Daily Focus

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.

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.

Giving Credit Where Due

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Tarot of the Most High - Nine of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of wealth and accomplishments, gratitude and comfort, and the pleasure of having done well for oneself. This is a solitary pleasure, that moment of adjustment where you are doing well but are not yet comfortable to the point you are then ready to share the wealth (which comes later on in the Ten of Pentacles).

There’s accomplishment in the imagery of this card and the depiction of a woman that knows her worth.

Sometimes, that can be really hard, yeah?  Knowing your worth.  It can be difficult to see past the negative self talk, struggles with self confidence, and perceived flaws to see our own worth clearly.

The message in today’s card is a reminder to take time to do just that. To put these things aside and make the effort to see yourself in an objectively positive light.  Even if just for a moment or two.  Take time today to look at yourself in the mirror and pick out one thing you have accomplished and are happy about.  One true thing you’ve done, no matter how small, that feels of value… and tell yourself that you’re proud of yourself for that accomplishment.

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

Give your worst critic
a break
and give credit generously

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE MOST HIGH (w/ key words trimmed off)

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Questions for January 27th

Tarot of the Most High - Eight of Swords, Two of Pentacles, Ten of Swords, TemperanceWhat feelings have I ignored that I am asked to embrace right now?

Ten of Swords and Temperance – Let go of the need to rush yourself to get back to 100% when you’ve been knocked down a peg or two. Taking things slow is not just allowed, but encouraged.

In what way can embracing these feelings support my well-being?

Eight of Swords and Two of Pentacles – Taking things slow instead of rushing your times of recovery allows you to see more clearly what is needed to create balance in your life.

DECK USED: TAROT OF THE MOST HIGH (w/ keywords trimmed off)

Daily Self Kindness

Lots and lots of time with Gideon.

Fun and Games

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Granny's Postcards Tarot - Page of CupsToday’s draw is the Page of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. This often translates into themes that have to do with the resurfacing of old relationships, delving in to explore new creative endeavors, and the growth of one’s emotional intelligence.

In the imagery of today’s card, the fisherman is off-balance, and there’s a risk that the fish he’s caught on that fishing line is going to pull him right into the water. He might be having a good time, but there is a level of danger here.

I’ve been a little stressed over the last few days about the performance of my business over this valentine season. Sales have been very slow compared to usual at this time of year, and that brings up lots of worries and lots of imagination on what could be going wrong, and how my business could be affected long-term.

The message in today’s card is to take care not to let your emotions and imagination run away with you.

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

It’s all Fun and Games
until things begin
going awry

DECK USED:  GRANNY’S POSTCARDS TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I decided to give myself a bit of a break for a few days and just do the card of the day pull instead of all the challenge questions I usually do.

Obstacles, Not Roadblocks

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Runic Tarot - Four of PentaclesToday’s draw is the Four of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of stability, grounded energies, stagnant control, miserly behavior, and conservation of resources or funds.

Well, that ship isn’t going anywhere.

Here in this card we see a figure that has become stranded. They sure as hell aren’t going to be sailing away any time soon, and thus the stand on the shore, stuck and stagnant because their ship is no longer available to them.

The message in today’s card is about looking at where you have been stymied by events beyond your control, and how you can roll with these punches instead of remaining stuck in place as the world moves on around you.

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

Missteps happen…
Don’t allow cement boots to dry
Keep moving

DECK USED:  RUNIC TAROT

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Question for January 24th: Where or in what area can my strengths help manifest my best 2023? (Draw a card for each strength card you drew.)

The Witching Hour OracleIngwaz – Transform – By allowing yourself the space to grow and time to do it in its own time, you allow yourself the freedom to grow without hindrance and come out the other side whole instead of “half baked”.

Dagaz – Explore – Moments of epiphany and your ability to quickly grasp new concepts and roll with them allows you the freedom to explore more fully the world around you and new pathways available to you on  your journey.

Kenaz – Purification – Your curiosity and creativity allow the waters of life to flow around you and continue to purify themselves instead of becoming stagnant and rancid. This constant shifting keeps life interesting, clearing out the old and the boring for fresh perspectives again and again.

DECK USED: THE WITCHING HOUR ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for January 24th: Global Belly Laugh Day – What can you do today to bring more laughter into your life?

Runic Tarot - Queen of Wands, The Fool, Queen of CupsReading Summary: Put down your ambitions and motivations (Queen of Wands Rx). Throw caution to the wind to have a little fun (The Fool), and it will help both yourself and others take your minds off your stressors (Queen of Cups raising her cup to The Fool).

Take Away: Laughter makes the heart happy and healthy, and allowing yourself some carefree time to indulge in fun with others is the best way to make sure you are getting the laughter you need.

Set aside your worries and responsibilities and play the fool now and then.  It allows others to see the lighter side of your nature, and gives you the stress relief you need to return to your responsibilities reinvigorated.

DECK USED: RUNIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I rode on the lumber cart today instead of walking around the hardware store so that my ankle wouldn’t act up any more than it already is.

Ideas and Inspiration

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

Stitchery Witchery Tarot - King of SwordsToday’s draw is the King of Needles (Swords), which is traditionally a representation of a projective alpha energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, education, ambitions, and communication.

The man sews by hand in neat stitches, radiance glowing from his head as he works.  This is clearly something he does often and well, and yet the radiance around the head also indicates that there is more here.  Ideas and inspiration flowing freely and ready to be applied to his work.   Others think he is brilliant for a reason… because he is able to translate those sparks of inspiration into something beautiful.

Where in your life to you transform ideas into something beautiful?  For me, it’s in my work with jewelry.  Today’s card asks us to look at these activities and allow inspiration to flow freely.  Don’t choke it up with worries or nay-saying… allow it to flow into a process that might bring those ideas to life for all to see and admire.

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

Before manifestation
breathes its first breath
comes ideas
and inspiration

DECK USED:  STITCHERY WITCHERY TAROT

Lionharts’ #TheJanuaryTarot 2023 Year of Evolution Challenge Prompt
Question for January 23rd: What are my current biggest strengths? Draw up to 3 cards.

Runic Odyssey Oracle Pocket EditionIngwaz – Your openness to growth and willingness to let that develop at its own speed. Patience isn’t one of your strong suits, but the fact that you’re willing to try and let things develop at their own speed provides you with a potential for growth you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Dagaz – Your ability to seize upon moments of realization and epiphany and adapt with them rather than allowing them to create blockages and hurdles. By being able to adapt more freely when these “epiphany moments” appear, you continue to evolve rather than growing stagnant.

Kenaz – You are clever and intelligent, and you use these qualities in ways that create a spark of inspiration for your creativity to flourish. This allows creativity to be a part of your life in a variety of aspects and incarnations rather than one or two, and with each creative endeavor you pursue and experience you garner, your skills and abilities continue to grow.

DECK USED: THE RUNIC ODYSSEY ORACLE POCKET EDITION

#DiscordTarotholicsJan2023 Challenge Prompt
Question for January 23rd: Measure Your Feet Day – Who in your life could you understand better by putting yourself in their shoes?

Stitchery Witchery TarotReading Summary: Ms B (Queen of Buttons… literally) could be understood better by looking at things from (The Hanged Man) a more emotionally anchoring and supportive role (King of Chalices).

Take Away: She is full of feels… so many that she doesn’t know what to do with them all.  By putting yourself in her shoes, you are better able to see what she needs and provide that for her.

This, in turn, is healthier for you because you won’t feel like you are jumping through hoops and getting nowhere. It will provide you direction and allow you to offer help where it is needed instead of expending time and energy where it is not.

DECK USED: STITCHERY WITCHERY TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

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