Shield Removal
Embrace me
gently
with light touches
of fingertips
and lips
while my shell
peels away
a little
at a time
and we find
the true me
hiding
vulnerable inside
waiting
for you
Month: March 2023
That Morning Spark
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Ace of Wands, which is traditionally interpreted as a seed, new start, or beginnings concerning one’s drive, ambitions, or passions. This often comes across in themes concerning the spark of new inspiration or new opportunities relating to one’s interests and ambitions.
I was in contemplation earlier and came across the realization that I no longer seem to have something that pulls me out of bed with eager anticipation in the morning, and in the face of that… I’m finding it harder and harder to not dawdle in bed, stay longer and sleep more instead of embracing the arrival of each day with open arms.
Today’s card is a reminder that this is something I need, and if it’s not something I’m getting? Then it turns my entire perception of the world upside down. Therefore, the message here is that it’s time to start looking for something that will spark that fire within once more each day when I wake up. It’s time to start considering where to find my next spark of inspiration
DECK USED: “THE TAROT” TAROT DECK
@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot Wander Lust Challenge Prompt
Question for March 2nd: What is ready to take shape or manifest for me?
Reading Summary: Taking time to slow down (Slowing Down the Pace) and meditate (Settling to the Meditation) will allow you to better handle times of uncertainty (In the Foggy Tower).
Take Away: Okay so, the cards have been nagging for months to pick back up a regular meditation practice. Here is the clearest message yet. You need to meditate.
Regular meditation doesn’t just provide you with physiological benefits of lowering your resting heart rate and blood pressure, but allows you to deal with a variety of stressors and uncertainties far more easily and gracefully than you do when you are not meditating regularly.
So get back to it and allow yourself that inner strength that it can provide for you in times of stress.
DECK USED: CHARM OF INK INSPIRATION CARDS
#DiscordTarotholicsMar2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for March 2nd: Old Stuff Day – What in your life is overdue for being tossed out?
Eight of Pentacles atop Queen of Swords Rx – The cruel and unhealthy narratives you direct toward yourself concerning your work and hard earned skills need to go. You’ve worked too hard and come too far to be still listening to that bullshit and allowing it to have an influence over your life and how you feel about yourself.
Seven of Cups atop Two of Swords Rx – The waffling and indecision need to stop. It’s time to step up and be more decisive in those areas where you have been hanging back in uncertainty. You will feel much better if you stop hesitating and just choose. In fact, you will feel much better even when you make the wrong choice, rather than making no choice at all.
DECK USED: “THE TAROT” TAROT DECK
@lucet.in.aurora.tarot’s #lucetinauroraMaartTarotChallenge Prompt
Prompt for March 2nd: The place where you read your cards.
I do readings a whole lot of different places from parks and cafes to friends homes, work places, laundromats, etc. But, I can share the two places where I do the majority of my readings.
The first image (left) is my reading table at home. What you see here is my reading table, spellcrafting workspace, and deck rack where I hold the decks that I’ve pulled to use for the month. The spellwork table is a solid table, but the reading table is actually a wooden tv tray with two square upside down serving trays stacked on top of it. This allows me to have a large enough space for readings, even with large cards, and switch between the two grays for different wood grained surfaces in different sizes.
The second image (right) is the coffee table where I do readings usually at least once a week. It’s located in a friend’s house that I consider to be my “home away from home”. In this picture, it’s in a different position than normal and usually sits with the couch over where the Christmas tree is in the pic. When I read on this table, I use a reading cloth due to the reflective glass surface.
I just finished weeding out a total of fourteen campaigns from my pending list on KS.
Gideon’s Challenge
Winter Sky
Winter is dark
with dry fields
of brown and gold
and forests
gone to darkness
in a spill
of shadows
while the sky
stretches full
with clouds
that decide
the fate
of all below
on a whim
and a breeze
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
It’s all up to you… no one else
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of control in action, moving forward with determination and willpower, motivation, and the success that is bred through these themes.
The imagery in this card says to me that you choose where you go and you choose the speed you get there. At a crossroads it’s entirely up to you which direction you choose, and with a bicycle, so too is it up to you if you walk the bike or ride it, and what speed you choose to ride at.
The message in today’s card is about autonomy and will, and is a reminder that sometimes we all have to seize control and steer our own boat (or bike).
On a personal note, this card comes at a time when I need to be reminded to get on track with catching up on orders, as my vacation is now over and there’s a backlog to plow through. It is telling me to strap on and get moving, put my determination to the task, and get things done in order to stay on my chosen path and not be lead astray.
DECK USED: FOX & OWL TAROT MINI DECK
#DiscordTarotholicsMar2023 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for March 1st: Is generosity an inherent virtue, or is it learned behavior?
Reading Summary: Sometimes it’s a leap spurred by inner inspiration (A Charmed Leap), but usually it’s learned behavior (The Infinite Web) through experience (The Living Mountain).
Take Away: As seems to be the answer for a lot of different philosophical questions, the cards here indicate that there isn’t just one pat simple answer.
These cards indicate that sometimes, people feel inspired to be generous through their own hearts. This appears to be from people with truly beautiful souls and is a rarity. Far more often, generosity is learned through the example of others and through our own life experiences.
DECK USED: THE CANTIGEE ORACLE
@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot Wander Lust Challenge Prompt
Questions for March 1st
What am I guided to open myself up to, or explore this month?
Page of Swords and Death – Work on accepting that curiosity and the urge to explore and learn new things has a natural ebb and flow, just like everything else in life. Sometimes it’s on, and you’re ready to go, and other times you just need a bit of a break and to let it go.
How can this help me?
Three of Wands and The High Priestess – This can teach you that you can put things away and pick them back up later, instead of having to plow through to the end all at once. It will also allow you to turn your energy and attention in the direction of your intuition during down times, strengthening that bond with your intuition and how it communicates with you.
DECK USED: FOX & OWL TAROT MINI DECK
I had some play with Gideon while working on orders today. It was a nice balance. Tomorrow will be busy, but I needed a little more us time.
Gideon’s Challenge
Yours
You melt me
with your
hungry glances
and
possessive touch
that warms
the blood
and leaves
me aching
for more
as the world
falls away
until there is
nothing
but you
and what you do
to me
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
📆 Transitioning from February to March
Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.
Ace of Cups atop The Chariot – You are diligently working at taking charge of your emotional health and keeping things positive. You’ve made it to March without a depressive episode taking over for the first time in years and you are working to preserve and nurture this new leaf you’ve turned over.
The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.
Six of Pentacles atop Ten of Swords – Shit happens, as do failures. Don’t be so harsh on yourself during these times. Instead, practice a little generosity with yourself and leave those failures behind you instead of rehashing them again and again.
What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.
Seven of Cups atop Ten of Cups – It would be wonderful to return to a feeling of gratitude for all the options and opportunities you are presented with instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.
Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.
King of Wands – Don’t push so hard. You don’t need to prove to anyone how invested you are in those things that are important to you… you don’t even have to prove it to yourself.
The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.
The Hanged Man – Work on seeing the things you are passionate about from a different perspective than that burning need for advancement and success. What drew you to them in the first place? Work at recapturing this perspective rather than the less exciting ones you currently entertain.
The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.
The Moon – Feelings of uncertainty need moments of fear and vulnerability. These feelings don’t need to lead you into a dark pit.
Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.
Two of Pentacles – Remember the reasons and purposes behind why you started on your journey to seek a better work/life balance. It can align you back to your goals and help you stay on track.
A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.
Four of Swords – Unintended down time. Take care of yourself and don’t allow yourself to fall into unhealthy stagnancy. Healthy rest only.
Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.
Ace of Swords – Communicate. Open up to others and, in doing so, you seize the opportunity to have more control over your life.
Message from the Spirit World – When you stand back and really look and listen, you see much more than you would normally. Make sure that you share your observations with others. Don’t keep it to yourself.
Message from the Mind’s World – Keep in mind that you can’t find happiness if you’re too busy trying to bury yourself under the weight of failures and responsibility.
Message from the Physical World – You cannot plow forward full steam ahead if you can’t see where you are going. Seek some balance and you’ll get much farther in the long run.
Twisting the Leaf 