Wary
Dive in
they say
but the water
is cold
and only
welcoming
from the shore
where it glitters
crystaline
and blue
a promise
that is a lie
waiting
to pull you
down deep
into the depths
below
Gideon’s Challenge – Wary
Author: Twist the Leaf
The Choices We Make
Today’s meditation was an eight minute #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.
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The @hippiepixie333 #Escapril2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 28th : touch starved
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Two of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of crossroads, difficult decisions, needing more information, seeking inward for answers, weighing one’s options, and sometimes avoidance.
Pushing people away is a choice. That means that the consequences that come with pushing people away is also a choice, whether we want to accept it or not.
For example: If you are feeling lonely or starved for the touch of others in your life, it’s not because you are unlikable our repellent. It’s because you’ve made choices that put you in your current situation.
It’s important to examine these choices. Blaming it all on everything or everyone else doesn’t help make anything better. Only seeking out the root of the problem and changing things can do that.
The message in today’s Two of Swords and the “touch starved” prompt is a reminder that our experiences are a result of the choices we make. If we’re too busy passing off the blame, we are giving away our power and ability to change things for the better.
This message encourages us to examine instead of ignore, seek answers and ownership instead of blame… and in doing so, we are offered the opportunity for each of us to create something better for ourselves out of the choices we make each and every day.
DECK USED: OTHERKIN TAROT
@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Root & Rise Challenge
The Rise Prompt for April 28th : What does success look like for me when it is defined on my own terms?
Herbs and Page of Wands – For you, success is the opportunity and ability to pursue what interests you without worrying that it’s going to get in the way of your responsibilities.
This is because this ability only presents itself when your responsibilities are well in hand and everything is going smoothly. When things are rocky and otherwise in upheaval, there’s no time to pursue your interests without worries creeping in to tell you that you should be directing your attention elsewhere.
#DiscordTarotholicsApr2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 28th : What do you need to focus on for self-care for the upcoming full moon?
Three of Cups, Cactus atop Cavern – Make sure as you go about indulging in moments of “playtime” with others, that you are thinking ahead and preparing for any problems that might arise along the way. Being prepared for things to go awry will allow you to let loose and enjoy yourself more fully, not to mention allow you to stave off the harsher repercussions that could result from -not- being prepared.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Lodgepole Pine for Resilience, Growth, and Renewal
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: OTHERKIN TAROT AND FORCES OF NATURE ORACLE
This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.
Gideon’s Challenge – Sheltered
Sheltered
I need you
around me
your strength
a warm shelter
for those
vulnerable
moments
when the world
becomes
too much
and your arms
become
a safe place
all my own
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Refuse to Fall In Line
Today’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.
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The @hippiepixie333 #Escapril2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 27th : steady ground
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Four of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of dejection, refusal of assistance, contemplative moments, meditation, and feelings of apathy.
It’s okay to say no when you need to.
I’m not sure if I’m an alcoholic or not, but I know that back when I drank, I had a tendency to do my heavy drinking when it was very unhealthy to do so. That is to say, I had a tendency lean into alcohol when I was angry or emotionally overwhelmed. When something came up that I didn’t feel like I could handle, my first thought was “where is the vodka”.
Gideon was the one that noticed this tendency and pointed it out to me. We had a discussion about it and how unhealthy it is, and that was when I stopped drinking. Well, other than a slip up a couple years later, at any rate.
I admit that it’s not always easy to say no. What I have found, though, is that I enjoy life more without that influence in it. It makes saying no a lot easier than it would otherwise be; no matter who’s pushing or what pressure I’m under at the time.
The message in today’s Four of Cups and the “steady ground” prompt is a reminder that it’s okay to say no. If the decision to say no is healthy for you, then stop giving in and step away instead. Whether it’s about alcohol or anything else that you would be better off saying no to. Say no. Let those who are pressuring you into saying yes figure out some other solution than expecting you to fall in line with their expectations.
DECK USED: BUMBLEBERRY HOLLOWS TAROT
@lightningwildflower‘s April Energetic Shifts Challenge
Prompts for April 27th and 28th
Clarify: What lesson is becoming clearer?
Page of Wands atop Four of Coins Rx – Enthusiasm alone is not enough to get you there.
The fact of the matter is that you’re getting older, and if you don’t allow your source more time to ground and stabilize (not just between activities but during them), you pay a price for that. There are consequences for that.
This means you need to practice a little extra moderation mixed in with your enthusiasm. Otherwise, the consequences can be quite painful.
Venus trine Pluto: What deep desire am I ready to explore?
The Moon, Seven of Coins atop Nine of Wands Rx – A deep desire you’re ready to explore right now involves the idea that just because things feel uncertain sometimes during a journey doesn’t mean that you have to be constantly on guard.
Bracing for impact is a natural response, but holding that tension through the entire duration of uncertainty isn’t healthy. After all, not every moment of uncertainty is a breeding ground for something negative to take root.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE BUNNY TAROT
@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Root & Rise Challenge
The Rise Prompt for April 27th : Where am ready to go beyond what feels familiar?
Reading Summary: Go ahead and jump right in (Temperance Rx) when it comes to new opportunities coming your way (Ace of Pentacles)… after having evaluated if they’re right for you of course (Judgment).
Take Away: This advice is contrary to most of the advice that the cards tend give you, which is to warn you against overloading yourself.
In this instance, through, it’s saying that at this time there is an opportunity that is going to present itself to you that you need to jump at.
The Ace in this reading is indicating that this is one opportunity, and does not involve leaving yourself open to all opportunities.
In order for you to judge which opportunity is the right one, you will need to consider where you want to go and who you want to be as you grow and develop over time.
Other elements included in this reading:
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Calcite for Gently Calming the Mind and Stimulating Insights
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: BUMBLEBERRY HOLLOWS TAROT
This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.
Gideon’s Challenge – Breakable
Breakable
Fine and delicate
like spun sugar
so thin that
even the warmth
of a single breath
could melt
the strands
or the slightest
of touches
shatter
figure and form
to leave nothing
but crystaline shards
and sticky drops
of sweet dew
on the floor
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Power Within the Pause
Today’s meditation was skipped.
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The @hippiepixie333 #Escapril2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 26th : reflection
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Two of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of crossroads, difficult decisions, needing more information, seeking inward for answers, weighing one’s options, and sometimes avoidance.
Take some time to think before you open your mouth or act.
Yesterday wasn’t the only day where you can easily trip over your own two feet or put your foot in your mouth without meaning to.
Make sure that you are pausing to think before taking any action… including responding to what other others are saying. Don’t just stay silent out of indecision. Make it a deliberate act instead.
The message in today’s Two of Swords and the “reflection” prompt is a reminder that there is power in choice. There is a huge difference between the silence that comes from living in indecision, and the silence that you choose to hold. One is deliberate, and the other one is desperate or afraid.
Today’s message encourages us to choose to be deliberate in our words and actions. Silence can be a powerful tool. Use it to make sure to think things through before doing anything.
DECK USED: THE REAL ROSIE THE RIVETERS OF WWII TAROT
@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Root & Rise Challenge
The Rise Prompt for April 26th : What naturally drives me forward once I decide to act?
Reading Summary: Once you’ve decided to act, it is a combination of courage (The Rooster), confidence (The Magician), and hope (Candle) that continues to drive you forward.
Take Away: Because you are willing to fail in order to learn how to succeed, you are able to use hope to your advantage in overcoming your fears. That hope, therefore, gives you courage.
This courage then drives you, and gives you confidence to keep going, even when the task at hand might seem overwhelming or extremely difficult.
It is confidence born out of hope and courage that naturally drives you forward once you’ve decided to act. The fear of failure mitigated by the assurance within that using that failure will allow you to succeed when you try again.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: RUSS BELT ARCANA AND LITTLE WITCHCRAFTS ORACLE
#DiscordTarotholicsApr2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 26th : Do Spread 2
@lightningwildflower‘s April Energetic Shifts Challenge
Venus sextile Neptune, Mercury square Jupiter Prompt for April 26th : What belief or assumption do I need to reevaluate?
Reading Summary: It’s okay to ask for help from those that know more than you (Queen of Swords). Even when those that are closest to you (Two of Cups) are impatient to get going (Knight of Swords).
Take Away: Don’t let the enthusiasm of of others keep you from taking the time you need to do your due diligence.
You don’t have to jump when they say go, no matter how much it feels like you do or how hard they push in their enthusiasm.
That enthusiasm is all well and good, but it’ll still be there if you take the time you need to make sure you know what you need to know first. So take your time and consult with those that have more knowledge than you before jumping on board.
When you take that time to do the research first, you bring to the table with you the knowledge and expertise needed to ensure success.
Other elements included in this reading:
Zodiac Wheel (on Cancer) for Understanding Cycles and Rhythms
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Green Jasper and Tiger Eye Turtle for Confidence within Progress
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE REAL ROSIE THE RIVETERS OF WWII TAROT
This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.
Twisting the Leaf 