Turning Over a New Leaf?

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and twenty seconds long, and focused on the tone of our inner talk with ourselves.

The meditation specifically focused on questions that we ask ourselves, and whether these questions are fostering curiosity and exploration… or if they are self-defeating.

I think this is a good examination of our self talk, but I think it is limiting to consider only the questions we ask ourselves, instead of the inner discussions we have with ourselves as a whole.

The meditation was relaxing, and I even got a little bit of peace and quiet to do it by myself without somebody wandering into the room.

Today’s draw is the lovers card of the major arcana, which is a representation of choices, harmony, love and relationships, and the alignment of values between two or more parties.

The Lovers card is an encouragement to make the choice to give my family here a chance. Something has changed. There are still the occasional snide comment or ugly remark, but the lions share of the venom is missing compared to past experiences visiting this side of the family. Also missing are the sneaky, vindictive passive-aggressive tricks that used to be so common.

Whatever it is that made this change, I’m set a little off kilter by it and keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Today’s card is asking me to consider that maybe there isn’t another shoe. Maybe these changes are genuine and sincere.

This doesn’t mean I need to make up my mind right at this moment… but it is something to take into account and consider.

Taking Time

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on taking time to step out of the hectic and rushed energy we surround ourselves with in everyday life.

It used the story of the tortoise and the hare as an example of how sometimes, it’s not speed but succeeds, but rather taking the slow and steady path.

This is something I often forget, and it’s an apt reminder for today, and a message that goes well with the card that I pulled earlier today.

Today’s draw is the Hermit card, which is a representation of retreat into the solitary, inner reflection, and soul searching. As a Major Arcana card, it does not deal with individual aspects of the human experience so much as with the larger picture.

I am finding being around so many people on a constant basis very draining. Today, my sister and I are being given the opportunity to go off on our own for a bit and have decided that after a visit to the only metaphysical shop in town, we are going to visit one of the local apple orchards for some quiet time.

Today’s card is an indication that it is time for a bit of alone time. I don’t find my twin to be draining on my energy, and I’m hoping that this solitary time with her will help me to recharge a bit.

Family

Today’s meditation was 10 minutes long, and focused on letting go of those things that are not working for you so that you can make room for new ideas and processes that will.

The guided meditations spoke on how changing seasons can be a good time to help in this process, as you can sync up your release of bad habits and other behaviors and time with the fall, and will come in new behaviors that will work better for you in the spring.

This is very similar to how I work with the moons phases, where the waxing moon between the full moon and the next new moon would be considered the time for release and correspond to autumn.

Today’s draw is the Ten of Cups, Which is a representation of the ending of a cycle, regeneration, and renewal in the area of the emotions, creativity, relationships, and intuition. My sister calls this card the “happy family card”, because in many ways it represents that atmosphere with a focus on the bounty that you have in your emotional life. It is, essentially, the “all my Cups are full and life is good” card.

The appearance of this car today is a reminder that as much as there may be discord and disagreements and mistreatment and even abuse, the people that I am visiting right now are family. They might suck… but they are my family, and with all their flaws there is still value in that.

It might be something that you have to dig for to see, and really search for in order to find.… but it could be worse too, and has been in the past.

Deck Used: Morgan Greer Tarot in a Tin

Find the Fun

Today’s meditation was 10 minutes long and focused on softening fear Through mindfulness and staying in the present moment.

A lot of times fear and anxiety is caused by “What If” mentality. That is to say that we worry about the future and the “what ifs” that might happen but are not yet a reality.

If instead, we stick to the present moment and pay attention to this moment instead of spending time trying to predict the future… then there is less to be fearful for and your anxiety can ease as a result.

Today’s draw is the Knight of Rods, which is an active beta energy in the area of one’s passions, ambitions, drive, and willpower.

Today’s card is an encouragement to work at condensing my scattered energies, my frustrations, and my feelings of being rushed about into something positive. The night of frauds is telling me that these negative feelings and frustrations can be turned into his sense of impulsive adventure, and And become an inspiration for my passion and creativity.

As we are apparently going to be doing a lot of running around today, I think this is a good message to keep in mind to help me in actively keeping my eyes open to opportunities to make what would normally be considered a very trying day into something more fun and adventurous.

Wasting Time and Energy

Today’s meditation was ten minutes and ten seconds long, and focused on opening up the heart to others.

The basis of the topic and premise is that one doesn’t have to be romantically involved, or have a close relationship with someone, in order to feel love for others.

The guided meditation spoke on how when you approach others from a place of love, you have a better chance of improving not just your life but the lives of those around you as well.

I very much enjoyed the breathing exercise included in the meditation, which involved focusing on Breathing in love on the inhale, and exhaling tension to foster peace with the exhale.

Today’s draw is a pair of Dixit cards from the sixth Dixit expansion pack named memories. These are two cards without a jumper, as they both came out of the deck together.

What I see in these cards as a reminder that freaking out is a waste of time. The chaos and color of the top card speaks to me of anxiety and the chaotic mindset that I’ve been residing in for the last couple of days. When I am in this mindset, everything is scattered and confused, and almost violent on the inside of my mind and body.

The second card speaks to me of wasting time and effort. What else are you doing when you’re trying to water a plant in the middle of a rainstorm when the ground is already flooded?

Today’s draw as a reminder that I need to do you things from a dispassionate perspective of logic rather than the heart while I’m here.

Deck Used: Dixit Pack #6 Memories

Take Your Time

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and I had a little bit of an issue focusing during the last couple of minutes, so it was really something like seven minutes long.

I did manage a decent first seven minutes though, and the discussion for the guided meditation was about setting intentions at the end of your meditation practice that you carry with you into the rest of your day.

I do this through the card that I draw prior to lying down for my meditation.  The daily draw posted here on my blog becomes my intention for the day.  It is the positive message to focus on throughout my day and help me in fostering perspective.

Today’s draw is the Ace of Zephyrs (Ace of Swords) which is a representation of new beginnings, opportunity, potential, and “the seed” of a start in the area of the mind, intellect, thoughts, logic, communication, and instinct.  This can often be expressed within the theme of new ideas and potential success, breakthroughs that create opportunity for growth, and mental clarity.

When I look at the artwork on today’s card, what I see is not just the brain in the center and the wings that, to me, symbolize the taking flight of new ideas, but the eye above in the center of the crescent moon speaks to me of intuition.  I do not usually associate intuition with the suit of swords, as to me it is more of a water element.   But  here in -this- card, I see intuition.  I see intuition bleeding into the mind, creating inspiration.

The snail in the lower left hand corner of the card also speaks to me.  It indicates that although intuition blends into intellect to create inspiration, sometimes that inspiration is going to need time to percolate and coalesce in order to become something of use.

Sometimes, you have to sit on your budding ideas for a bit and let them grow before you can act on them.

Deck Used: Stolen Child Tarot