Stretching
Cheery buttons
bright and vibrant
smile up
from beds of green
as spring warmth
awakens
little buds to open
and petals to stretch
open and eager
to greet the sun
and in my soul
I follow suit
opening up
to you
Month: April 2022
When to Cleanse Divination Tools
This is a prompt from one of the Discord servers that I’m a member of.
“Do you cleanse your divination tools or anything else that you may use? If so, how often? If not, why is that?“
So, I know that the question is about divination tools, but I thought I would add a bit extra to the response as divination tools are not the only tools that get cleansed in my practice.
Ritual tools get cleansed and consecrated before each ritual (as opposed to spellwork tools, which might or might not get cleansed beforehand). This is because rituals are for sacred appreciation and connection with divinity. Spellwork is more about goals and intention.
Divination tools get cleansed when it feels like they need it. For me, this boils down to clairsentience and psychometry. My hands are very sensitive to energy so I can feel when energy I don’t want in the deck is there, and will cleanse it to resolve the issue.
This “unclean” feeling usually feels like a creeping cloying prickle/tingle feeling on the inside of the skin/beneath the skin starting in the palms and spreading through inside of forearms to outside of biceps. It can often create an urge to want to wash my hands. For cleansing during these instances, I use smoke cleansing, and go through the deck one card at a time, passing each card through the smoke while pushing my own energy through the card to “crowd out” and cleanse away the unpleasant energies I want to get rid of.
That said? I do minor cleansing of my decks when I use them just due to the fact that 1) I naturally push my energy through the deck during the shuffling process and 2) after having recently worn the finish off my wooden reading surface, I’ve shifted to using a selenite plate for shuffling and “knocking” of the deck during the shuffling process. I also have one in quartz, but I prefer the selenite one better.
Other divination tools are similarly done. If they feel “off” energetically, I’ll cleanse them with either selenite, smoke cleansing, or both while pushing my own energy through them.
The Haves, and The Have Nots
Today’s meditation was just over ten minutes long, and was another of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app.
This particular session was based on a breathing exercise where it is observed what a bit of deep breathing can do for our nervous system and our body as a whole. It involved breathing naturally for one minute, while counting one’s breaths (ten for me), and then spending a minute doing slow deep breathing, allowing the lungs to fill fully, then exhale slowly (four breaths in a minute for me). Then, you repeat the first minute again, counting one’s natural breaths (this time I counted eight breaths instead of ten).
The activity demonstrates that by having done deep breathing, the body further relaxes and thus we breathe more easily when doing the natural breaths the second time.
Today’s draw is the Six of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.
Here in the imagery of this card, note that the receiving bowl is upright and open, seeking to be filled, while on the other end of the card coins encircle the purse filled to the brim with wealth. This imagery depicts the “haves” and the “have nots” mentioned above, and speaks of the potential of generosity, if not the outright act.
Today’s card is a reminder to be open to generosity, and open to opportunities to be generous. Know your limits, of course, and respect your own boundaries as long as those boundaries are healthy, but don’t close yourself off out of pride, pettiness, or excessive selfishness when there is so much good out there to give (and receive) in life if you’re open to it.
DECK USED: THE FOREST ENBY TAROT
Mr Lionharts’ #TheAprilTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Question for The Hanged Man- Day 14
What can use a little break or some time to rethink before I move on?
At Present (Orchid Pouchog Oolong) atop Unique (Mint Ruby Black Tea) – More time spent in the moment is necessary. You have a unique ability to see those things others pass by and ignore, which is shown in your photography and in how you perceive the world. Take some time to sink into these minute details for a bit. The world will wait while you allow yourself this time.
Something I should be aware of or consider while I take my break?
Humor (Oolong Black Tea), Gentle (Milky Oolong Black Tea) atop Persistence (Iron Goddess Roasted Oolong) – Seek out the lightness in the world and within yourself. You are still climbing out of the pit and need to make a conscious effort to steer yourself toward the light and the positive. Seek out those things that make you smile, even (or rather, especially) when you’re not feeling in the mood for it.
DECK USED: FORMOSA TEA ORACLES AND THE FOREST ENBY TAROT
The Self Appreciation #STCTarotChallenge for April Prompt
Questions for April 13th and 14th
This month I will commit to…
The World – …getting back on track with my path and my future growth and goals, while opening myself up to the world around me.
Much of my time in the depression involved closing ranks and withdrawing from the world. It’s time to unfurl and let the fresh air and joy back in.
Because?
Four of Pentacles – I need to reestablish a stable footing. During the depression when closed off from the world and all the joy the world has to offer, foundations start to wear and crumble, creating increased instability that can only be resolved by opening back up to let the good in.
I will work at no longer give my energy to…
Six of Pentacles Rx – …pouring my energy, time, and expense into things that provide no reward. During the depression there are habits that I have fallen into (like dawdling after stretching and yoga, spending too much time playing games on my phone, etc) that are not productive or particularly healthy in excess. Pouring my energy and time into these things takes away from places where I could better afford to direct my time and attention.
By?
Two of Pentacles – Focusing on balancing my time and energy better. There’s only so much time in a day, so when I while away some of it doing things that don’t benefit me in any way, that is time lost that cannot be put toward better pursuits.
DECK USED: THE FOREST ENBY TAROT
I napped. I really didn’t want to because Gid needed me to be here with him, but I was slow blinking and head bobbing and had to. I feel better, but I also feel bad that I wasn’t there when Bandit passed.
Gideon’s Challenge
Heavy Clouds
The promise
of rain
stretches above
in dark shades
of gray and blue
that blot out
a vibrant sky
and the path home
stretches long
so that only
if you run
will you avoid
the downpour
soon to come
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Moving Forward Tarot Reading
Card to represent current state.
Ocho de Bastos – You are feeling like your momentum has been disrupted and that you have dropped the ball on things you wanted to get done. You worry about “falling behind” because of this, which you perceive as being even worse than stalling out for a time.
What I am moving towards.
Siete de Oros – Slow progress is coming. The realization that you have gotten more done than you realized will be upon you if you are open to seeing it. You aren’t stalling out or backsliding and losing ground… you’re just moving forward more slowly than you realize or are used to.
Lesson to be learned.
Cuatro de Copas – Pick and choose your battles. It’s okay for certain projects and things that need done to get set on the back burner so that you can train your attention on what is right before you. That doesn’t mean you’re abandoning those other projects, only that other concerns and priorities need to come first.
How the lesson will help me grow.
La Muerte – Slowly, as seen in the Siete de Oros above. This lesson is a study in slow and gradual change, and how it is okay to take things slow instead of rushing in and pushing yourself too hard.
How the lesson could hinder me.
As de Bastos – It will force you to “slow your roll” on new projects and inspirations. There’s only so much time in a day, only so many things you can take on at a time. Sometimes you have to accept that you just can’t do all the stuff you want to right away… or, in some cases, at all.
Final outcome.
El Carro – Determination will carry you through, no matter the speed you are moving at. Just keep moving.
DECK USED: TAROT ARTE DE LUNA RIVAS
Let Yourself Feel the Feels
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.
Connecting to your emotions isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it’s far easier to shut them away and not deal with them, especially the negative ones.
The thing is? When you do this, you close yourself off to connecting with others. Sometimes it’s better to acknowledge what’s in the cup and get it out there.
Let others see what you’re feeling, and then sort out the chips as they fall. This is today’s lesson in learning about my emotions and feelings… and it aligns with the card pulled today, for this card is all about that journey of learning about one’s emotions… and about how other’s emotions work as well.
DECK USED: CHUBBY BUN TAROT
Mr Lionharts’ #TheAprilTarot Animal Guide Challenge Prompt
Question for Justice – Day 13
If my karma would be a card, what would be my karma card right now?
King of Wands – You are owning your journey, owning your path, and owning all that motivates and inspires you. There is no shirking away from these things. You’re willing to own them, and let others see that you’re doing so.
How can I positively work with my current karma?
Use it as a motivation to move past (Knight of Swords) the painful shit that’s happened (Ten of Swords) instead of lingering to wallow in it (Four of Swords Rx). The King of Wands is about passion and progress. There is no room for past regrets. Accept them and own your mistakes, then continue moving forward.
DECK USED: BIX TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsApr2022 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for April 13th: Is personal growth required to live a good life?
Reading Summary: The path of one’s life (The Path) will take you through many conflicts of principles and values (Five of Wands). It’s what you do with these conflicts that matters, you can use them to draw people together (The Many Rabbits), or split them apart.
Take Away: The answer here is yes. Personal growth is needed to live a good life, although conscious choice towards personal growth may not be, as these cards indicate that it’s more about our connection with others than about our inner selves and mindful movement towards being better people.
Question for April 14th: What kind of person do you truly want to become?
Reading Summary: You want to become the kind of person that helps guide others (The Hierophant) to a sense of safety and security (The Safe Burrow) by pulling the wool from their eyes and help them see the truth of their difficult situations as well as the path forward from it (Eight of Swords).
Take Away: These cards speak of those moments in my life where I seem to say something that unintentionally resonates with others, opening their eyes and allowing them to see themselves and their situation with new clarity. I like when this happens and I’m able to help people in this way. It feels good to know that I’m able to do this for people, even when it’s unintentional or at times when I don’t even realize it. I want to continue to be the kind of person that can do this for others.
DECK USED: CHUBBY BUN TAROT AND CARROT CARDS
I did a lot of purging of my own feelings, and then helping talk others down from theirs today. In both cases, I feel that it was good for me, even if it cut into time that Gid and I would normally do other things.
Twisting the Leaf 