Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Different Scenarios

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Prompt: “The purpose of this activity is to practice interpreting small spreads by combining card meanings, symbols and intuition. We will all interpret the same cards based on a few different (imaginary) situations. A 3 card spread will be posted together with 2 more specific scenarios. It’s your choice which scenario you’d prefer to use, or if you’d rather do a general reading of these cards as for an imaginary querent.”

Tarot of the Abyss - Page of Pentacles, Five of Pentacles, Wheel of Fortune

Scenario 1 – Kayla is having a hard time getting along with her teacher. She’s a little shy, and the presentations they do in class make her anxious. She wants to know how to just get through the school year.

Look at these presentations less as a trial to get through (Five of Pentacles) and more as a skill to be learned and honed (Page of Pentacles).  Remember that you are not the only one that is nervous about doing their presentations.  Because of that, when it goes badly, others are going to be supportive… and when ti goes well they will celebrate with you (Wheel of Fortune).

Scenario 2 – There’s been some changes in Martin’s life and he’s trying to figure out the best way to tell his mum about them.

Ease into introducing your mother to these changes in your life instead of dropping them in her lap all at once (Page of Pentacles).  If she’s not given enough time to adjust, she won’t take the news well (Five of Pentacles).  Timing is also an important factor, for her reactions will be different depending on not just how you present these changes to her, but also when you do so (Wheel of Fortune).

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE ABYSS

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Differing Perspectives

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Prompt: “Pull the Queen of Wands card from your deck(s). Compare the imagery between the card provided below and the card(s) from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?“

Queen of Wands - Tarot of Mystical MomentsMystical Moments Tarot – She stands tall and holds steady a beacon for others to follow. The moths are drawn to that glowing beacon, inspired by her presence and her holding the sunflower aloft.

This card speaks of those that inspire us, and how that inspiration can draw is in like moths to a flame. It asks us where is inspiration sparking for us right now?  If you aren’t seeing that light to follow, maybe it’s time to start looking.

Queen of Wands - Cthulhu Mythos Tarot, Diabolik Tarot, Lost Hollow Tarot

Cthulhu Mythos Tarot – Surrounded and embraced by tentacles from below, this Queen holds within her an orb of energy that glows at solar plexus level.  This card speaks of being strong in one’s leadership of others.  Sometimes when we inspire others, its important to keep them on track rather than letting them just go off and do their own thing.  This card asks the question… where in your passion projects are you in need of more focus?

Diabolik Tarot – What would you do for her? To be her… or to possess her? The femme fatale has been an inspiration and motivation to many a thief, criminal,  and hero alike. She inspires them to leap forward and dive into the fray, to break the law and do amazing things.  This card speaks of being not just inspired but motivated by someone else.  It warns that you need to remember to make the choice to act based upon your own character, or whoever is motivating you will take those choices out of your hands.

Lost Hollow Tarot – Dark and mysterious, this Queen walks among a field of sunflowers at night. She is a beacon of light in the darkness, the sunflowers behind her speaking of hope and success within the encroaching darkness, if you are willing to brave the dark to follow her lead. This card says that sometimes finding inspiration is not easy or for the weak of heart, but takes courage and an intrepid spirit.

DECK USED: TAROT OF MYSTICAL MOMENTS, CTHULHU MYTHOS TAROT, DIABOLIK TAROT, LOST HOLLOW TAROT

🌑 New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Libra – October 2024

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Today is the new moon, and like all new moons and full moons, I did a spread aligned to the moon’s current themes as a part of my recognition of the moon’s cycle and influences upon us. Today’s spread is courtesy of @moonandcactus.

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Libra Oracle Reading with The Haunted Manor Oracle

How can I surrender to what comes and let go of resistance to change, trusting the process?

Lineage – Acknowledge and then release your unreasonable self-imposed expectations, as well as the assumption of others expectations. Don’t allow them to hold so much sway over your actions and thoughts on what you “should” be doing with your time and energy. You need to accept that these expectations are an illusion created by your past and not reality.

How can I learn to make peace with those around me?

Winter – Stillness is an important part of growth as well as healthy communication with others. When you pause, not only do you give yourself a bit of a rest, but you  give yourself a moment of thought and reflection. People that want you to react in their favor may not like that moment in the cold outside of your attention as you look within, but that makes it that much more important that you do it.

How can I establish a sense of order and create harmony in my environment?

Hide and Seek – Stop ignoring your needs and hiding from the activities that will help fulfill them. This is especially important in keeping your home organized. Either get the housekeeper in more often or start doing more of the work yourself.

(Obviously, the housekeeper is the healthier answer here, as so many of my personal readings are reminders to involve others in getting things done instead of taking it all on my own shoulders.)

If possible, how can I avoid making major decisions until the energy stabilizes, and instead focus on planning and reflecting?

Graveyard – Don’t fret so much about the inconsequential things that aren’t being done. Work instead on the long standing unpleasant ones that need doing whether you like them or not. (Taxes… hello.)

The eclipse will tip the scales toward our relationships. Encouraging us to reassess our interactions with others. How can I trust that whatever surfaces is helping to restore balance?

Black Mirror – You have a habit of ignoring what is unpleasant or gives rise to your feelings of vulnerability, which only gives these things more power over you. Face them instead and their power will lessen, their contributions to your life shining through instead.

New Moon advice from the Minoan Goddess Amalthea.

Sword – Stay alert and on the look out for those that are trying to manipulate you into going against your good sense, intuition, or inner compass.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rosehips for Releasing Stress and Negativity
Foraged Red Alder Cones for Support in One’s Endeavors
Red Jasper for Awakening and Motivation toward Growth
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE HAUNTED MANOR ORACLE

📆 Transitioning from September to October

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Month End Tarot Reading with the Ostara Tarot

Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.

King of Swords – You are a good leader, cunning and clever, but you are holding yourself too far apart from others in an effort to protect yourself from getting hurt. Allowing yourself vulnerability won’t wrest your power from your grip, but will instead only make you stronger.

The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.

Page of Cups – This specific card has a tendency to come up for this question around this time of year. It is a reminder that with the holiday rush right around the corner, your time to explore emotions and work on your emotional intelligence is coming to an end for the year. Time flies, and soon it will be nose-to-the-grindstone with the holiday rush.

What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.

Ten of Wands – This card indicates that “ideal states” are like perfection, they don’t really exist and are overrated. You -want- to take on everything, put it all on your shoulders, and deal with it with alacrity and grace. This card is a reminder that that vision in your head is a lie.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

The Tower – Chaos is not your friend right now. Work on staying organized, and when things don’t go exactly as planned, relax into the fall instead of tensing up.

(Note: “Relaxing into the fall” is a term used in tight rope walking and areal gymnastics to encourage going boneless when falling in order to minimize injury. Much in the way drunks often have serious mishaps without injury.)

The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.

The Magician – You are independent, strong willed, and well rounded. You have all that you need to not just “make it through” but to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Make sure that you are tapping into these qualities when they are needed.  You are far from helpless.

The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.

Page of Swords – Sometimes, like a kid running with scissors and someone gets hurt, people say things without thinking and carve a piece out of you in the process. Just like that kid with the scissors, it’s not intentional and not meant to be malicious. Make sure that you are looking beyond the injury to see the motivations of others clearly. Remember… accidents happen.

Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.

Knight of Pentacles – Sometimes the hard work isn’t worth it… but not often. When you continue to stubbornly push forward even when conditions are horrible, the rewards are nearly always worth the effort put in and then some. And, in the glow of accomplishment afterward, it’s easy to forget just how horrible the journey was now that it’s behind you.

A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.

Three of Wands – Watch out for the feeling of moving forward when you’re really just circling the drain hole. Keep your eves open for opportunities for real progress instead of just the illusion of it.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

King of Cups – Look to Gideon for support when you need it. He can help you in finding emotional stability if you let him guide you and follow his lead.

Message from the Spirit World – We take pride in your efforts to learn more about and understand your emotions instead of continuing your ignore them. It may feel sometimes like your running in circles, but you are in fact developing lifelong skills that will help you with future goals.

Message from the Mind’s World – Make sure that you don’t let your inner dialogue’s sharp tongue push you into taking on so much that you buckle under the weight. Loved ones are there to help. Use your freshly learned interpersonal skills to diversify the load.

Message from the Physical World – You’ll make things far harder on yourself than they need to be by not taking care to acknowledge where you are still learning and in need of help or guidance. Lean into those that can give you guidance when you need it instead of stubbornly insisting on going it alone.

Take Away – You are not abandoning your emotional intelligence journey by focusing on the holiday rush that approaches. That journey will still be there for you when you return to it after the rush is over.

Make sure you are delegating your work load instead of taking it all on yourself.

DECKS USED: OSTARA TAROT

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Autumn Themes

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Prompt: “From your deck of choice, select one card for each of the following themes: 1) A wander in the Autumn woods; 2) Guidance from the Past; 3) The Beginning of the End. Post the cards you chose here, and share with us how you made the connections that you did with the prompts above.”

Rings of Fortune Tarot - Four of Wands, The Hierophant, Judgement

A Wander in the Autumn Woods

Four of Wands – Stepping into the woods and among the towering trees is like coming home, the energy of the forest welcoming me in as a celebration bursts to life in my soul.  Energy flows and welcomes me deeper, and with each step I take into the shadowed embrace of earthy greens, the soil under my feet sings its welcome and eagerly reaches to welcome me home.

Guidance from the Past

The Hierophant – When we listen to our ancestors, they teach us lessons about what is important and the value of traditions. In their guidance comes age old skills and methods that have been proven through the tests of time and carried forward to be shared with new generations. Sometimes, the “new ways” of doing things “work just as well”, but yet dilute the power and meaning old traditions keep strong. Guidance from our past keeps those traditions strong, and their power rich and potent.

The Beginning of the End

Judgement – As children, we rarely think about the -kind- of people that we will become. We think about the things we want to do and experience, but not really about if we want to be good, or wise, or generous, or kind.  We don’t think about this until later in life, when we begin looking toward the ends of our lives and realize perhaps we don’t yet “measure up” to our potential.  This is the beginning of the path to the end.  That place where self awareness connects with the kind of person we want to become before we move on.

DECK USED: RINGS OF FORTUNE TAROT

Second Harvest 2024 – Autumn Equinox

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Today is the Autumn Equinox.  This is considered by many to be the first day of Autumn, and is one of only two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the Equator, and that day and night are of equal length.  Like Halloween is a time when the veil between the land of the living and the realm of the dead is thin, this holiday (as well as its cross-point in the spring) are times when the veil between our world and that of the Fae is at is thinnest… and it is when I personally experience more interactions with them than any other time of year.

rosehips

In my path, the Autumn Equinox is also known as the Second Harvest (also called Mabon), and is a day that marks the transition of the growing season into full harvest.  After this day, the darkness of night begins to overtake the sun’s reign in the sky as the days continue to grow shorter and shorter, and the nights longer and longer.  The earth is winding down its abundant generosity and beginning to close up shop for the year.

Autumn Equinox Tarot Reading with the Orenda TarotAmber – Where do I need to work on my emotions to create more balance in my life?

The Empress – Being nurturing takes kindness. You’ve got the disciplinarian side of things down pat, but your skills at nurturing kindness is in need of some work… especially when directed at yourself.

Cedar – How can I use my present day fortitude to strengthen my future protection?

Six of Cups– Retain what you learn today to help you in picking and choosing your battles down the road. Not everything needs or deserves your attention, and the information on discerning which things do and which don’t need that attention and energy lie in what’s happening in the present. Pay attention.  Gather information for later.

Marigold – Where should I focus on my health in order to develop a happier outlook?

Nine of Pentacles – Instead of focusing on what hasn’t gone your way, focus on what has. Where do your successes lie concerning your physical health? Take time to appreciate these things instead of discounting them as inconsequential. Give yourself some credit.

Walnut – How can I be more discerning in picking positive friendships?

Ace of Wands – Watch your enthusiasm and make sure it isn’t getting out of control. When things feel new, there’s a lot of “extra” emotion and excitement involved, this is true whether it’s friendships or anything else that’s new in your life.  Just make sure you’re not so enthusiastic that it’s blinding you to new people’s faults and flaws.

Sapphire – How can I discern between logical thought and true wisdom?

Seven of Swords atop Six of Swords – Logical thought has no direction but is about gathering knowledge and using it. True wisdom, on the other hand, encourages forward movement toward something better. (Ie: A better you, something better for you/ somewhere better than where you are, etc.)

Yarrow – How can I move from a place of trauma into a place of healing?

King of Pentacles – Focus on how your stability supports both yourself and others. Your past trauma is all about instability.  Instead of constantly striving for more and more of what you already have, take time to really look at that stable foundation that you’ve already built.  There are places where you can improve upon what you already have without gathering more and more in the process.

DECK USED: ORENDA TAROT