Author: Twist the Leaf

Inspired Curiosity

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

The Toro Tarot - Page of SwordsToday’s draw is the Page of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, logic, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with learning new ways to communicate with others, beginning new educational pursuits, exploring new ideas, and seeking to sate one’s curiosity.

What I notice most strongly about the imagery in today’s card is the spark of fire that is included in the feathers scattered throughout the image.  To me, this leans into the Wands suit a bit, and brings a bit of that energy into this card’s message.

The message in today’s card is to allow those things that spark passion in you to stir up your curiosity and passion for learning new things.  Let yourself explore rather than sticking to the straight and narrow, and see where your curiosity can take you and the inspiration you might find there.

DECK USED:  THE TORO TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2023 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What does it mean to live a good life?

The Toro Tarot and Species by the Thousands Crystal TarotReading Summary: To live a good life is to find what makes you feel stable and right (King of Pentacles) through discernment and willpower (Amethyst and Pyrite), and then use organization to accomplish (Flourite) that overtime.

Take Away: You need a goal. One that makes you feel seated and suited. A goal that makes you feel that there is something right and good that you are working towards, that is fitted to you and what you need.  These cards are saying that living a good life is about keeping your focus on that goal and working toward it over time.  Without a goal like this to focus upon, these cards indicate that your time is wasted.

I’m not sure I entirely agree that -everyone- requires this, although I think that in many cases, this is absolutely the case.

DECK USED: SPECIES BY THE THOUSANDS CRYSTAL ORACLE

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: Where can I infuse more playfulness and curiosity in my approach to life?

The Toro Tarot - Wheel of Fortune, Five of Pentacles, Nine of WandsReading Summary: You need to accept that not everything can be stable all of the time, and choose to go with the flow (Wheel of Fortune) rather than sinking into despair when things are not going quite right (Five of Pentacles). In doing so you protect (Nine of Wands) your ability to be playful and the inner spark that spurs on your curiosity.

Take Away: The “where” in this reading’s question boils down to “in those places that feel like they’re falling apart when things aren’t going as planned”.  This “where” is then about your finances and your business, for these are the places where the wheel of fortune turning on its head can cause you to fall into a sense of scarcity and really sink into feelings of misfortune.

In order to infuse more playfulness and curiosity in to these areas, you need to feel safe doing so… and to feel safe requires you accepting that life is full of ups and downs, and that when you come upon one of those down times it doesn’t mean its the end of the world.

DECK USED: THE TORO TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I started doing research today on where I want to source a new lilac tree for my balcony to replace the one that died out there over the winter this past year.

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

IMG_1998Already Spring

It doesn’t feel
alright
that time moves
so fast
and that weeks
feel like moments
and months
slip by
like sand
through fingertips.
How does time
move so fast
when it is
measured
so precisely
by man?

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Hanged Man

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Prompt: “Pull the Fool card from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?”

Modern Love Tarot - The Hanged ManModern Love Tarot – I lie with my head at the foot of my bed when I am meditating, and also during any type of daytime nap.  It allows me to open my eyes and immediately orient myself to the fact that it’s daytime and not morning.  This is what this card reminds me of, as it speaks of different perspectives providing you with different feedback.  Feedback that allows you to orient and prepare yourself.  The Hanged Man in this deck is about allowing yourself to step aside to consider new perspectives, but is also about how those new perspectives influence your day to day and your reactions to the world around you.  It asks… how can changing your perspective help you in navigating your world a little easier?

Lunalapin Tarot, Britt's Third Eye Tarot, Sasuraibito Tarot

Lunalapin Tarot – The imagery in this card is classic, regardless of the fact it’s a bunny hanging from the tree instead of a man. With the sun behind him, the bunny hangs inverted and sees the world from another perspective where everything is reversed. His wide stretched whiskers indicate that the rabbit looks out on this new view with interest, taking in everything he can see.  The imagery in this card is about gathering information and taking the time to really look at a situation from all angles instead of from our own personal perspective alone.

Britt’s Third Eye Tarot – The splayed fingers and cupped palm of the hand featured in the imagery of this card speaks of the stress and strain of dangling by that appendage. The owner of the hand isn’t hanging peacefully, but caught in the rope’s grip and held tight, forced to stillness instead of it being a choice. In this card, we see the the Hanged Man’s pause as something to be caught in instead of as a choice. The pause is a necessity… possibly one forced upon us.  Here we are encouraged to see this pause for what it is… opportunity, even if also perhaps an unwelcome inconvenience.

Sasuraibito Tarot – Here in this Hanged Man, we see the consequence of lingering too long in our pursuit of perspectives beyond our own.  Although seeing things from different perspectives is a good thing, if you spend too long doing so, you miss the opportunity to use these perspectives in any useful way… just as the man in this card has hung so long from the tree that he has begun to waste away while the world weeps for his lost opportunities.  Don’t pause for so long that it becomes a detriment to you and your goals.

DECK USED: MODERN LOVE TAROT, LUNALAPIN TAROT, BRITT’S THIRD EYE TAROT, SASURAIBITO TAROT

The Value in Traditions

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

Lunalapin Tarot - The HierophantToday’s draw is the Hierophant card, which is traditionally  a representation of tradition and spiritual wisdom shared with others. It can also be an indication of institutions and conformity to expected norms.

The Hierophant card can be looked at in a variety of different ways.  I prefer to see it as a teacher… like a grandfather or wise woman teaching family traditions.  But, in this particular card’s imagery there is a great deal of Christian symbolism, which makes me lean into themes that have to do with conformity.

This is because in my experiences interacting with those that are very active in the church, there’s a whole lot of expected conformity among the group as a whole. An expectation that those involved must follow blindly, obey without analytical thought, and conform to certain prejudices and behaviors.  I’m not saying everyone in this demographic is that way, but it does seem the prevailing norm from an outside perspective.

And… probably not a surprise, but I’m not comfortable with that.  Neither are a lot of other people, apparently, because I run into people all the time in my interactions in the Pagan community of people that have left due to these issues, and rejected/discarded traditions just because it was expected of them to conform to them.

The thing is?  Traditions are great.  They create bonds in society and connections between people.  They carry the value of established history.  Today’s card is a reminder not to discard tradition simply because it’s expected of you to observe it.  Look for the value first.  Dive into the history and learn why these traditions are upheld.  It might even take shaking things up a bit to get to the answers you seek… but seek out the value first, then decide if they’re right for you or not.

DECK USED:  LUNALAPIN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsApr2023 Challenge Prompt
Questions for April 3rd and 4th

Nakisha's OracleWhat kind of person do you truly want to become?

Solitary, Day, Fawn – Independent, hopeful, and filled with wonder while being protected and cared for. To possess the ability to allow others to do this for you without the fear of losing your independence and autonomy.

What do you need to focus on for self-care for tomorrow’s full moon?

Guide, Shore, Fire – Let go of the idea that you have to do everything yourself. Instead, embrace the new lessons you have been given on letting others help you.

The more you lean into these lessons, the better off you will feel later on down the line.  With the full moon in full swing, more people means more energy to put towards your goals.

DECK USED: NAKISHA’S ORACLE

@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Light My Fire Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I best embrace and embody a more carefree spirit in the present moment?

Lunalapin Tarot - Page of Swords, Ten of Swords, Three of Pentacles< Knight of WandsReading Summary: Let others help you with the things you are most enthusiastic about. Teaching them the ropes doesn’t mean they’ll stab you in the back.

Take Away: Yet another “you don’t have to do everything yourself” reminder.  Although you’ve done will at starting on this journy, there’s still a long way you have left to go.

Allow those you trust to actually help you. Teach them the skills they need to assist you in your passionate pursuits.

It’s not impulsive to trust those you are closest to with the secrets of your success and the skills used to further your goals. They won’t take that information and run as others might.

DECK USED: LUNALAPIN TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

My self kindness for today was staying in the car for most of the different store trips on the errands list for today and letting others deal with hunting down the things on the shopping list that needed to be purchased.

Gideon’s Challenge

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

IMG_1977The Damage

Fractured moments
and land mines
and I feel
like a failure
as I stand
so close to bliss
and yet
it is so far away
as broken moments
hurt feelings
and self judgements
keep my feet rooted
so that
I cannot reach
the bliss
I so desperately long for

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Mushroom Wisdom Lenormand Reading

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Mushroom Wisdom Lenormand Reading with the Thumbelina Lenormand

What qualities or characteristics make me unique?

Stork and Letter – Your ability to transform the hearts, minds, and lives of others with just a few profound words. This isn’t something that happens all the time, but it is pure magic when it does. These are moments that you don’t even realize are happening until someone comes back later to share with you their experience.

How can I work with others in mutually beneficial ways?

Ship and Stars –  You can inspire others to reach for their dreams and foster hope in their hearts, even when there is physical distance between you and them.  Never forget the power of your influence over others and use it to help lift them up, whether they are near to you or far away.

In what way am I being called to spread out and grow?

Man and Fish – Work at moving beyond gender roles in your thought processes.  You might do this in many ways already, but there are just as many ways that you are stuck in the quagmire of old systems and need to break free.

How can I live in unity with my surroundings?

Lady and Anchor – Connect with those women in your life that are there for the long haul and find a sense of stability in the fact that they are not just there for you, but aren’t going anywhere.

DECK USED: THUMBELINA’S LENORMAND