Author: Twist the Leaf

Begin Again

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was an eleven minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

Common Thread Tarot - Ace of Pentacles and Lobilat Rumi Quotes CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings and new opportunities in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, manifestations, and the physical world.

The Ace of Pentacles has then been combined with the Fairy Inkcap affirmation card from the Mushroom Affirmations deck, which says, “Learn to notice the stuff around you. Slow down and be mindful.”

I struggle a bit with consistency.  That’s probably  not a surprise to anyone that pays attention to my efforts on my blog or on social media.  Occasionally, things fall off and I then have to play “catch up” (like I’m doing right now).  It’s not always procrastination, either.  Sometimes it’s just that I’m too busy with other things and something has to give.

That said?  I always try again.  I always pick things back up and give consistency another go.  It may not be my strong suit, but it’s one I work at and put effort into trying to improve on.

And then, something happens to pull me off track and I start over once again.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that you can always begin again.  You can always take a look around, realize what you left behind, and pick it back up for another try.  Life happens.  Distractions happen.  Eventually, we become aware that we’ve been pulled off track.  Don’t despair.  Just pick what was left behind, and revisit what’s been lost.

DECKS USED:  THE COMMON THREAD TAROT AND MUSHROOM AFFIRMATIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Prompts for November 27th and 29th

Tarot Reading with the Cowboix Hevvven Tarot and The Black Ritual TarotGratitude : What are three things to be grateful for?

The World – Endings. Sometimes endings feel like a blessing, and sometimes they don’t. In the end, though, it’s only through those endings that you find new ways to move forward, and your world changes to suit you more and more as a result.

Seven of Cups – Options. Although you sometimes feel like you are hemmed in, your options are plentiful. So much so that sometimes you get a little caught up in trying to figure out which direction to go. Those moments of waffling and indecision are better than having no options at all, though.

Six of Cups – Positive memories. You have good memories to look back on if you are willing to seek them out. This requires a conscious effort on your part, but often allows you to see things in a more positive light when you decide to revisit them.

Humble Heart : What my heart needs to hear right now?

Reading Summary: Indulging in your addictions (The Devil) is not going to give you anything more than you already have (Six of Pentacles). Instead, you’re at the cusp of it turning into something unhealthy (The Lovers Rx).

Take Away: Any of your addictions can be indulged in in small ways without it becoming unhealthy for you. The danger is in the fact that sometimes you miss the warning signs that things are headed in an unhealthy direction. You are at that cusp now, and need to take a close look at what you have indulged in of late that you now need to back off on for a while.

DECK USED: COWBOIX HEVVVEN TAROT AND THE BLACK RITUAL TAROT

@LightningWildflower November Tarot Challenge
Earth and Water “The Nines” Prompts for November 25th thru 27th

Tarot Reading with the Common Thread Tarot and Pulp Fantasy OracleNine of Pentacles

How can I take more pride in my accomplishments?

The Moon and Astro Grave – Stop letting uncertainty rain on your parade. Moments of uncertainty have a tendency to cause you to hold back.  They make you feel that you are “not enough” or haven’t done enough, and thus you set aside the appreciation of your accomplishments to prove yourself.  Instead of letting your uncertainty direct you into pushing yourself, use mindfulness to pause a moment and really look at what you’ve done.

What abundance can I celebrate?

Strength and Starlight Oath – You are not hemmed in by time. There are no deadlines, and there is no need to rush. Make a commitment to yourself to slow down and spend more time appreciating the moment, rather than always striving for more and more.

Nine of Cups

What does satisfaction mean to me beyond material success?

Two of Pentacles – It’s not so much about how much you have, but about feeling like you have enough. This is only accomplished through balance and the reassurance of having people close that understand you, and that you trust to be at your side and follow you to the ends of the earth if need be.

Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Oregon White Oak Leaf for Strength, Stability, and Longevity
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Septarian Stone for Physical and Mental Healing
Picture Jasper for Sense of Proportion and Grounding
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE COMMON THREAD TAROT AND PULP FANTASY ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I called today to make an appointment to get my flu vaccine.

Gideon’s Challenge – The Pause

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

PeacockThe Pause

A moment
of fear
as startled
eyes widen
and muscles
tense
and the body
freezes
heart stopping
for a beat
before giving
a sudden
hard
THUMP
to begin again

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Emotions and Procrastination

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th Edition and Lobilat Fluffy Advice Oracle & Affirmation CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Knight of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of an active beta energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. This often portrays itself in a theme of going after what brings someone joy or following your imagination and creativity into new adventures.

The Knight of Cups has then been combined with the an affirmation from the Lobilat Fluffy Advice Oracle & Affirmation Cards, which says, “No more procrastination!”

My emotions are what spur on my tendencies toward procrastination.  I know this, and to be honest? I’m entirely frustrated by it.

I sometimes muse over how much easier and more organized my life could be if my emotions didn’t dictate my actions and convince me to put off doing things because “I don’t feel like it” or feel overwhelmed by it.  And yet… I continue to procrastinate again and again in a vast array of different areas in my life.

Today’s message is a reminder that sometimes, no matter if you feel like it or not? You have to bite the bullet and just do what needs done.  At these moments, work to push through your emotions and stir up those that will drive you forward instead of hold you back.

DECKS USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION AND LOBILAT FLUFFY ADVICE ORACLE & AFFIRMATION CARDS

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
The Sun Spread

The Sun Oracle Reading with the Enchanted Earth Oracle

Where are you radiating joy?

You are the Earth – The answer here is quite literally in the “where” of the question. Where you radiate joy is when you are in nature among the trees. Those times when you visit the forest replenishes this radiance within you that you cannot obtain any other way.

Where could you reflect the light?

Frozen – Reflecting the light in this instance is in opposition to absorbing it to use in your growth and healing. When you overthink things and push too hard for perfection, instead of drawing the light into yourself, you end up reflecting it back, and thus not actually getting the benefits of that light in the first place.

Where could you bring in that shining light?

Synchronicity – When you slow down and take time to allow yourself to feel in sync with the world around you, it allows nurturing light and the healing it has to offer an opportunity to come in and connect with you.

How can you best connect with yourself?

Fidelity – To better connect with yourself, work on building a better relationship with yourself that shows the inner you that you’re willing to put you and your own needs first. Right now, that inner you is accustomed to the harsh jab of punishment and neglect. If you want a stronger connection, you need to show that you’re making efforts to do things differently by connecting with your needs and being kinder to yourself.

What victories can you celebrate?

Fertile – Take the time to appreciate what you have now and how far you have come. Celebrate the little things that built into big things, instead of ignoring them in favor of what comes next. Stop and smell the roses instead of passing them by.

How can you store this positivity?

Quiet Achiever – Internalize this positivity through self examination and getting to know yourself and your needs better. Allow it to sink deep and be personal instead of something you let just roll off or ignore. You don’t need to shout your accomplishments from the rooftops, but you do need to acknowledge them within yourself.

DECK USED: ENCHANTED EARTH ORACLE

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 27 and 28

Tarot Reading with the Broken Mirror Tarot 4th Edition and Rune Dreams OracleDoorway (Choice) – What choice lies before me, waiting to be crossed?

Tiwaz, Three of Wands, Thuriaz – You can either let your fears rule you and do nothing, or you can move forward regardless of your fears because what you want is more important than protecting yourself from what you fear might happen. Do you allow your fears to rule you? Or do you move forward in spite of them with your goals, principles and values at the fore?

Dream (Vision) – What vision lies in dream or trance, pointing forward?

Fehu, Nine of Coins, Hagalaz – Opportunity lies within the chaos and destruction. You seek greater stability and abundance in your life. In order to reach these goals, you have to go through the storm to reach the other side, where you can begin again to build something greater than what you had before.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION AND TUNE DREAMS ORACLE ORIGINAL EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

Unlike yesterday? Today I managed to take a nap.  A nice long one.

Gideon’s Challenge – Setting Sail

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Duck at SeaSetting Sail

Dressed
and ready
and in the boat
keys in hand
and meds
on board
but reluctant
I sit
not wanting
to go
can’t we just
stay home
and wait for
the snow?

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Non-Transactional Kindness

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🍂    •    ◈    •    •    •

Brute Tarot - Five of Hearts, Five of Cups and Lobilat Fluffy Advice Oracle & Affirmation CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Five of Hearts, which in tarot correlates to the Five of Cups. As the Brute Tarot is in fact intended as a tarot, the Five of Cups is traditionally a representation of pessimism, regrets, doomsday thinking, disappointments, and occasionally, failure (or at the very least, the perception of failure).

The Five of Cups has then been combined with the an affirmation from the Lobilat Fluffy Advice Oracle & Affirmation Cards, which says, “Let self-care become a PRIORITY in your life.”

Don’t let a pissy mood or sour outlook keep you from providing for your needs.

Sometimes when I’m feeling pessimistic and out of sorts, I have a tendency to make things worse by punishing myself instead of being kind to myself. It’s almost as if in my mind, I feel that because I can’t be positive or uplifting I don’t -deserve- to be treated kindly… especially by myself.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that this mentality is false and abusive.  When you are feeling out of sorts is an especially important time for self kindness. These cards encourage this kindness, reminding us to take care of our needs even when we don’t feel happy or particularly deserving.

DECK USED:  BRUT TAROT AND LOBILAT FLUFFY ADVICE ORACLE & AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Grief Prompts for November 26th :

Tarot Reading with the Mystic Psyche TarotCleanse This – Ace of Wands Rx – Your inspirational blocks require some cleansing in order to break free. Clean your surroundings, and do some centering and grounding exercises to provide your inner landscape some cleansing as well.  Things are too cluttered, and more fresh air is needed.

Ground This – King of Pentacles – It’s time to work on shoring up the foundation under your feet with practices that help you ground and center more easily. That means meditation is needed, and time in nature as well.  These things, as well as breathing exercises and mindfulness moments, give you the grounding needed to help you keep your balance during both simple and complicated times.

Release This – Page of Cups – Your emotions aren’t meant to be tucked away, and neither is your imagination. Let them out so that they can flow freely.

Other elements included in this reading:
Carved Bamboo for Positive Outcomes
Foraged Acorns for Protection during New Beginnings
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within

DECKS USED: MYSTIC PSYCHE TAROT AND ENCHANTED EARTH ORACLE

The @owlandbonestarot #78DaysOfTarotSpreads Challenge
The Moon Spread

The Moon Tarot Reading with the Brute Tarot

What illusions are obscuring your inner knowing?

Two of Clubs – The illusion that everything is going to go according to plan.  Plans don’t go as planned. They are there to give you an “outline” to work with, not a step by step detailed set of instructions to follow to the letter.  No matter how much planning is involved, it’s never going to go as planned. Stop expecting it to and allow yourself to loosen up instead.

What unconscious part of you is hiding in the dark?

Strength – You’re stronger than you think you are.  The words may sound cliché, but that doesn’t make them any less true. Don’t sell yourself short.

How can you lead your shadow self to the light?

Jack of Clubs – Put forth your formidable willpower and focus to the task. Your daily positivity card, and other efforts toward optimism and positivity aren’t for naught. It’s not easy, and sometimes feels foolish, but you’ve already proven it works if you put in the work.

How can you best use the bewitching electricity of the Moon?

Ten of Diamonds – Use the energy of the Moon to help in boosting your drive as you work toward your goals of stability for yourself and those you love.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Bird Figurine for Fostering Hope, Positivity, and Renewal
Mookaite Stone for Help with Weighing One’s Options
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: BRUT TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

It was far too busy for a nap, but I at least allowed my back a few breaks throughout the day.

Gideon’s Challenge – Connected

/ Twist the Leaf / Leave a comment

Orca Topiary in Victoria BCConnected

We move
together
through tides
and times
side by side
year after year
connected
supported
and never
alone
for our hearts
are connected
as one

Photo © ZenStatePhotography