Author: Twist the Leaf

Shoring Up

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Bearot Deck - The EmpressToday’s draw is the Empress card, which is traditionally a representation of nurturing, the earth, mother energies, fertility, abundance, and the sacred feminine.

The deep golds and reds in this card speak to me of irritation, whereas the theme of the card itself is anything but.

This contrast connects to what’s going on in my life this weekend, and the message in today’s card is to be good to yourself today. Tomorrow is going to be a bit of a trial with the whole Easter dinner thing.

Take time today to be good to yourself and let yourself be pampered a bit. It will help shore up your strength and tolerance for what’s to come.

DECK USED:  THE BEAROT DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2023 Challenge Prompt
Questions for April 8

Althea OracleWhat in life holds you back?

Eyebright and Dandelion – Losing touch with past motivations that you need to reconnect with. You’ve been struggling with motivation and inspiration for a while now, and it doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better over time.  That struggle, more than anything else, is holding you back at this time.

What in life guides you forward?

Yellow Melilot and Nettle – Your insatiable drive for self sufficiency.  Even when feeling uninspired and unmotivated, your constant need for self-sufficiency and stability continue to push you forward and make sure that your responsibilities and obligations are met.

DECK USED: ALTHEA ORACLE

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: What can focusing on my passions do for me?

The Bearot Deck - Five of Pentacles, Knight of Swords, The EmpressReading Summary: Focusing on your passions can allow you to confront (Knight of Swords) feelings of scarcity (Five of Pentacles) with a more understanding and nurturing approach (The Empress).

Take Away: Whether those times of scarcity are a reality, or simply your anxiety busy creating stories in your head, approaching them from nurturing and understanding perspective will give you the energy and power needed to confront them and defeat them, rather than allowing them to take over.

Not everything you are struggling with has to be confronted head on with aggression and not all of your struggles need to be looked at with derision.

DECK USED: THE BEAROT DECK

Daily Self Kindness

I did a bunch of little stuff around the house today that needed done, but worked to keep things as low-key as possible for the day.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_1897Spring’s Awakening

Renewed life
shows
signs of
slipping free
of protective shells
as buds
and tender bits
peak out
at the world
eager to greet
the sun
and stretch tall
in the wake
of winter’s
bitter chill

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Promoting Stability

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Cute Animal Tarot - Four of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally about stability and gratitude (sometimes to excess, which can turn miserly) for what you have. This is a stagnant sort of appreciation that speaks of not reaching for more, but instead being focused on what you have in the now.

Aging sucks.  I’m just saying… it does.  I had an eye test today. Or, rather, several eye tests today, and received a handful of bad news that all is related to aging.

In with the doctor, the man used the word “stable” a lot in reference to the changes I need to make in my daily life to ensure that the problems found during those tests didn’t get worse.  He said more than once that I have the ability to help keep these conditions “stable”.

Each time he said it, my mind went back to this card I’d pulled this morning.   The message in today’s card is to pay attention to the doctor’s advice.  Take notes and follow his directions.  You very much -want- to be stable in this… so do what you can to further that goal.

DECK USED:  CUTE ANIMALS TAROT

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I harness my energy to fuel my creativity and pursue my passions?

Witch Cat OracleRumi – Reconnect with the “why” in the things that you do. So much of your life is connected to your spiritual path, and at times your day-to-day tasks and habits connected to your spiritual path become rote. Remind yourself of the sacredness that lives within them. Even within things as small as taking a shower or washing your hands.

Nixi atop Miro – Return to doing your morning devotionals. It provides you a moment of gratitude practice that you are otherwise missing.

Take Away – By reconnecting with your spiritual path and practices, it can assist you in harnessing your energy and directing it towards those things you are passionate about.

DECK USED: WITCH CATS ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2023 Challenge Prompt
Questions for April 6th and 7th

Cute Animal Tarot - Two of Swords, Three of Wands, Six of Wands, Seven of Swords, The High Priestess, Ace of CupsWhat is your greatest weakness?

Seven of Swords – Your desire to see the best in people allows them to sneak in and fuck your over. You don’t see it coming because you don’t want to see that that’s who they really are.

How can you relieve or release this weakness?

The High Priestess – Listen to your intuition instead of arguing with it. Often in these situations, your intuition is trying to warn you, but you discount it’s advice as “jumping the gun” and instead try to give these people the benefit of the doubt until it’s too late.

What is your greatest worry?

Two of Swords – That your duration of deliberation when it comes to important decisions will either be too long or not long enough. You want to collect as much information as possible before deciding, but have a hard time not holding out to get even more information than you need.

How can you relieve or release this worry?

Ace of Cups – Accept that the reason you are holding out is emotional and usually indicates that the best advisable decision isn’t the one you really want to make on an emotional level.

What is your greatest fear?

Three of Wands Rx – Stagnancy and lack of direction. Being blown off course to the point that you lose your way and have to start over from scratch as a result.

How can you relieve or release this fear?

Six of Wands – Let others inspire movement when you can’t inspire yourself.

DECK USED: CUTE ANIMALS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

As mentioned earlier in this post, today was eye test day…. for the first time in probably two or maybe three years.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_1890The Pier

Lets go for
a walk
out on the pier
and follow
the planks
to the very end
where it feels
we can find
where sky
and water
kiss
and the world
is all connected
through
each breath
we take

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Finding the Boon in Slow Moments

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Funny Little Lizard Tarot - Two of CupsToday’s draw is the Two of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of unions, duality, and partnerships in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, and creativity. This often comes across as harmonious attractions and themes of mutual attraction, although not always in a romantic manner.

What stands out the strongest to me in the imagery in this card is the eggs.  To me, the eggs speak of not just the union of two entities, but that that union is creating something beautiful together.  This, in turn, brings to mind Gideon and I… and how we create something beautiful together every time we write together.

The message in today’s card is a reminder to take the fact that business was slow for the past few days as a boon. It means that you get to write with Gideon today and create a beautiful story with him.  It means you get to do something you enjoy with someone you care deeply for instead of putting your nose to the grindstone from the time you wake to when you go to bed today.

DECK USED:  THE FUNNY LITTLE LIZARD TAROT

@the_mystic_star’s April #MysticStarChallenge Prompt
Prompts for April 3rd thru 6th

The Earth Spirit OracleWhat card symbolizes my ‘Current Situation’ that is hiding in the Shadows?

The Ocean – The root cause of your feelings of overwhelm has yet to be unearthed, but instead lingers beneath the surface like a mystery yet to be solved.

What do I need to do to clearly see what is hiding in the Shadows?

The Wind – Movement. You need to begin getting outside more instead of simply thinking about it. You need the fresh air and exercise, and the time in nature to connect and reflect so that the cobwebs within you can be blown out.

How can I better understand what is hiding from me?

Destiny – Stop seeing it (that hidden element) as something to change or heal. This hidden part of you that spurs on your sense of overwhelm is an integral piece of who you are; a part of your make up. It doesn’t need healing or changing, but instead needs acceptance.

How can I minimize the resistance I have to this hidden aspect?

Abundance – Lean into feelings of abundance instead of your sense of scarcity. That scarcity is what is driving this hidden aspect of yourself, for it is abundance you seek. Help this part of yourself see that you already have an abundant life, and that things are not as dire as this hidden part of yourself wants to believe that they are.

DECK USED: THE EARTH SPIRIT ORACLE

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I engage in to bring more joy into my life right now? Draw up to three cards.

The Funny Little Lizard Tarot - Six of Swords, Ace of Wands, Two of SwordsSix of Swords – Move away from those things that are bad for you and frustrate you instead of lingering in them. Whether you linger due to a sense of responsibility, obligation, or self flagellation, you need to let them go instead of trying to hold onto them and forcing yourself to make them work.

Ace of Wands – Let your inspiration and curiosity lead the way to discovering new things you will enjoy. Whether it’s self care, or jewelry techniques, hobbies, or just new storylines and characters with Gideon.  Open yourself up and let yourself stretch into the idea that inspiration is knocking.

Two of Swords – Be decisive about leaning into that spark of inspiration, instead of lingering in these bad habits and situations. Complacency is not your friend.

DECK USED: THE FUNNY LITTLE LIZARD TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

As suggested by my card of the day, once I got my work in hand, I reached out to Gideon to do a bit of play together and bring some enjoyment into  my day.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_2214Pursuing Patience

Take a breath
and let it come
a little at a time
as you wait
instead of push
as you pause
instead of run
and things
begin to fall
into place at
their own pace
but yet
it never feels
fast enough
and still
you fight to not
fidget

Photo © ZenStatePhotography