Author: Twist the Leaf

Preemptive Strikes

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Shadowseeker Tarot - Ace of CupsToday’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, intuition, and creativity.

I have a hard time connecting with the imagery in this card.  It’s difficult for me to connect the choice of a crab with the Ace of Cups, and that throws me off a bit. What stands out to me the strongest in this card’s imagery, though, is the crab’s pincers.

I don’t know how common an experience it is to have experienced just how painful those pincers can be, but lemme assure you, it’s not a friendly sensation!

With the pincers front and center like they are, the message in today’s card is speaking about defense mechanisms, and is a reminder to take care that when you are feeling vulnerable in the grip of new emotions that you don’t take that out on others.

CrowSister’s #DeckStudyTenTrueWords Prompt
Prompt: Distill your reading of the card to your ten truest words.

Snapping at shadows
when feeling vulnerable
won’t make you stronger

DECK USED:  THE SHADOWSEEKER TAROT

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Question for January 29th: What have I manifested for myself since the start of January?

The Wanderer's Traveling Oracle DeckReading Summary: You pushed through with trying something new, even against feelings of resistance (Left Card), by coming together with others (statue in the Center Card at first looked like a collection of stones in a glass bottle) after the holiday rush, rather than closing yourself off. Giving yourself a chance to grow beyond old patterns (Center Card) and shrug off stagnancy (Right Card). Note the shift from darkness into light.

Take Away: The changes in your routine this year were hard to do and you’re still in limbo on if they will work out to your advantage and be a positive influence.  You did it though. You changed how you do things, and gave it a chance, and by stepping outside of your comfort zone you have provided the opportunity for those changes to influence the future and make things better.

DECK USED: THE WONDERER’S TRAVELING ORACLE DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2023 Challenge Prompt
Topic for January 29th: Do Spread 4

Shadowseeker Tarot - Eight of Cups, King of Swords, Nine of SwordsHow do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for yourself?

Eight of Cups – You occasionally do not give yourself enough time to sit with the cards. By walking away too soon you may miss part of the message that need to be hear.

How do you most commonly misinterpret reading the cards for others?

Nine of Swords – You do not spend enough time allaying their fears and worries. Instead of moving on to helping them find a solution, spend more time lingering there in the fears they hold and in helping them with those fears and worries.

How can you improve at reading the cards so that it doesn’t keep happening?

King of Swords – Always remember the influence that your words have over others in a reading, and the negative influence that the cards can have over you in reading for yourself if you do not stay objective and unbiased.

DECK USED: THE SHADOWSEEKER TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I ate a LOT of food on someone else’s dime today.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0247Holding On

Hold on
just a little longer
as the wind blows
and the leaves
rustle by
on the ground below
cling
just a bit longer
with bob and sway
as cold bites
and seeds fall
and spring’s promise
becomes
a little nearer
every day

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Self Care Saturday Tarot Reading with the Tarot Fauna Deck and Lenormand by Carta Mundi

Earth – Two of Shells – The more time you share with those you love, the more steady and supported you will feel. You will be reminded this week that sometimes you need others in order to find your center and ground.

Air – Ace of Torches Rx – Set new ideas and inspirations aside for now. Write them down for later instead of trying to pursue them in the moment. You don’t need to add more to your plate at the moment, no matter how good the ideas seem.

Water – Seven of Torches – Take care to keep your focus on what you hold dear and important. Distractions may try to tear your attention away this week, but you need to keep your eye on the ball.  Segways may slip in and try to rain on your parade, but they don’t have to take over completely.

Fire – Page of Rocks Rx – As already indicated in the Air position of this reading, now is not the time to be starting new projects. Focus on what is already within your reach and leave those new shiny ideas where they lie for now.

Waning – Ring and Key – You know that subscription you’ve been considering? Don’t do it. Step away from commitments and any sort of contractual obligations this week. They may seem like the keys to success, but they are not.

Waxing – Moon and Book – It’s time to step back into looking at your emotions and making a concerted effort towards expanding your emotional intelligence. Open the doors back to this line of growth now that things have calmed down from the holiday rush.

Take Away – There’s a lot of warnings here about starting new things and making sure you don’t add more responsibilities to your plate.  Make sure you stay away from adding on more obligations and projects right now and focus on what’s already right before you instead, and ensure that you are prioritizing appropriately instead of just letting chaos or chance make all the decisions for you.

DECKS USED: TAROT FAUNA AND LENORMAND BY CARTA MUNDI

Growth Takes Time

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Titanic Tarot Spirits Rising Edition - Queen of CoinsToday’s draw is the Queen of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, and manifestations. This often translates into themes of nurturing energy that holds the weight of responsibility for others.

One of the aspects of the Coins (Pentacles) suit is in its modality.  It is a slow suit, with an inclination for things that take time and patience, and it’s patience that I see in the imagery of today’s card.

Patience is important, especially when working to foster growth in either yourself or others, because whether we want it to or not, growth takes time. Today’s card encourages us to acknowledge that need for time… that need for patience, and give yourself and those things you work to foster and grow the time and space it needs to flourish without being rushed and pushed.

On a personal note, you did a few things last fall that you knew would set back your business a bit. Now that the holiday rush is over you are feeling the repercussions of that more keenly. Remember that it will level out, it’s just going to take some time for things to adjust.

CrowSister’s #DeckStudyTenTrueWords Prompt
Prompt: Distill your reading of the card to your ten truest words.

Flowers grow
at their own speed
refusing to be rushed

DECK USED:  TITANIC TAROT RISEN SPIRITS EDITION

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 28th

Titanic Tarot Spirits Rising Edition - Nine of Cups, Three of Coins, Two of Wands, Knight of SwordsWhat needs have I neglected that are important for the self?

Nine of Cups and Three of Coins – Collaboration is the key to  success. Don’t forget that you can’t do everything yourself. There’s still plenty of stuff you can allow others to help you with. Just because the holiday rush is over doesn’t mean they aren’t ready and willing to continue helping where they can.

In what area can listening to my needs help me right now?

Two of Wands and Knight of Swords – Listening to your needs right now can help keep you from feeling stuck, and will assist you in normalizing the behavior of seeking help from others, so that when things are hectic, it becomes something natural to do instead of a plan you have to execute at that time.

DECK USED: TITANIC TAROT RISEN SPIRITS EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I took a really good… really long nap.

Gideon’s Challenge

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IMG_0184Sunstroke

Everybody reaches
for a taste
of the sun
never realizing
that it’s
in the shade
we find rest
and peace
for the warmth
fools us all
into thinking
that it won’t
someday
burn us all
to a crisp

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Finding Rest Cartomancy Reading

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows: “Let’s ask our divination tool of choice how we can better find rest in our lives, what we need a break from, and how we can get more of the downtime we need!“

Standarte 1815 Playing CardsWhat do I need a break from?

King of Hearts and Ten of Spades – Subdrop. Mini-death-and-rebirth moments of misery that lie at Gideon’s feet. There’s been a bit of a struggle with this lately and avoidance because of it. Maybe it’s time to try something new for a bit rather than going onward with the same.

How can I better find rest in my life?

Ace of Spades and Queen of Diamonds – Communicate your needs clearly and allow others to help in fulfilling them. You don’t have to deal with everything all on your own all the time.  Let others assist you in finding the answers you need.

How can I get more of the down time I need?

Eight of Hearts and Four of Diamonds – Put down “want to” efforts and focus on only the “need to” things on your list for a while. Pressuring yourself into doing more just because you can doesn’t make it good or healthy for you.

How can I get the most benefit out of my down time?

Nine of Spades atop Two of Diamonds – Do not allow your worries and anxieties to drive you into unbalanced behaviors.

DECK USED: STANDARTE 1815 PLAYING CARDS