Month: February 2024

Positive Mistakes

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#DailyCalm with the Calm app - Rupi Kaur quoteToday’s meditation was ten minutes long, and one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the Calm app.  The topic of today’s session was about how we look at love.  Some people see love as something that they cannot live without. That the “true love” factor is an eternal hunt for your “missing piece” which means you will never be complete without it.   It proposes that a better way to look at love is to love oneself and see oneself as whole and complete on one’s own… and seek someone that then amplifies your good qualities as you amplify theirs.

I liked this, and not just because it uses Shel Silverstein’s “The Missing Piece” story as its basis (although, that was a bonus). In the profession of reading cards, you run into a lot of people who see themselves as forever incomplete if they don’t find their “perfect match”. Some who get into unhealthy or abusive relationships because they insist they found their “missing piece” in someone that is abusive or toxic… thus stay in those relationships.

I like the idea of people being whole on their own. Developing themselves as a unique individual who is then complimented by another whole and unique individual.  It feels far healthier to me than the alternative.

Golden Age of Romance Comics Tarot's Eight of Wands and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Wands combined with the affirmation “Mistakes are fine. They don’t make you a bad person.”

Sometimes, when we make a mistake, we hurry to judge ourselves harshly.  We even overlook whatever positives we might gain from having messed up in the first place.  What lessons did we learn? Where is this mistake taking us that could be a good thing in the end?

The cards today are about these moments, and remembering to slow down and consider if those mistakes we make along the way (both big and small) are really as bad as we think they are… or if something good came out of them in the end. The message today is a reminder not to judge yourself so harshly for these mistakes, but find the boon in them and run with it.

DECKS USED:  GOLDEN AGE OF ROMANCE COMICS TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

Daily Self Kindness

I called an electrician instead of trying to figure out what the hell happened in the kitchen lighting by myself.

Self-Worth vs Personal Flaws

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Exotic Cancer Tarot's Eight of Swords and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords combined with the affirmation “Kind of a mess, but mostly fabulous.”

Don’t let that “mostly” blind you to just how amazing you are.  When you only focus on those qualities you don’t like in yourself, it allows them to take over and make you blind to all the good that’s also there.

In other words?  Stop picking on yourself and pay attention to all the good stuff instead of the handful of flaws and bad crap that your brain wants to inflate to the point it affects your perception of self-worth. Don’t let it do that.

DECKS USED:  EXOTIC CANCER TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question for February 14th : Is love ever logical?

Exotic Cancer Tarot - Page of Swords, Queen of Swords, Knight of SwordsReading Summary:  A lack of experience and lack of “filters” (Queen of Swords Rx), combined with a lack of desire to learn (Page of Swords Rx), embraces impulsive acts (Knight of Swords).

Side Note:  The way I pull cards is to do a lazy overhand shuffle until each card falls out.  Each of these cards fell out individually from different parts of the deck… so the trio of sword court cards is not some sort of deck randomization issue.

Take Away: These cards are all examples of illogical thinking and lack of forethought. They say that there is no logic involved in love, only impulse.

DECK USED: EXOTIC CANCER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took a nap today even though I didn’t really have a lot of time for it.  My stomach was acting up and lying down seemed to help a bit.

Gideon’s Challenge

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Build a Bear Red and Gold Chinese New Year DragonGuardian Gift

A surprise
in the mail
for valentines day
and I bring
the package home
filled with curiosity
when I open the box
what do I see?
a fierce red face
looking back at me
a guardian
to watch over
the treasures
I hold dear
and remind me
that love
is always near

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Listening to Lies

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#DailyCalm with the Calm app - Papaji quoteToday’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session with the Calm app that addressed the value and importance of individuality.

The session was a reminder that it’s not in the ways we conform to society that get us noticed and draw others to us; it’s in those ways that we are unique. It discussed how, when we show our true colors and put our unique traits out there on display, we draw people to us that admire us, connect with us, and enjoy our company… and don’t expect us to change ourselves to conform to their values, principles, and idea of how you -should- look or behave.  It’s how we find our tribe… those in life that we connect with deeply and profoundly.

Victorian Romantic Tarot's Eight of Swords and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the Eight of Swords combined with the affirmation “Your survival rate is 100%!”

Depression and anxiety can make it difficult for us to see just how capable we are.  It descends over us and blinds us in a fog of misery and “what if” thinking.  It leaves us feeling powerless and alone, hopeless and drowning.

During these times it’s important to remember that you are being blinded by your ailing mental health.  This is not reality.  You are far more capable than you can see in these moments… and the proof is right before you in the fact you’re still here and breathing.

You’ve gone through tough times before, and come out the other end just fine, and you will this time too.  Don’t let your depression or anxiety tell you differently.

DECKS USED:  THE VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for February 13th : Get a Different Name Day – Pull a card. Muse on how you and your life might be different if you had had more of this card’s qualities in your life from an early age.

Victorian Romantic Tarot - Nine of Swords, Knight of CupsKnight of Cups – The Knight of Cups is all about going after those things that make you happy.  It’s about action and movement and “seizing the day” in the area of one’s joys and happiness.  Having more of this in my life would open me up to experiencing more joy and happiness, but also pull my attention away from some of the responsibilities I carry.  It is a double edged sword, for I may smile more and have more fun, but I think I might also be more stressed due to a greater lack of stability in the areas of life that require that “buckling down” needed to keep things on an even keel.

Nine of Swords – The Nine of Swords is about nightmares, anxieties, worry, and insomnia. Having more of these qualities in my life would mean a rise to more organization and a need for greater amounts of rigid structure.  I have been in that experience before just after the home invasion, and it means turning into a shut in and not going outside.  It means a katy bar against the door, extra security cameras, and a great deal less daylight.

DECK USED: THE VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I slept in the back of the truck today on the way north, and skipped out on going into Costco to avoid the concrete floors (which always make my body hurt by the time we’re done).

Meaningful Praise

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#DailyCalm with the Calm app - Sharon Salzberg quoteToday’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session with the Calm app. The session today was a “loving kindness” session, which dealt with projecting loving thoughts (namely “May you be loved. May you be healthy. May you be happy. May you be at peace.”) first to yourself, then to your loved ones, then to those you find difficult to tolerate, and finally to the world at large.

As usual, I found directing these sincere thoughts to myself far more difficult than to anyone else.

Moon Prism Tarot's King of Wands and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is the King of Wands combined with the affirmation “You’re doing a great job.”

The combination of these cards is a reminder that it’s okay to need to be praised now and then, and it’s okay for that praise to be the inspiration that picks you up and keeps you going.

Is it healthy to depend it as your only source of inspiration?  No, of course not.  But it’s natural to want some kudos occasionally and for those times when they come to feel good.  It’s okay that other people’s opinions matter to you, as long as they’re not the end all be all of your existence and the only thing you are motivated by.

DECKS USED:  MOON PRISM TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

The #mysticstartarot Challenge Prompt
Questions for February 11th thru 14th

Love Messages From Your Pet Oracle CardsWhat are my overall thoughts about myself?

Follow My Whiskers – Whatever is going on in the moment, you trust your inner moral compass to lead you through and help you find your way.

What are my high vibrational thoughts about myself?

What Do You Want? – You are trying to turn things around toward a more positive viewpoint with a less negative mental narrative, and more positive reinforcement.

How can I amplify these positive thoughts about myself?

Breathe – Pause more. Breathe more. Stop and examine how you are reacting to stimuli internally and course-correct before reacting externally. Mindfulness is important.

How will these thoughts support me with my relationships?

Please Be Gentle – You will find that you will end up treating not just yourself more kindly but other people as well, and will begin to become less judgmental towards yourself and others.

DECK USED: LOVE MESSAGES FROM YOUR PET ORACLE CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Question for February 12th : Lost Penny Day – What insignificant thing could it be useful for you to pay more attention to?

Moon Prism Tarot - The Empress, Five of Wands, Five of CupsReading Summary: It might seem insignificant when you butt heads with others (Five of Wands) and fall into a worst case scenario mentality as a result (Five of Cups), but what it really does is damage your self-care efforts (The Empress Rx).

Take Away: Taking care of yourself and nurturing yourself more is more than just the physical acts that you do for yourself each day or the pampering you try to give yourself from time to time. It’s about how you think and what you allow to go through your head. Letting negative experiences with others turn you against yourself is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish by upping your efforts in self-care. It might seem insignificant, but it’s not.

DECK USED: MOON PRISM TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I was able to get in a little play with Gideon while working on orders today.

The Commingling of Skills

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Jupiter Power Tarot's Three of Pentacles and the Cozy Comfort Cards for Sad and Anxious MomentsToday’s draw is the Three of Pentacles combined with the affirmation “You are good enough.”

A lot of times when asking for help, it’s hard not to feel like we’ve failed because we couldn’t do whatever it is on our own.  I struggle with this feeling a lot, and I know I’m not alone in this.

The thing is?  People aren’t meant to do everything alone and on their own.  It’s when we combine forces that we really shine, as each person brings a different element to the table and when those elements, skills, and expertise are combined? Magic happens.

Asking for help doesn’t mean that you’re not enough. It means you appreciate what other people bring to the table and have to offer.

DECKS USED:  JUPITER POWER TAROT AND COZY COMFORT CARDS FOR SAD AND ANXIOUS MOMENTS

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2024 Challenge Prompt
Prompt for February 11th : Do Spread 2
Question: Why is my top side sparking so hot right now?

Lauren Marx Art Postcard Set and Jupiter Power Tarot - The Magician, The Tower, King of Cups, King of WandsReading Summary: You are feeling less like everything is falling apart [the tangled grass is a color match with The Tower reversed; although the  grasses are tangled, they are not restraining the roseate spoonbill settled upon them] and more interconnected with Gideon than ever [King of Cups;  here again we see a connection between the pattern of movement in the roots of the face, and in the grass, connecting the roots to the foundation that the bird stands upon so that it can feed as needed and get what it needs] which sparks your passions [King of Wands], and allows you to feel empowered [The Magician, combined with that The Magician flower faces forward into the future].

Take Away: This roleplay character you are using at the moment and the current play makes you feel very secure in yourself. In many ways, he’s a lot like you, which allows you to pull out those inner urges that are usually suppressed and share them openly with Gideon at this time.

DECKS USED: JUPITER POWER TAROT AND LAUREN MARX ART POSTCARD SET

Daily Self Kindness

I took time to unwind and breathe after a very stressful situation earlier in the day.