Pre-Dawn
A moment
of quiet peace
sitting still
with steam
slowly rising
to fill the air
with the scent
of chamomile
as the sun
rises
on a new day
that I’m
not at all
ready for
Gideon’s Challenge – Pre-Dawn
Looking Back for Personal Growth
Today’s meditation was skipped.
• • • ◈ • 🐇 • ◈ • • •
The @hippiepixie333 #Escapril2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 6th : where you used to be
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 Pentacles, which is traditionally a representation of charity, generosity, sharing the wealth, asking for or accepting help, and balancing the scales between the “haves” and the “have nots” in life.
Once upon a time many years ago, I was a different man than the man I am today. Sure, many things carried over through the years. The fact remains, though, that I treat myself far differently now than I did before. I have grown and changed and learned to be better to myself overtime.
This growth changes everything from the way I see the world to the way that I do things. It changes how I pursue success, and in fact how I see success. I am no longer polluting my psyche by burying my emotions and ignoring them, and I recognize that need for rest is not a weakness any more than the need for food is.
The message in today’s Six of Pentacles card and the “where you used to be” prompt is a reminder to look back at where (and who) you once were every once in a while, and recognize the growth you have accomplished between then and now.
Things have changed and maybe your life is better or maybe your life is worse in this moment, but regardless of these value judgments on your present and your past, where have you grown and improved over time? Where have you bloomed despite adversity?
Perhaps it’s time to spend some time looking at and appreciating the personal growth you have accomplished.
DECK USED: THE GREEN WITCHERY TAROT
@Lionharts #TheAprilTarot Root & Rise Challenge
The Roots Prompts for April 5th and 6th
What actively restores my energy when I give it my attention?
Wryneck, Page of Coins, Junco
Your work toward a more positive and optimistic outlook is an endeavor that requires a good amount of your attention. This isn’t something you can just “set it and forget it”, but a daily effort you need to focus on and put your attention into.
When you give it the attention it requires, you receive undeniable rewards that include a greater cache of energy and brighter outlook on life as a whole.
Where do I trust myself to follow through without needing reassurance?
The Magician, Whinchat, The Fool atop Strength
Empowerment is only half the battle. You often also need to feel a sense of enthusiasm in order to convince yourself to “go for it”.
If you can’t enjoy it and there’s no reward waiting for you that you are able to use to motivate yourself, then there’s a good chance that there’s no amount of poking and prodding that’s going to get you moving; no matter how capable you are of accomplishing what needs to be done.
Therefore, it’s in those things that you find a sense of empowerment and excitement where you trust yourself to follow through without need for reassurances or other bolstering and/or supportive measures.
Other elements included in this reading:
Japanese Cherry Leaf as a Reminder of Life’s Fleeting Moments
Pressed Pansy Flowers for Hearing the Heart More Clearly
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: JAPANESE ART NOUVEAU TAROT AND BIRDY ORACLE
@lightningwildflower‘s April Energetic Shifts Challenge
Adjust Prompt for April 6th : What expectations do I need to adjust today?
Reading Summary: Be generous with yourself (Six of Pentacles). You’re just not going to get as much done as you think you are today (King of Wands), nor that think you can get done either (The Magician).
Take Away: There’s no need to pressure yourself or put undo stress upon getting certain things done today. Take a breath and give yourself a little generosity and grace.
Remember that not everything is under your control, no matter how much you’d like it to be.
Nothing in today’s plans is imperative. Just because you make it feel like it is important or essential doesn’t mean that it actually is. Back off and get done what you can without pushing yourself to the edge of your limits. The rest will wait.
Other elements included in this reading:
Foraged Parmeliaceae Lichen for a “Breath of Fresh Air”
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Sprigs for Independence and Luck
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Turtle Figurine for encouraging Slow and Steady Progress
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: THE GREEN WITCHERY TAROT
I did my best to take it easy today, and not allow myself to feel guilty about it.
Gideon’s Challenge – Grumpy Bear
Grumpy Bear
Hidden anger
smolders
in early
morning hours
waiting
to find purchase
on something
that will allow
for that spark
to turn
into a blaze
but as morning
slips to day
the spark eases
instead of
consuming all
in its path
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
It’s a Learning Process
Today’s meditation was a ten minute #DailyCalm session from the @Calm app.
• • • ◈ • 🐇 • ◈ • • •
The @hippiepixie333 #Escapril2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 5th : a softer ending
Daily Mental Health Prompt: Seek a positive message to carry with you throughout the day and offer perspective.
Today’s draw is the Page of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of a receptive omega energy, personality, or person in the area of one’s thoughts, intellect, logic, ambitions, and communication. This often translates into themes that have to do with learning new ways to communicate with others, beginning new educational pursuits, exploring new ideas. and seeking to sate one’s curiosity.
Forgive yourself for not knowing everything. Your purpose through life is to learn and strive for understanding, not to already know at all. It’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to say “I don’t know”.
When you understand that the purpose of life is one of learning and not knowing, it makes it far easier to forgive yourself when you make a mistake or have a negative “learning experience” along the way. Just as when you’re learning to use a knife, accidentally cutting yourself is a part of the process. It hurts… but it doesn’t make you stupid and doesn’t deserve harsh recriminations.
The message in today’s Page of Swords and “a soft ending” prompt is a reminder to go easy on yourself. Forgive your mistakes and work on taking painful “learning experiences” in stride. You’re learning, and that’s the whole point. As long as you are learning from your mistakes, it turns even those painful experiences and failures into success.
DECK USED: ANIMA TAROT
#DiscordTarotholicsApr2026 Challenge
Prompt for April 5th : Do Spread 1
“Focus on a relationship that is important to you, whether that relationship is a friendship, a family member, or a loved one. Then, use the spread below to explore how you can improve upon that relationship.“
What does this loved one need less of from you?
Six of Wands – Less people pleasing. He doesn’t like to take charge and he doesn’t want to be the one that picks the activities, the restaurants, or the destination. He’d much rather you do these things based on what -you- want rather than saying “whatever is fine” and, in the process, leaving these decisions up to him.
What does this loved one need more of from you?
Seven of Cups atop Five of Cups – This answer is already outlined above. He needs less ambivalence from you and more certainty. He needs you to do the picking, and hates it when you leave the choices up to him and others.
He may, in fact, see your choices as the best options, and anything he chooses as only second best (even when it may be the same thing you personally would have picked).
What in this relationship is being entirely neglected?
Eight of Swords – There’s not enough communication and awareness going on. You’re both just assuming what the other is thinking and feeling, and guessing “close enough” to not end up hurting each other and yourselves in the process. More communication is needed.
Other elements included in this reading:
Conch Shell Knot for Concentration, Clarity, and Determination
Foraged Oak Branch with Moss and Lichen for Perseverance
Carnelian Agate for Inner Drive and Focusing On Aspirations
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: SNAG TAROT
@lightningwildflower‘s April Energetic Shifts Challenge
Sun square Jupiter Prompt for April 5th : Where am I overextending myself or saying yes too quickly?
Reading Summary: When dealing with others, spontaneity is a better choice (Three of Cups) than plotting and planning out every step (Two of Wands Rx and Three of Wands Rx).
Take Away: Instead of agreeing to plans made by others, and in doing so putting yourself in the position of sticking to a strict agenda and schedule, consider the fun, freedom, and frivolity that could ensue by saying “let’s wing it instead”.
Sometimes the weight and restriction of a strict regimen sucks all the fun out of an experience. If you take the lead and toss “the plan” out the window, no matter how attached they were to the plans they’d made, others will follow just to see what happens; trusting that you’re prepared to deal with any fall-out that may happen.
That attitude can lead to far less stress and more fun in the long run… sometimes -especially- when things go awry.
Other elements included in this reading:
Black Spruce Needles to Boost Self-Confidence and Positive Thinking
Dried Rosebuds for Potential and Beauty Waiting to Unfold
Dried Purple Heather Flowers for Independence and Luck
Foraged Wood Fern for Exorcising Negative Influences
Selenite for Purification and drawing in Positive Energy
DECK USED: ANIMA TAROT
I changed my playlist for today to something slow and easy instead of the faster pace that I think has been feeding into my anxiety for the past day or three.
Gideon’s Challenge – Little Things
Little Things
Sweet and soft
moments of bliss
spent wandering
among the green
create
flushed cheeks
and calmed nerves
as perspectives
change
to see things
often missed
when the world
is loud
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
❤️ 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?
Earth – Four of Lotuses – Celebrate your love of hearth and home. Use this week to reconnect with those places and people that feel most like “home” to you. You will feel better for having done so, and so will they.
Air – Amitabha: The Buddha of Lotuses – Reconnect with deeply held values as you make decisions this week. You have the opportunity to share those values with others in meaningful ways by simply leading by example.
Water – Two of Varjas / Dharmachakra Mudra – Make sure when debating with others this week that you are not bringing your emotions into the equation. This isn’t a power struggle, it’s an attempt to find truth, and everyone’s perspective needs to be taken into account and respected.
Fire – The Invalid / The Suffering Man – Step back from protestations and other arguments that will get no one anywhere. Now is a time to connect and observe. Treat the problems that rise this week with empathy instead of ferocity.
Waning – Man and Woman – Polarization is not your friend this week. Balance is a much better option than trying to chameleon yourself into a situation by being more or less aggressive. Focus on the middle road instead of the push and pull to choose sides.
Waxing – Key and Fox – Listen and take time to process and percolate before taking action. Strategy is the key to success in the week ahead. Be clever.
Take Away – There may be a few debates along the way this week, but stay true to the idea that wisdom comes from observation and understanding rather than trying to get your own way through force. Instead of worrying about these moments of possible conflict, focus on connection and fostering a feeling of “home” wherever you go.
Twisting the Leaf 