Today’s meditation was a self-directed ten minute session, focused upon the “The Alternative” card from The Az Oracle (shown) by @Sunni_Chapman and the guidance that came with that card.

That guidance says, “I wonder if you’re considering the alternative, deary… it’s not a matter of going forward or backward, onward or back home… it’s a matter of knowing what HOME really is to you, and taking that with you wherever you go.”

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The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 13th : Gateway
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 Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of solitary satisfaction, a job well done, self-sufficiency, abundance, financial independence, and luxury earned through hard work.

I feel my greatest sense of “home” in the woods among the trees and the moss and the damp soil. Here is where my heart unclenches most easily and my head can be tamed into silence. The thing is though? I can’t get to the woods even remotely as often as I want or need.

So instead, I bring the woods to me. I grow fern and pine on my balcony, I gather forest detritus to bring home and use these items in my decor and daily practices (divination, devotionals, altar, etc.) I carry rocks in my pocket… not crystals, but beach stones and rocks unearthed from moss beds and rich forest soil. I use scents of cedar, pine, and fir in my meditation, and often will carry them with me on my clothing.

All of these things help me to stay in touch with “home” no matter where I am. These things help me to create and foster a greater sense of stability and confidence, aiding in relaxing more easily during tense or uncertain situations.

The message in today’s cards asks us to consider how we can bring with us that sense of “home” when we’re out into the world. What things or actions can we do to connect us with these places, providing us with a momentary gateway to touch those feelings of “home”, even when we’re away?

DECK USED:  ELEMENTAL NORTH TAROT AND THE AZ ORACLE

@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompts for September 13th : How can I improve my self-image?

Reading Summary – Slow down (Voice of Earth), and stop trying to make choices that you have no business making right now (Four of Air atop Seven of Water). Remember that you’re supposed to be gathering information to support your ambitions (Voice of Earth and The Magician). You will be learning these new skills that you need eventually, it’s just going to take a little time (back again to Voice of Earth).

Take Away – You’re supposed to be resting and using this time in productive ways that allow you to relax. You often forget that slow movement is still movement in the right direction. There’s no reason you can’t keep up on the information gathering and preparation without going overboard and overwhelming yourself.  The more languid pace is going to pay off later when you can jump back into the fray again, for you’ll have the tools you need to move forward quickly once this time of rest and slowness is over.

Other elements included in this reading:
Amethyst Moon for Serenity in Spiritual Connections
Onyx Stone Fox for Identifying and Connecting to Truth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: DISCOVERING BEAUTY TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompt for September 13th

What helps when  you’re angry?

Empress and Spider – It helps you to turn inward to seek out what you need and create the space needed to give those things to yourself. When you’re truly angry, you need to step away and find that calming influence that self-care can provide. This is why stepping outside to work in the garden helps you so much, as it gives you that time alone and allows you to connect with energies in the soil that you find soothing.

What helps when  you’re sad?

Five of Wands and Otter – Hash it out with others. When you’re sad, others in your life are able to give you a different perspective than that of the darkness you’re stuck in, and thus help lighten your mood better than you’re able to do on your own. Sometimes time with others when you’re sad feels uncomfortable or even unpleasant, but it still helps even when you’re not really feeling up for it.

What helps when  you’re needing to relax?

Ten of Swords and Dragonfly – Accepting that there’s nothing you can do right now except take a step back helps you to relax when you need it. This distance can allow you to see things more clearly and give you the space needed to work out what’s really going on not just around you, but also in your head.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Rose Quartz for Gentle Kindness to Self and Others
Aventurine Leaf Medallion for Harmony and Balance of the Heart
Selenite Tree of Life Disk for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: ELEMENTAL NORTH TAROT AND ANIMAL TOTEM GUIDES

I made steak for dinner with taco rice and steamed veggies… instead of eating ramyun.

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long self-directed session based upon the Mirror Work Affirmation card that says “Needing nothing attracts everything.”

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The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 12th : Ascend
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Temperance card, which is traditionally a representation of moderation, balance, slowing down, practising patience, and can at times represent a connection between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

The alkonost in the imagery of this card, seeks to connect air, earth, and water through the trickle of water from wing to wing to spring filled with a bounty of apples. She is merry and warm, drawing us in to partake in abundance with seductive song, but it’s important to remember that there’s only so much water we can drink and apples we can eat.

Better than listening to her seductive song of invitation, is to go by the adage that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. If you collect these apples, dry them off, and store them you’ll have enough food for a month or more, instead of making yourself sick on them all at once.

The message in today’s card is a reminder that pleasure can be stretched out. There’s no reason to glut on the bounty of life until we are exhausted by it and/or become jaded by it all. Better to stretch it out and enjoy a bit of that pleasure every day.

DECK USED:  FAIRYTALE TAROT AND MIRROR WORK AFFIRMATION CARDS

@de_tarotjuf Time for Yourself
#detarotjufseptembertarotchallenge
Prompts for September 11th and 12th

Where is my greatest potential currently hidden?

Page of Wands and Bewitching – You have the ability to turn any project you’re working on into an obsession. This means that when something strikes your interest, you’re able to put all of your focus on it, and in doing so pick it up quickly because you’re interest is so keen at that time. This bewitching enchantment has the ability to allow you to pick up new passions and skills, as well as information and abilities, quickly; and can be used to help you rise from the ashes when things fall apart.

Which blocks can I let go of to move forward?

Queen of Swords and Emerald Princess – Stop mentally comparing yourself to your mother. You may be similar in some ways, but you’re far from the same.

Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Dried Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: FAIRYTALE TAROT AND ENCHANTED ORACLE

I had some extra time at Ms B’s today and used it to have a soak in that gloriously deep tub of hers.

Today’s meditation was a self-directed ten minute session, focused upon the “Closet Wizards” card from The Az 2 Oracle (shown) by @Sunni_Chapman and the guidance that came with that card.

That guidance says, “Oh honey, I know you learned at some point in your life, that you needed to hide your wizardry. Because when they saw you in your power, it made them quite uncomfortable, so instead of feeling the discomfort, you promptly shut it down. That’s okay, it’s perfect even, you didn’t yet have the tools to do otherwise. But now you do. 😉 It’s time to let your true wizardry SHINE.”

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The @GlitterbyInk #SeptemberSoul25 Challenge
Seeds of Intention Prompt for September 9th : Activation
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Six of Swords (Bees), which is traditionally a representation of leaving the past in the past, moving on, letting go in order to welcome in something better, and transitions towards something better.

When do you decide that it’s time to make a change? What is it finally activates you into moving on instead of sticking it out where you are?

I think this is different for everyone, but I also think that it’s pretty universal that we all wait just a little too long before we get there.

Although an extreme example, it’s like someone in an abusive relationship. They shut down more and more of themselves and who they are. They are hurt in a myriad of ways; some subtle and others blatant. For many in this situation, they stay way too long. However, eventually something is said or something happens and, like flipping a switch, all that repressed self comes roaring back; and they leave.

That activation of self that says “this is not working. It’s time to move on” is with us in all sorts of situations; not just abusive ones.

Today’s message asks us where in our lives are we holding back from walking away from something that’s no longer good for us… and encourages us to dig into why we are hesitating, and just what it will take to spur us into moving on in our own best interests.

DECKS USED:  VICTORIAN STEAMPUNK TAROT AND THE AZ 2 ORACLE

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2025 Challenge
Prompts for September 8th and 9th

Where do you need to ease up and not push yourself so hard right now?

You can’t move right now (Hanged Man) and the uncertainty of that is eating you alive (The Moon). With all your emotions pinging around this way and that, it can be hard to be diligent and pay attention to what’s going on around you.

In these times of stillness, just make sure you’re not allowing your uncertainty and fears to get an upper hand. You don’t have to actually abolish them, bury them, or tuck them away. (Knight of Cups) So stop trying to.

The Problem

Eccentric Person – Look at that… even the cat and the flowers are orange (lil’ bit o’ sarc). Your current problem is that the eccentricity of another is screwing with your own personal goals and your livelihood. Their whims are affecting you in ways that you find disheartening and even frightening.

The Lesson to Learn

Soulmate – You have support around you in those that love you whom you trust. Lean on them not just in small ways, but share with them how you’re feeling and trust them to help ground you and get you through the hard parts. These are the people you can ugly cry in front of and they’ll just hold you tighter.

Advice to Help  You Through

Temptation – Pay close attention to your addictions and temptations right now. Your self-destructive tendencies have a wide open field to play in at the moment. If you don’t want them to get out of hand, you need to make sure that you’re being diligent about watching for them and making healthy choices.

Take Away – Stop trying to distract yourself from your fears and uncertainties by indulging in your addictions and temptations. It will only cause more obstacles for you in the long run, and you don’t need any extra hurdles right now. Instead, take comfort in your loved ones and communicate openly with those that you trust what you’re going through.  You can’t ignore your feelings without there being consequences you don’t want to have to add to your already overwhelmed anxieties.

Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Rainbow Moonstone for Emotional Balance and Intuition
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: KUMACCHI TAROT AND FOLIA ORACLE

I decided to spend the night at Ms B’s instead of trying to drive home and risking falling asleep at the wheel.