❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Self Care Saturday Oracle Reading with the Land Sky Oracle and Foxy Deck

EarthAsmita – Breathe deep and let go of the blockages you feel building up inside you as you are confronted with difficulties this week. Not everything in life is pass-or-fail. Consider what the universe is trying to teach you in these experiences. For example, forcing you to outfit your account with admins is an inconvenience, but also allows you a chance to connect with others and examine your friendships and relationships in another light.

AirSaucha – Focus on clarity and cleansing. Good mental health hygiene needs to be a priority right now, and increasing your diligence in this area is important when things become difficult or challenges arise.

WaterUjjayi Pranayama – When you are feeling vulnerable, instead of listening to the negative self talk you have going on in your head, take a moment to pause, breathe, and remember your past accomplishments. Remind yourself of the survivor that you are and all the amazing things you are capable of.

FireClear Quartz – Use the tools at your disposal to keep a clear and grounded view of what’s going on from one day to the next. No over-inflation from anxiety or doom-saying from your pessimistic tendencies allowed.

WaningTwo of Clubs and Eight of Diamonds – Sticking with what you know and being resistant to making plans would be a detriment this week. Be open to possibilities for future endeavors and opportunities to expand upon your skills and abilities instead of shutting down those options.

WaxingTwo of Diamonds and Eight of Spades – Take care not to ignore your limitations on how much you can take on and juggle. What doesn’t overwhelm you today could be the last straw tomorrow. Be vigilant in protecting your balance from ego’s enthusiasm and pride.

Take Away – Those inner narratives of negativity and pessimism are on the rise this week, and riding on their coattails is the influence of anxiety. Step up in your mental health care in order to cut these issues off at the ankles and keep them from coming in with unneeded chaos and uncertainty. Don’t bury yourself in work in an effort to hide, either, as that’s just going to cause more problems later on down the line.

DECKS USED: LAND SKY ORACLE AND THE FOXY DECK

Gideon’s Challenge – Released

Brown Rabbit in front of "Please Stay Off Rocks" sign.

Released

a breath taken
and anxiety
eases
as reality
reasserts itself
once more
and the end
of the world
isn’t at hand
after all
for the panic
made everything
far more dire
than reality
revealed

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Little Things and Pocket Change

Today’s meditation was a fifteen minute long self-guided visualization session while listening to JW LoFi’s Fog track.

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

Ancestral Path Tarot's Sun card and a card from the Rethink 120 Learning Cards for Mindful Living

Today’s draw is The Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of success, optimism, positivity, fun and frivolity. In my practice, the Sun is also a symbol of masculine vitality, virility, and warmth.

The Sun card has then been combined with a Mindfulness Practices card from the Rethink 120 Learning Cards For Mindful Daily Life, which says, “Mindful Tea Ceremony: Mindfully brew, a cup of tea. Pay attention to the process of boiling the water, selecting the tea leaves, and steeping them. Sit down and savor each sip, noticing the aroma, flavors, and warmth. Engage your senses fully and embrace the moment of relaxation and nourishment. The goal is to create a ritual of presence and self-care, finding tranquility in the simple act of drinking tea.”

Not all goodness in life comes from career, success, or monetary rewards. Sometimes just spending time with another can create a sense of well-being, as can making a cup of tea.

The key in life’s celebrations and positive moments doesn’t lie in the accolades of others or the garnering of material goods. Instead, it lies in the mindfulness to acknowledge the good stuff… even the little stuff that’s good. In doing so you choose to brighten your day one nibble-sized piece at a time.

The message in today’s Sun card and Mindfulness Practice card is a reminder that like pocket change tossed in a jar, all the little good things begin to add up over time. As they do so, they change your perception of each day that passes into something a little brighter and lighter than before. These cards encourage us to take the time to be mindful of those small good things in our life instead of letting them pass us by unnoticed or ignored.

DECKS USED:  ANCESTRAL PATH TAROT AND RETHINK 120 LEARNING CARDS FOR MINDFUL DAILY LIFE

@note.project August Journal Prompts
Prompt for August 22nd and 23rd

Oracle Reading with the Life Design Cards

A choice that feels aligned with the person I want to be

Seek your inner wisdom

I don’t want to be someone who looks to others for validation, but neither do I want to be unfeeling to their opinions and perspectives.

Instead, I wish to tap into my intuition, inner moral compass, and gut instincts and allow them to have priority. Yet, at the same time, still listen to what others have to say with an open mind so that I see and understand their perspectives on the situation.

I want to know who I am, and be unshakable in that authenticity to the point where considering others perspectives, opinions, and ideas doesn’t change that sense of comfortable security, but broadens my horizons and understanding of the world around me and the people therein.

A relationship I want to nurture more intentionally

Make a plan and take action

I want to tap into the inspiration and motivation that creates action with a flavor of curiosity and interest, rather than approaching creativity with a feeling of reluctance and dissent.

Often it feels like I’m stuck in the mire of slow movement and stagnancy to the point where it sometimes seems like I’m not getting anywhere or doing anything at all. It’s hard to be mindful of one’s accomplishment during this time when it feels like nothing is getting done.

Writing down the things that I am doing helps to shut down that inner voice telling me that I’m doing nothing, but it does not inspire me with motivation and get me off my ass to change things up and do more. As a result, I would like to find a way to more deeply nurture my relationship with motivation, inspiration, and curiosity.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Moss Agate for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: LIFE DESIGN CARDS

@lightningwildflower‘s August Reflections Challenge
Sun enters Virgo
Prompt for August 22nd : 
How can I bring intention to my daily routines?

Tarot Reading with the Ancestral Path Tarot

Reading Summary: Don’t be tempted to run off with “a bunch of trinkets” you haven’t earned and that hold little meaning for you (The Devil atop Seven of Swords). That path only leads to more uncertainty (The Moon). Instead, seek out the things that make you truly happy (Nine of Cups), and share those things with others (Three of Cups).

Take Away: Hoarding things that hold very little sentimental value or meaning for you can easily take up a great deal of your time and attention if you let it. It’s important to remember that if something doesn’t bring you joy then there’s no point in having it. Nor is there much point in having it if all you’re going to do is stare at it and not share it with others or otherwise enjoy it.

The key to a greater sense of purpose and intention in your daily routines is to fill these routines with substance and meaning. If you’re just collecting stuff to do just for the sake of having stuff to do, but that stuff has no meaning to it, then of course there will be less intention within these routines. It is better to have less to do and more meaning, than it is to have more to do but less meaning.

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Norway Maple Key for Fostering Strength and Resilience
Calcite for Gently Calming the Mind and Stimulating Insights
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ANCESTRAL PATH TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I ordered sushi at the place that never fails to always serve good sushi when we went out to dinner today.

Gideon’s Challenge – Overwhelmed

Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) Leaf Details - Macro Focus

Overwhelmed

a moment of pause
needed
for the mind to rest
and worries
to ease
as anxiety tries
to make fissures
in my calm
and silence
in noticing the
smallest of things
can help in finding
my footing

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Missing Flawed Trend

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.

Erenberg Tarot's Eight of Swords and a card from the Art From the Heart Affirmation Cards

Today’s draw is the Eight of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of willful ignorance, self-imposed restrictions, turning a blind eye (especially when it can be harmful to self), and entertaining a victim mentality.

The Eight of Swords has then been combined with a card from the Art From the Heart Affirmation Cards, which says, “I have control over my perceptions, decisions, and actions. When you consciously choose to fill your day with the highest priority actions – those that truly matter to you – you created deeply meaningful and inspiring life.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to open ourselves up to our own faults and flaws. We lash out at others without realizing having done so, we allow snark to get in the way of genuine conversation, etc. These things happen. It’s a part of being human.

Stress, anxiety, or a hyper focus on a particular thing or theme can blind us to unhealthy ways of dealing that can leave us (and those around us) floundering instead of coping.

This is why it’s important to work at looking outside yourself and your own perceptions to enlist a greater perspective. In doing so, we are given the opportunity to adjust our approach into something more caring, kind, and open. The key is in wanting to do this, though, instead of falling back on unhealthy defense mechanisms.

The message in today’s Eight of Swords and affirmation card is a reminder that it’s important to open our eyes and look honestly at how we are treating ourselves and others. Are we leaning into abusive self defensive maneuvers? If so, it’s time to be honest about that and seek a better way do deal.

DECKS USED:  ERENBERG TAROT AND ART FROM THE HEART AFFIRMATION CARDS

@lightningildflower‘s August Reflections Challenge
Venus opposite Saturn
Prompt for August 21st
: How can I honor both desire and responsibility?

Oracle Reading with the Runs of Sea and Sand Deck

Reading Summary: Don’t waffle (Haste) when asked to make a decision (The Boat), go with your gut (The Deep).

Take Away: Your intuition always knows. Think of how many times you’ve followed your gut and it’s been right… and how many times you’ve -not- followed your gut and looked back later to realize that you absolutely should have in the first place.

If you catch the whispers of your intuition when they speak deep inside you, it will tell you which direction to turn. The key, is in the fact that this guidance comes in a whisper. You have to listen for it.

Let that quiet intuitive voice be your guide, and take care not to allow logic and reason (or fears and uncertainty) to step in and usurp its position in the lead.

Other elements included in this reading:
Conch Shell Knots for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Great Scallop Shell for the Flowing with Beginnings and Endings
Cowrie Shell to Connect with Wealth and Fertility
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: RUNES OF SAND AND SEA DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2026 Challenge
Prompt for August 22nd
: Where in life do I need to be serious and buckle down?

Tarot Reading with the Erenberg Tarot

Reading Summary: Lean into those things that you have excelled at and still have more room to advance (Eight of Pentacles). This isn’t about winning or losing (Five of Swords Rx), nor about doing things the way they’ve always been done (The Hierophant Rx).

Take Away: It is in creating and sharing your artistry that you truly excel. These cards indicate it’s time to look beyond the ways you have heretofore been going after this pursuit, and to stop looking at it as a pass or fail endeavor.

Work at viewing your creativity an adventure and an exploration, for it needs to be treated as such. Dive in with the excitement of exploring something new and letting your curiosity run rampant, instead of tripping over feelings of obligation or responsibility.

Just because you make money through your creative spark doesn’t mean it has to feel like a chore.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Green Calcite for Finding Balance Within the Self
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Carnelian Agate Mushroom for Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ERENBERG TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

I’m putting extra effort and mindfulness into tempering my negative inner narrative, especially in reference to how it starts to reflect how I see the world around me and those in it.

Gideon’s Challenge – Seeking Peace

Silverdale Waterfront Park and Pier

Seeking Peace

if I slip beneath
the surface
don’t worry
that it’s too cold
or that I float
still and lifeless
in the limbo
of water’s hold
for I’m just
pretending
the reaper
has come to
say hello
and revisiting
a moment
of peace
remembered
and then let go

Photo © ZenStatePhotography