Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Hermit card, which is traditionally a representation of solitude, self reflection and introspection, alone time, and inner guidance.

The Hermit was then joined by the “Fancy Handshakes” card from the Grateful AF deck, which says, “How can we make saying hello super special? Make a dance routine with our hands! Intricate handshakes are the embodiment of being extra. Also, how can you really call someone your best friend if you two don’t have your own handshake?”

Who is it that celebrates your return when you come back from times of solitude? By contrast, who are the ones that are unaffected and don’t seem to care one way or the other?

Your need for alone time, combined with an array of defense mechanisms you’re aware of but not yet able to break free from, means that you have a tendency to “disappear” for an unspecified amount of time now and then; usually without warning. This disappearance isn’t always physical. Sometimes, it means you’ve emotionally checked out and are just going through the motions, unable to engage in the ways you normally would.

During these times… who notices? Who cares enough to -see- you and see when things shift? Who of those that notice are happy when you return to them from these times of detachment?

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that -these- are the people in our lives that matter, and encourage us to acknowledge them and appreciate them for the love and care they provide in our lives. Not everyone ignores your ups and downs. Some care enough to be there and welcome you back, lift you up and let you know they care. Maybe take a few minutes to consider who in your life fills this role, and how you can better appreciate their presence in your life.

DECKS USED: THE LUNISOLAR TAROT AND GRATEFUL AF DECK

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 4 | Entry 15 – Career and Finances
Affirmation : “I am improving my relationship to money.“
Prompt : Fill in the blank: “When I look at my bank account, I feel ________.” Use the card you draw to guide you as you answer this and explore the reasoning behind your feelings.

What feelings came up when I pulled this card?

A wry sort of agreement, like irony but not quite.

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

The Star card is all about hope, and I feel like this card is pointing out to me how hope can only take you so far. It has its place, but so does action and practicality.

You can’t lean on hope to solve your problems… sometimes you have to do that yourself. It’s still okay for that hope to be there, though, even then.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

Hope does somehow manage to spring eternal (the star shining bright in the sky above) even as money flows out of my account like a spigot turned on high (the water flowing out of the vase).

There is also the fact that the figure is looking -away- from the water that is flowing out of the vase in her right hand (and her left, for that matter), which speaks to me of a lack of concern about where the money is going. Ignoring that the money is flowing out too quickly isn’t going to solve the problem. There’s a need to engage expressed here.

My prompt response and reflections.

The card here is presenting me with a situation where money is flowing out faster than it’s coming in, and instead of looking at why this is the case and what has changed to make this happen, there’s a desire to just ignore it and hope it will sort itself out.

The advice in this card is to not take that action or you will find your vases soon empty. Instead, pay attention and figure out what’s going on and how things have gone out of balance, then resolve the issues involved before they create more problems.

Other elements included in this reading:
Amber Resin D25 Die
Banded agate D6 Die

DECK USED: THE LOVE TAROT

@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 26th : What helps me calm down

Reading Summary – The awareness that not everything is a competition (Queen of Wands Rx) for recognition (King of Swords Rx) or resources (Five of Pentacles Rx).

Take Away – You have a tendency to get worked up when you feel that you need to compete with others for your resources. It becomes a scarcity issue for you, which amps up your anxiety and adrenaline.

Remembering and acknowledging that you aren’t competing against others helps you to stay calm.

It’s in knowing that there’s no one else you need to beat out in order to come out on top that keeps you able to move at a steady pace instead of pushing too hard into your ambitions and efforts.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Lavender Bundle for Calming and Comfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE LUNISOLAR TAROT

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.