More Rain
too dry
summers
thin out
the evergreens
over time
until winters
begin to look
brown and blue
instead of
green and gray
and no one
wants more rain
it seems
yet that’s
what’s needed
most
Gideon’s Challenge – More Rain
Author: Twist the Leaf
Run Away, or Stay
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @GlitterbyInk #FebYOUary26 Moments & Memories Challenge
Prompt for February 17th : Forgive
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Six of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of leaving the past in the past, moving on, letting go in order to welcome in something better, and transitions towards something better.
Walking away isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the work has to be done staying right where you’re at.
It can be really easy to get into the habit of running away from one’s problems. And to be fair, sometimes that is the best answer (as recently discussed in the card of the day pull on the 14th).
The problem is that that when it becomes a habit that we repeat again and again, we end up running away from our problems not because it’s the best answer, but because it appears to be the easiest answer or the least scary solution.
The thing is, though, that that isn’t always the best answer. Easy isn’t always our best choice. Take the imagery on this card, for example. The man has clearly fallen off his horse; is the answer to kill the horse? No. It’s to pick your ass up off the ground and try again, or perhaps give the horse some more training so that you don’t end up in the same situation again… you know, if it wasn’t user error in the first place, that is.
The message in today’s Six of Swords combined with the “forgive” prompt is a reminder that we have to stay and fight for the things that we want sometimes. Yes, there are untenable situations where walking away is the only option available. This is especially true in abusive situations or situations that are unhealthy for us. There are just as many situations, though, where staying to forgive and work things out can be the better choice… especially if both sides are willing to put in the effort.
DECKS USED: THE MEDIEVAL SCAPINI TAROT
@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 17th
What I’m learning to trust myself about
Four of Cups atop Four of Wands; Openness – When it’s time to reach out and connect with others, and when it’s time to spend time relaxing alone. A lot of this has to do with learning how to understand when it’s safe and comfortable to be open with others, and understanding when it’s better to keep to yourself and take a breath.
It used to be that you spent all of your time closed off, and even those close to you weren’t allowed to really be all that close. Over time you’re learning how to allow yourself to be open more and discern when it’s better to step back for a bit.
How I can better connect with that trust
Seven of Coins and Explore – You learned to trust by doing. The more experience you gain through exploration and experience, the more you are able to trust yourself to identify the healthy path for you in the moment when making these types of decisions.
Other elements included in this reading:
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Mookaite for Help with Weighing One’s Options
Carved Rhyolite Leaf for Facilitating Calm Transitions
Green Aventurine for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: SOPRAFINO DELLAROCCA AND LOVE ORACLE OF EDEN
#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2026 Challenge
Prompt for February 17th : Something to look forward to.
Reading Summary – You may always be an introvert (the man’s arms are crossed in the Three of Coins, and that he’s looking decidedly grumpy), but there’s a lot to be said for the time you spend with others both in work (Three of Coins) and play (Three of Cups); not to mention the inspiration that they provide you through their presence in your life… and the inspiration that you provide them in turn (Queen of Wands).
Take Away – Stop automatically dreading social time with others. By anticipating it won’t be enjoyable, you put a pall over the experience. It tinges your time spent with others.
You could be enjoying this time more by letting go of your resistance and expectations. Even more so if you put an effort into looking forward to these times with others.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: THE MEDIEVAL SCAPINI TAROT
Two words… Häagen-Dazs 😋
Gideon’s Challenge – All for You
All for You
Touch me
gently
nice and slow
until I burn
white hot
beneath
your hands
and the glide
of lips
upon
warm skin
claim me yours
again
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Building Wisdom
Today’s meditation was a twelve minute long self-directed session that used the quiet tick of the ceiling fan as a focus.
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The @GlitterbyInk #FebYOUary26 Moments & Memories Challenge
Prompt for February 16th : Wisdom
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, slowing down, practicing patience, and can at times represent a connection between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
There’s truth in the adage that “only fools rush in”. They wrote a whole song about it, in fact (although I’m pretty sure that song is about love in particular). That’s because wisdom takes a modicum of moderation. After all, it takes time to think things through and weigh the different aspects and choices involved in a situation.
When we just rush forward to solve something, we don’t give ourselves time to weigh all the aspects involved and choices that are available to us. We’re just reacting.
The message in today’s Temperance card and the “wisdom” prompt is a reminder that wisdom comes from growth. It’s not fast, and the situations requiring wisdom are not the sort of things that you can instantly resolve or immediately fix. True wisdom takes growth through contemplation, and contemplation takes time.
DECKS USED: THE LITTLE LIGHT TAROT
@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 16th
How I handle disappointment
Sea atop Kill Someone; The Emperor – You handle disappointment with emotional turmoil that has the tendency to turn into something that hurts others and damages relationships.
The bigger the repercussion that come in the aftermath of these moments demonstrates to you the level of emotional reaction you had to the disappointment you were experiencing.
This is often how relationships end for you, and how people end up unceremoniously cut out of your life. You reach the end of your rope, you tell them about themselves, then remove them from your life without further consultation.
There are a lot of stages, steps, and second chances that lead up to this, but this describes the last rattling breath of life in a relationship with someone that manages to disappoint you to the point of letting go.
How I can better handle disappointment
Ally Help atop Construction; Two of Wands – Instead of living purely in the present moment of the disappointment in the emotions it has elicited, consult on the situation with others that you trust to have your best interests at heart, and have them help you to incorporate into your response where you want things to go. Their council can help you in building better responses to disappointment that can then turn into healthier habits in this area over time.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Mookaite for Help with Weighing One’s Options
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: MODERN HUE TAROT AND FATUM GM ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2026 Challenge
Prompt for February 16th : What do you need to focus on for self-care for this month’s new moon?
Reading Summary – Make decisions (Two of Swords) to lead yourself towards (figure in Two of Swords is looking towards the right/future and Ten of Cups) what makes you happy (Ten of Cups), and then go for it. No hesitation (Eight of Wands).
Take Away – Stop hesitating to act when you identify something that has the potential to make you happy. This isn’t about your aspirations toward stability or your dedication to your responsibilities.
It’s about joy, happiness, and enjoying things just because you enjoy them or like them. Stop putting these things off in deference to all those other things you need to do.
Your happiness is important and should belong in the “needs” category, instead of a “want” that can be continually shoved off and ignored for other things.
Other elements included in this reading:
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
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE LITTLE LIGHT TAROT
Crossroads Daily Topic Question for February 15, 2026
Topic: Shadow Work
What is a lie you tell yourself?
The Chariot and Strength – Telling yourself that powering through obstacles and setbacks with determination and a hard focus on your goals, which causes you ignore your needs in order to get to where you’re going, makes you stronger.
How is it holding you back?
Empress and Seven of Wands – This behavior puts your needs in the back seat (or trunk, for that matter), which causes you to be unable to reach for the self-nurturing you need when you need it.
As a result, neglect becomes a pattern that breaks you down over time, as you’re too busy seeing these needs as another obstacle in your way that has to be battled and overcome.
Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: MODERN HUE TAROT
I did a little research into Matrix/Element… but might have allowed myself to sort of (at least for now) give up when it became confusing.
🌑 New Moon & Solar Eclipse in Aquarius- February 2026
Tomorrow is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @moonlightandmindfulness
Do some creative problem-solving & keep your heart open to paths you didn’t plan on taking – Life may throw something unexpected your way. How can you connect with putting your trust in the process?
Strength – Keep quiet and watch over what matters most to you. You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to do anything. At this time, just being a silent witness will be enough to ensure safety and security.
This is innovative, rebellious, & visionary energy encouraging fresh starts and personal freedom. What can you do to make it easier on yourself to set open-ended intentions that aren’t so specific or rigid?
Seven of Swords – Look further into the future than the present moment and current experience. Open-ended intentions without a rigid definition are easier to make when they are connected to something further in the future than just tomorrow. Start with these long-term type of perspectives when seeking to set open-ended intentions, and then you can start working into closer and more present goals and intentions as the practice becomes more familiar and comfortable.
You may be guided towards unexpected experiences that support growth, even if the full picture is still unclear. How can you hold trust that it’s all designed to align you with a deeper authenticity
The Star – Your optimism practices are important. You need to keep it up even when you aren’t really feeling it. Fostering hope sometimes takes more effort and time than you might anticipate, but it’s worth it. It allows you to add a more positive outlook to life in general, and that then begins to permeate through the darker spaces in your head even without you realizing it.
This is a perfect time to connect, collaborate, & make bold moves for social change. In what ways can you carry this energy forward into working with your community?
Two of Wands – Keep an eye on feedback from others as to where they want to go as a community. It’s not all about you and what you want. At the same time? It is about how much you can handle, so don’t take on more than you can chew just because a minority tries to take advantage of your willingness to please.
Uranus, the planet of change, is active, so expect the unexpected. How can you use this time to break free from outdated patterns & beliefs that no longer serve you?
Page of Pentacles – Stay open to learning new things, new skills, and new methods. A lot of times, the learning experience helps you work through changes and transitions without you even realizing what’s happening. It can just gradually shift you from one pattern to another a little at a time.
Eclipses are said to open new pathways & powerful new beginnings. In what way can you use this eclipse’s spirit of reinvention to close off old timelines and open new ones?
Five of Pentacles – Look at where your hardships lie, and use this time during the New Moon and its accompanying eclipse to ask for help in turning these hardships around into something healthier and more in-line with your wants and needs.
New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.
Page of Wands – Be open to new pathways and experiences. Even in those things you’re an old-hand in, there’s new aspects to be explored as long as you stay open to it.
Other elements included in this reading:
Goat Figure as Sympathetic Representation of Amalthea
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: HONEY & LAVENDER TAROT
Gideon’s Challenge – A Moment
A Moment
pause
for a moment
to listen
to the quiet
and just
be
without
interruption
or thoughts
intruding
a moment
to breathe
nothing less
and
nothing more
Twisting the Leaf 