Second Harvest 2024 – Autumn Equinox

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

❤️ Self Care Saturday (On a Sunday)

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?

Legendarium Tarot and Treasure House Lenormand

EarthFour of Coins – Make sure that miserly behavior you’ve been working to instill in your life over the past few months keeps going. It’s not easy but you have things you need to sacrifice for that make this important right now.

AirKing of Cups – You cannot overcome all of those worries and anxieties whispering in your mind on your own. Make sure that you are leaning into Gideon and sharing with him what is going on with you. Be honest instead of using avoidance.

WaterThe Nithing : Death – Hello subdrop. You know it’s coming.  Don’t try to ignore it, because you know it’s not going to go away that easily.

FireTen of Coins – Things in area of your passion projects and business are finally starting to balance out. The slow period is easing up, and the fruits of your labors coming full circle. Keep up on your work in order to continue to prosper.

WaningSnake and Bouquet – Keep a distance this week between yourself and those that wish to “butter you up” for their own means. If they seem like someone is being too nice or kissing your ass? They are.  Back away slowly and give them more distance.

WaxingTree and Anchor – Pay special attention to your health this week, and those things that help in securing your health for the long-term. Things like eating healthier and getting outside will assist you in the long run.

Take Away – Work is going your way even during a time when you’re feeling extra vulnerable and in need of Gid’s support.  Don’t let that vulnerability turn into a liability by trusting those outside your support system right now.  Kindness from strangers is not kindness this week, but a potential for manipulation, so take care in the kindnesses you accept and from who.

DECKS USED: LEGENDARIUM TAROT AND TREASURE HOUSE LENORMAND

Finding the Positive for September 20th and 21st

September 20 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Orenda Tarot and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s card is the Five of Wands combined with the affirmation “You will survive this.”

The message in today’s cards is a reminder that conflict happens. It’s a part of life, and isn’t the end of the world, no matter how stressful it might feel at the time.

Don’t let fear of conflict hold you back from the things that are important to you. It’s through conflict that we show the world (and ourselves) just what is important and where our values lie.

The conflict itself? Is short lived.  Either those that you are in conflict with will accept you as you are… or they won’t and will move on. If it’s the latter? That doesn’t fall in your lap as your “fault”, but rather is a sign that they aren’t a good fit for you in the first place.

DECK USED: ORENDA TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

September 21 – Mental Health Card of the Day

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Thirty-Six Stratagems Inspiration Cards and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s cards are The Plum Tree’s Sacrifice combined with the affirmation “Your future is worth seeing.”

Don’t take the easy way out. Losses and struggles are inevitable, but even in the face of painful moments we need to remember to hold on and keep going.

Some of the affirmations that deal with suicide, I admit to having a difficult time with. Prior to finding a medication that helped control those thoughts and urges, suicide was a very prevalent theme in my inner dialog and a very real effort to -not- act on.

The message in today’s cards is that there’s more than just you in the world.  Sometimes? We have to sacrifice what we want for the betterment of others. Whether or not you -see- that they need you?  They do.  So set your thoughts and urges of not seeing tomorrow aside and sacrifice them for the need of others.  If you can’t live for yourself? Live for them.

DECK USED: THIRTY-SIX STRATAGEMS INSPIRATION CARDS AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

Who’s Holding the Reigns

Today’s meditation was skipped.

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Universal Folk Tarot's The Chariot Card and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is The Chariot card combined with the affirmation “That voice inside that tells you you’re unlovable must not know you at all; we’re lucky to have you.”

The Chariot is all about direction and empowerment. You hold onto the reigns and you control where the Chariot goes. That, combined with the affirmation for today, is a reminder that you can’t counterbalance your negative impulses and that negative inner voice in your brain if you aren’t going to actively use the tools you’ve developed to make that counterbalance happen.

Make sure that you are leaning into positivity and optimism wherever you can. That counterbalance is needed. Without it, it’s not you holding the reigns, but your pain and depression.

DECK USED:  UNIVERSAL FOLK TAROT AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

@mercurytarot #SensualSeptemberTarot Challenge
Prompts for September  18th thru 20th, 27th, 28th

Universal Folk Tarot - Four of Cups, The Hermit, Ten of Wands, Eight of Wands, King of CupsWhat brings me shame?

King of Cups Rx – That you don’t measure up to Gideon and are undeserving of his love, support, and adoration. Although you know that this is not true, it is something that sticks with you and never entirely leaves, no matter how illogical it may be.

Where does it stem from?

Ten of Wands (Turned Left) – This feeling of inadequacy stems from putting too much on yourself and expecting too much from yourself, which is a product of your past.  Doing this blocks you from being able to see that you are enough as you are. Just because you look up to him for different qualities than you personally possess doesn’t make you less then.  On the contrary, it makes you two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.

How can I release this?

Eight of Wands (Turned Right) – Work on moving on from these feelings and let go of these expectations you hold over yourself. Focus, instead, on the things that make you happy and begin to gravitate in that direction moving forward.

What is my relationship with jealousy?

The Hermit – Jealousy often feels like a vulnerability, and thus is kept close to the vest. You don’t like to share these feelings with others, whether that’s with your partner or with the world at large, as it makes you feel as if you are exposing open wounds for others to possibly poke at or otherwise hurt you with.

How can I break negative cycles?

Four of Cups Rx – Even though it’s your natural inclination to do so, don’t keep these issues to yourself, even when it feels like you need to in order to protect yourself. Share them with others instead, and allow others to step in and help you find themes of positivity and optimism when you’re unable to do so on your own.

Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Western Red Cedar Tips for Casting Out Negativity
Foraged Lichen for Perserverance
Labradorite for Mental and Emotional Healing
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy

DECK USED: UNIVERSAL FOLK TAROT

Daily Self Kindness

I let myself have the drown I was craving, and acknowledged the need to lean on Gideon in the subsequent drop to come.

Pride Over Punishment

Today’s meditation was skipped (again).

•    •    •    ◈    •    🌱    •    ◈    •    •    •

Serpent and the Peacock Tarot's The Sun card and It’s Going To Be Okay 2024 Day-to-day Calendar By Kate AllanToday’s draw is The Sun card combined with the affirmation “As much as you can, please try to act from LOVE rather than from FEAR.”

Alchemically speaking, the green lion is eating the verdigris and impurities off of the sun in this image. (I had to look at the guide book with this card, and it speaks of how the green lion eating the sun is a metaphor for acids eating away impure substances to leave behind pure gold.)

To me, this says that happiness and success aren’t luck. They aren’t happenstance.  They are the results of hard work and effort.  Thus, the message in today’s cards is that we shouldn’t fear or discount our successes.  Even the smallest ones are hard won, and should be appreciated for their worth, rather than degraded out of fear that if we take pride in ourselves and our work that we will be punished for it in some way.

DECK USED:  SERPENT AND THE PEACOCK TAROT ART VERSION AND IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY 2024 DAY-TO-DAY CALENDAR BY KATE ALLAN

#DiscordTarotholicsSep2024 Challenge

Question for September 17th : What do you need to focus on for self-care this full moon?

Magical Spirit OracleReading Summary: It’s okay to have fallow points in your practice (Blessings and Curses; The Witch resting inside a teacup spa). It’s okay to take time away (Dark Night of the Soul) and come back to it later.

Take Away: This full moon is finding you a bit worn out and in need of a break. Make sure that you are taking the breaks that you need, even in your spiritual practices.

It’ll all still be there when you’re ready to return, and burning yourself out isn’t going to do anyone any good… most especially yourself.

DECK USED: MAGICAL SPIRIT ORACLE

Philosophical Question for September 18th : What is humanity’s greatest mistake?

Serpent and the Peacock Tarot - Page of Pentacles, Eight of Cups, Four of CupsReading Summary: Becoming emotional and turning away (Eight of Cups and Four of Cups) in the face of challenges (Page of Pentacles).

Take Away: These cards indicate that humanity’s greatest mistake is allowing our emotions to turn us away from what are otherwise important pursuits.

Frustration and despondency, specifically, cause many to step away from what projects and explorations  that could possibly lead to somewhere great and worth while in the end.

DECK USED: SERPENT AND THE PEACOCK TAROT ART VERSION

Daily Self Kindness

I made the choice to not work on orders today for Friday, letting myself have a breather because I’m feeling overwhelmed.

🎨 Weekly Creativity Prompt – Different Scenarios

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.”

Fifth Spirit Tarot - Three of Pentacles, The World, Eight of Pentacles

Scenario 1 – Jordan is trying to get over their jealousy of their ex dating someone else. They know it’s irrational but keeps cycling back to their ex and they’re coming to you for guidance and advice.

Sometimes in order to move on from a particularly significant phase in our lives (The World) it takes not just hard work on our parts (Eight of Pentacles), but help from others as well (Three of Pentacles).  Make sure that you are including those around you in your pursuits for freedom from these feelings and the new beginnings you are trying to build in your own life.  Tell them you are struggling and let them help you in creating something new that doesn’t involve a constant focus on your ex.

Scenario 2 – There is a conflict at Joey’s workplace involving his manager and a coworker. Joey wants some guidance on how to navigate this situation.

Both of these people are important to your work, and it would behoove you to insert yourself into the situation (Three of Pentacles) and help them sort things out. Guide them toward turning over a new leaf in their working relationship with each other (The World), and remind them how important working together is in performing at their individual bests at their job (Eight of Pentacles).

DECK USED: FIFTH SPIRIT TAROT