Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Morning Bonus Read – Year Ahead Star

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The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“Welcome to the other side of the holidays! I sincerely hope you survived them mostly intact. Let’s take a moment this week to take a deep breath and look toward the new year with the following spread.”

Year Ahead Tarot Spread using Stars & Moons Playing Cards by Trendy Spirit

Sunset: Lessons from your previous year

Ace of Clubs – You can only handle so many new projects at once, and sometimes you have to leave a few of them on the back burner in order to focus on what’s more important.

I had a lot of projects I wanted to explore and get to last year that I didn’t manage to get to.  The wood burning, some new pendant designs, and a few other things were all planned to be worked on over the spring and summer.  Instead, I found my hands full to the brim with self care… and everything else had to be set aside.  I had to learn how to be okay with that and let go of the stress that tried to rise up in setting those things aside for later.

Horizon: What you can expect in the next year.

Ace of Spades – Lots of new and potentially successful ideas.

I need to remember to write these down because otherwise I will begin to feel overwhelmed by how many of them I want to pursue and the worry that I will forget about them before I get the opportunity to explore them.

Obstacle: A challenge you’ll face this year.

Jack of Spades – Reevaluation of and a re-learning of how you deal with your ambitions and ideas.

There’s only so much time in each day, and only so many days in each week. At one time I used to spend the majority of my energy pursuing as many projects and ideas as possible, constantly on the run and pushing for more.  And to be fair, it’s possible to obtain a lot of knowledge through this process… it can also wear you down until you’re nothing but a pencil nub with no eraser.  It’s time to continue the journey of learning a better way.

Strength: How to harness your inner power.

Five of Diamonds – Scarcity issues.  That feather in the imagery of the card is very fitting with this theme, as it so often feels like security and stability are tenuous things, and like one small shift, one slight breeze, will whisk all that has been gained away.

Scarcity issues are something I deal with a lot, and when the rise up into the forefront, I become a working demon.  I duck my head and find inner reserves that one wouldn’t believe exist, and plow forward until I resolve that issue.  This is not something sustainable all the time, but it is something I can use during times with extra inner strength is needed.

 Advice: Lessons you learned last year.

Nine of Clubs – You can only do so much. This is a repeat of the sunset position in that in the Nine of Clubs imagery we see a universe hanging by delicate tendrils from a controlling hand above it.  It is a reminder of how much you can control, and how much you can take on.   That “how much” does not include “everything.

I learned how important it is to choose my battles, my projects, and my responsibilities wisely.  I can’t take on the world, or even everything that I’d like to take on.  So it’s important to make good choices, and leave room for my own self care.  Everything falls apart if you overwhelm myself with too much and don’t give myself the self care that is needed.

Navigation: Guidance for the year ahead.

Eight of Hearts atop Eight of Clubs –  When something isn’t working for you, don’t stick around and hope that it will get better.  Get your ass out of there and find something better that will work instead.  No hesitation.  No doubts.  Just do it.

Sometimes, when something isn’t working for me, I do hesitate.  Either because I hope it will come around and change, or through some of the self-destructive urges that I’ve battled with all my life that can at times turn into flirting with self-defeating behavior (among other things).  The cards here are saying that a better tact in the year ahead is to simply move on and find something that works better right away.  Don’t linger or try to wait it out.

Clarity: Your personal theme for the year.

Jack of Clubs – You can do it! There is an unlimited amount of potential before you.  All you need to do is choose a direction to explore… and start exploring.

DECK USED:  STARS & MOONS PLAYING CARDS BY TRENDY SPIRIT

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Learning to Fly

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Prompt: Pull at least three cards and use them to formulate a response to…
“You’re early,” said the Grim Reaper with a hint of surprise.

Paul Klee TarotSitting down with a sigh, the young man looked up at the Grim Reaper with a rueful grin and began to speak…

Well, you know how I always enjoy a good hike in the woods at night (The Fool atop The Moon). It’s one of my favorite things to follow along the deer trails and small paths through the silhouettes of trees cast upon a moonlit sky. I go often, and I know the mountain well. (Strength)

So I decided to go out last night and climb to the peak of Rosemont, and sit and relax for a while and meditate on life.  That particular peak has a breathtaking view of the river running through the valley below, and I go there often to enjoy some peace and quiet. (The Hermit)

Once I arrived, I settled comfortably on the edge of the cliff with a sandwich for a snack.  I was appreciating the splendor of nature around me and the quiet night song of subtle sounds. I ended up losing track of time. (The Empress)

I was having such a nice time and so wrapped up in my thoughts, the nip of the cool mountain air, and the view below… that I didn’t hear the bear approaching from behind. (Wheel of Fortune)

So when the bear chuffed in my ear in the process of looking over my shoulder at my sandwich (The Tower), it startled me badly that I jumped in surprise… right off the edge of the cliff I was sitting on. (The Chariot atop The Hierophant)

In the fall, I ended up caught on a root sticking out of the rocks. (The Hanged Man) I hung there for a bit before I came to the realization that nobody was going to come for me.  A long wait of starvation and dehydration sounded extremely unpleasant, so I said “Fuck it”. (The Magician atop The Emperor)  I took out my knife to cut myself free. (Justice)

And here I am. (Death)

DECK USED:  PAUL KLEE TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – 7 Questions from Inc.com

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The prompt for this reading came from an article on Inc.com called 7 Questions Every Leader Should Ask Themselves at the End of the Year which reminds us that “whatever chapter of life you are in, ongoing reflection and goal setting will help you turn into a better version of yourself, no matter what happened in your past.”

1. Who or what would you like to praise?
The answer to this can be acknowledging or praising anything: a mentor, a family member, or an inspiring figure. It doesn't matter. The important component of this question is understanding why you want to acknowledge them. So often we aspire and respect others because there is something within them that we aspire to embody within ourselves.

Aurum LenormandGarden – Those that I interact with.  Those in my social circle.  That includes those that I interact with over social media, friends that I keep in contact with over the internet, and the wonderful community I am a part of at Tarotholics.  I’ve never had so much positive social interaction with others as I have over the past year, which is really interesting considering how much of our time around the world has been stuck in-house and on lock-down.

This positive interaction isn’t about me, but rather about the community of others that I find myself in and the wonderful support that they offer to each other (and to me) every day.  It is truly breathtaking to me.

2. What would you like to praise yourself for?
Take the time to really get clear on the strengths you exhibited throughout the year and how you want to continue to grow them moving forward.

Ship – A large part of the past year has been on working on my self care, and a huge part of that process is in the relationship that I have with Gideon.  Although we live nearly 2400 miles (over 3810 km) away from each other, these efforts toward my self care and the time I’ve spent throughout the year with Gideon has only made our relationship that much stronger. His support has helped me in those self-care goals, and supported me through the year in all of my different endeavors, and I hope that I have done the same for him and that he feels the same… because I feel that we are stronger (and happier) than ever.

3. What would you like to let go of moving into 2021?
When you get really honest about what is holding you back, your future won't feel so heavy. This could be letting go of anything from a partnership, a project, an employee, to even a mindset. Look at what or who drains your energy most.

Scythe – Pissed off customers.  Ugh… even when I bend over backwards trying to satisfy them, sometimes you just get those customers that want to be not just pissed off, but also abusive. I wish I could say it didn’t hurt, but if I’m entirely honest?  It does.  It hurts when I can’t make someone happy, especially when it’s my job to make them happy.  Id like to leave dissatisfied customers in my dust as I move into 2021, but unfortunately you can’t please everyone all the time, so there’s sure to be some no matter how hard I try.

4. What did you love most about 2020?
Reflection isn't only dedicated to mistakes or regrets. Spend some time celebrating your biggest wins and the highest moments within your year. While 2020 was a hard year for most, perhaps your biggest win was recognizing the value of connection with others or the importance of your family. Find gratitude for what you have in order to create more positive moments moving towards the future.

Letter – This card is an echo of what is said in the first two questions of this spread.  It involves the connections that I’ve made with others.  The ability to write with Gideon every single day, to connect with people about like ideas and interests.  It’s in the writing… in the communication.  For me, all communication is writing, due to my mutism.  And it is in that communication and connection that I truly found a great deal of joy this year.

5. What would you want more of, or want to be different in 2021?
Review which aspects in your life you want more of, and then outline what changes would elevate your life in that area.

Clouds – When I started off the year last year, I went through a few months at the beginning of the year where I struggled with a fog of confusion and uncertainty.   This year is different, and I’m so thankful for that, but I still feel a hint of that fog this year once again.  Just not as severe or all encompassing.   Hopefully that means it will clear more quickly and not be so severe.

6. What would you need to feel complete closure in 2020?
In order to start the new year with a clean slate, pinpoint what unwanted doors are still opened and then shut them for good.

Dog – Quality time with Gideon.  I need to spend more time with him.  I need to sink into his presence and the security of his arms around me and the trust that I feel in him.  This is what has been lacking so far in the transition into the new year.  I keep being pulled away and so we haven’t had much time together yet… and I need it.  I can’t make the transition complete without that time together.

7. What’s next for you in the week ahead?
While it is very valuable to look at the big picture, there is also great treasure in being present and assessing your immediate needs. When you can look at life from a birds-eye view, it becomes easier to then zoom in and see what you need on a granular level. Tuck the larger vision of the year into your mind and begin to make daily decisions based on this overall landscape.

Key – Positive energy and success.  Everything I need to make this week a positive experience and a success is within my grasp. Make sure to lean into the optimism and use these tools not just to slide back into work with grace, but to defeat that small remnant of fog and send it packing.

DECK USED:  AURUM LENORMAND

Year Ahead Spread 2021 – January thru March

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This spread is a predictive spread that is very commonly used as a bit of a preview of the year ahead. The question asked for each of these positions is…
Tarot Card: The theme of the month in question,
Oracle Card: What to focus on for the month in question, and
Affirmation Card: A ray of hope to hold onto for the month in question.

Year Ahead Spread for Divination

This reading is simply a brief exploration of the current trajectory of my path and energy for the year ahead. Like all predictive readings, nothing here is written in stone, it’s more of a look ahead just to have an idea of what to anticipate and what to work at avoiding.

As an experiment, I have decided to do my year ahead reading a little differently this year, and will only be pulling cards for the first six months of the year in today’s reading, and will interpret the first three months today then the next three months at the beginning of April.  I will then revisit the spread at the end of June to do the following six months. I feel that this might help in ensuring a more accurate reading for the second half of the year.

Six Month Ahead Spread for Divination - Part 1 - January through June

2021’s Theme – Justice – This card is calculated through mathematics, and is not drawn randomly.  My card for 2021 is the Justice card, with the theme of having to acknowledge that what you put out into the world and what you do in your life reflects back to you in turn.  Good begets good, bad begets bad.  Following that inner moral compass will be especially important this year and possible a bit of a challenge.

Six Month Ahead Spread - Brady Tarot, Tree Whisper Oracle, Magickal Herb OracleJanuary’s Theme – The Devil – Temptation and finding your balance within your addictions and bad habits is going to be the theme of January.  There’s a lot of bad habits and other addictions that got a bit out of control toward the end of the year last year, and now is the time to address and correct those issues before they take root.

January’s Focus / Advice – Guidance – You’re not in this alone. Make sure that when you need help or added perspective, that you reach out to others to provide you with those things.  You have a variety of wise people around you that can help you when you’re struggling to understand, or need a little help with finding your footing or the right direction to go in.

January’s Ray of Hope – Dill (Enthusiasm) – Combat the negative not with just optimism, but also with enthusiasm.  It can be hard, when feeling overwhelmed, to stir up that eagerness to get different things done, but you have the power within you to set yourself on the right track if you train your focus and your interest into the project and allow it to sweep you up into the process.

February’s Theme – Five of Arrows (Swords) – Your issues with scarcity and feelings of failure are going to be a bit of an issue for you this month. Keep in mind that this is temporary and something you can walk away from and heal from… but in the moment it’ll feel pretty bad.  Although the theme of this month is defeat, being forewarned is to be armed and there are things you can do to ease up these influences in your life this month.

February’s Focus / Advice – Integration – Coming together with others can help in finding the support you need during this time.  Although the issue is different from what came up in January, the advice here is very similar in that you need to be open to not just reaching out to others, but connecting and working together to find mutual support.  A burden shared is a burden halved, as the saying goes.  Share your burdens so that they are not so heavy upon your own shoulders and in turn you will be able to help others in the same way.

February’s Ray of Hope – Ginseng (Endurance) – You are strong and healthy, and with others to help you with your burdens you will find that you are more than strong enough to make it through to the end of the troubles that are weighing on you. Take things one step at a time and you’ll get through to the other side no worse for wear.

March’s Theme – Mother of Arrows (Swords) – Communication is key through the month of March. As the darkness lets up, connect with others to share what you’ve learned from your experiences, and to gain knowledge and understanding from them in turn. You are starting to feel strong and steady once more, and will need to make sure that you stay on the positive side of things. Keep your chin up and your eyes forward.

March’s Focus / Advice – Listen – Listening is an extremely important part of communication. Don’t forget that you have as much to learn from others as you have to share with them in turn.  Take time to be still and quiet and not just listen, but actually hear what others are saying.  For communication to be truly successful, your ears and mind must be open.

March’s Ray of Hope – Ephedra (Expansion) –  Knowledge and understanding, as well as a healthy and supportive community, grow through clear and honest communication.  Open up and share, accept what others have to share in turn, and all will grow from the experience, becoming better than before as a result.

DECKS USED:  THE BRADY TAROT 2ND EDITION, TREE WHISPER ORACLE, MAGICKAL HERB ORACLE

Morning Bonus Read – Cheers to the New Year

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Contagion Playing Cards - Cartomancy - New Year Tarot Spread

Bubbly: Something to celebrate as the year begins.
King of Diamonds

You’ve done a damned good job at riding through the holiday rush and making it your bitch.  You have earned what you needed to create the stability you so greatly desire.  Things are flush and good right now, and that’s not something to take for granted, but rather something to acknowledge and celebrate.

Countdown: Something to look forward to this year.
Nine of Clubs

You’ll be given the opportunity to close out a lot of passion projects this year and show just how much you’ve learned and how well you can do at keeping your business moving at an even flow.  Just make sure you don’t exhaust yourself in the process.

Sparkle: Talents you can bring forward.
Five of Clubs atop Two of Hearts

You need to spend some time focusing on helping others overcome their conflicts and miscommunications so that they can find common ground.  You have the ability to assist others in this, and it’s a skill that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Drop the Ball: Quit doing this this year.
Four of Hearts

Procrastination is not your friend.  If you want to make the most out of the year, wallowing in hesitations and procrastination is not the way to do it.  You spent a lot of time in that fog last year at this time of the year, and there’s no need for a repeat performance this time around.

New: Fresh energy available to you.
Three of Hearts

You are far more open to the support of others, emotionally and otherwise, than you ever have been in the past.  As you learn about your own emotions and allow yourself to take better care of yourself, this energy of love and support from others will flow even more easily between you and your loved ones.

Midnight Kiss: How to deepen love for yourself and others.
Ace of Diamonds

Communicate freely and honestly with yourself and others.  The ability to communicate clearly provides you a direct connection to the trust they have for you, and that trust that you have in yourself. Communication is the key.

DECK USED:  CONTAGION PLAYING CARDS

Transitioning from December to January

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Bonestone & Earthflesh Tarot, Tree Whisperer Oracle

Individuality – The World and Story – You are at a time in your life where you have the opportunity to grab hold and write your own story.  This time in your life is a transition, and as you step through out of the old and into the new, you are in the perfect position to take control and make your own narrative.

Dependence – Page of Cups and Expression – Leaving behind old ways of dealing with your emotions is the only way to make room for new healthier ways of experiencing, handling, and expressing your emotions to others.  The holiday rush allowed you to slip deep into the old habits of closing off and closing down, but now that the end of the year has come, you need to let those habits go and reconnect with the emotional growth you’ve been striving for over the past year.

Creativity – The Tower and Creativity – An echo of the previous card, these cards indicate that you are in a position to tear down the old, dismantle it, and create something new and better from the pieces. The opportunity is now so make sure you take advantage of it and look forward to those things you want to change and begin building them into your future from now.

Limitation – Knight of Swords and Unity – The Unity card looks like knobby knees… just sayin’.  My limitations at this time have to do with what inner voices and thoughts I allow to take over, and which I abandon.  I’ve come to the realization that that inner narrative is much lie a wild mustang running through a field. If you allow it to run, it will run wild and free…. and shit all over the place as it goes. The knobby knees say that a slow approach and choosing what thoughts I connect with is a better choice… but not the easiest.

Change – Three of Wands and Knowledge – You know what you want.  There may be a handful of different options available to you as a whole, but even with just a general idea, you know the right direction to head in and how to avoid the pitfalls along the path.  You’re in a far more stable and functional place this year than the last, so use that knowledge to set your feet on the right path forward.

Sympathy – Page of Pentacles atop Eight of Pentacles, Balance – Sometimes, when you’re learning something new, it because a slow and struggling process.  Not all things worth having come easily, some of them cost you in time and money, sweat and effort. Many times in the past when you’ve run across these issues, you’ve pushed yourself harder and harder, exhausted yourself and abused yourself to learn faster and get further in less time.  It’s time to learn that the time doesn’t matter… but balancing self care into the equation does.

Luck – Six of Swords and Insight – An echo of the “Change” position above, here we see the confidence of knowing what is right for you and going after it.  You have an innate and very intuitive ability to know the path that is right for you and head in that direction.  It has served you well all your life and these cards are a reminder of how this has gone in the past and an encouragement to keep up with this very successful method of decision making as you continue into the future.

Power – Seven of Pentacles, Roots atop Stillness – Keep in mind that when you allow things to grow slowly over time, they still need tending or growth will become stilted and stagnant.  There is a big difference between attentive patience, or negligence and neglect.   If you feel like something is stalling out, make sure you are looking into it and giving it little nurturing nudges of encouragement to keep things moving and healthy.

Responsibility – King of Cups atop Ace of Pentacles, Inspiration atop Guidance – You have the opportunity now to start connecting with Gideon again and starting fresh with the creative endeavors you share.  You have the opportunity to lean into him, to allow him to foster your hope and help you find pleasurable pursuits you two can share as well as share in the pursuits you already enjoy together.   These cards are about taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy time with him, whether that is in play or together tucked into quiet time and talk.

Message from Spirit World – Allow the beginnings and quiet in your life to slowly expand into inner strength and inner stability.  From that place of strength and stability you can grow the seeds of new ideas and they will thrive far better than they would in the cacophony of chaos.

Message from Mind’s World – Speaking from the heart will foster growth and allow you to “write your own story” along the way.  Just keep in mind that sometimes, to write your own story, you have to start by tearing apart the storyline already in place in order to build a better one.

Message from Known World – Just because the holiday rush is over and things are slowing down doesn’t mean that the girls can’t continue to help you in keeping up on your work, and in doing so help take some of the pressure and stress off your shoulders. It’s time to try something new, so give it a go.

Take Away – There is a lot here about starting out as you want to continue on, and making changes for the better now that the holiday rush is over.  I have a chance to make these changes now and then carry them forward into the future from here.  Now is the time to look at what I want and how I want to go about getting those things, then begin the steps that will take me in that direction.  This goes far beyond just my business, but is very focused in this reading upon finding a better balance in my life between work and self care, and finding new ways of doing things that are healthier than my past habits and methods.

DECKS USED:  BONESTONE & EARTHFLESH TAROT, TREE WHISPERER ORACLE