with the time you used to spend on it?

Work. Without my online business to support me financially, I would be back to holding down 4-6 part time jobs with a few side jobs added in here and there.

12) Do you pour the milk in before the cereal, or the cereal before the milk?

Cereal, then milk. Then cereal… then milk, then cereal.

13) What is your favorite TV theme song?

SweetHome’s theme song (Bewhy’s Side by Side)

14) What should they teach in high school but don’t?

Sex Ed that is not shaming and includes gay sex for both male and female genders.

15) What animal or plant do you think should be renamed?

The Angler Fish should be renamed The Toothy Hermit

16) What game have you spent the most hours playing?

Match Triple 3D on my phone.

17) What do you get every time you go grocery shopping?

Milk

18) Do you ever remember your dreams? Have you had any weird ones that stuck with you?

Yes. I often remember my dreams. And yes, a few of them have stuck with me over time. Two in particular was being chased by tribbles with sharp teeth, and another about getting into and out of a haunted house party. There’s also one where I can’t figure out my locker combination, find my classes, or get help from the office where I went to high school.

19) What’s your favorite sandwich? What do you like to put on it?

Toasted turkey and bacon on super soft multigrain bread. I usually include pepper jack cheese (or monterey jack), pickles, spinach, tomato, black olives (if available), mayo, and honey mustard.

20) Do you like coffee or tea? What kind do you prefer?

Herbal tea. My body doesn’t handle caffeine well. My favorite is a mix of Kanna and Chamomile.

21) If you could get anything you wanted for free from one store the rest of your life, what would it be?

Money
As far as products tho? Milk. I spend a lot of money on milk.

22) If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Work myself to death probably.

23) What really needs to be modernized?

Public transit.

24) What’s the most interesting documentary you’ve ever watched?

I watched one recently on different types of polyamorous relationships that was pretty interesting. For the most part, I like animal documentaries, but after a while they all blend together.

25) If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Time. I always feel like I never have enough time.

26) Do you have any routines you try to do every day?

Eat probiotic yogurt, and drink tea with collagen peptides in it. Take my vitamins. Tarot/cartomancy readings. Spend time with my partner Gideon. Feed the cat. Sleep.

27) Would you rather not be able to open any closed doors (locked or unlocked) or not be able to close any open doors?

Not be able to open any closed doors.
I’ll find another way. But for security, being able to close doors is a must.

28) What has taken you the longest to get good or decent at?

Self-care.  I can’t say I’m good at it, but I think I’m getting decent at it.

29) If someone came up to you and said “Hey, do that thing you do!”, what thing would pop into your head first?

Reading cards probably, but it might depend on the situation.

30) What kind of business would you like to start if you were given the chance?

I’m already running my own business. I design and sell jewelry, and also offer tarot/cartomancy readings.

31) What’s the most unique shop or restaurant you’ve been in?

I once visited a metaphysical shop where the entire shop was divided into sections by long scarf like tapestries hung from the ceiling. It created an interesting energy effect, allowing the items in each section to “speak” more clearly.

32) What is the most annoying habit that other people have?

Noisy eating.  This might tie with willful ignorance, tho.

33) If you were a wrestler what would be your entrance theme song?

Prodigy’s Firestarter… oh. Or maybe The Red by Chevelle.

34) When things break, do you prefer to fix them or replace them?

Depends on the thing, but generally fix them if I can.

35) What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Sleep

36) What words do you consistently spell wrong no matter how hard you try?

lieu, conscience, embarrassed, publicly, repertoire, larynx, ally, labyrinth, perseverance, mischievous, affect/effect, accel/excel, leisurely, buoyant, separate, plagiarize, hierarchy, fiery, conscientious, supersede, minuscule, liaison, fascinate, indict, incendiary, medieval, renaissance, memento, precede, pursuit, queue, millennium, sergeant, awful, lightning/lightening, arctic, council

37) Would you ever try space tourism if you had the money for it?

Oh hell no. The further away from soil I go, the more uncomfortable I become. Ive flown. Even did some skydiving and hang gliding. It’s not fear… I just don’t feel right when I’m not touching the earth.

38) What is your favorite junk food?

Orange Creamcicle Ice Cream and Cheetos Puffs

39) If you could slow down time, what would you do with that power?

Get more sleep. Well. I mean. If I could slow down time where I wasn’t slowed down along with it anyway.

40) You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?

Hm… well I’m mute. But, that said? If I -could- sing. Probably either That XX by G Dragon or possibly Disease by Matchbox 20.

41) If you had to lose one of your senses, which would you choose to lose?

Taste.   If you lose smell, you lose taste anyway.  People who can’t feel pain (thus lack of touch) don’t survive very long.  Losing sight or hearing would be more of a struggle to adjust to than losing my sense of taste.

42) What do you usually do on your commute?

Drive, and either listen to music or listen to an audiobook.

43) What incredibly common thing have you never done?

Hmmm….
Played soccer
Smoked cigarettes
Broken a finger (which is remarkable considering how much damage my body has taken in this lifetime so far)
Eaten Taco Time, Popeyes, Chipotle, or Chick-Fil-A
Caught a baseball (this is not to say I’ve never played, but I’ve never caught one)

44) If you could level up in life just like in video games, where would you put your next skill point?

Recovery / Regeneration

45) If there was a zombie apocalypse tomorrow, what is the first thing you would do?

Contact Gideon to let him know where to find me (he lives over 2500 miles from me), grab my sister and my cat (and possibly my best friend), pack up a few things and every bit of food I can from my place… and head north. Far enough north that dead things freeze in the snow and ice. Set myself up in a cabin or house that I can sustain long term and settle in.

46) What natural landmark would you like to see someday?

The Mariana Trench… from below, not above.

47) If you had to leave your country permanently, where would you relocate to?

That would involve leaving N America, since I’m a dual citizen. So… considers probably Norway. If anywhere could rival the natural beauty of where I live now, I’m pretty sure that’s it.

48) What silly or funny thing are you afraid of?

Hooved animals. Clowns. Spiders.

49) What is your favorite plant or flower?

Pansy

50) What piece of entertainment do you wish you could erase from your mind so that you could experience it for the first time again?

Any of the Classic animated Disney movies.