Happiness
Pretty faces
greet us
vibrantly
to remind us
summer
isn’t just
a slow crawl
through hell
but a
fleeting moment
of beauty
to lift the spirit
and draw out
a smile
Month: July 2025
❤️ 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 – Three of Cups – Make sure you are not isolating yourself this week. At this time, there is greater stability to be found in the company of others than on your own, even if it might not feel that way at the time.
Air – Queen of Cups – Seek out comfort where you can find it, and most especially with those you know can provide it. It’s okay to need others to help you in your inner struggles. They want to be there for you and will welcome you with open arms.
Water – The Empress – Care and understanding are needed right now, especially directed toward yourself and those delicate vulnerable parts. Be gentle with yourself and your emotions this week.
Fire – The Magician Rx – You’re going to be feeling “all thumbs” this week, and like you just can’t get anything right. Remember the guidance the other positions in this reading have given. Cut yourself a break and lean on others. Remember that this experience is temporary.
Waning – Cherries – You are still feeling the faint lingering effects of the subdrop. It can be tempting to try and hide from them by initiating more sexual intimacy, but although this will give a temporary relief, it will bring subdrop back with a vengeance when you’re still trying to shake off the last one.
Waxing – Pumpkin – “Count your chickens” and focus on building lasting stability instead of quick fixes.
Take Away – The lingering hints of subdrop are going to be niggled at by your sense of clumsiness and failure this week. The struggle is real for you, and you need to seek out support rather than just plowing through on your own. Not just with the tasks you want to get done, either, but also with your emotions and inner narratives. You need their stabilizing influence this week.
DECKS USED: GOURMET TAROT AND A KITCHEN WITCH’S CULINARY ORACLE
Finding the Positive for July 3 – 5
July 3 – Mental Health Card of the Day
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 3 : Freedom
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Five of Cups (Eastern Meadowlark Feather), which is traditionally a representation of pessimism, regrets, doomsday thinking, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).
It takes a village to raise a child, or so they say. The thing is? That’s not all that it takes a village to do.
I’m an introvert and a pessimist. This means that in general, I’m not a fan of society and often to look at humanity with an overly critical eye.
To me? I feel people should “live by example”, and I very often feel that people don’t do this anymore. More and more we see people behaving badly with entitlement as their excuse. Even those in power that should be setting an example for others seem to have lost that “live by example” creed that used to be integral to good leadership.
Today’s message is a shift in perspective on this pessimistic viewpoint, and encourages considering that freedom allows us to act as we see fit and feel is right. This freedom allows us to make mistakes, and like a child raised by an addict that will never touch drugs themselves as a result, teaches us by a different type of example. These days, more and more, it appears that we are being shown the consequences of acting foolishly, rather than the shining example of what good looks like. Regardless, the lessons are still there.
DECK USED: THE MEDIEVAL FEATHERS TAROT
July 4 – Mental Health Card of the Day
Today’s meditation was skipped.
• • • ◈ • 🍃 • ◈ • • •
The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 4 : Happiness
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Moon card, which is traditionally a representation of uncertainty, illusion, anxiety, fear, the unknown, and the subconscious.
What is happiness? I have a hard time answering this question, whether it’s for myself, or in an “in general” sense.
Inability to answer this question in a general sense is not surprising, as I think that happiness is subjective. But, I’ve often wondered why I’m unable to answer this question for myself. Is it the issues within my upbringing? Is it my pessimistic tendencies? Is it my battle with depression? Maybe uncertainty plays a role? What is it that creates the disconnect in being able to identify what happiness means for me?
I don’t know. And, I don’t know what happiness looks like for me. Or maybe I do… and just I’m unable to identify it as happiness in the same way I struggle to learn to identify so many of my emotions.
This meander through uncertainty is brought to you by The Moon card, which encourages us to bring our uncertainties “out into the light” now and then to observe and consider… even when doing so leaves is as “in the dark” as ever in the end.
DECK USED: AGNI ROERICH TAROT
July 5 – Mental Health Card of the Day
Today’s meditation was skipped.
• • • ◈ • 🍃 • ◈ • • •
The @GlitterbyInk #JulyJoy25 Challenge
Celebration of Joy Prompt for July 5 : Inspiration
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Ace of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the seed, start, or new beginnings in the area of one’s passion projects, inspiration, drive, willpower, and determination. This often translates into themes that have to do with budding new interests and new passion projects.
I am not a big fan of structure. Which honestly, is a bit odd because I often seek it out and thrive under it.
In my conversation with my shrink the other day, we were discussing how I feel a great deal of guilt over times when I languish. You know, just relax and do nothing but play on the phone or what not.
In our conversation, she reminded me (and not for the first time) that everyone needs downtime. That is, time to not be productive. Even me. She encouraged me to try combating the guilt I feel with a greater show of intention. Specifically, by scheduling my languishing, rather than just “squeezing it in” at the expense of all those other things my brain says needs to be done.
I’ve never looked at languishing as something you might intentionally schedule (instead of time stolen from other pursuits). I’m going to give it a try, though. Maybe in doing so, I’ll find myself feeling a little less guilty about doing something that feels good and I enjoy. Or… that’s the hope at least.
DECK USED: ROYAL ANIMALS TAROT
Gideon’s Challenge – The Pause
The Pause
Lie down
and stay a while
with the
douglas fir
towering above
and pine needles
to cushion
your back
as you stare up
at the sky
and watch
patterns of light
sift
through branches
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge – Exit Route
Exit Route
Tangled up
and disorganized
it seems
there’s
no way out
of this
trapped feeling
blending
distraction
and disorientation
until I feel
lost
and alone
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge – What Is Lost
What Is Lost
Kisses
are important
between
you and I
and as I share
I worry
things are changing
in ways
I don’t want
just because
my honesty
is hurting
those I love
perhaps silence
is best
after all
Twisting the Leaf 