Author: Twist the Leaf

Wisdom Within the Old Ways

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

The Star String Tarot - The Hierophant and the Mushroom Affirmations CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Hierophant card, which is traditionally a representation of traditions, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.

The Hierophant card has then been combined with the Rosy Bonnet affirmation card from the Mushroom Affirmations deck, which says, “Look closer at the finer details. What are you not seeing?”

Sometimes, traditions are traditions for a reason. Before you discard something that has been done for years, decades, or centuries, take time to really get a closer look at what it is you’re discarding and why it’s persevered for as long as it has.  What value are you missing in your previous observations?  Look again, and see if that value isn’t worth more than you possibly thought the first time around.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that traditions and “old ways” of doing things hold value. We’re always so eager to move on to the “new and better” that sometimes we lose sight of the value that resides in the old.

DECK USED:  THE STAR STRING TAROT AND MUSHROOM AFFIRMATIONS

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 23 and 24

Tarot Reading with The Yakuza Tarot: Chi Namagusai Tabi and The Yakuza LenormandFlame (Spirit) – What spark refuses to be extinguished?

Sun, Queen of Cups, Clouds – Your desire for emotional support and craving for a mother figure in your life continues to burn bright both in good times and bad.

Mask (Revelation) – What truth lies behind the mask I or others wear?

Mice, Six of Cups, Snake – Everyone has shit from their past that eats away at them, poisoning the well of goodness in their lives in the process. Some just hide this better than others.

Take Away – These questions and the cards that came from them presented some harsh truths that although unpleasant, need to be revisited now and then. They are reminders of places where stagnancy lingers, even while everything else in life around you changes.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Deodar Cedar Ceramic Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE YAKUZA TAROT AND YAKUZA LENORMAND

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Hopes Prompts for November 21st

Tarot Reading with The Star String Tarot and Irrevocable Wholeness OracleA Wish For the Future

Six of Cups and Bright Being – You seek to connect to your past in healing and healthy ways, where the scars and trauma no longer drag you down, but instead lend a buoyancy to your outlook on life without the pain and defense mechanisms you currently employ.

Next Step In Getting There

The World and Supermoon – Seek out the empowerment that endings can provide. There is strength within the completion of things and in letting go. You currently have a tendency to avoid these things instead, which holds you back from connecting with that hidden strength the resides there.

Home of My Hope

Nine of Wands Rx and Exhale – You believe you can, in fact, let go with greater ease, making way for the new. You are merely hung up on the execution. What should come easily, you’re instead complicating with outdated defenses that are no longer needed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Pressed Pansy Flowers for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE STAR STRING TAROT AND IRREVOCABLE WHOLENESS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I relaxed at Ms B’s today and watched a movie instead of doing a bunch of chores.

Gideon’s Challenge – Meditation

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Indigenous Art of CanadaMeditation

Take a breath
deep and full
and let it out
slow
as eyes
close
and the sound
of birds
fill your ears
on quiet
mornings
each day

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Defense Mechanisms and Isolation

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

Mocha Siamese Tarot - Page of Pentacles; Lobilat Rumi Quotes CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive “omega” energy in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, home life, and manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with work apprenticeships and learning a new ability or skill.

The Page of Pentacles has then been combined with the an affirmation from the Lobilat Rumi Quotes deck, which says, “Submit to love without thinking.”

When you have spent the lions share of your foundational years on guard, it can be heard to let go and let people in. I find myself struggling with this again and again.  Most people?  They just give up and go away. That’s not my intention in coming off as “cold” or unapproachable, and yet that’s what happens.  Defense mechanisms and their pitfalls, right?

This means, at least for me, that only those with persistence make it through.  Gideon, for example, was very determined.  Same with J.

These days?  I’m trying to loosen up and not allow my defense mechanisms to call the shots. I’m trying to learn to be more open to love. To allow people in more easily.  It’s not easy, but I’m trying.  I’ve found in doing this, that I’m gifted with a more diverse pool of people in my life, and many of them I enjoy the company of a great deal.  The struggle, is definitely worth it.  Difficult, but worth it.

The message in today’s card and affirmation combo is a reminder that your defense mechanisms are not always right or healthy.  Sometimes, we need to learn to look past the fear and pain that created these defenses, and allow ourselves to explore what life might be like without them.

DECK USED:  MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND LOBILAT: RUMI QUOTES DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Memories Prompts for November 20

Tarot Reading with Burton's Wonderland Tarot and The Grief Journey OracleWhat to Cherish – Three of Pentacles and Guide

You are not alone on your journey. Your life is filled with a lot of struggle, and you work hard to create what you have and the stability that you crave. You have others, though, with you… on both sides of the veil.  They participate in your life to support you and also provide guidance when it is needed.

What to Release – The Magician and Child

Your need for control resides in your childhood trauma. Releasing this trauma will give you the ability to manifest those things you want to create in your life without the need to be in control every step of the way or hold onto that control with such a tight grip all the time.

Memories to Make – Strength and Illumination

It’s time to start exploring the strengths that reside within you that don’t require force or aggression to manifest.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: BURTON’S WONDERLAND TAROT AND THE GRIEF JOURNEY ORACLE

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 21 and 22

Tarot Reading with the Mocha Siamese Tarot and Oracle d'OrUnderworld (Death) – What hidden depths am I being asked to explore?

Page of Cups and Constellations – You are only skimming the surface of your emotions thus far on this journey to understand and explore them. They are as deep and nuanced as the universe itself, with a myriad of different causes, differences, and patterns. Don’t stop. This journey is challenging and excruciatingly slow moving, but worth it.

Night (Mystery) – What can only be revealed in the dark?

Queen of Swords Rx and Ephemerality – Remember that your sharper edges are temporary fluctuations. You are not these moments, they are simply a small part of the whole of who you are. Ephemeral and fleeting.

Flame (Spirit) – What spark refuses to be extinguished?

The Lovers and Expansion – Self betterment is an integral part of your practice. As a core element in your beliefs and values, it will always be a driving force in your life.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND ORACLE D’OR

Daily Self Kindness

Although my stomach is feeling better, I took it easy on myself today.

Gideon’s Challenge – Blending Intent

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Making IncenseBlending Intent

A pinch of this
and a little
of that
combined
with intention
create
earthy scents
and energy
with direction
once scattered
over black sand
and touched
by heat
to smolder

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Attracting Abundance

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

Strange World Tarot - Five of PentaclesDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of tests, trials, struggles, and setbacks in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, home, work, or manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with scarcity and times in life when one needs to seek out help from others instead of suffering through alone.

The Five of Pentacles has then been combined with the Verdigris Agaric affirmation card from the Mushroom Affirmations deck, which says, “Now is the time to make an impression. Stand out from the crowd and be noticed.”

If you want to foster abundance, you have to stand out above the rest. This is an essential building block to creating a successful business, a successful career, and success in most things that involve others.

This is especially true in a couple of my chosen fields. Whether it’s the jewelry business where the competition is steep and there are a multitude of others out there trying to garner attention for their own product just as I am for mine; or the tarot reading business where it seems every day new competition crops up in the field including waves of new readers undercutting prices, and users of AI that don’t grasp just how deeply nuanced and human the act of reading tarot actually is and thus think that a computer can do it for them.

Today’s message is a reminder that no matter your endeavors, if you are in any kind of a competitive business or effort, the focus needs to be on playing into your strong suits and playing up your skills and abilities. Otherwise, you will get lost in the crowd.

DECKS USED:  STRANGE WORLD TAROT AND MUSHROOM AFFIRMATIONS

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
Temperance Spread

Temperance Tarot Reading with the Oracle of the Magical Fairy Forest

Where are you seeking balance?

Hidden Doors – As new opportunities rise, you seek to find balance between which opportunities you decide to take advantage of and which ones you let pass you by. This means you need to be able to notice them all so that you can make the best choices for you, though.

What requires patience?

Tree Friends atop Wild and Free – Integrating yourself within your friendships and trusting them with your vulnerabilities and your needs takes time. That includes making sure that you’re getting out in nature, even if you know it’s not their favorite thing to join you in doing.

What needs harmonizing?

Write Your Story – You need to better align your wants and desires with the path you choose to tread. Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? What do you want to experience along the way? Obligation has begun to take up too much of your prioritizing, and it’s time to get back to the roots of who you are concerning your path and practices.

What wants to be integrated?

Guardian of the Fe – You crave to integrate into your life a greater sense of security and safety. You have been stuck in feeling “under attack” ever since the broken shoulder fiasco, with one thing hitting you after another. A greater sense of safety is needed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Deodar Cedar Cone for Fostering Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Foraged Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ORACLE OF THE MAGICAL FAIRY FOREST

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Prompt for November 19th : What do I need to focus on for self-care for this month’s new moon?

Tarot Reading with the Strange World TarotReading Summary: It’s time to work on creating a better balance (Two of Pentacles) between your disappointments (Three of Swords) and the stability that you have managed to create for yourself and others (Queen of Pentacles).

Take Away: In a previous reading, you were recently reminded that it’s time to start prioritizing your own needs over those of others, including prioritizing authenticity over the expectation foisted upon you and obligations you feel.

The more you lean into that obligation and expectation, the more it will pull you out of balance, and lead you down the road to disappointments that will be harder and harder to bounce back from.

For your self care during this new moon, recommit yourself to your personal authenticity and your path.  Place those values above the need to please others, and let the need to stay true to yourself drive you instead of the obligations you feel toward others.

Other elements included in this reading:
Northern Red Oak Leaf for Fostering Unconditional Love
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: STRANGE WORLD TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I did my best to take it easy today because my stomach has been all messed up all day long.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Bug

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Hadley Castle Victoria BCThe Bug

Painful cramps
and queasy moments
blend with
breaths of
fresh air
to tamp down
rising tides
of bile
as sweat
scatters
over skin
in little droplets
again
and again

Photo © ZenStatePhotography