In Defense of Imagination

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Today’s meditation was seven minutes long, and was one of the #DailyTrip sessions from the Calm app. It spoke on the importance of being in the moment, and that when we are meditating, that involves taking each moment one at a time.

In life, it’s important to be present in the now.  Not always looking back or looking forward. By some this is called “stopping to smell the roses” and it allows us to appreciate life and our existence in it.

The meditation today took this a step further, encouraging not just a slow down that allows us to savor the present, but when we meditate, to slow things down even further.  Noting one sensation, then another, then another.  Giving each of them a moment of our undivided attention instead of pushing them away or ignoring them.  To, in this way, use meditation as a way to saturate ourselves in the moment and deepen our appreciate of it.

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Card of the Day Tarot Reading with Tarot of the Guiding MuseToday’s draw is the Seven of Wands atop the Page of Cups.

Sometimes we forget that our imagination is important. It’s not just something for little kids to play games with, but an important part of our lives as adults as well. It’s the birthplace of creativity and ingenuity, after all.

Many less imaginative people snark at people with an active imagination, telling them that they need to “grow up” or looking down on them as silly in some manner. They try to quash the imagination in others.

The cards for today are a reminder to not let these people get to you. Don’t allow them to smother your imagination and creativity.  Just because they can’t do it?  Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Instead, it means you have a talent that they do not, and it’s something to protect and let shine, not hide away or smother out.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE GUIDING MUSE

@Lionharts #TheMarchTarot The Power of Now Challenge
Prompt for March 1 : Do the Be Here Now Tarot Spread

Be Here Now Tarot Reading with the Meraki Tarot

What is keeping me from fully witnessing the present?

Eight of Wands – You’re always in too much of a hurry to be moving forward and progressing. When you’re always in such a rush to keep moving forward, it’s impossible to pause and linger in the present moment.

How am I creating distance between myself and the stillness within?

Page of Wands – You are too busy, and two “scattered” in your interests and passions. With so much going on and so much eagerness to explore so many different faucets and avenues before you, that stillness has nowhere to truly shine, or even fully awaken.

What can help me fully embrace the present moment?

King of Swords atop Two of Swords – It can help you to fully embrace the present moment more by making practical choices and cutting out with brutal precision those things that are weighing you down and keeping you from being more present in the now.

Other elements included in this reading:
Dried Rhododendron Leaf for Fostering Confidence
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: MERAKI TAROT 4TH EDITION

Daily Self Kindness

I started working on orders today (a day early) in order to ensure that I’d be able to go north a day earlier than normal this week.

📆 Transitioning from February to March

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End of Month Check-In Tarot Reading with The Somnia Tarot

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

Queen of Swords – It’s time to rise. Leave behind what is needed to rise to your potential, and accept help from those in the know rather than doing all the work yourself. You can put on an unaffected front even if you are more deeply involved in the equation than it seems. The Queen is the power behind the crown (as opposed to beneath it), guiding the way, as each powerful and wise King has one whispering in their ear.

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

Knight of Pentacles – Practicality and slow movement can only get you so far. The time for movement and action is now upon you. Leave the drag of sluggishness behind and get moving.

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

Two of Wands – To move forward you have to have a plan. Don’t waist the time of stillness in inaction that you’re unable to get past or control, but instead use it wisely to plot your course forward.

Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.

Seven of Cups Rx – Take care that you don’t become stymied by too many options. If you don’t stay laser focused on what you want and the opportunities that can get you there, you will become mired in indecision.  Lots of options isn’t always a good thing, so don’t let them become a distraction.

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

King of Swords – Decisiveness is the key to getting where you want to go. Listen to good sense, and don’t let those previously mentioned opportunities that have nothing to do with your end goals distract you and bog you down. Now’s not the time to become scattered, but rather to strategize and make strong, focused decisions.

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

The Chariot – Remember that even in times when you are forced into a corner, you still have choices and autonomy. In those moments, you may feel powerless, but just because your options are limited doesn’t mean there are none. It just may take some creative thinking to continue moving things forward in the direction you want to go.

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

The Tower – Remember with every “shit happens” that you have survived, you have become stronger. It may feel like the world around you is crumbling, but it’s only adding to the ground beneath your feet, lifting you up so that you will sit higher, and thus have higher ground for the next round.

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

The Hanged Man – Delay in stagnancy is all well and good when you have something to contemplate, but sometimes it’s just a delay for the sake of a delay. You have the opportunity to mitigate the effects of that if you stay focused on your goals.

Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.

The World – Finding the finish line isn’t always easy, and sometimes even when you reach it you think you have a long way yet to go. Make sure you are paying attention so that you don’t miss your moment to finish things.

Message from the Spirit World – Use your times of stillness to strategize towards finishing things.

Message from the Mind’s World – Times of slowness can allow you to seek council in plotting your course.

Message from the Physical World – Seize control of your moments of indecision in order to avoid chaos and possible tragedy.

Take Away – After a very long time that felt like stagnant inactivity where life and the cards both seemed to be saying to “wait” and let things move at their own pace, here is a call to action. It’s time to begin moving again, and the first step to that is planning and strategy. Time to get your ducks in a row.

DECKS USED: THE SOMNIA TAROT

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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These Saturday readings are (not usually) bearing in on any one thing or event in my life, as the question used is asking for a more general outlook. This is a self care exercise, and is not meant as a predictive reading… although that, too, happens on occasion.

The question is… What do I need to focus for self-care through the week ahead?

Loputyn's I Tarocchi Tarot Deck and The Primitive Lenormand

Earth – The Hermit – Do what you need to do to get some healthy alone time this week. You have time off, and there aren’t a lot of obligations going on to get in your way.

Air – Justice – Remember that you get what you give. If you’re going to doomscroll, then you’re going to be feeling anxious and down. Work on focusing your mind and attention on things that have the result of lifting you up and making you feel empowered instead.

Water – The High Priestess – Listen to the inner tides of your emotions as they ebb and flow, rather than trying to lock them away and ignore them. You need to look within this week and get in touch with what you have been avoiding by touching base with your innermost ken and dealing with it head-on.

Fire – The Chariot – Take care, even if you take time off , that you don’t relax your grip on the reigns. Keep a watchful eye on the direction things are going so that even during times of rest, you are able to steer your passions and objectives in the direction you want to go.

Waning – Stork and Rider – Magical thinking. Remember that things have to move at their own pace. There’s no way to usher everything to move faster, or hurry along the changes currently taking place.

Waxing – Bouquet and Scythe – Remember that sometimes gifts given come at a heavy cost. Not everyone is honest in their intentions when they’re being nice to you.  Keep a close eye on other’s motivations.

Take Away – Alone time is important during your time off this week. Make sure that you are giving yourself the rest you need and keeping things healthy in your choices of activities and practices. Let go of the rush and just allow things to move at their own pace.  Holding onto the reigns doesn’t mean slapping the horse’s ass with them, it just means you don’t run off the road.

DECKS USED: LOPUTYN’S I TAROCCHI TAROT DECK AND THE PRIMITIVE LENORMAND

Finding the Positive for February 21 – 23

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Lighthouse In Fog Tarot, Love and Courage Quest Tarot, Myths & Legends Tarot, and Sweet-Ass Affirmation Cards
February 21 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Wands atop the Five of Swords.

When others are feeling defeated, take a moment to step back and help them find their footing again. It’s easy to see them as not your problem, or even as a potential obstacle now no longer in your path. The cards for today, speak of taking another path.  One of compassion.

These cards are a reminder that it costs us nothing to help another who has stumbled get to their feet. Kindness costs us nothing but a little bit of our time.

So when you see someone struggling, take a moment to provide them with some encouragement. Help them light that inner spark of passion and purpose within them once more. It costs very little to give an encouraging word or a kind gesture, and it lifts not just the recipient up in the process… but yourself as well.

DECKS USED: LIGHTHOUSE IN FOG TAROT

February 22 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Temperance card combined with the affirmation “I do what I love. I love what I do.”

Earlier this month, I did a reading that talked about my addictive tendencies, and how it’s not about addictive substances, but rather about pleasure and dopamine and moderation.

The lion’s share of my income comes from running my own business. I love this job, but there are times when I get a bit burnt out on it. Especially when I end up in a rut just remaking the same things over and over because they sell well, instead of being given the freedom to create new things and experiment at will.

That, though, is a part of being responsible.  Isn’t it?  We have to sacrifice a little of our passion if we want to create something steady and stable. We have to do the things we don’t like, and combine them with those things that we do.  Would I be happier wildly creating at will without the need to do the repetitive parts of running a business?  Probably… at least for a while until the business started to fail because the drudgery parts of it weren’t being done. 

The cards for today are a reminder that moderation is needed in all things, even those things that are good for us, and especially in those things that we enjoy.  Otherwise?  Things can easily get out of hand.

DECKS USED: LOVE AND COURAGE QUEST TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS 3

February 23 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Eight of Wands combined with the affirmations “I decorate my life with quality relationships, experiences, and purpose.”

Quality over quantity is an important message here in today’s affirmation card. It’s a reminder that more isn’t always better.  That is especially true when it comes to the people you surround yourself in.

Look at the witches in the Eight of Wands. They are a tribe.  Like minded and moving together, they are aligned with each other and all heading in the same direction.

Have you found -your- tribe yet? Or are you still forcing yourself to try and blend in with those that don’t quite fit you well at all?  That is the question asked in today’s cards, along with an encouragement to stop trying to “fit in” with those that aren’t for you, and instead start looking for those that -are- for you and that you will fit in with effortlessly.

DECKS USED: MYTHS & LEGENDS TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

Finding the Positive for February 17 – 19

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Brightwork Tarot, Dick Pic Tarot, Tarot Draconis, and Sweet-Ass Affirmations

February 17 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Four of Wands combined with the affirmation “My mind is exceptional. My body is optimal. My soul is serene.”

Your body is the home of your soul. It’s not meant to be perfect any more than life is meant to be easy.  It’s through the challenges we face, both in life as well as with our body, that we grow and learn and become better people than we are currently.

Limitations are frustrating, absolutely, and there’s lots of people that don’t like the body that their souls are housed in, whether that is because of disabilities or defects, weight issues, or any other issue.  Everyone… absolutely everyone has things about themselves they’re self-conscious about.  The important part? Is to love your soul’s home anyway, and value what it does for you.  After all, where would you be without it?

DECKS USED: BRIGHTWORK TAROT GOLDEN LOTUS EDITION AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 18 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the Queen of Cups (Zaddy of Urinals) combined with the affirmation “By pumping my action muscle I make hesitation my bitch.”

Yesterday’s cards were about acceptance of your body, and today’s are about improving it in the ways that will make you and your body happy.

It’s about setting unreasonable expectations behind and acceptance, with the knowledge that we can all do a little bit better, and take care of ourselves a little bit more.

For me, this means making sure that I’m getting time outside in nature, no matter the time of year or the weather.  It’s what I need, both for happiness emotionally as well as my physical well being.  It means making sure I do my PT exercises each day so that I don’t stiffen up and lose mobility. It’s about making sure that I’m taking in enough protein and fuel to keep me going rather than skipping meals.

All of these things are things I have learned over the years that I need in order to be healthy and happy.  Some of them?  I don’t always enjoy, but I know that I need them. I do them because I need them, regardless of if I’d rather hibernate away or relax in bed for another half hour instead of getting up.

Self care is important, and means giving yourself the things you need for your body and soul to both feel healthy and happy.  Don’t forsake them just because you’d rather play possum.

DECKS USED: DICK PIC TAROT AND SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS

February 19 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Today’s draw is the King of Cups atop the King of Wands. They encourage us to take a moment to look where we’re going, and who we are taking with us along for the ride.

Kings are leaders, and in the Cups and Wands suit, they lead through passion and understanding.  The problem is that sometimes, we need to make sure that we aren’t getting so wrapped up in the flames of our passions that we forget to pay attention to making sure things are going smoothly not just for you, but for others on the journey with you as well.

Make sure that you check in on those other people in your life and ensure they are doing okay, rather than ignoring their needs and how they’re doing while your gaze is focused on your goal.

DECKS USED: TAROT DRACONIS

Returning to the Earth

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Today’s meditation was skipped.

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Lunar Lost Tarot's Six of Cups and Rage Create's Sweet-Ass Affirmations 3Today’s draw is the Six of Cups combined with the affirmation “I am Randy for some earth candy.”

Oy.  Okay so I don’t really get… or like… today’s affirmation card. The affirmation on the front is confusing to me, and to be honest? I find the writing on the back very “stream of consciousness” babble-ish and a bit on the vulgar side in a sort of ‘ick’ kinda way.

BUT.  I pulled it, so I’m gonna use it.

The Six of Cups is all about nostalgia, and combined with this affirmation card, what I’m seeing here is an encouragement to look back on those things that you have done in the past to connect with nature, and consider it’s time to revisit some of those activities.  That can be things like walking in the woods, skinny dipping in a lake, or just spending some time sitting out on the lawn listening to the breeze.

These times are special. They are treats to savor, and it’s time to consider revisiting some of them.

DECKS USED:  LUNAR LOST TAROT AND RAGE CREATE’S SWEET-ASS AFFIRMATIONS 3

#DiscordTarotholicsFeb2023 Challenge
Prompt for February : Do Spread 3

Tarot Reading with the I Am Not A Doll Tarot

Which one card do you feel sums you up best?

Two of Pentacles – Always trying to find balance. There has been a lot of time in my life lately spent trying to establish balance in my life and feeling off-balance more often than not. Although I’m managing to juggle everything, the problem is that I’m feeling overwhelmed with the effort at the moment, and I am seeking not just a better balance, but a steadier foundation to work from as well.

Which one card do you feel represents your strengths?

The Hanged Man – The ability and desire to seek understanding beyond myself. Sometimes when I become too overwhelmed, I lose touch with this as I become too focused on my own struggles. When this happens, I feel a shift in clarity, as if my ability to see clearly has lost a large portion of it’s awareness and understanding.  When that overwhelm eases, that clarity returns and feels like a superpower.

Which one card do you feel represents your limitations?

Ten of Wands – A tendency to take on too much and not realize it until it’s too late. This is where the overwhelm previously mentioned comes in.  When I am feeling good, I feel like I am able to conquer all that I put on my plate… and then my balance shifts and I stumble.  I lose my clarity and become overwhelmed because when not functioning on all cylinders I can’t keep up.

What kind of issues do you feel that you need to work on?

The Devil – Addictive tendencies are something I continuously need to work on. If it feels good? Its addictive, because dopamine is addictive.  It took a long time to understand this, and that it’s not about “addictive substances” for me, but about pleasure, dopamine, and moderation in order to not allow my addictive tendencies to get out of control.

What message do you want to share with the world?

Death – Change is hard, but it doesn’t have to be something you fear or fight against. It’s human to be uncomfortable with change, but change is inevitable.  Do your best to move with it rather than fighting against it, and you will find life will feel far less turbulent as a result.

Other elements included in this reading:
Sigil: Sustainable Healthy Energy
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort

DECK USED: I AM NOT A DOLL TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I spent the day with Gideon, and let my dominant side have free reign for a bit.