Guilt
Rising up
like a nausea
of the soul
as a clench
of choking tears
tightens
at the throat
and stings the eyes
while
I swallow hard
and struggle
to whisper
I’m sorry
Author: Twist the Leaf
Weekly Creativity Prompt – Relating and Relations
Prompt: Shuffle your deck of choice, then pull out every ninth card. Of the eight cards now sitting in front of you, which card do you relate to most strongly and why? Of the seven cards now left sitting in front of you, which card do you relate to the least and why?
Extra Credit: There are now six cards left. Assign a real person in your life, a fictional character, a movie, a book, or a song to each of these six cards and then tell us why you made the choice you did for each.
Card I Relate to Most Strongly – Ace of Wands – So much inspiration and so little time. There are so many things I want to learn and explore, but there’s never enough time. Every single day, more new ideas and new interests stir to live inside my mind and heart, and I want to explore every single one of them. Picking and choosing between them is hard when they all old so much potential value either monetarily, or through the pure enjoyment of discovery and exploration.
Card I Relate to the Least – The Fool – I am too cautious a thinker to relate well to this card. Although I often move at lightning speed to seize opportunity or get things done, there is no carefree abandon in this speed. Instead it is controlled precision. Tossing all cares to the wind and being carefree and innocent just doesn’t feel like it is a part of my nature. In fact, about the only time it ever happens is when I’m playing in the liminal spaces within the rainforests here in the PacificNW.
The Empress – I often think of Z when I see this card. As my mentor growing up and throughout my adult life, she has often held the place of nurturer in my life. Sometimes The Empress and nearly always The High Priestess… it turns out that it’s her mother that has stolen the Empress role from her of late. Now they seem to somehow share this role together in my mind.
Two of Wands – This card made me think of the second episode of the Rings of Power on Amazon Prime. It’s all about direction, planning, and the course of actions we plan to take in our lives.
Seven of Wands – Drive by Incubus
https://youtu.be/fgT9zGkiLig
Three of Wands – Time to Pretend by MGMT
https://youtu.be/B9dSYgd5Elk
Two of Cups – It is the timeless friendship between Morpheus and Hobs in the series The Sandman on Netflix that this card reminds me of. An immortalized human and the god of dreams strike up an unusual friendship by meeting once every century at the same tavern again and again. It’s an unlikely friendship, and yet it shows how such relationships can grow from just the seed of companionship between two people.
Four of Wands – At the end of Ambrose Ibsen’s book “The House of Long Shadows” the main character, possessed by a myriad of spirits, is walled up into the home he had been renovating in order to keep all those entities trapped within that place. The book then takes a look at the man’s spirit life afterward, and how the tree he’d thought smelled so disgusting all this time throughout the book now smells sweet and “like home”. He found peace in the house, even if it was after the horror of how he died, and the scent of the callery pear tree now is a celebration of that peace and home he’s found.
DECK USED: CIRQUE DU TAROT
The Sadness of Letting Go
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the World card, which is traditionally a representation of the end of a journey, the completion of a time of growth, accomplishment, and transitioning from one path in life to another.
The imagery for this card today is very classic, but what catches my attention is the fact that the card is a bit… dark. That’s not a trick of the light in the photo, it’s actually a bit dark and muted.
This brings to light an aspect of a card that is usually a bit of a celebration and a bit of a relief. That is, the sadness of letting go. In order to step through that wreath of laurels and into a new beginning, we have to leave something behind. That can be hard, and sometimes it can feel a bit sad.
The message in today’s card is to remember that you have new good things ahead. Don’t let the letting go get you down and make you forget where you’re going.
DECK USED: TRIONFI TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsSep2022 Challenge Prompt
Questions for September 26th and 27th
As the warmth of early Autumn draws to an end next month, what needs to be let go of?
Dreamer atop Ally – Sadly, this is referencing the interactive storytelling that you enjoy with Gideon. In these endeavors you create worlds together, and spent time with him in these worlds.
This is a reminder to enjoy it while you can, for as the holiday rush arrives in early November, you will have to let go of this joy in your life until next January.
What needs a little more focus and energy to complete before winter?
Creatrix – Self discovery and self care. Soon enough you won’t have time for either. It’s time to make sure that you ensure you get all that you need, and build up the practices that will get you through the winter rush.
DECK USED: SECRET WOODS ORACLE
The #ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge Prompt by E Roebuck-Jones
Questions for September 26th thru 28th
How can I stop taking criticism personally?
Queen of Swords atop Knight of Swords – Stop and think it through then rise above instead of impulsively flying off the handle.
Do I believe my opinion matters?
The Hanged Man – Yes, but you think everyone’s opinions matter. You like to see outside your own perspectives, and part of that is in listening to and trying to understand other people’s viewpoints.
How can I best express my love for others?
The Hermit Rx – Don’t shut them out. It’s not healthy for you and it makes them feel lost and alone. By letting them in and making sure they are a part of your life instead of just in the periphery of it, they feel more loved and more important, and you are healthier both mentally and emotionally.
DECK USED: TRIONFI TAROT
I brought a handful of tarot cloths with me to the house today so that I don’t have to pull cards on cardboard and packing paper every time I pull my cards there instead of at home.
Gideon’s Challenge
Dinosaur March
Hidden treasures
hide
among green
to distract
and amuse
delight
and sometimes
stir up
a bit of laughter
as you wait
in the heat
even the shade
of junipers
can’t assuage.
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Don’t Rush It
Today’s meditation was skipped.
Today’s draw is the Page of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s enthusiasm, passions, drive, principles and values, willpower, and motivations.
The stillness of the figure in this card’s imagery speaks to me about the concept of stillness and patience. Sometimes, when we are learning a new skill or starting a new passion project? We have to check our expectations and take things slow… even when maybe we don’t want to.
The thing is, these things can take time, and to do things right? It can be important to not rush it.
DECK USED: MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT
OwlandBonesTarot’s #BothSidesOfTheTarot Prompt
Questions for September 25th and 26th
Engage here.
Page of Wands – Every year is a new opportunity to do the holiday rush better than before. Make sure that you are engaging in the practices that will help pave the way, and trying new things that could help make the rush less of a chore and more of a passion project.
Disengage here.
Eight of Swords Rx – Willful ignorance is not your friend. Don’t ignore what is coming. You need to be checked in and engaged, not trying to pretend what’s coming is not so close and drawing closer.
Finding Balance Between the Two – The holiday rush is on the horizon but not yet here (Liminal Space), so make sure that you are taking time for yourself for rest and restoration (Integration). Preparation is about more than tasks that need to be done and things needing stocked up in advance, remember that it is also about self-care and getting what you need to enter into the holiday season feeling grounded, ready to go, and energized.
What have you always known?
Five of Wands – What feels right do you. No matter if it small and inconsequential things, or big important ones, you’ve never had a problem knowing what’s right for you and standing in certainty of that knowledge.
What still needs to be learned?
Page of Cups – Your journey of emotional intelligence and especially in understanding your own emotions is still at its beginning and there is still much more to be learned in this area.
Finding Balance Between the Two – Find a sense of peace and balance between what you know is for you and the uncertainty of your emotional journey (Harmony) by sinking into your creativity and allowing yourself to find joy in the creative process (Divine Encounter).
DECK USED: BONES OF THE BONESTONE TAROT AND THE SACRED HORSE ORACLE
To Cull & Gather #VennoxesTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for September 26th thru 30th – HONOURING THE DARKNESS
What do I need to illuminate and bring to the forefront?
Four of Wands – This is about gratitude. It’s about bringing to the forefront all that is good and comfortable in your home life. There’s lots that you want to chance, sure. That doesn’t mean you should let those things overshadow all the good, though.
How can my fears be transformed into joys?
Two of Cups – Share your fears with those that care. In the sharing, your burden is lifted enough to allow room for others to care for and comfort you.
What is the best way for me to rest and recuperate?
Page of Cups – Tap into your creativity and imagination. Do things that are completely unrelated to your work, and use the creative spark they kindle to reinvigorate you.
What void is in my life?
Two of Coins – You’re fooling no one by trying to circumvent your need for life balance. You need to take a moment to look at what you are juggling, and how to go about it in a manner that doesn’t steal from your self-care needs.
What should I let fade away?
King of Swords – Clear away authoritarian communication and step back from “taking charge”. It’s okay to take a back seat now and then and just see what happens.
DECK USED: MADAM LYDIA WILHELMINA’S TAROT
I had J help me with the packaging process so it could go a bit quicker.
Gideon’s Challenge
Missing Time
I woke up lost
and unsure
what happened
to the day
as clouded mind
struggled
to piece together
past events
that wouldn’t
connect
and hours
were lost
forever gone
even when
the sky cleared
