Abandon the Boring

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.

Таро Евы - Eight of Cups, and Grateful AF Cards

Today’s draw is the Eight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of withdrawal, abandonment, or letting go of things, situations, or people in your life that are just not working out for you emotionally.

The Eight of Cups has then been combined with the Pesto card from the Grateful AF Cards, which says, “Naming a food to sound like it’s a magical trick was an amazing idea. On top of that pesto tastes good on everything. Stick a cucumber in it and PESTO!, It’s yummy AF!!”

Look at the girl in the card, abandoning the security and stability of wealth to go on an adventure with her cat, many ghosts and uncertainties on the horizon, waiting for her among the shadows of the woods.

The thing is? As much as I focus on stability and security? When you focus on it too much, it becomes stagnancy. It becomes old. It becomes boring. It becomes unhealthy. We -need- a bit of adventure and diversity in our lives in order to keep the blood flowing and our energy moving. It can’t all be about safety and security… even for someone like me that’s often hyper-focused on that theme.

The message in today’s cards is an encouragement to abandon the boring. Life is more fun when you think outside the box and add a little amusement and creativity into your world. Allow your imagination to stretch and grow, and allow yourself to experience new things now and then, and see old ones in a new light.

DECKS USED: ТАРО ЕВЫ (by Ukrainian!) AND GRATEFUL AF CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2026 Challenge
Prompts for February 19th thru 21st

Tarot Reading with the Secret Garden Tarot and Alice In Wonderland Oracle

What your comfort zone feels like.

Ten of Swords; Too Many Tears – You find comfort in endings.

Specifically those endings where you have given all of yourself to the point that rest isn’t just relief, but also its own sort of pain (muscle spasms and discomfort, etc). This tells you that things have turned out how they are meant to be.

Even in failure, you find this understanding reassuring and you find comfort in knowing that you really did do all you could.

When is it safest and healthiest to linger in your comfort zone?

Nine of Cups; The Mock Turtle – When you stay long enough to find the boon, so you can “dress your experience up” into something positive, even when things don’t turn out as you want or expect. Allowing yourself to acknowledge the boon makes it easier to move forward with a positive mindset of acceptance.

When is it healthier to break free of your comfort zone?

Three of Swords; Growing and Growing – When the pain and disappointment hold you back from growth, it’s then healthier to break free and move on without that closure that gives you comfort.

If you can’t find a way to grow from the experience, it’s better to move on than linger in the negative space. You can always revisit and look for the boon later on after you’ve had more time to process.

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Foraged Acorn for Protection during New Beginnings
Moss Agate for Attracting Opportunities for Growth
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: SECRET GARDEN TAROT AND ALICE IN WONDERLAND ORACLE

@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 20th
: One thing that brings me comfort

Tarot Reading with the Таро Евы

Reading Summary – Knowing that you’re not alone (Hermit Rx) in your efforts to balance the burden (Two of Pentacles) of life’s overwhelming struggles and upsets (Ten of Wands).

Take Away – You may struggle to ask for help, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not grateful and comforted by the fact that it’s there for you when you need it.

You may push yourself far beyond your own means to try and deal with it yourself first, but the fact someone is there to have your back when you need it allows you to not freak out when you -have- to ask for help, because you know that help will be there for you and you won’t be refused or turned away.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Chinese Silver Grass for fostering Grounding and Nurturing Stability
Scotch Pine Cone for Purging Negative Influences
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: ТАРО ЕВЫ (by Ukrainian!)
Daily Self Kindness

I refused to do anything that would challenge my back or hip today. They’ve been a bit sore and I’m trying to avoid them going into a full flare-up.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Supervisor

Peek a Boo Tortie Cat

The Supervisor

From the bed
hidden
among covers
or the spot
by the door
between one room
and the next
or the back
of the couch
or the spot
by the window
her eyes
are always
on me

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Ways That Matter

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 Ace of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

The Art of Love Tarot - Ace of Cups, Ace of Hearts

The Ace of Cups has then been combined with an affirmation from the Love Affirmations deck, which says, “I savor the richness of our shared moments, creating lasting memories.”

Loving someone involves spending time together in the ways that matter. This is how you build a relationship with others that stands the test of time and all the trials that time brings with it.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that it’s important to be mindful about spending time with those you cherish in your life. Shared time and the memories we create are the building blocks to long lasting friendships and relationships.

Disregarding this instead of being mindful of it may cause these people to fade out of our lives, lost to the past instead of a part of your present.

DECK USED: THE ART OF LOVE TAROT AND LOVE AFFIRMATIONS

One Card Tarot Journal Activity by @mariasofia_astro
Chapter 5| Entry 16 – Health and Body
Affirmation
: “My imagination is vivid and fun.”
Prompt : If the limits of the human body did not exist, what would you want to be able to do and why? Use the card you draw to open your mind up to imaginative possibilities.

Tarot Activity from The One Card a Day Journal by Maria Sofia Marmanides - Potion Hunters Tarot - Wheel of Fortune card

What feelings came up when I pulled this card?

I was immediately struck with amusement and an impression of play. A flying merry-go-round in the sky.

What elements of the card’s meaning resonate with me and this prompt?

My answer to the question part of this was that I would like to be able to chase my hedonistic tendencies. (Give in to my addictions and enjoy them thoroughly, one after another and back again.)

Seeing the Wheel of Fortune appear in answer to this both encourages the imagination to stretch farther into the land of possibilities… and reminds me that there are always going to be ups and downs in any endeavors, even if there would be no bodily consequences.

What in the artwork spoke to me?

The Wheel in the image, tilted the way it is and clearly spinning, immediately draws to mind the old playground merry-go-round. I loved that thing as a kid and spent hours on it exploring the spinning and its influences depending on where you were positioned on the thing.

Note… the further out from the center you go, the harder it is to hold on and more potential to get thrown off and possibly hurt.

My prompt response and reflections.

Being able to explore my addictive tendencies to my heart’s content would be wild and fun, scary and painful… and it would be very easy to lose my center and become ungrounded, perhaps permanently. My addictive personality traits are far from just physical, after all.

Other elements included in this reading:
Sodalite D20 and D6 Gemstone Dice

DECK USED: POTION HUNTER TAROT

@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 19th

Tarot Reading with The Art of Love Tarot and The Law of Attraction Cards

How I know when I need space

Four of Swords and Creative Power – When you are feeling tired and feeling uninspired, it’s time to rest and recuperate.

It’s in these down times in which you give yourself the space to rest that inspiration sparks to life once more.

How to best create the space I need during these times

Five of Pentacles and Sameness – It’s in doing the things that feel like recuperation to you personally that give you the space.

Not everyone recuperates and rests in the same way, and if you try and model your methods after others, it will always feel like you’ve come up short and aren’t getting the recuperation you need, nor bouncing back as strongly as you otherwise could. Seek out those things that are uniquely your own in how you restore yourself and your energy.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE ART OF LOVE TAROT AND THE LANGUAGE OF ATTRACTION CARDS
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 – Every Little Thing

Turtle Planter - Mexican Restaurant

Every Little Thing

I think of you
in the strangest
of places
and most
unexpected moments
throughout
each day
over and again
as little things
bring you
again and again
to my mind
and make
a smile
slip over
my lips

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

The Small Wins

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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The @GlitterbyInk #FebYOUary26 Moments & Memories Challenge
Prompt for February 18th
: Gratitude
Daily Mental Health Prompt
: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

The Sacred Circle Tarot - The Sun

Today’s draw is The Sun card, which is traditionally a representation of success, optimism, positivity, fun and frivolity. In my practice, the Sun is also a symbol of masculine vitality, virility, and warmth.

Small wins and successes are still wins, and need recognition and celebration… maybe even more so than the big ones, because they bolster our spirit along the journey instead of forcing us to focus on only the end and the goal sitting there waiting for us.

Drudgery. Honestly? That’s sometimes what trying to achieve goals feels like. Just trudging forward day after day, struggle after struggle, eye always trained on the prize.

Today’s Sun Card and “gratitude” prompt challenge us to consider that maybe that -isn’t- how it has to be. By celebrating our small wins along the way, it doesn’t have to feel like a long slog through mire to get to our reward at the end… because we’re getting little rewards along the way and that bolsters our spirits, making the journey lighter and more enjoyable instead of grueling and miserable.

The message for today is a reminder to celebrate your small wins. In return, you are rewarded with a better experience over all.

DECKS USED: THE SACRED CIRCLE TAROT (aggressively trimmed)

@ambitiouslyalexa’s February Journal Prompts
Prompt for February 18th

Tarot Reading with the Tarot of Sexual Magic and Deck of Many Insults

A pattern I’m starting to notice

Six of Pentacles and Wasn’t Listening – Maybe the reason it’s become a struggle to find those willing to communicate with you is because most people are too concerned with their own crap to take the extra effort needed to do so.

I run across a lot of impatience and irritation when trying to communicate with others, especially strangers like store clerks, customer service, and just random people. My communication difficulties are a hurdle that they see as a burden they just aren’t interested in bearing in order to communicate with another person.

It’s too inconvenient so they react with impatience and/or irritation.

Anything I might need to do concerning this pattern

Four of Cups atop Eight of Swords; Not the Dumbest and Boot Flask – It’s a futile effort to get them to pay attention or be receptive to you. The extra effort is something they’re just not willing to put into the situation, and it’s their loss. So let them walk away and find someone else.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Tree Agate for Fostering Peace and Patience
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: TAROT OF SEXUAL MAGIC AND DECK OF MANY INSULTS

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2026 Challenge
Philosophical Prompt for February 18th
: Is the desire to be loved an innate human desire?

Tarot Reading with The Sacred Circle Tarot

Reading Summary – Sex and procreation is an animal drive (Ace of Pentacles and the erect phallus in the Six of Wands), but connecting emotions to such things is innately human (Three of Cups and Six of Wands).

Take Away – These cards indicate that the desire to be loved is, in fact, innately human.

It’s not about sex or comfort or security. It’s about finding love, which is something that unique to humanity.

That’s not to say that there aren’t those out there that try to equate sex and love, safety and love, security and love, or comfort and love. But, the emotion itself? That is uniquely human, as is our desire for it.

Other elements included in this reading:
Holy Leaf for fostering Strength, Endurance, and Boundaries
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE SACRED CIRCLE TAROT (aggressively trimmed)
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 – More Rain

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

Photo © ZenStatePhotography