Month: November 2025

Defense Mechanisms and Isolation

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Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

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Mocha Siamese Tarot - Page of Pentacles; Lobilat Rumi Quotes CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive “omega” energy in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, home life, and manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with work apprenticeships and learning a new ability or skill.

The Page of Pentacles has then been combined with the an affirmation from the Lobilat Rumi Quotes deck, which says, “Submit to love without thinking.”

When you have spent the lions share of your foundational years on guard, it can be heard to let go and let people in. I find myself struggling with this again and again.  Most people?  They just give up and go away. That’s not my intention in coming off as “cold” or unapproachable, and yet that’s what happens.  Defense mechanisms and their pitfalls, right?

This means, at least for me, that only those with persistence make it through.  Gideon, for example, was very determined.  Same with J.

These days?  I’m trying to loosen up and not allow my defense mechanisms to call the shots. I’m trying to learn to be more open to love. To allow people in more easily.  It’s not easy, but I’m trying.  I’ve found in doing this, that I’m gifted with a more diverse pool of people in my life, and many of them I enjoy the company of a great deal.  The struggle, is definitely worth it.  Difficult, but worth it.

The message in today’s card and affirmation combo is a reminder that your defense mechanisms are not always right or healthy.  Sometimes, we need to learn to look past the fear and pain that created these defenses, and allow ourselves to explore what life might be like without them.

DECK USED:  MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND LOBILAT: RUMI QUOTES DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Memories Prompts for November 20

Tarot Reading with Burton's Wonderland Tarot and The Grief Journey OracleWhat to Cherish – Three of Pentacles and Guide

You are not alone on your journey. Your life is filled with a lot of struggle, and you work hard to create what you have and the stability that you crave. You have others, though, with you… on both sides of the veil.  They participate in your life to support you and also provide guidance when it is needed.

What to Release – The Magician and Child

Your need for control resides in your childhood trauma. Releasing this trauma will give you the ability to manifest those things you want to create in your life without the need to be in control every step of the way or hold onto that control with such a tight grip all the time.

Memories to Make – Strength and Illumination

It’s time to start exploring the strengths that reside within you that don’t require force or aggression to manifest.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: BURTON’S WONDERLAND TAROT AND THE GRIEF JOURNEY ORACLE

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 21 and 22

Tarot Reading with the Mocha Siamese Tarot and Oracle d'OrUnderworld (Death) – What hidden depths am I being asked to explore?

Page of Cups and Constellations – You are only skimming the surface of your emotions thus far on this journey to understand and explore them. They are as deep and nuanced as the universe itself, with a myriad of different causes, differences, and patterns. Don’t stop. This journey is challenging and excruciatingly slow moving, but worth it.

Night (Mystery) – What can only be revealed in the dark?

Queen of Swords Rx and Ephemerality – Remember that your sharper edges are temporary fluctuations. You are not these moments, they are simply a small part of the whole of who you are. Ephemeral and fleeting.

Flame (Spirit) – What spark refuses to be extinguished?

The Lovers and Expansion – Self betterment is an integral part of your practice. As a core element in your beliefs and values, it will always be a driving force in your life.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND ORACLE D’OR

Daily Self Kindness

Although my stomach is feeling better, I took it easy on myself today.

Gideon’s Challenge – Blending Intent

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Making IncenseBlending Intent

A pinch of this
and a little
of that
combined
with intention
create
earthy scents
and energy
with direction
once scattered
over black sand
and touched
by heat
to smolder

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Attracting Abundance

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Strange World Tarot - Five of PentaclesDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, struggles, and setbacks in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, work, or manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with scarcity and times in life when one needs to seek out help from others instead of suffering through alone.

The Five of Pentacles has then been combined with the Verdigris Agaric affirmation card from the Mushroom Affirmations deck, which says, “Now is the time to make an impression. Stand out from the crowd and be noticed.”

If you want to foster abundance, you have to stand out above the rest. This is an essential building block to creating a successful business, a successful career, and success in most things that involve others.

This is especially true in a couple of my chosen fields. Whether it’s the jewelry business where the competition is steep and there are a multitude of others out there trying to garner attention for their own product just as I am for mine; or the tarot reading business where it seems every day new competition crops up in the field including waves of new readers undercutting prices, and users of AI that don’t grasp just how deeply nuanced and human the act of reading tarot actually is and thus think that a computer can do it for them.

Today’s message is a reminder that no matter your endeavors, if you are in any kind of a competitive business or effort, the focus needs to be on playing into your strong suits and playing up your skills and abilities. Otherwise, you will get lost in the crowd.

DECKS USED:  STRANGE WORLD TAROT AND MUSHROOM AFFIRMATIONS

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
Temperance Spread

Temperance Tarot Reading with the Oracle of the Magical Fairy Forest

Where are you seeking balance?

Hidden Doors – As new opportunities rise, you seek to find balance between which opportunities you decide to take advantage of and which ones you let pass you by. This means you need to be able to notice them all so that you can make the best choices for you, though.

What requires patience?

Tree Friends atop Wild and Free – Integrating yourself within your friendships and trusting them with your vulnerabilities and your needs takes time. That includes making sure that you’re getting out in nature, even if you know it’s not their favorite thing to join you in doing.

What needs harmonizing?

Write Your Story – You need to better align your wants and desires with the path you choose to tread. Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? What do you want to experience along the way? Obligation has begun to take up too much of your prioritizing, and it’s time to get back to the roots of who you are concerning your path and practices.

What wants to be integrated?

Guardian of the Fe – You crave to integrate into your life a greater sense of security and safety. You have been stuck in feeling “under attack” ever since the broken shoulder fiasco, with one thing hitting you after another. A greater sense of safety is needed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Deodar Cedar Cone for Fostering Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Foraged Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ORACLE OF THE MAGICAL FAIRY FOREST

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Prompt for November 19th : What do I need to focus on for self-care for this month’s new moon?

Tarot Reading with the Strange World TarotReading Summary: It’s time to work on creating a better balance (Two of Pentacles) between your disappointments (Three of Swords) and the stability that you have managed to create for yourself and others (Queen of Pentacles).

Take Away: In a previous reading, you were recently reminded that it’s time to start prioritizing your own needs over those of others, including prioritizing authenticity over the expectation foisted upon you and obligations you feel.

The more you lean into that obligation and expectation, the more it will pull you out of balance, and lead you down the road to disappointments that will be harder and harder to bounce back from.

For your self care during this new moon, recommit yourself to your personal authenticity and your path.  Place those values above the need to please others, and let the need to stay true to yourself drive you instead of the obligations you feel toward others.

Other elements included in this reading:
Northern Red Oak Leaf for Fostering Unconditional Love
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: STRANGE WORLD TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I did my best to take it easy today because my stomach has been all messed up all day long.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Bug

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Hadley Castle Victoria BCThe Bug

Painful cramps
and queasy moments
blend with
breaths of
fresh air
to tamp down
rising tides
of bile
as sweat
scatters
over skin
in little droplets
again
and again

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Do It Your Way

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Today’s meditation was an eleven minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

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Tarot Reading with the Old Style Tarot - The Emperor CardThe @GlitterbyInk #NovemberWhispers25 Liminal Dreamland Challenge
Shape-Shifter Prompt for November 18 : Ceremony
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Emperor card, which is traditionally a representation of taking charge, responsibility, authority, structure, and focusing on the greater good.

Do you really want to be one of those people that needs pomp and ceremony?

Your leadership is trusted and depended on, even. But, part of the reason that your leadership is trusted and depended on is because you don’t hold yourself above anyone else.

You work alongside them, you hang out with them, you judge yourself more harshly than them. You allow yourself to be vulnerable with them. You hope that they value and appreciate you, but you don’t expect them to say as much.

These things make you approachable instead of set apart, and in the end, you prefer it that way.

The message in today’s card combined with the “ceremony” prompt is a reminder that there are all different kinds of leadership styles. What works for others may not work for you, and vise versa.

Instead of leading on a foundation of what you “should” do and expecting others to celebrate you, remember that the leadership style that fits for you is built on a foundation of mutualism and trust.  Regardless of the advice given from others, go with what fits and feels right for you. People respond to authenticity.

DECK USED:  OLD STYLE TAROT

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Descent Prompts 19 and 20

Oracle Reading with Lady Stirling's Wicked Garden oracleSilence (Stillness) Where can I allow silence to speak for me?

Spoonwood – Play on your strengths and leave your more toxic qualities as a mystery. People may guess that they are there and at what they are, but are willing to brave them for the positive you have to offer.

Raven (Messenger) – What omen or message is flying in from the unseen?

English Yew – Just because the veil is thickening once more doesn’t mean your work either your ancestors is finished. Don’t forget about them, for although they are the least vocal and involved of all that come through the veil for you, they hold great value.

Instead of delegating them to the sidelines, invite them into your practice more often. They may not always want to contribute, but over time, the more persistent you are in welcoming them, the more comfortable they will become in being included.

Other elements included in this reading:
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: LADY STiRLING’S WICKED GARDEN

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
Death Spread

Death Card Tarot Reading with the Old Style Tarot

What change are you resisting?

The Hierophant – Once you’re entrenched in doing things a certain way, it becomes hard for you to break the mold and move outside of it. Especially when the old way seems to have worked well for you in the past. It’s not that you’re adverse to trying new things, but it’s more a mindset along the lines of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”.

What no longer serves a purpose?

Two of Cups Rx – Holding yourself apart from those closest to you. You’ve turned over a new leaf in this area of late, and there’s no going back to the old way where distancing yourself was the norm.

What is ending?

Ace of Cups – The period of time after a depressive episode has a tendency to be a time of vulnerability and extra emotional sensitivity. Your struggles with overwhelming emotions are starting to finally ease up in this area. This doesn’t mean that you will go back to numb, but rather that your cup won’t overflow quite so easily or vigorously.

What aspect of yourself can you release?

The Magician – Remember that you don’t have to be “on” all the time. Life’s not a competition, and you don’t have to have all the answers. Neither do you need to be Mr Fix-It for every little thing that goes wrong.

What gift comes from this ending?

King of Pentacles Rx – The ability to ease up a little bit on your fixation with stability and security. Not just for yourself, but especially in the perspective of providing it for others.

What does the next chapter hold?

The Emperor (tipped right) – Leadership struggles and trying to find a new way forward. The interpretation in the readings above combined with this answer indicate that you’re going to need to seek answers and methods “outside the box” to help smooth out these struggles, and allow others you trust to help you along the way.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED:  OLD STYLE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I kept the appointment with the plastic surgeon today, concerning a (healing) cyst on my hip, instead of blowing it off as I was tempted to do.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Garden

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Hatley Castle Gardens - Victoria BCThe Garden

Let’s live
in the garden
and never
step foot
inside
but instead
sleep
under the ivy
and among
the lavender
as flowers
bloom
and when
leaves fall

Photo © ZenStatePhotography