Author: Twist the Leaf

Tradition vs Exploration

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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.

Le Tarot Tricolore - Three of Wands

Today’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of the first active step in a journey, progress towards a goal, and the seizing of opportunities.

The Three of Wands has then been combined with an affirmation prompt from the Animantras Chakra Oracle, which says, “Be Unique”.

When the time comes to act, and you must choose between doing things your own way, or toeing the line of conformity, consider the value in authenticity.

Yes, there is something to be said for tradition, learning from the past, and how things were done before… but, there is also value in accepting your unique differences and adapting to them instead of mindlessly going by rote.

The message in today’s Three of Wands and affirmation prompt is a reminder that we are meant to be unique individuals. We are not meant to be clones of each other, all doing the exact same thing in the exact same way. It is through exploration and experimentation that new discoveries are made and we get to know our unique selves better. With a respectful nod of acknowledgement and understanding to how things were done before? It’s okay to allow yourself to experiment and explore.

DECKS USED:  LE TAROT TRICOLORE AND ANIMANTRAS CHAKRA ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2026 Challenge
3-Card Spread Prompt for July 17th : About similarities…

Oracle Reading with The River: Sailing the Stream of Consciousness

It’s said that the qualities you dislike in others are a reflection of what you dislike in yourself. What one similarity (of the many available to choose from) do I share with others that pokes at my misanthropic tendencies?

The Volcano

Image Interpretation: Greed and excess.

From the Book: Silver-tongued and able to manipulate others and the world around me through words, as well as willing to do so to suit my purpose and intent.

Take Away: I am not always as altruistic and forthcoming in my goals and intent as others might assume. Sometimes these hidden agendas and the manipulations used to further them are entirely selfish.

What one similarity (of the many available to choose from) do I share with others that can help soften my misanthropic tendencies?

The Sfumato

Image Interpretation: Vulnerability

From the Book: The kindness of wanting to support and foster the well-being of others.

Take Away: I see the kindness I bestow from a pure place within myself onto others in the kindnesses that they also bestow upon me. Although this sometimes makes it difficult for me to spot ulterior motives in the kindnesses of others, it allows me to also see hope in my views towards humanity and the people around me.

Sometimes opposites attract, and other times that’s not the case at all. What one similarity (of the many available to choose from) do I share with others that helps me to bond more easily with those I feel a connection to?

The Lightning Tree

Image Interpretation: The broken bits

From the Book: Understanding and acknowledgement of life’s trials and tribulations.

Take Away: We all have broken bits and jagged edges within us left behind by life’s hardships and struggles. I find connection to others in the idea that we are all a bit battered in one way or another, but none of us are truly broken.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE RIVER – SAILING THE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The @ambitiouslyalexa July Journal Prompts
Prompt for July 17th : A limit you’re respecting

Tarot Reading with Le Tarot Tricolore

Reading Summary: You are working to give your negative inner narratives less credence (Page of Swords Rx) in matters that take time to develop (Seven of Pentacles) in order to free yourself up for more free spirited moments (The Fool).

Take Away: The negative narratives in your head work to weigh you down and make you feel guilty for any free time you manage to find. That free time is often given to you through long term efforts rather than instant gratification, but your inner narratives do not see long-term effort as acceptable. They instead demand results and perfection now.

You are beginning to draw the line more often and give less credence to your negative self-talk in this area. In doing so, you are beginning to discover more opportunities for joy and more free spirited moments to enjoy.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: LE TAROT TRICOLORE
Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – Lazy

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Good Morning - Tortie Cat

Lazy

lazy days
deserve
cuddles
complete with
soft purrs,
the scrape of
a rough tongue
in greeting,
and warm fur
nuzzled into
that somehow
always smells
of sunshine
and home

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Seeking Pearls In the Mud

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍃    •    ◈    •    •    •

Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

The Tarot of the Grand Hours of Rohan - Five of Pentacles

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 Pearls of Gratitude card from The Life Navigator deck, which says, “It’s easy to feel thankful when the seas of life are calm. But storms have their uses, too. They clear the air and often bring up treasure from the deep. Look for the pearl beneath the storm.“

I am a major advocate of “finding the silver lining”, which is what these cards are all about today.

What would we appreciate less (or not at all) if we hadn’t survived some trial or tribulation in our past. The sunshine and warmth of summer wouldn’t be as sweet without the winter’s bite that came before, and the cold of winter not such a pleasure if it wasn’t relieving us from the swelter of summer heat. Same can be said for being able to walk after experiencing having been in a wheelchair for a time, or having money for necessities after having experienced having none.

The message in today’s Five of Pentacles and affirmation card is a reminder that the trials and tribulations we go through have value. It doesn’t mean they don’t suck, but they also don’t have to be a waste as long as we can find and appreciate the value they’ve also added to our lives.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE GRAND HOURS OF ROHAN AND THE LIFE NAVIGATOR DECK

The @ambitiouslyalexa July Journal Prompts
Prompt for July 16th : A “should” you’re dropping

Tarot Reading with The Tarot of the Grand Hours of Rohan

Reading Summary: Don’t force yourself to go slow and wait for change (Death atop Knight of Pentacles) when it comes to those things that truly matter to you (Seven of Wands). Instead, lead the charge (King of Wands).

Take Away: Write to your building manager about what is bothering you concerning the last owners meeting. Your values concerning right and wrong are raging. Be proactive instead of sitting back and watching how things unfold.

This advice can be taken for a lot of situations where your inner voice is up in arms about something, it just so happens that -my- inner voice is up in arms about the misuse of proxy votes during the last owner’s meeting.

The cards are right. I need to sit down and write a letter to the building management company about it. Even if it doesn’t change anything about what’s already happened, it can make a difference in what happens in the future if the behavior is called out now and brought to the attention of all involved.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Orthoceras Fossil for Supporting Transformation and Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE GRAND HOURS OF ROHAN
Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – Refreshed

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Sea of Moss

Refreshed

Rise up
and stretch tall
within the
golden embrace
of evening
as sunlight
kisses the skin
and warms
the soul
as we prepare
to ease
into the dark
of twilight
soon to come

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Tripping Over the Line In the Sand

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍃    •    ◈    •    •    •

Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Victoria Regina Tarot - Four of Cups

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.

The Four of Cups has then been combined with the Shame card from the Box of Emotions deck, which says, “While guilt is an emotion associated with hearing the wheedling voice of conscience, shame is usually associated with wanting to (and) about who we are… It might be that to forge identity in the face of disapproval, the existence of shame must be recognised – even celebrated.“

Don’t hold yourself apart from others due to shame you may be feeling. Instead, consider looking more closely at your shame and why it’s there in the first place.

Delve into its source and pick it apart. Shame isn’t something to hide from, nor hide ourselves away from others because of. It’s an emotion that tells us something about ourselves and our values, teaching us where our own mores and ethics lie and where the line is when overstepping has happened or is near.

The message in today’s Four of Cups and Shame card is about approaching our shame with understanding and acceptance, not to make whatever it is we’re ashamed about okay, but to embrace it as a lesson on when our internal moral compass says we’ve gone too far so we can course correct as needed moving forward.

DECKS USED: VICTORIA REGINA TAROT AND BOX OF EMOTIONS

The @ambitiouslyalexa July Journal Prompts
Prompt for July 15th : A tension you’re softening

Oracle Reading with The Inner Child Oracle Deck

Reading Summary: Instead of allowing your nearly obsessive need for stability (Nyki) to get in the way of life’s joys (Hazel), you are beginning to seek out the source of these anxieties that drive your need for stability and tend to them (Na’este).

Take Away: That death grip on the concept of stability and security is easing a bit as you work to explore its roots and give yourself the understanding and kindness that has been lacking in this area.

It’s difficult for you to see stability in perspectives that don’t have to do with stillness and even stagnancy. As you explore your fears, you are coming to find that you can discover and build stability through other means than bracing for impact and unhealthy stillness. This relaxing of your personal definition then allows for more opportunities for joy in your life rather than allowing everything to be ran by your fear and anxieties.

Other elements included in this reading:
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Wood Burned Rabbit Disk for Approaching Life with Gentle Awareness
Wooden Bird on Branch for the Stillness Needed to Approach Fear with Kindness
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE INNER CHILD ORACLE DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2026 Challenge
Philosophical Questions for July 15th

Tarot Reading with the Victoria Regina Tarot

What is courage?

The Star and Ten of Pentacles Rx

Courage is continuing to hope, even in the face of failure.

Courage is the indomitable spirit that allows us to continue on, even when things seem hopeless, and to start over after everything has fallen apart.

Where does courage come from?

Eight of Cups Rx atop Two of Swords

Courage comes from within, in that moment where we choose to stay instead of walking away. It’s born from our values and how we choose to prioritize those values in the day-to-day of our lives.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Moon Pendant as Sympathetic Representation of Uncertainty
Quill Jasper for Nurturing Comfort through Grounded Stability
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: VICTORIA REGINA TAROT
Daily Self Kindness

This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – Rainy Season

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House Raising for Flooding

Rainy Season

fed up
and tired
to the bone
he lifts
his home
above
the flood line
so he won’t
have to wear
waders
indoors
anymore
and now lives
among
the clouds

Photo © ZenStatePhotography