Longing
Blue skies
are boring
but mountain peaks
basking
pristine in their
glacier’s glory
make way
for imagination
and curioisty
to flourish
all the same
Gideon’s Challenge – Longing
The Self Abuse of Perfectionism
Today’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session from the @Calm.
• • • ◈ • 🍃 • ◈ • • •
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Ace of Coins, which is traditionally a representation of the seed of new beginnings and new opportunities in the areas of one’s finances, resources, health, labors, manifestations, and the physical world.
The card has then been combined with an affirmation card from the Soul Seedlings deck, which says, “I strive for progress, not perfection.”
In my opinion, the expectation of perfection is a form of self abuse. This is coming from someone who has spent the majority of their life in pursuit of perfection at all costs, including whatever personal costs are involved. This kind of mindset means that your best is never good enough, and you tear down your best again and again to do more until it’s better than your best. Even then, you finally have to concede that this is the best you can do, but it’s probably still not perfect.
See the abuse in there? It’s all over the place from the actions taken to the mindset to the fact that no matter how good you do it’s never going to be enough.
Years after having discovered this, I still catch myself, falling into the old pattern of expectations of perfection. Not from others, but from myself. I am working to be kinder to myself, though, and this is a part of that journey.
The message in today’s Ace of Coins and affirmation card is a reminder that demanding perfection from yourself is unhealthy. It is abusive. These cards encourage us to instead focus upon progress rather than perfection, for it’s not in perfection where we find growth and betterment, but in the small steps of progress we make from day-to-day.
DECK USED: QUEER CROW DEATH MAGIC TAROT AND SOUL SEEDLINGS AFFIRMATIONS FOR KIDS
#DiscordTarotholicsJun2026 Challenge
Prompt for July 1st : Do the Third Quarter Spread
Year Ahead Theme : The Devil
The Devil card is traditionally a representation of temptation, struggles with moderation, harmful excesses, addiction, and self-harm. Temptation is not always bad for you, but neither is it always good. It’s through grounded and sound judgement that we are able to make healthy decisions when choosing what temptations we indulge in and which ones we leave behind.
Theme for July : Seven of Cups
There’s a lot of choices, directions, and options laid out in front of you this month. Make sure when you are looking at all of these options that you first weed out the ones that are impractical or unhealthy for you. They don’t need to be in the mix causing extra confusion with their presence. This weeding process is the first step in making the best choices possible.
Focus / Advice for July : The Crux
“… suffering and its cure are written into our DNA. Any unrealized goal is a form of dissatisfaction“
Make sure when choosing which opportunities you moved towards and which ones you step away from, that you are also considering which of those opportunities will be too heavy to carry over the long run.
Ray of Hope for July : My Voice Matters
Consider discussing these options with others rather than making the decision alone and on your own. By bouncing your options off of others, you gain a perspective on these options that you would not otherwise have, as well as a better understanding of yourself as those you trust to consult with offer you honest advice based on what they know about you. Not to mention, sometimes they are more likely than you are to take into account and add value to the things that will make you happy.
Theme for August : The Tower
Make sure whatever choices and deliberations needed to be made are done in July, because in August it’s time to start moving on the destruction and restructuring needed to make room to bring these new opportunities you’ve chosen to pursue to life.
Focus / Advice for August : The Benighted
Make sure to leave room for lots of cluster fucks. Just because things feel like they aren’t going as planned doesn’t mean that you’re not getting something out of the process. It just means that you need to give yourself more time to get where you want to go. Feelings of uncertainty are natural during this time. Tenacity is needed.
Ray of Hope for August : My Mind is Being Filled with Fantastical Ideas
Instead of falling into “what if” thinking where your brain begins to fill up with all of the catastrophic issues that could turn things awry, use that creativity in your mind and imagination to consider all of the ways that things could go even better than planned because of these obstacles and delays.
Theme for September : Temperance
Slow down. Explore and consider where you are pushing too hard, to the point where it can be detrimental to you, your health, or your well-being. Don’t ignore the warning signs that you are overexerting yourself through excess and lack of moderation.
Focus / Advice for September : The Ethics
Remember that how you go about doing something is just as important as getting it done. You may be tempted this month to try and bypass your own personal ethics in order to foster expediency. Don’t do this. Make sure that you are checking in with yourself and your moral compass and following where they lead, regardless of what extra difficulties or delays that may entail.
Ray of Hope for September : I Am Doing My Best
Don’t forget that “your best” it’s not about perfection or self-abuse. It’s about doing what you can in the moment without harming yourself in the process. Some days you are going to be more capable than others, and that’s perfectly okay.
Other elements included in this reading:
Pressed Pansy Flower for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Foraged Silver Maple Key for Bouncing Back to Thrive
Clear Quartz for boosting Mental Clarity
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECKS USED: QUEER CROW DEATH MAGIC TAROT, EVERYDAY ENCHANTMENT TAROT, THE SKYBOUND TRAVELER ORACLE, SOUL SEEDLINGS AFFIRMATIONS FOR KIDS
This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.
📆 Transitioning from June to July
Here and Now I Exist – Who you are now, in your entirety.
Center – You are the warm center that keeps everything feeling safe and comfortable. While you are this person for others, you seek this from those closest to you as well. You are coming to the realization and understanding that you need them to help stoke the fire and keep things going.
The Slough – What is to be left in the past as you move forward.
Center Left – Leave behind your tendency to focus too much on control, which you know to be both impractical and unhealthy. A bit of mindfulness and small corrections here and there will create far better results than trying to control every aspect and see every obstacle that may come up along the way.
What Lies Ahead – An ideal state or ideal self you are seeking at this time.
Center Right – You’ve been daydreaming an awful lot about having some true quality alone time lately. Just make sure when you try to pursue this avenue that you don’t end up closing yourself off in the process.
Limitations – Negative influences, opposition, or ill will.
Bottom Center – Your expectations of perfection are inhibiting you from being able to appreciate your home in its present state. Instead of obsessing over the mess and allowing it to drag you down, try waxing poetic over the stuff you like about your home. Just like everything else in life, it’s never going to be perfect.
The Boon – Positive influences, higher guidance, or divine intervention.
Top Center – Take time to stop and savor the little things. Sunsets and fireflies and quiet afternoons are your reward for just being here. Don’t pass them up just because you have “things still to do”.
The Wound – An unpleasant past experience or event that is ripe for some support and healing.
Bottom Left – Don’t allow the shadows of uncertainty to get the upper hand and take over. They will eat away at you if given the chance. Instead, cast a light on them to help guide you through dark times. When you share your worries and troubles with other others, it helps lighten the burden as well as the uncertainty you’re experiencing.
Nostalgia – A positive past experience or event to acknowledge, reflect upon, and enjoy.
Bottom Right – Use your “nighttime in the greenhouse” experiences in your meditation exercises. Explore the feel of the air and the leaves, the scent of the greenhouse at night, and the atmosphere through your meditation and visualization. These experiences are still fresh in your mind and able to be explored to add a little spice and variety to your meditation practice.
A Warning – Something coming that can be prevented or overcome.
Top Left – As mentioned previously, your expectations towards perfection are going to get in the way of the things you want to do and experience if you let them. Pay attention when that voice rises up that tells you that you should be doing more or doing better, and put it back in its place instead of allowing it to pollute your self-esteem and drag you down into self abusive behaviors.
Empowerment – A future opportunity to work toward.
Top Right – Remember that creativity is messy! It’s okay to make a mess and not be as organized as perhaps you’d like. As long as you are enjoying each aspect and step along the way, it doesn’t matter if there’s a mess to clean up afterward or if things are a bit more disorganized than the more exact side of your nature may prefer.
Message from the Spirit World – Have fun with color and creativity. Enjoy the beauty in the world around you instead of becoming hyper focused on all the little organizational bits that need to be put into place. Sometimes it’s okay to just have fun.
Message from the Mind’s World – If you allow your darker thoughts to run amuck, they will isolate you from the warmth and support others can provide.
Message from the Physical World – Consider getting outside during the darker hours of twilight and sunrise in order to beat the heat and find a more comfortable experience for your outdoor activities.
DECKS USED: THE J MIRANDA ORACLE
Gideon’s Challenge – Rebirthing
Rebirthing
New life springs
from dark places
as tender roots
search for purchase
and tender bits
reach open air
and stretch
for the sun
as the moss
whispers
to each other
about a babe
in their midst
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Future Scenarios
Today’s meditation was skipped.
• • • ◈ • ☀️ • ◈ • • •
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Six of Wands, which is traditionally a representation of public accolades, societal expectations, people pleasing, and peer pressure.
The Six of Wands has then been combined with the Reversed Sirens card from the Nowbits Oracle, which says, “When you leave your body and go into the future in your mind… it might feel pleasant at first (depending on the future you’re visiting), but soon enough you may start to feel quite uncomfortable… almost to the point of hearing sirens. Not to worry, this is just your body saying: “come home please, I need you here with me”. And I KNOW you’re the kind of love that will come running to that call. Visit the futures that excite you! Visit the ones that make you come alive! But don’t forget to come back home. Travel out, Travel in. Repeat. This way what you’re actually doing is pulling your future INTO you, a little closer and closer each time, melding little pieces of it with your present self all the while. Reversing those sirens until they feel like CELEBRATIONS.“
When you imagine the future and daydream about your goals and ambitions, are you imagining a future where you are accomplishing and experiencing the things that you want to experience? Or are you imagining accomplishing goals and ambitions others have put upon you?
When considering these scenarios, which do you think will result in a happier and healthier you?
The message in today’s Six of Wands and Reverse Sirens card is a reminder that the things we set our sights on in the future are the things we end up moving towards in our present. Make sure when contemplating these future scenarios and your goals that you’re focusing on what will make you happy in the future, instead of just what others are expecting of you.
DECKS USED: FUNGJAI TAROT AND NOWBITS ORACLE
The @lightningwildflower June Inner Journey Challenge
Jupiter enters Leo Prompt for June 30th : How can I step into the most radiant version of myself?
Reading Summary: Put some passion and enthusiasm (King of Wands) into getting your house (Four of Wands) in order (The Emperor).
Take Away: Your house is a mess. In it’s current state, it drags you down and creates a deep sense of dissatisfaction for you. That means that it’s time to do something about it.
To step into the most radiant version of yourself, this is the first step. Get going on putting your home to rights, and enlist others to this goal because it’s a big job and is going to take some time.
Note: In this reading the Aquarius result on the spin of the Zodiac Wheel is an indication concerning who you need to engage most in assisting with this endeavor. (That would be J.)
Other elements included in this reading:
Zodiac Wheel in Aquarius (indication of person in one’s life)
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Carnelian Agate Mushroom for Focusing On Aspirations
Moonstone for Fostering Emotional Stability
Citrine for Energy Lift (easing the weight of heavy energies)
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: MARUCO ANIMAL TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsJun2026 Challenge
Prompt for June 30th : Grab a spread of your choice you’re curious about… and give it a go!
Spread: Figure Out the Feeling Spread by JuniperDivination
Feeling: Increased Anxiety and Restlessness
What is triggering this feeling?
Three of Wands Rx – Immobility. You’ve had a number of false starts this spring and summer, but no true momentum. Although things aren’t necessarily stagnant, it feels like the water just churns and churns but never flows.
What this feeling is trying to tell me?
King of Swords Rx – You are expecting too much and being too hard on yourself. Unrealistic expectations are at the root of your restless anxiety.
One thing that might help right now
Wheel of Fortune atop Five of Wands (tipped left) – Look at the times in your past where you have struggled and fought against fate. This is not the type of force you can fight against, as your past has proven. Work at opening up to go with the flow instead. At least half of that churning in the water is just you thrashing around instead of swimming with the current.
Other elements included in this reading:
Staghorn Sumac for Connecting with Nature and the Wild Within
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Gneiss Wishing Stone for Patience in Moments of Discomfort
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: FUNGJAI TAROT
This is a catch up post, and I’m not entirely sure what the self kindness was for this day.
Gideon’s Challenge – Fatalistic Hope
Fatalistic Hope
some day
the entire world
will return
to being
coated
and covered
in green
and we
will all be
gone
and the earth
will thrive
in the absence
of our
meddling
Twisting the Leaf 