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

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The @GlitterbyInk #JanJourney26 Embark to Renewal Challenge
The Journey Prompt for January 12th : Stride
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Lovers card, which is traditionally a representation of love and relationships, long term contracts, harmonious unions, and making choices that are geared toward what is best for you.

You aren’t really “hitting your stride” if you’re ignoring your needs.

The phrase “hitting your stride” refers to achieving a pace which you can sustain for the long-term in a healthy manner.

Therefore, if you are ignoring your needs in order to “hit your stride”, then you’re not really hitting that stride at all because you’re neglecting yourself in the process.

The message in today’s “Stride” prompt and The Lovers card, is that self-care needs to be a priority in life. This isn’t in reference to the “special stuff” that you do just to make yourself feel pampered, but rather refers to giving yourself those things that you need to be healthy and happy. It means prioritizing things like food, sleep, cleanliness, and moments of pause, rest, and reflection, instead of neglecting them in order to prioritize other things that in the grand scheme of things are less important.

DECK USED:  HAPPY MONSTER TAROT

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 2 | Entry 14 – Love and Relationships
Affirmation : “I am comfortable breaking out of comfort zones in relationship relationships.”
Prompt : Whether you’re in one or longing to be in one, relationships take work. What is something that you can be open to experiencing in love that you haven’t considered before? Based on the card you draw, how can you keep the spark going or maintain a relationship you value?

What feelings came up when I pulled this card?

That moment of confusion that indicates this is a “use your brain” card, instead of intuition alone as the basis for interpretation.

A slight frown of rejection, as crash and burning my relationship is not up for discussion.

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

Honestly? The first thing that came to mind was the crash and burn aspect. And, although this doesn’t really apply well to my romantic relationship, it does apply to my relationship with my mother.

With her, moments of crash and burn create a dynamic that is acceptable to both of us. Without those moments, we are unable to tolerate each other’s sets of values and life view.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

I noticed the dead bee on the ground first, then noted that the tower depicted in this card is a hive. This, to me, speaks of a destruction of family rather than just structure.

I then noticed the tree of life within the lightning bolt, which says to me that within the destruction there is a cycle and possible healing.

Coming in at the tail end of visual cues, I then noticed the crown laying beside the bee on the ground. This brought me to thoughts of my mother, and the toppling of my mother off of her “queen bee” position in my life.

My prompt response and reflections.

There is a reason you cut off communication with your mother. In doing so you are making a point that you have not been able to make in the past through more minor moments of discord and destruction.

These “rebellious” moments did create a “tower” effect with your mother, but never really made any true change or spurred the healing needed.

By having cut off your mother for all this time, though, you have given her a true taste of what it is to lose a child. This card is bringing the dynamic with her back into focus for you, asking you if it’s not time to reconnect and see if from the destruction you can build a better relationship moving forward. You know, before she passes on and it becomes too late.

Other elements included in this reading:
Petrified Wood D6 and D20 Dice Set

DECK USED: ATOMIC BOMB TAROT

A Simple Two Card Spread by @pipcardstarot

What matters now.

Six of Pentacles – Be generous. Not just with others, but also with yourself. Generosity doesn’t always have to present through monetary means or resource based gifts. Sometimes it’s about your time, or your attention, or an ear to listen. The key is to remember is that as generous as you are to others, you need to make sure that you are being just as kind and generous with yourself.

What doesn’t.

The Lovers (on its side) – If whatever you’re pursuing is keeping you from taking care of your own needs, then it’s not worth it and doesn’t matter. Figure out how to include your needs in the equation, or cut out those things that are blocking you from giving yourself what you need.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: HAPPY MONSTER TAROT

I threw away my first attempt at hamburger patties tonight instead of forcing myself to eat them even though they were burnt to pucks.