Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    ❄️    •    ◈    •    •    •

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 Swords, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, and conflict in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, ambitions, and communication. This can often translate into themes that have to do with winning at any cost, disagreements, and occasionally defeat if you end up on the wrong side of the conflict.

The Five of Swords has then been combined with the Third Eye Agate card from the Lavish Earth Crystal Affirmation Deck, which quotes Marcel Proust, “ discovery consist not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

It’s not in the winning or the losing that makes the game worth playing, but in the game itself and what you discover about yourself while you’re in play.

Many challenges in life aren’t about the outcome, but rather about how you deal with these challenges and/or how you react to them.

Many of us miss this in our life’s journey because we are so focused on winning, or accomplishment, or success that we forget about the self-development aspect that comes with moving through challenges and our responses to them.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that there’s far more to life than just winning or losing. If you ignore these other aspects of life, it can end up reflecting badly upon you and your character. Instead of focusing on winning or losing and success or failure, try focusing more closely upon how you can deal with these challenges and obstacles with honor, integrity, and character. Then, even if you fail at your task, you still win in the end.

DECKS USED:  THE LLEWELYN TAROT AND LAVISH EARTH CRYSTAL AFFIRMATION DECK

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 2 | Entry 11 – Love and Relationships
Affirmation : “I accept love, especially unconditional love, in all the ways it comes to me.”
Prompt : Think about your concept of unconditional love. Do you take any of the love you received for granted? Based on the card you draw, how can you show more gratitude to a person who provides unconditional love to you?

What feelings came up when I pulled this card?

A sense of comfort and familiarity came first when this card came up, then quickly joined by a reminder that not all alone time is good for you. I may want to pretend that it is now and then, but sometimes I’m just hiding, and that can be unhealthy.

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

When things get difficult or uncertain, I have a tendency to retreat into myself instead of reaching out for other others.

The Hermit card is usually about healthy alone time spent in self-reflection. When you are hiding away from your problems instead of dealing with them, that is not healthy alone time.

My closest friends and loved ones know that I have a tendency to retreat when feeling overwhelmed, and are aware this is unhealthy for me. They accept that this behavior is a defense mechanism left over from my childhood, and are willing to be patient with me when it happens, rather than see it as rejection or that I am ignoring them over something that they may have done or said.

Instead, they try to reach for me and pull me back out of hiding in order to help me deal with what has caused me to retreat in the first place.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

The first thing I noticed in the imagery of this card is the coloring, which is dismal and grayish brown. This speaks to me of a bit of a “downtrodden” nature to the card, that is then reinforced by the junkyard in the background.

I then noticed that the figure in the card appears to be ill, with his tired baggy eyes, flushed cheeks, and bright red nose. When combined with the meaning of the Hermit card as solitude, it brings to mind times when we indulge in unhealthy alone time.

The seagull on the man’s shoulder also plays apart for me in the imagery and what I noticed in the artwork, for the seagull’s wing appears to be trying to shelter the man from the world of decay behind him, giving the impression that he is hiding rather than just retreating.

My prompt response and reflections.

When you retreat into yourself during times of struggle, you make it harder for people to love you, and much harder for those people to help you. That doesn’t mean that they don’t still love you and want to help. They love you regardless, and reach for you even when your defense mechanisms cause you to try to pull away.

The advice here is to be aware of your tendency to pull away from others when you’re feeling overwhelmed or otherwise challenged in uncomfortable ways. By being aware, you can catch yourself when these defense mechanisms trigger, and as a result be more receptive to allowing your loved ones to reach for you and help.

Other elements included in this reading:
Labradorite D6 and D20 Gemstone Dice

DECK USED: EARTH AND FLAME TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2026 Challenge
Prompt for January 25th : Do Spread 4
Sometimes we all need a little help discovering where we need improvement in our process. This spread is to help identify where we need a little more work to improve our reading skills.

How do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for yourself?

The Sun Rx – You have a tendency to take things too seriously.

What can you do to improve at reading for yourself so that it doesn’t keep happening?

The Empress – Make sure you are grounding before you do your readings, and place yourself in a nurturing and empowering headspace. Not everything is about progress and striving for success. Sometimes it’s about giving yourself a little space, grace, and kindness.

How do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for others?

Nine of Cups atop Three of Wands – You want to provide your clients with good news, actionable guidance, and empowering messages. Sometimes these things are just not there in the cards, and you struggle to deliver the message without looking for some sort of empowerment, message of hope, or silver lining attached.

What can you do to improve at reading for others so that it doesn’t keep happening?

Six of Wands Rx – Focus less on people pleasing. Disconnect yourself and what you (and they) want from the process more. Sometimes shock value and plain speaking are needed to get the message across to the person you’re reading for.

Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Moss Agate for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE LEWELLYN TAROT

I took a break in my shift today to come home and shower and change, because someone spilled coffee on me. (You know, instead of just tolerating it and ending up with a rash.)