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.

Today’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

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?

Reading 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

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.

Today’s meditation was skipped.  I fell asleep and I haven’t tried again since.  I will give it a go again before bed so that if I fall asleep that time it will be okay and won’t be losing more time in my day.

Today’s draw is the Nine of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of taking stock of one’s wealth and good fortune in the area of their finances, resources, successes, and manifestations. This is a card that deals with independence, well earned success, and gratitude for all that one has of value in their life.

Roots.  The roots are what stand out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card.   They make me think of actual trees, and the root systems beneath those of great height such as the sequoias and redwoods.  These trees are giants and they depend upon their roots to keep them upright and stable.  The roots beneath the ground spread wide, and tangle with other roots, gripping each other and expanding their surface area for even greater stability.

In height, root systems are not about depth.  It’s about spread.  The more spread you can make beneath the soil, the more stability you have above the soil, and when it comes to finances and stability at home?  It is much the same.

People bond and create those roots, their roots tangle and the spread grows.  The more you have in the bank, hidden under the mattress, or just there to help in filling your needs… the more stable and secure you feel.  This isn’t just about money, but it’s about people too.  Even when you stand strong and alone, you need those connections “under the soil” to give you that added support and stability.

I am lucky to have many stable individuals with whom my  own roots are tangled, creating a great deal of stability and support in my life.  The message, today in this card, is a reminder to be grateful for the fertile soil and the tangled roots that help support me along the way.

DECK USED:  MESQUITE TAROT

LionHart’s Mercury Retrograde Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic:  What guidance does this New Moon offer for my current situation?

 Reading Summary: Move forward (Eight of Cups) with your new ideas (Ace of Swords). Your intuition is right on track (High Priestess) and there’s stuff you need to learn (Princess of Wands).

Take Away:  This is about some paperwork and forms I need to figure out concerning the Canada side of my business. I was wavering on dealing with it today, as it felt like a lot of stress and a pain in the ass… but clearly now is the time. And honestly?  It was a pain in the ass, and I spent a great deal of my time today on the phone with people that were not particularly cooperative. I took the advice of the cards, and I got it done though.

DECK USED:  TRUE HEART INTUITIVE TAROT

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Philosophical Question:  Why do I fear failure when I know I can learn from my mistakes?

Reading Summary: I worry that by wandering around like a fool without a clue as to what I’m doing (The Fool atop Novice), I will be judged harshly by myself or others (Judgement Rx), and end up making a habit out of being the fool in a not good way (The Devil Rx).

Take Away: There’s a lot of things that don’t bother me and in most cases that includes public perception.  But there are always going to be instances where it matters to me, and as harsh as I am on myself, it would matter to me a lot if I was perceived publicly as some kind of bumbling idiot.  Giving that kind of impression once would be bad enough… but to have it become a habit and a reputation would be… extremely difficult to handle. 

In most areas of my life, I rarely fear failing at something, as I use those experiences to try again and do it better the next time.  For this reason, when I do end up being influenced by a fear of failure, it is usually this concern of somehow earning a reputation of a bumbling idiot that most often causes that fear to rise.

DECK USED:  MESQUITE TAROT

I made myself a serious pain in the ass to both the CRA (like the IRS, but for Canada) in order to make sure I got all of the information that I needed, no matter how many times the guy on the line tried to brush me off or suggested trying to transfer me to some other department.  I’m not sure if he just didn’t like talking to me because I have to speak through a text-to-speech app or if it was because my requests for information were a bit more detailed and labor extensive than he’s used to… but I didn’t give up until I got everything I needed. This gave me a little fissure of pleasure and sense of accomplishment once it was all done.

Today’s meditation was just over eleven minutes long and another guided meditation from the Calm app with added interval timer for my piriformis stretching.

The focus of today’s meditation was about that um…. I think it’s Icelandic?  The concept of watching the storm through a window while you remain comfortable and safe on the other side.  (*Looks it up and comes back.*) Gluggaveður.  Essentially it translates to “window weather” and refers to the kind of weather you like to watch but don’t want to be involved in.

The guided meditation took this concept, and used it to encourage how someone can detatch from the intensity of one’s inner feelings or the immediate reactivity of a situation in order to find calm and peace in the middle of chaos.   This… is not really good advice for me, to be honest, as I have spent the majority of my life detaching from my feelings and that is my natural inclination when something intense arises.  Now… I’m instead working on how to better connect with them.  Still, it was a nice meditation.

Today’s draw is the Six of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of accolades and praise, admiration and public/social recognition of one’s accomplishments.

This card actually echoed for me some thoughts I was having in the shower this morning about compliments and the motivations behind such things.  I had a long rambling dialogue in my brain concerning compliments, and how it’s always nice to hear compliments but how important it is to not allow them to go to your head.

I say this because when compliments are given, there is always a motivation behind them.  Always.  It can be something as kind or innocuous as someone caring about you and wanting you to feel good, or wanting to make you feel good because it makes them feel good.  Or it can be something as mostly harmless as someone wanting you to like them and thus they give compliments in the hopes to endear you to them.   There are also times, though, when compliments are used in less innocent and guileless ways.  They can be used to “pull the wool” over someone’s eyes or to manipulate, for example.

I came to the thought at the end that perhaps the absolute best kind of compliment is the unintended one or the “back channel” one.  That is to say when someone says something that was not intended as a compliment but you personally see as something positive.   And, the compliments someone may say to someone else about you with no thought or expectation it might get back to you at some point.   These are great and amazing, because you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no motivation behind them directed at you.  They’re like little nuggets of pure gold panned out of a river, yes?

Anyway, I feel this card was an echo of these thoughts.  All compliments are nice as long as they are true, no matter the motivation behind them.  Just keep in mind that like the wide open eye of the horse in this card’s imagery, that you need to keep an eye on what those motivations might be.  Just in case.

DECK USED:  KEI TAROT LOVE

The Radical Love Tarot Challenge Prompt
Topic:  Radical transformation
Question: What area of my life and perspective is in need of some radical transformation?

What area of my life is in need of some radical transformation?

Four of Wands and Four of Swords – You are currently in a time of rest and recovery, but that doesn’t mean it’s a time to just lie back at  home and let the world move on around you.  Instead, it’s important to keep moving and doing small things.  They don’t have to be big or showy as long as you’re not sitting stagnant.

What area of my perspective is in need of some radical transformation?

Page of Wands and Queen of Swords – See if you can’t be a bit less harsh with yourself and a little kinder.  Remember that you are still learning your way, even as you’ve done this all so many times before.  Don’t expect everything to just be the same as the last.  The skills you have learned can help you rise above and do better this time around.

DECK USED:  JONASA JAUS TAROT 5TH EDITION

#DiscordTarotolicsFeb2021 Challenge Prompt
Question:  Where have I been settling for “good enough” in my life?

Reading Summary:  Retail therapy (Queen of Cups atop Page of Pentacles) is all well and good but it won’t carry you forward to your goals (Knight of Pentacles). Make sure that you are using your scarcity issues (Five of Pentacles) to help keep you on track (it all comes back to the Knight of Pentacles).

Take Away: We all have fears and worries that help keep us motivated towards our goals.  One of mine is my scarcity issues.  The fear of failing at keeping stability alive and strong in both my financial aspects and home life.   This is a motivator for me and not necessarily an unhealthy one as long as I don’t use it to push myself too hard or overwhelm myself with either too much work, or too much anxiety.

Currently (the past month or three) I’ve been sort of slacking on using this tool and over the past month it has turned into a bit of a stagnancy.  I’ve also, admittedly, indulged in quite a bit of retail therapy.  So yeah… it’s time to do a bit better.  Fair enough.

DECK USED:  KEI TAROT LOVE

I had a chocolate muffin with chocolate sauce on top.  Okay, so I know that’s kind of stupid as a self kindness, but I don’t often eat the chocolate muffins and I’ve never put chocolate sauce on one before.  it was really good. Like a rich and gooey lava cake almost, with the lava on the outside.