Defense Mechanism
Hidden thorns
concealed by leaves
slowly become
exposed
over time
as vulnerable stems
are bared
to the world
and I’m left
wondering
how it happened
that sharp tips
now protrude
to scratch
the flesh of others
Month: April 2022
❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)
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 – Ace of Cups and The Koi – Allow your true feelings to show when asked your opinion on the new opportunities you will be exploring this week with your visitor. She needs honest feelings and opinions on what will be best for her financially and that will help her in finding the stability she needs. Help her to explore where her priorities and values lie, and how she defines “wealth” in her life.
Air – Five of Swords and The Otter – Take time this week to examine where you might be shooting yourself in the foot… or stabbing yourself in the back, as is seen in the card’s imagery. What are you making more difficult than it has to be? When you find yourself struggling or frustrated, take a minute to consider this and see if there isn’t a better way.
Water – Ten of Swords and The Jaguar – Remember, as you continue to climb out of the pit, not to look at the depression as a handicap or a flaw. It is a way to explore the world from a different perspective and see things differently for a time. It allows you to see more than someone who does not experience these things. Don’t be ashamed of it, as it has value.
Fire – Judgement and The Bat – You deserve to have a break now and then, and anyone that cannot accept that and tries to judge you harshly for it doesn’t deserve to have a piece of your energy and effort. Remember that their judgments say far more about them than about you.
Waning – Moon and Mice – Corruption of confidence in your intuition and inner knowing. Don’t allow insecurity to creep in and cause problems.
Waxing – Woman and Ship – Your visitor. She’s visiting for a short time and needs your help while she is here. Train your focus in this direction in the week ahead.
Take Away – For the week ahead, it’s clear that my focus needs to lie on making sure that Ms B gets what she needs out of this trip. That is… honest opinions and support. Then, once the visit is over, to make sure I give myself the rest and recovery I need without judgement.
DECKS USED: CRYSTAL VISIONS TAROT, THE JOYSEEKER ORACLE, HELOISE LENORMAND
Don’t Push It
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, patience, and harmony through balance.
When this card was pulled today, I heard the words rather than needing to find them. The message in this card is “Just do what you can today. Don’t push it.”
Today is packing day, and I have a good bit to get done to be ready to go tomorrow. I’m trying to take it easy, but I can feel the tension slowly building the further into the day I go.
I will continue to try and take things easy, it just feels like it’s careening out of control all on its own.
DECK USED: LOVELY DAY TAROT
Mr Lionharts’ #TheAprilTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Questions for Temperance – Day 16
How can I apply {more} harmony or balance to my life at the moment?
Tree and Gold – Appreciate the value that lies in rest.
This is not something that I’m particularly good at, but I’ve had a few days this week that felt very nice and restful. Not this day specifically, mind you. But yesterday and the day before were quite nice.
How can I best adapt to recent changes in my life?
Present and Clouds – Allow yourself to be in the present and enjoy the world around you. Daydreams don’t always have to be about the future, and neither does your focus always have to be trained in that direction.
DECK USED: NAKISHA’S RABBIT ORACLE AND LOVELY DAY TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsApr2022 Challenge Prompt
Question for April 16th: What do you need to focus on for self-care for this full moon?
Reading Summary: Instead of focusing on your own demons (The Devil), spend time appreciating all that you have in your life (Ten of Pentacles) and letting others know they are treasured (Atonement).
Take Away: This time over the next few days it’s not about you, so turn your focus to those that you are grateful for, and use the time to show them just how much they are appreciated as a valuable part of your life.
Side Note: I really like the imagery in the Atonement card. I also very much like that the devil’s tail in the Devil card could belong to either figure. There’s no way to tell for sure.
DECK USED: LOVELY DAY TAROT
I didn’t really feel like cooking today, but I didn’t want the veggies in the fridge to go to waste so I made a healthy dinner for L and myself.
Gideon’s Challenge
The Eager Shedding
Careful…
the breeze whispers
as sunlight coaxes
delicate petals
to stretch free
and shed their
fur coats
as they eagerly
seek to doff
fuzzy caps
and spread wide
and the wind breathes
Careful…
for there is still a nip
in the air
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
🌕 Full Moon in Libra – April 2022
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 medicine within, and brought to you by Ethony‘s Tarot by the Moon series.
What does my mind need for healing and balance?
King of Pentacles – Stability and security, facilitated by trusted advisors that help you in making sure you foster this in your life both through your physical health as well as through your finances. This provides you with peace of mind and, therefore, then fosters a sense of mental well-being and balance.
What does my body need for healing and balance?
The Devil – Awareness. It is through knowing where one’s weaknesses and temptations lie that could become unhealthy that you are able to keep these unhealthy and self-destructive tendencies in check.
What does my soul need for healing and balance?
Six of Cups – Nostalgia. Remember that there is plenty good in your past to celebrate. The bad stuff may be easier to remember, but it’s important to work at remembering the good stuff as well.
What self-care act am I being called to take?
Ace of Wands – Seek out the inner spark of enthusiasm that the depression has caused to dwindle, and as you climb for the lip of the pit, foster that spark of flame so that it will grow. Be gentle with yourself, for that spark is currently tender and delicate.
What is my major lesson right now?
Three of Pentacles – You are not alone. There are many in your life willing and eager to lend a hand and join forces with you in both your person and professional endeavors. You have only need to be open to them.
Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.
Temperance – Just because you have a lot to do doesn’t mean that you have to dive in head first and lose your balance in the push to do more. Take a breath. Take your time. Focus on grace over speed.
DECK USED: THE TRANQUIL TAROT
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Three of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of teamwork, collaboration, working together, and themes to do with bringing in help and/or outside expertise in order to get something done.
Although the focus in this card is intended to be on the three bees, today I am drawn to the three different flowers represented here in the imagery. These flowers speak to me of spring, and how much more beautiful spring is when there is a variety of flowers in bloom instead of just one.
The message in today’s card is that you don’t plant a garden with just one flower and expect it to be beautiful, nor should you plant your life with just yourself within it and expect it to be beautiful. Welcome in others, and let them allow you to flourish, grow, and in turn allow your life shine more vibrantly as a result.
DECK USED: ELEMENTAL NORTH TAROT
Mr Lionharts’ #TheAprilTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Question for Death – Day 15
What missed chance has opened up my Journey for better things to come?
Elk – Once upon a time, I wanted to be a forest ranger. In fact, there was a time in my life before I lost my voice when I did guided hiking tours and plant identification/foraging tours in the rainforests here in the area.
Bee atop Squirrel – Necessity comes before desire, though. What I ended up doing instead was dropping out of uni due to trauma inducing extenuating circumstances, holding down multiple part time jobs at one time, and starting my own business designing and selling jewelry on the side. The side business then, over time, became my main source of income, and I’ve kept up with a couple of the part time jobs that allow me to continue making use of my education.
What am I guided to accept so I can move on?
Black Bear – “You are not alone.” I have been getting this message a lot lately, and acknowledge that I need to hear it and be reminded that there are others that want to help and support me, both in the people in my life as well as in the unseen spirit guides working behind the scenes. It’s very easy for me to forget that I’m not alone and left to do everything on my own.
DECK USED: SPIRIT OF THE ANIMALS ORACLE AND ELEMENTAL NORTH TAROT
The Self Appreciation #STCTarotChallenge for April Prompt
Questions for April 15th and 16th
I will begin to…
Temperance – Pay more attention to where excess has snuck up into your life while you were distracted with the depression, and work at applying more moderation in those areas.
So I can?
Three of Swords – Avoid the negative effects those points of excess can create in your life, including a festering disappointment in yourself for allowing excess to sneak up on you in the first place.
This year, I will face my fear of…
Chariot – … lack of control over my life and direction. I struggle with taking things slow. I struggle with not having the same amount of energy, motivation, and drive as I had ten years ago, as well as the inability to use these things in the say way I did at that time in my life. Add into this a decreased amount of physical mobility and flexibility, and it all makes me feel like I am losing control over my life and my direction, and that in doing so I am also losing a piece of my independence.
By?
Judgement – Being more accepting of my flaws and allowing some leeway in my self-judgements. It’s important to give myself a little slack and be more understanding of my limitations, both physically and otherwise. Acceptance is better than degradation.
DECK USED: ELEMENTAL NORTH TAROT
Alone time with Gideon has helped a lot today with me feeling a bit tender and out of sorts. Not just time spent together in play, but just that we got to spend some time together at all.
Twisting the Leaf 