Various Paganism, Tarot, Etc

Weekly Creativity Prompt – Sentient Sentinel

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Prompt: Pull (at least) three cards use them as the foundation to write about the life of a sentient tree.

Tarot in Wonderland - The Oracle of AliceJustice – Once, the large Douglas Fir had lived in the center of a vast forest, but man had slowly cut into the forest again and again, until eventually all that was left of the forest was a few acres of land. When the workers came to begin clearing his spot, he watched them work with great sadness, following their progress as they took down his smaller friends and uprooted the earth around him.

As the day grew long and the sun eased closer to the horizon, the contractor pushed for more work from the men, demanding more done  and the last tree to be removed.  When the man with the chainsaw came, the old bark of the tree groaned and branches snapped as bows were shifted to allow the man closer to the trunk, and at the first nick of blade to bark a low groan of bark and wood was accompanied by rustling… and the man’s chainsaw was found lost on the ground… the man somehow gone.

Wheel of Fortune – No one saw what happened as the man had gone beyond the boughs of the fir tree in order to get close to the trunk, and after a short time searching, it was assumed the man had left and it was decided another would take his place.  Here again when the man got close and went to cut into the tree with the chainsaw, the man disappeared, the chainsaw dropping to the ground to tumble out from under the tree and yet another search was done.

The third lumberjack went into the tree to do the same as the first two, but this one makes sure that to have others watching over him.  As he starts the chainsaw, he takes a moment to look up, and drops the chainsaw as he begins to scream.  The two other men that had tried to cut down the tree are suspended more than twelve feet in the air, impaled on broken branches sticking out of the trunk.

As he watches, fronds of fir come down and bend in, and as the watchers watch on they scoop up the man with the chainsaw and lift him high, hugging him into the trunk and impaling him on another broken branch high up along the tree’s trunk.

The Sun – This is how, as humanity came to invade upon nature’s turf, certain spots remained left untouched.  As land was cleared and what might have become the last forests in the world cut down, it came to be that some were preserved after all.  Parks and hiking trails, protected land and forestry.  For it was when nature finally started to fight back, that man realized that she was no longer going to allow for the abuse that gone much too far.

Man learned at last that they must live in harmony with nature, and the Douglas Fir in the forest remained where it was, happily protecting the land upon which it stands for centuries to come.

DECK USED:  TAROT IN WONDERLAND THE ORACLE OF ALICE

Morning Bonus Read – Seeing the Self

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Wildera Lenormand

The Brilliance In My Fire

Garden – When it comes to your passions and enthusiasm, you shine brightly for all to see.  You may worry about your communication skills, but there is absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind how much you love something when you speak on those things you are enthusiastic about.  Nor is there any that would mistake you as wishy-washy or without drive.  In this area, you come across to others crystal clear.

The Wisdom In My Air

Feminine – You are not alone. You will never be alone. As a twin, you are half of a whole and that other half will always play a part in your life. Don’t take her for granted, or forget that no matter what happens in life, she will always be there for you, and is a part of you and who you are.

The Grace In My Water

Birds – The communication aspect that you have with those you love, especially Gideon, is spectacular.  The two of you communicate on a level that goes far beyond what most couples experience, not just through words but also through energy.  It is a constant give and take, a constant communication in more ways than one.  There is a beauty in this kind of sync and connection, in the unity it creates.

The Power In My Earth

Ring – You are fucking spectacular at making commitments and sticking to them. You know how to take responsibilities seriously and you are adept at making sure that whatever you are agreeing to isn’t something you’ll either regret or want to back out of later before you actually agree to whatever commitment or responsibility is on the table.

The Beauty In My Spirit

Book – You are open to learning, open to putting in the work to research and expand. You’re always welcoming to different perspectives and seeking more understanding and more knowledge of each person and every situation. It is very rare that you are closed off to expanding your knowledge on any topic or any person, and if there’s a chance you feel you might have missed something important, you will research until you dig out whatever it is.

DECK USED: WILDERA LENORMAND

New Moon in Taurus – May 2021

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Tomorrow 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 about  rooting in earth medicine, and brought to you by Sharron Basanti of Seeds of Shakti.

Floriography Tarot - Taurus New Moon Tarot Reading

1. How can I draw in the fertile energy of the Taurus New Moon for manifesting prosperity?

Wheel of Fortune – Have some faith that luck is on your side right now.  You’ve seen this theme pop up a few times in some of your readings over the past week or two. There’s always going to be ups and downs in everything, and that includes in your luck… right now is an up swing, so have a little faith and take advantage of it.

2. As an earth sign, what can Taurus teach me about nourishing my heart and soul with the raw pleasures of life?

High Priestess atop Eight of Tulips –  Listen to your intuition on what’s right for you… and what’s not. Keep in the forefront of your mind that it’s okay to reject those things that your intuition says are not for you.  No matter who might be suggesting them or where those things might come from. Follow your intuition.  Always.

3. How can I root myself into the divine medicine of the Earth?

Ace of Tulips – Emotions feel counter intuitive to rooting, and yet they are an important part of being healthy. To connect stronger to the medicine that the earth has to offer, you need to be willing to allow your emotions to flow freely… which means you need to continue seeking out that emotional growth and the newness of experiences it is providing you.

4. What self-imposed beliefs and blocks do I need to release that are connected to money?

Four of Tulips – Your recreational spending habits may be connected to your emotions, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Don’t worry so much about it but instead work on accepting this as a healthier way to deal with certain emotions than the alternatives available to you at the time. There are some things you’re just not ready to deal with yet, and that’s okay.

5. Message from the Ancestors and Guides.

Nine of Trunks – Be watchful and be careful.  You’ve been warned. Paranoia isn’t always a bad thing. Being careless just because it’s not what you want to do right now isn’t an acceptable way to deal with the situation. Instead, stay diligent for the time being.  It won’t last forever.

DECK USED:  FLORIOGRAPHY TAROT

Morning Bonus Read – Planting Season

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

The prompt for this reading came from one of my Discord servers and is as follows:
“We are now officially starting the planting season. This week, do a reading to find out how to care for your fields. Include at least 3 specific questions.”

The Seeds: Continuing on my path of emotional growth, and slowly finding/adjusting to a better work/life balance that includes the self-care and self-kindness I need to be healthy and happy.

SINS Reborn Playing Cards Mentis EditionWhat issues should I be aware of as I plant the “seeds” of my future harvest?
Ten of Clubs, Seven of Hearts, Eight of Clubs

Make sure that you are not allowing yourself to pile on too much. You know how you get when you start doing things and investing in them, you pile on more and more under the influence of your enthusiasm until that weight becomes too much and causes the passion to then fizzle out as a result.  Don’t do that.

What care do my “seeds” need in order to grow?
Three of Hearts and Seven of Clubs

Make sure that you are not compromising your values and principles in times when you’re feeling low and out of sorts. Sometimes during those times, it feels like it really doesn’t matter if you say “fuck it” and let shit go that you shouldn’t let go.  The thing is?  It does matter, and you need to make sure you’re standing strong for that moral compass of yours even when you’re not really feeling all that strong at all.

What help should I expect to need to help these “seeds” flourish into abundance?
Five of Clubs, Jack of Spade, Queen of Hearts

The help you need is going to come from somewhere unsolicited and possibly unexpected.  There’s a fine line between taking someone as encroaching on what you believe to be your personal terrain, and someone trying to reach out and help.  Make sure, before you snap back at someone for offering their help, that you ensure they’re coming from a place of kindness. Don’t just jump in and lay your shit on them without taking a minute to learn where they are coming from and why.

DECK USED:  SINS REBORN PLAYING CARDS MENTIS EDITION

Morning Bonus Read – Third Eye Reading

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Magic Tarot - Third Eye Tarot Reading

My Third Eye Energy Right Now

King of Cups – If you want full use of your intuition, you need to allow your emotions free reign.  They are connected and you know this.  Own your emotions and don’t spend time trying to deny them.  Get comfortable in their presence instead of shirking away.  This card is not so much about where you are now, but about what you need now in this area.

Tension I’m currently holding in this area.

Knight of Coins – You are looking at everything as work and progress. It’s holding you back from experiencing things fully in the moment when you constantly look at everything as another step forward.

How I can release this tension.

Knight of Cups – Spend more time in the now. Enjoy the moment instead of constantly planning and plotting your way forward again and again.  More time stopping to smell the roses will connect you more closely to what brings you pleasure and that, in turn, will make your connection to your emotions and intuition stronger.

A message from my intuition.

The Chariot – Stop fucking around. Plotting and planning, scheming and strategizing.  You’re doing everything except moving forward because all this extraneous shit is holding you up and holding you back.  Snap the reigns and start moving into your growth instead of hedging at it.

Something my dreams are trying to tell me.

Page of Cups – Again, don’t forget that your emotions and your intuition are intimately connected. This reading is filled with Cups for a reason.  As you learn and grow in your emotional growth, so too will your intuition grow.

Something about my psychic abilities I should explore.

Nine of Cups –  Don’t worry about it right now.  As noted above, as you learn and grow through your emotional growth, so too will your intuition grow. This is a natural evolution.  You’ve spent a long time developing your intuition and your trust in it.  Allow it to strengthen and appreciate what it adds to your life.  Gratitude… not grasping.

DECK USED:  MAGIC TAROT

Weekly Creativity Prompt – The Chariot

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Prompt: “Pull the card from your deck that matches [The Chariot from Tarot of the Hidden Realm]. Compare the imagery between the card provided and the card from your own deck(s). How would you read them differently and why?”

The Chariot - Tarot of the Hidden RealmTarot of the Hidden Realm – Here we see controlled abandon in the card.  In the expression on the Fae’s features is joyous celebration of that abandon, but also a thread of confidence that displays even as she enjoys the ride, she is the one in charge of not just the speed at which they move but the direction that they go in.  This sense of control is reinforced by the bridle that the unicorn wears. The imagery here tells us that control doesn’t always have to be joyless and stoic.  Sometimes it’s in savoring the ride as we ride the chaos… instead of the chaos riding us.

Icarus Tarot, Hydesville Tarot, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Tarot

Icarus Tarot – Here in this card we have stagnancy in the sphinx that are attached to the chariot, and yet, there is absolutely no doubt that this figure is going to get where they’re going.  Fierce determination is in every cut and contour of the driver’s visage, control clear in the cut of the hands and curl of the fingers. This card displays savage determination and a will to come out on top, no matter the obstacles in their path.

Hydesville Tarot – Here we have the most “classic” of the images between the cards displayed with the military leader in full regalia, spear at the ready and in full control of the two horses (Pegasus in this case) that pull his chariot forward.  No reigns needed, for his control is complete and undeniable. The symmetry and balance present create a solid sense of stability. The expression on the driver’s face is one of studious determination.  They know where they’re going, have a plan, and they clearly have everything well in hand.

She-Ra And The Princesses of Power Tarot – Here in this card we have a lesson in extremes.  This card’s imagery is about losing control or taking on too much control.  When you lose control, others may step in and take the reigns, but are you sure that they can be trusted?  On the flip side, too much control leaves you like the figure in the background.  Alone and ignored, forgotten or feared.  This Chariot card is about finding balance between too much control… and not enough.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE HIDDEN REALM, ICARUS TAROT, HYDESVILLE TAROT, SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER TAROT