Flinching
closed off and
turned away
walls go up
with whatever
defenses
can be found
to create a
patchwork wall
of boundaries
that are unlikely
to stand up
to the test
of time
Gideon’s Challenge – Flinching
Month: September 2026
Perfectionism and Martyrdom
Today’s meditation was an eight minute #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.
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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 Three of Coins (Julius Sneezer), which is traditionally a representation of teamwork, collaboration, working together, and themes to do with bringing in help and/or outside expertise in order to get something done.
From the Guide: Friends, rascals, ruffians – lend me your tissues! Asking for help from others is the best way to get what you want now. No one can do everything by themselves 100% at the time. Sometimes, collaboration is necessary. Embrace the advice and expertise of others.
The Three of Coins has then been combined with the Unravel card from the Create Brave Cards, which says, “I choose to take things apart to create something better.”
Work on picking apart the mentality that if you want something to be done right you have to do it yourself. Ease up on perfectionism and martyrdom, and embrace the assistance of others. Even if they do things differently than you, or it takes them twice as long, it’s still work that you aren’t doing! That right there is a win all on its own.
The message in today’s Three of Coins and affirmation is encouragement to ease up on the reigns and delegate more freely. In the end, it will connect you more closely with others and give you more freedom to do the things you really want to be doing.
DECKS USED: GARBAGE PAIL KIDS TAROT AND CREATE BRAVE CARDS
September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 15th : let the grass grow wild
let the grass grow wild
with wood sorrel and chickweed
clover and plantain
dandelion, violets, and purslane
(Ace of Diamonds atop Seven of Hearts)
Let them all flourish,
wild and free
and not only will your yard
grow healthy and green
(Queen of Clubs)
but you shall never
go hungry again
(Queen of Diamonds)
Other elements included in this reading:
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Labradorite for a Focus on Mental and Emotional Healing
Gray Agate for Instilling Gentleness, Calm, and Stability
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: MAD BUNNY PLAYING CARDS
@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Venus square Pluto, Neptune sextile Pluto
Prompt for September 15th : What relationship pattern needs to be challenged?
Reading Summary: You have others that want to step in and help you (Three of Coins). Don’t shut them out in order to pursue things on your own (The Hermit atop Page of Swords).
Take Away: Just because you -can- do it on your own doesn’t mean you should.
This is an echo of the message in the Card of the Day for today. Stop leaning into solitary work and believing that your way is the only way. Who cares if it’s not absolutely perfectly the way -you- would do it. The fact that it’s delegated to someone else means that you get a little free time as a result. It’s a fair trade!
As a bonus, the more you allow others to help you? The more skilled they will be come. Soon enough, they may not meet the exacting and unreasonable standards you put upon yourself, but they’ll absolutely improve and become better with time and practice.
Other elements included in this reading:
Bird Figurine for Encouraging Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: GARBAGE PAIL KIDS TAROT
I used voltaren on my shin-splints. I really hadn’t thought of it and had been dealing with them all day, then Ms B mentioned it on the phone. So I dug out the tube I have of the stuff and put some on.
Gideon’s Challenge – First Fallen
First Fallen
the first leaves
begin to fall
before equinox
or cold
but when weather
shifts from
summer heat
to comfortable
once more
and below
the branches
we all wait
for the cascade
to come
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Ownership and Taking Control
Today’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.
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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 Knight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often portrays itself in a theme of going after what brings someone joy or following your imagination and creativity into new adventures.
The Knight of Cups has then been combined with a Chuang Tzu quote from the Tao Book and Cards Pack, which says, “Seek the cause of your misfortunes in your own imperfections.”
Whether we are looking for those things in life that make us happy, or seeking how we got into whatever tribulation we are dealing with in the moment, more often than not the answer lies at our own feet.
Blaming others for our misfortunes is the equivalent of depending upon others for our happiness and validation. In both cases, it is giving power over your life and happiness to others.
The message in today’s Knight of Cups and quote card is a reminder that when we take ownership of our own choices, actions, and circumstances, we empower ourselves to build the life and experiences we want rather than accepting what others provide.
DECKS USED: GLOBAL FUSION INTUITIVE TAROT AND TAO BOOK AND CARDS PACK
September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 14th : what I knew before I knew it
I sought love and acceptance
(Jack of Hearts)
in all the wrong places
and deceived by those
that had their own selfish agendas
I was blinded to the support offered
by others with hearts filled to bursting
(Queen of Spades atop Queen of Hearts)
Until the day I found my true home
(Four of Clubs)
and I left the liars behind
for something better
(Six of Spades atop King of Hearts)
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Calcite for Gently Calming the Mind and Stimulating Insights
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: ZINE PLAYING CARDS
@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Sun sextile Mars Prompt for September 14th : How can I channel my energy today into something meaningful?
Reading Summary: Don’t let disconnection steal away (Seven of Swords) your pleasure in each others company (Two of Cups). Do something that encourages bonding and long term rewards today (Seven of Pentacles) to foster that connection between you both (Two of Cups).
Take Away: I took Jer with me on a 90 minute hike in the woods. He needed an ear and a shoulder, and I needed some time outside. Going for an easy hike gave us both what we needed, and the privacy for him to speak freely without worrying about being overheard by others.
Normally when I go hiking, I prefer trails that include a good deal of elevation change. I like the hills and especially the upward climb. An easy, nearly flat hike, though, gave us the ability to move at a leisurely pace that had nothing to do with how far we went, nor the exertion that would normally have made discussion more difficult. It was nice.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Carved Rhyolite Leaf for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: GLOBAL FUSION INTUITIVE TAROT
I went on a walk in the woods today. Just an easy, relaxing one with very little elevation gain.
Gideon’s Challenge – Relaxation
Relaxation
Clouds dance
beneath a blue sky
offering fodder
for the imagination
as park benches
made of stone
give rest
for a spine in spasm
and as head
tilts back
to watch the show
children laugh
and play
and the autumn day
slowly unfolds
into a cool but
beautiful foray
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Embracing the Dark Parts
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 Judgement (Harvest) card, which is traditionally a representation of judgements, one’s inner calling and chosen life path, and looking back on one’s life to consider how they feel about the path they’ve taken and who they have become.
The Harvest card has then been combined with the Strength card from The Nourished Heart Oracle, which says, “I am not afraid of my Shadow. I will let them speak.”
We all have pieces of ourselves that we don’t like, hidden bits and beliefs that we feel are wrong and need to be hidden away from the world.
It’s important to note, though, that at the end of our lives, it matters what we have done to and how we have treated these shadow parts of ourselves that we try so hard to hide away from others.
When you look back at the rest of your life as you stand at its end, will you look back and see yourself having treated this other part of yourself with kindness, or will you see yourself having treated this shadow part badly, and realize that it was self abuse all along?
This is why many spiritual paths stress the importance of “shadow work”. This work helps us to better understand and accept these darker parts of ourselves, and treat them with kindness instead of abuse. In this way, when we reach the end of our lives, we come to see ourselves as kinder and better people rather than abusive and cruel.
The message in today’s Harvest card and affirmation is a reminder not to ignore these parts of yourself that you are uncomfortable with, and not to abuse them either, but to try and embrace them and acknowledge them as a part of you. Give yourself kindness… even these darker places within deserve that.
DECKS USED: THE GREEN WITCH TAROT AND THE NOURISHED HEART ORACLE
September Prompts by @forgotten.dumpling & @ml.mecham
Prompt for September 12th : I kissed the neck of the woods
Sap coats my lips and tongue tip numbs,
while the sky turns dark and thunder thrums.
(Ace of Hearts)
And while knees make divots in the forest floor,
I hear the whispers in the dark calling me home once more.
(Ten of Spades)
As my bed becomes damp soil and moss,
the season begins to feel warmth’s loss.
(Queen of Hearts)
My gaze to the sky filled with floating fluff,
roots cradle my form and skin begins to slough.
(Queen of Diamonds)
And when earth awakens to spring once more,
I return to what I knew I once was before.
(Seven of Hearts atop Two of Hearts)
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: DIVERGENT REALMS PLAYING CARDS GADDIS EDITION
One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 1 | Entry 22 – Self-Care and Personal Development
Affirmation : “Having fun is crucial to my mental, physical, and emotional well-being.”
Prompt : Feeling stuck in a wreck can be common. Draw a card and use the symbols, artwork, or keywords of the card to get inspired to do one fun, new activity. Does the card show someone outside or in a scene of nature? Is the water symbolism inspiring any ideas? Is there a person depicted on the tarot card that makes you want to call someone you know?
What feelings came up when I pulled this card?
The first feeling that came up when I drew this card is one of excitement for the upcoming Halloween season. It’s almost time to decorate for Halloween at Ms B’s house, which always gets the juices flowing creatively. Although it’s a lot of work, I really enjoy it.
What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?
The Tower is about sudden, unexpected change or consequence. Something that hits you over the head and leaves you in a place where you need to rebuild from scratch.
Ms B ordered a Halloween decoration this year from some online site, and when it arrived, it was nothing like what she had ordered. She was able to get her money back, which is good, but it left us with this unexpected decoration that we don’t know what to do with and the plans she’d made for what she’d ordered dashed to dust.
What in the artwork spoke to me?
The figure in the card looks like a ghoul from vintage cartoons crossed with old-time illustrations of Dracula. It’s sparked an immediate interest in me for the Halloween season ahead and the decorating soon to commence.
My prompt response and reflections.
This activity and the Tower card that I pulled for it reminds me (us) to take these new items that were unwanted as a boon. Use them to create something fun and get your creative juices flowing. Although on their own they may seem like a couple pieces of dime store trash, with a little ingenuity they can be turned into something new spectacular.
Other elements included in this reading:
Amber Resin D25 and Banded Agate D6 Dice
DECK USED: TAROT OF HARRY CLARKE
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2026 Challenge
Prompt for September 13th : Do Spread 2
@lightningwildflower‘s September Self-Talk Challenge
Prompts for September 12th and 13th
Mercury trine Pluto, Mercury opposite Neptune – How can I use intuition and discernment to see a situation more clearly?
Reading Summary: The bright yellow light as the background of the anchor card (Empress) brings into light the mother alien in the throes of her reproductive process. By the same turn, the lantern of The Holly King illuminates his face, wisened with age.
By contrast, the light in the Five of Wands card, illuminates youth, all of which debating how to do something, but no one actually knowing the answer. These contrasts prioritize trusting yourself before you trust others, for it’s within yourself you can find the answers.
Take Away: Remember that not all who appear nurturing are there to nurture you. Make sure to consult what lies within, rather than trusting the judgment of others.
Mercury trine Uranus – What sudden insight is worth exploring?
Reading Summary: Loneliness (Anchor card) comes from not inviting others along for the ride (lonely girl at a fire in the night in the Ten of Athames connected through a background color match to the anchor card. This then contrasts starkly with the brightness of the Two of Wands with the figure’s arm raised in a wave of welcome).
Take Away: Togetherness is worth exploring. Opening yourself up and inviting others in makes life more interesting and entertaining than closing yourself off to spend more and more time alone. This isn’t to say that alone time can’t be healthy and doesn’t have its value, but if you are looking to brighten up your life with more fun, happiness, and joyful pleasures… inviting others into your life will assist you in this endeavor far more than closing people out and doing things alone.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cone for Resilience and Adaptability
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
River Rock for Resilience within Life’s Flow
Gray Agate for Instilling Gentleness, Calm, and Stability
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE GREEN WITCH TAROT
I took yesterday off from doing readings just to get a little bit of a breather. Then, today, I did a good deal of relaxing instead of jumping back in right away when I got moving.
