Author: Twist the Leaf

❤️ 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 Daydream Tarot and The Ghastly Lenormand From the Grave

Earth – Queen of Pentacles atop Page of Pentacles Rx – Remember that you’re not so much the novice as you feel that you are in this moment. It may feel like you’re starting over, but you have a lot of knowledge under your belt that you wouldn’t have if you were starting from scratch.

Air – Wheel of Fortune – Try to keep in mind that the ups and down of fate have nothing to do with you or your performance. Sometimes it’s just how things fall into place, and other times it’s creating a step forward that you need in order to make a different step later. This means that when shit goes awry, it’s not always your fault, nor has anything to do with you other than you are along for the ride.

Water – The Devil – You’re emotions may drive you towards temptations and bad habits this week. Make sure that you’re keeping an eye on things so that you don’t fall into bad habits that could be harmful and cause problems later down the line.

Fire – Knight of Wands – Burn that torch bright. This week gives you an opportunity to act instead of sitting back on your laurels and waiting. Seize that opportunity when it presents itself, and run with it.

Waning – Tree and Ring – Veer away from making commitments that you can’t keep. That push to get in to see the doctor? The answer is “I’ll try”, not “I will”. Carry that forward into anything that has to do with putting down commitments that you may not be able to keep this week.

Waxing – Tower and Key – Focus instead on trying to spot incoming trouble before it can slip in and start causing problems.

Take Away – Finally!  Movement.  It might be a bit of a slip and slide situation, but movement is something there hasn’t been a lot of in the past month and here you see the ability to start moving again.  Get back in the saddle and start looking for opportunities to improve your situation. Just make sure you’re not committing to anything this week that you can’t later back out of.

Other elements included in this reading:
Septarian Stone for Physical and Mental Healing
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE DAYDREAM TAROT DECK AND THE GHASTLY LENORMAND FROM THE GRAVE

Hush, Now

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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VooDoo Dolly Tarot's Hanged Man and Halloween Affirmation CardsThe @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Maiden Prompt for October 4th : Potential
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is The Hanged Man, which is traditionally a representation of taking a pause, considering alternate perspectives, relaxing into difficult situations, surrender, or letting go.

The Ten of Pentacles has then been combined with one of my personal Halloween Affirmations cards that says “You are strong. You are resilient. You will defeat this.”

Keep your shit together, shut up, and just watch.

When your mouth is running (or your head, for that matter) it makes it hard to see the potential that’s right in front of your face.  When you shut up, though, it means you’re open and ready to seize opportunities as they come within reach.

That means that when you’re struggling or there’s a problem? It’s better to stay calm and watch for your opportunity to change things, rather than bitch and moan about the circumstances.

The message in today’s cards is that sometimes the solutions you seek reside in the silence. Try to quiet  your mouth and your mind, and let that solution come to you.

DECKS USED:  VOODOO DOLLY TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATIONS

@CrowSister #PreparingForTheDark Challenge
The Harvest Prompts

Skele-Tarot Reading with the Still of the Night OracleTend – Ten of Wands and The Haunted House – Take care that you aren’t isolating when you feel overwhelmed. This behavior has a tendency to just makes things worse when you do, so don’t trap yourself in that cage.

Gather – The World and The Match – Extra reserves are not meant to be spent all at once. They’re meant to be gathered and hoarded for when they’re most needed to keep you heading where you want to ultimately go. Instead of spending all your energy in one place, store it up and use it sparingly so that you have a reserve in place when it’s needed.

Prosper – Justice and Still Waters – Toe the line and don’t make waves. (This message is repeating for the past few days.) Don’t step out of line with authority right now. At this time, it’s important to be diligently honest, no clever antics or hedging to the truth, and follow the rules to the letter.  There’s absolutely no wiggle room here at all.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pine Tips Ceramic Impression for Longevity and Sustainability
Red Maple Leaf Ceramic Impression for Adaptability and Connection
Deodar Cedar Ceramic Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection
Montana Moss Agate for Connecting Self to the Divine
Black Tourmaline for Grounding and Protection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: SKELE-TAROT AND STILL OF THE NIGHT ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Creepy Prompt for October 4th : Is the thinning veil something to be feared?

VooDoo Dolly Tarot ReadingReading Summary: Fear is something that can either empower you or defeat you (turned Five of Swords). You can either make a plan and stick to it (Two of Wands), or let it steal your confidence, and with it, your success (Seven of Swords).

Take Away: Looks like the answer here is yes, the thinning veil is something to be feared, with the caveat that you can be empowered and prepared for it, or not. This determines how the fear will affect you and your life.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Yew Tips for Ancestral Connections
Black Tourmaline for Grounding and Protection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: VOODOO DOLLY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – So Much Fun

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Halloween DecorationsSo Much Fun 

Each decoration
added
one at a time
to shift from
summer
to autumn fun
and let
the world see
that Halloween
isn’t scary
at all
but instead
is a time for play

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Claws and Precision Timing

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🎃    •    ◈    •    •    •

Cruel Thing Tarot's Ten of Pentacles and Sinister AffirmationsThe @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Maiden Prompt for October 3rd : Awakening
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of satisfaction and stability in the area of one’s finances, resources, home, health, manifestations, and the physical world. This often translates into themes that have to do with hard earned success, accomplishments, abundance created through patience and hard work.

The Ten of Pentacles has then been combined with one of the Sinister Affirmations cards that says “You’re right where you belong. Sharpening your claws in the shadows and ready to strike.”

Success comes to those that have the patience to wait when waiting is needed, and the tools and quick reflexes necessary when opportunity strikes. Awaken your primal instincts.

Don’t put the carriage before the horse. Don’t chomp at the bit. Success is often a game of predator and prey, which means asserting your aggression only with good timing and precision.

The message in today’s cards is to pick your battles, and prioritize those that will foster stability to achieve your greatest successes.

DECK USED:  CRUEL THING TAROT AND SINISTER AFFIRMATIONS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Buried Alive Prompt for October 3rd : What in your past needs dug up and dealt with?

The Sealed Bear Tarot ReadingReading Summary: It’s time to dig up from your past belief that being too optimistic (The Star) about friendships and welcoming others into your close circle (Four of Wands) will bite you in the ass when you realize they’re pulling the wool over your eyes (Eight of Swords).

Take Away: It hurts when you feel you’ve been betrayed by someone you’ve put your trust in. This shit always comes out in the end if it’s present in the relationship, and it’s both emotionally and physically painful when it does. This isn’t like burning your hand in a hot stove burner and learn to not touch it, though. Friendships are important… needed, even. Healing these old wounds (instead of picking at them like scabs) helps you grow into a place where you’re ready to try again.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Foraged Ponderosa Pine Cone for Resilience and Adaptability
Moonstone for Emotional Stability
Shiva Shell Heart for Wisdom and Discernment

DECK USED: THE SEALED BEAR TAROT

@LightningWildflower October Tarot Challenge
Fire and Air “The Aces” Prompts for October 1st thru 3rd

Tarot Reading with the Cruel Thing Tarot and Necrohamster Game CardsAce of Wands

What is a creative ‘call to action’ that I shouldn’t ignore?

Eight of Cups and Cerberus – You can wear many hats, and now is the time to delve into diversification. You can’t trust that “keeping all your eggs in one basket” isn’t a risk. Move away from the temptation to continue on that path. Instead, work on diversifying wherever you can in your creative business.

What helps me to feel inspired and motivated?

Wheel of Fortune Rx and Spirit Dog – There’s nothing that gets you motivated quicker than when things start to fall apart. Your innate desire for stability makes you surge forward to protect the status quo.

Ace of Swords

Where have I gained mental clarity?

Three of Swords and Skeleton Bat – You’ve been spinning your wheels in emotional turmoil over your creative business throughout the month of September. Now, as October begins, you are able to see things from a better vantage point, and this is allowing clarity to slip in.

What should I do about this?

Justice and Spirit Rabbit – Take your time and make sure that you are working within legal constraints. Seek advice from authorities when needed to make sure you don’t run headlong into any snares or traps along the way.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration and Clarity
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change
Black Tourmaline for Grounding and Protection
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: CRUEL THING TAROT AND NECROHAMSTER GAME CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

This post is a catch-up post, and I can’t remember what my self-kindness might have been for this day.

Gideon’s Challenge – Day’s End

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Lazy SunsetDay’s End

I am so ready
for today
to be over
and life
to settle into
evening quiet
as the stress
of today
is left behind
except…
it doesn’t seem
to want
to stay back there

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Performance Not Considered

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Today’s meditation was nine minutes long, and was one of the #DailyCalm sessions from the @Calm app.

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Carnival at the End of the World Tarot's Nine of Swords and Halloween AffirmationsThe @GlitterbyInk #OctoberMagic25 Challenge
Maiden Prompt for October 2nd : Curiosity
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Nine of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of nightmares, anxiety, insomnia, and negative thoughts and inner narratives.

The Nine of Swords has then been combined with  one of my personal affirmation cards that says “You don’t have to be perfect to be lovable.”

I’ve discussed before in my posts how “doing your best” is not a particularly helpful affirmation for me as an individual, due to its connotation that if I self sacrifice just a bit more, I can do a bit better, and thus it’s never enough.

Today’s cards touch upon this concept. The Nine of Swords challenging it by telling me that my fears that I am unacceptable as anything but my best is all in my head, and not a reality. The affirmation card then telling me that this is because I am lovable regardless of my performance.

These are concepts that are really difficult for me to internalize. I grasp them in my head, and through logic I can accept them as truth. But. somewhere deep down in my heart, or perhaps in my inner child, it just doesn’t want to sink in.

I’ll keep trying though. Some knots from the past are just harder to untangle than others, and take more time to work through.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder, not just to myself, but all of us that we are not loved based upon our performance. That means we are good enough just as we are. Don’t let anyone make you think differently, not even that negative inner voice whispering in your head.

DECK USED:  THE CARNIVAL AT THE END IF THE WORLD TAROT AND TWIST’S HALLOWEEN AFFIRMATION CARDS

#DiscordTarotholicsOct2025 Challenge
Ghouls Prompt for October 2nd : Who in your life needs a bit more acceptance and understanding?

Tarot Reading with Carnival at the End of the World Tarot's Nine of Cups and Strange Curiosities Playing Cards ReadingReading Summary: This person always has too many things going at once (all the cups in the air) and is just a bit full of herself (the figure’s mask, attire, and posture), which means she often misses when she’s hurting others and sees their reactions and retaliations through the lens of a victim instead of the perpetrator (the snake under foot hidden among the flowers).

You’ve connected with her in the past on collaborations in life (Three of Diamonds is on the left) and were once quite close with her, but you’ve kept your distance recently because you’re still trying to process the emotions that rose up for you when her true colors started to show through (Jack of Hearts is on the right).

Take Away: Perhaps you need to look at what you’re doing and how you’re reacting. Are you not following the same pattern as her own behavior? Some food for thought.

DECK USED: THE CARNIVAL AT THE END IF THE WORLD TAROT AND STRANGE CURIOSITIES PLAYING CARDS

Daily Self Kindness

I spent yet more time (over 4 hours the other day, another 2 hours today) on the phone with the new shipping fulfillment company I’m working with to get more information on how to work in their system and get the results I want.