Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Victorian Romantic Tarot, Magical Menagerie Oracle, Dreamscape Oracle

Earth – Ten of Pentacles atop Queen of Swords, Sow atop Pegasus – Things are good… Make sure that you’re keeping an eye on things so that they stay that way.  Make sure that you approach this watchfulness through a place of nurturing and encouragement towards growth instead of a mindset of perfectionism and rigid idealism.

Air – High Priestess and Firebird – Let your intuition guide you and making plans and strategizing your way forward. Changes to your business are troubling your mind, but your intuition combined with your inner knowledge on how to proceed to your best advantage will keep things on track.  Trust yourself.

Water – Four of Pentacles atop The Moon, Fox – Don’t sit on your laurels. Backsliding is still possible. Use your natural cunning intelligence to plot and plan so that you do not find yourself stalling out and stagnant, as that stagnancy will allow uncertainty to slip in and begin to drag you back down again.

Fire – Page of Cups atop Seven of Pentacles, Cow – Be patient and don’t let your current emotions veer you off your chosen path. Taking your time will allow the wealth and good fortune you seek through your endeavors to come your way. So be sure that you are fostering growth and not looking for immediate gratification.

Waning – Sea Turtle – Just drifting along is not going to work for you any longer.  This doesn’t mean it’s time to be setting out concrete plans, but it means that you need to be prepared and ready to move when the time is right.

Waxing – The Spring – It’s time to focus on healing, hope, and optimism.  Now is the time to allow yourself to climb and to reach for the light that shimmers above.  Use this time to cleanse your inner negativity and seek a healthier outlook and path.

Take Away – Sometimes avoiding stagnancy and backsliding is more about mindset than action, and this week will be one of those weeks.  Make sure you are focusing on the positive and not allowing space for negative inner dialogue to sneak in and gain strength. Remember that you are intelligent, capable, and cunning.  There may be a few hurdles this week concerning your business, but you’ve got this… and you’ll come out the other end all the better if you take time to prepare mentally and physically for the challenges to come.

DECKS USED:  VICTORIAN ROMANTIC TAROT, MAGICAL MENAGERIE ORACLE, DREAMSCAPE ORACLE

Sometimes Support Helps

Today’s meditation was skipped because I got home late and didn’t want to wait any longer than needed to get online and spend some time with Gideon.  I then ended up taking a nap while he went to town so I guess maybe I should’ve meditated before my nap, but I didn’t.

Modern Love Tarot - The ChariotToday’s draw is the Chariot card, which is traditionally a representation of willpower and movement forward driven by determination.

Not surprisingly, what stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of today’s card is the pup with the wheel apparatus.  Also posture of the woman walking the dogs and tilt of her head.

The message here is that sometimes to move forward we need a helping hand, no matter how determined we are.  Just as the dog is able to keep going by the grace of the wheels the pup wears.

The woman walks with pride and strength, and the tilt of her head and her posture remind me of my sister.  It’s a reminder that my sister is a part of my support system, and when I feel my drive or will faltering, she is someone I can turn to to alternately kick me in the ass, or help me find what I need to keep going.

DECK USED:  MODERN LOVE TAROT

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
: Resistance 
Question
: What is the path forward to sharing my emotions more freely with others?

Romantic Tarot

Reading Summary: Judicious sharing is important (The Hanged Man). Take things slowly and do what you can a bit at a time (Page of Coins) so that you don’t end up paying for impulsive follies (Justice).

Take Away:  It is so ingrained within me to keep my emotions to myself and buried deep that sometimes it feels nearly impossible to express them clearly. It often feels like more than just restraint but an inner resistance that I have to fight against just to get out the words. That is, when I even have the words to get them out in a clear way.  The cards here indicate that the endeavor to be more open is not an unwise one, but is one in which a bit of care and precaution needs to be taken in order to ensure repercussions don’t come back to smack me in the face as a result of doing so.

DECK USED:  ROMANTIC TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  How can I best become more confident in the skill? (Built on yesterday’s prompt.)

Modern Love TarotReading Summary: Use that skill only when you need it (Four of Cups) and don’t hesitate (Knight of Pentacles Rx), your heart and intuition will lead the way (Ace of Cups).

Take Away: The skill in question is to make quick and decisive decisions on the fly when needed that turn out okay in the end and, in fact, often even end up benefiting me or my business.

The key to becoming more confident in this skill is in not overusing it.  When it’s needed, it will be there for you and is a part of my intuitive abilities.  Don’t worry about it and don’t depend on it when other tactics, such as preparation and planning, can accomplish things in a less stressful and/or reckless manner.

DECK USED:  MODERN LOVE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I allowed myself to have today off.  I did not work on orders, nor did I even respond to customers today.  Instead I set the business aside and allowed myself to have a day away from it all.  So far, I am not feeling guilty about it.

Gideon’s Challenge

Silent Connection

Gentle softness
within
the gentle brush
of light and shadow
in silence
the peace
stretches
and the world
stills
until
for the briefest
moment
there is only
you.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Morning Bonus Read – Managing Depression

Graphic Cheatsheet Playing Cards

Card to represent my depression.

Four of Hearts (Watermelon Bliss) – For a few days in the past week, I found myself at the very bottom of the pit and struggling to stay afloat in the mire that covers the bottom.  But now, I am no longer in that place.  I am still in the pit, and the light is still so very far away, but it is more of a dejected feeling of disinterest than abject misery of soul rotting decay.  Dejection with just a sliver of hope is the current status of my depression.

Something I need to learn about my depression.

Ace of Clubs (Paper Sizes) – The roots of inspiration have no place to dig within the mire of my depression, the soil too loose and heavy like trying to plant seeds within clay or sand.  There is no nutrients to feed those roots, and stability in which to be supported and grow strong.  Inspiration cannot be forced… instead you just wait until you can see the light once more in order to plant those seeds in fertile soil.

An action I can take to help my depression.

Three of Clubs (Sweet Starfruit) – Small steps. Just like taking little nibbles out of a cookie will eventually turn into having ate the entire thing, each small step forward in the darkness will take you a little closer to the light, even when at times you cannot see the light you are moving toward.  Do not allow yourself to stand still and stagnate.  Every small step of self care and healthy choices help you in getting a little closer to the freedom you seek.

How I can show myself more compassion.

Seven of Spades (Waterlily Lake) – Watch out for sneaky inner dialogue slipping in to screw with you when you’re not expecting.  Don’t buy into those lying whispers and negative, snarky judgements that slither through your mind and try to pollute your thinking. You know it’s the depression speaking and not a reflection of reality.

How I can find joy in my life right now.

Four of Spades (Peaceful Droplets) atop Five of Spades (Compassionate Aura) – Set down your anger and your need to strike out, to share your pain in unhealthy ways.  That, too, is your depression trying to control and influence you.  Instead, seek healthy ways to unload your burden and ease your mind so that you can rest more easily without a guilty conscience.

A reason to stay strong.

Ten of Diamonds (The Unknown) – If you give in to the whispers that swirl within you during your depression, you can end up deconstructing every single bit of stability and security you have built up over time for yourself and those that depend upon you.  Instead, stay focused on all that you have accomplished and remember that you are stronger than this… and will make it through to the other side with the help of those you so often help every single day.

DECK USED:  GRAPHIC CHEATSHEET PLAYING CARDS

Open and Honest

Today’s meditation was skipped because I ended up dozing off in the middle of it and taking a brief nap.  Although it was just a short nap, I was worried that if I tried again I’d end up taking yet another longer nap.  Granted, I did end up doing that later in the afternoon, but I also managed to get some stuff done today so I didn’t sleep the whole day away as I was worried that I would if I’d tried to meditate a second time.

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th EditionToday’s draw is the Empress card, which is traditionally a representation of the Divine Feminine’s qualities of strength and grounded, nurturing energy.  It’s about power, but also a connection to the earth and the nurturing energy of motherhood.

What stands out to me today in the imagery of this card is the heart on the Empress’ sleeve.  The energy of the Empress is both giving and forgiving, nurturing through warmth, support, and generosity.  The heart on her sleeve speaks eloquently of these qualities.

The message in today’s card is about embodying that openness in oneself, just as how the Empress wears her heart on her sleeve.  Don’t bottle up your emotions or hide them from others.  This hinders people from knowing the real you and holds you apart from those you might otherwise connect with.

Instead, try to stay open and honest about your emotions.  Allow them to show and to shine through… even the bad ones but especially those loving ones that will foster connection with others.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic
:  Moments where I find myself

Elemental Power Tarot

The Hermit – In the woods. Society out of sight and out of mind. Just me and the trees.  I find myself within this alone time, by connecting with nature and with my need for nature. Healthy alone time in the embrace of the forests is my most favorite type of alone time, and helps me find the steady, grounding energy I need in order to survive and thrive in the busy world we all deal with on the day to day. My time alone in the woods is a time of centering and grounding, of drawing in the earth’s energy and blending it with my own to find the quiet core whisper of the self that can sometimes become muffled in the chaos.

Queen of Coins – When I consult with my mentor for a better path and she helps me find the rooted steps I need. Z has been mentoring my sister and I since we were nine years old.  She has always helped me in finding my way back to myself, and how to find what is my personal truth, when I am feeling lost or uncertain on my spiritual path. She has taught me over the years what it means to know thyself, and to know what is right for you, as well as how to stand up for what is right for you and claim it as yours rather than allowing others to distort it into what they think is right.

Ace of Coins – When I am creating new things. One of my greatest joys is taking an idea and tapping into my creative spark to manifest that idea into reality. I create new designs of jewelry and have new ideas for fresh and new designs all the time.  I have designed and created furniture, trinkets, graphics, artwork, and crafts.  I plant seeds and grow from those seeds flowers, vegetables, and crops. I write reams and reams of stories as imagination is put down into text and storylines. The manifestation power in the Ace of Coins is with me every day in one small way or another.

DECK USED:  ELEMENTAL POWER TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question
:  What is a hidden talent I possess that needs encouragement?

Broken Mirror Tarot 4th EditionReading Summary:  I have the ability to move fast (Seven of Coins Rx) and take decisive action (Knight of Swords) when needed and have it turn out positive in the end (The Star).

Take Away: This is about adaptability and course correction.  It’s about how things have felt so uncertain in the world (and thus in my home business) over the past year and how I am able to make momentary decisions that turn out to “work out” in the end to keep things with the business moving in a positive and successful direction. I’ve felt a little bit of uncertainty lately because of the Canadian side of my business model (my Canadian half of the business is down here and living with my sister and I for almost a year now), and some restrictions and changes they’ve been saying they are going to put in to effect up there. It’s starting to sound like my house guest might be here for another year, that I might have some problems getting that part of my taxes done, etc.

The message here in these cards is to remember that I’m capable and adept at making quick decisions that allow things to keep moving.  I’m good at adapting.  I’ll find a way to make things work and keep things going no matter what, so stop allowing worries to take control and eat away at my confidence in myself.

DECK USED:  BROKEN MIRROR TAROT 4TH EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I got all of my medical bills submitted to the insurance company today. I’ve been putting this off for months because it’s such a pain in the ass. Today I made sure I got all of the different receipts collected together and submitted.  23 of them in all. It’s a little thing, but it feels huge.

Gideon’s Challenge

IMG_4335Uncertainty

The fog rises
off the water
to swirl through
the trees
creeping up
from rocky shore
to grassy earth
as it begins
to swallow
all within its path
and solid shapes
become shadows
that ebb and flow
indestinct
and uncertain.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography