Month: January 2026

🌕 Full Moon in Cancer – January 2026

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Tomorrow is the full moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @Ethony from way back in 2015.

Cancer Full Moon Tarot Reading with the Zodiac Tarot

Emotional State – Where your emotional health is during this Full Moon.

Seven of Swords – Emotionally, you are currently feeling a bit unworthy of the successes you’ve accomplished, as if these successes are the result of you getting away with something rather than hard won accomplishments.

Note: I am aware that these are irrational emotions not based in fact. They are the emotional repercussions of negative self-talk and past trauma.

Need to Nurture – What you need; either mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically. (Look at the suit of the card for clarification.)

King of Pentacles – You crave stability. You always crave stability. Perhaps this is something that you might want to examine more closely. Not just what drives you to crave stability, but the nature of stability itself… what it is and is made of.

Shed Some Light – What your higher self, spirit guides, etc are asking you to reflect on this Full Moon.

Knight of Swords – Why are you rushing? And what are you missing out on by doing so?  When you rush around and allow impulse to lead, you lose out on the experiences you could have garnered along the way.  Instead, the experience becomes anxiety and loses its richness.  Consider slowing down instead so you can more fully experience the journey.

Dispel – What you can let go of during the upcoming waning of the Moon.

Seven of Wands – Release your defensiveness. Remember that you can stand strong in your authenticity, solid in your values and beliefs, without a sense of defense or aggression. There’s no need to bring that energy to the table.  Let it go instead.

Challenge – What obstacle is preventing you from moving forward?

The Sun – One of the obstacles that is currently preventing you from moving forward is your perception of success. Consider spending some time reflecting on why your perception of success includes no joy?  Perhaps it’s time to reframe what success looks like to include factors like enjoyment and fun rather than just goals and responsibilities.

Full Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Three of Swords – Disappointments come and go; don’t allow them cause you to crumble and fall.

DECK USED: ZODIAC TAROT IN A TIN

The Tired Traveler

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Today’s meditation was skipped, although I did have a nice long soak in the tub.

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Idiosyncradeck Tarot - Ten of Wands, Ten of ArrowsThe @GlitterbyInk #JanJourney26 Embark to Renewal Challenge
The Departure Prompt for January 1st : Embark
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ten of Wands (Arrows), which is traditionally a representation of overwhelm, burnout, struggling under too much responsibility, and can indicate a need to do some prioritizing and delegation.

When you pack a bag to go on a hike or camping trip, you have to weigh what you need vs what you want, and what you’re willing to sacrifice to do the trip you want to do. If your pack is too heavy, you’ll tire too soon.  If your pack is too light? It means you probably left behind something that you’re going to need.

This is the case in life as well. Our responsibilities and obligations are weighted, and we carry that weight on our shoulders day in and day out.

The message in today’s card and “embark” prompt is a reminder that as you move forward into a new month… and a new year, to be mindful of how much you are choosing to carry. Don’t look at that burden through the eyes of a refreshed soul, but rather, through the eyes of the tired one you will at some point become. Discard now what is going to be too heavy then.  For healthy regulation, this is a system of weights and balances that need to be considered whenever we decide to take on something new, whether it’s a new month, a new year, a new project, or any other responsibility.

DECK USED:  IDIOSYNCRADECK MINI TAROT

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 1 | Entry 13 – Self Care and Personal Development
Affirmation : I am always striving to better myself.
Prompt : The Universe wants you to succeed. Look into the card you draw as a special message of what your highest self and “the powers that be” want you to know about yourself in this moment and ways you can improve.

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Starlight Arcana Astral TarotWhat feelings came up when I pulled this card?

I admit, there was a slight eye roll and a sigh when I first pulled this card. I had a feeling that this was the card that would come up, as temperance and moderation are one of my biggest struggles. It’s the obvious answer.

What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?

As I said, moderation is not my strong suit. I have a tendency to push for more, whether because of past trauma that caused me to feel like neither I or anything I do is never enough, or because my addictive tendencies keep me striving for that next hit of dopamine. Either way, that drive to push beyond the limits of what’s healthy is not easy for me to temper.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

The soldier in this card is ready, but at rest. His shield is at hand, his sword is unsheathed, and yet his posture is almost lackadaisical. It’s clear there’s no rush, and just as clear that he has no intention of taking on any more than he has to.

My prompt response and reflections.

Soldiers have a very clearly defined job. They are expected to do exactly what they are trained to do, nothing more and nothing less. They train for that specific job, they wait for orders related to that specific job, they obey orders pertaining to that job. They aren’t running around doing extraneous jobs, making decisions unrelated to their purpose, or stepping on the toes of the higher ups. They stay in their lane with measured precision.

The soldier in this card is essentially doing just that; staying in their lane. This cards advice is that you remember to do the same. Don’t take on what isn’t yours to handle.

DECK USED: STARLIGHT ARCANA ASTRAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2026 Challenge
Prompt for January 1st : Do the First Quarter Spread

First Quarter Year Tarot Reading with the Starlight Arcana Astral Tarot, Idiosyncradeck Tarot, Amethyst Oracle, and Pawsitive Vibes Affirmation Cards

Year Ahead Theme : The Devil

The Devil card is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm. Temptation is not always bad for you, but neither is it always good. It’s through grounded and sound judgement that we are able to make healthy decisions when choosing what temptations we indulge in and which ones we leave behind.

Theme for January : Three of Cups

Enjoy your time with others this January. This is a time for building stronger connections with those around you, especially through an atmosphere of fun, play, and revelry whenever those qualities can be included in your time with them.

Focus / Advice for January : Lava Lamp

Go with the flow. Instead of trying to bend everything to your will, let go and allow things to flow around you organically. Be easy… or as easy as you can be.

Ray of Hope for January : “I look forward to new horizons with Hope and excitement.”

Remember that sometimes our most treasured adventures are the unexpected ones we didn’t even know were coming, let alone had time to plan out.

Theme for February : The Devil

Be aware of the temptations that rise up this month and where they are coming from. Not all of them are innocuous, and you need to take care to pay close attention instead of just doubling down on old habits and latent desires.

Focus / Advice for February : Nostalgia

Don’t let them back in just because you have a tendency to want to see the good in people. Good and bad are not mutually exclusive. Pay attention to why you cut them out in the first place, and whether what you’re seeing now is wishful thinking or not.

Ray of Hope for February : “I protect my mental space with strength and courage.”

Boundaries are important, and just as important is that you enforce them. Remember that your boundaries are there to protect your heath and well being.

Theme for March : Queen of Arrows (Wands)

Because you enjoy inspiring others, there will always be a social aspect to your creative endeavors. This March is about sharing that inspiration, and helping others find it as well through sharing your own efforts with them.

Focus / Advice for March : Order

It might be challenging to stay organized while in the grip of inspiration. Creativity often breeds chaos, after all. Make sure you train your sights on not letting the chaos that’s intrinsic to creation get out of control.

Ray of Hope for March : “I stand firm in my beliefs and values.”

The social aspect of this means that you are opening yourself up to other’s judgements. Keep in mind that they are entitled to their opinion, and that doesn’t mean you have to either share it or internalize it. Stand tall in your creative spark, and don’t allow naysayers the space to cast shadows.

DECKS USED: STARLIGHT ARCANA ASTRAL, IDIOSYNCRADECK MINI TAROT, AMETHYST ORACLE POCKET EDITION, PAWSITIVE VIBES AFFIRMATION CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I had another very relaxing soak in the bath today. The bathtub here at Ms B’s really is the most comfortable tub I’ve ever been in.

Gideon’s Challenge – No Snow

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Empty FieldNo Snow

January
comes with
raindrops
and cold
but no snow
to show
that winter
is here
dusts
the landscape
only puddles
for as far
as the eye
can see

I’m not complaining

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

📆 Transitioning from December to January

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Month End Check In Tarot Reading with The Herbal Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

The Star / Skullcap – Hopeful. In so many aspects of your life at this time, you harbor hope for better things to come. Better health. Better balance. Better stability. A greater sense of calm and connection. These are all things you are hoping for in the months ahead, and those hopes are currently riding at the surface due to the transition into not just a new month but also a new year.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Three of Swords / Pleurisy Root – Expel disappointments instead of holding onto them. It isn’t enough to wait them out and hope that things will change on their own. Be proactive in rejecting the rot of depression that disappointment can cause if left untended by giving yourself the attention and care you need during these times.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Four of Swords / Mullein – You’re sick and need time to rest and recover. This requires recuperative rest that will allow you to grow strong again. Breathe deep (do your breathing exercises to ensure that fluid doesn’t build up in your lungs) and get the rest you need. Don’t rush it.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Fool / Ginseng – Make sure as you feel better that you follow the upswing in energy. Don’t linger to wallow in the stillness of leisure because it’s comfortable. This isn’t about rushing, but it is about returning back to hale and healthy on the right foot.

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

Strength / Cayenne atop Six of Wands / Hawthorn – Movement is important. It sparks circulation, and when the blood is pumping the body is more open to motivation and movement. Small steps are fine. Don’t let the expectations of others push you to hurry. Just keep moving at your own pace.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Temperance / Echinacea – The words people say in anger or while inebriated are not lies. They are unvarnished moments of truth. Those things wouldn’t be said in these uninhibited moments if they didn’t live somewhere in their mind during inhibited ones. Neither alcohol nor anger creates what isn’t already there, it just makes it easier to say those hidden thoughts aloud.

Trust in the truth being shown to you.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Queen of Swords / Lady’s Slipper – The truth will set you free. All you have to do is listen and accept.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Two of Cups / Uva Ursi – Watch out for what (or who) might become a disruption otherwise harmonious relationships. Outside influences causing problems need to be gently dealt with. Take care to move on these things with caution and care, instead of your normal “off with their heads” aggression.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

King of Pentacles / Alfalfa – Stability requires balance, just like your digestive system. That means stability isn’t about stagnancy, but about building strength through movement. Don’t hunker down and brace for the storm, instead build your agility by facing storms head on and adjusting your stance to stay strong.

Message from the Spirit World – Work with us (spirits and ancestors) and let us lead a bit more in your life, and you will reap the benefits of a greater sense of stability. Not all stability is the result of tight-fisted control.

Message from the Mind’s World – You’ll recover more quickly from moments of disappointment if you continue to focus on your practices in positivity and optimism, and allow yourself time to process your disappointments instead of expecting yourself to be impervious.

Message from the Physical World – Start activity again after your illness with a lean towards enjoyment and a shrewd eye on making sure you’re not going too far or doing too much.

Take Away – There’s lots of stress here on ensuring that you keep moving, even in small ways, both in those things you want to thrive as well as your body as a whole.  It’s time for rest and recovery followed by a slow start back to healthy and hale.  Don’t push, just don’t linger in one place either.

Watch for the revelation of hidden truths.  Don’t disregard them, as people are going to be showing their true colors  around you and you need to pay attention. This doesn’t mean acting rashly on anything learned, just pay attention and gather information. This knowledge could help you out later in putting things in perspective and making priorities.

DECKS USED: THE HERBAL TAROT