Power Within the Breath

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.

The Good Fortune Tarot's Ten of Wands and a card from the Rethink Self Care Anxiety Relief Cards

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

The Ten of Wands has then been combined with the Extended Exhale Meditation card from the Rethink Self Care Anxiety Relief Cards, which says, “Take a deep breath through your nose, counting to three. Exhale slowly through your mouth, counting to six. With each exhale, imagine your body releasing stress and anger. Focus on the longer out-breath, allowing it to slow your heart rate and calm your thoughts. Repeat until you feel grounded.”

Do you know that the natural reaction of most people when faced with a sudden onset of pain is to hold their breath? They hitch in air and clamp closed the airway, holding that air inside their lungs and depriving their body of oxygen as if this will help the situation in some way.

In truth, when we are overcome by pain, the most helpful thing we can do for ourselves is to breathe deeply. To take the time to slow down our breath and deepen it so that our body is given more oxygen instead of less. This feeds oxygen into our muscles and allows them to relax, which in turn can have a positive influence on our pain levels and reactions.

This is true, as well, for stress and overwhelm. Taking a moment to focus on the breath and consciously slow and deepen our breathing provides relief, allowing muscles to relax a bit and tensions to ease.

The message in today’s Ten of Wands and grounding exercise is a reminder that we all get overwhelmed from time to time. By pain, by tension and stress, by responsibilities, etc. We all find ourselves overburdened and overwhelmed now and then. During these times, by pausing and taking a moment to breathe, focusing on slowing and deepening our breath, we can help ourselves be more resilient in these moments.

DECKS USED:  GOOD FORTUNE TAROT AND RETHINK SELF CARE ANXIETY RELIEF CARDS

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 6 | Entry 10 – Title
Affirmation : “My dreams are a way for me to commune with the Divine and my own subconscious.”
Prompt : Answer this property before a nap, mindful meditation, or bedtime: “As I fall asleep, what symbols from the card I draw might work its way into my dream realm, either literally or symbolically?” Journal about your experience when you wake up.

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Roll to Roll Tarot - The Devil

What feelings came up when I pulled this card?

I had a bit of an uh-oh reaction to this one, anticipating that perhaps my dreams would be filled with conflicting decision-making and/or selfish themes.

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

The Devil card is often about addictions and temptations, especially those that start off as either intriguing or interesting and end up being self-destructive over time.

I have an extremely addictive personality, and anything that provides me a bit of dopamine is a risk at becoming an addiction. Even healthy things can become unhealthy when you get too much of a good thing.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

The upsidedown pentagram in the background really draws my eye. Like with the Christian cross, it has been picked up by contrary belief systems by taking it and turning it upside down. Essentially, creating something negative out of something that would otherwise be a positive symbol… much like my comment above about even healthy things becoming unhealthy through excess.

My prompt response and reflections.

This activity was sort of a dud for me. I got a lot out of the card and my reflections on the card, especially because my readings of late have been rife with warnings about temptations and addictions, and keeping them in hand.

The thing is, though, that I didn’t dream. Or rather, I don’t remember my dreams. Sometimes I do… but last night was not one of those nights, which happens more often than not.

Other elements included in this reading:
Unakite D20 and D6 Dice

DECK USED:  ROLL TO ROLL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2026 Challenge
Prompt for September 27th
: Do Spread 3

Tarot Reading with The Good Fortune Tarot and Oh My Heart Oracle

What gifts from Summer are ready to be harvested?

The High Priestess atop The Lovers; Hungry Heart

You are getting better at listening to your intuition and inner knowing when it comes to what is right and healthy for you, and prioritizing these things over the punishment of neglect and self-destructive tendencies you often find yourself drawn to.

You are dealing with a good number of temptations right now that could easily become self-destructive. Gather up these successes in the Summer to help carry you through these moments of temptation.

Where is your attention most needed between now and the upcoming last harvest of the year?

Three of Cups and Free Spirit

This time of year is your last hurrah before the busy season arrives. This is still true, even if the business has been a bit slower this year than in the past. Have some fun. These cards encourage you to enjoy this time. Be silly. Do the things you enjoy and savor the freedom of having the time to do them.

What seeds need to be planted now to be ready in Spring?

Three of Pentacles and Fortress

True stability is created through working together with others. Build the happy and healthy home life you want through the connections and relationships you nurture and grow. It’s only through the help of others you can find that security that you so deeply crave.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Carnelian Agate Mushroom for Focusing On Aspirations
Moss Agate for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: GOOD FORTUNE TAROT AND OH MY HEART ORACLE
Daily Self Kindness

I returned to searching for a discrepancy in my paperwork today and finally (after a month of hunting) found it!

❤️ 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 Tarot Reading with the Seasons of the Witch Autumn Tarot and Autumn's Embrace Lenormand

Earth – Three of Autumn Swords – Learn from your hesitancy and recalcitrance. When you hesitate to act, disappointment is given roots, and you are left knowing its arrival is due to your own actions or lack there of. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Instead, give yourself forgiveness and understanding while retaining the lesson learned so that you don’t have to repeat it. Strike while the iron is hot, or you’ll miss your chance.

Air – Seven of Autumn Swords – Take care with what you share openly with others this week. Make sure you are in a safe place before sharing potentially damning or divisive information. Just because you see omission as lying doesn’t mean you have to share every little thought and secret. Omission is sometimes the only prudent approach.

Water – Five of Autumn Pentacles – Where have you fallen into the mindset that feeling alone means that you are unwanted? You need to challenge your feelings of scarcity this week instead of falling into the trap of lies that can drag you deeper into the dark. Fight back against that cloying grip with a reality check.

Fire – The Autumn Hermit – Don’t use your moments of alone time to just wallow in solitude. Instead, use this time for self reflection and introspection. Look closer at the thoughts and feelings that drive you, and those that hold you back. A bit of introspection can help in not just organizing your thoughts, but also keep you more comfortable and surefooted in your journey on your life’s path.

Waning – Fish and Key – Don’t get so wrapped up in money matters that you forget it’s not the answer to everything.

Waxing – Lily and Garden – Do what you can to foster peace within yourself as you approach next weekend’s social obligations. Protect yourself from extra stress by using the tools you know work for you to help you keep your stress levels low.

Take Away – Take care when you communicate with others this week that you’re not sharing things that can be used against you either in the present or at a later date. This includes during your social obligations next weekend. Make sure you aren’t allowing your fears of scarcity to turn into a mindset, or it will cause an extra burden you don’t need as you move through this week. Instead, use your self care tools to keep yourself uplifted and take the time needed to know yourself better than anyone else before taking steps.

DECKS USED: SEASONS OF THE WITCH AUTUMN TAROT AND AUTUMN’S EMBRACE LENORMAND

Gideon’s Challenge – Eagerness

Here Comes the Rain

Eagerness

Clouds fill the sky
returning the world
to the familiar hues
of blue, gray and green
and lips spread
into a wide smile
as rainfall approaches
eager to return
cold and wet
to a land tired
of being baked
under the sun

Photo © ZenStatePhotography