Daily Meditation

Don’t Taste the Cherries… Savor Them

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was about fourteen minutes long and was the seventh installment of the introductory meditation series in the Balance app.  I’ve not been using a timer for my piriformis stretches when using these meditations, which is why the times on them is all over the board.  Sometimes the meditation finishes before my stretching is finished, so I just keep meditating until I’m done with the stretches.

Dear Heart Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Queen of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive alpha energy, personality, or person in the are of one’s intellect, logic, communication, and wisdom.  This often translates into themes about being shrewd, sometimes even verbally cutting, and yet good at giving advice.  It’s about having the intellect and experience to offer others the advice they need to hear… which is not necessarily what they want to hear.

I have heard stories about my great grandmother, and how terrified people were of her.  How accurate she was with throwing a dirty dish cloth at someone when they  popped off at the mouth.  How tyrannical she could be. How stubborn she was.

And yet, she’s also remembered for having kept the family together during times when there was much conflict and in-fighting going on.  Her demand that everyone gather twice a year and “play nice” while at her home created bonds and kept family as family when without her they would have spread into the wind in all directions.  She was known for her love of these gatherings, and the love of her family.

That’s the message in these cards today.  It’s about realizing you don’t have to be hard or harsh all the time.  It’s about finding the things that really mean something to you, and diving into them.  So ask yourself… what matters to you?  Are you pushing it away?  Are you disregarding it?   Are you savoring it?  Or are you too busy trying to “stand strong” to soften for the special things in life that mean more?

DECK USED:  DEAR HEART TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsAug2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Do Spread #1

Frau Grand Duchess Tarot and The Sophie Herxheimer IndexSeeds Sown – What seeds for my physical health & growth planted in the spring have flourished and grown strong?
Nine of Cups and Upper Pink Index

Understanding the physical benefits that a regular daily meditation practice has for me.

I might still resist on an inner level the daily practice, my resolve not always it’s best when confronted with my emotion driven destructive urges, but the physical benefits are undeniable and acknowledged. My body is happier and healthier when I am doing this practice on a regular basis, and the longer I sustain that regular basis, the more benefits I reap from it and the happier my body is.

The Chaff – What seeds have not flourished and I need to let go of to encourage healthy growth in other areas?
The Emperor and Lower Pink Index

I’ve come to realize that forcing myself to do things, even things healthy for me or that I normally enjoy, kills my enthusiasm. The forceful push breaks my spirit, kills the part of me that -wants- these things in the first place. I end up feeling like it’s a chore. This method isn’t working for me, and I need to let it go.  I need to figure out a better way.

The Harvest – How can I best prepare now to reap the benefits of a positive and healthy harvest in the Fall?
The Chariot and Bottom Blue Index

Enjoy the process.  Don’t spend so much time trying to control every little thing that you miss the beauty in the changes and transformations taking place. Life is too short not to savor every taste of joy and pleasure you’re given.

DECK USED: THE SOPHIE HERXHEIMER INDEX ORACLE AND FRAU GRAND DUCHESS TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheAugustTarot #SOLTarot Prompt
Questions for August 1st thru 3rd

Dear Heart TarotWhat energy am I invited to embrace this month?

Two of Swords – This or that, not both. Be decisive.  Hemming and hawing isn’t going to do you any good, and stewing in the decisions that need made this month isn’t going to do anything, but make a mess you have to clean up later.

How can I best embrace this available energy?

Knight of Cups – When you’re being decisive and making those choices, make sure that you are choosing what’s going to make you happy. Not everything can be about money and responsibility.  Sometimes?  You just have to do what’s right for you and will bring you joy, and fuck the rest.

What can I accomplish for myself throughout August?

Eight of Pentacles Rx – Take time for yourself away from work. Now is the time to really enjoy these more fun and enjoyable pursuits, take the rest and relaxation you need, and enjoy the lazy days of summer that are left.  Soon enough, you’ll be back to the grind and struggling to keep up with orders.  Let’s not jump the gun and start in on that too early.

DECK USED:  DEAR HEART TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Hours of relaxation time with Gideon.  I even managed to deal with a disgruntled customer without getting all out of sorts.

Embracing Joy

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Today’s meditation was a little over twelve minutes long and was the sixth installment of the introductory meditation sessions in the Balance app.  It was basically another breath counting exercise, but a bit longer paced and more self directed.  It was nice, and again, strangely went by faster than it felt.

Cheimonette Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Ten of Cups, which is traditionally a representation of emotional fulfillment, harmonious relationships, and finding abundance on an emotional level that spills over to incorporate those around you.

Here in the Cheimonette tarot, the imagery for me has more to do with the color than the actual drawing. The calming blues and purples  that blend up into a joyful shade of yellow.  The colors are deep and resonant, and yet not aggressive or abrasive. In the center of these beautiful colors you have balding, elderly figures in a bare embrace, speaking of closeness and comfort as well as the security that allows them to be vulnerable with each other.

The Walt Whitman quote in the affirmation card today goes well with the theme of the Ten of Cups, as it is all about finding what makes you happy and gives you peace… and sinking into it.  So often, we reject the things that could make us happy either through lack of believing that we don’t deserve it, or because we feel it’s “not the right time”.   Today’s cards say that now is the right time, and you do deserve to be happy.  Don’t push it away… embrace it.

DECK USED:  THE CHEIMONETTE TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Topic: Grab a spread that you have been curious about… and give it a go!

Cheimonette Tarot

What’s the most magical thing about me?

The World – My ability to adapt through one life lesson to the next. To survive and keep going with the inner knowledge that there’s something more ahead to see and do, even if it’s not quite in reach right this moment.

How can I express more of my wild nature?

Temperance – Connect more strongly the spiritual self to the world around you. Take more time to both explore, and to nurture yourself and others. Your wild nature is not the tornado or the tsunami, but lies in the gentle currents and eddies of tide pools and meandering glacier streams.

Where/how have I been suppressing my magic?

Two of Cups – You’ve been stepping back recently on connecting with others on a deeper level, as well as on those things that you share in common. It’s okay to sometimes need a break, but it does suppress a piece of your magic when you are unable to share freely with like-minded others.

How can I release any feelings of shame or unworthiness?

The Empress – I focusing on being kind to yourself and others. By getting out in nature and allowing it to give you the healing energy that you need. Dry earth is not your forte, but I can still help to balance you out.

How can I BE exactly who I am and shine my wild & magical self to the world?

The King of Disks – Stay grounded, and focus on manifesting what you want to happen and come in to being. You are skilled at molding the world around you into what you want it to be. Don’t forget that.

A message from my guides.

The Priest – We are here to help you and guide you along your path. It’s OK to lean on us now and then. We are not as intimidating as you sometimes make us out to be in yore head.

This is the second time in the past week that a message from my guys has been the Hierophant card.

DECK USED: THE CHEIMONETTE TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Today I accidentally surprised someone trying to break into the building and got my head slammed into a wall.  When I woke up, the paramedics were there and although I didn’t want to, I let them take me to the hospital to get checked out instead of coming back upstairs like I wanted to.

Listening Is More Than Hearing

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was done in the wake of pulling next month’s decks and putting the majority (other than the ones I need for tomorrow) of this month’s away.

Panda Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Five of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of conflict, disagreements with others, and conflict through the clashing of wills.

The thing about the Five of Wands is that yes, it’s about conflict.  But it’s not the same kind of conflict you find in the Five of Swords.  In the Wands, we deal with the things that make us tick.  Our principles, our values, our enthusiasm, our drive.  In the Wands, the conflict card includes these aspects.  You’re not fighting just to fight, but because you are fighting -for- something.

Sometimes when many people feel strongly on a topic, they clash.  That is the kind of conflict that this card is about.

The affirmation card for today tells us that a lot of these battles of will, principles, and values can be solved if we will only pause to listen.  Not just -hear- what others are saying, but actually listen to what they have to say and think about it instead of trying to talk over them to get our own point across.

DECK USED:  PANDA TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 29th thru 31st

Ancient Animal Wisdom Oracle and Chinese TarotWhat should I appreciate more?

Three of Wands and Lion – My journey, and the autonomy I have within it. The strength it has given me that I now own through the trials I’ve experienced, and can now utilize as I move forward.

What am I free to begin at this time?

Two of Cups, Sausage Fruit Tree atop Civet – Cracks up. Okay. So these cards essentially say that I’m “ripe for spectacular sex with a mysterious stranger”. Maybe Gideon and I need to make new characters? I’m really enjoying the ones we have right now tho. Good thing that “free to begin” something doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. Maybe I can channel that “ripeness” into something else, hm?

What thought do I need to keep with me moving forward?

Nine of Cups and Monkey – Don’t let your feelings of satiation dampen your curiosity for life and the world around you. Just cuz you’re happy and comfortable doesn’t mean there’s not plenty more to explore, discover, and enjoy.

DECKS USED: ANCIENT ANIMAL WISDOM ORACLE AND CHINESE TAROT

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Question: What can I do in the present in support of my definition of a happy home?

Panda TarotReading Summary: Let go of past experiences (Ten of Swords) and own the present (Four of Pentacles). Ensure prolonged security (Ten of Pentacles).

Take Away:  In order to support my definition of a happy home, it’s important to not get so wrapped up in my past experiences and processing things concerning them that I lose focus on my goals.

A lot of my security plans and goals are on a sort of autopilot.  Automatic payments and the like. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t check in on them now and then to make sure things are going as planned and everything is in order. 

DECK USED: PANDA TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

After I pulled next month’s decks, I took an ibuprofen and allowed myself to lie down for a bit and take a break.

Who’s Goals Are Those?

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped for orders day.  That said, I feel like I might do a bit of meditation before bed tonight.

Michelangelo Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Ten of Cups, which is traditionally about finding one’s emotional nirvana.

On the back of this affirmation card are the words “Look Within”. This, I feel, is a very apt match for the imagery in this particular Ten of Cups. The female figure in this card looks determined. She sees the value of the baby, even when the baby is behaving badly. But, look at the face of the male figure in the card. It is full of doubt and even a bit of trepidation. He has that “what the fuck am I doing here?” look about him that makes it clear this is not -his- version of happily ever after.

Combined, these cards are a reminder to look within yourself and what you really want in life. Don’t base your goals and dreams on what others want for you (or out of you). Base them on what you want and what you feel is important. Living your life for others makes the accomplishments you obtain feel empty and can result in looking back on your life with massive amounts of regret. Live the life you want, and you’ll be much happier.

DECK USED:  MICHELANGELO TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Questions for July 29th and 30th

Seawitch TarotWhere do I need to foster more joy and happiness in my life?
Prince de Épée and Four of Cups Rx

You need to start fostering joy, happiness , and enjoyment in your business again. You have spent too much time lately seeing your work as a chore instead of the creative endeavor and outreach of joy and happiness that it is. Because of this, your enthusiasm for encouraging the business to not just sustain but actually thrive and improve is suffering.

How can I encourage that joy and happiness to flourish in my life?
Roi de Épée and Les Amouroux

Consider just how boring and lackluster life would be without your business to drive you. Sure, your home would be spotless and you’d get to explore a handful of projects that you’ve had to put off, but what happens when your house is no longer in need of more organizing and cleaning, and you have explored those back logged projects?

Boredom. That’s what. Listless boredom.

You need to acknowledge that the daydream of so much free time is unrealistic not because of financial reasons… but because it wouldn’t take you long to become bored out of your mind and stir crazy.

DECK USED: SEAWITCH TAROT

The Sacred Grounds Tarot Club Prompt
Questions for July 29th and 30th

Green Witch Oracle and Michelangelo TarotWhat is going to support me most with embracing the opportunities that the summer has for me?
Ten of Cups, King of Cups, Marjoram (Happiness)

It’s all about your emotions and tapping into them. Connect with the things and people that make you feel happy, complete, and secure. And, as echoed from your COTD activity for today, make sure that you are focused on what you need instead of allowing your focus to rest on what is expected of you.

How can I overcome the obstacles that I am facing to acknowledge and engage with these opportunities?
The Empress, Knight of Pentacles, Basil (Trust)

Trust what works. Nurture yourself. Get out in nature if only a little bit at a time. Good stuff can build up a little at a time the same way bad stuff can. That whole “nickel and diming” concept works both ways.  So give yourself small pleasures and moments.  Seek comfort.  Discover the differences that tiny positive influences can make when they build up over time.

DECK USED: MICHELANGELO TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I took time out on the balcony today with my plants.  I’m a little frustrated as all the heat has made some of my regulars (like the pansies and lobelia) die out this year. It’s just been too hot.  I did some pruning and dead heading, and then everyone got a good drink and fed.

Every Soul Is Unique

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped again today. Not intentionally, but I once again fell asleep in the middle of it.

Fyodor Pavlov Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Hierophant, which is traditionally a representation of long standing traditions and those that teach them to others, as well as themes to do with spiritual wisdom and religious beliefs.

For me, the Hierophant is often about teaching, especially in relation to helping others find their unique spiritual path,  or helping them in finding their direction and stride upon that path.

One of the things that I have discovered in my own experiences in this area is that it’s often through our connection to something bigger than ourselves that inspiration and peace are found in our lives.

This isn’t true for everyone, but with most of those that I have helped in finding their personal path, that seems to have been universally true. It’s not about “finding God” or a specific deity, but rather about finding what clicks with them.  What beliefs about life and death and how things work that resonate most strongly for them, and realizing that it’s okay to pursue that path for themselves.

Today’s cards are a reminder that finding what works for -you- is important.  Tradition and conformity cannot outweigh the fact that we are all unique… and so are our souls and the path our souls connect with.

DECK USED:  FYODOR PAVLOV TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsJul2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question: What is true beauty?

Tarot de Marseille Jean DodalReading Summary: Good memories (Six of Cups). A sense of satiation and security (Nine of Pentacles). Being able to support others in finding the same (Queen of Cups).

Take Away: Interesting. I was expecting this answer to be something about aesthetics, and yet that’s not what came up at all.

The answer here in these cards is that true beauty is about living well and helping others to do the same. It’s about cherishing the past, appreciating our accomplishments in the present, as well as valuing our connections to others.

DECK USED: TAROT DE MARSEILLE JEAN DODAL

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Question for July 28th and 29th

Fyodor Pavlov TarotWhere, or in what way, am I asked to ground myself at this time?

Don’t let changes taking place in your life (Death) take away your sense of emotional satiation and security (Nine of Cups Rx). Think logically with a sense of confidence and strategy (King of Swords) about what’s happening, instead of allowing your emotions runaway with themselves to a bad place.

What am I guided to work on / towards during this current season?

Finding solid footing in the direction you want to go in (King of Wands) so that you can lead others down that path with confidence and the preparation associated with knowing where you’re going and how you’re going to get there (The Magician).

DECK USED: FYODOR PAVLOV TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

Quiet time with Gideon today.  It was really nice.   Relaxing.  Soothing.

Move Forward With Confidence

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was skipped, although not intentionally.  I fell asleep.

The Prismatic Tarot and How to Be a Wildflower DeckToday’s draw is the Three of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of of the first steps that come after planning turns to action. It is about looking ahead, direction, and progress.

Just sayin’, but there’s a whole lot of nekkid swinging in the breeze in this deck that I wasn’t aware of when I first bought it.  Not that I’m complaining, mind you… but just sayin’.

Anyway… the nudity in this card serves a purpose.  It speaks of an openness, an honesty, and a comfort within oneself.  This is a man that knows where he’s going and how he’s going to get there.  He is not lost, but rather stands confident as he looks forward into his future, facing it head on without fear.

Combined with the affirmation card for today, what we see in today’s cards is an encouragement to go after those things that truly call to you without fear of the judgements of others or worry over the potential for failure. Stand confident and strong, and reach for those things that you feel a true connection to.

DECK USED:  THE PRISMATIC TAROT AND HOW TO BE A WILDFLOWER DECK

Mr Lionharts’ #TheJulyTarot #TarotSuitsChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 26th and 27th

The New Chapter TarotWhat have I created for myself in the months leading up to now?

Inspiring myself and others (Queen of Wands) to spend more time together (Three of Cups).

This is something I’ve been working on both in my work as well as my personal life. Taking time off to chill with others, or working alongside them and making it fun.  In both cases, it’s new and different, but a part of growing into a healthier way of doing things and dealing with the balance between my personal life, work life, and responsibilities.

What am I currently manifesting for myself?

The opportunity (Ace of Disks) to use my influence and strategic thinking (King of Swords) to stand strong for those things I believe in (Seven of Wands).

This is because I am giving myself time to heal and recover instead of pushing myself so hard all the time. It provides more time for soul searching and connecting with my values, principles, and inner compass.

DECK USED: THE NEW CHAPTER TAROT

Cosmic_Crow_Tarot’s #FreedomTarotChallenge Prompt
Questions for July 27th and 28th

The Prismatic TarotWhy do I still feel like a prisoner at times?
Two of Swords, Ace of Cups, Page of Wands

I hate feeling as if I’m always having to choose between all the new creative interests that pop up in my life from one day to the next.  This new path of taking things at a more sedate and moderated pace is something I often feel I need to struggle against.

I understand that this is a healthier approach, and I accept that I don’t have the energy to pursue all the creative interests that flit through my mind and my life on a regular basis. It just… sucks sometimes.

How can I free myself of this feeling?
The Empress Rx and Wheel of Fortune

Throw nurturing myself and my needs out into the wind and instead dive back in to playing the “up and down” game of manic creativity and oppressive burnout.

Obviously, this is not a healthy choice, and that is the point.

DECK USED: THE PRISMATIC TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I made that amazing stewed tomato and garden herbs pasta dish again today.  It was amazing.