Reading Break Down for SquirrelyStitches

On Instagram, I had a follower ask if I could break down how I came to the messages I did in this reading I did on November 16th.

squirrelystitches says:
If you ever have time and energy, I’d love to hear how you include the art in the interpretation for this deck šŸ™‚ for example, I see nothing of Six of Cups in that card, but I’d be curious to see what you see.

Tarot Reading with The Oracle of Many Paths Tarot

What have I been taking for granted?

Six of Cups – The past is a powerful thing. Even the unpleasant memories helped in building you into the person you are today. Remember that the past is the building blocks of the present, as well as who you are and who you will become. Seek out the value that these memories and past experiences hold.

The Six of Cups asked me to think back… nostalgia is a key component of the traditional meaning for the Six of Cups, yeah? (granted, with the illustration alone, I probably still would have gone there)

I had my very first kiss in a canoe. I can’t really say it was good -or- bad, but I can say that I was a little too young… and that I swam back to shore.

When I saw the figure in the boat and the messy golden jumble of cups and liquid above them, it brought back a memory of those feelings in that moment, and how the incident shaped how I did things differently (where both sex and trust was concerned) moving forward.

What’s been holding me back from seeing my blessings clearly?

Justice – Your need for things to be fair and just causes you to find flaws in both the boons and banes of life. Your perceptions are polluted by this need for fairness and balance, causing you to dirty the good with guilt or shame, and place greater value on misfortune than necessary.

The illustration in the Justice card speaks to me of how forest fires burn, and the life that sprouts up from them after. Forest fires are both deadly and beneficial to a forest. It’s a give and take type situation. The smoke pollutes the air, the fire scorches the earth and everything in its way… and from that comes new life in the form of pyrogenic flowering (which the flowers in the field made me think of as they look like fireweed).

This cycle feels like how fairness doesn’t always -feel- fair, and balance doesn’t always -feel- like balance.

How can I better express my gratitude in the future?

Temperance – Remember; it’s not about quantity, but about quality.

This Temperance card is overrun with paths. Have you ever been to one of those subdivisions where there’s road after road after road of identical houses? All the houses look the same, all the yards look the same, all the roads look the same. There’s no individuality.

If you eat the same thing every day, it doesn’t matter how much you like it or how good it is for you, you’re going to end up hating it in the end and it’s probably -not- going to be good for you anymore.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my relationships?

Three of Wands – We travel together instead of solo. The direction set out before us is one that includes not just yourself, but those closest to you as well. Motivate not just yourself into moving forward, but others to come along with you, for they belong at your side.Ā  When you “do it alone” you hem yourself in with extra unnecessary obstacles.

In this Three of Wands card, we have two ships heading out to open sea, and one corralled in a closed pond. This speaks to me a message about how you can go far with others at your side, and are often caged and limited when you try to do things alone.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my finances?

The Empress – Your relationshipĀ  with your partner works no matter what financial issues are involved. You can speak to each other about these issues without any expectations placed on each other to offer assistance, and without there being an offer made that might change the nurturing dynamics of the relationship.

This Empress card carries back to the card before it in the reading (Three of Wands) and the message it had for me. This is because if you look at the cards side by side? They run into each other and connect seamlessly together.

In this card the tree and the birds connect to Lenormand for me. Not because they’re birds but because they feel like fish? I’m not sure why I have this connection, but although I can clearly see they are birds, in my head they are jumping fish… speaking of financial matters.

Between the Fish and the Tree, we have a message of support that is not necessarily financial in nature… which connects to the message at the Three of Wands. This speaks of the connection between myself and Gideon and how there is tons of support in all kinds of ways… but nothing monetary involved.

What do I need to acknowledge gratitude for in my work life?

The High Priestess – Growth may be small and slow, but led by your intuition, it is happening. Life still resides within your business, regardless of the fact that it took a beating recently. You may feel adrift, but with the guidance of your intuition at the fore, the business will continue to thrive.

Little boats filled with mushrooms float in the sea. It’s not like they can steer their little boats, nor paddle their way to shore. This means that their growth is very limited. It’s at the whims of the water beneath the boat, yeah? This speaks to me of intuition, because it’s an “emotion” feeling type element that you have no control over.

This speaks of trust. Trust you will reach shore, carried by currents rather than paddling. Riding said currents with trust, is something I greatly associate with intuition (which is an element of the High Priestess card as well). Thus… ride the currents. Stay afloat. Stay alive. You’ll reach the shore eventually.

I hope that helped! Lemme know if you have any questions.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: THE ORACLE OF MANY PATHS

Gideon’s Challenge – What I Need

Sunset on the Strait of Georgia, Victoria BCWhat I Need

Words are
often reassuring
but
it’s the feeling of
safety
and security
that comes from
your presence
in my life
that counts
far more
than words
ever could

Photo Ā© ZenStatePhotography

Wisdom Within the Old Ways

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.

•    • Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  ā—ˆĀ Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  šŸ‚Ā Ā Ā  •    ā—ˆ Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  •

The Star String Tarot - The Hierophant and the Mushroom Affirmations CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Hierophant card, which is traditionally a representation of traditions, spiritual guidance, long standing institutions, teachers and guides, and themes that deal with conformity and social norms.

The Hierophant card has then been combined with the Rosy Bonnet affirmation card from the Mushroom Affirmations deck, which says, “Look closer at the finer details. What are you not seeing?”

Sometimes, traditions are traditions for a reason. Before you discard something that has been done for years, decades, or centuries, take time to really get a closer look at what it is you’re discarding and why it’s persevered for as long as it has.Ā  What value are you missing in your previous observations?Ā  Look again, and see if that value isn’t worth more than you possibly thought the first time around.

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that traditions and “old ways” of doing things hold value. We’re always so eager to move on to the “new and better” that sometimes we lose sight of the value that resides in the old.

DECK USED:Ā  THE STAR STRING TAROT AND MUSHROOM AFFIRMATIONS

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 23 and 24

Tarot Reading with The Yakuza Tarot: Chi Namagusai Tabi and The Yakuza LenormandFlame (Spirit) – What spark refuses to be extinguished?

Sun, Queen of Cups, Clouds – Your desire for emotional support and craving for a mother figure in your life continues to burn bright both in good times and bad.

Mask (Revelation) – What truth lies behind the mask I or others wear?

Mice, Six of Cups, Snake – Everyone has shit from their past that eats away at them, poisoning the well of goodness in their lives in the process. Some just hide this better than others.

Take Away – These questions and the cards that came from them presented some harsh truths that although unpleasant, need to be revisited now and then. They are reminders of places where stagnancy lingers, even while everything else in life around you changes.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Dried Red Maple Leaf for Adaptability and Connection
Deodar Cedar Ceramic Impression for Clarity and Spiritual Connection

Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE YAKUZA TAROT AND YAKUZA LENORMAND

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Hopes Prompts for November 21st

Tarot Reading with The Star String Tarot and Irrevocable Wholeness OracleA Wish For the Future

Six of Cups and Bright Being – You seek to connect to your past in healing and healthy ways, where the scars and trauma no longer drag you down, but instead lend a buoyancy to your outlook on life without the pain and defense mechanisms you currently employ.

Next Step In Getting There

The World and Supermoon – Seek out the empowerment that endings can provide. There is strength within the completion of things and in letting go. You currently have a tendency to avoid these things instead, which holds you back from connecting with that hidden strength the resides there.

Home of My Hope

Nine of Wands Rx and Exhale – You believe you can, in fact, let go with greater ease, making way for the new. You are merely hung up on the execution. What should come easily, you’re instead complicating with outdated defenses that are no longer needed.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Pressed Pansy Flowers for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Gneiss Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Aventurine Goddess for Harmony and Balance of the Heart

Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: THE STAR STRING TAROT AND IRREVOCABLE WHOLENESS ORACLE

Daily Self Kindness

I relaxed at Ms B’s today and watched a movie instead of doing a bunch of chores.

Gideon’s Challenge – Meditation

Indigenous Art of CanadaMeditation

Take a breath
deep and full
and let it out
slow
as eyes
close
and the sound
of birds
fill your ears
on quiet
mornings
each day

Photo Ā© ZenStatePhotography

Defense Mechanisms and Isolation

Today’s meditation was a ten minute long #DailyTrip session from the @Calm app.

•    • Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  ā—ˆĀ Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  šŸ‚Ā Ā Ā  •    ā—ˆ Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  • Ā Ā  •

Mocha Siamese Tarot - Page of Pentacles; Lobilat Rumi Quotes CardsDaily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.

Today’s draw is the Page of Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive ā€œomegaā€ energy in the area of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, home life, and manifestations. This often translates into themes that have to do with work apprenticeships and learning a new ability or skill.

The Page of Pentacles has then been combined with the an affirmation from the Lobilat Rumi Quotes deck, which says, “Submit to love without thinking.”

When you have spent the lions share of your foundational years on guard, it can be heard to let go and let people in. I find myself struggling with this again and again.Ā  Most people?Ā  They just give up and go away. That’s not my intention in coming off as “cold” or unapproachable, and yet that’s what happens.Ā  Defense mechanisms and their pitfalls, right?

This means, at least for me, that only those with persistence make it through.Ā  Gideon, for example, was very determined.Ā  Same with J.

These days?Ā  I’m trying to loosen up and not allow my defense mechanisms to call the shots. I’m trying to learn to be more open to love. To allow people in more easily.Ā  It’s not easy, but I’m trying.Ā  I’ve found in doing this, that I’m gifted with a more diverse pool of people in my life, and many of them I enjoy the company of a great deal.Ā  The struggle, is definitely worth it.Ā  Difficult, but worth it.

The message in today’s card and affirmation combo is a reminder that your defense mechanisms are not always right or healthy.Ā  Sometimes, we need to learn to look past the fear and pain that created these defenses, and allow ourselves to explore what life might be like without them.

DECK USED:Ā  MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND LOBILAT: RUMI QUOTES DECK

#DiscordTarotholicsNov2025 Challenge
Memories Prompts for November 20

Tarot Reading with Burton's Wonderland Tarot and The Grief Journey OracleWhat to Cherish –Ā Three of Pentacles and Guide

You are not alone on your journey. Your life is filled with a lot of struggle, and you work hard to create what you have and the stability that you crave. You have others, though, with you… on both sides of the veil.Ā  They participate in your life to support you and also provide guidance when it is needed.

What to Release –Ā The Magician and Child

Your need for control resides in your childhood trauma. Releasing this trauma will give you the ability to manifest those things you want to create in your life without the need to be in control every step of the way or hold onto that control with such a tight grip all the time.

Memories to Make –Ā Strength and Illumination

It’s time to start exploring the strengths that reside within you that don’t require force or aggression to manifest.

Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Dried Cedar Bundle for Protection from Negative Influences
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a ā€œBreath of Fresh Airā€

Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECKS USED: BURTON’S WONDERLAND TAROT AND THE GRIEF JOURNEY ORACLE

@thetruthinstory #embracethemagical2025 Challenge
The Deep Prompts 21 and 22

Tarot Reading with the Mocha Siamese Tarot and Oracle d'OrUnderworld (Death) – What hidden depths am I being asked to explore?

Page of Cups and Constellations – You are only skimming the surface of your emotions thus far on this journey to understand and explore them. They are as deep and nuanced as the universe itself, with a myriad of different causes, differences, and patterns. Don’t stop. This journey is challenging and excruciatingly slow moving, but worth it.

Night (Mystery) – What can only be revealed in the dark?

Queen of Swords Rx and Ephemerality – Remember that your sharper edges are temporary fluctuations. You are not these moments, they are simply a small part of the whole of who you are. Ephemeral and fleeting.

Flame (Spirit) –Ā What spark refuses to be extinguished?

The Lovers and Expansion – Self betterment is an integral part of your practice. As a core element in your beliefs and values, it will always be a driving force in your life.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Beech Pods for Realizations that Foster Personal Growth
Ammonite for a Sense of Stability During Times of Change

Desert Rose for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: MOCHA SIAMESE TAROT AND ORACLE D’OR

Daily Self Kindness

Although my stomach is feeling better, I took it easy on myself today.

Gideon’s Challenge – Blending Intent

Making IncenseBlending Intent

A pinch of this
and a little
of that
combined
with intention
create
earthy scents
and energy
with direction
once scattered
over black sand
and touched
by heat
to smolder

Photo Ā© ZenStatePhotography