Fight or Flight
It feels like
wanting to
run away
would be
paramount
in the chaos
and yet
instead
hiding
is sounding
so
much
better
Month: September 2025
It’s In the Presentation
Today’s meditation was eleven minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions in the @Calm app.
• • • ◈ • 🌾 • ◈ • • •
The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 3rd : Presence
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of solitary satisfaction, a job well done, self-sufficiency, abundance, financial independence, and luxury earned through hard work.
I know a woman who carries herself with elegance and poise. When she walks into a room, people take notice. When she walks into a bar, people stop cursing. At barely 5 foot, she’s not physically imposing. She’s not movie star gorgeous, nor does she dress in a way that would indicate great wealth or power.
What she is? Is a lady, and she is treated with respect wherever she goes. Not because of anything monetary or intimidating, but because she has presence.
It’s in her posture and in her smile, it’s in her eyes and in every step and movement. She’s kind and warm-hearted, approachable and… even “cute” sometimes. Yet no one ever disrespects her.
Today’s message is about our presence, and an encouragement to present yourself as you how you want others to see you; for that is exactly how they are going to see you.
It takes practice and work. It’s about posture and poise, presentation, and determination. Anyone can create the perception of being a lady or a gentleman. Anyone can create the perception of being an easy victim or someone not worth messing with.
What perceptions are you showing the world? How could you possibly change them to your advantage?
DECK USED: TAROT OF THE OLD FOREST
@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompt for September 3rd : What limiting beliefs am I still holding onto?
Reading Summary: You have a tendency to take everything you can upon your own shoulders (Isolation), and that it’s your responsibility to do so so that those around you aren’t inconvenienced (King of Swords). You perceive this as a strength, even though what it actually does is make you weaker (Strength).
Take Away: Being a good leader means letting go of the idea that everything is all on you. A king is not a king without his subjects, a leader is not a leader without others to lead.
Doing stuff alone doesn’t make you stronger, it just wears you down and creates overwhelm. True strength is in finding how to involve others and delegate effectively.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Cream Quartz Stone for Amplifying Intentions and Mental Clarity
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: TAROT OF THE OLD FOREST AND THE CROW REDUX
I took a nap in the back of the car today when I had the opportunity.
Gideon’s Challenge – Imbalances
Imbalances
Jagged edges
blunted
by intermittent
cheerful moments
until
aggression
and anxiety
blend into
a strangely
cheerful smile
annoyingly bright
as insides
seethe
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Autumn Leaf
Prompt: “Pull (at least) three random cards from your deck and use them share with us the story of an autumn leaf’s great adventure.”
Once upon a summer, there was a lovely oak tree located where the ocean meets land,
And beneath the tree was a soft patch of grass where people came to sit or stand.
[ Nine of Cups ]
On this tree lived many leaves who loved to dance in the breeze,
But one in particular was eager to fly, yet unable to let go with ease.
[ Knight of Wands atop The Devil ]
One day, the weather began to change, becoming colder by the day;
and this little leaf began to change with his neighbors who flew away.
[ Eight of Wands ]
As green turned to gold and they all let go, still this leaf held on,
And soon enough the days grew cold and all of its friends were gone.
[ The Hermit ]
Then one day, it’s stem grew weak enough to finally let go.
The last of its kind to released its grip and flutter out into the falling snow.
[ The Fool ]
DECK USED: THE LONELY DREAMER TAROT 1st EDITION
The Importance of Stewardship
Today’s meditation was a self-directed ten minute session, focused upon the “Aliens In This World” card from the Alice’s Flowers Oracle (shown) by @Sunni_Chapman and a quote from guidance that came with that card.
That guidance says, “We are aliens in this world, you and I. All of us. Visitors for a time. Exploring this earthly realm. Learning about its ins and outs. Learning about our own. Try not to take it all too seriously. Soon, we’ll all be taking off.”
• • • ◈ • 🌾 • ◈ • • •
The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 2nd : Rooted
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is The Devil card, which is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm.
The advice that came as the basis of the card I pulled for my meditation today speaks of how we are all aliens only temporarily living in this world.
I… don’t think this is right.
On a spiritual level? Perhaps. We all die after all. In that sense, we all do “move on”, even if not always away from this world. (Ie: reincarnation, ancestral visitors, ghost and spirits, etc.)
Also, if we aren’t of this world, wouldn’t things like grounding in nature and the healing aspects of nature not work on us? I mean, maybe there are some among us that are not of this world, but I’m pretty certain that I am.
Anyway, in the advice for this card, it says that we are visitors for a time, and to not take it all too seriously, because we’ll all be “taking off” soon. I think this is a dangerous line of thinking to buy into. It encourages not taking responsibility in life for… Well, anything.
After all, what does it all matter (the earth, other creatures, our own bodies) if this is just some kind of pit stop? I feel that this mindset encourages treating the world and everything in it like some sort of back road rest stop bathroom. And, if you’ve ever been in one of those, you know just how badly they are treated.
What I see in today’s message is about discernment and critical thinking. It’s a reminder that sometimes ideas and ideology sound good… but on close critical examination, they are foundationally flawed. The message for today is a reminder to always look for these flaws before you buy in to harmful and even possibly dangerous ideologies. Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is; and when something is too good to be true? There’s a good chance you’re not looking closely enough.
DECK USED: SIGILLA MEDIAEVALIA TAROT AND ALICE’S FLOWERS ORACLE
@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompt for September 2nd : Where lies a strength I can still discover?
Reading Summary: Your sense of humor and wonder (Delight) is still there deep within you (Beneath the Surface). It is an integral part of who you are, hidden but not destroyed by what you’ve gone (Born with a Gift).
Take Away: A lot of the things you have gone through in life could have easily snuffed out the qualities of humor and wonder in you. Instead, they remain a hidden part of who you are, waiting to be explored.
Not long ago, you read the book “Awe” by Dacher Keltner, that delved into the importance of wonder and awe in our lives. This book made it easier for you to connect with those emotions, and you now only need to give yourself the permission to actually feel them and enjoy them.
Other elements included in this reading:
Carved Bamboo for Positive Outcomes
Fox Figure for Fostering Adaptability and Cunning
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On One’s Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: FOXFIRE : THE KITSUNE ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompts for September 2nd
What makes you feel excited?
Common Tern and Seven of Pentacles – Discovering the fruits of your inner growth makes you feel excited. Getting a chance to enjoy and acknowledge the fruits of your labors in general is something to get excited about, but when it comes to your personal inner development, you find discovering those results and accomplishments especially exciting as they things usually go unnoticed and unacknowledged.
What makes you feel happy?
Large Ground Finch and Eight of Swords – The interactive writing you do with your partner gives you the gift of a temporary distraction from reality. It allows you to temporarily close your eyes to the world around you and your troubles. This time spent with him lifts your spirits even when you are feeling at your worst, so that you can go back out to tackle the world with your eyes open once ore.
What makes you feel calm?
Common Pine Finch and Nine of Wands – One of the things that creates calm for you is the knowledge that your struggles and hardships have a purpose. The lessons you learn from these struggles and hardships allow you to better care for and protect what’s important to you. This, in turn, provides a sense of security that fosters calm within you.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Deodar Cedar Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cone for Resilience and Adaptability
Rainforest Rhyolite for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE PRIMERO TAROT AND AN ALMANAC OF BIRDS: 100 DIVINATIONS FOR UNCERTAIN DAYS
I reached out to Gideon to let him know I’d be late tonight.
Gideon’s Challenge – Tenacity
Tenacity
There is nothing
more tenacious
than a weed
stretching tall
seeking
in a
long stretch
the kiss
of the sun
Except me
seeking out
the touch
of your love
upon my soul
Twisting the Leaf 